Bear School Astartes-Chapter 815 - 798: Learning Mode

Vesemir just brought Lann down, left him the key, and then turned back upstairs.

He truly resisted staying in this place, even reluctant to take another look.

Flames crackled and burned on the basins and torches, bringing an even more frightening atmosphere to the already eerie underground chamber.

The shadows cast by Lann and those iron cages flickered eerily on the cracked and peeling walls.

If someone ordinary were here, they’d likely be fixated on the dark shadows where the flames couldn’t reach.

The deep shadows seemed capable of hiding countless monsters, even if it was just a small corner.

The human imagination tends to run wild at moments like this.

But fortunately, although Lann was young, he was already an experienced Demon Hunter who had seen all sorts of bizarre happenings.

He took out a bottle of "Enhanced Cat’s Eye" potion from the Alchemy Pouch at his back waist and took a sip.

The potion entered his stomach and was absorbed by the blood, eventually taking effect.

Suddenly, the sensitivity of his eyes greatly increased.

The dimly lit underground chamber, barely illuminated by a few basins, torches, now appeared bright as day to his eyes.

Lann put the potion back and walked towards the bookshelf Vesemir pointed to before leaving.

As they descended, they felt the chill in the air, but the low humidity of the chamber led to the corpses in the cages turning into mummies.

In such an environment, books were also well preserved.

Given Vesemir’s aversion to the underground chamber, he likely didn’t come down often to maintain the books and equipment, perhaps preferring that they naturally decay.

However, the Warlocks who conducted Demon Hunter research here had cast protection spells on their bookshelves.

Although these spells had long failed over the years without maintenance, the books’ deterioration rate wasn’t too high thanks to the magic and dry conditions.

"Enter learning mode, scan and record what I see, organize and categorize with logical operation..."

Lann commanded the biological intelli-brain in his mind while instinctively cracking his fingers and twisting his neck.

As Lann issued the command, Mentos responded on his retina.

Various small windows and UI interfaces popped up and retracted, eventually turning into small tool icons at the corners of his retina.

"Though I haven’t said this in a while, sir. However..."

Mentos spoke calmly with a hint of amusement.

"Welcome back to the learning journey. I will assist you in enriching your mind and soul."

"May humanity’s spirit of progress and curiosity never cease!"

Lann’s lips curved slightly; it was the welcome message set by the Human Union Ministry of Education when he first activated Mentos.

It was essentially a learning bio-intelli-brain.

"Then let’s start."

Lann’s fingers skimmed over the books and notes of varying heights and thicknesses on the shelf.

The Warlocks who researched Demon Hunter mutations were considered top-notch at the time.

With the aid of magic, they naturally advanced their experimental projects beyond the era’s scope.

Just from the spine labels of this pile of books, Lann saw many terms that could be considered ’pioneering theories.’

’Functions of different brain regions,’ ’hormones and organ functionalities,’ ’intestinal flora reaction to magic stimuli,’ ’methods to bypass the immune system’...

A series of project names, all significant topics even in the 21st century of the hometown world.

Magic, unlike technological development, doesn’t rely on an established vast industrial and technical foundation with each step forward.

Magic’s leapfrogging developmental trajectory frequently breaks away from the contemporary environment to achieve results beyond its time.

However, Lann’s fingers paused in front of a shelf that appeared the newest after skimming through three to four shelves.

The titles here were much more normal.

"Comprehensive Demon Hunter’s Potion (Draft Version)," "Comparison of Potion Brewing and Properties," "Mutation Inducers Detailed Explanation," and the like.

"Let’s first delve into some less ’pioneering’ practical theories, shall we?"

"From easy to difficult, that’s a prudent learning approach that seldom errs, sir. I concur."

After a brief exchange, the Demon Hunter and bio-intelli-brain reached a consensus.

Mentos’ learning mode had elevated Lann’s learning ability to the human level of the Interstellar Era from the start.

They began to absorb the knowledge that had been sealed in the underground chamber for countless years, like a dry sponge plunged into a bucket of water.

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"You look as if you just fought with a Female Special Monster."

Belengar leaned against the wall, tilting his head to watch Vesemir ascend from the spiral staircase.

After scratching his backside with his left hand, he added.

"Or as if you just got drained by a Female Night Demon for a day and night."

Vesemir’s expression was somber now, and he merely shook his head at his old friend’s crude talk.

Usually, in such situations, he would retort immediately after Belengar finished the last word.

This made Belengar appear astonished instead.

"Are you truly down?"

His eyes widened on his long face, staring at Vesemir.

"Wait! Haven’t you been watching over that underground chamber all these years by yourself?"

"Didn’t Geralt and the others offer to help share the burden? A bunch of heartless bastards!"

Belengar cursed angrily, pushing himself off the wall, seemingly intent on confronting those young Wolf School lads.

Due to the pain of mutation and the continent’s discriminatory atmosphere, Demon Hunters were actually very self-conscious and distressed about their origins.

This reflected the spiritual outlook of most Demon Hunters.

And Vesemir, on his own for a long time, guarding the underground chamber, the root of Demon Hunter’s painful birth, certainly bore significant psychological pressure.

Yet Vesemir grabbed the angry Belengar.

"What’s with the stubbornness, old mule?"

Vesemir pressed Belengar against the wall with one hand, rendering him immobile.

Afterward, he explained to his old friend.

"They don’t even know this place exists. I told them there’s a regular basement for storing things, and they’ve always thought that’s the only basement in Ker Morhan."

"The stuff below is too precious, but also too tainted. I can’t bear to destroy them but don’t want them to spread either. So... let’s leave it at that."

"Once we old folks are gone, there’ll be no need to worry. Whoever finds it later truly is by luck, and they won’t live with the guilt."

Vesemir’s voice remained distinctly low, but he still forced a nonchalant smile for his old friend.