"I don't care, anyway, these Voodoo mushrooms originate from Africa, you need to give me an explanation."
Saying this, Su Ming threw a small red mushroom in front of the big cat. The red fungus bounced on the ground and rolled right in front of the Panther God's large paw.
Sure enough, Monac didn't bother to argue with the madman about why he was hit with a frying pan. After lying down and sighing for a while, he eventually got up to help the Supreme Mage identify the mushroom.
As Deathstroke predicted, it was a Voodoo material popular in Africa, usually used by tribal witch doctors to maintain their authority.
If there were disobedient villagers or anyone daring to challenge them, they would secretly use this mushroom on that person, making them 'die'.
Then the witch doctor would appear in the graveyard, 'resurrect' the corpse, and take it back home to use as a slave. This is the origin of the legendary Voodoo Corpse.
The controlled person's expression would be stiff, eyes white, and silent, looking like a real moving corpse. The relatives of the deceased were too frightened to say anything.
These Voodoo Living Corpses only act according to certain cues, similar to a kind of deep hypnosis. Although controlled, they retain memory and thought, their body just won't respond.
The benefit is the witch doctor only needs to give simple commands for these people to complete more complex tasks, like 'go plow the field' or 'go fetch water', as their original memories would make their bodies repeat the usual work process.
The technique to make Voodoo Corpses varies among tribes, with possibly thousands of methods. Anyway, to a Black Mage like Monac, these rituals involving drugs or plants are just beginner tricks for apprentices.
True Voodoo Corpses involve scouring the souls of animals near the Caster, infusing their remaining wild will into the living or a human corpse, using gestures or dance forms of Beast Taming Technique to drive them, a method to create powerful servants and warriors.
Monac actually followed this path centuries ago, but he was on the India side.
After experiencing those things in his youth and gradually aligning with Kama Taiji under the influence of The Ancient One, his casting and combat methods now lean more towards the Kama Taiji Academy Faction, and he rarely uses Necromancy techniques anymore.
So after he recognized the mushroom, Su Ming told him to keep resting while he rushed back to Wakanda without delay, entering the Dream World to find the Panther God again.
Considering the high frequency of his visits here, he is already thinking about whether he should quietly set up a secret chamber in the cave where Wakanda plants the Heart-shaped Herb? Install a directional Teleportation Gate with Kama Taiji?
The Panther God, meanwhile, was considering matters of wall repairs, annoyed by Deathstroke's frequent visits in one day!
But the Supreme Mage is backed by the Emperor Vishanti, a rogue group...
"I only care for Wakanda. What happens outside isn't my concern. Or do you think Africa only has Wakanda?" The Panther God helplessly reiterated its stance. After all, it's a deity, how could it possibly pay attention to such an inconspicuous thing as mushrooms every day?
Anyway, the answer is simple: this mushroom is not a Wakandan plant.
Su Ming moved a little closer, reaching up to scratch the Panther God's chin while saying, "I know, but aren't you the local bully here? You don't recognize it, but can't you take the mushroom and ask your friends like Lion, Warthog, Mongoose, Baboon? They might know..."
The Panther God glanced at him curiously: "Why don't you go?"
Su Ming pulled out some snacks from his belt, opened the package, and stuffed it into the Panther God's mouth, leaving it no choice but to 'owe him a favor', then complained, "Their levels are too high, I'm scared."
Not believing a word he said, the Panther God nonetheless found itself swayed by the delicious food in its mouth. After all, it was just going around asking, and it would be nice to get rid of Deathstroke sooner.
It extended a claw from its pinky toe, speared the mushroom, and walked toward another large tree: "Okay, I'll go ask for you. Wait here."
However, Deathstroke had already climbed up its tree in the blink of an eye, mimicking a leopard's posture, dangling its limbs under the branch with its body draped over it, as if already asleep.
The Panther God's eyes turned into a dead-fish stare, exhaling a sigh with human-like weariness, it proceeded toward the Lion's territory.
Building the wall soon became urgent. Today, Deathstroke could claim its sleeping branch, tomorrow who knows what he might do.
The issue lay with the Heart-shaped Herb.
Originally, it was some sort of gift bestowed upon Wakanda's past kings, and although it could make a person surpass human physical limits, it primarily happened because it contained cosmic radiation carried by Vibranium.
People who initially consumed the Heart-shaped Herb were doomed to die, and before death, they would come to this mystical Dimension, gain the Panther God's recognition, allowing it to capture and return their soul to their body.
This is why Wakanda has an ancient legend that says only the Clan Leader's blood relatives of the Five Great Clans can consume the Heart-shaped Herb, anyone else would die from it.
That's why so many plant the Heart-shaped Herb, guard it, yet no one dares to steal and eat it because it would be fatal.
But then, Deathstroke wasn't an ordinary person; that excess radiation was like a spice to him, and eating the Heart-shaped Herb only induced hallucinations, letting him consume it three times a day with no ill effects.
Even the Warlock he brought was top-notch and allegedly used magic to transfer the radiation damage to the rabbit?
At this rate, the number of people Deathstroke brings would only increase, leaving the Panther God without peaceful days in the future!
Therefore, the Panther God thought for a moment, extended its paw, and a small black hole appeared by its side. It reached out and pulled out all the Heart-shaped Herbs currently planted in Wakanda.
Only a single seedling was left, prepared for the next Black Panther.
Originally, just one was enough. I really don't know what humans are thinking, planting so many, just giving Deathstroke an opportunity.
After doing all this, the Leopard God lifted his chin and whistled from his cat mouth, leisurely going to find the Lion.
Unbeknownst to him, Deathstroke had already uprooted a heap of these leafy plants and stored them in his bag. The current action of the Leopard God merely sent a piercing alarm through the soon-to-dawn Wakanda. The current king, upon arriving, saw only a single heart-shaped grass swaying in the dark in the cave, and almost fainted.
Why? Why is Wakanda plagued by so many disasters?
Not to mention that after today, Wakanda will devote the entire nation's efforts to developing defensive facilities. In the strange dimension, Su Ming, perched on a branch, squints as he watches the Leopard God leave, and he too sits up.
The origin of mushrooms is Africa, so there must be someone among these Loa gods who knows some clues. In the late stages of Voodoo Magic studies, like other magic, they are bound to connect with certain gods to gain power.
Lady Nine-Heads and Faust are not casters. So far, Su Ming has not encountered any live Warlock Assault Team...
There must be someone guiding them from behind; otherwise, who would think of using such an obscure magic material like Voodoo?
After all, the Magic Realm is not yet the domain dictated solely by the Supreme Mage. There are always those who oppose Kama Taiji. Many Black Mages are scattered around Earth, conducting their subversion plans in secret places.
Some want to replace the Supreme Mage, and some are simply Evil God cultists planning to bring their master to Earth.
In fact, Su Ming has been steadily changing Kama Taiji over the years. Although progress is slow, compared to the secretive nature during The Ancient One's time, the era under Deathstroke's leadership has made some information public and introduced more magical categories.
For instance, Monac's Dark Magic and the Voodoo Magic System, the Magic Net System gained from Elminster in the DND World, and the Shamanic-like Elemental System from the Female Sorcerer Gathering Place.
Of course, reforms must be made, but they must be gradual. Moving too quickly can backfire.
Now, at Kama Taiji, Monac can publicly teach Dark Magic, although the course is titled 'Defense Against the Dark Arts Class,' changing its form.
To prevent any future invasions by Dormammu or Eye Demon, where the students from the ivory tower might end up on the battlefield, blind and unaware, delivering themselves to death.
However, as expected, no teacher of the Defense Against the Dark Arts Class lasts more than a semester; Monac recently said he wanted a break.
Previously, one had to become a high-tier mage and get The Ancient One's approval to take the elective Eight Great Magic Origin Demon God Techniques; now it's open to all students, assessing readiness based on individual mastery.
Most, after enrollment, start with Body Technique, Magic Staff, and Magic Array before learning the basic knowledge of magic and Emperor Vishanti's various White Magic, mostly Defense Magic and Illusion Technique. As they age and mature mentally, they then begin learning various Hell Magic, finally reaching the Defense Against the Dark Arts Class.
They start by contacting Closed Demon God Raggadorr (Raggadorr), followed by Illusion Master Ikonn (Ikonn), then Tearing Wind Watoomb (Watoomb), Ice Demon God Excorion, Rotting Water Demon God Faratel...
Mastering thousands of spells from the Eight Great Magic Origin Ancient Gods, then minor in the use of the powers from the Seventy-Two Demon Gods, representing tens of thousands of spells, and later promote to an advanced class, including Cosmic Level evil gods like Crimson Tyrant Setorak, Dark Dimension Dormammu, God of Destruction Zom, Snake God Set, Great Demon Shadow Xisone, etc.
Upon reaching here and looking back, it turns out that Emperor Vishanti is still stronger, straightforward and blunt.
No matter which evil god's power you borrow, make the same transaction, and Emperor Vishanti's power is three times that of others, and the casting cost can be paid in installments.
Shaman Magic has great potential as well, drawing energy from all things to cast spells. This is innovative thinking. If that doesn't appeal, one could study the Magic Net Energy Storage Theory to contribute to the building of a New Era Magic Earth.
Su Ming's perspective is that to see if something is good for a person, one has to see if it grants them the right to choose.
The apprentices do not have the power to fight for that right of choice for themselves, but Deathstroke does, so they just need to follow along. This is what the leader of Kama Taiji, the Supreme Mage, should be doing.
In fact, there are still advanced courses taught by the Supreme Mage Deathstroke for further learning, such as the Eternal Nine Sons, the Five All-Powerful Gods, the Life Court, and even confidential items related to the rules beyond the Marvel Omniverse.
However, nobody has reached that level of trust yet, but eventually, someone will.
Choices are now abundant; it's not about comparing goods but recognizing the goods.
Sometimes darkness is no longer taboo, losing its allure of mystery.
According to the Earth 616 comic path similar to the 40K Universe, Kaecilius was supposed to gradually be swayed by Dormammu's power, deeply falling for Dark Dimension Magic, sneaking around to learn, relishing the forbidden pleasure that made him more and more obsessed.
But now? A whole array of ancient gods' various dark magic lies before him. Want to learn? Monac will teach you.
A young genius, specially authorized by the Supreme Mage to study advanced courses early, Kaecilius, instead, was overwhelmed by the choices, akin to grabbing at whatever he could, learning a bit of this and a bit of that.
As for Dormammu, he could not muster any admiration; each evil god has its realm and ability.
After comparing them side by side, Kaecilius found Dormammu's magic effects mediocre, and the casting cost was unexpectedly high, making it poor in cost-effectiveness.
In-depth study of Dormammu's system allows one to merge with the Dark Dimension, becoming part of Dormammu's infinite body? Gain eternal life?
Uh... how does that seem like a good deal?
After comparing three options, Kaecilius still majors in White Magic, additionally selecting Snake God Set's Devouring Magic, which is simply a Delicious Magic that complements what you consume.