Raising My Trash Ability into a Broken SSS+ Rank Skill Chapter 575 Sacrificial Lamb

The dark manor was simply immense, containing a staggering number of chambers and adorned with opulent gemstones.

It was a residence prepared for immediate occupancy; every detail was so flawless that renovations were entirely unnecessary.

Vritra maintained the structure at a relatively modest size for the time being, yet it remained grand and extravagant, featuring black flames that flickered across the walls.

Furthermore, thousands of knights in heavy armor stood guard over the premises.

There was much to discover as they toured the grounds, uncovering a vast array of defensive systems and offensive traps.

His wives intended to increase their levels here as well, and by utilizing Null, the required time would be significantly reduced.

He temporarily entrusted the energy core to Yasmine, as he needed to wait for Yennefer's soul to emerge from the pill.

Afterward, they utilized the gateways within their individual rooms to depart for various kingdoms.

On this occasion, even Fiona was required to depart to oversee the Phoenix Kingdom, while Yasmine chose to accompany Vritra and Teresa.

She held little concern for the dragons now; any lingering attachment had vanished following the recent betrayals they had forced upon her.

They had turned against her in the past, and they had done so once again.

She felt certain they could survive without her presence, and her only desire was to remain by her husband's side.

Vritra assigned soul wraiths and formidable guardians to accompany each of his wives, determined to prevent a repeat of the incident that had befallen Yasmine.

Eventually, he opened the gateway in his own bedroom, which led directly into the Yate realm.

The conditions within the sub-realm were identical to the outside world.

Snow covered the landscape and the air was thick with spores; Vritra sensed that these particles might be fundamentally altering the environment.

“You two aren’t feeling the chill, are you?” Vritra asked, glancing at Teresa and Yasmine as they trekked through the snow.

“Not particularly, we can endure this much.” Yasmine gave a shrug; her affinity for fire made her even more resistant to the cold.

“Husband, could you lend me that ring for a while? I want to upgrade it and craft similar rings for everyone else.” Teresa requested. Having acquired those creation cubes, her craftsmanship was bound to be even more potent.

“Certainly.” Vritra slid the ring off and passed it to her.

They reached the exterior of the palace, where, notably, no guards were in sight.

‘If this freezing weather was orchestrated by someone, it would be remarkably easy for them to strike at all the major organizations.’

Vritra mused. The Trant and Grant families had been integrated into the Ford family, which was the only reason they had managed to survive.

Upon reaching Gunter’s quarters, Vritra gave a firm knock.

“Who is it?” a voice called from within. Everyone was huddled under layers of blankets on their beds due to the extreme climate.

“It is me,” Vritra answered, and the door swung open a moment later.

Gunter and Ava appeared, their faces lighting up with shock and intense joy at the sight of him and Teresa.

“Art!! Where have you been all this time? Do you have any idea how worried we were? We’ve been searching for you constantly…”

Ava lunged forward to embrace him, her eyes brimming with tears.

The pair was visibly relieved, and Vritra offered a fabricated explanation; it didn't truly matter, as they were simply ecstatic at his return.

“Now, don’t go wandering off again. Just stay here where it’s safe; the outside world is far too perilous,” Gunter insisted.

“Because of the cold or these spores? I’ll be fine—” Vritra began, as neither could truly harm him, but Gunter cut him off.

“It’s not just that. I’ve heard whispers lately that something much more terrifying resides in the north, and this unnatural winter might be caused by it.”

“Oh? Do you have any more information on that?” Vritra asked, his curiosity piqued.

While Vritra conversed with Gunter, Ava spoke with Yasmine and Teresa, delighted that her daughter-in-law was safe.

She was also quite curious as to why the Dragon Empress was in their company.

If these environmental shifts were indeed tied to the trial, did it mean the trials were set to commence?

Was the Hero on the verge of toppling a Demon Lord? Had Jack nearly reached the Lord rank?

‘I must locate Jack immediately. I cannot allow the destiny of this world to remain in his grasp,’ Vritra thought, still intent on seizing the Hero's fate.

“Not much, but no one who ventures north ever comes back. We should just wait and see if the situation improves.

Perhaps it’s just an ancient beast that will soon return to its hibernation?” Gunter suggested, his voice thick with anxiety.

“Understood, I will exercise caution.”

They continued their conversation for a while before sharing a hot meal together.

***

In a remote corner of the Quartz Continent, a trio was spat out of a portal, their forms battered and bruised.

“Sob... Shorty, I’ll never forget what you sacrificed. Thank you for letting us get out first; we’d be corpses without you,” Jack said, rubbing his eyes as the gateway began to seal shut.

“You motherfucker, you son of a bitch, I’m going to kill you! You bald bastard, you’re going to—ughhh—die a painful death! You manipulative snake, you fake hero, you rotten piece of—”

Shorty’s furious vitriol echoed from the other side as bizarre tentacles dragged him deeper into that realm.

Escape had looked bleak, so Jack had used Shorty as a human shield to get away, shoving him back toward the grotesque appendages.

“Yeah, I know how much you care about me. I’ll keep your memory alive forever.” Jack watched with a mournful expression, waiting for the portal to vanish entirely while Shorty’s screams persisted.

“W-Will he be okay? Shouldn't we try to pull him back?” Raino asked, his frame having withered significantly.

The girl now resembled a walking corpse, her skin deathly pale because Jack had forced her to exhaust her abilities repeatedly.

If this persisted, her death was inevitable.

“It was his own choice. We must honor his courage; he martyred himself for the sake of humanity. I swear, the world will know your name alongside mine once I slay the Demon Lord.”

Jack made the vow, though he kept his fingers crossed behind his back.

Finally, the rift closed, and Shorty vanished into the dark grip of the tentacles, followed by a final, eerie shriek just before the connection broke.

“Haa, I’m nearly at the Lord rank. I need to level up quickly, kill the Demon Lord, and save this world—ugh, why is it so damn cold here?” He rubbed his smooth scalp and stood up.

Ever since that bald bastard had incinerated his hair, it had stubbornly refused to grow back.

‘This bald lunatic has lost his mind chasing glory and women. I need to run away before he makes a martyr out of me too,’ Raino thought, casting a sympathetic look at the zombie-like girl.

***

Vritra sat in his chamber while Yasmine and Teresa were occupied with their conversation.

The discovery that they were actually sisters had been a shock to them both.

Given Yasmine’s temperament, their connection seemed even more profound, and they appeared to naturally enjoy each other’s company.

Teresa was thrilled to have a sister who felt more like a soulmate.

“Husband, I’m going to start working on the rings now. It will take some time,” Teresa announced, heading to her specialized workshop within the house of darkness.

The room had been specifically crafted for her creative projects.

The moment Teresa departed, Yasmine turned to him with a suggestive gaze and spoke: “Hubby, come to think of it, it’s been a while since we’ve had some fun. So, how about we...”

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