Dangerous Attempt

Dreamworld.

Branch of the Light of Redemption.

"I disagree!"

Olivia said seriously: "Our cult is still very weak, it's not suitable to go on an expedition against another mysterious sect!"

"I understand, I just plan to go alone!"

Lin bit her lip.

Ever since she learned of her brother's tragic fate, she felt like a part of her heart was empty, replaced by the blazing fire of vengeance.

If she hadn't been so deeply corrupted by the entity above the moon, hadn't lost her sanity, she might have taken her brother and run!

"You can't go either, you are the saintess and an important force of our cult."

Olivia's sigh seemed filled with age and helplessness: "We destroyed the Black Sun Cult's vanguard, they will certainly send more people. Diatt is a city favored by our Lord; we cannot hand it over to the evil followers. We need to fight for it, and by then, it will also be for revenge!"

"Besides... if your brother were still alive, it would be best to rescue him as early as possible. But now... we can wait until we grow stronger and then seek revenge!"

"Strong...revenge..." Lin's pupils seemed to focus a bit: "Thank you, Sister Olivia, I know what to do now."

"Sigh... I hope I can persuade her."

Olivia watched Lin's back and shook her head bitterly.

She deeply understood how difficult it was to advance on the mystical path!

Before, this world did not have extraordinary powers. To advance, one needed deeper mystical knowledge, more spirituality, and even blood sacrifices!

To acquire all this came with immense difficulty and danger.

Especially for them, walking the mysterious path while trying to maintain their sanity and free will was even more challenging.

...

Bang!

Lin closed the door of her room.

"Olivia, thank you, but I can't wait anymore."

She muttered to herself and opened the window.

After pulling open the velvet curtains, she could see the desolate and dilapidated street, with the crimson moonlight flowing like water.

Lin's expression was solemn as she began to pray: "I beseech the Spirit wandering in the unknown, the existence of absolute neutrality, the silent observer..."

"...the symbol of free will, the only savior of the apocalypse, the highest and greatest light..."

She kept praying but received no response.

This was normal; such beings rarely responded to believers, and when they did, it often had terrifying consequences.

Though the Spirit of Illusion was relatively benevolent, it didn't always answer prayers.

"It's too late..."

Lin looked outside the window, where a crimson moon, as vivid as the finest ruby, hung in the velvet black sky, maintaining a full 'full moon' shape.

"According to the calculations of spiritual numbers... tonight at midnight is when the crimson moon is most active and most suitable for believers to pray and communicate, to gain power."

In other words, performing a ritual at this time would make it easier to attract the power of the terrifying entity on the moon, possibly even gaining its direct attention!

Lin looked at the clock on the wall; the hands were already at the midnight position.

"For an extraordinary person to advance and gain stronger power, the simplest way is to receive favor from the source of mystery on the path..."

"I don't worship the moon, but I will pray to it for power..."

Lin's physique was naturally susceptible to the moon's influence, otherwise, she wouldn't have lost control before.

Her original plan was to pray to the 'Spirit of Illusion' during this spiritual time tonight and rely on its protection to directly gaze upon the great entity on the moon, receiving mysterious infusion and rapid advancement!

This was feasible, considering she had done it once before!

Of course, this process was extremely dangerous; if the 'Spirit of Illusion' could watch over her, it might be much safer.

But the Spirit of Illusion did not respond to her plea, and such a spiritual day might not even happen once a year!

"I..."

Lin's body trembled slightly, but she still resolutely moved to the window, gazing at the moon in the sky, and knelt down on one knee.

Needless to say, even though Alan preserved her free will, the path of this world naturally inclined towards corruption and madness.

Even the most normal extraordinary person had an extreme side!

Lin's eyes gradually took on a tint of crimson; her thoughts dispersed, as if she had risen above the clouds, embracing the sky, longing to kiss the moon.

Under her gaze, at an unknown time, a bloody ancient tree sprouted on the crimson moon.

...

"So beautiful..."

Lin gazed at the flesh and blood mother tree, feeling a beauty that transcended reason!

Every branch and line of it seemed to follow the golden ratio, surpassing human understanding. Any race, any life, would be intoxicated by it, as if witnessing the most exquisite artwork in the world!

It was a beauty that transcended concepts!

The fascination on Lin's face grew stronger.

At this moment, a murmur reached her ears. It was faint at first but quickly became piercing and sharp, like a woman whispering madly, or countless women screaming in madness.

"Ah!"

Lin's ears burst open, and she collapsed on the ground, screaming. Blood vessels around her ears swelled and writhed like earthworms... her hair stood on end, growing thicker, like a ball of black snakes coiling together.

"This... contamination... is completely different from the last time!"

Lin's consciousness became increasingly fragmented, with only one thought echoing.

Countless maddening thoughts were spontaneously emerging from her mind, threatening to turn her into a bloodthirsty monster, to kill, to conquer, to give birth to countless offspring...

"Ah!"

A bizarre scream echoed through the department store.

"No, it's Lin!"

Olivia, dressed in her pajamas, kicked open Lin's room door. Her pupils shrank to pinpoints at the scene before her.

Without hesitation, she waved her hands, causing countless invisible threads to fill the air.

"Kill me!"

Lin, already halfway mutated, had bloodshot eyes and didn't resist Olivia's attack. She rasped out the words.

Threads restrained her in place, but they couldn't stop her transformation.

On her rapidly expanding body, a layer of blackness suddenly appeared—tiny, virus-sized insects clung to the threads, devouring them quickly.

Even though Lin was actively trying to suppress it, her instincts had already begun to attack!

Taking advantage of this moment, Olivia quickly set up a ritual:

"Wandering spirits of the unknown void, beings of absolute neutrality, silent observers... Your disciple beseeches you to cast your gaze and expel the pollution from your follower!"

The candlelight dimmed, and nothing happened.

Olivia's heart sank immediately: "The Master... did not respond..."