The Unnameable Ritual

Uh—

The thug's fist went limp.

The dagger had pierced his windpipe with precision!

He clutched his neck and struggled to breathe, hissing like a broken bellows.

Soon, the thug collapsed.

The female worker saw the man standing behind the thug.

He wore worn work clothes, but he looked energetic and strong.

"Are you all right? Can you stand?"

The man's voice was gentle as he held out a hand to her.

The female worker took his hand and stood up.

The pain made her unsteady, and she nearly fell into his arms.

"Thank you!"

She wiped away her tears.

"My name is Malai. Luckily, I found you in time, or you would've been in danger."

"Mr. Malai, I don't even know how to thank you... Oh, right, I... My name is Alila..."

The worker Alila was almost incoherent.

"Beautiful Ms. Alila, it was only my duty."

This was the first time Alila had ever been addressed like that.

She had always lacked any sense of presence.

Her coworkers always got her name wrong.

And the factory overseer always called her, "Hey! You! Useless trash!"

Ever since her parents had worked themselves to death in the factory, no one had cared about her for a very long time.

Maybe if she died one day, no one would even notice that someone like her was gone.

But today, Alila once again felt what it was like to be cared for.

She looked at Malai and found him so gentlemanly, so gentle.

Especially those blue eyes of his—they made people want to trust him.

"Where do you live? I'll take you home."

"I really don't know how to thank you enough! I live in C43 Sector, Room 502..."

Malai frowned.

"C43 is still quite a long way from here. Your injuries can't be left untreated for too long.

I live nearby. Let me help you to my place and bandage you up first..."

Alila instinctively wanted to refuse, but when she looked into Malai's eyes, she nodded without realizing it.

"All right. Thank you!"

It would be good to get bandaged at his place first.

If she didn't deal with the wound quickly and it got worse, affecting tomorrow's work, she would be in trouble!

She absolutely could not lose that job, or she would starve to death!

"Hang in there. We'll be there soon."

Malai supported Alila as they left the place and headed toward his residence.

Behind them, the thug struggled while clutching his neck, forcing out words so faint they were almost inaudible.

"Help... Someone, save me!"

Sadly, no one could hear his cries for help.

The suffocation grew worse. He knew he was about to die.

He was overwhelmed by fear and regret.

God-Emperor, Governor, please, someone save me!

He watched Malai and Alila's retreating backs, then his body went limp and he stopped breathing.

He was dead.

Alila followed Malai through the maze of twisting passageways until they finally arrived outside a communal dormitory.

For some reason, she smelled a stench of blood and rot, and unease rose faintly within her.

"It stinks!"

Malai covered his nose and cursed.

"Those filthy bastards never wash themselves. They stink like corpses!"

He looked apologetically at Alila. "Bear with it. Once I've bandaged you up, I'll send you home immediately!"

"Mhm!"

Alila agreed and followed Malai into the room.

The instant she stepped through the door, a strange fragrance rushed over her. Then, with a click, the door behind her locked shut.

The room ahead was pitch-black, and she could see nothing.

For some reason, an intense unease welled up inside her, making every hair on her body stand on end!

Malai's voice came from the darkness just then, soothing her.

"Don't be afraid. My coworkers are all on the night shift. There are only the two of us here..."

Alila's suspended heart settled again.

Malai had saved her. She believed this gentle man would not hurt her.

"Wait here for a moment. I'll go get a lamp."

Malai released her hand and stepped into the darkness.

This community had lost power long ago. It relied solely on the faint glow of phosphorescent strips in the building corridors for illumination.

So naturally, there was no electricity or electric lighting inside the room either.

Things like lights only existed in the Palatine District and the residential areas for administrative officials.

As for lamps, they were also extremely luxurious items.

Just as Alila wondered why Malai possessed such a valuable lamp—

He had already brought it over.

Malai's shadow stopped a short distance from Alila, and he thoughtfully reminded her.

"Close your eyes first, then open them slowly. I don't want the light to hurt your eyes."

Hearing that, Alila hurriedly shut her eyes.

"Mr. Malai, I... I've closed my eyes!"

Malai gently turned the lamp's switch. With a crisp click, warm yellow light instantly spilled out, illuminating the entire room.

"You can open your eyes now!" There was barely restrained excitement in Malai's voice.

Alila slowly opened her eyes.

Under the yellow light, she saw Malai standing in the middle of the room, watching her.

And behind him was a terrifying, unnameable ritual!

The entire room was practically soaked in blood!

Several skinned women had been nailed to the walls, their flesh mangled as they were posed in all kinds of twisted positions.

Some of the women were still alive. They writhed like maggots, but their vocal cords had been severed, leaving them able to make only soundless wails.

Extending outward from Malai at the center was an inverted pentagram drawn in blood, its chaotic symbols enough to chill anyone to the bone.

At key points throughout the room were piles of infant corpses, women's heads, heaps of internal organs, and more.

This place had become hell!

Alila's terror reached its limit. She wanted to cry for help, but no sound came out. She could only cover her mouth helplessly.

She did not even have the strength to turn around and run.

"What beautiful works. You can appreciate their beauty too, can't you?"

Malai spread his arms, showing Alila his most perfect creations.

The ritual array gave off a faint, ghostly blue glow. Its flickering rose and fell rhythmically, like breathing.

He walked over, gently took her hand, and led her toward the ritual array.

"This is the gift I offer to the all-knowing and all-powerful Lord of Ten Thousand Eyes. He will surely like it!"

"Mr... Mr. Malai, please... can you let me go...?"

Alila was so afraid that she could barely form a complete sentence.

She looked into Malai's blue eyes, her face filled with pleading and helplessness.

At that moment, she was like a lamb awaiting slaughter.

Malai raised a hand to stroke Alila's face, brushing her hair behind her ear. "You cannot leave. You are the finest gift I can offer the Lord of Ten Thousand Eyes!"

With his touch, Alila felt her body stiffen, unable to move.

She looked at the twisted, writhing women on the wall and seemed to see her own fate.

Fear engulfed her, and tears poured down like a breached flood.

"No... Don't!"

"My poor little lamb, don't be afraid. Sit down and rest properly..."

Malai gently wiped Alila's tears with a silk handkerchief, his gaze full of concern and comfort.

He led her to sit on a broken bed by the wall.

"You are different from those women. How could I bear to kill you?

On the contrary, I will grant you the most exalted power from the Lord of Ten Thousand Eyes!"

Malai turned and hurried to another corner of the room, carefully taking a black-cloth-covered object from a wooden chest.

He violently tore away the black cloth, and an enchanting azure light instantly spilled forth!