The farther inward he went, the more he could feel the entire space filled with malice. The sensation of facing a god became increasingly distinct—whispers, murmurs, and even painful sounds he could not comprehend appeared, as though unseen figures filled the supposedly empty temple.
He felt a briny wind blowing from the direction of the holy emblem like a blade. Cracks appeared on Shade's face, but golden light soon seeped through them.
He felt surging fire rise from beneath his feet like a colossal beast. The pain that touched his soul lasted only an instant before being suppressed by an even greater power.
He felt destructive thunder descend from above like a massive hammer in a god's hand. Power resisted and battered him, but this familiar higher-dimensional power only made Shade more excited.
He felt clinging water wrap around him like the hands of the gentlest lover. His steps slowed, yet remained firm. Desire could not stop him, nor could these illusions.
The power behind the holy emblem resisted him, resisted this mortal carrying the divinity of an alien god, but that only made Shade more excited.
He raised his head and stared at the holy emblem. Its bizarre spiral pattern made Shade increasingly dizzy. Around the path leading to the elevated platform where the holy emblem and altar stood, phantoms of ugly Fishmen appeared one after another.
They reached out, trying to seize Shade, but feared the radiance of divinity. The bones piled beneath the altar seemed to come alive as the undead screamed and lunged at Shade from ahead, yet they could not make him stop.
Just as Desire had said, when a certain desire became powerful enough, every other emotion would be suppressed.
All the statues in the temple seemed to tremble at that moment. When Shade