Dangerous Attempt

The Dream World.

Light of Redemption branch.

"I disagree!"

Olivia said sternly, "Our cult is still very weak. We're not suited to launching an expedition against another mysterious society!"

"I understand. I'm just planning to go alone!"

Lin bit her lip.

Ever since she had learned the terrible news about her brother, she had felt as if there were an empty space in her heart. In its place, the flames of revenge now burned fiercely.

If she hadn't been so deeply corrupted by the being above the moon, if she hadn't lost her sanity, perhaps she would have taken her brother and run!

"You can't go either. You're our cult's saintess and one of our most important fighters."

Olivia sighed, her voice filled with the weariness and helplessness of age. "We destroyed the Black Sun Cult's advance team. They'll definitely send more people. Diat is a city under our Lord's protection. We can't surrender it to heretics. We have to fight for it. When the time comes, we'll have our revenge all the same!"

"Besides... if your brother were still alive, of course, the sooner we rescued him, the better. But now... we can wait until we've grown stronger before taking revenge!"

"Stronger... revenge..." Lin's pupils seemed to regain some focus. "Thank you, Sister Olivia. I know what I have to do."

"Sigh... I hope I can talk her out of it."

Olivia watched Lin's retreating figure and shook her head bitterly.

She knew all too well how difficult it was to advance along the mysterious path!

This world had never had supernatural powers before. To advance, one needed more profound occult knowledge and greater spirituality—even blood sacrifices!

Obtaining all of that came with tremendous difficulty and danger.

It was especially difficult for them to walk the path of the mysterious while still preserving their sanity and free will.

Bang!

Lin shut the door to her room.

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

She muttered to herself and opened the window.

When she drew back the velvet curtains, she saw the desolate, ruined streets below. Crimson moonlight flowed over them like water.

Lin's expression was grave as she began to pray. "I beseech the Spirit of Unknown Void, the Absolute Neutral Entity, the Silent Observer..."

"...the symbol of free will, the Sole Redeemer of the apocalypse, the highest and most supreme light..."

She prayed over and over, but received no response.

That was normal. Beings like these rarely answered their followers. Even when they did, their responses often came with terrifying consequences.

And although the Spirit of Void was relatively benevolent, it didn't answer every prayer.

"There's no time..."

Lin gazed out the window. A crimson moon hung in the pitch-black sky, which was as dark as velvet.

It was like the most exquisite ruby, vivid and glistening, holding the perfectly rounded shape of a full moon.

"According to the calculations of the spiritual numbers... the Crimson Moon will be most active at midnight tonight. It'll also be the best time for followers to pray, commune, and gain power."

In other words, performing a ritual at this time made it easier to draw on the power of the terrifying being above the moon—and even attract its personal attention!

Lin looked at the clock on the wall. Its hands had reached midnight.

"For supernatural beings seeking to advance and gain greater power, the simplest way is to earn the favor of the mysterious source at the end of their path..."

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

Lin had always been susceptible to the moon's call. Otherwise, she wouldn't have lost control before.

Her original plan was to pray to the Spirit of Void during tonight's auspicious spiritual hour, then rely on its protection to gaze directly at the great being above the moon and receive a mysterious infusion of power that would make her stronger in no time!

It was possible. After all, she had done it once before!

Of course, the process was extremely dangerous. If the Spirit of Void watched over her the entire time, it might have been much safer.

But the Spirit of Void hadn't answered her prayer, and this kind of auspicious spiritual hour might not come even once a year!

"I..."

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

It had to be said that even though Aaron had preserved her free will, the path of this world was inherently inclined toward corruption and madness.

Even the most normal supernatural beings had an extreme side!

Lin's eyes gradually took on a crimson hue. Her thoughts scattered, and she seemed to rise above the clouds, embrace the sky, and try to kiss the moon.

Under her gaze, a blood-red ancient tree suddenly appeared on the Crimson Moon.

"So beautiful..."

Lin stared at the Mother Tree of Flesh, overcome by a beauty that transcended reason!

Every branch, every line of its form seemed divided according to the golden ratio, surpassing even the limited understanding of humankind. Any species, any living creature would be captivated by it, as though beholding the most exquisite work of art in the world!

It was a beauty that... transcended concepts!

The rapture on Lin's face grew more intense.

Then, whispers reached her ears. At first, they were faint, but they quickly became piercing and shrill, like a woman murmuring—or countless women shrieking in a frenzy.

"Ah!"

Lin's ears burst open. She fell to the floor, screaming. Around the edges of her ears, blood vessels swelled and writhed like earthworms... Her hair stood on end, each strand growing thicker until it resembled a ball of coiled black snakes.

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

Lin's consciousness was already starting to shatter. Only one thought continued to echo through her mind.

Madness welled up within her on its own, turning her into a bloodthirsty monster bent on slaughter, conquest, and bearing countless offspring...

"Ah!"

An eerie cry echoed through the Department Store.

"Oh no, it's Lin!"

Wearing her pajamas, Olivia kicked open Lin's bedroom door. At the sight before her, her pupils shrank to pinpoints.

Without hesitation, she swept both hands through the air, filling it with countless invisible threads.

"Kill me!"

Lin was already more than half transformed. Her one remaining eye was bloodshot. She didn't resist Olivia's attack and rasped out the words.

Thread after thread bound her in place, but couldn't stop her transformation.

A layer of black suddenly surfaced across her rapidly swelling body. They were tiny insects, no bigger than viruses, clinging to the threads and gnawing through them at a rapid pace.

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

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

"Spirit of Unknown Void, Absolute Neutral Entity, Silent Observer... Your follower begs you to cast your gaze upon her and drive out the corruption!"

The candle flame dimmed. Nothing happened.

Olivia's heart sank at once. "My Lord... hasn't answered..."