Dangerous Attempt

Dream world.

Light of Redemption branch.

"I disagree!"

Olivia said sternly, "Our cult's strength is still too weak; it is not suitable to launch an expedition against another occult society!"

"I understand, I am only preparing to go alone!"

Lin bit her lip.

Ever since she learned the tragic news about her brother, she felt a void in her heart, replaced by the raging flames of vengeance.

If only she hadn't been so deeply corrupted by the existence above the moon, if she hadn't lost her sanity, she might have taken her brother and fled!

"You cannot go either; you are our cult's Saintess and a vital combat force."

Olivia's sigh seemed laden with weariness and helplessness, "We wiped out the Black Sun Cult's vanguard, and they will certainly send more people. Diate is a city favored by Our Lord; we cannot abandon it to heretics. We must fight for it, and when the time comes, that will be vengeance enough!"

"Besides... if your brother is still alive, naturally the sooner we rescue him the better, but for now... we can wait until we have grown stronger before we seek retribution!"

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

"Sigh... I hope I managed to talk her out of it."

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

She knew deeply how arduous it was to advance along the path of the occult!

This world previously possessed no extraordinary power; to ascend, one required profound occult knowledge, more spirituality, or even blood sacrifices!

Obtaining all of this was accompanied by immense hardship and danger.

In particular, as they walked the path of the occult while trying to maintain their sanity and free will, the difficulties were even more insurmountable.

Bang!

Lin closed the door to her room.

"Olivia, thank you, but I cannot wait any longer."

She muttered to herself and opened the window.

After pulling back the velvet curtains, she could see the desolate and dilapidated streets, with the light of the Crimson Moon flowing over them like water.

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

"...Symbol of free will, the only redeemer of the apocalypse, the supreme and transcendent light..."

She prayed repeatedly, yet received no response.

This was normal; such existences rarely responded to believers, and often, their responses carried terrifying consequences.

While the Spirit of Unknown Void was relatively benevolent, it did not grant every prayer.

"It's too late..."

Lin gazed out the window at the pitch-black sky, which resembled velvet, where a crimson moon hung.

It looked like the most exquisite ruby, dripping with vivid color, maintaining the most perfect "full moon" shape.

"According to the calculation of spiritual numbers... midnight tonight is the period when the Crimson Moon is most active, and it is the most suitable time for believers to pray, communicate, and obtain power."

In other words, holding a ritual at this time made it easier to attract the power of that terrifying existence above the moon, or even draw the personal attention of its true form!

Lin looked at the wall clock; the hands had reached the twelve o'clock position.

"For an extraordinary, wanting to ascend and gain greater power, the simplest method is to obtain the favor of the occult source along the path..."

"I do not worship the moon, but I will beg the moon for power..."

Lin was naturally predisposed to the moon's call; otherwise, she would not have lost control previously.

Her original plan was to pray to the Spirit of Unknown Void during this spiritual hour, then, relying on its protection, gaze directly at the great existence above the moon to receive a mysterious infusion and rapid advancement!

This was feasible; after all, she had done it once before!

Of course, this process was extremely dangerous, and perhaps it would be much safer if the Spirit of Unknown Void were watching the entire time.

But the Spirit of Unknown Void had not responded to her plea, and such a day of spiritual alignment might not occur again for a year!

"I..."

Lin's body trembled, but she firmly moved her feet, arrived at the window, stared at the moon in the sky, and knelt halfway down.

It must be said that even though Aaron had preserved her free will, the paths of this world were inherently inclined toward pollution and madness.

Even the most normal extraordinary had a radical side!

Lin's eyes gradually became stained with a hint of crimson, her thoughts drifting away as if she had reached above the clouds, embracing the sky, wanting to kiss the moon.

Under her gaze, a tree of flesh and blood suddenly sprouted upon the Crimson Moon.

"So beautiful..."

Lin gazed at the Mother Tree of Flesh, sensing a beauty that transcended all reason!

Every branch and every line of It seemed to be divided by the golden ratio, surpassing even the narrow perceptions of humanity; any race or any life form would be intoxicated by it, as if beholding the most exquisite work of art in the world!

It was a beauty... that transcended concept itself!

The look of infatuation on Lin's face grew ever more intense.

At this moment, a babble of whispers reached her ears; it began softly, but quickly turned harsh and shrill, sounding like a woman murmuring, yet also like countless women screaming in madness.

"Ah!"

Lin's ears burst open, and she collapsed to the ground, screaming in agony. Around the edges of her ears, blood vessels swelled and writhed like earthworms... her hair stood on end, thickening until it resembled a ball of snakes coiled together.

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

Lin's consciousness had begun to shatter, with only a single thought still echoing.

Countless frenzies were spontaneously erupting from within her soul, urging her to become a bloodthirsty monster, to slaughter, to conquer, and to gestate countless offspring...

"Ah!"

The eerie cry echoed throughout the department store.

"Oh no, it's Lin!"

Olivia, still in her pajamas, kicked open the door to Lin's room. Seeing the scene before her, her pupils shrank to pinpricks.

Without hesitation, she waved her hands, filling the air with a multitude of invisible threads.

"Kill me!"

Lin, already half-mutated, looked on with bloodshot eyes. She did not resist Olivia's attack, instead rasping out the plea.

The threads bound her in place, yet they could not suppress her mutation.

On the surface of her constantly expanding body, a layer of black suddenly emerged—it was a swarm of insects, tiny as viruses, crawling over the threads and devouring them at high speed.

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

Seizing this opportunity, Olivia hurriedly prepared a ritual:

"Spirit of Unknown Void, Absolute Neutral Entity, Silent Observer... Your devotee prays for You to cast Your gaze down and purge the corruption from Your follower!"

The candlelight dimmed, but nothing happened.

Olivia's heart sank instantly: "The Lord... did not respond..."