"And now, the performance reaches its final act!"
"Using 'Chrysalis' as my foundation, I contained the power of 'Crimson,' accomplished my feat, and ascended to the Fourth Primordial—'Insect Hive'!"
A patch of skin was missing from Archbishop Roberts's face. A beetle crawled out of the dark hole and flew onto Nicholas's face, making his features tense and contorted.
"Cleric Nicholas, do you know why I've told you so much?"
Roberts smiled. "After ascending to the Fourth Primordial, my hunger was temporarily satisfied, but at the same time, it grew even worse... My ascension granted me knowledge, and I learned that I could choose another extraordinary individual and pour my overflowing desires into them, making them share the burden of my madness and loss of control... You're lucky—you won't die. But you're also quite unlucky."
"Ah!"
As Roberts spoke, the black beetle had already bitten into Nicholas's cheek and burrowed into his flesh. Blood streamed down the latter's face, and he cried out in pain.
"The grand performance... begins."
Surrounded by countless insects, Roberts walked out of the underground storeroom.
Behind him, Nicholas lay on the mucus-covered floor, the whites of his eyes streaked with blood vessels.
He felt as if insects like leeches were crawling through his veins. Intense pain and thirst clutched at his heart.
Nicholas wanted to pass out, but his mind had become unnaturally clear, and his senses had sharpened. That only made the pain worse.
His reason was rapidly slipping away, and madness was gradually taking over.
At this rate, it wouldn't be long before Nicholas transformed completely!
He would either die an inglorious death or become a monster and barely cling to life.
For Nicholas Inam, who wanted to become 'Light,' this was undoubtedly a tremendous irony!
"I..."
Nicholas tried to stir the spirituality within