"So many people have died—why won't this damned door open?"
The Moon Witch was unable to pass through the pale-white gate, her expression on the verge of collapse.
It seemed that one black leech after another was about to crawl out from her body.
"You're about to lose your mind! Control yourself! Don't drag us down with you!"
Jacob roared, his heart seeming to bleed. His subordinates had suffered grievous losses too!
He looked toward Chikatilo, his expression icy. "You definitely know something, don't you? Stop trying to hide it, or we'll kill you right here!"
"I do have some thoughts... The first door requires blood, the second requires beautiful flesh..."
Chikatilo came before the pale-white gate and stroked its surface, spirituality surging forth from his palm.
Upon the pale-white gate, intricate and magnificent patterns lit up one after another, along with a hymn written in Spirit Realm script:
[On the first day, the Age Controllers commanded me to offer fresh blood] [On the second day, They commanded me to offer beautiful flesh] [On the third day, They commanded me to offer marrow]
"This is... the Lotus Eaters' 'Three-Aspect Secret Rite'? The evil ritual also known as the 'Rite of Bone, Flesh, and Blood'?"
Jacob's pupils shrank.
"Yes, this is a ritual of our cult. Each day in the aphorism corresponds to a layer of the tomb..."
Chikatilo said, "But I never imagined that the Three-Aspect Secret Rite could be so vast, so firmly preserved for a thousand years... It's simply inconceivable... Heh heh... You'd best be careful..."
He flicked out a scarlet, snake-like tongue. "For that Count to arrange his mausoleum like this and use such a ritual, he must have been praying to our Lord, the Great Serpent, for an exceedingly terrifying boon..."
"So... to