The World's Rekindling 3

Within the shattered dreamscape.

Ian "watched" the dark-purple streams of data burrow into Lina's soul. They contained vast quantities of fragmented, chaotic "knowledge"—fragments that pointed directly toward certain terrifying truths of the universe.

His expression grew grave.

This knowledge itself might hold astonishing value, but its mode of expression, the will it carried, and the immense, despair-inducing "existence" behind it were the deadliest poison to a mortal soul. No—perhaps it would be more accurate to say that they were a burden unbearable to most forms of life in the universe.

"Fortunately, I got here in time." Ian assessed the situation. "Her soul core hasn't completely dissolved yet. There's still a chance to 'repair' and 'isolate' it. If I'd come any later, once she completely identified with this knowledge and accepted her 'new form,' then she'd truly be beyond saving. I could only purify her physically." Ian reached his conclusion.

He did not immediately act to disperse those dark-purple streams of data.

Instead, he split off part of his attention and began studying and analyzing these fragments of knowledge leaking from the edge of Cthulhu's dreamscape at an almost greedy speed.

To him, this was extraordinarily valuable research material! Far more exciting than anything he could find in Hogwarts' Restricted Section! It might cost a little sanity, but that had no effect on Ian!

"Hmm... this spacetime coordinate is interesting... Huh? This life-form transformation formula... It's crude and barbaric, but the idea is remarkably unconventional... Oh? A vague distinction between the 'Old Ones' and the 'Outer Gods'? Interesting..." As Ian rapidly absorbed this forbidden knowledge, he used his powerful mental barriers and unique "cognitive filter" to render it harmless. At the same time, he was considering a plan to save Lina.

Directly and violently removing the contamination? No. That knowledge had