[I followed the procession of Aberrants into a church, the site of the demigod Child of Calamity's ascension ritual.]
[I fell under his spell and walked straight toward him. Inside the black church stood an altar. I wanted to break free, but the closer I got, the stronger his power became.]
[I stared at the coffin, and the coffin stared at me. My gaze was glued to it. Only then did I remember the warning my adorable little heart had given me, but it was already too late.]
[No! Don't force me!]
[Don't force me to get on my knees and beg you, you damned coffin!]
[The next second, I knelt on the ground, reached out with my left hand, pulled out my adorable heart, and offered it to the Child of Calamity.]
[At that moment, I understood. His target wasn't me, the Blasphemer, at all. He wanted to steal my adorable little heart.]
[No, I don't want that! Please take my brain instead.]
[My useless brain had ruined everything!]
Xu Ye's expression briefly froze. Without drawing attention, he pressed his hand against his chest, feeling his heart pound wildly. A flood of information poured into his mind, seemingly urging him to leave at once.
Danger ahead!
"Bandit Lord, what's wrong?" Xu Ye asked inwardly.
The Bandit Lord stammered, "I don't know! I'm just pounding like crazy. I never reacted like this around other demigods. I feel like the Harvest Mother Goddess and the Child of Calamity must know something. I can't describe the feeling."
"It's so frustrating. Why am I the only one who doesn't know who I am?"
"Xu Kid, let's retreat if we have to. Worst case, we stay here until the Holy Grail trial ends and the dreamscape disappears. Maybe then we can go back."
Xu