All things had spirits, and so did people.
Among Extraordinaries, spirituality was also crucial.
The amount of spirituality a person possessed determined whether an ordinary person could become an Extraordinary, as well as how much power an Extraordinary could wield.
With abundant spirituality, an Extraordinary could wield greater power and sustain its consumption for longer. With weak spirituality, using that power would leave them frail and exhausted, unable to keep going for long.
Furthermore, without sufficient spirituality, a person could not become an Extraordinary in the first place.
I wonder whether this spirituality is the same as the spirituality on my character stat panel, Bruce thought.
If someone recklessly consumed a potion from a Potion Formula despite lacking sufficient spirituality, their body would collapse, and the power would erase their will. They would lose control, become one of the fallen, and descend into evil, knowing nothing but destruction and slaughter.
The fallen-another new term.
They were like the opposite of Extraordinaries. They might possess some Extraordinary power, but they could not control it. Instead, the power controlled them, turning them into walking corpses.
Bruce listened with rapt interest, increasingly aware of how wondrous and strange the world of Extraordinaries was. It might be frightening and horrifying at times, but it was absolutely worth exploring. Everything Fawcett spoke of fascinated him.
Before he knew it, a streak of crimson shone through the window, bathing the room in a red glow.
Dawn had come.
"Let's stop here and continue tonight." Fawcett gave a light cough. It had actually talked all night, and suddenly felt that becoming a teacher would be a fine choice.
Bruce nodded. He had gained a great deal that night.
Although Fawcett repeatedly stressed that it was only teaching him the most basic knowledge about Extraordinaries, even those basics held Bruce utterly spellbound.
Bruce also wanted to know more, in greater detail, such as the Potion Formulas Fawcett knew. But Fawcett evaded the subject once again, saying that it would only reveal the Potion Formulas after obtaining the Dark Bible.
Bruce found that a little regrettable. This was a transaction, after all. It seemed he would have to retrieve that Dark Bible.
Their lesson and discussion came to a temporary halt. Despite staying up all night, Bruce still felt full of energy. Knowledge truly was power-it invigorated him, and learning made him happy.
There was still plenty to do at the manor that day, so Bruce said goodbye to Fawcett and Ghost for the time being and went downstairs to prepare for the work.
In the study, Fawcett and Ghost looked at each other.
"Why did you have Danvers seduce Bruce last time? What did you do to her?" Fawcett asked. Although Ghost seemed to have intervened with friendly intentions, it did not trust Ghost at all. Besides, Ghost had already tricked it once.
"Heh, I never bewitched her. You need evidence for accusations like that. Don't go making things up."
"Also, let me tell you something. I know what you're thinking. If you want a living person's body, then, as far as I know, this Dark Bible really can give you one. But you should think carefully about whether you want to surrender yourself to the embrace of darkness."
Ghost suddenly gave an eerie smile, then sank into the floor and vanished, leaving Fawcett with a sour expression.
Secret Prayers never surrendered themselves to any deity's embrace!
This Ghost certainly knew a great many secrets.
"Although I'm a Secret Prayer, that was when I was alive. If I can gain a new life this time, I don't necessarily have to follow the Secret Prayer path again. I have several Potion Formulas for the darkness pathway, too. It's not as though I have no choice!"
Fawcett wrestled with the thought. Clearly, it still could not bear to give up its identity as a Secret Prayer Extraordinary.
Ghost returned to Danvers's room. She was still fast asleep. It floated to her side and reached out to gently stroke her face, though it could feel nothing.
"What a beautiful, exquisite body. A pity that, in the end, it's merely nourishment for the darkness." Ghost gave her a regretful glance.
It drifted into the mirror on the dressing table. It had been born a ghost and was accustomed to its ghostly form. Extraordinary creatures of its kind did not need Potion Formulas to gain power; they had other methods. At present, the fastest route to advancement was the Dark Bible placed before it.
It was unlike Fawcett. Fawcett had once been human and had a deep attachment to having a body. Only with a body could it exercise the abilities it ought to possess. But Ghost was a ghost. It did not know what a body was or what use it served. It needed no body, only power. For power, it would try anything and sacrifice everything.
"Bruce, I want to see your potential. On this land that nurtures the flowers of sin, how much dark power can you awaken?"
Lane Village, the church of the Goddess of the Night.
Cruno had received Bruce's letter. Bruce had politely declined his invitation, which left him somewhat disappointed. They needed more talented people to join their Night Watcher team.
If Bruce joined the team, he would certainly make an outstanding Night Watcher, with his tenacious will, the blessing of the Goddess of the Night, and his considerable wealth.
Given Bruce's qualities, he would become an Extraordinary sooner or later. Cruno was certain of that. Perhaps they would still work together in the future.
The Goddess of the Night Church only opposed evil. As long as Extraordinaries were not villains who used their abilities to run wild, the Church remained willing to cooperate with them.
Although the Goddess of the Night Church held unrivaled influence in the Rune Kingdom, many other Extraordinary factions existed as well. Some were teams, others families, and their strength could not be underestimated.
Cruno folded Bruce's letter, put it in a drawer, and continued organizing the intelligence concerning Gargoyle.
According to reliable information, Gargoyle had already entered Rhode Town. If they failed to pinpoint its location in time, a major disaster would surely erupt in one of the settlements within Rhode Town's jurisdiction. He had to make thorough preparations for battle.
The number of outsiders in the Gothe District had increased. All were moving around the settlements near Rhode Town. Their arrival at a time like this likely meant they had received information about Gargoyle.
It was true that Gargoyle could cause disasters, but it was itself an Extraordinary item. Any Extraordinary item could be controlled somehow and turned into an asset for an Extraordinary.
I hope they don't stir up any more trouble.
Cruno touched the Crescent Moon pendant on his wrist.
In addition, members of the Mistvale Family from Isbeth had appeared in Lane Village and purchased a manor. They claimed they were relocating, but their true objective was very likely Gargoyle as well.
Lauderdale was a city near Folendana City. In a corner of a dark, damp alley there, a barefoot little girl lay curled up.
A drunk who had been drinking all night staggered into the alley, carrying a bottle in each hand and humming an unfamiliar tune.
Despite his bleary eyes, the drunk was sharp enough to spot the little girl huddled in the corner. His eyes instantly lit up, and he quickened his steps.
"Little girl, hic..."
The drunk tossed his bottles aside, crouched in front of the little girl, and reached out to tug at the gray cloth clothing covering her.
"Come on, let Uncle take a look..."
The little girl reached out, but not to snatch back the clothing covering her or protect herself. Instead, she plunged her hand straight into the drunk's body, right where his heart was. Her hand slid in effortlessly, then churned deep inside him several times.
"That makes four. Filthy humans, always disturbing my slumber. They all deserve to die."
The little girl gazed at the drunk's corpse on the ground, its body gradually growing cold, and revealed a cruel smile, letting the blood on her hand slowly dry.
She was Jessica, who had escaped from Lane Village-or, more precisely, he was still the Sixth Son of Dreams, the Dragon Lord, Mondreton.
"You won't catch me so easily. Mother, I'm preparing your Birth Ritual. Please bless me. You will surely love the body I've prepared for you, too."