He could not control Allen's actions, but he could control Vanessa and have her draw the altar with Allen's blood.
Allen drew the Folding Knife without hesitation and sliced his skin open in one clean motion.
His blood was hotter and thicker than Vanessa's, as though brimming with vigorous life force-this was no illusion, but a change brought about by [Vitality +1].
Soon, the altar was complete. He stepped onto it, and blood-red light appeared.
Allen's Golden Threads had already made considerable progress. After sacrificing just one stray dog, he successfully reached the node.
Elliot looked through his options. Allen had fewer choices in the second row than Vanessa did. For instance, Vanessa could choose "blood drop" in either of the first two rows, while Allen could only choose it in the first.
Was it because he had no talent in this area? Or was he incompatible with this option?
Elliot speculated with interest.
In the end, he chose the image of a pointed knife for Allen.
Allen's role was combat, and a pointed knife was undoubtedly a symbol of slaughter.
Allen's card was pressed into the slot. The Difference Engine hummed, and the entire slot sank with the card inside it, then flipped over. What rose back up was a brass-colored metal plate.
[Sharpness +1]
Inside the altar, Allen had been standing motionless for quite some time.
"Did it work?" Dorothea's voice held a trace of uncertainty.
"It seems so..." Vanessa sounded somewhat hesitant. After Allen's sacrifice, the altar had indeed flashed red, but he did not seem to have changed at all.
He simply stood there with an indifferent expression and vacant eyes, as though his soul had left his body.
"Allen?"
Vanessa approached with some concern, called his name tentatively, and waved a hand