Chapter 111: Eve of Battle
Lu Ze chanted from the Human-Skinned Sacred Book, his ears echoing with maddening whispers, and various strange images appearing before his eyes.
He saw that in a world originally dark and obscure, a dazzling light suddenly shone down from the sky, illuminating the entire chaotic land.
He saw that wherever that light reached, noble elves screamed and turned to cinders, mysterious giant birds burning with pale flames rapidly decayed into skeletons. Dragons with torn wings roared as they fell, and scorching blood rain poured down, burning through and melting the illusory and magnificent city.
He saw ascetics, clad in simple robes, trekking barefoot through mountains, following a procession of pilgrims deep into the Dark Land, the silver-white angel at the head of the line being the only light.
He also saw a handsome young knight astride a headless red horse, driving a chariot across the battlefield, leaving raging infernos in his wake, the firelight crimson like fresh blood.
Behind these strange and sacred illusions were Ms. M's golden eyes.
She gazed at Lu Ze for a long time, an indescribable longing in the depths of her eyes.
"Stop staring at me like that. Don't your eyes get dry?"
Lu Ze endured the pain and illusions, gritting his teeth as he chanted the Sacred Book. This was because Ms. M's fair and slender fingers were always moving unconsciously, as if daring Lu Ze to stop, and she would then harm Cecilia.
"That's enough."
He didn't know how much time had passed, but just as his mind was on the verge of collapse, Ms. M finally spoke.
Lu Ze immediately stopped chanting and closed the Human-Skinned Sacred Book. His body trembled, and two streams of blood overflowed from his ears.
"Your body is truly resilient. An ordinary Listener would have their brains spill out of their ears after hearing that much," Ms. M said with an appreciative tone. "How is it? Do you feel the potion digesting within you?"
"Most of it has digested."
Lu Ze glared at her hatefully.
Ms. M was becoming increasingly impatient, and he might have already guessed why. Her body was gradually deteriorating; he had seen her arm or wrist suddenly fall off several times recently.
— Ms. M was trying to save herself, and the key to her self-salvation seemed to be Lu Ze.
That's why she was forcefully pushing Lu Ze to digest the potion.
"I must go to the company tomorrow, or Captain Dunn will start to suspect me."
Lu Ze said.
"Very well, but remember to come back early."
"Come back early to continue being tormented by you?"
Lu Ze sneered inwardly.
For several days, Ms. M had been preparing many things. She had Cecilia temporarily withdraw from school and then ran around for her, collecting materials. These included mysterious materials purchased from the Beyonder market, as well as strange things like "extreme emotions" to be collected from Lower Street and the port district.
She even paid out of her own pocket, having her sister buy a detached house in East Borough to store materials and draw magic circles there.
"Come back early, digest the potion, and advance as soon as possible, only then can you help me complete the ritual."
Ms. M said.
According to her, the magic circles drawn in the detached house were for a ritual. This was a healing ritual that could treat Ms. M's severe injuries. Originally, this ritual required the host to reach the Sequence of Rose Bishop to perform. However, due to Lu Ze's unique nature and Ms. M's assistance, it could be attempted as long as he advanced to Sequence 7 Shadow Ascetic.
Evidently, Ms. M was lying again.
Because Lu Ze understood that ritual.
That was an evil ritual that would dissolve all of Lu Ze's flesh and blood, turning him into nourishment for Ms. M.
An ordinary Secrets Supplicant would only master a small number of ritual magics and would have difficulty accessing such hidden evil rituals. Only with rewards from the higher echelons of the cult would they obtain a few, such as "Sacred Hall Descent" that Haynes had once used.
However, Lu Ze was very different. After he became a Secrets Supplicant, a vast amount of ritual knowledge almost burst his brain, as if the True Creator at the top was eager to establish contact with him. So, when his sister brought back the design of the magic circle for him to see, he recognized the ritual at a glance.
If Lu Ze completed the ritual according to Ms. M's wishes, the result would be far more than just healing; his flesh and blood would be completely transformed into a part of Ms. M. This fusion was far more severe than the Rose Bishop's "devouring"; it could even be said that his physical body and spirituality would be possessed by Ms. M!
"Her goal is indeed my body."
Based on the degree of Ms. M's physical deterioration, Lu Ze knew that within a day or two, he would be forced to face the decisive battle with Ms. M!
And on his side, how many trump cards did he have?
First, there were Beyonder items; he had three. The servant's bell, which he had barely used; the white bone flute, which he had used three times and whose safety and power could not be guaranteed due to the loss of Azk's blood; and the clockwork clown, which could last for a maximum of three minutes.
"Hmm. It feels a bit subtle."
Then there were Lu Ze's own abilities. The Secrets Supplicant stage abilities were mainly about understanding rituals, while the Listener stage abilities granted the skill of "Filthy Utterance/Foul Language," which could cause strong mental damage to the target but consumed a lot of spirituality.
Besides him, there was also Cecilia, who had become an Assassin and might become a surprise force at a critical moment.
And Lu Ze's ultimate killing move was the powerful charm, "Sage's Enlightenment," which he had obtained through prayer from the Hidden Sage. It had already been embedded under the back of his hand, ready for use at any time, and could cause Ms. M to receive knowledge infusion from the Hidden Sage, which was tantamount to a powerful mental pollution.
However, the use of this charm had to be cautious; if it didn't hit Ms. M, he would basically be dead.
Such was his situation, so what about Ms. M on the other side?
"Just a Sequence 5 Shepherd."
Lu Ze looked at the gentle, beautiful, yet cold and insane woman, and the corners of his mouth twitched involuntarily.
At Enmat Harbor, he had already seen her use multiple abilities such as substitutes, disease, mind control, and fire, coupled with the Rose Bishop's Flesh Magic and the Shadow Ascetic's shadow movement. She was powerful enough to defeat a team with a Grade 1 Sealed Artifact.
However, she currently had two major hidden dangers: one was her physical injuries, and the other was her need for Lu Ze.
The former hidden danger reduced her strength, while the latter prevented her from going all out against Lu Ze.
Although she still controlled Cecilia at this time, with flesh and blood embedded within her, Lu Ze had already obtained the Demoness's heart. As long as he seized the opportunity, he could refine a Bottle of Life for his sister to bear the curse for her.
Once his sister's curse was removed, she would be free to act. Lu Ze had even thought about having his sister report to Dunn, so that the Sacred Hall could send a High-Ranking Cleric to arrest Ms. M. But no matter the success or failure of that, nothing good would await him, so he could only give up.
In short, when Lu Ze left home that day, he was prepared to face the decisive battle at any moment.