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n830 Destination

n830 Destination

nLumian had always thought Wanak, who could draw power from 0-01, was more dangerous than Albus and Julie. This lightning-filled area was perfect for Wanak to unleash his potential.

nNo matter if Wanak could only change the weather slightly or if he was on par with Julie and Celeste, who could become vessels for a deity’s descent, in this forest of lightning, he was as powerful as a true demigod.

nTogether, Albus and I would get beaten up by the thunderstorm…

nLumian’s first instinct was to exit this area and find another path to 0-01.

nThat way, even if Wanak pursued him, outside his optimal environment, he wouldn’t be invincible.

nIn a flash, Lumian remembered the nightmares he had.

nAfter the forest of lightning, there were mountains of corpses and bones, with 0-01 possibly at the peak.

nThis meant this was the only way to the core sealing area-there was no way around it!

nThis fact was hinted at in “Examples of Mausoleum Construction,” even if it wasn’t clearly marked.

nOr, I could pretend to retreat, draw Wanak out, and avoid fighting him in the lightning forest…

nWait a minute…

nLumian suddenly had a bold idea.

nSince previous dangers saw him as one of their own, would Wanak, a puppet of 0-01, make the same judgment?

nWanak wasn’t a fully intelligent human but more like a sentient puppet.

nSuch a target could likely be deceived!

nWhen I first arrived in Morora, I had little corruption from 0-01, with a mix of other influences, so it made sense for Wanak to see me as an enemy. But now, after much learning, the corruption is approaching a critical point.

n! should try.

nIf it fails, I’ll use Shadow Animation to withstand the lightning attack and seize the chance to teleport out of the forest, avoiding a direct fight with Wanak…

nLumian made his decision and stepped forward.

nAs he walked, he recalled the nightmares he had since arriving in Morora, listening to the brass earplugs recounting knowledge to align himself with the corruption. At the same time, he thought aimlessly about various significant and insignificant questions to relax and prevent his body from being too tense.

nThis could prevent Wanak from noticing anything unusual!

nWhy did I end up in the forest of lightning?

nAccording to the nightmare, there should be burning palaces and waterfall-like downpours ahead.

nAre they on a different route?

n…

nLumian endured the increasing prickling sensation, mentally calculating his distance.

nThree or four more steps to meet Wanak…

nAs soon as this thought crossed Lumian’s mind, he heard slow but steady breathing, masked by the rolling thunder, just a few meters away.

nLumian’s back tensed involuntarily, and his right hand reached into the Traveler’s Bag, ready to pull out the headless corpse of the Abscessed Hand.

nAfter its previous writhing approach, they had fused together but were temporarily unable to break through the Traveler’s Bag’s seal and reunite with the head.

nAs he got closer to Wanak, Lumian, unable to see his expression, instinctively wanted to hold his breath.

nHe quickly adjusted, forcing himself to remain calm.

nThe next second, he felt a gaze fall upon him, making the skin on his face break out in barely noticeable bumps.

nIt was Wanak’s gaze.

nAt this moment, Lumian wished he were a Hypnotist, but he could only keep telling himself, I am an experimental subject, I am an experimental subject…

nHe maintained the same pace as the black-robed experimental subjects, walking straight ahead.

nTwo steps… one step… Lumian tried to clear his mind.

nHe walked past the imagined figure of Wanak.

nOne step… two steps… three steps… Lumian didn’t dare relax, feeling cold sweat on his back.

nOutside the lightning forest, Albus Medici, through a guardian puppet’s eyes, watched Lumian holding the carbide lamp and the ragged head, step by step, approaching Wanak, who had unbuttoned two buttons of his shirt.

nHe saw Wanak’s gaze fall on Lumian, follow him for seven or eight seconds, then slowly shift away, watching Lumian pass the most dangerous person in Morora and head towards the end of the lightning forest.

nWh- Albus squinted his eyes, then laughed. So that’s how he gets through dangerous areas, no wonder he’s been reading and studying these past weeks… When we reach the destination, I’ll have to guard against him using this trick…

nLumian walked a bit further, feeling the prickling sensation fade as faint echoes of sound from the brass earplugs leaked out, indicating he had left the lightning forest and entered a narrow corridor.

nAfter this corridor, I should reach the area around the mountain of corpses…

nShould I wait for Albus to catch up, or go face Julie and the others alone?

nHeh heh, I wonder how Albus will get past Wanak…

nLumian stopped and listened for sounds from the direction of the lightning forest.

nThud, thud, thud. He heard slow, steady footsteps.

n“Why did you stop?” Wanak’s sharp voice suddenly rang in his ears.

nA chill ran up Lumian’s spine to the back of his head, making him almost pull out the headless corpse of the Abscessed Hand.

nHe stiffly wanted to “explain,” but after a moment’s thought, he chose to remain silent and continued walking.

nIn the nearly frozen air, Lumian heard the thudding footsteps pass him and head towards the end of the corridor.

nPhew… He quietly exhaled.

nHe didn’t stop again but slowed his pace, moving like a snail.

nSoon, he felt countless eyes on him.

nSeeing Wanak rush towards 0-01, Albus Medici laughed at Lumian’s pointless risk-taking as he leisurely passed through the lightning forest.

nUsing the guardian puppets in the corridor, Albus saw the walls made of square iron plates, with surfaces as smooth as mirrors.

nAt this moment, twisted, pale faces appeared in these “mirrors.”

nThese faces belonged to the residents of Morora, silently staring at Lumian. Occasionally, someone would cautiously extend a hand from the metal surface, quietly reaching for Lumian’s body.

nLumian merely swung a fireball in that direction, not making any aggressive moves.

nSeeing the pale hand retract into the iron wall, Albus made a puppet speak: “I see Wanak didn’t blindfold himself. Do you want to try it too?”

nIn the underground mausoleum, puppets of Wanak’s level don’t need to blindfold themselves, not fearing replacement by a Mirror Person.

nTheoretically, I should be able to do the same, given I’m almost like him now… Albus must have noticed Wanak didn’t attack me and is suspecting my condition… Lumian calmly responded to Albus, “! don’t want to die yet.”

nHe then asked, “Should we wait here for a while, let Wanak and the two Demonesses fight it out, and then take advantage?”

nWanak rushing to the mountain of corpses must be to stop Julie and Celeste from doing something to 0-01!

nAlbus replied through a puppet: “I haven’t seen the two Demonesses ahead.”

nJulie and Celeste haven’t arrived yet? Did you two Demonesses get lost?

nYou were the first to enter the underground mausoleum! Or have you arrived but are hiding, waiting for the right moment? Lumian’s thoughts raced, and he resumed his normal pace.

nAs he walked, he smiled at Albus. “You must have noticed Wanak won’t attack me. So, will you let me go ahead unimpeded, join me, or rush ahead of me?”

nLumian worried Albus might lag behind, letting him face any unexpected dangers around the mountain of corpses alone. So he pointed out his unusual condition, making Albus cautious.

nThe next dangers, of course, should be faced together. No one should think of hanging back to reap the benefits after the fact!

nAlbus’s laugh came from Lumian’s side.

n“Since we’ve agreed to cooperate, we’ll go in together.”

n“That colors you in a different light,” Lumian responded insincerely.

nAfter several more steps, Lumian suddenly stopped, feeling he was about to reach the mountain of corpses.

n“Why did you stop?” Albus asked through a puppet at the entrance.

n“Why did you stop?” Lumian retorted.

n“You still don’t trust me,” Albus sighed.

nLumian chuckled in amusement and replied, “Aren’t you the same?”

nSuddenly, he sped up, as if trying to leave Albus behind and rush to the foot of the mountain of corpses.

nMoments later, he heard a swooshing sound, the noise of a flaming spear piercing the air.

nLumian scoffed and left the corridor completely.

nThe next second, he felt an intense sense of danger.

nThis wasn’t a premonition but a Hunter’s instinct to dodge an attack aimed at his head.

n“Are you here to die too?” Julie’s cold, indifferent voice echoed in Lumian’s ears.

nLumian quickly activated the black mark on his right shoulder and withdrew his hand from the Traveler’s Bag.

nHe pulled out a bluish-black, swollen, headless corpse!

n…

nTrier, in the apartment Franca and Jenna rented.

nJenna said to Franca, “Your suggestion worked. I’ve digested the Witch potion. Turns out, getting close to mystical dangers was the key.”

nFranca’s face lit up with joy.

n“Are you going to take a couple of days to adjust before going to the sacrificial square in the underground catacombs for the advancement, or do it now?”

nJenna pursed her lips and said, “My spiritual intuition tells me it’s best to do it now.”

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