CHAPTER 105: 105 JUST BECAUSE I GLANCED AT YOU ONE MORE TIME IN THE CROWD~(2/3)

After several adjustments and the combined effects of internal and external forces, Herbert’s physical body smoothly stepped into the early stage of High Tier.

Total time elapsed was nine days, which was one-twentieth of the Archbishop’s expected half a year!

A speed twenty times faster!

This was a figure so unbelievable that even the Archbishop, regardless of how highly he regarded Herbert’s potential, dared not to imagine.

In this world, apart from those who bear the divine blessing, no one else can achieve such a miracle.

So, is this really a divine manifestation of a miracle?

No, this is science.

Controlling variables bit by bit, making scientific inferences little by little, conducting statistical analyses slowly, and finally choosing the optimal solution.

Learning mathematics, physics, and chemistry might not allow you to fearlessly traverse the world.

But not learning math, physics, and chemistry make life everywhere full of magic!

"Even though there’s real magic in this world."

Herbert shook his head, preparing to enter the barrier ahead—a passage leading to the Fifth Region Aurora Sanctuary.

Previously, this beacon was occupied by a lava giant turned by Flora in her madness and then blocked by her after she passed out, hindering Herbert’s progress in the labyrinth strategy.

But now, he could finally continue to advance.

Just as Herbert was ready to move forward and engage in profound discussions with the lady on the next floor, he was stopped by Nenasha: ["I suggest you wait a moment."]

"Huh?"

["I think you don’t need to rush, the person inside isn’t someone you can deal with now."]

Herbert halted his steps, raising his eyebrows in confusion: "What? Is she dangerous?"

["To you, quite dangerous~"]

"Even though I’ve officially entered High Tier?"

["Even so."]

Herbert frowned and fell silent.

He didn’t think Nenasha would deceive him in such matters.

If the danger wasn’t significant, she would definitely have waited until he suffered before mockingly speaking like a little demon.

For her to proactively warn him only meant one thing—the presence inside truly was dangerous for him at that time.

"Can you handle it?"

["Me? Ha! What kind of question is that? Are you looking down on me?"]

The Harmonious God scoffed disdainfully, considering this a provocation.

Am I afraid of her?

["Get in! Go now! You have to go in! See if I can’t handle it!"]

Herbert secretly curled his lips.

See, so impatient.

I just asked, why did you react so defensively?

"Then I’ll take a look."

Herbert thought for a moment and decided to take a small risk.

"Just take a look, light up a coordinate, and I’ll immediately withdraw if needed."

Then, the brave Herbert really just took a look... not figuratively, but literally looked.

He saw an eyeball!

In a pure white space, a gigantic half-open golden eye hovered above, surrounded by six pairs of black wings, casting a solemn shadow.

!!!

The moment he saw it, countless layered overlapping songs echoed in Herbert’s mind.

(Holy!)

(Holy!)

(He is one, also many!)

It was a hymn!

Yet upon listening closely, the content of the lyrics was endlessly blasphemous, denouncing the corruption of heaven, cursing the hypocrisy of the benevolent god...

What the hell is this!!?

Before his throat could respond, Herbert’s body moved on its own, directly pushing open the door and rushing back to the Endless Maze.

In the next instant after his departure, that dead eye slowly rotated, looking towards where he had originally stood.

Buzz——

Raspy voices full of layers, with curiosity and confusion, echoed ceaselessly in the space above.

Eventually, those countless voices gradually merged into one.

"Devotee?"

...

"Holy... pff, what the hell was that?"

Escaped to safety, Herbert frowned deeply, still feeling his head buzz as if someone inside was singing the blasphemous hymn.

Holy!

["Didn’t you see it?"]

In a good mood, Nenasha enjoyed Herbert’s predicament, teasingly: ["It’s an Angel~"]

Two shadow tentacles intertwined as if proudly crossing its arms.

["Hmph, it’s just a Fallen Angel who voluntarily abandoned the divine spirit~ definitely not my opponent!"]

"...Was that the Fallen Angel?"

Muttering, Herbert struggled to recall his previous experiences with the Archbishop on the Fifth floor—even recalling nothing.

The memory existed, but everything he encountered at that time was covered by a vague shadow, making the details impossible to remember.

The only possible clue was when entering and exiting the Fifth floor, the Archbishop patted his shoulder twice.

"Was the memory blurred to protect me?"

Meaning that just staring at that guy could harm me?

"Hmm, indeed quite sanity-draining."

Though frightening, the massive eyeball with wings wasn’t that scary, but the omnipresent surround-sound BGM she had was truly hypnotic...

After a moment of thought, Herbert decided to temporarily shelve the issue.

Anyway, the teleportation point in the Fifth Region was activated, he could directly teleport once powerful enough.

The temporary setback did not change Herbert’s mentality.

"Since I can’t conquer it in the short term, I’ll just ignore it for now and proceed according to the original plan."

"With the current power..."

Herbert squinted, calculating the cards in hand he could use, gently nodding.

"It’s more than enough!"

"The stage is set, just waiting for the actors to come to me... hehe."

His gaze was profound, quietly mumbling as if conversing with a close friend.

"You all better not disappoint me."

.

.

Era of Faith, 3017, October 1st.

Night of the full moon.

Blood Moon.

The usually bright full moon was washed with a weird crimson, like a terrifying eye peering down from the sky upon the land.

This is a night of ascending evil forces, a festival for the minions lurking in darkness.

They emerged from cemeteries, flew out from castles, crawled out from dark sewers, and stepped out from the wilderness, dancing under the Blood Moon’s glow.

The night of the Blood Moon was bound to be lively.

But none of this concerned the Mist Monastery.

The crimson moonlight painted the ancient monastery’s exterior with a sinister and terrifying hue, but it couldn’t truly change it.

This is a place watched by divine spirits, also a place guarded by numerous gods.

In this ancient building, time seemed to have long been stagnant.

No matter the passage of time or the change of dynasties, nothing here had ever changed, like a thousand years ago.

It stood silently, like the Ascetics secluded here, abiding by the promises they once made.

But tonight, this ancient building will welcome a group of special guests.

A group filled with malevolence, carrying plots and bloodshed—uninvited guests.

They came together to this place, intending to break this ancient silence, dragging it into the night’s revelry.