novelraw Chapter 1800 - 1799: Shadow of the Skull
Chapter 1800 - 1799: Shadow of the Skull
"Detective, I’m not exaggerating when I say this place is remarkable.
You might not sense it, but my nose, eyes, ears, and other senses are telling me that the clouds of conspiracy are swirling over the city, and emotions of fear and tension are filling every street and alley. The gray mist of war and death has silently shrouded everything here, now just waiting for a spark to ignite it."
The doctor squinted, taking another deep breath, and this time, Shard saw some almost imperceptible black smoke being inhaled into his nostrils:
"Most Evil Spirit Demons we know about can benefit from death, fear, and war. You can consider it a damned racial talent. During their rampant times in the Third Era, the entire Material World was in a similar situation. I’m not one of them, but for reasons you and I both understand, I can enjoy this kind of environment like they do... To be honest, even though I already knew the chaotic situation in the Green Lake Region before coming here, I didn’t expect things would turn out like this. Even if the Maze Demon - Yaruu doesn’t appear here, I’m afraid something else will be attracted instead."
Shard looked up at the night sky. He couldn’t see the so-called "clouds of war":
"This is much like a legendary story."
"Yes, it’s said that the first Evil Spirit was born from conspiracy and lies. Although such an environment is not necessary for those ancient evils, being in it for a long time will undoubtedly make them stronger."
The doctor took another deep breath, and for an instant, a massive and terrifying pressure even made Shard feel uncomfortable:
"Introduce the current situation to me, I want to know everything."
Shard nodded:
"No problem, the situation on both shores of Green Lake, customs, legends, and most importantly the Edwards Family, these you need to know."
Thick fog spread through the ancient city under the night, which ushered in yet another night. The coal gas lamps, though dim, could light up buildings and streets. Shard’s speech wasn’t slow, cold and viscous power enveloped them, ensuring all the words didn’t belong to a third person.
But given there was so much to talk about, by the time Shard and the doctor reached Duin Riverside, standing together by the river that flowed through the city at night, Shard stopped his narrative amid the sound of flowing water:
"That’s how things are with the Edwards Family for now. To draw out our adversary, it’s enough to enter the Dream of the male owner of the Green Lake Hotel. The only problem now is how to capture its true form."
He looked at the lights from the cargo hold of a stationary freighter upstream on the river, the small docks illuminated by gas lamps and torches, as workers carried goods onto the ship.
The doctor also gazed at the eye-catching scenery:
"I already have a plan. If we’re able to capture its phantom in the Dream, I know a way to drag its true form into the Material World. But this requires prior arrangements. Today is Wednesday, I need a day or two to walk around here and choose a suitable location. However, based on your description, I think the best ceremony site is on the water, water itself symbolizes enhancement of Illusion Techniques and Dreams, not to mention it’s closest to the island."
Shard thought for a moment:
"Then you go ahead and choose the location, inform me once you have results, and I’ll immediately arrange for entry into the Dream. If possible, I hope to resolve the issue with the Demon by the end of this week."
"Detective, I promise you, it definitely won’t see the sun next Monday."
The doctor had just disembarked the train this evening, so Shard didn’t disturb him further. After finishing their conversation, the two returned to the hotel together, but on the way, Shard asked one more question:
"Speaking of which, do demons have beliefs? I’m not referring to Alien Demons, I’m talking about the Calamities of the Third Era."
The doctor looked at him in surprise:
"What a strange question. But you’ve indeed asked the right person. Aside from me, you probably won’t find anyone else that can answer this. First of all, it’s clear that they don’t have so-called beliefs. However, as long as they are intelligent beings, they will have personal emotions of joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness, each with varying intensity. Those demons originating from the Third Era don’t believe in The Gods, but they respect certain existences among the Old Gods, for instance..."
"Old God - Golden Sovereign? Deity of trade and wealth."
"Oh? How did you know?"
Because tomorrow, Thursday morning, Shard can use the Time Key again.
When Shard returned home, Luviya was certainly still waiting for him there, and indeed she brought crucial information:
"The Prophet’s Society’s primary target this time has officially shifted from The Chosen One to Laplace Klein Howard. Headquarters have sent the message that they want to capture him alive."
"Why? Wait, has the society discovered something?"
Capturing the Edwards Ancestor alive is many times more difficult than merely killing him.
Luviya nodded:
"Actually, since the beginning of this Era, there’s been a peculiar saying circulating within the society—
The Sixth Era might be the world’s final era. The origin of this saying is unverifiable, and not many believe it. However, in recent decades, increasing evidence suggests that our world is facing an unprecedented crisis. After the opening act of ’Whispering Verses,’ some bad omens indicate that those past sayings that were ignored might actually have merit."
Shard’s expression remained unchanged. Both the Guiding Light Hermitage and the Spiritual Practice Order had said similar things:
"Does the society believe that the guy on the island holds vital information?"
"Yes, the Society believes that even if he’s gone mad, there’s certainly a reason for it. So the Society is trying to ’retrieve’ him and figure out what will happen in the future."
"It won’t be easy."
"Of course it’s not easy, but never doubt the Society’s determination... The Society is dispatching a group of Diviners to Green Lake, I’ve signed up."
She suddenly said, and Shard was taken aback, his hand paused in the act of stroking Mia, who was sitting on the sofa, then he nodded softly:
"Alright, before you reach Green Lake, I’ll clear the path leading to Laplace Klein Howard. Your arrival at Green Lake will mark the last time we set foot on the island."
Currently, there are three drops of Divinity in hand, even if the Chosen of Space has appeared, Shard is fully confident in facing a battle. He has set the time for Luviya’s arrival, hoping to find a way not to use Divinity before then. He has a premonition that if the island’s inhabitants notice Luviya, something extraordinary might happen, so he must act quickly.
Luviya looked at him with pursed lips, unable to believe that this time Shard didn’t stop her:
"This time, you’re not persuading me."
"If this is your wish, I won’t persuade you. Luviya, I respect any decision you make as long as you believe it’s correct."
Shard gazed at her, and they locked eyes under the warm yellow glow of the gas lamp, continuing to look at each other.
(Mia is running...)
Early Thursday morning, Shard left the house early while Luviya was preparing breakfast. He took a carriage to the city’s Dawn Chapel and was greeted by the surprised Augustus, who was astonished that he arrived so early:
"Has something happened?"
"Of course not, though your reaction does resemble a doctor. Oh, the doctor said there won’t be a meeting this week. I wonder if you’ve received his thoughts? We shouldn’t talk in the church, follow me."
Shard went with the Priest to his underground Potion Workshop in the nearby neighborhood, confirming it was safe before mentioning Mr. Green the Ghoul and the three Undead capable of using Maze Lock that he encountered yesterday:
"They are clearly not normal Undead, their Holy Resistance to the gift you gave me is exceptionally high. Compared to ordinary Undead, they are also particularly unusual. Now it’s certain that those three are the Fourth Generation Edwards brothers, it gives us reason to believe that the ’Ancestor’ on the island won’t treat their corpses in an ordinary manner."
"You mean..."
Priest Augustus also realized what Shard had guessed, and Shard nodded, taking out the corpse ghoul’s severed limb he had collected and sliced off with the Moonlight Greatsword yesterday:
"Please check, to confirm our assumption."
The rotten limb was tossed into a large square glass container—something resembling an aquarium, and Priest Augustus poured some white powder into it:
"Corpse Powder."
He mixed it with clear water and then used fierce flames to evaporate the stinking black liquid. The entire process was quite quick, and it was evident the Priest wasn’t doing it for the first time. His manipulation of the flames was very practiced, quickly leaving only some black salt-like crystals at the bottom of the glass container.
The Priest collected those "black salt grains," grinding them into flour-like powder in a mortar. Finally, with Shard frowning, the Priest put a small portion of the powder into his mouth:
"Yes, we guessed correctly."
He spat out the contents of his mouth, rinsed with water, and then asked:
"Those three ghouls were resurrected using the power of ’Death Angel’s’ bones, which explains their unusual behavior compared to normal corpses. Whoever is wielding this power can evidently utilize part of the bone’s power, it’s truly remarkable. If left unchecked, those three special ghouls will grow increasingly intelligent, so there’s a high probability the ghoul you eliminated could revive. Their souls likely aren’t in their bodies but reside within that half skull... You know what a Lich is, right?"
"Of course I know, there are books about them at the second-year level. Liches were common prior to and during the Dark Age of Chaos in the Fourth Era. They housed their souls in special alchemical items called ’Soul Boxes,’ achieving near immortality. However, Liches and the technique for creating them gradually disappeared starting from the Fifth Era."
Reflecting on this, Shard nodded:
"When will I go to Green Lake? I have to personally handle this; otherwise, without seeing the skull, with your current means, there’s no way to eliminate those three ghouls."
Even though knowing the doctor is already in Green Lake City, and Luviya will arrive soon, there’s no more time to delay:
"Priest, I’d request you to set out this weekend. The specific time is up to your convenience. Once there, please go directly to the Green Lake Hotel; I’ve reserved a room for you in advance. There’s a negotiation meeting happening around there lately, with many journalists and idle people, so arranging a room isn’t easy."
Shard said:
"Knowing the opponent is using the Death Angel’s power doesn’t mean we will be able to reclaim that half skull. Priest, you may indeed have to exert your strength this time. Currently, I cannot easily land on the island without likely encountering that Thirteen-Ring Diviner again."
"I will handle this matter; you just need to book me a hotel and show me the way. To be honest, since returning from Midshire Fort last autumn, I haven’t had much activity."
The Priest said lightly, but Shard knew that in the Material World, he couldn’t easily use the Death Angel’s power as he might in the realm of death. Therefore, how to seize the skull will be much more complicated than dealing with the demon alongside the Doctor.