OBS Chapter 3461 The real purpose
Chapter 3461 The real purpose
Chapter 3461 The real purpose
The candle in the high priestess's hand illuminated the folded handkerchief that Shad took out of his pocket, revealing hair and a photograph inside. The photograph was "read and written" by Dorothy according to Shad's memory; of course, to avoid trouble, Shad made sure the gaunt-faced middle-aged man lying in bed in the photograph didn't actually look exactly like "Grey Hawk."
As for the hair, it was "artificial hair" artificially cultivated by Priest Augustus. This was a further advancement in necromancy achieved by the priest after he received a portion of Laplace Howard's "human transmutation" alchemy shared by Shad. Shad even joked that the old priest could live a comfortable old age and become a wealthy man by selling wigs.
The lady then carefully accepted the handkerchief that Shad offered, and gestured for Shad and Tifa to follow her forward.
She led the two through the crowd holding candles gathered below the platform, and straight up the steps to the stone coffin. Only then did Shad realize that the inside of the coffin was actually just a human-shaped depression.
The noblewoman tossed the hair and photograph from the handkerchief into the sarcophagus, then beckoned downwards. Two men in black robes with human tags on their heads then carried up a wooden bucket. As Tifa covered her mouth and nose with her hand, they poured the entire bucket of human blood into the sarcophagus.
The photos and hair were submerged in thick blood. Together, they lifted the heavy sarcophagus lid and placed it on top. Then, as more black candles placed in the room were lit, the "people" on and off the stage chanted in an obscure and incomprehensible language.
The sounds were synchronized and eerie; even a sane person with a strong will would likely tremble with fear upon arriving here. Tifa was currently being held in Shad's arms, while Shad looked around indifferently.
Tifa couldn't understand what they were saying, but Shad could. Unlike the fake mystical marks on the ground and walls, these people were chanting a genuine ancient language.
Although Xia De hadn't formally studied it, his exposure to so many ancient languages over the past two years had allowed him to deduce some patterns in pronunciation and grammar across different eras. The language they were reciting most likely originated from the Second Age, specifically from its early stages.
As for its meaning—
[Praise be to the God of Flesh and Blood! Praise be to the God of Creation! Praise be to the God of Evolution! Praise be to the Lord of Crimson and White!]
These four titles belong to the same being, namely the Twilight Creator among the Thirteen Ancient Gods. This deity is the creator of many ancient races in legends and myths. For example, the ancestors of the Titans were created by this "Creator".
What's really interesting is that no myth or legend has ever mentioned that this "creator" created humans and elves.
A very small number of vampire clans do not worship the moon and the vampire god, but instead worship this deity. The Blood Spirit School, which has had many dealings with Shad, is a clear example of this deity's worshippers.
Shad had only heard from records that the House of the False Man might be related to this ancient god, but he never expected to find evidence so easily.
However, the good or evil of this deity cannot be judged solely from the "House of False Men," just as the Sage of the Moon cannot be judged as a villain based on the "Mad Moon."
"However, the [Twilight Creator] is in charge of creation, reproduction, and flesh and blood, which is quite similar to the powers of the Red Moon. But the Red Moon has nothing to do with the concepts of 'creation' and 'evolution'."
Shad thought to himself, but despite the frightening display, the prayers chanted by these humans and fakes did not trigger any changes in the elements or spirits, so Shad simply held Tifa, who was "frightened".
The indifferent expression on his face did not arouse the suspicion of the "noblewoman" who was observing him; on the contrary, it strengthened her determination to continue carrying out the plan.
The continuous prayer lasted for a full ten minutes, and Shad was even worried that their throats might give out. When the "prayer" ended, the lid of the sarcophagus remained closed, and the noblewoman smiled and said to Shad:
"We will need to wait a while longer. We will be leaving here temporarily, esteemed guest. Please stay here alone and try your best to recall all the experiences you had with your loved one who is about to return. This will help him travel back in time on the path of the dead more quickly."
Shad, however, hugged Tifa tightly:
“My maid, I mean the maid that lady sent to accompany her, can’t she stay here either? That won’t do. I won’t let my maid leave me for my uncle’s sake.”
The lady's smile remained unchanged; she was not surprised at all.
"Of course this young lady can stay with you, no problem. Just please don't turn on the lights here for a while, and please don't make any noise, so as not to disturb the soul's return."
Then she said apologetically:
"Also, I hope you can avoid direct contact with this lady. You need to concentrate. The deceased who has returned needs your thoughts to find their way back."
I have to admit, they did look very professional.
"It's alright, Master, I'll just stand behind you."
Tifa's soft, sweet voice came from Shad's arms, and Shad gently stroked her hair.
The "noblewoman," the high priestess, swept her upright eyes over the two of them, then smiled and said:
"Well then, distinguished guests, let's begin now. Remember, you must not make any noise and must concentrate."
So the humans, fake humans, and the only vampire in the room, all clad in black robes, left, meaning the room was once again devoid of light. However, the closed coffin was actually emitting a faint, blood-red glow, though so weak it couldn't illuminate the area below the platform.
The kind lady brought cushions for Shad and Tifa before leaving so they could sit down:
"Just sit down and think it through carefully. Please don't think I'm being long-winded, but I still want to remind you: you must concentrate and do not use matches or other tools for lighting, otherwise the ritual may fail."
She said this, and as the door closed again, Shad and Tifa did not look at each other in the darkness.
Although there was light around the coffin, the stench of blood was so strong that they didn't stay there. A cushion was placed below the platform, and the two of them helped each other sit down close together.
Although they did not have direct contact afterward, Xia De could still feel the girl's soft breathing and heartbeat beside him.
He certainly didn't try to recall his memories of living with Detective Sparrow, because he had none at all. Although he closed his eyes after sitting down, he was actually thinking about what those fake people wanted to do. While those who had experienced resurrection at the [House of Resurrection] wouldn't reveal their experiences, he instinctively felt that something was amiss with the current situation:
"There's no need to delay like this. I'm delaying so that Luvia and the others can get here. What are those fakes trying to do?"
Although he wouldn't rashly cast a spell here, sensing the location of the fire marks wasn't considered casting a spell; it was more of an instinct. As for Tobesk's fire marks, aside from Galina and Laceya, who were explicitly forbidden by Shad from participating in the operation, the others were almost there.
Of course, Tifa is the closest flame mark to Shad. The maid's flame mark is placed in a unique way; although Shad knows he shouldn't be recalling that sunset kiss, the memory still pops up on its own.
"Ok?"
At that moment, Shad suddenly sensed a slight change in space, followed by the power of the relic represented by the whispering element taking effect. The change in space was only instantaneous; after that instant, Tifa's location shifted from beside Shad to the next room. Fortunately, apart from the change in location, her physical and mental state remained unaffected.
The problem is that the Fire Mark indicates Tifa was moved to the next room by spatial forces, but Shad can still feel the same breathing and heartbeat around him as before Tifa's location was changed.
He suddenly felt he understood what the hypocrites were up to tonight through all this trouble:
"In that case, it should be soon."
Sure enough, less than five minutes later, the door was pushed open from the outside. The people holding candles returned, and the one leading them was still the imposter who looked like the noblewoman.
She walked over to Xia De and said to him, who was still looking down and had his eyes closed:
"Distinguished guest, the ceremony is progressing smoothly. Please take this young lady to rest elsewhere, and we will continue the ceremony."
Shad then raised his head, opened his eyes, nodded, stood up, and reached out to pull Tifa up as well.
The same mask, the same body shape, the same posture, even the eyes in the holes of the mask are exactly the same.
Her appearance was 99 percent similar to that of a normal Tifa. If it weren't for the absence of the Fire Mark and the almost imperceptible whispering element on her, Shad would have even doubted his intuition.
"Fortunately, I've had such a long and in-depth conversation with Grace and Helen that even the faintest whispering elements of the humanoid relic can't fool me. Moreover, it doesn't have any human markings on its head, so it's a fourth-stage pseudo-human. So it was planning to do two things at once: give me the pseudo-human on one hand, and replace the Duke's personal maid on the other. What a brilliant idea."
He suppressed his nausea and took "Tifa's" hand. Her eyes crinkled into a gentle smile, while "she" whispered in his ear with a laugh:
What makes her just one percent different from the real Tifa Servais?
Shad held Tifa's hand, sensing its power level. This was his first encounter with a Stage 4 pseudo-human, and perhaps no one in human history had ever had such an opportunity to explore the secrets of a Stage 4 pseudo-human so deeply.
"The front armor doesn't look right."