We evil gods must hide.

Chapter 57 Forcible Removal of Cognitive Shackles

The fortress gates swung open with a loud crash.

The torchlight flickered in the passageway, casting long, distorted shadows. Hundreds of black-clad cultists surrounded Lin Qi, silent and creating an extremely eerie atmosphere.

Baal, the priestess of the abyss, walked at the very front of the procession.

He lightly tapped the ground with his bone staff, the black heart at its tip pulsating slightly. Spells spread along the tip of the staff, constantly scanning for possible trap locations, a soft hissing sound echoing continuously in the empty passage.

Deep in his eyes lay a trace of bewilderment that even he himself was unaware of.

My mind was shrouded in a thick fog. I only remembered that I had to follow the "Divine Envoy" and supervise the Blue Dragon sacrifice for the Demon God. But why I came here, how I got here, and why these people from the Ryan family were traveling with me were all blanks in my memory.

Meanwhile, Gao De led the guild's elite troops in the middle.

Eight elite soldiers formed a ring around Lin Qi, their longswords half an inch from their sheaths, their eyes wary. Gao De's hand remained on the hilt of his sword, glancing occasionally at the abyss priest Baal ahead, his eyes filled with apprehension.

The system indicated that the dragon's might within the passage was growing increasingly heavy.

Although this blue dragon was severely injured and relentlessly pursued by the Dragon Island's hunters, it was still a fully grown dragon. The fortress, forged with primordial dragon power, was itself a vast dragon domain, and any creature below the dragon's rank that stepped into it would be naturally suppressed.

After walking for about 15 minutes, the passage suddenly widened.

The rock walls on both sides were riddled with holes, concealing dragon breath traps that all lit up with a pale blue light the moment the torches approached. The smell of sulfur in the air suddenly intensified, the temperature soared, and even breathing felt like a burning sensation.

"Stop!"

Baal shouted a stern command, slamming his bone staff into the ground. Black abyssal mist instantly spread out, forming a barrier that blocked the oncoming scorching dragon breath. With a deafening roar, the dragon breath struck the mist barrier, causing the entire passage to tremble slightly, and rubble rained down from the dome.

"It's a series of dragon breath traps."

Baal turned around and, from a distance of a dozen steps, bowed to Lynch, his tone still fervent and respectful, "My Lord, the traps here are numerous and must be overcome before we can proceed."

Lynch nodded.

But at this moment.

[Note: Upon entering the legendary creature Spirit Fish, divine skills are temporarily disabled!]

[Note: All divine powers and skill effects are continuously decaying... decay rate 70%... 90%...]

[Note: [Forgotten Mask] Target: God Ryan, Cognitive Shackles forcibly removed, effect nullified]

[Note: [Forgotten Mask] Target Baal, Cognitive Shackles forcibly removed, effect duration expires]

[Note: You cannot use any Oblivion Divine Power at this time.]

The cold, impersonal system notifications exploded in my mind, one after another.

Lynch's gaze unconsciously swept over Baal, who was breaking the trap ahead, and then landed on Gaode beside him.

Almost at the same instant, Gaode's gaze swept over.

There was no longer a trace of the previous awe and subservience in those eyes.

All that remained was utter vigilance, bewilderment, and a sudden surge of hostility.

Gao De frowned, his grip on the sword hilt tightened instantly, and he stared intently at Lin Qi, his mind spinning—the memory that had been so clear just moments before seemed to have been ripped out in chunks.

He remembered that he was sent to Silverleaf Town by his family to oversee the Blue Dragon's affairs, and that he had captured a group of gray-market substitutes to be used as cannon fodder. After that, he had no memory of anything else, even though the people around him were still his subordinates.

But why are they wearing black robes with strange badges on them?

Moreover, who is this masked, charismatic person who looks much younger than himself?

Why would his elite troops form a protective formation, shielding him in the middle?

Why do I still feel a strange, inappropriate fear deep down when I look at him?

Countless questions exploded in his mind, and Gao De's face gradually darkened. He took two steps forward, his longsword fully drawn, the tip pointing directly at Lin Qi. His tone was cold and hard, carrying the arrogance of a noble scion and an icy wariness: "Who are you?"

The surrounding guild elites and proxy adventurers hadn't even reacted yet.

Lin Qi stood still, his expression unchanged.

He didn't look at the sword tip pointing at him, nor did he rush to explain.

He merely glanced at old Morgan and said, "This kid has probably fallen into the Blue Dragon's illusion trap."

Sure enough, the latter looked embarrassed and immediately took action.

He staggered over from the side of the group and stood beside Gao De. He slammed his staff down, and the magic crystal at the top burst out with a blinding white light, knocking away the tip of Gao De's sword that was pointing directly at Lin Qi with a clang.

He blocked Gao De's way and said urgently, "Young Master, this is Senior Horton from the family."

Gao De's brows furrowed even more, his tone filled with surprise and rage: "Master Morgan, what do you mean by this?"

"Senior Horton, I've never heard of you."

"Never heard of it?"

Old Morgan's hand holding the staff was trembling. He thought to himself that the young master was indeed under an illusion. He still held on tightly to the other party, then quickly turned around and bowed to Lin Qi, his waist almost touching his knees, his posture extremely respectful.

"Lord Horton, please calm down. I will dispel the illusion for the young master!"

Lynch nodded.

"Lord Horton?"

Gao De scoffed as if he'd heard the funniest joke, pointing his sword at Lin Qi again. He sized him up, his eyes filled with even more wariness. "Mage Morgan, are you senile? How could a family elder be such a mere brat?!"

His memories of "Uncle Horton" had completely vanished with the breaking of his cognitive shackles.

Morgan's face turned even paler.

The poor old monk was at a loss for what to do.

He staggered back a step, the magic crystal at the tip of his staff flashing wildly, and a faint spell swept over God's body.

His lips trembled, and the confusion and fear in his eyes grew stronger. He muttered to himself, "No trace of a curse... no... but there's no mental corruption either..."

"Young Master!"

He leaned closer and whispered something in Gaode's ear.

"This is the Blue Dragon's fortress, filled with dragon breath curses and abyssal corruption! You must have been bewitched by the dragon's might, unable to even recognize your own elders! You dared to draw your sword against Lord Horton; if this gets back to the family, the patriarch will certainly not forgive you!"

Gao De wasn't some naive nobleman; he immediately sensed something was wrong.

His grip on the sword hilt tightened and loosened, then tightened again. He looked at the genuine fear and anxiety on old Morgan's face, then at the calm-looking young man before him, and the fog in his mind grew thicker and thicker.

Could it be... that I've really been cursed by the blue dragon?