Myth: The Ruler of Spirituality

On the icy altar, twelve-year-old Andrea had her eyes closed.

Since the sudden change in the prayer words earlier, she had been trying to reduce her awareness of the surrounding environment and block out the influence of sounds through a method similar to meditation.

Although her knowledge of Mysticism told her that this incorrectly conducted ritual would not actually draw the real power of the Evil God, Andrea was still a bit scared.

God said that death is just another beginning, but some deaths could directly become the end.

"Ah——"

"..."

"Roar——"

"..."

With her eyes tightly closed, Andrea faintly heard a woman's angry shout that reached right into her soul, followed by a continuous deep roar.

The warehouse in this remote city seemed to have turned into an Abyss that could imprison deities, and those believers who were just talking had turned into Demonic Monsters, baring their teeth and claws around her.

'Goddess...I won't be afraid!'

She quietly told herself, Andrea had already prepared herself to face Death.

She didn't even notice that her chains of Divine Arts that originally bound her had failed due to her captor's madness; she just curled up subconsciously into a small ball, burying her face in her knees like an ostrich.

...Bang!

...Hiss...

Tear——!

Having dealt with all the lunatics blocking his way in the warehouse, this was the scene Laine saw.

Under the dim candlelight, the patterns for a living sacrifice were laid out on the floor. In the center, on the altar, a golden-haired, naive figure was shrinking into a ball, shivering.

Plenty of gold, silver, and materials were piled to one side, and dead cultists lay all around. They originally possessed quite some troublesome abilities, but after the transformation of their souls, none could be utilized. Even before Laine could act, they had already begun to kill each other. Explore more stories with empire

It was a true self-cannibalism, simultaneously killing and eating, not even realizing when their stomachs burst.

"Its influence over the outside world has grown stronger, it seems this move really shouldn't be used lightly... Even under a mistaken ritual, when the power has not truly descended, it can still achieve its purpose in another way."

"Unleash a crimson feast, letting these spiritually distorted lives consume each other, and the final one left, through this process of cannibalism, will further undergo physical deformity. It will draw on a certain strength that spills into the world, eventually becoming a being similar to an 'Evil Creature.'"

With a slightly solemn expression, Laine had to admit, in the entire Chaos World, the Mother Tree was truly a presence utterly beyond his plans.

On one hand, It had no so-called 'mythical trajectory' to compare to, while on the other hand, It possessed a force stronger than the world itself. Most critically, Laine couldn't truly comprehend Its mindset.

Unlike those inherently powerful deities affected by Godhood and nature, the Mother Tree was that special one. It's worth noting that even Laine himself was gradually developing a divine aspect, but It likely would not.

After all, a madman naturally fears not a shift in spirit, and no one could tell if It had become even madder. Fortunately, It had always been sealed...otherwise, this world would have long become a script of many Primordial Gods collectively resisting an Outer God.

"Then, it's your turn now."

Packing up the scattered items neatly, Laine turned to the figure still huddled on the altar.

The Little Princess who had closed herself off from external perceptions probably still didn't know what had happened. She appeared extremely fragile — and then Laine unapologetically pulled her hands away from her knees, locking eyes with the girl who opened her eyes in panic.

"This... Little Princess, right, introduce yourself. Like how you came to be here, what's your name, what you can do, and what you plan to do next."

"After all, from now on, you are my captive, and as a princess of a Kingdom, you should have a deeper understanding of this world."

"No! I won't tell you anything! Ugh... don't think I will submit to you, dog of the Evil God, you can give up!"

With tears still un-dried in the corners of her eyes and her voice quivering, Andrea held her head up high and spoke righteously to the stranger in front of her.

'Oh my God, did the ritual actually summon believers of the Evil God, and he even killed all these people, but this isn't Mysticism...no, Andrea, be strong, the chosen of the Goddess won't bow to Cultists, especially not the craziest among them.'

She silently bolstered herself, yet Andrea felt extremely panicked inside.

In this world, there are hardly any sects directly related to the Blood Mother Tree, most reverence is given to Ancient Evil Beings that have split from It or something else. Even if a few exceptions are quickly obliterated, those not eradicated gradually become one of the Evil Creatures.

But as for the prayer words, anyone experienced could tell what existence they described...thus knowing the terror of an Outer God, Andrea felt she had just escaped the wolf's den only to enter a tiger's lair.

"So you are 'non-violent non-cooperation' now?"

"Yes—neither violence nor cooperation!"

Clearly, Andrea misunderstood the phrase 'non-violent non-cooperation'; it didn't mean 'if you don't use violence, I won't cooperate', but one must admit, she said it with a lot of spirit—if one ignored the almost tearful expression and the continuously kicking legs.

Faced with such a situation, Laine expressed helplessness. He wasn't in the mood to provide psychological comfort to a little girl, so he had no choice but to use the most direct method to make this little princess confront the 'cruelty' of reality.