[Event —— "Gemini Stars"]
[LosHeath's Gift: Overwriting the Night Eyes yielded the Gemini Star Eyes; using them allows one to glimpse the mysteries of the cosmos. The price: Gemini Eyes require a bloodline and fate-linked twin to use effectively; solo use requires a significantly higher cost.]
At the moment of her salvation, Tinina bore the full cost of her beast transformations.
The mutations in Daphne's body were transferred to the right-eye Night Eye, which was then expelled.
When Mithra picked up the eye, a long-awaited reward appeared.
The source of this reward was familiar.
LosHeath.
That name, Anderet mentioned when she secretly sought Mithra, referring to them as the two pillar gods who had been alerted when it stirred Eternal Night previously.
One was the invincible Lebaance.
The other was LosHeath.
Mithra had made a mental note, and now, this powerful being's reward had arrived.
As for the eye in Mithra's hand:
[Gemini Star Eyes: An originally lost Night Eye, containing the past of a brother and sister; overwritten by cosmic power, it became an eye that peers into the cosmos. Alarcus encountered them while on an expedition; they were spiritual practitioners who taught him the Star miracle. Closely bound to the body, it merges with the flesh; from then on, you become a stargazer.]
[——I have no objections.]
I think you have plenty.
Her unique gift, passed down through generations of humans, was snatched away and became someone else's eye; Anderet's mood wasn't great.
However, it might reveal a hint of LosHeath's nature.
The character who elicited Anderet's "no objections" was worth noting.
This reward was merely a tool for Mithra; it wasn't directly imposed upon her.
Giving her another chance to hesitate.
But Mithra wasn't worried; she was curious about the Star miracle.
She placed the eye on her forehead.
She never thought she'd have a third eye.
After a gentle sensation, a sharp pain pierced Mithra's brow; the eye sank into her flesh, seamlessly merging.
Mithra felt her head swim; it felt heavier.
The Star Eyes didn't grant extraordinary vision; her sight remained normal; but when the Star Eyes activated, everything around her shimmered like starlight.
Without the Auxiliary Light Lantern, she could see beyond the physical form in the lightless Eternal Night World.
The dark sky above transformed into a beautiful cosmos.
Mithra gazed into the cosmos for a long time; then, a murmuring voice, indistinct yet piercing like a drill, echoed in her ears.
She furrowed her brow, quickly closing her eyes, nearly fainting.
Regaining her senses, Mithra discovered a significant depletion of her primal sense.
Since absorbing the Night Hunter's Distilled Sense, she'd become accustomed to abundant sense; she rarely depleted her primal sense.
But the Gemini Star Eyes bypassed her surplus sense, directly consuming her primal sense.
And the consumption was substantial.
This caused a massive depletion, resulting in sense deficiency.
Her desire to investigate the Gemini Star Eyes' nature was momentarily postponed.
Despite this brief glimpse, she directly obtained two miracles from the cosmos.
Perhaps due to the dream's influence.
[Starlight] and [Star Chains] were directly imprinted onto her eyes.
Mithra lacked Star type sense, but the eye served as a conduit; despite being an external implant, it felt like a Unified Sense organ, remarkably.
Meanwhile, Daphne, learning of Tinina's departure, fell into despair.
Tinina had been her companion for a long time, like a sister.
Her sudden disappearance was difficult for Daphne to accept.
Those around them didn't know what to say.
They only saw Mithra charging towards the beast-transformed Tinina, a white light flashing, before both collapsed.
Moments later, Tinina's beast transformation symptoms eased, then surged again.
Just as the group considered forcibly interrupting her transformation before she awoke, Tinina suddenly shrunk, rapidly returning to her normal form; the Night Eyes and Eternal Night crystal were expelled.
The unruly Eternal Night crystal lay still, inert.
Shortly after, Mithra awoke, brushing herself off and assuring everyone that they were fine, telling them to rest until Daphne awoke.
After Daphne awoke, they learned from Mithra and Daphne that Tinina had left.
The advance team had spent considerable time with Tinina.
They had grown fond of the eccentric "senior."
Nie Hong, in particular, had shared many things and valuable knowledge with Tinina.
Her sudden disappearance weighed heavily on the team.
"Damn Night Hunter!" Nie Hong slammed his fist on the ground angrily.
Mithra held the Eternal Night crystal possessed by Ikli; with Ikli dead, it posed no further threat.
Tinina's situation wasn't directly related to the Night Hunter; Ikli was, at most, a detonator.
But it didn't matter; they'd done so much; assigning blame wasn't necessary.
Besides, Ikli's actions in the dream were despicable; he deserved the blame.
"Take Daphne back," Mithra said, putting away the Eternal Night crystal.
"What? But…"
"I've obtained your return markers from Sanctuary contacts; I can return on my own. You can't stay here long."
Mithra then looked at the distraught Daphne, "The main issue is her. Daphne was protected by Tinina, allowing her to navigate Eternal Night easily as a beast miracle believer. Now, despite her considerable strength, her resistance to Eternal Night is the same as other beast miracle believers."
Nie Hong immediately grew anxious.
"Don't worry; her current state is stable; there's no immediate problem. However, to prevent a repeat of Tinina's situation, and for your own safety, given your prolonged stay in Eternal Night, return quickly."
Mithra's voice was steady, her speech rapid yet clear; they had no grounds to object.
"Understood. Although we came to investigate your situation, we were ultimately saved by you. Thank you, Ms. Mithra," a Sanctuary member expressed their gratitude.
"No, your help was crucial," Mithra replied.
She was serious; even though she knew how to leave Eternal Night, she wouldn't leave without a definite exit point.
But relying on a marker to find her way out was naive; finding her way back without one would take a considerable amount of time.
Her first entry into Eternal Night, even with a clear objective, took three days.
She couldn't imagine how long this chaotic situation would take.
Thus, she genuinely thanked the team.
Though her tone remained impassive and cold.
The Sanctuary members felt awkward, "You don't need to reassure us."
"I'm serious."
"Really, no need!"
"I…"
"Alright, you don't need to say anything. We won't stay long; you have your plans, and we need to take Miss Daphne back immediately and report to Salomo," the Sanctuary member waved, smiling.
Mithra said nothing.
Sigh, those Sanctuary people.
...
"Mithra, do you have anything else to do here?"
As the Sanctuary members prepared to leave, Nie Hong, lacking their formality, approached Mithra directly.
"I'm curious what the Night Hunter Church is looking for," Mithra replied casually, shining her light into the distance.
"So it's about them; be careful!" Nie Hong unsurprisingly said.
"I'll be fine. Oh, I almost forgot to ask; did Nino figure it out?"
Nie Hong realized he hadn't yet told Mithra about the Sun City events, quickly relaying the clues he'd given Nino, and the subsequent deductions.
Mithra nodded, "Yes, that's about right. I didn't expect you to be the one to awaken Nino."
"Ah, ha ha," Nie Hong chuckled awkwardly, "I thought about what if that was your last message, so I took it seriously and thought it over thoroughly."
So you said you trusted me and I'd be safe, but secretly thought I was going to die, huh.
Mithra glanced at Nie Hong; she didn't dwell on it, asking, "How long has it been?"
"Huh? Let me see…" Nie Hong checked his specialized Dreamland timer showing the common Dreamland time.
"More than two days," Nie Hong said; his composure, regained after seeing Mithra, was again disrupted.
He'd spent two days searching for Mithra; it was early morning on the third day. Midday today was the predicted time of Xyrin's transition in Sun City!
"That time already, huh," Mithra nodded.
Nie Hong unconsciously looked at Mithra.
The situation was dire; he didn't know the outcome, instinctively seeking Mithra's guidance.
But Mithra seemed unconcerned, "That's Sun City's problem. Though I'm interested in Xyrin, the potential Wandering God, if they worship it as a protector, I won't mindlessly destroy it."
Nie Hong hesitated.
Wouldn't you?
Logic told him Mithra wasn't invincible; Dreamland was vast, experts were everywhere, and powerful beings lurked in every corner.
But his experience led him to believe Mithra could "eliminate" all problems.
"It depends on Nino's decision," Mithra said.
"Nino?"
"Nino is from Sun City; he's the main reason I came here. If he has any objections… we'll see. Be careful on your way back; Sun City will likely be chaotic," Mithra's tone was both reflective and sarcastic, yet emotionless.
With Mithra's instructions, Nie Hong and the advance team left.
Though they'd lost their way in the chaos, they weren't lost; they could retrace their steps using their markers; eventually, they would find the exit.
Daphne thanked Mithra.
Despite Tinina's protection, this girl from the Gulan Sacrifice Tower wasn't weak.
She would carry on, strengthened by Tinina's blessing.
After all, Tinina had entrusted her with all hope of survival.
Watching Daphne's back, Mithra opened her Star Eyes, gazing at her.
In Mithra's vision, they departed under the stars' protection, their journey blessed.
Moments later, closing her eyes, rubbing her slightly dizzy head, Mithra turned, resuming her task.
Hunting.
The "dog" was unusually compliant this time; perhaps witnessing Mithra casually slaughtering the Hunter in Tinina's dream had frightened it.
A case of killing dogs to respect dogs.
Mithra sped through the darkness.
Both the physical scents and the subtle Ki were readily detected.
The previous battle was near the Eternal Night Sun City border; the scent now led outside the city.
Mithra had entered through another section of the wall.
But she couldn't distinguish which was which, thanks to her pouch.
The Matsuri's effectiveness outweighed its side effects.
As Mithra reached the city gate, the surrounding air shifted.
Whoosh whoosh!
A purplish-black pillar of light suddenly erupted from somewhere, piercing the sky!
Mithra recognized this scene.
When she'd fed The Maw and absorbed a fragment of the Herald of Eternal Night, she'd seen the image of Eternal Night's descent; the pillar behind Anderet was similar.
This one was smaller and less bright.
They'd found something.
...
They'd found it.
"The Night Elf Anderet—one of the Forty-Four Pillar Gods! All doubts and suspicions will be confirmed! Darkness! The supreme deity! This fragment of the pillar is the ultimate proof!"
Livnis gazed at the pillar, its power erupting after she'd found and activated it; even her usually calm demeanor couldn't conceal her frenzy.
The era of the Forty-Four Pillar Gods was practically mythical for Dreamland.
Even now, the identities of many remain uncertain.
Confirming even one was a major historical breakthrough.
Of course, the Night Hunter Church wasn't excited for historical reasons.
They were ecstatic because their deity was among the forty-four strongest beings; a fraction of that power was now before them!
Just as their excitement peaked, unseen sword energy swept through them.
The followers, their attention elsewhere, were instantly slaughtered.
Reality hit them hard.
Livnis frowned, turning; a chill touched her neck; she used a miracle to block several unseen strikes.
Mithra, wielding the Night Hunter Greatsword, stood atop a tall rock on the hillside.
["Darkness" Pillar Fragment: When Eternal Night is shattered, the symbol of darkness perishes; the pillar fragments until complete collapse; the unbound sprites perish. This is a tiny remnant; even so, it's immensely powerful, usable as a special material.]
"Persistent, aren't you, Hunter," Livnis said, looking at Mithra, devoid of her previous apprehension.
Even with her weakened state, as a follower of darkness, manipulating the "Darkness" Pillar Fragment was easy. With this pseudo-divine artifact, she wouldn't fear a mere darkness-hunting beast.
"Seems a bit forced for a self-imposed challenge," Mithra observed the immense power of the purplish-black pillar, understanding Livnis's confidence wasn't unfounded.
But…
"You followed the Herald of Eternal Night's previous location, right?" Mithra suddenly asked.
Livnis was initially stunned, then her eyes widened, "You intend…?"
Mithra raised her hip light, switching it to a beam mode, firing upwards.
The purple light spread, quickly reaching the colossal creature silently watching below.
Even the pillar fragment, forming the towering light, was like a weak twig before it.
After all, this was merely a fragment, far smaller than the pillar Anderet had summoned, taller than three Heralds of Eternal Night combined.
They were near a Herald of Eternal Night.
Its massive, tentacled head lowered slowly, regarding these insignificant beings.
"When taking others' things, it's polite to ask," Mithra said calmly.
Her words echoed; colossal tentacles lashed down from the sky without warning.
Unpredictable evolution and decay.
...
The Herald of Eternal Night's tentacles enveloped the area.
It was a scene of utter destruction; the field transformed into a rugged landscape of chasms; no human cries were heard; against such overwhelming power, the three humans were insignificant.
The pillar was shattered by the tentacles; after the light dispersed, a long, inky black fragment fell from the sky, embedding itself in the ground.
In the distance, Remu struggled free from the debris, coughing violently.
"Cough cough… Grand Priest!" she frantically searched her surroundings.
After the initial tentacle attack, they retracted, leaving a few larger tentacles seemingly searching the ground.
Suddenly, a chill ran down her spine; she swiftly dodged.
The Night Hunter Greatsword sliced through her side, tearing away flesh, but she avoided the fate of her Grand Priest.
She'd sensed the ambush even in the chaos.
As a branch bishop who'd followed Livnis to the end, like Ikli, she possessed considerable skill.
But as Remu dodged the Night Hunter Greatsword, Mithra's crescent blade followed, swiftly slashing repeatedly.
Knowing the crescent blade's power, Remu dared not confront it, focusing solely on evasion.
Mithra wielded both weapons; The Maw on her chest stuck out its tongue; under these circumstances, it once again took on the task of illuminating the Herald of Eternal Night for Mithra to target.
Then, a Herald of Eternal Night tentacle swept in from afar.
The movement was massive; Mithra and Remu saw it.
Mithra quickly retreated, putting distance between herself and Remu, using Enlightened Step.
Boom boom!
Like a speeding train, the tentacle created a powerful wind pressure; rocks flew everywhere like rain.
Remu remained vigilant, knowing that she couldn't underestimate the Hunter; after all, even the Grand Priest had been ambushed…
As she thought this, the dust and debris shifted.
Remu drew her sword, holding it before her.
Clang!
An invisible sword strike!
Invisible sword strikes were difficult to predict; but Remu's refined senses allowed her to perceive the effects of the sword's passage, enabling her to react.
The opponent's intention was thwarted!
Suddenly, Remu sensed starlight in the dust!
Stars… a Star miracle!
Dark purple spirits appeared before Remu; interlinking, they formed a net, far more than simple chains!
Star Chains!
But it wasn't just Star Chains; a dark, unclear power, clearly from the crescent blade's enhancement, was present!
Remu tried to escape the Star Chains' range, but it was too late.
The instant the dark purple net touched her, it shifted, clinging to her body, trapping her.
Losing her balance, Remu fell.
Reacting instantly, she used a dark miracle, ignoring the cost, to shroud herself, buying Mithra an opening.
Swish!
The Night Hunter Greatsword pierced the darkness, the crescent blade's tip following, forcing the darkness aside.
The crescent blade's abyssal power briefly ignored the darkness, allowing Mithra to reach Remu.
Remu struggled; the Star Chains loosened slightly.
But it was too late.
Mithra's foot came down, crushing Remu's head into the mud.
The greatsword rose, then fell.
Remu's body stiffened.
She'd tried to escape to the very end, but Mithra didn't release her grip; after adjusting the Night Hunter Greatsword, she pulled it through Remu's neck, severing it.
With some internal organs trailing, Remu was dead; Mithra sheathed the sword.
Retrieving the crescent blade, Mithra casually picked up Remu's fallen sword.
Remu's Eternal Night crystal was inlaid in her sword; it seemed even powerful branch bishops preferred not to be restricted by staves.
The dark matter dissipated with its master's death.
Mithra looked up, not bothering to use Starlight to illuminate the area.
With the Herald of Eternal Night present, there were no other Eternal Night creatures nearby; the large pillar of light created by the Night Hunters hadn't attracted others.
Or perhaps any who approached were simply crushed by the Herald of Eternal Night.
The scattered stars illuminated the darkness; though not bright, their range was vast.
Then, Mithra heard heavy footsteps.
She looked towards the sound, seeing the disheveled, battered Livnis slowly approaching.
Livnis was in poor condition; her proximity to the pillar meant she couldn't completely avoid the Herald of Eternal Night's initial attack; she was severely injured.
The wound Mithra inflicted on her chest was still open, blood dripping onto the ground.
Despite her condition, she held the long, inky black pillar fragment.
Close up, the fragment appeared rough, irregular, barely usable as a spear.
The starlight revealed Mithra to her.
Her gaze swept over Mithra, lingering on the still-warm corpse behind her and the sword in Mithra's hand.
"Ah… Remu… finally… gone?" Her voice was calm, her expression unchanged, but a tremor betrayed her sorrow.
Livnis coughed up clots of blood, then straightened, "The first Night Hunter… the one who founded our Church… he combined human and beast strength to defeat the Hunter of that time."
Mithra was taken aback.
The one who'd used themselves as bait to kill the Hunter was… the previous Night Eyes possessor.
"He left much advice for future generations; unfortunately, much of it was forgotten. Even now, I don't know if our path aligns with his intentions… but his warnings about the Hunter were emphasized."
The Herald of Eternal Night's tentacles continued their destructive rampage; thankfully, they hadn't approached.
Livnis's voice weakened, but Mithra heard clearly.
"The Wandering God is immortal; past victories were temporary; the Hunter will one day awaken and hunt again. He said that; we forgot; those who followed his path became factors in the Hunter's rebirth; only…"
Livnis paused, seemingly reflective.
Then, she approached Mithra.
"You… aren't the Hunter."
Mithra remained silent.
"Initially, I was disoriented; but our second encounter confirmed my suspicions; you aren't the Hunter. But you killed it, gaining its power. You're not here for knowledge or power, but… for your own reasons."
Livnis raised the pillar fragment; the wind whipped her tattered clothes; red and black mingled, forming a bizarre beauty.
"Your source is more terrifying than that beast. Now, my life is fleeting; I'll use my remaining strength to kill you… for our 'Darkness'…"
The pillar fragment glowed, resonating with Livnis.
["A Corner of Darkness," Livnis: The Night Hunter Church's Grand Priest; not for power or knowledge, but for the darkness itself. Her followers are gone; she resonates with the "Darkness" fragment, her resolve fixed.]
Mithra's expression didn't change; she crouched slightly, adopting a fighting stance.
Clang!
A resounding clash echoed amidst the starlight.
Mithra and Livnis moved rapidly across the uneven terrain; the Herald of Eternal Night's tentacles lashed out occasionally; perhaps due to the pillar fragment, its actions were hesitant, but it still attacked; the frequency was lower.
Livnis used the pillar fragment as a spear, surprisingly effectively.
Despite her weakened state, she held her own against Mithra.
If she were at full strength, wielding this spear, Mithra might only be able to use The Stranger.
Livnis didn't even use her Illusion body, unable to use large-scale earth manipulation miracles; she relied almost entirely on the pillar fragment's power.
Her body, shattered, would collapse at any moment.
Mithra activated the Hunter miracle; the Hunting Blade slashed towards Livnis.
Livnis easily deflected it with the pillar fragment, then aimed the spear at Mithra, unleashing a barrage of "Heavy Darkness," like machine-gun fire.
Mithra dodged, leaving a long trench in her wake.
Swish—
Gaining a moment, Mithra activated several miracles.
Reinforce Body, Rock Impetus, Feral Steps, and Enlightened Step!
Mithra suddenly changed direction, instantly reaching Livnis, her powerful assault bringing the greatsword down.
Livnis quickly adjusted, subtle magical enhancements rippling across her body; she met Mithra's attack, her purple spear aimed forward.
Clang—
A clash of immense power; Mithra felt her hands tremble; her greatsword almost slipped.
Livnis merely swayed slightly, stabilizing herself; her spear continued its assault.
The Maw, its tongue fully enhanced, tried to block for Mithra, but was easily severed.
Still, it bought Mithra time; she recovered, deflecting the blow.
They both spun; Mithra, seizing the opportunity, drew her crescent blade, aiming for Livnis's neck.
But as the blade touched her delicate skin, Livnis grabbed Mithra's wrist, preventing further penetration.
The Maw's tongue lashed out.
Dark matter enveloped Livnis, blocking the tongue.
They stood locked in a tense standoff.
Suddenly, a Herald of Eternal Night tentacle descended.
Both withdrew.
Boom!
As the earth trembled, Livnis climbed onto the tentacle; before she could breathe, footsteps approached; Mithra was also on the tentacle, giving the already exhausted Livnis no respite.
The Night Hunter Greatsword and crescent blade worked together seamlessly, trapping Livnis.
Looking at the crescent blade, Livnis felt the curse accumulating; God-killing weapons showed no mercy; they often killed their former wielders with great satisfaction.
Livnis blocked another attack.
At the moment of impact, she staggered; her power faltered.
The accumulated curse erupted; Mithra seized the moment, thrusting the crescent blade into Livnis's temple.
Slash!
But it wasn't Livnis who was pierced first; it was Mithra.
The dark matter in Livnis's clothing formed sharp spikes, which she launched at Mithra as soon as the curse took effect.
Her precise control over dark miracles allowed her to set this trap; even though the crescent blade had briefly disrupted her miracle, the already cast spell didn't immediately dissipate.
She'd anticipated this, knowing the crescent blade's nature.
But despite being pierced, Mithra's expression remained unchanged; her body only stiffened momentarily before the attack continued.
The crescent blade pierced Livnis's temple, entering her brain.
Livnis didn't die immediately; her eyes fixed on Mithra; her body, convulsing from the curse's eruption, shifted the pillar fragment's point.
Thick black matter condensed, then erupted, blasting Mithra away.
Mithra fell; the Night Hunter Greatsword slipped from her grasp, sliding down the tentacle.
Livnis's body trembled; she used the fragment as support, remaining upright even on the moving tentacle; her head pierced, blood and other fluids flowing out.
Was this the end? No, she could move again, use one last miracle, for that person…
Suddenly, she felt a familiar sensation.
She swung the spear behind her.
Clang!
The Night Hunter Greatsword, which had slipped from her grasp, was enveloped in a red glow; somehow, it was behind her.
But she wasn't ambushed again.
Then, the purple light approached.
She turned; it wasn't Mithra, just a discarded light.
A simple distraction tactic, effective against her weakened state.
The white Abhorrence staff pierced her back; even realizing it was a feint, she couldn't react.
This second strike, though not as lethal as the Night Hunter Greatsword, was the final straw.
Mithra pressed her to the ground; the intense flames, brighter than the Auxiliary Light Lantern, illuminated the surroundings.
Burning Livnis.
She struggled to open her eyes, seeing Mithra engulfed in intense flames.
Incineration.
This powerful, destructive flame miracle wasn't hard to learn; the difficult part was avoiding self-harm.
Mithra had no such worries.
The flames illuminated Livnis's face; Mithra slowly raised her broken hammer.
"Not bad."
As she spoke, she smashed the hammer into Livnis's head, simultaneously detonating the Incineration.
Boom!
They fell from the tentacle; a burst of flames accompanied Mithra's descent; The Maw frantically retrieved her sword and light.
As Mithra landed, the black abyssal hand emerged, cushioning her fall.
The Incineration explosion ravaged Mithra's body, severing her left arm.
Mithra stood for a long time, her body regenerating in the flames.
The abyssal hand curiously explored, spreading outwards, then curiously examined Mithra, touching her burns, clashing with The Maw.
Suddenly, a gust of wind blew from behind Mithra.
Even the sluggish Herald of Eternal Night reacted; massive tentacles lashed out.
Just as they were about to strike…
Mithra casually extinguished the Auxiliary Light Lantern.
The Herald of Eternal Night vanished, leaving only the chaotic landscape, the flames raging, and Mithra standing silently.
The Night Hunter followers—from common members to branch bishops and the Grand Priest—were all dead.
The pillar fragment fell, landing near Mithra.
Mithra ignored it, focusing on what she held.
["A Corner of Darkness" Distilled Sense: The Distilled Sense of Livnis after death. Her sense, amplified by the pillar fragment, condensed and separated upon death. Absorption enhances extra-normal sense, increasing understanding of night miracles and potentially providing deeper insights into Eternal Night.]
[——The deeper the darkness, the closer to Eternal Night.]
After a moment's pause, the abyssal hand, with the left arm fully regenerated, reluctantly departed; one, seemingly friendly, even gestured to Mithra with a small hand-like appendage.
From their initial frenzy to their more defined emotions, the abyss seemed to be influenced by its interaction with reality.
The flames on Mithra finally subsided; her body regenerated enough for movement.
She approached the pillar fragment and picked it up.
Though aware it wasn't a weapon, seeing Livnis wield it so effectively, she felt a strange urge.
Since Anderet herself called it a material, forging it into a weapon shouldn't be a problem, right?
But Mithra didn't have time for that.
In the distance, within Sun City's Eternal Night, the two-way Eternal Night rift, usually attracting monsters to a small white pillar of light, suddenly shone brightly, illuminating the entire inner city.
That intense light was no ordinary glow.
"Hungry…?" The Maw, snacking on scraps, was also captivated.
"If I were an actor, my schedule would be fully booked," Mithra commented, watching the scene.
"Hungry…"
"Let's go. Hopefully, this is the last one, and it resolves itself without my intervention."
Mithra, carrying the pillar fragment, ran towards the inner city rift.
...
Within Sun City.
Shortly after Nie Hong's departure, Nino returned to the Guardhouse, seeking Navida.
Logically, with the inside contact secured, his temporary position should have ended; he shouldn't have free access.
But the guards knew Nino, so they turned a blind eye.
However, guards were stationed outside Navida's confinement.
"Nino-sama, what brings you back?" a guard greeted him.
"Excuse me, I have some questions for Navida; could I speak with him briefly?" Nino said dejectedly.
The guard hesitated, "But Lord Mayor Wengerson ordered no one to approach Navida; we must be wary of these scholars' antics."
"Yes, he told me that. But I brought him in; could you… help me?" Nino stammered.
Despite the urgency, this was difficult for Nino, who rarely socialized; asking for a favor was humiliating.
The guards exchanged glances, hesitant.
They might have let Nino in if it were a normal prisoner.
But this was a direct order from Mayor Wengerson, and the prisoner was crucial to Sun City's current turmoil; they couldn't afford to take responsibility if anything happened.
"Please, it's urgent! Just a moment! Five minutes!" Nino pleaded; he hadn't expected this, but he wasn't skilled at persuasion.
Seeing Nino's urgency, his usually stern face now etched with anxiety, the guards felt considerable pressure.
The guards hurriedly reassured him, "Alright, alright. Go in and speak quickly; be quick about it."
They unlocked the door.
Nino thanked them profusely, pushing the door open and rushing inside.
The two guards exchanged another helpless look before following.
But upon entering, they were shocked.
"Navida, I need to ask you something!" Nino shouted, suppressing his voice.
But Navida was silent in the corner of the cell.
Nino frowned, sensing something wrong; his expression changed drastically.
"Navida!?" He rushed to the cell, seeing Navida through the darkness.
Pale, cold, eyes closed, lifeless.
The guards realized something was wrong, approaching.
"This… how is this possible?!" a guard exclaimed.
A high-profile prisoner found dead!?
"Didn't anyone monitor him?" Nino asked, turning.
"Lord Mayor Wengerson ordered us to guard from outside…" the guard stammered.
"What… did anyone enter or leave the cell before?"
"No, Lord Mayor Wengerson ordered us to guard closely; we only changed shifts; we know nothing else," the guard said, trembling.
Confirming Navida's death, Nino asked the guards to open the cell; he examined Navida's body.
No external injuries; the cause of death was unclear.
"Inform the others…" Nino said calmly.
The guards ran to report.
Nino remained, examining the surroundings.
He found a transparent orb in Navida's chest.
A Distilled Sense?
Nino was stunned; he gently picked it up.
Distilled Senses left after a believer's death weren't uncommon; it was just a matter of probability.
But this was Navida's Distilled Sense…
Nino pocketed it.
For the first time in his life, he felt a clandestine thrill; but the truth behind this matter outweighed any concern.
Footsteps approached.
Navida's death didn't cause much commotion.
Nino, who'd inadvertently discovered it, faced minimal investigation and experienced no difficulties; everyone he encountered corroborated his innocence.
Later, Navida's cause of death was determined as sense depletion, ruled a suicide from fear.
Sense depletion usually resulted in death; however, sense manipulation was difficult; spontaneous death from depletion primarily occurred in believers who had depleted their own sense to the limit.
With Xyrin's transition imminent, this wasn't a priority.
For others in Sun City, it remained so.
But Nino received a message from Mayor Wengerson.
The Mayor, upon hearing the news, inquired about the details, then dismissed it, focusing on Nino's sudden visit to Navida.
However, Wengerson was preoccupied with Xyrin's impending transition and didn't meet Nino personally.
Nino understood Wengerson's message—the matter could wait until after Xyrin's transition.
After reading, Nino looked up.
The Guard Captain stood before him, nodding slightly, "Thank you for your service to Sun City, Nino, but you cannot enter the Guardhouse now; we're short-staffed."
Clearly, Wengerson had informed him.
Nino nodded calmly, accepting the letter and leaving the Guardhouse.
At the gate, he looked back at the imposing building, gazing for a long time before walking away.
...
At the Sanctuary headquarters.
Salomo waited seriously for Nino at the entrance.
"I heard; the clues are gone?" Salomo asked directly.
Nino nodded, "Let's talk inside."
They returned to the living room.
Nino produced Navida's Distilled Sense.
"You say this is Navida's Distilled Sense?"
"At least it came from him. I hope you can examine it; it might be our only lead," Nino said.
Salomo tapped the table, taking the orb, "Sense depletion resulting in death, leaving a Distilled Sense… suspicious. I'll investigate, but don't expect much."
Nino nodded; Salomo left.
Nino sat alone, gazing at the ceiling light.
He felt an unprecedented sense of confusion.
He thought of his deceased father, his aging mother, and his unmarried younger sister.
Where will Sun City heading?
Amidst his chaotic thoughts, he thought of Mithra.
Mithra's joking suggestion resurfaced.
He quickly dismissed it.
He was overthinking.
Standing, he decided to go home and rest.