Riley suddenly clutched his head, tears welling up in his eyes. He remembered his mother pushing him into a closet, shielding him as armed men stormed into the room. Her clothes were torn from the struggle, and blood was everywhere.His father, a reporter, lay on the ground with his glasses askew. The study room was in shambles.In the end, the principal found Riley and pulled him out of the closet. He could still hear his mother's frantic screams echoing behind him.With a pale face, the boy muttered, "Mom, n-no!"Nyx covered the Riley's mouth. "Ms. Carver, there's something wrong with him."Aria tapped Riley's forehead, silencing him. Her eyes darkened as she said, "If you have any humanity left, take me to the detention room to find Bree."Riley, gritting his teeth in pain, nodded. Aria remained cautious, making him lead the way as she followed close behind.The detention room was somewhere none of the children wanted to go. The principal made it clear that only those who m
Aria's eyes flicked to the marks on the wall, which abruptly ended at the corner."These marks are weird." She tapped her left hand lightly on the ground, and a hollow sound echoed in response. The floor beneath was hollow!"Ms. Carver, what is it?" Nyx asked curiously.Aria was searching for the switch to open the door. "There's a hidden chamber."A hidden chamber?Just as Nyx was pondering, Aria noticed several books on the shelf. She adjusted them back and forth according to the marks. When the final book was in place, a click was heard.The wooden floor revealed an opening, and a chilly gust of wind emanated from it.Aria wasted no time lifting the wooden panel and gesturing for the duo to enter first.It was important for her to go last as this was the heart of the manifestation. Even if one tried hard to conceal the location, it was almost impossible for them to get rid of the smell.Aria had left a Charm Coin outside the panel to ensure a retreat path for the Earthboun
Tobias had taught Aria to guard her emotions against the influence of vengeful spirits in the Earthbound Manifestation. The events within this realm were remnants of the past, and compassion was essential when dismantling the formation.Yet Aria struggled to extend any empathy toward the Krowonians. Her expression remained dark as she stared at the syringes arranged on the trolley.Unaware of the looming threat, the Krowonians continued to laugh heartily.Aria walked to a corner of the laboratory and released the twins. "An eye for an eye," she mumbled.Immediately, the Krowonian who apprehended Bree felt a chill around his neck. It was as if someone was breathing down on him. He asked his colleagues, "Does it feel like the wind is stronger today?""Nope," the person replied while scratching his arm. He seemed unaware of the strength he used.This was until someone reached out. "Hold on. What's that?"Blood? Why would there be blood?The three of them froze instantly, their fac
Aria's eyes darkened as she recalled the unsettling events since her arrival. Meanwhile, the Krowonians in the laboratory were driven to the brink of madness by fear.Aria urgently needed to get Bree out of the laboratory. Bree was in critical condition, teetering on the edge of death from severe blood loss. However, Bree was frightened of Aria because of her white coat and wanted to flee.Aria gently grasped Bree's hand and spoke in a soothing tone. "Your elder sister and mother sent me to rescue you. They are very worried about you."Bree's eyes widened with desperation as she clung to Aria. Noticing that Bree could only whimper, Aria realized she had lost her ability to speak.After a brief pause, Aria asked, "Did you see anyone not wearing a white coat besides the Krowonian soldiers? Nod if you did."Bree hesitated as she sifted through her memories.Just then, Nyx appeared with Riley behind him. "Ms. Carver, we're running out of time."When Bree saw Riley, she gripped onto
After Nyx led Bree away, Aria checked the time on the laboratory clock before picking up an iron rod.As she ventured deeper into the corridor, the metallic tang of blood grew stronger.Riley, visibly shaken, called out to Aria with each step, but she ignored him, her gaze fixed ahead. She flicked on the light switch and said, "Just as I suspected, it's an Eight Trigrams Manifestation."From the moment she arrived, Aria had found the laboratory's layout unusual. It was circular on the outside, with energy converging at a single point. The paintings on the walls were deliberately placed, and the terrain was uneven.Determining the lowest point of the terrain wasn't difficult for Aria. After pouring a solution from a wooden rack and following its path, she discovered a well not far off. Although the water was collecting on the surface, it trapped souls beneath.Aria raised her eyebrows. This was it.Riley grabbed her hand. "Are we really going over there? It looks so scary.""It
Aria chuckled when she heard that. "God's blessing?""I'll overlook your ignorance," Riley replied, her tone cold. "Perhaps you're unaware of my origins. I am a vessel of God from Krowo. People revere me, praying for blessings and peace. And I possess the power to bestow it."She raised her left hand slightly as she spoke, causing the devices around her to lift into the air. Her long hair flowed as if stirred by an unseen breeze, glowing with a soft light.At the same time, Barron, who was drinking with Viktor, seemed to have sensed something amiss and shot up from his seat.Riley! Something happened to Riley!However, Viktor didn't believe anyone in the Carver family could pose a real threat to Riley. He assumed she was simply displeased with the latest batch of children he provided.After straightening his clothes, Viktor said, "You guys keep Mr. Carver Senior company. I'll be back soon."Barron quickly stood up and wanted to stop him. He knew Aria had been discovered, and it
"You're just a Krowonian doll, yet you claim to be a god?" Aria lifted the iron rod, her voice laced with disdain. "I'm sorry, but our mythology textbooks must not align. I don't play with dolls, and I definitely won't be a slave you cherish."Just one question—are you going to spit out the spirits you've swallowed, or do I have to force them out of you?"As she spoke, Aria bit her finger and smeared her blood across the iron rod, imbuing it with her energy.Riley narrowed her eyes at Aria's defiance. Pure malice ignited in her gaze, the resentment palpable."You Farshyans are clueless. Since you won't submit, you can stay and keep me company. Your body is much more suitable for me. The blood of a cultivator has a sweeter scent."Riley licked her lips before she suddenly vanished.She wasn't just a lingering soul—once she left a body, it would decay immediately. The little boy's form from earlier was nothing more than a discarded shell.The entire laboratory echoed with Riley's
A tall figure emerged from the blood mist, standing unaffected by the malevolent spirits that swirled around him.The spirits couldn't even approach him; they recoiled as if repelled by an invisible force. It wasn't due to any protective charm—his very presence instilled fear in all souls.Aria's fuzzy mind cleared up. Not only did the annoying chanting disappear, but the spirits under Riley's control also stopped in their tracks. Though their eyes remained bloodshot and their forms grotesque, they averted their gaze upon seeing the newcomer, even parting to create a path for him.The tall, lean man wore a pure black wool coat. As he moved forward, his graceful, gentlemanly demeanor was reminiscent of a businessman from Ludwiten, perhaps one educated abroad, with a touch of 19th-century elegance.His face, handsome yet cold, was unmistakable. Only Aria's fiancé could possess such a complex spiritual presence.However, it seemed that the version of him 100 years ago didn't have s