Chapter 24: Black Domain Storm.
Deep in the dim deadwood forest, the tiny Mother of Foolishness crouched restlessly on the ground.
She had long lost interest in hunting.
Her three ruby-like brilliant eyes locked dead on the distant horizon.
Her long tentacles alternately curled in tension and stretched in irritation.
That life which deeply attracted her, causing a strange resonance in her soul, seemed to be avoiding her.
The soul-deep burning desire made her wish to rush over immediately, wrap it tightly with her tentacles, and play to her heart’s content.
Suddenly, on the far horizon, an indescribable, extremely pure yet extremely terrifying Black Domain storm erupted!
It was like a black torrent surging from the deepest abyss, instantly rising from the ground, forming a massive black cyclone connecting heaven and earth, churning the stars across the sky.
“Whimper… Squeak!”
A violent pain, as if her soul were being torn apart, stabbed fiercely into the tiny Mother of Foolishness’s mind.
Her enormous seven-meter-tall body writhed in agony through the deadwood forest.
Thick tentacles lashed wildly with destructive force, snapping and toppling the ash-white sturdy dead trees like fragile straw.
After the intense pain, a deeper, stronger call seized her.
The tiny Mother of Foolishness moved.
She crawled desperately toward the black hurricane that nearly pierced the firmament.
She could clearly sense that at the storm’s center was a soul of the same origin as hers, yet wailing in pain within the despairing abyss, emitting a heart-rending silent plea for help.
…
…
Carey dreamed, feeling he had arrived in an unprecedentedly beautiful world.
This was a bright world, brighter than the Extreme Day Moon yet gentler.
Green grass and fresh flowers carpeted the earth, extending to the horizon’s end.
Petals, birds, bees fluttered and shuttled everywhere.
Bushes of varying heights dotted the grassland.
Winding streams and riverbanks reflected clear light and shadow.
Not far away, a mirror-like lake sparkled under the sun.
Occasional breezes rippled the surface; a falling petal or leaf sent gentle circles spreading.
Where is this place?
No trace of blackening decay, no piercing bloody stench.
Is this the holy dreamland Sura bestowed upon me?
Carey was entranced.
He involuntarily spread his arms and ran wildly across the grassland, nearly shouting aloud.
Suddenly, a sharp pain exploded in his mind.
Carey lost balance, tumbling to the ground.
His head, body, limbs seemed gripped and squeezed, torn by an invisible evil force.
The sunlight dimmed rapidly.
The green grass beneath him began to spot with corruption and charring.
The familiar rotten stench swept in again.
“No… Someone save me, Mama…”
Carey found his limp body undergoing strange mutations.
His skin blackened and ulcerated at visible speed.
In the retreating snow-white light curtain, a white-haired, white-dressed, red-eyed little girl appeared, carefully walking toward him.
On her delicate, blowable face, a pair of beautiful big eyes mixed timidity and excitement curiously watched him.
“Save me…”
Carey spat a mouthful of thick black blood, arduously reaching out toward the rapidly fading light in the distance and the approaching snow-white girl.
The unfamiliar snow-white girl squatted beside Carey.
After hesitating, she slowly extended her hand, touching the boy’s already unrecognizably ulcerated palm.
Carey finally grasped the snow-white girl’s hand.
The touch was so soft, so delicate.
He could even clearly feel her tense pulse throbbing under his fingertips.
In that moment, the soul-tearing pain eased considerably.
“Whimper… Woo…”
The girl spoke, lips wriggling several times, only managing a tender sound.
She was anxious, unsure how to ease the rotting pitiful life before her.
She could only try opening her arms, embracing that already hideous, unrecognizable head into her bosom, gently stroking.
The world in Carey’s eyes grew darker.
Eerie murmurs echoed through heaven and earth again.
All exposed skin felt pierced by bone-chilling cold as if in wind and snow.
Only the soft arms hugging him were so warm…
…
…
Rich stood stunned in place.
Einar looked bewildered.
Linnea’s face was deathly pale.
Lis tightly shielded the sleeping Maren, her entire body trembling uncontrollably.
The mysterious shock that suddenly erupted from the Corrupt Blood Marsh Pool’s center instantly flipped the temporary tent.
In the group’s horrified gazes, a massive black cyclone shot skyward, spinning madly in place like a storm demon breaking free from the deepest abyss, piercing the dim heaven and earth.
The suffocatingly terrifying Black Domain power hammered like a solid weight, nearly shattering everyone’s abyss of power.
Rich snapped back, scooped up Linnea, and retreated without hesitation deep into the black water swamp.
Einar and Lis abandoned all camp supplies, hoisted the unconscious Maren, and fled wretchedly behind Rich, lacking even the courage to glance back.
The horrifying black storm fully enveloped the Corrupt Blood Marsh Pool and continued expanding at visible speed, like a greedy beast intent on devouring the entire black water swamp!
“Rich, put me down! Quick… Look!”
Linnea struggled in Rich’s arms, one hand gripping his arm tightly, straining to twist back.
Just one glance, and extreme shock covered Linnea’s face; her voice sharpened with excitement.
“There’s something in the storm… Holy Lord, it’s… it’s a Mother of Foolishness!”
Linnea let out a piercing scream, body twisting wildly to escape Rich’s embrace.
Rich halted abruptly, turned, his pupils contracting to pinpoints.
In the distant raging black cyclone, a massive, twisted shadow loomed faintly.
Long, python-like tentacles swayed and danced in the thick black mist, radiating heart-palpitating pressure, as if declaring supreme dominion over this land!
“Yes… Mother of Foolishness, I see it…”
Einar saw clearly too; his legs weakened, involuntarily kneeling.
The black-haired youth shivered, but his eyes grew brighter, filled with fanaticism and greed.
Mother of Foolishness—one of the Black Domain’s top lives, most powerful and mysterious Black Domain kings.
That enormous, monstrous snow-white body was a peerless treasure coveted and madly pursued by any force.
“Rich, now… What do we do?”
Linnea finally broke free from Rich’s hold.
Her body trembled slightly with extreme excitement, seemingly forgetting the purpose of this deep Black Domain venture.
Toward the Corrupt Blood Marsh Pool, the violent black cyclone finally stopped expanding.
The massive tentacles dancing at the storm’s center gradually calmed, slowly retracting, eventually curling in the thick fog into a crouching huge white fleshy mass.
“Captain, it’s a juvenile Mother of Foolishness—we must keep it absolutely secret!”
Einar recovered some clarity from the initial shock, speaking urgently, subconsciously glancing at Lis nearby, kneeling on the ground, muttering toward the Black Domain storm, shivering.
“Just us few, we’re no match for it… It’s at least seventh-tier now.”
The usually cold and steady Rich couldn’t help swallowing, but soon bitterness covered his face.
“Einar, without sharing, no one gets it.”
Linnea bit her lip, decision flashing in her eyes, nodding firmly.
“Rich is right; we can’t capture a Mother of Foolishness. We must find others to cooperate! But absolutely no letting the Lantern Bearer Guild or Church know!”
“Don’t rush; we should first figure out how the Black Domain storm appeared and how it attracted the Mother of Foolishness.” Rich turned, gaze sweeping Linnea and Einar.
“Don’t forget, that kid Carey is still in there.”
“Right, almost forgot! Carey, and Maren—we must get them out of the Black Domain quickly!” Linnea snapped back, looking at the uneasy Lis carrying Maren, a trace of embarrassment crossing her face.
“Captain, you all leave first. I’ll guard here. Whether that kid lives or dies depends on his luck.” Einar drew his weapons, turning up his Black Domain lantern’s oil valve.
“Who to cooperate with—you decide, Captain!”
“Einar, monitor here and stay safe. Carey shouldn’t be dead, but… who knows what he’ll become…”
After a final glance at the Black Domain storm, Rich set down his carried holy water and holy oil on the ground.
Lis, carrying Maren, followed closely behind Rich and Linnea, not daring to look back.
In a previous moment, she had felt Einar’s killing intent toward her, sending chills down her spine.