NOVPUBHer body suddenly became a blur and slowly drifted over.
She then merged into Aiwass, and Aiwass felt as if some chilling strength had filled his limbs and bones, a coldness not even the flames summoned by the Path of Devotion could dispel.
"...A promise then."
A childish, ethereal voice spoke up, "I will wait for you..."
At this point, Aiwass paused.
Why did these words sound... unlike a soul simulation created by the Pillar God?
It was almost as if it were the real Earthbound Spirit Alice herself...
"...Are you trying to help me complete the mission?"
Aiwass asked in return.
But the Earthbound Spirit Alice didn’t respond again.
Instead, a strong suction suddenly emerged within Aiwass— he could feel his life force and mana rapidly draining away, as if flowing into the void.
Was this a trial? A price? Help? Or just a craving?
—Aiwass suddenly became somewhat curious about Alice.
He hadn’t lied, for he did indeed plan to find Alice.
An Earthbound Spirit was not a Superior Phantom, and could not become a Great Beast for Aiwass.
But she could be sealed into a card just like the Shadow Demon...
If she was still here, then when Aiwass would go to Shepherd Bay County, he could find her in this dilapidated inn...
"Remember not to pull me into the negative first floor again, Alice..."
As sleepiness gradually overwhelmed him, Aiwass murmured softly, "Even if I die, let me die in reality...
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"Take it, my flesh. My life, my everything... I give it all to you...
"Eat well... eat... a little happier..."
Aiwass murmured in a faint voice, slowly leaning forward without strength, and collapsed on the bedside, losing consciousness.
After an unknown amount of time, Aiwass woke up again.
He saw a Pure White light shining before his eyes.
A series of ever-changing images appeared before him:
A reporter played the violin elegantly in the face of a storm, with all the people behind him bound;
Daiya propped herself against an open window, her body drenched by the storm, yet still staring motionless into the starry sky for clues;
It was still Daiya stretching the muzzle deep into her throat, pressing down on the trigger with all her strength;
Aiwass pointed the muzzle at his own neck, slightly tilting his head to reveal a fearless and composed smile;
A shot fell, piercing the shattered space, violently knocking Daiya’s head back...
Then, the images abruptly stopped and turned to a black screen.
All footage of Aiwass using the Shepherd’s Nurturing Skill was erased.
But within this blackness, the sound of sucking and swallowing accompanied by crying could be heard.
In the end, only the voice of a little girl spoke up softly, echoing:
"...A promise then. I will wait for you."
As her voice fell, Aiwass’s vision was no longer pitch black but bright.
A series of Light screens rapidly fell before him, showing Aiwass’s tally of points:
[Essential Mission Completed]
[Heart is the Sanctuary: Did not hide in the room, actively engaged with others and introduced yourself in every layer of the dream (Points: 300)]
[Country Teacher: Continue playing the role of teacher Agni Siva, try not to be exposed (Not Completed)]
[Eagle-Eyed: Uncover the true identity of everyone (Not Completed)]
[My Unforgotten Nature: Let six people pass the ritual (Points: 1000)]
[Incubus Hunter: Kill "Merlin" at least once (Points: 1000)]
[Incubus Slayer: Kill "Merlin" in the real layer (Not Completed)]
[Judgment Moderation: Try not to mistakenly kill anyone outside of "Merlin" (Not Completed)]
[Free Will: Escape Daiya’s mental control (Points: 500)]
[Morality and Duty: Execute the out-of-control Daiya before the Phantom Demon hatches completely (Not Completed)]
[The Extra One: Kill the person possessed by the Earthbound Spirit "Alice" (Points: 1000)]
[Source of the Nightmare: Locate the origin of the dreamland (Points: Up to 2000)]
[Total Points 5900, Rank First]
The next moment, the Great Sage whom Aiwass had never seen before emerged from the distance.
He was an approximately fifty-year-old one-eyed man, riding an eight-legged horse.
His stature was tall, with white long beards, and his keen, lone eye seemed to penetrate all mysteries.
He wore a cloak as blue as the night sky, and he held in his right hand a weapon that shone with brightness, resembling both a spear and a staff.
He looked at Aiwass, let out a satisfied laugh, and then threw his spear—
It instantly pierced through Aiwass’s body, and everything before his eyes shattered like a dream.
Accompanied by three humming sounds, three beams of purple radiance sparkled forth—
[Sacrifice of Flesh (Purple): You excel in the art of self-sacrifice. And now you will master it even more.]
[Dreamwalker (Purple): You walk in the land of dreams, as if traversing rivers alone. You will no longer be deceived by illusions and dreams.]
[Body of Light (Purple): Your soul is so clear. This allows every corner of your body to shine brightly.]
Aiwass paused for a moment.
...The Great Sage didn’t give a container perk?
