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4WD all terrain robot

hackaday.io

4WD all terrain robot

https://hackaday.io/project/11234-4wd-all-terrain-robot

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codersilver

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HARDWARE
ONGOING PROJECT
MOBILE ROBOT BLUETOOTH GPS 4WD ARDUINO 2016HACKADAYPRIZE ALL TERRAIN ROBOT ROBOTICS RASPBERRY PI RPI CAMERA 2017HACKADAYPRIZE
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THIS PROJECT IS SUBMITTED FOR

This project was created on 04/22/2016 and last updated 1 年前.
DESCRIPTION
The main goal of this project is to build a mobile robot capable of moving and collect data in rough terrain. Such a robot could be used to patrol the surroundings around your house or hard to reach and hazardous places. The project is open to all hackers and makers who want to build a reliable mobile robot for a reasonable price.
Currently, the robot is controlled from an Android app via bluetooth. The robot can also be controlled by voice commands. In my plans this robot should be able to move in autonomous mode.

Robot parameters:
- External dimensions (LxWxH): 268x270x120 mm
- Total weight 1.7 kg
- Ground clearance: 40 mm

Implemented features:
- faults detection and logging
- overload protection
- reading and writing measurement data on the SD card
- motors current consumption logging
- GPS tracking
- video streaming
- measurements of physical quantities: temperature, humidity, pressure/altitude
DETAILS
he following flowchart shows the connections between the modules of the project. The individual electronic modules are connected via different interfaces i.e.: UART, I2C, SPI. The robot can be controlled wirelessly via bluetooth from your smartphone, tablet or computer. The view from the camera is sent over the wifi network to a device with a web browser (smartphone, PC, etc.).
C
This mobile robot has been designed to operate in rough terrain. So far I've done two tests shown in the following videos. The robot is controlled from smartphone via bluetooth (here is a link to Google play Android app).
haptOn the first video robot moves at full speed fitted with Dagu wild thumper wheels 120x60mm. The second video shows the tests with reduced speed to about 70 percent of the maximum value (tests with other wheels). The measurement data from the GPS and motors load control system were stored on the SD card during both tests. Follow this project if you want to be kept informed about new posts.
COMPONENTS

1
×
Dual Motor Driver Carrier
12A continuous output current (max 30A) per motor, voltage from 5.5 to 24V
4
×
DC motor 6V, 280 RPM, 90 oz-in
high-power 6V, 280 RPM free-run, 90 oz-in
1
×
Arduino Mega 2560
1
×
Bluetooth BTM-222
range up to 100 m in the open ground
1
×
GPS
position accuracy 2.5m CEP

View all 13 components
PROJECT LOGS Collapse
Face Detection and Tracking, DCS-5020L + OpenCV

codersilver • 03/22/2017 at 23:23 • 0 comments
Recently I have placed a new D-Link DCS-5020L camera on my mobile robot. This PTZ WiFi IP camera is quite easy to use and suitable for testing with OpenCV.
e
Below is a video showing the detection and tracking of face using OpenCV.
rThe program has been written in Python and face detection is based on pre-trained Haar cascade classifiers from OpenCV. A simple code example of how to do this for mjpeg compression is under this link. For more information on how to track the movement of any object, see this article.

BME280 Atmospheric Sensor

codersilver • 03/11/2017 at 15:14 • 0 comments
Recently when I was looking for temperature sensor for my mobile robot i found very small and inexpensive module BME280. This tiny sensor is capable of measuring up to three physical quantities: temperature, humidity, pressure/altitude. Its operating temperature range is quite wide: -40C to 85C. It is very energy efficient sensor - it takes measurements at less than 1mA and in a sleep mode less than 1µA. The easiest way to connect this sensor to the Arduino is by using The I2C bus (you do not need a voltage converter as in the case of SPI). You just need to connect four wires:
BME280Arduino Mega 2560GNDGND3.3V3.3VSDASDA (20)SCLSCL (21)
Measurement data can be stored on the micro SD card (you need to connect external micro SD card breakout to your Arduino Mega 2560). I prepared for you a simple program logging measurement data on the SD card.
9Below you can see some charts of measurements taken with the BME280 sensor. The relative humidity can be measured in a range 0 - 100% RH and pressure 30 - 110 kPa.
16

Assembling and installation of portable RPi 0 camera

codersilver • 08/15/2016 at 20:15 • 0 comments
Finally I managed to buy a RPi 0. To supply RPi 0 I use a small power bank (Blow 4000mAh). Additionally I added a power switch and micro usb port for battery charging. To be able to use standard usb WiFi card you will need a small adapter (micro usb to usb). I closed all the electronics in a black plastic housing with dimensions: 124 x 71 x 38 mm. Because I wanted to be able to easily disconnecting the camera from the robot I've used strong velcro to attach the camera housing to the robot.
D
i
v
i

...
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The siblings didn’t mention their speculations at noon, afraid it might deter the official investigators from cracking this case open from the inside. After all, they could only be affected and might escape with outside help.

After clearing the table and helping wipe it down, Lumian returned to his room and lay on the bed.

With conflicting thoughts and many unanswered questions, sleep eluded him for a long time. He relied on some meditation techniques to slowly calm his mind and finally drifted off.

……

In the room shrouded in faint gray fog, Lumian opened his eyes and sat up straight.

He lowered his gaze and looked at his chest. His vision seemed to cut through the thin cotton shirt and flesh, allowing him to see the black thorn tattoo and the bluish-black pattern underneath.

Is this the root cause of this endless loop? Lumian thought.

The black thorn symbol was at the heart of the issue, and the bluish-black pattern brought protection from that ominous force, allowing Cordu to be salvaged.

All of this could be traced back nearly six years.

Lumian remembered clearly that he had still been a street rat at the time. He had barely survived by relying on seeming unthreatening due to his young age and extreme ruthlessness.

Then, one day, he met a dying old man.

Maybe it was because he had picked up some street smarts, or maybe because the old man reminded him of his only family, Pépé, who had raised him until his early teens but sadly passed on, Lumian chose to lend a hand.

Though he ultimately failed to save the old man’s life, Lumian still sent him to the crematorium and buried him in a public grave.

He had found the bluish-black symbol on the old man’s corpse during this. From then on, he often dreamed of the vast expanse of gray fog.

His luck also turned sour, and he began struggling to scavenge enough food. Thankfully, he met Aurore not long after

83 A Sudden Encounter

Phew… Lumian exhaled steadily and reined in his racing thoughts. He slung his shotgun over his shoulder and clipped on his axe. Leaving the semi-subterranean two-story building perched on the edge of the wild, he strode into the dream ruins.

Tracking a familiar route through the dense forest, he crept deeper into the tangle of collapsed houses towards the hulking “peak” of crumbling red stone.

Thick fog clung to the somber sky, weeds rasped at his feet. The whole world was darkened, bleak.

Soon Lumian left familiar ground behind, plunging into the heart of the ruins.

He scanned the ruins constantly, cataloging every trace, theorizing how each might be useful in a fight.

Caution slowed his progress but hunting taught caution and carefulness above all.

Finally, a clue. Fresh footprints, seemingly human. Tucked behind a jumble of rubble at the road’s edge, cunningly concealed.

This one knows how to move unseen… Capable of eliminating traces to a certain extent… Lumian observed for a while and made a preliminary judgment.

He suspected that it was something similar to the shotgun monster, perhaps bearing clues to Sequence 8 of the Hunter’s pathway.

Experience and Aurore’s speculation told him three types of monsters likely infested these ruins.

The first bore no boons or Beyonder characteristics, like Noodle Man or the mouth-orifice monster, probably under the sway of that hidden being called Inevitability.

The second displayed Beyonder characteristics but no boons, typified by the shotgun monster. The black thorn on Lumian’s chest would suppress them. It meant that they were tainted by some hidden corruption, resulting in them turning into monsters.

...

The third showed no boons or Beyonder characteristics, mere humans or creatures twisted into horrors like the skinless monster he first found.

Whether monsters with both boons and Beyonder characteristics existed, he and Aurore suspected so but lacked proof.

Therefore, it was very likely that a monster with Hunter traits possessed Beyonder characteristics!

Lumian tracked the footprints and discovered two lethal traps along the way, validating his hypothesis.

Had he not tread carefully or lacked his Hunter abilities, he might have become prey instead of predator.

Soon, the footprints grew fresher.

This meant a high probability of encountering his target if he pressed on.

Rather than rushing to “greet” his target, Lumian circled around and located an ideal ambush spot.

Then he began to dance.

Amid the intangible melody, he stamped with powerful steps and spun in a gentle, graceful semicircle, reenacting Noodle Man’s strange, mysterious sacrificial dance.

His skills were rough and rusty, but with his Dancer power, Lumian felt his chest heat up.

After undoing his shirt and confirming the black thorn symbol’s materialization, Lumian climbed into the collapsed house’s center and settled into his chosen hiding place.

He quickly glanced into the distance and spied a figure digging a trap.

It was certainly a “person,” but its whole body was charred black, and crimson flames blazed on its surface endlessly.

No way it’s a Pyromaniac, right? I’ve landed a big one… Lumian was both thrilled and vexed.

He was thrilled that the primary ingredient matching a Sequence 8 Provoker had appeared. What troubled him was that it was much stronger than the prey he had anticipated.

Pyromaniac was a Sequence 7 of the Hunter pathway. According to Aurore, it was a Sequence that had undergone a qualitative change. Its ancient name was Fire Mage.

Lumian believed that with him being a Hunter, a Dancer, and possessing the black thorn symbol, as long as he wasn’t careless, hunting a Provoker monster shouldn’t be an issue. However, he wasn’t confident against a Sequence 7 Pyromaniac.

As long as the monster attacked him from afar, it might not be weakened by the black thorn symbol!

After some thought, Lumian decided to retreat.

He planned to devise an effective plan to handle the flaming monster after setting up a targeted trap.

His initial idea was to head home and dance the dance that could summon the strange objects in the surrounding area and see what kind of adverse effects it would have on him when allowing the remnant spirit of the mouth-orifice monster to possess him.

If it wasn’t severe and acceptable, he could borrow the other party’s ability in the future, such as Invisibility.

Lumian wasn’t too worried about the aftereffects of being possessed or whether the vengeful spirit would be willing to leave after successfully possessing him.

In any case, he was in the dream ruins. As long as he didn’t die on the spot, he could recover fully after returning to reality to rest.

Just as Lumian made a move, the flaming monster suddenly raised its charred face and bulging eyes, looking right at him.

Not good! Lumian thought. Instead of climbing, he jumped down from his hiding spot.

Almost instantly, a massive fireball smashed into where he’d been, sending bricks and rocks flying, erupting in flames.

Lumian staggered in a sorry state. When he crashed, he could barely control his body. All he could do was tumble and roll to cushion the impact.

If not for Dancer’s extraordinary flexibility, his muscles and ligaments would have torn from the twisted movement.

By the time Lumian stood up again, the flaming monster had already materialized atop the collapsed building. Phantasmal fire ravens coalesced from flames around it.

Upon seeing this, Lumian felt as if surrounded by soldiers with guns trained on him.

Without hesitation, he bolted towards the collapsed building where the flaming monster stood.

Faced with such a scene, he felt the only way to turn defeat into victory was by using the black thorn symbol on his chest.

And this seemed to require closing the distance!

Thud thud thud!

As Lumian ran, half the Fire Ravens descended from the sky and detonated behind him, causing heat waves to surge and explosions to reverberate.

The remaining illusory Fire Ravens banked and locked onto their running target.

At that moment, Lumian arrived at the bottom of the collapsed building, no more than five meters from the flaming monster.

In the next second, the charred monster enveloped in crimson flames froze. The remaining Fire Ravens around it were instantly snuffed out.

It’s working! Just as joy flooded Lumian’s heart, the flaming monster pivoted and fled from the collapsed building in the opposite direction.

“Hey, don’t run!” Lumian blurted subconsciously.

He circled around the ruins before him and chased after the flaming monster.

Lumian chased it for two blocks. As the monster was too swift, he completely lost sight of it.

At this moment, the searing sensation in Lumian’s chest vanished.

He had no choice but to stop and adjust his breathing, gearing himself up to track the footprints and watch out for traps.

As he panted, Lumian’s gaze swept around and suddenly froze.

Not far away, a figure loomed in the doorway of a half-collapsed building.

The figure wore a black robe with a hood. Aside from that, it seemed ordinary enough, except it had three faces on its head.

The front face was an old man’s. Milky eyes, scraggly brows, wrinkled as a prune.

The left was in its prime, chiseled and stubbled, icy blue eyes gleaming.

The right was a child’s—one less than five years old—smooth and round, blue eyes wide with innocence and ignorance.

The three-faced monster! That three-faced monster! Lumian was truly frightened.

As he was chasing after the flaming monster, he’d wandered deep into the ruins and stumbled on the three-faced monster!

Despite mastering the mysterious Sacrificial Dance and activating the black thorn symbol, Lumian had no intention of using the three-faced monster as target practice. His instincts screamed that this foe was lethal. According to the mysterious lady’s words, even weakened by the black thorn symbol, the monster could easily slay a weak hunter.

Lumian’s plan was to steer clear of the three-faced monster’s territory and practice on other monsters. He wanted to test the black thorn mark’s power against enemies of varying might before deciding whether to hunt the three-faced monster.

Unexpectedly, the monster left its domain and stumbled upon Lumian!

Eh… would a little dance of contrition perhaps appease you? Lumian thought, taking an involuntary step back.

At the entrance of the crumbling building, the three-faced monster in a black robe and hood retreated a step.

Lumian spun around.

The three-faced monster mirrored him.

Lumian bolted.

The three-faced monster fled as well.

Lumian, who had meant to flee and try dancing, ran a few paces before sensing something amiss.

He halted and glanced back. By chance, he saw the three-faced monster retreating.

“…” Lumian stared, stunned.

After a moment, Lumian vaguely grasped the situation. He touched his face and muttered, “Am I that scary?”

The three-faced monster’s actions reminded him of their first encounter.

Back then, Lumian stole a glance at the three-faced monster and cowered in terror, praying to the Eternal Blazing Sun to conceal him. Though the three-faced monster clearly peered toward his hiding spot, it didn’t seem to notice anything. Instead, it took the initiative to retreat further away.

So it wasn’t the Eternal Blazing Sun that shielded me, nor was I very fortunate. Did the three-faced monster sense my “specialness” and flee? Lumian nodded thoughtfully, hazarding a guess.

In the dream ruins, can monsters of a certain level directly perceive my “specialness” without me half-activating the black thorn symbol

84 Dirk

Lumian broke the monsters in the dream ruins into three levels based on how the flaming monster and the three-faced monster reacted when they encountered him.

The lowest level ones acted on instinct alone. As soon as they saw him, they would attack. When he activated or partially activated the black thorn symbol on his chest, they would immediately give up and submit fully to his mercy.

The higher level ones would hunt him down before he partially activated the black thorn symbol. After he finished the sacrificial dance, they would cunningly opt to escape. But they couldn’t sense the existence of the black thorn symbol beyond five meters. The flaming monster likely only remained in fear and associated the corrupting aura from the seal with Lumian.

At a certain level, Lumian didn’t even need to activate or partially activate the black thorn symbol on his chest, nor did they need to be within five meters of Lumian for them to obviously feel his “specialness” and show conspicuous dread.

Were there any other levels above these three? Lumian felt there should be at least one, at most three. For instance, the kind that wouldn’t fear the partially activated black thorn symbol so much that they immediately fled. They would persist in attacking despite significant weakening. Or for example, the kind that were so high in level that they wouldn’t react to the black thorn symbol at all…

Therefore, while Lumian was delighted that he could scare off the three-faced monster and seemed capable of doing whatever he wanted in the dream ruins, he didn’t dare to be careless.

Disregarding terrifying beings that might be higher in level than the three-faced monster, just the flaming monster could incinerate him to ashes without being impacted by the partially activated black thorn symbol with its powerful long-range attack.

With this in mind, Lumian hesitated for a moment before stealthily delving deeper into the dream ruins along the three-faced monster’s escape route. He planned to scout the blood-colored “peak” and surrounding area today to gather information for the subsequent unlocking of the dream’s secret.

Along the way, he proceeded to a relatively concealed area less easily discovered, on guard against any monsters that might suddenly burst out.

Perhaps because the three-faced monster had just passed by, frightening off the other monsters, Lumian didn’t see a single ‘person.’ He successfully passed collapsed buildings and gray gravel everywhere and arrived at the base of the blood-colored “peak.”

There was still a circle of ruins, but unlike the outer layers, the buildings here hadn’t collapsed, but seemed to have completed a warped reassembly as if they had a life of their own. They were interconnected, as if a strange thorny city wall had been built.

The “wall” was dyed a faint grayish black. The windows and doors of the original buildings were embedded messily on its surface. Some were open, permitting one to see the shattered tables and chairs inside. Some were tightly shut, as if they couldn’t be pulled open.

...

Lumian scanned the area and gazed up at the blood-colored mountain behind the city wall.

At this range, even with the heavy fog blanketing the sky and the dim light filtering into this realm, Lumian could see every detail of the mountain peak clearly.

It was made of rocks and soil, no more than 30 meters tall, but it gave off a towering menace. The color on its surface was unnatural, neither the brownish-red of the rocks nor the reddish-brown of the soil. They seemed dyed at a later time, making it look sinister.

According to Aurore’s novels and paranormal magazines, this might be dyed red by human blood… Lumian thought. He raised his gaze higher and higher, glancing at the peak shrouded in thick fog.

Suddenly, an unseen wind blew away some of the fog.

The peak came into view.

Sitting cross-legged was a giant four to five meters tall with three heads.

“He” was naked and had three heads growing from “his” neck. One faced left, revealing anger, greed, and hatred. Extremely evil. One faced forward with a warped expression of pain and regret. The other faced right, holy, with pity in its eyes.

The giant had six arms stretching out at odd angles. Its entire body, including the three heads, was made of flesh and organ fragments stitched together with pus flowing everywhere. Especially, transparent blood-like tears dripped from the head facing Lumian.

Seeing the giant, Lumian’s mind buzzed as he heard a terrifying voice seeming infinitely far yet right beside him.

His head felt as if it had been split open with an axe, and intense agony occupied his mind, robbing him of all thoughts.

Thick and thin blood vessels protruded from his body surface, so red that they were about to be ignited.

When Lumian “woke up” from his near-death state, he realized that he was curled up on the ground, rolling back and forth, as if this wasn’t enough to resolve the pain in his body.

His vision was blurry, stained with blood, and everything he saw was misty.

In this state, Lumian felt that even the skinless monster could easily kill him. However, perhaps because the black thorn symbol had been completely activated, no “person” dared to enter this area.

As for the giant at the summit of the blood-colored mountain, it was unknown if it couldn’t leave or if it had been affected by the black thorn symbol and hadn’t attacked Lumian, who had nearly lost control.

After regaining his composure, Lumian stood up and noticed the linen shirt beneath his dark-colored jacket stained with blood and sweat.

What the hell was that? The more he pondered it, the more dread crept in.

With a mere glance, the black thorn symbol had flared to life and nearly overpowered him. It posed an even greater threat than wielding the Dancer’s might.

He dared not recall the giant’s visage, only deduce what he could from fractured impressions.

An advanced variant of the three-faced monster?

Sheer corruptive influence?

Aurore was right, there are sights not meant to be seen…

It occupies the crimson mountaintop, the heart of this dreamscape in ruins… Does that signify it’s integral to the dream’s mysteries?

“…”

As his thoughts raced, Lumian forced down the urge to gaze up at the mountain’s summit.

If he took another look, it would spell certain death!

He resolved to withdraw for now and return to the real world to recover. He would resume his exploration at night.

Lumian spun on his heel, ready to retrace his steps out of here, when a sudden clanging caught his ear.

What’s that? Curiosity seized him, and he devised a plan to sidle over for a peek.

Of course, he would proceed judiciously, not hastily or rashly. He tucked himself into a half-collapsed building facing the city wall to recoup his spirituality.

After a time, Lumian again performed the mysterious sacrificial dance.

He seemed to morph into a high priest of the hidden existence, gratifying that existence with movements that could marshal the ambient forces of nature.

When a burning sensation flared in his chest, Lumian halted and honed in on the intermittent clanging.

Skirting the blood-hued mountain crest and dilapidated city wall, dancing anew, he spied an orange glimmer through a half-open brownish-red wooden door in the ‘wall.’

A flickering orange flame shone behind a half-open wooden door.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

The figure in the room was reflected in a grimy, diagonal glass window above. It looked humanoid, but too spindly in the dim light.

In that moment, the figure raised a hammer-like object and smashed it down with formidable might.

Clang!

Another metallic clash rang out, crisp and ominous.

A blacksmith? There’s a blacksmith in these ruins? Lumian guessed, relying on his knowledge.

Trusting that the thorn emblem on his chest hadn’t vanished yet, he dropped into a crouch and darted to the glass. He turned and peered in.

Though Lumian’s eyes weren’t healed, and his vision unclear, he could just make out the scene beyond the city wall.

Shattered furniture and debris littered the space. In the center was a stove, its top half gone, housing a fire. On top, an iron plate cobbled together, mismatched.

A pewter-black dirk lay on the plate, twice as long as a normal dagger, strange patterns coating its surface. Just looking at it made Lumian dizzy.

Clang!

The figure pounded the dirk like a skilled blacksmith, hammer blows ringing out in a steady beat.

‘He’ wore a black robe, decay marring the side of its face visible to Lumian, even revealing bone in places.

Another monster? Is it picking up where it left off when it was still human? That dirk isn’t run-of-the-mill. It’s a tad sinister. I wonder if it’s a Sealed Artifact or a Beyonder weapon, Lumian thought.

He was less than three meters from the rotting ‘blacksmith,’ but the other party didn’t seem to detect the black thorn symbol on his chest. ‘He’ kept pounding the dirk in silence.

Given that the black thorn symbol was about to vanish, Lumian recoiled and tiptoed away from the window.

He had only taken a few steps when the searing sensation in his chest disappeared.

The next moment, a creaking sound came from behind him.

Lumian whipped around and saw the mahogany door swing open.

The black-robed ‘blacksmith’ emerged. There were four or five putrid gashes on ‘his’ face that bared its bones. Half of ‘his’ left eyeball dangled from its eye socket. It looked like a corpse that had been dead for some time.

‘He’ clutched the hammer in ‘his’ right hand and the pewter-black dirk in ‘his’ left. Lumian’s reflection glinted in ‘his’ lifeless eyes.

“F*ck!”

Lumian couldn’t help cursing.

He instantly grasped the situation.

The ‘blacksmith’ monster had clearly been influenced by the black thorn symbol, so ‘he’ had been ‘quietly’ pounding the malicious dirk, feigning nonchalance.

When the black thorn symbol disappeared, ‘he’ immediately seized ‘his’ weapon and emerged to hunt him.

How cunning

85 Appropriating

As soon as Lumian confirmed the situation, he pivoted on his heel and bolted.

He couldn’t leverage the environment here, and he was clueless about the ‘blacksmith’ monster’s abilities. What choice did he have but to run?

Once he escaped to the nearest natural trap and it was still in hot pursuit, he’d consider counterattacking.

Thud thud thud!

Lumian didn’t run in a straight line but snaked left and right in an S-shape.

He worried it might predict his trajectory and hurl a fireball or long-range weapon.

The old Lumian could run on a curve, but he’d have to throttle back at points. Otherwise, his body couldn’t take it and he’d eat dirt.

Things were different now. He was extremely limber, far beyond ordinary humans. His muscles and tendons easily let him arch his body in a smooth semicircle.

With this move, he felt that unless the ‘blacksmith’ monster had special abilities, he should reach the ruins seven to eight meters away.

Suddenly, dread gripped his heart with premonition.

Without thinking, Lumian plunged forward, riding his momentum.

Sizzling, sharp pain seared his back. The evil pewter-black dirk had sliced him, spurting bright red blood.

...

The ‘blacksmith’ monster had caught up in a single bound and swung its weapon.

It seemed to have shortened over a dozen steps to one!

Lumian endured the pain and rolled twice before finally touching a half-collapsed building.

He vaulted in with a whoosh. Slithering through the walls and furnishings as cover, he bolted out the back entrance.

Being back in this area was like a tiger returning to the deep mountains or a trout in a river. He adeptly wove through the ruins and buildings, at times circling around, other times going straight.

Within ten seconds, he arrived at a natural snare he had spotted earlier. He ducked behind the roof that had slid to the ground and held on for the ‘blacksmith’ monster to turn up.

He didn’t try the sacrificial dance because he felt there wasn’t enough time. The other side clearly had some distinctive tracking prowess.

As time passed, Lumian didn’t spot the ‘blacksmith’ monster, nor did he catch any sound approaching. He didn’t note any indistinct footprints around him.

It didn’t chase after me? Lumian couldn’t help but frown.

He was glad, but he also felt this situation was a bit odd.

After some thought, he guessed the ‘blacksmith’ monster couldn’t leave the city wall, so the moment he went into the building ruins, it gave up chasing him.

Considering he had already suffered two injuries and was drained, Lumian decided not to explore further.

Leveraging his terrifying flexibility, he treated the wound on his back and headed toward the edge of the ruins.

After walking a long time, he looked at the familiar collapsed buildings and suddenly felt something was off.

It has already… been more than enough time to finish a meal. The dream ruins… aren’t especially large. I should be able… to walk out in a straight line. Why haven’t I… escaped yet?

The more Lumian contemplated it, the more he sensed that something was amiss. His thoughts were becoming foggy and disjointed, as if severe exhaustion was overtaking him or he was about to drift off to sleep.

He forced himself to focus, relying on his Hunter abilities to locate the path, hoping to get out of these ruins immediately.

However, as he walked, he couldn’t help periodically slipping into a daze. Eventually, he didn’t even know what he was doing.

After an indeterminate amount of time, Lumian’s eyes abruptly reflected the flickering orange glow of a fire.

He found himself back by the “city wall” and the chamber where the ‘blacksmith’ monster was.

Not good…

I’m… under… its influence…

No wonder… it didn’t… chase me…

It seems… I can’t force my way… out. I can… only… think of a solution… starting… with that monster…

Lumian’s thoughts slowed and fogged.

As he approached the chamber involuntarily, he struggled to perform the mysterious sacrificial dance.

Since he had to confront the ‘blacksmith’ monster, his greatest reliance was the black thorn symbol on his chest. He had to activate it immediately!

Amid the sonorous but intermittent noises from within, Lumian saw the door emitting orange flames open. The monster in a black robe holding a pewter-black dirk and hammer appeared in the doorway.

Unlike before, much of the rotting marks on its face had vanished, and fresh flesh had grown over the wounds that exposed its bones.

Its eyes lit up as it gazed at Lumian with undisguised greed and amusement.

This made it appear more human than zombie.

At the same time, Lumian saw himself reflected in the glass window.

His face was pale, and his eyes were dull. Some of his skin showed signs of decay.

He looked more like a zombie than a human.

Lumian instantly realized the truth.

I will… take its place… It will… walk out… as a human…

Lumian, who didn’t know what ability had affected him or when he had encountered the anomaly, only had one thought—giving it his all by finishing the sacrificial dance and partially activating the black thorn symbol on his chest.

He slowly but firmly began his dance, but the ‘blacksmith’ monster didn’t seize the opportunity to attack. It seemed to be patiently waiting for the outcome, afraid that additional actions would impact its fate.

As he edged closer and danced each step, Lumian’s vision grew increasingly blurry. He only knew that the ‘blacksmith’ monster’s smile was becoming more and more human.

After advancing some distance, Lumian’s mind buzzed.

He heard a terrifying sound that seemed to come from an infinite distance yet also seemed close at hand.

This wasn’t clear enough and was very illusory. It only caused some disorder in his mind, preventing him from experiencing a near-death experience.

Amid his grogginess, Lumian’s thoughts cleared, and his vision returned to normal.

He felt a burning sensation in his chest and knew that the partially activated black thorn symbol meant trouble.

Almost simultaneously, he saw the smile on the ‘blacksmith’ monster’s face freeze.

Numerous silver and black warts protruded from the monster’s face, head, and hands.

The wicked dirk in its hand buzzed and vibrated violently, as if trembling in fear.

Pa!

Amidst a crisp metallic snap, a jagged fracture shot across the pewter-black dirk’s demon-etched blade.

The ‘blacksmith’ monster crumbled into silver-black warts and warped maggots crawling across its black robe.

The maggots and warts stopped moving, turning into lifeless gray flesh.

Lumian gawked at the scene, dumbstruck. It was as if the enemy had suddenly committed suicide mid-battle while he stood by helpless.

After over ten seconds, he snorted at the fleshy lumps in bemused disbelief.

“So you dragged me here to attend your own funeral?

“You should’ve said so earlier. No need for all this pomp and show. I’d have gladly shown up and applauded your swan song!”

He strode over to the chunks of flesh the ‘blacksmith’ monster had crumbled into and scrutinized them intently.

Nothing else seemed amiss. Save that the slightly cracked pewter-black dirk still quivered minutely, like a wounded animal encountering its mortal foe.

Lumian’s heart raced as he looked down at his chest, sensing the black thorn symbol beneath his clothes.

He realized the truth and grabbed the pewter-black dirk with his right hand.

The evil dirk trembled vigorously but didn’t struggle or resist. It was docile.

As soon as he held it, the heat in his chest intensified.

Something leaked out, resonating with the pewter-black dirk.

Amidst the metallic hum, Lumian grasped a greater understanding of the sinister dirk in his grip.

It was a corrupted Beyonder weapon, gaining power and a semblance of life.

In other words, Lumian hadn’t encountered a ‘blacksmith’ monster—the dirk was the true menace. The ‘blacksmith’ monster was its puppet, or rather, wielder.

It could gradually transform any living being who touched its cold steel and drew blood into a zombie, robbing them of will and reason. They would always clutch it and act on its desires.

Those who were cut by it, spilling crimson, would have their destiny appropriated by its edge.

When seizing one’s fate, it could inflict no further harm.

Just now, it had bartered the fate of the ‘blacksmith’ monster becoming a puppet to exchange for Lumian leaving the wilderness as a human.

If there was nothing to trade, he had to kill the target completely to strip a portion of his fate from him and store it in the dirk.

This ability came from the Dancer’s corresponding Sequence 5, Fate Appropriator!

Therefore, after the corruption in Lumian’s body was half-activated, it resonated with the evil dirk through flesh and blood, letting some knowledge seep out.

Otherwise, he could only get someone to use divination and figure out patterns to grasp the pewter-black dirk’s abilities and characteristics. He could also rely on his repeated experiments to gather information.

After sorting out the additional knowledge in his mind, Lumian looked at the evil dirk that was still trembling in his hand and chuckled.

“Actually, I don’t mind you appropriating some of my destiny, but you’ll have to bear the consequences!

“If you can swap with my fate of being trapped in this time loop, I’ll kneel and grovel before you three times.

“Tsk, but randomly appropriating destinies will only hurt you!”

The pewter-black dirk merely trembled, not daring to respond.

Lumian now understood why the dirk was so obedient.

First, the half-activated black thorn symbol suppressed it. Second, encountering Lumian had traumatized the sentient weapon.

Exhaling, Lumian said, “From today onward, your name is Fate Appropriator Dirk. Got it?”

The dirk bobbed up and down twice, as if nodding.

“Unfortunately, you’re only a Beyonder weapon. Your power will gradually fade. You could have lasted two years, but now, severely damaged from your foolishness, you’ll only survive half a year,” Lumian said regretfully.

In fact, he could replenish Fate Appropriator by extracting power from the corruption in his body, but that required finding someone to repair the crack.

No sooner had he spoken than the heat in his chest quickly vanished. The minute was up.

Wasting no time, he hurled Fate Appropriator Dirk away as if it were red-hot coal

86 Another Idea

The pewter-black dirk clattered to the ground, bouncing a few times before coming to rest.

Lumian heaved a sigh of relief and muttered to himself, Without the protection of the half-activated black thorn symbol, this thing’s a ticking time bomb…

Luckily, he already knew how to avoid the sinister dirk’s adverse effects.

Lumian approached the grayish-white remains and picked up the black robe left behind by the monstrous ‘blacksmith.’

He tore off several strips of cloth and wrapped them tightly around his right hand, as if applying a thorough bandage.

Then, Lumian grasped the Fate Appropriator Dirk.

The pewter-black dirk remained unresponsive the entire time.

Prepared to discard the item in his hand at any moment, Lumian relaxed and whispered, “I need to find a scabbard to carry it around safely.

“Do I have to permanently bandage my left or right hand just to have time to protect myself when I need to draw the blade in an emergency?

“This thing is dangerous, but it’s also incredibly powerful. Besides its short lifespan, it outclasses all the Beyonder weapons Aurore mentioned. Many Level 3 Sealed Artifacts might not even compare.”

While muttering to himself, Lumian swaddled the Fate Appropriator Dirk in layers of black cloth.

Once wrapped securely in three layers, he slid the evil dirk into his left belt with a sense of relief.

...

Having done this, Lumian rubbed his temples and, despite his physical and mental exhaustion, entered the room from which the ‘blacksmith’ monster had emerged. He searched the room meticulously.

Aside from the smoldering furnace, he found nothing.

Lumian’s investigation concluded cautiously and carefully as he retraced his steps.

Unhindered by fate, he successfully left the ruins, crossed the desolate wasteland, and entered his semi-subterranean two-story building.

Not in a rush to sleep, Lumian left the room, stowed the Fate Appropriator Dirk, and rested briefly. Once his spirituality recovered and his needs were met, he performed the bizarre dance—alternating between madness and distortion—in his bedroom.

He aimed to attract the peculiar creatures in the vicinity and let one of them possess him to test the negative effects.

Having sensed the fear and reverence of the flaming monster, the three-faced monster, and the Fate Appropriator Dirk towards the black thorn symbol, he was no longer as terrified of allowing certain entities to possess him.

His corruption was far more powerful!

Moreover, he was quite exhausted and would soon fall asleep. When the time came, even if the strange being he harbored was reluctant to leave or caused severe negative effects, he would recover after resting in the real world for a day.

Is this what Aurore often calls cheating and exploiting loopholes? Lumian mused as he danced.

As the dance intensified, his spirituality expanded, merging with a certain force of nature that radiated in all directions.

Gradually, Lumian, seemingly fused with his surroundings, sensed something entering the area.

He lifted his leg, took a step, and spun around. Without activating his Spirit Vision, he saw three translucent figures materialize at the bedroom’s glass window.

They were the familiar skinless monster, shotgun monster, and mouth-orifice monster.

Seems like my spiritual perception isn’t strong enough, or my level is too low. I can only ‘summon’ them… Lumian didn’t mind. He drew the ritual silver dagger Aurore had given him and sliced a wound on the back of his left hand.

A drop of crimson blood quickly welled up but didn’t spread.

On the spot, it congealed and took on a demonic hue.

The three ghostly figures outside the window instantly stirred.

Lumian deftly used the ritual silver dagger to pick up the congealed drop of blood. With a final flourish of his dance moves, he pointed the blade towards the mouth-orifice monster.

He was inviting the entity to latch onto him.

The monster, bearing three black marks on its upper body, opened its vortex-shaped mouth as if responding to Lumian’s call, but it hesitated to take further action.

That’s right. The window is still closed, and the monsters in the dream ruins don’t dare enter my house… Lumian swiftly grasped the situation. In sync with his dance rhythm, he leapt, landing gracefully on the desk before the window.

With his left hand, he slid the tightly shut glass window open. Then, he extended the ritual silver dagger, bloodied tip first, outside the house.

Instead of devouring the drop of blood and entering Lumian’s body through the ritual silver dagger, the maw-like creature retreated seven or eight meters, floating amidst the howling wind, still mesmerized by the dance.

“Hey, come over!” Lumian, on the verge of completing his final dance step, couldn’t help but urge anxiously.

The three hazy, translucent figures outside the house drifted further away. As Lumian’s dance came to a halt, they vanished entirely.

“…” Lumian stared at the scene, baffled by the mouth-orifice monster’s refusal to possess him.

He carefully reviewed the dance and the bloodletting process, certain he had made no mistakes.

Could it be that its fixation remembers that I killed it, so it’s unwilling to attach itself to me?

But the knowledge that came with Dancer didn’t mention this. Logically, it should be more eager to possess me and take revenge… Lumian pondered.

Recalling the three-faced monster’s flight upon seeing him, he formulated a new hypothesis.

I’m corrupted by an evil god and sealed by a greater being. Are these strange creatures terrified and unwilling to attach themselves to me?

This was an extremely rare circumstance. It made sense that Dancer’s corresponding mystical knowledge wouldn’t cover such anomalies.

The more Lumian considered it, the more he believed this was the cause, and the angrier he became.

“So you guys just watch me dance, but aren’t willing to possess me?

“What’s this called? In Aurore’s words, freeloading!”

Lumian’s disappointment grew as he realized that, before reaching Contractee, one of Dancer’s abilities was rendered useless. He couldn’t attract strange creatures and exploit their traits or powers.

He consoled himself, hoping that only the dream ruins’ creatures behaved like this. After all, they were closely tied to the owner of the black thorn symbol.

I wonder what I can attract in reality. Will they dare to attach themselves to me… Lumian mused, walking to his bed and lying down.

His mood lifted as he glanced at the Fate Appropriator Dirk, ensconced in layers of black cloth, on the cabinet beside him.

This powerful Beyonder weapon would aid him in delving deeper into the dream ruins and uncovering their secrets. The only drawback was its inability to be brought into the real world.

I wonder if that mysterious lady can help bring it out, just like how she brought the potion and ritual ingredients into the dream ruins…

But the next time I explore the dream ruins, I’ll have to trouble her to bring the Fate Appropriator Dirk back in…

She’s definitely unwilling to keep providing help. She’s clearly averse to hassle and prefers slacking off…

With these thoughts, Lumian drifted into a deep sleep.

……

When Lumian woke up, the sky was an unnatural shade of inky black. Only a smoldering crimson smear of sunset remained in the distance, filling him with a bleak melancholy as if the entire world had abandoned him.

Adjusting his emotions, Lumian left the room and descended to the first floor.

Aurore was busy cooking dinner.

“Are your eyes okay?” Lumian went over to help.

“Pretty much.” Aurore tucked a stray lock of blonde hair behind her ear and widened her eyes at him.

Lumian peered into their light blue depths but saw nothing amiss beyond a hint of blood.

Aurore continued frying the lamb chops and casually asked, “Discovered anything interesting in the dream ruins this time?”

Lumian began chopping ingredients for the last dish, recounting his encounters.

“That blade is powerful indeed.” Seeing her brother was unharmed, Aurore stifled her concern with a laugh. “If it were me, I’d never call it Fate Appropriator Dirk. Too straightforward, lacking charm.”

Lumian asked curiously, “What would you name it then?”

Aurore smiled and said, “Fallen Mercury!”

“Fallen Mercury it is!” Lumian nodded immediately.

He had to use the name his sister gave!

Aurore burst out laughing.

“Actually, it’s not the best name, but that’s all I could think of on short notice.

“Hmm, the monsters’ behavior confirms our theory. The black thorn symbol on your chest, or rather, the corruption in your body isn’t simple. It can suppress something powerful to an extent and relates closely to that hidden existence.

“Perhaps the key to the loop lies with you.”

“Yes.” Lumian nodded. “Let’s see what secrets the dream ruins hold. Then we’ll wait patiently for the twelfth night.”

So far, they had investigated almost all abnormalities. Only the tomb where the owl was had not been explored.

It was far too dangerous. Aurore didn’t believe she, Lumian and the three foreigners could face it. Her only hope was asking Madame Pualis for help, but she clearly didn’t intend to interfere, merely waiting for the opportune moment.

Lumian didn’t hold much hope recounting how the strange creatures his dance attracted were hindered by the two symbols on his body, preventing success.

“Grande Soeur, any ideas to circumvent this restriction?”

Aurore scooped up the lamb chops, pondering a moment.

“Since it’s impossible to invite a ‘god’ to possess you, why not try giving an order?”

“Order?” Lumian’s eyes lit up.

Aurore nodded slightly.

“Since those strange creatures fear the corruption in your body and the seal of that great existence, use their fear like a fox assuming the authority of a tiger. Order them to attach themselves to you. Right, use ancient Hermes when you try.”

“That’s an idea…” Lumian understood what his sister meant by “a fox assuming the authority of a tiger
87 Catharsis

Aurore carried the plate of lamb chops to the table and said, “I’m not sure if ordering them under those circumstances will work. After all, I’m not a Dancer, and I don’t have any relevant mysticism knowledge. However, you won’t lose anything by trying.”

“That’s true.” Lumian took over at the stove and said with a grin, “It’ll just be another wound while I bleed a little. I’ll recover after a nap. What do you think the three-headed giant at the top of the mountain is? What does it have to do with the hidden existence and the corruption in my body?”

Aurore set the plates down and turned around.

“Don’t you think you’re overestimating me? I’ve never encountered or heard of such strange things.”

Without waiting for Lumian’s response, she added thoughtfully, “However, there are many similar concepts in the myths and legends of my hometown. They have three heads and six arms, gods or demons…”

She continued, “And according to our guesses, the dream ruins are closely related to the corruption in your body. There’s a high chance that the giant’s image reflects some aspects of the hidden existence.

“You said that the honorific name or description of that person is different from the usual ones. Every segment contains three aspects and three forms that symbolize a certain authority. Therefore, it’s very normal to correspond to three heads, just like how the three-faced monster has faces that represent the three stages of humanity.

“As for why it has six arms and why it sits atop the blood-colored mountain, there’s too little information. I can’t guess.

“Hmm… Focus on the circle of ‘walls’ for the time being. I feel that we can find many useful clues.”

“Alright.” Lumian followed his sister’s instructions and placed the sliced shredded potatoes into the pot, stir-frying them with oil.

Aurore ended the topic regarding the dream ruins and said to Lumian, “When you went to bed in the afternoon, I thought about it seriously and decided to invite the three foreigners to stay with us.”

“Why?” Lumian was puzzled.

...

Aurore watched her brother bustling around and sighed.

“We assumed the padre would react like a normal person, but we can’t forget that some of his followers have already accepted a boon. In a way, they’re corrupted.

“According to the mysterious lady, the boon’s effects concentrate on the body and mind. So, besides gaining abilities, one’s personality will shift. The more boons a person takes, the more severe the change will be, especially if they can’t handle it.”

“Right.” Lumian recalled the mysterious lady’s words.

She warned that if the body couldn’t endure such a massive “boon,” the recipient would either turn into a monster, become a puppet of an unknown entity, or transform into someone else who’d treat things they cherished in the past with indifference.

Aurore concluded, “Thus, Shepherd Pierre Berry and his followers, who’ve received the boons long ago, might disregard the padre’s plan and seek greater vengeance.

“If the five of us stick together and support each other, we can effectively improve our chances of survival until the twelfth night.”

Lumian pondered her proposal and agreed.

But he raised a logistical issue.

“So, where do they stay? In the living room downstairs?”

“It won’t work as well if we’re on separate floors.” Aurore glanced at her brother, who approached with a plate of stir-fried shredded potatoes. “You can move into my room, and we’ll let the three foreigners use your bedroom and the study upstairs. They can divide the rooms among themselves.”

“Huh?” Lumian didn’t expect such an arrangement. “I’ll share a bed with you?”

Aurore couldn’t help but laugh.

“No big deal. Strong, independent women don’t sweat the small stuff!”

“Huh?” Lumian didn’t grasp his sister’s last remark.

Aurore chuckled, explaining, “I’m saying that given our situation, let’s not get hung up on trivial matters.

“Do you want to share a bed with Ryan and Valentine, or should I sleep with Leah?”

“True, I can’t fully trust them.” Lumian nodded.

The three official investigators only cooperated with the siblings because they were trapped in a loop. Who knew if they’d secretly manipulate the situation while they slept together, planning to capture the two wild Beyonders once the loop ended?

Aurore chuckled and suggested, “If they’re concerned about us and decide to share a room, you can sleep in the other one.”

“Better to stay in the same room.” Lumian felt the walls offered little protection.

Aurore said no more, only adding, “Remind me to restock our food supply tomorrow. After Lent, the villagers will grow stranger. We might need to defend this place or hide in the nearest high mountain pasture.”

Then, she urged her brother to eat dinner.

Before sunset, Lumian left the semi-subterranean two-story building, ready to invite Ryan and the others to move into his home.

Upon seeing Ol’ Tavern in sight, Lumian spotted a few familiar faces.

Pons Bénet was strolling down the village’s main road with his three thugs.

Almost instantly, the black-haired, blue-eyed, musclebound villain noticed Lumian.

He couldn’t help but clamp his legs together, as if recalling some excruciating agony.

Eyeing Lumian, Pons Bénet faced a dilemma.

He craved revenge, but feared history would repeat itself with him and his men beaten to a pulp.

As Pons Bénet wavered, Lumian flashed a brilliant grin.

“Hey, isn’t this my rebellious son?”

He strode towards the villain and his three thugs who had drowned Reimund, poised to pummel them.

Pons Bénet saw this and didn’t hesitate. With his eyes, he signaled to the three brutes beside him, ordering them to charge.

The three thugs immediately rushed at Lumian and pulled out short sticks, iron rods, and other weapons.

Lumian sped up too.

Just as he was about to collide with the three thugs, he abruptly leapt at one of the enemies.

This unorthodox move caused the three thugs’ attacks to miss.

Lumian grabbed the target’s shoulder and did a somersault.

His back seemed to flex like a spring, helping him grab the enemy and build up enough force for the roll.

In an agile, exaggerated forward somersault, Lumian hurled the enemy and smashed him into the ground.

Bang! The thug’s vision darkened. His whole body ached, and he couldn’t rise for a moment.

At that instant, Lumian landed behind the other two, only seven or eight steps from Pons Bénet.

He crouched slightly and charged at the villain. As Pons Bénet frantically dodged, he shouted, “Quick, quick! Stop him!”

The remaining two thugs hastily turned and chased after Lumian. Pons Bénet composed himself and brazenly charged at the bastard, preparing to stall him before they surrounded him.

Just as the two thugs were about to catch up to Lumian, who had deliberately not run at full speed, suddenly stopped and squatted.

Amid grinding sounds, not only did the two thugs fail to hit their target’s back, but because they couldn’t halt in time, they lost their balance and collided with Pons Bénet.

Lumian pounced like a tiger and grabbed the two thugs’ necks. He lifted their bodies and smashed their heads together.

Bang!

The two thugs’ foreheads instantly swelled and they fainted on the spot.

Immediately after, Lumian tossed away the burden and exerted strength with his feet. He twisted his body and slid behind Pons, who had just risen.

He grabbed the other party’s arms and bent them backward.

With a cracking sound, Pons Bénet let out an extremely pained scream.

“How is it? Does it feel good?” Lumian asked Pons Bénet with a smile as he hoisted him and marched out of the village.

Before long, he arrived beside the river, grabbed the back of Pons Bénet’s head, and forced him underwater.

As bubbles surfaced, Lumian lifted Pons Bénet’s head, turned his face, and asked with a smile, “Does it feel good to bully others?”

Pons Bénet’s face was soaked, and he looked to be in extreme agony. Snot and saliva flowed out, making it impossible for him to answer.

“Doesn’t it feel great?” Lumian’s voice suddenly intensified. He grabbed the villain’s head and smashed his forehead into the water, hitting the cobblestones.

Bright crimson liquid seeped out of the water. Pons Bénet struggled uselessly with his legs, unable to lift his head.

Gulp. Gulp. As time dragged on, his struggles weakened.

Only then did Lumian haul him up. He thrust out his left hand and smacked Pons across the face.

“I’m asking you, does it feel good to bully others?”

Pure terror filled Pons’s eyes. He didn’t know how to respond.

Just then, a figure ambled over to the riverside. It was the hooded Shepherd Pierre Berry.

He glanced at the pathetic Pons and gently told Lumian, “We’re all from the same village. Enough. You want to kill him?”

Lumian immediately released Pons’s head and stood up. He grinned at Pierre Berry, replying,

“I’ll listen to you. Make sure this jerk doesn’t bully others again.”

Without waiting for Pierre’s response, Lumian strode past the shepherd into the village.

……

On the second floor of Ol’ Tavern, in Ryan’s room, Lumian relayed his sister’s thoughts to the three official investigators.

Ryan exchanged a look with Leah and Valentine and nodded.

“Smart thinking. In a situation like this, spreading ourselves too thin just makes us an easy target. We can move into your house now.”

As they headed to Lumian and Aurore’s house with her luggage, Leah asked Lumian amidst her tinkling sounds, “So what’s the plan for the tomb?”

“The plan?” Lumian snorted. “You think we can just waltz in there?”

Leah smiled, relieved. “Good, you’re still being cautious.”

Ryan chimed in, “What we mean is if whatever’s in that tomb really leads to the cycle’s key, it’ll show up during the twelfth night ritual. And if it’s got nothing to do with the source of the cycle, why take the risk going in?”

“In short,” Lumian said, catching on, “we just wait patiently for the twelfth night

88 EQ

Ryan nodded at Lumian’s confirmation.

“You can interpret it that way, but if there are any other abnormalities worth investigating, we can’t ignore them.”

“Alright.” Lumian actually shared the same thought.

He hadn’t even planned on participating in Lent, just in case he couldn’t resist attacking when he saw the “performance” at the celebration.

The four of them rapidly reached Lumian’s residence, where Aurore led them to the second floor.

Now dressed in a pure white cotton dress that accentuated her down-to-earth charm, Aurore pointed to Lumian’s bedroom and study, offering the three official investigators a choice.

“You can choose either room.”

Ryan glanced at Leah, seeking her opinion.

After pondering for a few seconds, Leah raised her right hand, pointed at the study with a smile, and said, “That recliner looks pretty good; I could sleep there. Ryan, bunk in that room with Valentine.”

While Aurore had the same question in mind, Lumian asked, “You trust us that much?”

He assumed the three foreigners would opt to sleep in the same room on the floor, fearing an attack if they were separated.

Leah grinned and answered Lumian’s half-mocking, half-doubtful query, “My divination tells me the two of you can be trusted.”

...

As she spoke, she walked into the study. Accompanied by tinkling sounds, she lay on the recliner with a contented expression.

Aurore found Leah intriguing and approachable. She smiled and advised, “A friend once told me that you can believe in divination, but not blindly. Divination is not all-powerful.”

“My mentor said something similar, but we’re all in the same situation. If I don’t trust it, what else can we do?” Leah replied with a grin, snuggling into the recliner.

Aurore didn’t mind relinquishing her favorite seat. She pulled over a chair and sat down.

Their study also served as a small living room. It occasionally hosted afternoon tea parties, so there was ample space and chairs.

Ryan surveyed the corridor briefly before returning to the study. He said to Aurore and Lumian, “I have some suggestions.”

“Please, go ahead.” Aurore politely assumed an attentive posture.

Ryan nodded and offered, “First, when you sleep at night, don’t close any doors. Let everyone be in the same space. This way, no matter where an abnormality occurs, we can react promptly.

“Second, considering we’ve destroyed the altar, someone might attempt to deal with us before Lent. Starting tonight, everyone will take turns on night duty. Yes, from 10 p.m. to 8 a.m. the next morning, two hours per person…”

How professional… Aurore muttered almost silently.

Lumian glanced at her, as if asking why she hadn’t thought of it.

Aurore spread her hands slightly, signaling her lack of experience in team operations.

She then turned to Ryan and Valentine, stating confidently, “Lumian will cover the period between 10 p.m. and midnight.”

Leah and the others didn’t object to this arrangement.

From their perspective, it made sense. Among the five present, Lumian had the lowest Sequence and least experience. He was most prone to mistakes on night duty, but from 10 p.m. to midnight, others would still be awake to cover for him.

Lumian knew his sister’s intentions extended beyond this.

He had to explore the dream ruins undisturbed after falling asleep.

After finalizing the first schedule, Valentine volunteered, “I’m used to sleeping and waking early. I’ll take the 6 a.m. to 8 a.m. slot.”

“You get up early to welcome the sunrise?” Lumian teased instinctively.

Valentine’s gaze on him softened.

“Yes, I want to greet the rising sun and praise the light.”

His eyes seemed to say: “As expected, only a devout believer of the Eternal Blazing Sun understands me.”

Hey, I’m mocking you, brother! Lumian felt slightly defeated by Valentine.

In the Eternal Blazing Sun Church, “brother” was a term used among believers. The two mainstream organizations within it, the Order of Preachers and the Brotherhood Minor, employed the term.

“I’m not used to being woken up mid-sleep,” Leah chimed in. “I’ll take the midnight to 2 a.m. slot.”

Aurore nodded.

“I like to wake up late. I can take 2 a.m. to 4 a.m. And don’t wake me for breakfast tomorrow. I’ll get up around noon.”

“Leave the rest to me.” Ryan claimed the worst period with satisfaction.

He also entered the study and found a chair to sit on.

A conversation flowed effortlessly. Aurore, though seldom venturing out, possessed a wealth of knowledge spanning from astronomy to geography. She had her finger on the pulse of the latest trends, scandals, and supernatural events in metropolises like Trier and Backlund. This left Leah, Ryan, and the others secretly in awe of her.

“As expected of the renowned author, Aurore Lee,” Leah couldn’t help but exclaim. “No wonder you can tackle any theme.”

Aurore inquired with genuine curiosity, “Have you read my novels?”

Leah’s eyes sparkled as she replied with a smile, “I’ve been reading your first novel since I was a young girl. By the way, I’d love your autograph!”

As she searched for papers and fountain pens, the silver bells on her veil and boots jingled.

“Are those Sealed Artifacts?” Having heard Lumian mention Leah’s performance with the four bells, Aurore couldn’t resist asking.

Leah produced a stack of post-it notes and a fountain pen, casually responding, “Yes, they can proactively warn me and enhance my divination abilities. The downside is they’re rather noisy and not exactly discreet. Plus, the wearer must dress fashionably, with a dress being mandatory. It has to look good, or it’ll be not only useless but also potentially misleading or even dangerous.”

Aurore chuckled. “I can’t decide if these bells were originally a man or a woman.”

Lumian agreed. If they were from a woman, it was a remnant of her vanity. If a man, he was undoubtedly a pervert.

Leah offered a faint smile.

“That involves some confidentiality, so I can’t say any more.”

She stood up, handing Aurore a post-it note and the fountain pen.

Aurore signed and asked, “Which genre of my novels do you prefer?”

“Romance,” Leah replied without hesitation. “Your first novel, Eternal Love, left a deep impression on me.”

“I wrote that book too early,” Aurore admitted with a hint of embarrassment. “I was young, and my writing skills were unpolished. I lacked experience. Many scenes felt rigid, and much of the dialogue was overly emotional and unrealistic…”

Lumian chimed in, “But it’s sincere and original.”

Having read his sister’s novel, he knew it dealt with a couple’s separation through life and death, interwoven with adventure, misunderstandings, and terminal illness. It was a trailblazing piece in the Intis literary world.

Naturally, this drew criticism from conservative authors and critics. They echoed Aurore’s self-assessment and claimed it couldn’t qualify as literature, deeming it a mere pedestrian novel.

“That’s right,” Leah agreed, retrieving the paper and pen. She looked at Aurore and asked with a smile, “Ms. Author, would you consider becoming our informant at Bureau 8?”

Seeing Aurore’s surprise, she continued, “Our primary objective in targeting wild Beyonders is that they’re unpredictable and may lose control or cause disaster at any moment. Otherwise, they can use their Beyonder powers for all sorts of malicious purposes to satisfy their desires.

“Over the past few days in the village, I’ve carefully observed both of you and confirmed that you’re orderly Beyonders. Prior to arriving in Cordu, the information we gathered indicated that you haven’t committed any wrongdoing on the surface.

“This meets our recruitment standards. Moreover, once you become our informants, you won’t need to worry about being targeted by official Beyonders.”

Aurore found the proposition enticing. She glanced at Lumian and gave a slight nod.

“I’ll think about it. I’ll give you my answer when the cycle is over.”

Lumian immediately understood why his sister had looked his way.

I don’t have a problem, but will a heavily corrupted guy like you bomb the test?

After chatting briefly, the siblings bid adieu to Leah and the others and headed back to Aurore’s room.

Aurore perched on the edge of the bed and glanced at the door. She hushed her voice and muttered, “Leah’s socially adept.”

“What do you mean?” Lumian also sensed Leah had made the vibe harmonious in the study.

Aurore smiled and said, “She took the initiative to bring up my novel and asked for my autograph to bond with me, so she could pitch recruiting me. The recruiting was to fix the distrust and barriers we have, easing teamwork the next few days.

“The whole process seemed natural, not off-putting or wary. That’s a sign of high EQ. You should follow her lead!”

Lumian remembered the chat and said self-deprecatingly, “If it were me, I might’ve been booted by now.”

Amused, Aurore leaned back and said, “At least you know yourself!”

She ruffled her blonde hair and said, “I’ll nap a bit. My eyes haven’t fully healed so I need more rest. Rouse me at ten and I’ll keep watch over you. It’s your first night shift, so better safe than sorry.”

Lumian didn’t object and agreed instantly. He watched his sister lie on the bed unhesitatingly, pull the blanket over her and close her eyes.

The room instantly turned eerily silent.

Lumian quietly switched off the electric lamp and drew the curtains.

Then, he sat on the chair by the desk and quietly watched his sister sleeping peacefully under the crimson moonlight. His heart gradually calmed down
89 Nothing Happened

The wind outside rustled, almost silent. Lumian allowed his thoughts to wander in this tranquil state as instinctive questions ran through his mind.

There’s still light in the corridor. Leah must be awake still, reading Aurore’s book collection…

Pitch darkness blankets my bedroom. Valentine should be resting in bed. I wonder what Ryan’s up to…

Heh heh, they didn’t bring any alcohol on their first visit. They’ve no clue about Dariège’s customs…

If the cycle lifts, Grande Soeur can turn informant for Bureau 8. When the time comes, she won’t fret over any investigation if she goes to Trier… As for me, I needn’t undergo any special tests as an informant, right?

Now we’ve a full theory of the whole affair. The sole thing we can’t be sure of is the owl and the dead warlock in the tomb’s role…

If they bewitched the padre and company, causing the abnormality to achieve some goal with the twelfth night ritual, why did they do nothing but monitor my progress exploring the dream ruins?

Could it be that, like Madame Pualis, they await a specific time or the ritual on the twelfth night, intending to complete the disrupted part? Is that why they want no changes to the loop restarting it ahead of time?

Their actions in turn prove the key to the loop lies with me. That’s why they repeatedly try to confirm how far I’ve explored the dream ruins…

If I unlock the dream’s secret before the twelfth night comes and master recycling the corruption, will they ignore the possibility of the cycle restarting ahead of time and attack me to hold me in custody?

Yes, it’s very likely they still have their memories…

As all sorts of thoughts raced through his mind, Lumian suddenly heard faint commotion.

...

“Baa…”

It was a sheep’s bleat, as if from afar.

Lumian instantly thought of the three people turned sheep and Shepherd Pierre Berry.

Don’t tell me he really wants to attack us dead of night? Lumian stood up and listened intently.

Outside the window was but the wind’s sound through leaves and branches. No bleating.

It seemed Lumian so engrossed in his thoughts was hallucinating.

But he didn’t think so because he felt slight heat in his left chest.

The black thorn symbol seemed to have appeared again!

This meant an invisible force closely tied to the hidden existence had quietly invaded the room.

Lumian had no time to think. He rushed to the bed and shook Aurore.

“Wake up! Wake up!” he shouted in a hushed voice.

He instinctively worried Leah, Ryan and Valentine would sense something amiss with him.

Aurore opened her eyes, her light-blue eyes clearly dazed.

“What time is it?” she asked in a weak voice. Obviously she was still not fully awake.

“There’s a situation,” Lumian said decisively before continuing, “Half past nine.”

They were one of the few families in the village with wall clocks.

Aurore’s eyes snapped open. She bolted upright, threw out her right hand, and massaged her temples.

She had no time to consider what she might see that she shouldn’t.

If she couldn’t pinpoint the anomaly and confirm the problem as soon as possible, she might not have to worry about seeing anything again. The dead had no need for eyes!

Aurore scanned the room, her gaze darkening as if reflecting strange, indescribable lights and shadows.

Lumian seized the chance to tell his sister about the sheep’s bleat he’d heard in the distance and the triggered heat in the black thorn symbol on his chest.

Aurore frowned. “But I didn’t detect anything…”

“The burning in my chest remains,” Lumian rumbled.

He felt inexplicably terrified. The darkness around him was not simple. An indescribable danger lurked.

Aurore scrutinized every corner of the room, trying to find the unknown.

Silently, Lumian broke into a cold sweat—a stark contrast to the searing heat in his left chest.

He deliberated for a moment and said, “Why not tell Ryan and the others? Maybe they can find something.”

Aurore pondered, then nodded.

“Use your sudden sense of impending danger as an excuse.”

“Right.” Lumian opened his mouth, about to yell outside—then froze.

“What is it?” Aurore asked, alarmed.

Lumian frowned. “The heat in my chest is dimming fast…”

Meaning the black thorn symbol was “fading” rapidly.

“The danger invading our room has left?” Aurore mused. “Because we prepared, it did nothing?”

“Perhaps.” Lumian turned to the corridor and bellowed, “Something’s wrong!”

Ryan appeared in the doorway in the blink of an eye, followed by Leah, then Valentine, who looked jolted from sleep.

Without waiting to be asked, Lumian recounted what had happened, using his sense of danger in place of the burning in his chest.

Ryan listened intently, not doubting this was Lumian’s hallucination. He sighed,

“It’s useful indeed to take turns on night watch.

“Mostly it’s boredom, but if it saves everyone, it’s almost life and death.”

As he spoke, he conjured pure Sunrise Gleam around him, circling every room on the second floor.

Though he couldn’t find the sinister power, he could at least sanctify the environment.

Leah paced around, muttering under her breath. Her veil and boots jangled ominously, then fell silent just as abruptly.

Finally, she said to Aurore and Lumian, “It was dicey just now. On top of that, whatever it was could block my Sealed Artifact from giving me any warning. I’m afraid these stupid bells will only go off once that thing really starts targeting someone. But now, it has left.”

“Well, that’s reassuring.” Aurore sighed in relief.

“Maybe it wasn’t a single creature.” Lumian relaxed and grinned. “Could’ve been more than one.”

Ryan and the others were silent.

“That’s even worse!” Aurore lashed out at Lumian and told the investigators, “Now that the alarm’s off, let’s get back to our schedule.”

She didn’t mention who might’ve snuck in to attack them. There were too many possibilities: Shepherd Pierre Berry, the unknown corpse in the tomb, or the shady deputy padre.

Without solid clues, speculating would just waste time. Better to wait until daylight.

For now, they just had to remember that nighttime held real danger. Someone was out to get them, so they’d need to stay on high alert.

Once Leah and the others had gone to their rooms, Lumian glanced at the wall clock and asked Aurore, “Want to sleep in a bit more?”

“No way, waking up and crashing this late sucks.” Aurore stretched her arms overhead. “Ugh, just to handle emergencies, I got this dress with pockets for spell components and useful stuff. I didn’t even dare roll over, scared I might stab myself. I slept like a board.”

As she spoke, she hopped off the bed and strode to the window. She yanked back the curtains and peered outside.

Cordu was silent. Many houses were still lit up.

“I thought that owl would come after us for sure, but there’s no sign of it out there.” Aurore surveyed the area and explained to Lumian.

Lumian nodded.

“That was my guess too.”

He then leaned in and whispered everything he had figured out to his sister.

“Not bad,” Aurore said with a smile. “You’re getting better at analyzing situations. I’ve got nothing to add.” She paused. “But we can’t take matters into our own hands. That tomb is too dangerous…”

At this point, she exclaimed, “At dawn, we’ll pay Madame Pualis a visit and tell her your theory. Let her know the Warlock’s and owl’s motives might affect her escape from this time loop at that precise moment.”

“I’ll go myself,” Lumian said. He didn’t want Aurore anywhere near Madame Pualis who had designs on her.

Aurore didn’t argue. She only reminded him, “Watch your back. Don’t piss her off, or else…”

She eyed his abdomen meaningfully.

Aurore sighed and said, “Truth is, that mysterious lady at Ol’ Tavern is clearly stronger, but she wants nothing to do with this time loop. No way she’ll help us investigate that tomb.”

“Yeah,” Lumian agreed.

He then said, “Still, I’ll drop by Ol’ Tavern tomorrow to see if I can run into her. What if she changes her mind?”

“Fair enough.” Aurore didn’t object.

They chatted in hushed tones until midnight.

After Lumian relieving his post with Leah in the study, he returned to Aurore’s room. He lay beside his sister, inhaling her familiar scent and sinking into the soft mattress. Sleep eluded him.

“What’s wrong?” Aurore asked, noticing his tenseness.

“Just not used to this,” Lumian said carefully.

Aurore scoffed.

“What happened to the bold Lumian I know?”

Lumian didn’t reply. Aurore exhaled slowly and smiled.

“Remember when you first started tailing me? You were scared I’d slip away and refused to sleep at night. You were super vigilant.”

“Yeah, I do.” Lumian drifted into the past. “Back then, you’d hum me a lullaby and let me doze off to the sound of your voice.”

As soon as the words left his lips, a familiar melody reached his ears. Light and soothing, it calmed his body and mind.

Leaning against the bed, Aurore gazed into the deep crimson dark before her. She hummed the lullaby from her hometown, soft and wistful.

It was a song their mother had crooned when Aurore was just a kid, coaxing her to sleep.

“Go to sleep, go to sleep…”

Lost in the gentle tune, Lumian gradually unwound and slipped under.

……

Lumian woke up amidst the faint gray fog.

He scoped the room and realized that he wasn’t in his sister’s room. He was still in his own room
90 Trying Again
Indeed, no matter where I fall asleep, I’ll wake up here. Lumian tumbled out of bed and glimpsed at the Fate Appropriator Dirk beside him. No, Fallen Mercury. He paced to the window in the faint gray fog.

He planted his hands on the desk and cast his gaze at the blood-colored “peak.”

At the summit of the mountain, the fog was dense and stratified, utterly masking the three-headed, six-armed colossus.

I nearly lost control with just a glance the last time. I really have no idea what to do if I have to face it in the future… Lumian sighed in frustration.

He didn’t sink into such emotions for long and quickly broke free because he still had numerous things to do.

Lumian contorted himself into a deranged dance within his bedroom, emitting a distorted spiritual pulse. Combined with the stirred forces of nature, he ‘broadcasted’ himself in an unspecific direction.

Before long, he sensed approaching entities and saw the translucent forms of the mouth-orifice monster, the shotgun monster, and the skinless monster reflected in his glass window.

Lumian was in no hurry. Following his dance, he withdrew a ritual silver dagger and stabbed the back of his left hand.

A droplet of crimson swiftly surfaced and congealed into a bead atop his skin, guided by his spirituality and the forces of nature.

The trio of creatures shifted but did not dare enter Lumian’s abode or attach themselves to him.

Lumian spun around, elevated his left hand and bellowed, “I!”

Shouting in the ancient tongue of Hermes, it caused the room to rock faintly.

Employing his ritual dagger, Lumian collected the droplet of blood and aimed it at the mouth-orifice beast. “I command you! Onto me!”

...

Again in ancient Hermes. An imperceptible gust blew.

The translucent form of the mouth-orifice monster trembled visibly, as if seized and vigorously shaken by an invisible entity.

Just as Lumian completed his dance, believing it would have no effect, the mouth-orifice monster hurtled into the house and landed upon the ritual silver dagger, devouring the droplet of crimson.

It then convulsed violently as it tunneled into Lumian’s body through the silver dagger.

Lumian could not help but gasp, his mind flooded with thoughts of ‘So hungry, so hungry, starving, starving.’

He hastily turned and stared at the full-length mirror on his wardrobe. He saw his visage was pallid and tinged cerulean. His maw gaped wildly, resembling a cadaver more than a living being.

Success… Lumian exulted gazing at his reflection as if regarding a stranger.

It felt somewhat alien.

He resisted his intense hunger and attempted to sense the mouth-orifice monster possessing him.

It was like acquiring an additional brain. Much of it brimmed with hunger, bloodlust, madness and more. Instinctively, he had a proclivity to harness its characteristics.

Lumian could utilize his will and spirituality to magnify one of those instincts. It equated to employing the mouth-orifice monster’s traits or abilities.

Without a second thought, Lumian chose invisibility.

In the blink of an eye, his reflection vanished from the full-length mirror.

Everything from his body to his clothes to the ritual silver dagger had disappeared.

Lumian took a few steps forward and back, but he couldn’t spot any traces of himself in the mirror or glass.

Of course, his footprints and scent remained.

Lumian stuffed the silver dagger Aurore had given him, raised his arms, and punched the air a few times.

With each whooshing punch, the full-body mirror stayed empty until Lumian swung a fist at its surface.

The moment his knuckles connected with the mirror, his outline materialized. His face was pale with a tinge of blue, and his eyes glinted dangerously.

Unbelievable… No matter what I do, the invisibility stays on, but I can’t mute it. However, as long as I attack the mirror, I lose invisibility… I thought it was optical invisibility like Aurore said, but it seems to be a result of mysticism… Attacking something forms a bond with it, rendering me invisible to its ‘gaze?’ Lumian hovered his right fist over the mirror.

After verifying the effects and limits of invisibility, ravenous hunger overwhelmed him. He stomped downstairs into the cellar and found two steaks.

If not for his rationality, he would’ve sunk his teeth into the dark meat.

Lumian abandoned the ingredients and grabbed the cheese he had stockpiled, realizing he had to fry the steak medium rare with no fire set up.

He didn’t care if it was clean or delectable. Like a ghost starved to death, he shoved food into his mouth.

After eating a few cheese slices, Lumian finally satiated his intense hunger.

Looks like this is the downside of the mouth-orifice monster… he evaluated seriously. Luckily, I can still control my body and haven’t lost my mind… That thing is obsessed with revenge but overpowered by even greater fear… If I utter ‘leave’ in ancient Hermes now, it’ll bolt faster than anything…

By now, Lumian was sure the mouth-orifice monster’s possession had acceptable side effects. Invisibility would become a potent weapon to explore and battle in the dream ruins.

Coupled with Fallen Mercury, he felt his combat ability had more than doubled.

Lumian returned to the dining table, pulled out a chair, and sat down, patiently awaiting the possession’s end.

Soon, his spirituality nearly depleted.

He didn’t strain himself. He stood up and performed some seemingly insane moves.

It was the same dance to attract monsters. Its purpose was to force the possessing creature out.

Without Lumian’s command in ancient Hermes, the mouth-orifice monster’s blurry and translucent figure flew out and vanished through the glass window on the first floor without glancing back.

Lumian couldn’t help but make a self-deprecating remark. “Don’t run so fast. You’re acting like I have a cesspit on me.”

He knew he could maintain possession for about three minutes given his spirituality. Once invisible, his consumption rate would double.

Of course, that was under normal circumstances. In danger, he could strain himself to last longer. But that risked losing control, best avoided if possible.

Though the mouth-orifice monster had left, Lumian still felt ravenous. He lit the stove and fried the steak medium well.

Then, he picked up his knife and fork and quickly cut, forked it, and put it into his mouth. He felt that the juice locked in the meat was delicious.

Lumian devoured two steaks in under ten minutes, sating his hunger.

Looking at the empty plate, he sighed, “Three minutes of possession needs at least two hours to recover…”

This didn’t only mean eradicating hunger, but a recovery of spirituality too.

Lumian knew his current state wasn’t fit for exploring. He found flour, sugar and other bits, using the oven at home to bake biscuits.

With cheese, this would be his main source of fuel in the ruins.

Had he more time, he’d have gotten jerky too—food shepherds often carried. As a Cordu resident, he knew how to make them.

Busy with this, Lumian pondered his dream ruin plans.

First, circle the city wall. Then hunt that flaming beast…

Only by amping up my strength can I better explore and unravel the secrets of the dream…

The flaming monster’s strength was at least Sequence 7, and there was a high chance it was from the Hunter pathway. Its various abilities perfectly squashed Lumian. He hadn’t planned on dealing with that dude anytime soon, hoping to first seek out prey that was weaker and on par with a Provoker. But now, scoring Fallen Mercury and Invisibility gave him a certain level of hope.

When his spirituality had mostly recovered, Lumian placed the baked biscuits and sliced cheese into a cloth pouch and slung it around his waist.

Then, he seriously wrapped his left hand in layers of white bandages and grabbed the evil dirk called Fallen Mercury.

Hauling his shotgun and axe, Lumian strode towards the door on the first floor with the other stuff he needed.

Suddenly, he had the feeling that he was a fully armed hunter preparing for a dangerous hunt.

Many thoughts surfaced in his mind.

My first move is to track the flaming monster’s movements. Then I’ll use Invisibility to sneak up on it and stab it with Fallen Mercury.

Before that, I’ll hunt a weak monster and steal its bad fate. Then swap that fate with the flaming monster’s.

I can’t do the sacrificial dance while possessed and half-activate the black thorn symbol. Otherwise, the mouth-orifice monster will bolt from my body immediately. So, how do I get away from the flaming monster after hurting it and wait for the fate swap to finish? It’ll easily lock onto me through my traces. Invisibility alone won’t cut it…

Lumian hadn’t figured out the last part yet. That depended on early intel.

As he opened the door and went into the wilderness, he had an odd feeling.

If I can successfully hunt the flaming monster, my Hunter potion will be fully digested.

……

In the area where he’d met the flaming monster before, Lumian held his pewter-black dirk in his left hand. He carefully searched for any traces, on high alert for sudden attacks.

After circling cautiously for nearly ten minutes, he finally found signs of the flaming monster.

In a collapsed house’s corner, there were black scorch marks on a stone unlike any around it.

Where there’s one, there’s two. Lumian quickly tracked the flaming monster’s location and slowly, cautiously followed its trail.

When the marks were fresh, he stopped and began to dance

91 Scheming

Lumian danced to lure in strange creatures. His objective: to use Invisibility to slip closer and analyze the flaming monster’s habits and movements, gathering intel for future hunts.

Within a mere 30 to 40 seconds, he used ancient Hermes to reattach the mouth-orifice creature to himself.

An overwhelming hunger consumed Lumian, compelling him to open his mouth. It was as if his mouth had sprouted vortex-shaped teeth.

Swiftly, he stifled the ravenous and insane thoughts flooding his being, pulled out a small biscuit and a cube of cheese, and shoved them into his mouth, chewing and swallowing.

Simultaneously, he strengthened the mouth-orifice creature’s invisibility, causing him to vanish from sight.

Having quelled his hunger, Lumian tried hard to clamp his mouth shut to prevent the aroma of biscuit and cheese from escaping.

He then trailed the flaming monster along the road’s edge.

Before long, Lumian spotted the charred monster, its every limb ablaze.

It was constructing a new trap in the clearing from before.

You’re already a monster, yet you’re still so dedicated? Lumian silently jeered.

Naturally, he understood this was merely an expression of the monster’s instinctive behavior.

Lumian dared not approach too closely, halting beside a crumbling wall at the clearing’s perimeter.

He studied the flaming monster for a few moments before glancing back at the path he had traversed. He noticed that, although his footprints were faint and concealed in less conspicuous areas, they still existed.

Lumian eyed his current position and hatched a plan.

Closely monitoring the monster’s movements, he seized a larger rock and hurled it to the side. As it flew, he pressed his right hand against the decaying wall and vaulted up, landing securely atop the wall.

Crash! Lumian’s actions were flawlessly masked by the sound of the rock striking the ground.

After changing his vantage point, Lumian felt much more at ease. Monitoring his dwindling spirituality, he intently observed the flaming monster.

He discerned that the flaming monster’s traps were neither concealed nor challenging to detect. They didn’t exploit any logical vulnerabilities or inertia-driven movement. They were simple and exposed.

The most elementary example was the flaming monster stretching a rope slightly above one’s ankle between two ruined buildings across the clearing.

Any human or monster with normal vision could easily discover this trap.

At first, Lumian didn’t grasp its purpose, but after placing himself in the monster’s position, he gradually discerned its potential significance.

The intent of such traps was not to directly harm or ensnare enemies, but to forge an environment that enabled Hunters to exhibit their full potential.

In the heat of battle, one struggled to observe the environment and maintain situational awareness. Constantly distracted by these limitations, they occasionally had to slow down or alter their stance to evade traps. Hunters possessed the unique ability to remain alert to their surroundings at all times and exploit the environment to their advantage.

This disparity widened the gulf between their strengths.

An open conspiracy… Lumian nodded in understanding, recalling Aurore’s words.

Suddenly, he perceived the flaming monster as a stern instructor imparting valuable lessons about Hunters to him.

Simultaneously, he remembered the content of Aurore’s novel: Stealing from a master is punishable by death!

Eventually, the flaming monster ceased its activity. Its charred face instinctively scanned the vicinity.

Then, it strode towards the edge of the clearing near Lumian, flames dancing from its body.

Following a predetermined route to the next location? Lumian mused to himself, his excitement mounting.

For Hunters, discerning a quarry’s path was invaluable.

Most traps lay hidden along such routes!

As the flaming monster ambled, it scrutinized its surroundings and examined the ground, remaining vigilant.

This caused Lumian to furrow his brow. He realized that a higher Sequence Hunter wouldn’t be easily handled.

The most effective counter to Beyonders was often individuals or objects of a higher Sequence from the same pathway, even if the gap was only one or two Sequences.

I’m better at your strengths than you are. You may lack what I possess!

If not for his Dancer-related abilities and the Fallen Mercury dirk, Lumian wouldn’t have dared to entertain any designs on the flaming monster.

Seven to eight seconds later, the flaming monster reached the edge of the clearing, approximately five to six meters from the crumbling wall.

As before, the flaming monster’s gaze instinctively roved.

It paused, as if observing footprints near the wall’s edge that appeared to have been left by someone.

Thump, thump. Lumian’s heart pounded involuntarily.

He wasn’t prepared to hunt the flaming monster just yet.

Despite the five to six meters between them, Lumian hesitated to kill the enemy with Fallen Mercury, knowing the latter hadn’t stored an exchangeable fate.

If a fight erupted, he’d be hunted before he could activate the black thorn symbol!

Lumian struggled to control his heartbeat and breathing. His right hand hovered over the black cloth covering Fallen Mercury’s blade, ready to tear it away at any moment.

If he leaped with full force from his current position, he might reach the flaming monster and avoid a long-range battle that favored his opponent.

Two or three seconds ticked by. The flaming monster averted its gaze and moved on.

It didn’t seem to have noticed Lumian’s footprints.

After covering another ten meters, the flaming monster suddenly spun around.

Flames erupted from its body, condensing into a massive, searing white fireball.

The fireball rocketed like a cannonball toward the spot where Lumian had been perched at the edge of the crumbling wall.

Following his instincts, Lumian, who was crouching on the wall, leaped down to the other side, where the flaming monster had laid its trap.

Boom!

A fiery blast erupted, causing the already unstable wall to collapse.

Upon landing, Lumian rolled twice to avoid falling debris and the shockwave laced with flames.

He immediately sprang back up, maintaining his “invisibility” as he sped through the traps left by the flaming monster and headed toward another exit in the clearing.

The flaming monster couldn’t detect its enemy right away, so it focused on searching for clues.

Finally, it spotted a series of faint footprints.

By then, Lumian had reached the rope stretched between two collapsed buildings, easily jumping over it and fleeing the clearing.

He dashed to a natural trap and shook off his pursuer.

Having deactivated his invisibility, Lumian cursed in pain, “Too treacherous, too treacherous! One of these monsters’ heads is worth two of Pons’s. After finding my footprints, it pretended not to see them and deliberately increased the distance between us, fearing it might be defeated!”

As Lumian cursed, he felt like he had learned something new.

Of course, there were drawbacks to this approach: the increased distance gave Lumian room to escape.

Furthermore, his invisibility meant the flaming monster couldn’t lock onto him right away. His chances of escaping were high.

After catching his breath and restoring some energy, Lumian mused while eating biscuits and cheese, “Based on what just happened, as long as I plan carefully and strike at the right moment, I can rely on Invisibility to create distance and escape to a safe location, waiting for the fate exchange to complete.”

Lumian’s Invisibility would break upon attacking, but as long as he avoided contact, he could use it again.

This valuable insight emerged from his reconnaissance.

However, he also realized a problem. As a Hunter, I didn’t bring water when I went ‘hunting in the mountains!’ I’m so thirsty!

Both cheese and biscuits required water.

The jerky Lumian intended to make in the future fell into this category too.

After resting briefly, he resolved to hunt Noodle Man, strip its bad fate, and store it in Fallen Mercury. He couldn’t risk being defenseless in an emergency again.

A puppet’s fate also belonged to Fallen Mercury and could be exchanged. But Lumian wasn’t a wielder. He couldn’t swap his fate with others. If he could, he’d gladly give away the bomb on him.

……

About thirty minutes later, Lumian tracked down Noodle Man, the grotesque hodgepodge of limbs and features.

Having completed the ritualistic dance in advance, Lumian strode towards Noodle Man openly. As expected, he found Noodle Man prostrate on the fetid ground, trembling uncontrollably.

Very obedient… Lumian praised, gripping an iron-black axe in his right hand and the pewter-black Fallen Mercury dirk in his left.

Though Fallen Mercury dirk’s malignant aura seeped into Lumian’s skin even without contact, he had long grown immune to its corrupting influence. What might drive ordinary Beyonders to losing control was nothing to him.

Lumian glowered at the pathetic Noodle Man cowering before him, retracting his gaze from the gnashing maw on its forehead.

“According to Aurore, death is a mercy for your kind. The sooner you expire, the sooner your suffering will end.”

As he spoke, Lumian crouched and plunged the pewter-black dirk deep into the back of Noodle Man’s neck.

Noodle Man spasmed, but did not resist or struggle.

Lumian wrenched the dirk free and gripped his axe, swinging the weapon down with fluid grace.

The axehead cleaved through flesh and bone, sending Noodle Man’s head tumbling across the ground with Fallen Mercury’s swipe.

Blood erupted from the severed neck, splattering everywhere.

Noodle Man’s twitching remains soon fell still, lifeless at last.

Lumian strode over to the head and retrieved FalleN mercury with his left hand.

In the fleeting second between breaths, an illusory river shimmered before his eyes.

The river appeared to be constructed from intricate mercury symbols, and each symbol seemed formed by the river itself.

At once, the river’s branches disappeared, leaving only the primary current. It fractured midway and kinked as if wanting to double back to its source but for now could not prevail

92 Stripping Fate

Lumian couldn’t grasp the meaning of the illusory river he saw or sensed. All he could surmise was that it symbolized fate. Guided by Fallen Mercury’s instincts, he lifted the blade’s tip and aimed it at a mercury symbol within the river.

As soon as he made contact with the mercury river, a series of scenes flashed through Lumian’s mind: Noodle Man performing an enigmatic sacrificial dance; Noodle Man cowering before the black thorn symbol and prostrating itself; Noodle Man gathering the scattered flesh and blood throughout the dream ruins to satiate its hunger; Noodle Man attempting to approach the ‘city wall’ circle, but retreating each time as if afraid of something; Noodle Man’s head severed by an axe…

Is this its entire existence since the loop began? Lumian realized this as he tried to stab the tip of Fallen Mercury at the mercury symbol representing Noodle Man’s demise—the end of the illusory river.

It was too immense and heavy for him to succeed.

At that moment, the mercury symbol started to dissipate, and the illusory river gradually faded. The images in Lumian’s mind grew hazy.

There’s a time limit? Lumian didn’t dare to dawdle. Adhering to the principle of proximity, he aimed the dark pewter dirk at Noodle Man’s fate of succumbing to the black thorn symbol.

The mercury symbol, seemingly formed by the river’s entanglement, was pried open, condensing into a droplet that seeped into the blade of Fallen Mercury.

In the next instant, the illusory river vanished entirely, preventing Lumian from witnessing Noodle Man’s fate again.

He glanced down at Fallen Mercury and noticed the heretic symbols on the pewter-black blade undulating gently like water, as though infused with some vital force.

They had been mesmerizing from the start, but now they appeared even more sinister.

“Success…” Lumian whispered to himself in relief.

Fallen Mercury was now complete.

In the future, as long as he could wound the flaming monster with this heretic dirk in battle, he could swap the monster’s fate of cowering before the black thorn symbol with the former.

Lumian wrapped the blade of Fallen Mercury in black cloth and sheathed it in his belt. He dealt with Noodle Man’s corpse briefly, moving it into a half-collapsed building. He destroyed the building’s last support, allowing rubble and wood to fall, burying everything inside.

After this, Lumian circled back to where the flaming monster had appeared.

This time, he didn’t approach for observation. Instead, he searched for footprints and other traces, taking time to identify which ones the target left while deliberately circling around.

After nearly two hours, Lumian gradually deciphered the flaming monster’s habits and patterns. A mental hunting map emerged.

He spent some time surveying the predetermined battlefields, seeking natural traps to exploit.

Eventually, Lumian rubbed his forehead and decided to delve deeper into the ruins while he still had energy, gathering information for future explorations.

He remained vigilant and performed the sacrificial dance again, partially triggering the black thorn symbol.

With the ‘amulet’ in hand, Lumian quickly followed the same path as before.

He encountered monsters along the way, but they either fled before attacking or vanished from sight at a distance. The deeper he went, the more similar situations occurred.

Finally, when the burning sensation in his chest from the second sacrificial dance subsided, Lumian spotted the ‘city wall’ composed of twisted houses once more.

He rested a while, waiting for his spirituality to recover before performing the sacrificial dance again.

After the dance, sometimes forceful, sometimes graceful, Lumian headed in the direction where he found Fallen Mercury, the black thorn symbol activated.

After passing through the room where the flames had been extinguished, he slowed his pace, wary of a sudden assault.

After walking a while, Lumian noticed the light ahead had dimmed considerably. It was as if a massive creature high in the sky blocked the light, or the sun was obscured by something.

Lumian instinctively looked up, but saw only thick fog.

Unable to determine the cause, he could only draw Fallen Mercury and cautiously proceed.

In a moment, it felt as if he had transitioned from day to night.

Of course, this was an exaggeration. Lumian thought it more accurate to liken the foggy weather to a place shrouded in dark clouds.

Almost simultaneously, he yawned involuntarily, his exhaustion intensifying.

No, I can’t sleep… Lumian forced himself to keep his eyes open as he retreated from the shadowy base of the mountain.

His mental state improved significantly. Although still tired, he could endure it.

You fall asleep the moment you enter. The deeper you go, the sleepier you become? Lumian mused silently. He turned and walked in another direction.

After another sacrificial dance, he arrived at an unfamiliar area.

To his right were ‘walls’ stacked with doors and windows. To his left lay a wasteland connected to the circle of building ruins, and ahead stood brown trees.

In the desolate ruins, the trees seemed incredibly resilient. They intertwined and embraced each other, forming a wooden wall five to six meters tall.

This wooden wall had numerous green leaves and branches, a stark contrast to the deathly silence and desolation surrounding it.

If it hadn’t blocked the path to the back of the city wall, Lumian might have praised its tenacious vitality. But now, he could only express his dissatisfaction with the crude gesture of raising two middle fingers.

He could have chosen to take a detour and enter from the other side of the dream ruins, but he wasn’t familiar with that area. His spirituality was nearly depleted, so there was no need to take the risk.

Lumian yawned unabashedly, his chest still burning as he retraced his steps.

……

As Lumian awoke, the first light of dawn had already crept through the thick curtains, casting an outline of the desk, chair, wardrobe, and other furnishings within the room.

Still early, he thought, glancing over at Aurore beside him.

Aurore’s blonde hair lay strewn across the white pillow, her eyes closed in peaceful slumber.

Her right hand gripped the edge of the blanket, occasionally attempting to turn over but stopping instinctively. Her brow furrowed before gradually smoothing out.

Lumian had a good idea why his sister reacted this way.

She had hidden numerous bottles within her nightgown as a precaution. Sleeping on her side or stomach would undoubtedly cause her harm.

How exhausting, Lumian sighed inwardly, his expression tender and his heart at ease.

After a moment, he carefully slid out of bed and left the bedroom.

He moved toward a side balcony that led to the rooftop. Facing the distant crimson sky, he stretched his body.

Within a minute, Valentine emerged from his room and stood in the corridor.

“Are you also greeting the sun?” he asked, his usual cold demeanor replaced with warmth and approval.

Can I say no? Lumian smiled. “That’s right.”

Satisfied, Valentine stepped onto the balcony and stood tall, facing the rising sun.

He spread his arms wide, lifted his face toward the sky, and whispered, “Praise the Sun!”

With no other choice, Lumian mimicked the gesture. “Praise the Sun!”

Valentine lowered his arms and crossed them over his chest. After a moment of silent prayer, he opened his eyes and said to Lumian, “If the loop is successfully resolved, I’ll introduce you to the bishop of Dariège. Or would you prefer Bigorre?”

“I prefer Trier,” Lumian answered, smiling. “But where I go isn’t up to me. It’s up to my sister.”

Valentine nodded and dropped the subject. He turned back toward the corridor and began patrolling.

Nothing happened until eight o’clock. The pair then went downstairs and prepared breakfast together.

Soon after, Ryan joined them to help. Leah woke up just before nine, leaving Aurore still asleep.

Ryan bit into his toast and asked Lumian, “Do you have any plans for today?”

Lumian hesitated before responding, “We should leave someone at home. Aurore can’t be left to face a potential attack alone. The remaining two will accompany me to stock up on food and fetch some water. We must hold out until the twelfth night.”

Cordu lacked a proper water supply. Aurore had installed a water tank on the roof during her renovations. As long as it was regularly filled and disinfected, it was as good as having running water.

“Yes, we need to do all this before Lent,” Ryan agreed.

Lumian smiled brightly. “By the way, we should visit Madame Pualis and ask if she can help us investigate the dead Warlock and the owl in the tomb.”

As expected, Valentine frowned, and Ryan’s smile stiffened.

Leah sipped her water and offered a smile. “I’ll stay with Aurore.”

“No problem,” Lumian agreed on behalf of Ryan and Valentine.

With no other choice, the two men acquiesced to visit the administrator’s residence that morning.

Following breakfast, the trio exited the semi-subterranean two-story building and made their way toward Ol’ Tavern.

They passed Shepherd Pierre Berry’s home along the way.

Lumian’s heart raced as he suggested to Ryan and Valentine, “Let’s check on the three sheep.”

He recalled the bleating he had heard the night before.

Understanding his meaning, Ryan and Valentine offered no objection.

They circled around to the rear of the Berrys’ home, only to find an empty sheep pen.

The three sheep were gone

An Early Sacrifice

Gazing at the empty sheep pen littered with hay and dung, Ryan furrowed his brow and said, “Did they really fix the underground altar so quickly?”

He suspected the three missing sheep had been taken for sacrifice.

“Maybe these heretics have some special powers,” Valentine replied with disdain.

As Lumian listened to their conversation, he suddenly remembered the faint sound of a sheep’s bleating he heard the night before.

Could it have been one of the sheep being sacrificed? Puzzled, he shared his suspicion with Ryan and Valentine.

“That seems unlikely,” Ryan dismissed, shaking his head. “The cathedral is hundreds of meters from your house, and the altar is underground.”

What he meant was that even with a Hunter’s enhanced hearing, it would be impossible to hear anything from the cathedral’s underground.

Lumian shared that doubt, but couldn’t explain why he heard the bleating. Simultaneously, a distinct burning sensation appeared in his chest as the black thorn symbol partially activated.

There was no way to fake this!

Burning sensation… Lumian’s heart raced, recalling something the mysterious woman had said.

Pray to yourself… the principle of proximity…

Thinking back to the ritual that invoked Dancer’s power and the black thorn symbol, he formed a new hypothesis.

He heard the sheep bleating during the sacrifice because of mysticism!

In simpler terms, when the padre and his group performed their ritual and prayed to the hidden being, the principle of proximity also targeted the corruption in Lumian’s body, partially triggering the black thorn symbol. As a result, Lumian could faintly hear the sheep’s cries from afar.

Him being unable to respond or knowing how—with the corruption now sealed by the owner of the bluish-black pattern—the padre’s ritual ultimately ‘contacted’ the hidden entity.

After the ritual, the burning sensation in Lumian’s chest faded.

It seems no invisible, strange power had invaded Aurore’s room last night. The anomaly in my body was just half-activated by the padre’s ritual… Lumian roughly understood how events had unfolded.

At that moment, Ryan warned his companions, “It appears our investigation of the cathedral’s underground has alarmed the padre and his people. They’ve found a way to repair the altar and pray for strength ahead of time. From now on, we need to be extra vigilant. Don’t assume things will only turn dangerous as Lent approaches.”

“If I weren’t worried about restarting the loop, I’d have dealt with them already!” Valentine spat hatefully.

Then, he added gloomily, “Can you stop calling that servant of the evil god a padre? He’s not worthy!”

Why was he a padre if he wasn’t worthy? Lumian dared not voice his thoughts.

He wasn’t afraid to voice his thoughts; but wanting to maintain his image in Valentine’s eyes, he kept silent. After all, he might need to persuade this fanatic to do something later, like using his suicide to verify the essence of the cycle.

Ryan nodded.

“Let’s visit Madame Pualis as soon as possible to replenish our supplies. We should stay inside as much as we can in the future.”

Lumian said nothing more, leaving Shepherd Pierre Berry’s house through the back door and heading towards the castle on the hill.

Passing through the vibrant garden, the trio approached the partially opened door and informed the red-coated, white-panted manservant, “We need to see Madame Pualis.”

“Wait a moment.” The valet glanced at Ryan and Valentine before swiftly turning and vanishing through the door.

Soon after, the pale-faced ‘midwife’ in a grayish-white dress emerged.

Compared to last time, her face was even paler, and her eyes were so blank that it made one’s heart turn cold.

Had Lumian not informed Ryan and Valentine beforehand that the ‘midwife’ wasn’t ‘dead,’ they would have been shocked.

They had seen plenty of dead people turn into zombies. The Solar High Priest specialized in such matters. Valentine had purified dozens of similar cases, but it was beyond their understanding how a person diced into pieces could revert to their original appearance and seem more alive than dead.

The ‘midwife’ spoke in a monotone.

“Madame doesn’t want to see you. Please leave.”

“We have urgent matters,” Lumian insisted. “Isn’t Madame Pualis concerned that the person underground will disrupt her plans?”

The ‘midwife’ maintained her tone.

“Madame says it won’t affect her.”

Hearing this, a chill ran down Lumian’s spine.

It meant they would have a hard time getting Madame Pualis’ help again.

Lumian smiled without displaying frustration or disappointment. Looking at the ‘midwife,’ he said, “But we might explore the tomb.”

He implied that during the exploration, either side could encounter trouble, triggering the loop to restart prematurely.

Unfazed, the ‘midwife’ remained stiff and blank.

“You can try, but you’ll only be disappointed.”

What does she mean? Lumian couldn’t grasp Madame Pualis’ message.

Does she mean they could explore all they wanted, and she would offer some help at crucial moments, but they wouldn’t find any valuable clues? The more Lumian pondered, the more he doubted that was her intended meaning. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have refused their meeting request through the ‘midwife.’

Before Lumian could consider other possibilities, Ryan thoughtfully asked, “Is Madame Pualis trying to tell us that the person in the tomb can easily control us and prevent our investigation without triggering the loop?”

“Yes.” The ‘midwife’ nodded slowly, turned, and retreated deeper into the castle.

Lumian, Valentine, and Ryan exchanged glances and left, feeling helpless.

Their next stop was Ol’ Tavern, where they could purchase plenty of provisions and barrels of cheap wine.

Compared to potable water that spoiled easily, wine was more stable. As long as its alcohol content wasn’t too high, it could substitute for water.

Entering Ol’ Tavern, Lumian scanned the room but didn’t spot the mysterious woman.

Disappointed, he focused on the bar counter, telling tavern owner Maurice Bénet what they needed.

After Ryan and Valentine hauled out wine barrels, Lumian lowered his voice and inquired, “Where’s the other lady?”

Maurice Bénet shook his head.

“I don’t know. Maybe she’s in her room, somewhere else in the village, or even in Liège. She rented the room until the 9th. She’s free to do as she pleases.”

The 9th? The twelfth night? Lumian nodded thoughtfully.

April 9th was the so-called twelfth night that he and Aurore had deduced.

This also confirmed that March 29th was indeed the loop’s first day.

If Ryan and the two other foreigners hadn’t happened to enter Cordu on a particular cycle’s first day, the loop would immediately restart and commence on March 29th whenever outsiders invaded the area.

“Damn.” Lumian slapped his forehead and told the tavern owner, Maurice Bénet, “My stomach’s acting up. I need the restroom. Tell them to wait for me.”

Maurice Bénet’s expression seemed to say: What are you up to now?

“Don’t mess with me!”

The downside of having a bad reputation rears its ugly head once more… Lumian chuckled.

“Don’t worry, I’m really just using the restroom!”

As he spoke, he waved and sprinted toward the staircase.

He did want to use the restroom, but he was heading for the one upstairs.

Maurice Bénet glanced at his retreating figure and muttered, “Spring is here, and this scoundrel’s hormones are raging…”

His voice barely reached Lumian’s ears.

Upon reaching the second floor, Lumian approached the restroom and positioned himself in front of the mysterious lady’s room.

Knock, knock, knock. He rapped on the door.

No answer.

Noticing the absence of a “Do Not Disturb” sign on the handle, Lumian knocked twice more, each time louder than before.

Unfortunately, the mysterious lady never showed.

Lumian pondered for a moment before producing a slim wire and jiggling it in the keyhole.

The door creaked open, revealing an empty room.

The bed’s blanket lay neatly folded, as though no one had occupied the space recently.

Lumian exhaled quietly and closed the door without venturing inside.

…

In the afternoon, the siblings congregated in Aurore’s bedroom under the guise of instructing Lumian in the art of Hermes to swiftly enhance his strength.

Lumian kept his voice low as he recounted his excursion into the dream ruins the previous night. At last, he inquired, “Anything to add? About hunting the flaming monster?”

Though he was armed with Fallen Mercury and Invisibility, his confidence in hunting the flaming beast remained low.

It was a Sequence of the Hunter pathway that had experienced a qualitative transformation!

Aurore chuckled.

“You’ve covered all the bases. The only thing I can add is…”

She lifted her hands, formed fists, and shook them gently.

“Break a leg!”

“…” Lumian felt defeated by his sister’s jest.

However, the tension in his chest subsided.

Aurore then said, “What remains are some clichéd words: be careful, be careful, be very careful.”

She sighed.

“It’s a shame the mysterious lady isn’t here. Otherwise, I could’ve crafted some simple, supplementary talismans, along with the Integrity Brooch, and had them brought into your dream.”

“That’s true.” While Lumian felt disappointed, he wasn’t disheartened. He had no intention of giving up.

…

At 9:50 pm, Lumian slid out of Aurore’s bedroom and stalked down the hallway towards the washroom.

He intended to relieve himself before beginning his night watch.

Bathed in the crimson glow of the moon, the washroom was shrouded in darkness. Only the toilet was faintly visible.

Lumian bent over and unfastened his belt.

Behind him, the shadow on the wall abruptly writhed and morphed into a silhouette brandishing an axe high above its head!

94 Attack

Lumian’s eyes were narrowed, his body tensing as he sensed the pores on his skin open. An overwhelming premonition of danger washed over him.

In the dream ruins, he’d had no shortage of similar experiences. Instantly, he halted and tumbled to the side, like a boneless sack of flesh.

A whistling wind filled his ears as a razor-sharp axe grazed his body, slicing through the air.

Lumian hit the ground with a thud, attempting to roll to his feet. But pale-white and pitch-black, eerie arms extended from the surrounding shadows, grabbing his clothes and coiling around his body.

The cold sensation and stiffness seeped into Lumian’s flesh. Twisting wildly, trying to escape the restraints with his powerful agility, he shouted, “Help…”

Two malicious, bumpy palms smothered his mouth, stifling his voice abruptly, leaving only a whimper.

Simultaneously, Lumian glimpsed an elongated humanoid shadow on the wall, raising the axe at him.

Clang!

A two-handed broadsword of pure light blocked the axe’s slash.

Ryan was the first to rush over, not bothering with his Dawn Armor, and simply summoned a Sword of Dawn.

The shadowy axe took on a heavy, sharp, and dark appearance the moment it detached from the wall.

The second person to arrive at the washroom door was Leah, who had been in the opposite study. The silver bells on her veil and boots tinkled softly.

Leah raised her right palm and aimed her silver revolver at the strange arms grabbing Lumian.

They tightened, as if trying to drag Lumian into the shadows.

Blue blood vessels bulged from Lumian’s neck, forehead, and hands, straining with all his might.

Yet, he couldn’t fend off the pale-white and pitch-black arms. His body dissolved into the shadows piece by piece.

Bang!

Leah fired, and a golden bullet wrapped in blazing flames struck a pitch-black arm that seemed to drip ink.

The arm ignited, quickly releasing Lumian’s neck and retreating into the shadowy corner.

Aurore arrived at the washroom to find such a scene.

Seeing a third of her brother’s body thinned and darkened into a shadow, his expression growing increasingly rigid, Aurore wasted no time. She pulled iron-black materials from her hidden pocket and sprinkled the powder at Lumian, her light-blue eyes darkening.

Lumian felt an invisible hand grasp him and pull him toward Aurore.

He recalled his sister using a similar spell before, but it had pushed him away—this time, she yanked him closer.

The colossal hand’s strength equaled that of the sinister arms, stopping Lumian’s slide into the shadows.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

Ryan drove the figure with the sharp axe back into the wall.

The next second, Valentine appeared behind Leah and Aurore.

Witnessing Lumian’s state, he spread his arms wide.

Golden illusory flames materialized around Lumian, incinerating countless wicked arms.

The pitch-black or pale-white arms either melted like candles or evaporated into black wisps of smoke.

Within seconds, four-fifths of the strange arms grabbing Lumian vanished.

The remaining arms struggled to resist the invisible hand and Lumian’s efforts, releasing him one after another.

Feeling the grip on him loosen, Lumian was pulled by the invisible hand, half-flying and half-pouncing toward Aurore.

As the pitch-black and pale-white arms retracted, the axe-wielding figure froze on the wall, merging with the surrounding shadows, leaving no trace.

Lumian stood and surveyed the area, sneering.

“Is that it? Aren’t you looking down on us by only sending one person?”

Aurore glared at him.

“Don’t speak!”

How could he utter such ill-omened words at a time like this?

As Aurore’s voice echoed in the corridor, a black, spiked vine, abnormally thick as if from the Abyss, descended from the study’s ceiling.

At its top bloomed a massive, blood-red flower with a foul odor.

The flower expanded, as if stretching its mouth to the limit.

It suddenly engulfed Leah’s head and writhed frantically.

As it chewed, the object in its mouth turned into a thin piece of paper and was shredded.

Immediately after, the radiant broadsword of light flew from the washroom, impaling the massive evil flower to the wall.

Streams of bright red blood oozed from the sword, evaporating into mist.

Simultaneously, tendrils of black vines cascaded from the ceiling of the Lumian residence, enveloping the walls and sealing the windows with enormous red blossoms.

Aurore swiftly produced a pearl-like powder and tossed it into the air, mingling it with summoned natural forces.

An unseen warm breeze blew, causing the black vines to wither and lose their vigor, no longer able to support the vivid red flowers suspended in midair.

The wilted vines dangled lifelessly from the second floor.

Not a bad result… Aurore mused to herself.

She had obtained the spell from a member of the Curly-Haired Baboons Research Society. Intended as a gardening spell for weeding, Aurore had acquired it at a bargain price, thinking it would be useful someday. Typically, it was used to clear weeds from building walls, but today it proved invaluable.

Nonetheless, the abyssal black vines were unnaturally resilient. They merely withered and didn’t perish instantly.

This bought time for Valentine, who summoned the golden and illusory Fire of Light to incinerate the vile creatures in the corridor and rooms.

Ryan then flooded the area with the pure Sunrise Gleam, banishing all evil and obliterating all illusions.

Confronted with this situation he was powerless in, Hunter Lumian stifled his urge to perform the enigmatic dance. He observed his sister and the three outsiders collaborate to eradicate the anomaly that had invaded the second floor.

Soon, the black vines and red flowers disintegrated into smoke.

But Leah’s veil and the silver bells on her boots continued to jingle, signaling that danger still lurked.

Lumian swiftly surveyed the scene and sniffed.

“The air doesn’t smell right…”

A faint, sweet scent lingered.

“I feel a little dizzy and want to sleep,” Leah confessed her unease.

The fumes from the burning vines and flowers contain an anesthetic? How sinister! Aurore, possessing extensive mysticism knowledge, acted promptly.

She produced a handful of transparent powder and scattered it forward.

A fierce wind materialized from nowhere, gusting through every corner of the second floor.

Ryan, Lumian, Valentine, and Leah dashed into separate rooms, throwing open the windows that had been sealed by the black vines.

As the innocuous wind subsided, Aurore turned to Lumian and inquired, “And now?”

Lumian sniffed cautiously. “Don’t smell it anymore.”

“I feel better, too,” Leah chimed in.

At that moment, the silver bells on her veil and boots ceased their movement.

The crisis was averted.

“A probing attack from the padre and company?” Aurore speculated.

Lumian glanced at Valentine, who appeared troubled.

“Could be Guillaume Bénet, who just received a boon, or the already powerful Shepherd Pierre Berry.”

Valentine’s expression softened at Lumian’s choice of words.

Ryan surveyed the area and declared in a deep voice, “Whichever the case, we must heighten our vigilance. From now on, let’s split into two groups for shifts. We’ll alternate between resting and standing guard, day or night.”

A single guard risked being ambushed without timely assistance.

“No problem.” Aurore and Lumian exchanged glances before adding, “I’ll be in the same group as my brother.”

Ryan and the others didn’t object.

Over the next few days, the two groups maintained a watchful eye in six-hour rotations. Although nothing transpired, as Lent drew near, they all felt the impending danger, anticipating relentless waves of peril.

During this period, Lumian continued exploring the dream while resting.

He didn’t immediately hunt the flaming monster. Instead, he suppressed his impatience and sought to understand the creature’s patterns.

With his Invisibility, long-range tracking, daily observation, and ample patience, Lumian finally gleaned the information he desired.

The flaming monster would set traps in the dream clearing each morning, practicing techniques it had mastered for 45 to 90 minutes. It would then follow a fixed route into a flesh-strewn area to replenish its energy.

Its afternoon activities were unpredictable, mainly patrolling its territory via different paths. Lumian had yet to discern its criteria for choosing routes.

In the evening, it would retrace the fixed route and re-enter the hunting zone.

Lumian remained ignorant of its nocturnal activities. He had only spent a maximum of six hours in the dream ruins and never ventured there at night.

…

The night before Lent.

Lumian jolted awake in the hazy gray fog of the dreamscape bedroom. He glanced at Fallen Mercury beside him and his mind snapped into sharp focus.

This was the night. He would hunt down the flaming monster

95 An “Out in the Open” Ambush

Lumian meticulously wrapped his left hand in layers of white bandages. He gathered his supplies: Fallen Mercury, his iron-black axe, gray amber perfume, biscuits, cheese, bloodied mutton chops, rope for traps, and a bag of cooled boiled water. Slipping his shotgun over his shoulder, he left his semi-subterranean dwelling.

Through the thin gray fog, he ventured into a barren wasteland, riddled with cracks. He entered the dreamlike ruins and strode toward the clearing where the flaming monster often lurked.

Hearing a distant noise, Lumian veered towards a path he anticipated the creature would take, arriving at a natural trap he’d discovered earlier.

A deep pit lay beside the road, with collapsed walls to the front and left. Stacked rocks bordered the right side, and behind it, a mostly collapsed house loomed.

Such a trap was difficult to spot. Lumian had found it only after scouring the area multiple times.

He crouched behind the pit, tossing in a few sharpened wooden stakes. He covered it with a rope net he’d woven earlier and camouflaged it with soil.

With the simple trap set, he placed his bait: two blood-soaked lamb chops, half on solid ground and half suspended above the pit.

Lumian stepped back, assessing the precarious balance. He retreated into the mostly collapsed house, perching himself on the remains of an outer wall.

He adjusted his position to watch the trap without being seen by passing monsters.

Next, he took out the gray amber perfume and sprayed it on the wall.

A delicate, sweet scent wafted through the air, carried by sporadic gusts of wind that blew through the ruins.

The fragrance clung to the wall and to Lumian.

Without hesitation, he leaped away, looping back to the path where the flaming monster would appear, positioning himself closer to its hunting grounds.

Once more, he changed direction, crossing the path and entering the ruins of a building opposite.

Reaching the rear of the crumbling structure, he stopped, leaned against the wall, and waited.

As with his strategy against the shotgun monster, Lumian never expected his trap to fool the flaming monster or wound it severely.

These decoys and alarms targeted the creature’s keen senses, observation, and behavior.

Only a Hunter knew how to exploit a Hunter’s strengths!

Of course, all this relied on the target operating primarily on instinct, its intelligence limited to combat.

Leaning against the wall, Lumian gripped Fallen Mercury in his bandaged left hand, tearing off the pitch-black cloth shrouding its surface.

He couldn’t know how long it would take for the flaming monster to arrive; all he could do was be patient.

Patience was his strong suit—a remnant from his vagrant days.

Time crawled by. Unseen by Lumian, a charred, flame-tinged monster entered the path.

After walking over 20 meters, its nose twitched.

It detected the faint scent of blood.

The monster didn’t immediately turn. As it continued, it surreptitiously scanned the source of the smell.

Passing the collapsed wall, the bloody lamb chops caught its eye.

Tempting food, but the flaming monster resisted its instincts, not devouring the bait.

It pressed on, slowing its pace.

Soon, an unusual fragrance filled its nostrils.

It instantly deduced the meat was a trap and a Hunter lay in ambush nearby.

This Hunter seemed different from the one who had previously observed it while invisible. It lacked sufficient knowledge of Hunters and hadn’t masked its scent beforehand.

Taking a few more steps, the flaming monster used the fragrance and subtle footprints to pinpoint the enemy hiding on the outer wall of the building behind the trap.

Feigning ignorance, it increased its distance by another seven to eight meters.

Suddenly, it whirled around, its scarlet flames rapidly condensing into a fireball tinged with white.

Boom!

With a flick of its right palm, the fireball hurtled towards Lumian’s ‘ambush’ location, collapsing the outer wall and causing the house to shudder.

Hearing the explosion from a distance, Lumian abandoned his hiding spot, darting into the clearing, his movements a wild, distorted dance.

The explosion was like a signal flare, a stark reminder for him to swiftly ready the second phase of the trap.

Lumian and Aurore had devised this intricate plan, luring their prey into sending out their own signal flares.

In the midst of his mesmerizing dance, Lumian detected the hazy forms of the mouth-orifice monster, the shotgun monster, and the skinless monster.

By then, the flaming monster had already approached the collapsed wall, searching for any trace of its enemy.

Lumian danced for another ten to twenty seconds, his movements growing more intense. He drew out the ritual silver dagger with his right hand, making a small incision on his left wrist.

A single drop of blood emerged, congealing into a tiny sphere.

Lumian stepped forward, pivoted, and snatched up the blood droplet, aiming it at the mouth-orifice monster.

“I!”

He uttered the word in ancient Hermes, his voice barely above a whisper.

At that moment, the flaming monster had discovered the faint footprints Lumian had left behind. Catching a whiff of a subtle scent, it started tracking him.

Quickly shouting his follow-up command, Lumian watched as the mouth-orifice monster swallowed the blood droplet from the tip of the silver dagger and entered his body.

A wave of madness, bloodlust, cruel intent, and ravenous hunger washed over him.

Lumian fought back the discomfort, hastily bandaging his insignificant wound with a white strip he’d brought along.

Next, he popped a piece of cheese into his mouth, chewing and swallowing to make sure the residual gray amber scent on his body would mask any other mingled odors.

Throughout this process, Lumian sprinted to the edge of the road and halted at an inconspicuous spot.

He clenched his jaw tight and spun around, carefully retracing his steps along his previous path.

Relying on a Hunter’s observation skills and Dancer’s exaggerated flexibility, Lumian made sure to leave only faint footprints and no additional marks.

It wasn’t long before he reached the center of the road and stopped.

Maintaining his invisibility, Lumian remained in plain sight on the road.

He waited, using shallow Cogitation and constant suspension to suppress any thoughts of attacking the flaming monster, a rudimentary way to disrupt its danger premonition.

His inspiration came from a Hunter’s keen self-awareness.

Aurore had once written about the tactic of retracing one’s footsteps to lie in ambush mid-road in a novel.

After seven or eight seconds, the flaming monster’s pitch-black form appeared in Lumian’s sight. Utilizing his uncanny flexibility, he twisted his body to observe the approaching target.

The flaming monster followed the faint footprints and scent left behind by its enemy. Uninterrupted, it continued its pursuit.

Once back on the main road, it sniffed the air, unsurprised to detect a mild fragrance.

It instinctively lowered its head and found the inconspicuous footprints.

But it found no trace of traps in the vicinity.

Without hesitation, the flaming monster tracked the footprints to the other side of the road.

The charred face and displaced eyeballs loomed larger and clearer in Lumian’s sight.

Holding his breath, Lumian didn’t disrupt his Cogitation again, striving to empty his mind.

Five meters, three meters, one meter… He lunged at the target, raising the Fallen Mercury in his left hand for a swift slash!

He didn’t wait to close the gap further, fearing that it would trigger the prey’s danger sense and prompt evasive maneuvers.

The flaming monster suddenly felt an overwhelming sense of danger.

Without thinking, it leaped to the side.

Simultaneously, its vision captured Lumian’s figure, attacking with a pewter-black dirk in his bandaged left hand.

They were so close that despite the flaming monster’s reaction, evasion was impossible. Lumian collided with it.

With a tearing sound, Fallen Mercury’s sharp blade sank into the flaming monster’s right chest.

The fate extracted from Noodle Man infiltrated the target’s body as an illusory mercury bead.

Meanwhile, a river of countless intricate mercury symbols briefly surfaced. Some of the destinies rapidly converged towards the pewter-black blade.

Lumian didn’t bother selecting the destiny to exchange, letting Fallen Mercury do as it wished.

Boom!

The monster’s flames erupted.

The forceful shockwave hurled Lumian and his Fallen Mercury away. Crimson flames ignited his clothes and scorched his facial skin.

Lumian bore the searing pain, twisting his waist midair to alter his trajectory.

As soon as he landed, he sprang to his feet and fled.

However, unable to re-enter the Invisibility state until the flames were extinguished, he remained visible.

Boom!

Despite his serpentine sprint, Lumian was still knocked off his feet by the fireball’s aftershock. His back throbbed with numbing pain.

He struggled to his feet, scrambling away from the path and into the ruins where he had been hiding before.

The flaming monster pursued Lumian, who was unable to turn invisible once more