It was rainy and cold, and the damp air made things a bit uncomfortable. Uchiha Sogetsu, dressed in a raincoat, paused in the drizzle and lifted his hat slightly.
He looked surprised: "Wow, that was quick. I thought it would take longer."
The semi-transparent message in front of him showed that "Task 1" was complete.
[Side Quest (Optional): Spreading Faith - Part 1]
[Establish a religious organization and spread the faith in the ninja world, with at least 100 followers (128/100)]
[Reward: Hanged Man Path - Ten copies of Sequence 9~6 potion]
Incredible efficiency!
It had only been ten days since Mr. A officially started, and he had already gained over a hundred followers?
Is this a sign of human nature twisting or morality declining?
He remembered that the Aurora Order was a cult. It was surprising how quickly it had grown.
Uchiha Sogetsu took a deep breath. No wonder Mr. A was the leader; with this level of skill, he could easily be called the 'Best Employee of the Year'!
He suddenly understood why some bosses in his previous life prized exceptional employees so much.
"Tsk, I can't help but feel conflicted." Uchiha Sogetsu touched his chin, feeling torn. "Feeding him to the 'creeping hunger' would be a bit of a 'waste of talent.'"
Sometimes, it's tough when employees perform too well!
Setting aside these thoughts, Uchiha Sogetsu pulled out a potion from the system space: "Is this the potion for the Hanged Man Path, Sequence 9: Secrets Supplicant?"
The Hanged Man Path deals with 'fall' and 'sacrifice.'
At lower levels, one might hear whispers from hidden entities, which can easily drive someone insane.
But there are upsides. Although few survive the secret whispers for five years, they often gain powerful, unique abilities!
Abilities like controlling flesh and blood, manipulating souls, and even, at higher levels, dealing with 'corruption,' 'evil words,' 'shadows,' and 'mutations.'
Overall, the Hanged Man Path is a dangerous and unpredictable path.
But for Mr. A, these potential downsides might actually be advantages.
"It's just the right time. I should give it a try."
With that, Uchiha Sogetsu went to a secluded spot nearby.
In the cave, he took a moment to set up extra security. His left eye changed into a Mangekyō Sharingan.
Eye Technique: Kage no Yami!
As soon as he activated the technique, a pitch-black shadow appeared in the cave.
The shadow was invisible and intangible, dark and deep, but it felt real. From its appearance, it radiated an ominous presence.
"Keep watch over the cave and don't let anyone come near," Uchiha Sogetsu instructed.
The dark shadow nodded slightly, as if it understood, and then vanished like a ghost.
Once everything was set, Uchiha Sogetsu calmed himself, thought for a moment, and then began carving mysterious runes into the ground with his fingers.
"The core of Ritualistic Magic is to ask for help from a higher power, but the materials and spells must be specific." He paused, thinking carefully, and said to himself, "But in the Naruto world, I'm not sure if Ritualistic Magic can really work for that purpose, or if the spell can be effective for 'positioning.'"
He was about to test 'Ritualistic Magic' in the Naruto world.
If it worked, it would make future tasks easier and help him keep his identity hidden.
"Maybe I can learn from summoning techniques?"
Uchiha Sogetsu suddenly thought that summoning techniques and Ritualistic Magic might have similarities.
That would be simpler. Modify the summoning technique, add ancient Hermes text, and use the three-part spell to locate the object of the prayer!
"There probably isn't a True Creator in the Naruto world, right?"
Uchiha Sogetsu paused, then reassured himself: "Even if there is, I won't suffer from using Ritualistic Magic. I can use this chance to test it."
After a while, he completed a simple and crude Ritualistic Magic setup.
"Now, for the internal test."
Using the 'contract' left in Mr. A's body, Uchiha Sogetsu could send information into Mr. A's dreams, no matter the distance.
Then, he just had to wait for the results.
After a busy day, Mr. A finally had a rare moment of rest.
Due to the war, the number of refugees from the Land of Hot Springs had surged, and he used this opportunity to recruit many people into the religion.
Soon, the number of peripheral members of the Aurora Order increased a hundredfold.
He decided to temporarily stop accepting refugees. After all, a strong religion isn't just about numbers; it also needs high-level officials and elites.
Among the refugees, he had found several talented individuals worth training.
Mr. A, who was deep in thought about his future, gradually became drowsy. He slowly closed his eyes and fell into a deep sleep.
He heard a whisper, as if someone was softly speaking in his ear.
"My Lord!!!"
Mr. A suddenly woke up, his face lighting up with joy.
The True Creator had once again shown mercy to His followers, and this time, Mr. A clearly heard the Lord's instructions.
"A ritual to communicate with the Lord. Finally. Finally!"
Mr. A's face twisted with excitement as he fervently exclaimed, "My Lord, you saw my efforts, and in Your mercy, You've sent an oracle to guide us?!"
Without waiting for dawn, he immediately got up from bed.
The preparations were simple: fresh flesh and blood, mysterious text for the ritual, and a specific 'spell'.
Mr. A knelt on the ground with devotion, cut open his chest, and took out his hot, still-beating heart. He believed this was the only way to show his respect.
"The Lord that Created Everything,
The Lord who Reigns Behind the Curtain of Shadows,
The Degenerate Nature of all Living Things
I seek Your help.
I seek Your favor.
Grant me Your mercy and blessings.
Grant me Your mercy and blessings.
Grant me Your mercy and blessing."
Buzz! ! !
A loud, harsh noise filled the air, like a sharp iron object scraping across a smooth surface.
A terrifying roar, like a hurricane, shook everyone, nearly driving them mad. The pain was intense, and the soul felt twisted. A surge of black fog enveloped Mr. A.
After some time, the whispers and murmurs faded away.
When Mr. A regained consciousness, he found himself in a ruined, collapsed temple.
At the back of the temple, a Cyclops was hanging upside down on a cross, chained up. Just looking at it was enough to drive someone insane. But Mr. A, already crazed, seemed undisturbed and knelt on the ground, excitedly shouting, "My Lord!!!"
The giant, hanging upside down, stared at him with a single red eye.
Then the black fog surged back and forced Mr. A out of the temple.
"My Lord!!!"
When Mr. A woke up again, he was back in the original room.
The only change was that, after the ritual, a crystal bottle filled with dark, sticky liquid was now in front of him.
Information about the liquid appeared in Mr. A's mind:
"Potion. Sequence 9: Secrets Supplicant!"
********
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