Oliver's gaze, tracing the umbilical cord, followed its path through the shadowy cellar. Sure enough, the cord ended at the gleaming idol in the church.
Beneath the idol lay a massive, writhing mass of brain tissue.
[Divine Progeny : Mastermind, Sophia Augustus]
[Status: Chrysalis Phase]
[Danger Level: Class III, Highly Dangerous, Avoid contact if possible.]
A Celestial Scion in pupal state?
Oliver mused. This idol had been sent from the High Church a few months ago, and it was highly likely that the juvenile god beneath it had been placed there at the same time.
Ding!
[Note: Your observation has been detected by the mastermind. However, it is still incomplete and cannot pinpoint your exact location. It has dispatched the 'Cognitive Sensing Entity' to begin searching for you.]
Oliver distinctly saw three basketball-sized brain tissue hatchlings emerge from the massive monster's brain.
The little creatures, their surfaces covered in neural synapse fluff, moved grotesquely and swam through the void.
[Divine Scion (Unnamed)]
▷ Birth Time: 33 seconds ago
▷ Danger Level: Juvenile (can be devoured)
▷ Characteristics: Sentinel - like being that stores power briefly in order to relay its perceptions back to the mastermind.
Capture Suggestion: Use the Blasphemy Codex to sever its transmission link to the Mastermind. Afterward, it can be easily captured and killed. The Blasphemy Codex is not a weapon, but it can restrain the divine, making it the ideal tool for cutting off this low-level deity's connection.
Capture Bonus: Spell: Spirit Blade.
I can capture and kill it and still get a reward?
Oliver was surprised, but before he could dwell on it, one of the three creatures swiftly moved toward the cellar. It stretched its glowing jellyfish-like tentacles, trailing a spider-thin silver thread that connected it to the pulsating mass of brain tissue.
"This is the transmission line?" Oliver murmured, grabbing the Blasphemy Codex. Without hesitation, he swung it powerfully toward the creature!
Pfft!
There was a soft sound as the silver wire connecting the fluffy monster to the mastermind was severed!
Cutting this wire turned out to be far easier than Oliver expected.
But severing the wire was just the beginning of the fight.
After the wire was cut, the fluff on the surface of the creature exploded, revealing dense compound eyes underneath. It let out a soul-shaking, high-pitched whistle toward Oliver.
Along with the whistle came a torrent of soul-corrosive, acidic mucus!
Instinctively, Oliver raised the Codex to block the attack. The cover of the Blasphemy Codex blackened with scorch marks but healed instantly.
The creature paused for a split second after releasing the acidic spray. Oliver seized the moment, rushing forward to slam the Blasphemy Codex into it.
Zip zip zip!
Every blow from the Codex was accompanied by a strange, sizzling sound, like a branding iron being dipped into water. The creature screamed in agony with each strike.
Seeing that the blows were effective, Oliver grew more determined.
Bang bang bang!
Pfft!
Finally, the bizarre, soul-infested sphere was completely shattered, leaving behind only a small, glowing, fruit-like shell.
[Loot Found: Soul Shell]
[Soul Shell: Residue of a weak divine being. Consume it to greatly restore your soul power.]
Suddenly, the mastermind's roar echoed from a distance, shaking Oliver with its force and causing him intense pain.
Fear gripped him, and the joy of his successful hunt dimmed considerably.
[Ding! Please be aware that the mastermind's anger has been triggered. It will intensify its search for you. Quickly return to your physical body to reduce suspicion.]
"Return to the flesh, yes, I need to return!"
With that thought, Oliver turned toward his now-restored body, feeling a powerful pull as he approached.
In the next second, a slight vertigo hit.
Lying on the ground, Oliver slowly opened his eyes.
[Congratulations, you've completed your first capture and earned a reward: Spirit Sharpshooter. You've also performed your first blasphemy against a deity, earning soul points that will enhance your soul.]
It's said that the stronger the soul, the more potent the release of divine magic.
[Blasphemer Level Initializing]
[Designation: Oliver Stark]
[Current Rank: False Believer (1/10)]
[Next Ascension: Knight of the Oath of Reckoning]
▷ Elevate rank by completing blasphemy rituals
▷ Each tier unlocked grants extraordinary rewards
[Soul Resonance Intensity: 100 → 200]
[Blasphemous Rites Performed: 0]
[Divine Progeny Detected: 1]
[Blasphemer Holds Spell: Level 1 Spell Spirit Blade]
Items held: Codex of Blasphemy, Soul Shells
Spirit Blade...
Oliver could feel a surge of complex and mysterious incantations manifesting in his mind!
The legendary divine spells.
At last, he possessed them!
In the Holy Law Continent, to wield divine magic was a mark of nobility.
Anyone with divine magic was considered superior.
Of course, the spells Oliver had were illegal ones, hidden from the light of day.
Although the Blasphemy Codex allowed him to cast these spells undetected by the Dwelling Gods, Oliver knew he still had to use them cautiously.
Without the Divine Circuit, any detection would lead to the Church's wrath!
As Oliver pondered, Sister Talma, having heard his breathing after his resurrection, turned and noticed him.
Her cold, surprised eyes locked onto him.
"This is incredible. I'm sure I severed your arteries with my cane, but you the filth is back to life, completely unharmed."
Tightening her grip on the silver cane, Marta sneered, "What are you? A vampire? A ghoul? Whatever you are, you're still going to die!"
She shouted, and before her words finished, the silver staff in her hand lit up. The Divine Circuit flickered on its back, sending a bolt of light flying at Oliver.
Before, Oliver would have been helpless, awaiting death.
But now, with his enhanced soul power, Marta's movements seemed to slow in his eyes.
He easily dodged the attack with a slight twist of his body. The bolt of light grazed his ear, melting a charred hole in the stone wall. Oliver could smell the burning hair.
"Spirit Blade!"
Oliver murmured, rushing forward to counterattack.
As he uttered the incantation, a sharp pain shot through his fingertips. Three translucent ripples materialized and sped toward Marta.
"A illegal spell ? Little rat, you really deserve to die!"
Marta's cold laughter rang out, but before she could act, the silver staff tapped the ground, activating the Divine Circuit. Silver serpentine light wove a protective shield around her.
But Oliver's spiritual blade sliced through it with ease.
Ka-ching!
The membrane shattered with a crack, and the Spirit Sharp Edge continued forward!
---
Marta screamed, feeling as if her head had been struck by a sledgehammer. The pain and dizziness overwhelmed her, leaving her mind blank.
All she could think was one word: Impossible.
"How is this happening? I'm a rank 1 Divine Magician. Divine Magic should be far stronger than illegal spells!"
Everything before her defied her expectations.
Of course, Marta didn't know that Oliver's illegal spell style was unlike anything ordinary. With the Blasphemy Codex's enchantment, its power surpassed that of ordinary divine spells!
Moreover, Oliver's soul strength had increased dramatically after devouring the fetus shell, far beyond that of ordinary humans. The higher the soul strength, the more powerful the released spells!
In her stunned state, Marta didn't stand a chance.
Oliver seized the moment, quickly closing the distance and pulling the dagger from her waist.
Poof!
A flash of silver, a muffled thud, and Oliver's dagger pierced Marta's neck. Blood spurted out like a fountain.
"No... it's impossible! I'm a sacred Divine Magician! How could I die at the hands of some lowly rat from the depths of the Church..."
Marta's eyes froze in disbelief.