The Method to Destroy an Evil God

Lynch lay quietly on the barn floor with another unfamiliar body resting beside him.

It was Miss Valente's body.

The two lay shoulder to shoulder, arms touching, their hands clasped tightly together.

Maya, with her eerie appearance, lay across from them, her eyes closed and motionless.

Lynch had invited her back overnight and told her everything truthfully.

This was the only chance for her to return to a normal life.

Even if Miss Valente assumed Maya's state, the reporter would merely avoid the fate of becoming a sacrifice, doomed to live as a ghoul forever without ever regaining her human identity. But if she cooperated as the zero sacrifice, while she would likely still face the fate of becoming a sacrifice, there was a chance that if Lynch and Miss Valente succeeded and destroyed Mordiggian's manifestation, she could completely escape her ghoul fate and return to being human.

Spend a lifetime in caves or sewers with ghouls, or continue to live under the sun like a person?

Maya chose the latter without a moment's hesitation. She didn't even doubt whether Lynch was tricking her, simply following him out of the Thorn Flower's underground cavern to the farm in the Green Wheat District.

The farm had been prepared with all the necessary materials; in fact, these ritual components had been ready in the cave over ten days ago, but the ritual had been aborted when Maya suddenly woke up and fled.

Although there were still major doubts about why Maya had suddenly awakened in the cave, there was no time to consider them now. With her active cooperation, the ritual proceeded smoothly, and she entered the final state.

Using the memories of the dead city of Zur Baha Sahr in the Dreamlands as a springboard, a link was established between Mordiggian's manifestation and Maya. Once completed, Maya could directly connect to the manifestation—the true Zur Baha Sahr. If she fell asleep, she would drag the humans beside her into the true Zur Baha Sahr until twelve sacrifices were collected and she herself was pulled in.

This was why her existence was necessary; otherwise, if Miss Valente acted as the conduit, Lynch would have to venture deep into Zur Baha Sahr alone.

As a man who could only last three minutes, he actually hoped to find more helpers in case of unexpected trouble, but he was well aware that this matter required strict confidentiality.

If thirteen people died every twenty years, nothing would happen, so why look for trouble? Those who were mild would at most ignore it, but temperamental powerhouses might even try to stop it. Thus, no one could know, and he and Miss Valente had to take the risk alone.

Lynch did have someone he trusted absolutely, and he believed in her strength, but in the end, he only left a letter on Maya's elevator before departing.

There was no need to involve the unrelated officer in such a risky endeavor.

"Patta, patta."

The elder hillman Nicolai shuffled over to the three of them, bowing slightly to Miss Valente. "Everything is ready. We can proceed at any time, but are you sure you won't reconsider, Miss Valente?"

"No need." The noblewoman shook her head gently. "Mr. Levive is right. I was too shallow before. Even insects have their own struggle, and I want to make my own. You need not persuade me, Elder Nicolai. Rest assured, if we fail, you must find a way to continue. There is still a backup plan; we will not use the fate of the world as a gamble. As for Mr. Levive, are you truly not regretful for choosing to die for me?"

Lynch smiled, saying nothing.

A sleeping evil god fragment, or manifestation, could be considered the lowest difficulty to deal with. Furthermore, this evil god had stolen the authority of death, and he speculated that the authority of the red moon likely included death as well.

This was a stepping stone to the path of immortality delivered to his doorstep; he had to take it regardless of the danger, or else he would have to face a fully active evil god later.

Moreover, if they succeeded, not only would Maya's life be saved, but Miss Valente's life would be preserved as well.

There was nothing to hesitate about. He would give it his all.

"Thank you." Although she could not read Lynch's thoughts, his smile said it all. Miss Valente smiled faintly and closed her eyes again. "Begin, Elder Nicolai, Mr. Levive. See you later."

Warmth and a slight tremor came from their clasped hands. Lynch turned to see Miss Valente's beautiful face stiff with expression, her eyelashes fluttering rapidly. She was clearly quite nervous. Lynch was equally nervous, but he squeezed her hand gently, causing her muscles to relax slightly.

The distinctive voice of a ghoul echoed in his ears. Amidst the eerie chanting, the breathing of the half-asleep Maya became increasingly long, monotonous, and rhythmic, making Lynch yawn despite himself.

So sleepy.

However, when he opened his eyes again, everything before him was pitch black, as if he had suddenly lost his sight. The chanting stopped abruptly, and the surroundings fell into dead silence. A thick, putrid, and filthy stench filled his nose, making him feel dizzy and nauseated, as if he had been tossed into an ancient tomb thousands of years old.

Lynch's heart tightened. He immediately activated the authority of phantasmal sound while gripping the noblewoman beside him. Soon, Miss Valente squeezed back, and Lynch breathed a sigh of relief.

It seemed they had entered successfully. The first hurdle was passed.

"I've activated sound suppression. We can speak quietly; our voices won't carry out."

Lynch spoke very carefully. Before entering, Miss Valente and Elder Nicolai had specifically instructed that due to the interference of Mordiggian's inverted information, this place would not be completely filled with soil, and the city space remained intact. But having been buried for ten thousand years and affected by mysterious filth, no one knew what monsters were hidden inside. He must not let his guard down just because it seemed empty.

"Phew, thank you. Here, take this and stuff it into your nose."

Something like a sponge appeared in his palm. Lynch obeyed and stuffed it into his nose. A faint, minty, spicy scent rushed straight into his brain, not only dispelling the pervasive filth but also instantly clearing his muddled mind.

"Hiss, good stuff. It's actually this effective?"

"Heh, are you questioning a professional pharmacist from the Church of Suffering?" Although she was laughing, her hand was still trembling. Miss Valente's voice shook as she tried to maintain her composure. "Finally, we're in. I thought every day that before I died, I had to find a way to break in and curse this damned city a few times. Now the wish has finally come true. The next step is to blast a shot right in Mordiggian's face, preferably, as you said, kicking its butt hard with our boots and kicking it back to the Dreamlands."

"Hmm, that reminds me of a question I once heard."

Lynch pulled Miss Valente behind him, then shook out his cane, turning it into a multi-segmented whip. He swept it around the perimeter to ensure nothing was too close before finally setting his anxious heart at ease.

"What question?" Miss Valente leaned against Lynch's back, a rustling sound coming from her hands.

"How to destroy an evil god's manifestation in three steps."

"Ah?"

"Enter, destroy, leave."

"Hahaha, there's no such answer!" The noblewoman finally stopped trembling and couldn't help but laugh out of turn. After a moment, she gasped, "Thank you for the joke, I feel much better. Can we light a lamp now?"

"Although it's dangerous, we must light it, or it will be to our disadvantage."

Having tested that there were no objects nearby and no movement, Lynch cautiously took out a lighter. After a few strikes, a wisp of flame ignited in his hand, its faint halo illuminating their faces, which were almost pressed together.

"The brightness is a bit low." Lynch sighed, but at least he could see that there was nothing in their immediate vicinity.

There was no response. Lynch only felt a finger lightly poke his arm.

Turning back, he saw Miss Valente with a stiff expression, her eyes wide as she pointed in a direction to their side.

Lynch's heart sank. Gripping his cane, he turned his head to look, and in the darkness, he vaguely saw a large face covered in fangs.