End Resonance

“Normally, to master an ability, one must continuously deepen their understanding of the corresponding authority, but that is too unfriendly for those simple-minded barbarians. To increase the forces fighting against mystery, in the middle of the Fourth Age, someone developed a technique to inherit abilities through mystery documents, allowing even those with insufficient comprehension to master enough abilities to cope with combat.”

Lynch once again passed through that blood-sucking Gate of Blood, entering Madam Bessie's special workshop. The altar that had been smashed more than half a month ago had already been cleaned up and set up in a new location. But looking at the new altar, Lynch felt as if he could still see the danger of that day.

It felt like a lifetime ago, Lynch sighed inwardly as he sat cross-legged in the spot Madam Bessie designated. He watched her busy herself with various preparations while patiently explaining things to him, far friendlier than during his first visit.

“Cut the crap. The first time you came here, you were just an ordinary person. Telling you about this forbidden knowledge would have only harmed you. Now that you're already a Soul Severer, of course there's no need to keep it from you anymore.”

Madam Bessie was rummaging through several large cabinets by the wall, continuing her explanation without even turning her head:

“But that also brought problems. Abilities are based on the soul, and developing an ability is equivalent to a mild alienation of the soul. Accomplishing this alienation through one's own will isn't difficult; it can be achieved by utilizing the power of the soul itself. However, alienating the soul through external interference to guide out a new ability increases the difficulty tenfold, or even a hundredfold. Furthermore, the more complex the ability, the more difficult it becomes.”

Lynch nodded. “I also felt that learning a special ability just by reading a mystery document was a bit too simple. A mystery document shouldn't possess such powerful force that it can directly alienate the soul.”

“No, mystery documents can indeed possess such strong power. Don't forget, they can even cause a Soul Severer's soul to warp, letting the mind affect the physical body in reverse and turning them into a twisted one. Wanting to alienate the soul to develop an ability is not a difficult task.”

Madam Bessie's words immediately made Lynch think of Mr. Klin, whom he had just dealt with. He couldn't help but feel a chill run down his spine, fully understanding the sentiment. Madam Bessie also stopped her movements with a hint of melancholy upon mentioning twisted ones. She stood lost in thought for a moment before continuing:

“However, mystery documents that forcibly develop abilities place a heavy toll on their creators; it's practically impossible to make them without a few creators dying in the process. Furthermore, once they are made, they also take a heavy toll on the user. There's a chance of learning the ability, but also a chance of dying on the spot, with the latter being slightly more likely—about a one to ninety-nine ratio.”

Your definition of “slightly” is a bit too broad... Lynch's lips twitched, realizing this was like that classic dilemma: I admit there is a gambling element involved, but today, either you or the ability must be sent on your way.

“Yes. So, to avoid the tragedy of a whole crowd of people dying first just to inherit an ability, people developed the current method: using mystery documents as a guide, and then making up for the document's lack of power through various external supports. For the simplest abilities, preparing some special materials and performing simple operations is usually enough. But complex abilities require relatively professional rituals and consume very rare mysterious materials. Therefore...”

Lynch suddenly felt a strong sense of crisis. He bounded up from where he sat and spun around to run, but unfortunately, he was a step too slow. Madam Bessie's eerie voice already echoed in his ears:

“Therefore, the material fee is eight pounds. I won't charge you separately for the ritual. I really am generous.”

Holy crap, I knew it. You greedy merchant, making such extortionate demands without a shred of restraint. Do you really think I'll submit to your coercion? Let me tell you, I, Lynch Levive, have my dignity too. Even if I can't learn this ability, and even if I waste ten pounds buying the mystery document for nothing, I will never let you successfully extort me.

“I'm giving you a regular's discount. Anyone else would be charged at least ten pounds, and... not bad, they're brand-new notes.” The red-haired lady counted the eight “Elizabeths” Lynch had respectfully handed over with a satisfied expression. “I remember last time you had to borrow money from Natalie just to buy a pistol. It seems you've been doing quite well lately. This way, when I extort... no, I mean, when I charge you, I won't have any psychological burden.”

You don't even possess such a thing as a psychological burden, do you? And you just accidentally blurted out the truth.

“Shut up and sit properly now. The death authority ranks in the top five strangest among all authorities. If you don't want to get lost in the world of the dead, hold fast to your will. No matter what you see or hear, do not panic. Otherwise, those eight pounds will go to waste, and you'll have to cover your own funeral expenses.”

With that, the red-haired lady turned her pipe upside down and tapped it lightly against the ground.

“The five-pointed star symbolizes filth, and the hexagram represents holiness. At this moment, we use the holy hexagram as a bond to bridge the worlds of the living and the dead.”

Tapping three times, thin lines of fire rapidly spread around where Lynch sat, tracing a hexagram made of flame in the blink of an eye. The fire blazed fiercely, casting flickering shadows over both of their faces.

“The eternal boundary between life and death is indestructible, and the souls of mortals cannot cross it. Only the graveyard flower, blooming upon a corpse, living through death, is enough to pierce the boundary between life and death.”

As the red-haired lady softly chanted, she stuffed a few petals into her pipe, took a deep drag, and blew them toward the flaming hexagram from afar.

In the next instant, the burning flames turned from yellow to green. The dancing firelight became an eerie green, and its scorching heat turned icy cold, instantly making the atmosphere of the secret room incredibly bizarre.

Sitting firmly in the center of the hexagram, the sudden strange phenomenon made Lynch feel apprehensive, and he unconsciously grew cold all over. Nonetheless, he followed Madam Bessie's instructions, holding fast to his will and remaining completely still.

“The night bat is blind by nature, its ears acting as its eyes. Using the night bat's ear as a bridge, listen to the whispers from the other side.”

Madam Bessie slowly paced outside one of the hexagram's vertices. With a wave of her hand, she threw several small night bat ears into the green fire. The green light in this corner instantly flared up, and countless bizarre, rustling whispers immediately seemed to echo in Lynch's ears, faint and fleeting.

“The black falcon's gaze is sharp as lightning, leaving no mystery with anywhere to hide. Using the black falcon's eye as a bridge, peer into the light and shadow from the other side.”

Whoosh! The green light at the second vertex flared up intensely. Madam Bessie's eyes flickered, reflecting an eerie and chaotic light. At this very moment, the light and shadow shifted before Lynch's eyes. He seemed to see a long river flowing slowly, but what flowed within it was not water, but countless green flames, circulating without end.

“The black cat possesses a sharp inspiration rare in this world, gazing upon the dead wandering in the world of the living. Using the black cat's blood as a bridge, touch the souls hovering between life and death.”

As a bottle of liquid was poured out, the third vertex lit up as well. Countless eerie, invisible entities seemed to hover around Madam Bessie, letting out silent yet shrill wails. Her red hair drifted without any wind, and her pipe suddenly pointed toward Lynch in the center. Lynch only felt his vision blur as countless figures drifted up and down in the green river of fire, struggling and wailing.

“Phew.” With three corners lit, Madam Bessie wiped away her sweat, but her expression did not relax in the slightest. Instead, it grew increasingly solemn. “Here comes the critical part. Remember, what follows are pure mysterious materials. Hold fast to your will, or else it will be extremely dangerous.”

With that, Madam Bessie's steps suddenly quickened. She hurried around the hexagram, waving her hand over the three dim corners.

“The soul-luring flower of the Dreamlands has a fragrant aroma that coaxes souls out of their bodies to wander in confusion. Using the soul-luring flower as a medium, guide the dying souls wandering on the River Styx to linger.”

“The Byakhee is the messenger of an evil god, carrying flesh and soul through the void between reality and illusion. Using the Byakhee's wing membrane as a medium, send yourself into the wandering souls.”

“The web of cold spiders possesses the toughest nature, its adhesive efficacy strong enough to span dreams and reality. Using the web of cold spiders as a medium, connect yourself to the mortal world and find your way home in the world of the dead.”

Hiss.

Lynch instantly felt a splitting headache as strange visions flooded his five senses. His body felt light, as if his soul was ready to leave his body at any moment. Intense pain repeatedly assaulted his senses, making him want to clutch his head and scream. However, bound by her previous warnings, he could only grit his teeth and endure as best as he could, feeling as though every second lasted a lifetime.

“Hold on.”

Madam Bessie took a deep breath and pointed her pipe at the burning hexagram:

“By the power of the hexagram, fuse the mysterious forces.”

Whoosh! The green flames shot into the sky, nearly reaching the ceiling of the secret room. In the next instant, as if drawn by a powerful force, the flames rapidly surged into Lynch's body.

At the same time, her pipe tapped lightly against the center of Lynch's forehead, and a green radiance suddenly exploded from the point of contact.