The Eldritch Files

But he had mentioned the nightmare. He described how, after being engulfed by that immense shadow, he was constantly plagued by a world awash in blood. He spoke of an irresistible killing intent and a chilling cold, of always feeling the sharp edge of a butcher’s knife and hearing the squealing of pigs.

He always felt on the verge of losing control, as if addicted to the thrill of a blade tearing through flesh and blood.

”This…”

After leafing through it for a moment, Han Su was certain: these notes were useful. Incredibly useful.

The force that Li Moxi, or rather, the Four Heavenly Kings had fought against was, of course, entirely different from the Emperor’s Text he was preparing to confront.

But the power dynamic, the disparity in strength—how was it not strikingly similar?

However, reading these notes also intensified a strange feeling he had.

Previously, the first time he’d seen Li Moxi in action, he had felt a strong sense of familiarity.

Now, that familiarity was taking a more concrete form.

For some reason, the Pig-Headed Butcher came to mind.

He’d never dared to provoke the Pig-Headed Butcher back in the Ancient Castle. The creature was, without a doubt, the most terrifying of all the monsters there. The oppressive, sharp aura it exuded was highly distinctive and had left a deep impression on Han Su.

’’Could it be that what Li Moxi and the others experienced shared the same origin as the Pig-Headed Butcher from the Ancient Castle?’’

’’If that were the case, this would be the fifth type of Mysterious Power I’ve encountered in the real world, besides Pale, copper, Ghost, and the Mind-Worms.’’

Of course, what was more important was their attitude.

Li Moxi’s attitude toward the Mysterious Power had been evident before. Now, these notes detailed many specific techniques. Studying and understanding them would certainly take more than a day or two.

But the insights and attitude recorded throughout the notebook helped Han Su, to a certain extent, decide how he would face the Emperor’s Book...

’’The Four Heavenly Kings could fight such an immense power as mere mortals.’’

’’So why can’t I?’’

’’After all, I’ve always been up against things that seem utterly impossible to defeat, haven’t I?’’

And once his resolve was set, the path forward became clear.

’’The Emperor’s Book, the Copper Will, even the Glasses and the Pocket Watch I brought from the Ancient Castle... all of it can be used...’’

...

...

While Han Su was immersed in his thoughts about the second stage of training with Mysterious Power, a machine was whirring to life.

Spiritual Power transformed into thread-like ripples, melting into the world. It was as if they wandered aimlessly through layers of space, searching for something that didn’t belong to reality. Finally, through some surreal connection, these Spiritual Tentacles drew near an unremarkable puddle of water.

Looking into the puddle’s reflection revealed a blurry shadow. If one could zoom in on the shadow, they would see a cluster of dark, oppressive buildings.

In a spacious office in one of the building’s spired towers, a woman in a white lab coat sat at her desk. Beside her hand rested a translucent Crystal Skull, which emitted a soft glow that illuminated her face.

Her fingers gently brushed across a photograph set in a wooden frame. She was silent for a long time, her eyes seeming to glisten with moisture.

The photo showed a somewhat melancholic little boy, looking timidly at the camera.

He had been a distant child from a young age and had learned to live independently very, very early on.

Of course, the likely reason was that every time he tried to show affection, he would get a beating.

’’Perhaps it was precisely this innate standoffishness that allowed him to escape from all those strange things?’’

’’But this all had to come to an end eventually.’’

’’An unexpected deviation in the plan had allowed him to live for another ten years. Because of those ten years, he’d grown into a man.’’

’’In the original plan, he wouldn’t have lived this long, nor would he have had the chance to become such a stubborn young man.’’

’’It’s just a shame that now... it’s time for him to pay back what he owes.’’

”Lady of Sacrifice.”

Someone knocked softly on the office door. The woman who entered also wore a white lab coat, and her eyes had a crystalline hue.

”Someone is attempting to pinpoint your location, which means they are also using you to locate our laboratory.”

”Furthermore, the Qinggang Council Hall held a meeting. That gentleman from the Xu Family voiced his opposition and demanded that we hand over the list of Heirs.”

”...”

The woman slowly set down the photograph, ignoring the news about being tracked. She only asked coolly, ”Does the Qinggang Council Hall really have the nerve to unilaterally break the Pact of Silence?”

”I don’t believe so. It’s impossible for them to get enough votes.”

The staff member said, ”But the gentleman from the Guardians of the World Organization called. He said the Xu Family led the vote, and this could have very negative repercussions. If our contingency plan fails this time, it will be very difficult for us to initiate the next Divine Descent!”

”The contingency plan will not fail. And there will be no need for another Divine Descent.”

The tall, thin woman fell silent for a long moment before speaking in a low voice. ”Tell him the twelfth Heir will be in place within twenty-four hours.”

”When that happens, we will make the Tide a thing of the past, forever!”

”...”

Her certain tone surprised the staff member. ”So, regarding the reason for the failure of the Seven Days of Divine Descent and the puzzle of copper’s Heir, you’ve already...”

”Isn’t it obvious?”

The tall, thin woman said coolly, ”Whoever can kill that defective product is the new Heir.”

”We’ve tried countless times over the past ten years and observed him for a very long time, and it’s true we never found the Copper Will in him.”

”But the facts have now told us everything.”

”And since we know...”

As she said this, her gaze seemed to turn exceptionally harsh. ”We naturally can’t let the other children wait too long.”

After saying this, she looked at the Crystal Skull on her desk.

She was accustomed to taking the Crystal Skull with her wherever she went, but this time she hesitated for a moment. Then, she opened the safe at her feet and gently placed it inside.

The moment the Crystal Skull was sealed inside the safe, that trace of vulnerability and reluctance vanished completely from her face.

Only a faint, cold smile remained. She casually picked up the photo of the little boy from the desk and tossed it into the trash can.

Then she turned, clearly sensing the Spiritual Tentacles that were trying to find her.

’’A power of this level thinks it can lock onto me?’’

She decisively released her own eerie Spiritual Power, actively reaching out to meet the tentacles drifting in from the real world.

”Since you’re so eager to meet me, then let’s meet.”

”...”

”...”

”Found it!”

At the very moment the tall, thin woman’s gaze met the Spiritual Tentacles, a mechanical roar erupted throughout the base, and countless red lights began to flash.

Han Su slowly closed the red notebook in his hands and looked up.