Chapter 1313: Chapter 1313: Night Shrine
Sister Delphine has been busy with unknown matters recently, as since the beginning of 1854, every time Shard visited Cassandra Auction House, he couldn’t meet her. After the meeting this time, Shard learned that Sister Delphine had left Midshire Fort to assist Miss Aphrola, who was in contact with the Earth-shaking Worm cult.
The elderly Mrs. Ilal was unwilling to easily hand over the God-summoning ritual, but eventually agreed to do so if Miss Aphrola helped her accomplish three tasks. Sister Delphine was assisting the witch in killing a Giant Devouring Worm hidden underground and burned it as firewood.
Now, only the last task remains for the elderly Mrs. Ilal, and it is expected that by the end of this month, Miss Aphrola will have the information on the God-summoning ritual.
Although Sister Delphine spoke lightly of it, Shard could sense the danger involved in the matter.
After Sister Delphine finished speaking, Shard first mentioned the situation in Randall Valley, even hinting at the unknown demon, while the nun wearing a silver eye patch just listened quietly.
The two were at the lowest level of the ritual site, in the empty circular space, with steps surrounding the central open ground spreading upwards. Most of the area was shrouded in darkness and shadows, with only a central brazier providing some light. The nun’s sword, the Angel-Level Relic ’Ashes’, was inclined in the brazier’s center, allowing the peculiar flames to scorch and lick it.
Once Shard finished talking about recent events, Sister Delphine did not discuss who might be the Chosen of the Earth, but rather indifferently said:
"If one of the Ancient Evil Spirit Demons you mentioned, it would indeed make good firewood."
Sister Delphine’s usual indifferent tone contrasted greatly with Haila Osenfort. Though both seemed almost devoid of inflection, the former still conveyed the thoughts of the living and occasionally revealed emotions from within the nun, akin to smoldering flames, sensing the warmth without seeing the fire.
The latter, however, was entirely devoid of emotion.
As for the nun also eyeing the demon, there’s no need to worry about her competing with the doctor. Dr. Schneider seeks to devour the demon’s strength and most essential core, whereas Sister Delphine desires the pure shell.
Even though the doctor extracting the core might lower the quality of the firewood, it does not affect the burning. Just like last year’s Demon of Desire, Vanny, after defeating it, the doctor gave the demon remains to Shard (Chapter 1047).
"So, are you going to Randall Valley soon? There is also a statue of the Ancient God of Space there, you can travel back and forth freely once you visit."
The nun nodded:
"According to your plan, determine the demon’s identity and its hiding place first. If you need me, I can appear there anytime. Randall Valley also has the Serpent Heart Hospital."
Shard finally mentioned the "blackened time sand," this time the nun didn’t directly answer but thought in silence for a while:
"Although Sand of Time possesses indescribable power, it isn’t the most supreme power. By soaking the Sand of Time in the water outside the embodied ’True Death’ mudflat, the power of death can permeate these sands, making the sands of time affect local time while bringing a more irresistible death."
In other words, it gives ordinary Sand of Time an effect of increased probability of instant death.
"Pure enough power can contaminate the Sand of Time? True death is the end of all things and the essence of death, indeed more mysterious and dignified than mere Sand of Time. So, what I’m looking for is the most essential power of darkness... isn’t that the Old God ’Veil of Eternal Night’?"
The Eternal Night City where Fiona remains symbolizes the ultimate darkness. But Shard does not believe that simply bringing Sand of Time there could transform it into the task-required item, as that would be too straightforward.
"On further thought, maybe it truly is that simple..."
While pondering, the nun’s cold voice emerged again:
"Pure darkness is related to the Ancient God ’Sage of Silvermoon.’ After the Ancient God departed, the domain of darkness was taken over by the Old God ’Veil of Eternal Night.’ This deity of bygone times has long departed in the current Sixth Era, but the divine creation ’Nightfall’ still exists. During Era overlaps, it underwent a metamorphosis into a relic infused with Whisper Element assessed as Angel-Level (1st Rank). If you wish to attempt it, I can borrow it from the Dawn Church, which would take at least two months. This relic is strictly contained, if it gets out of control, the Material World will fall into a lengthy eternal night."
The waiting time was a bit too long:
"Are there other similar relics or special items?"
"Sage-Level Relic ’Night Spring’, rumored to be the entrance to the Third Era’s ancient kingdom ’Ghostly Realm,’ has long been lost. Sage-Level Relic ’Blade of Night’, a longsword completely invisible in the darkness, when swung during daylight, can create a small area of brilliant night; it was rumored to have been used by the Saint Form of the Old God ’Veil of Eternal Night.’ It last appeared in 908 of the Sixth Era, after which there’s no trace."
The nun only mentioned these two leads, but they seem even more difficult to obtain than the Sage-Level Relic ’Nightfall’ housed by the Dawn Church.
"I’ll think of other ways."
Unfortunately, the [Impermanence: Silver Moon] in his hand, unlike the other four Roder Cards, did not gain some peculiar powers after he witnessed the Chosen One Ceremony. Otherwise, the power of the Impermanence Card might directly contaminate the Sand of Time.
"There’s also a simple method, but it might not work."
The nun suddenly said, and Shard looked at her.
"Although the Ancient God has long departed, their power still affects the Material World. You could try visiting the ’Night Shrine’, the ruins left from the worship of Darkness by the creatures of the Ancient Era in the Material World. Try praying to the Deity; it might work."
This is indeed possible, and the so-called "Night Shrine" is not the ruins Shard discovered in the Randall Valley; those ruins are the Moon Worship Ruins, while the "Night Shrine" is for praying to Darkness. The Ancient Gods possessed immensely diverse powers, and besides the grand cathedrals dedicated to the Deities themselves, ritual sites and temples worshiping specific powers of the Ancient Gods also exist.
"Then do you know where there is a Night Temple? Hopefully not too far, as I have many things to do in the Randall Valley Region recently."
So Sister Delphine instructed other nuns to search for information in the library, and soon they were provided with the result:
"There are ruins of a Night Shrine in the Randall Valley Region, but the ruins are in the mountains."
The map was displayed in front of Shard, and calculating from the map, even if Shard could find the way, it would take at least five to six hours to reach the destination from the city. Because the ruins of the ’Night Shrine’ are in the mountains to the east of Randall Valley, an area only occasionally ventured into by hunters.
"In the mountains, huh? Yesterday I received guidance that to discover the truth of the Sublimation Incantation, I need to go into the mountains. Perhaps... I understand now, thank you for your help, Sister Delphine."
He took the map and sincerely thanked Sister Delphine. The nun shook her head and returned with Shard to Midshire Fort.
Because tonight, something "big" is going to happen as Ston Osenfort mentioned, the visit to the ruins of the ancient Night Shrine had to be postponed until Friday or even Saturday, and Shard also needed an additional guide.
Originally, Shard planned to discuss this matter with Miss Benanis. If Miss Benanis had time and could fly, taking him there might be quicker.
But that afternoon, as soon as he arrived in Randall Valley, Shard was intercepted by a witch in the Church of the Forgotten:
"Oh, Shard, where did you run off to this morning?"
As she spoke, she took Shard’s hand to lead him outside:
"What happened?"
"The Church investigated the surroundings of Eldron Lake, and I originally thought there wouldn’t be any developments until tonight, but results have already emerged. At the bottom of Eldron Lake, a slight phenomenon of ’Crazy Earth’ has been discovered. Now, black mud is spewing from the lakebed, and as the mud flows down, it will soon contaminate the entire watershed."
She spoke quickly:
"The Church is urgently preparing a ritual, planning to purify the pollution at dusk. But since you mentioned something big would happen, that black mud might just be a precursor. Come and prepare with me; there might be a battle tonight. I’ve also summoned Miss Luviya Annette to the Wilder Opera House. Power of the Earth: Summon Statue, Realm of Abundance, Healing Aura might need to be used together tonight."
The current manifestation of "Crazy Earth" has a different trait from previous occurrences. This time, the trait is relatively simple, which is "water source pollution." It’s not that the black mud generates toxins or adds a curse, but it directly alters the concept of "clean lake water" to "unclean lake water," leading to any number of possibilities when consumed.
Or, to put it more simply, this time it’s spreading a disease that ordinary means cannot counteract.
It should be noted that the Elon River, where Eldron Lake is located, is one of the two largest rivers in the Randall Valley Region and the most crucial source of water for Randall Valley City and surrounding villages and towns. Even other downstream cities rely on this river for water.
If not discovered in time, and the pollution had just appeared, the pollution itself would be a significant issue. And the reappearance of "Crazy Earth" this time also led the Church to ascertain that there might indeed be some trouble in Randall Valley that is imperceptible to mortals.
Even though the Sun Church has been aware of "Crazy Earth" since the previous Era and mastered ways to eliminate it, in the era where the Whispering Verses of the Witch Empresses continuously play out and step by step verify their accuracy, no one dares to let their guard down.