The color of fresh blood was reflected in Kleinās eyes as they intently locked onto the flowing liquid.
Just then, there was a light cough from within the house. Old Neil spoke with a raspy voice, āDunn, why are you here?ā
Dunnās gray eyes were extremely deep. His mellow voice replied calmly, āI heard that youāre sick, so we came to visit.ā
There was a sudden silence in the house. A few seconds later, Old Neil roared in anger and terror, āNo! Youāre lying!ā
Without waiting for Klein and company to say a word, his tone suddenly became weak.
āYes, I know my condition isnāt quite right.ā
Old Neilā¦ Klein closed his eyes, but the bloody liquid that was seeping through the gap of the door didnāt cease.
Then, Old Neil raised his voice and said, āAll this time, Iāve never hurt anyone, nor have I thought of hurting anyone! I neverāI never betrayed the secrets of the Nighthawks, one even one! At the mostāat the most, Iāve made claims for undeserving expenses. I really havenāt committed any evil!ā
āKlein!ā He suddenly shouted like he usually did. āI told you about the maxim of the Mystery Pryers, āDo as you wish, but do no harm.ā I still live by this saying. Iād rather be patientāIād rather endure than do things that will harm othersā¦ā
With that said, he pleaded sincerely, in fear, āDunn, Royale, Klein, go back. Go back. Wait till tomorrowāby tomorrow, Iāll be back to normal. I swearāI swear to the Goddess, I wouldnāt harm anyone. Really!ā
Dunn closed his eyes and asked extremely gently, āWhat do you plan on doing? What have you been trying to do all this while?ā
āMe?ā Old Neil was confused at first before he described with a tone filled with hope, āIām trying to resurrect Celeste. Dunn, I found a way, Iām on the right track!
āYou should have heard about it. Back then, I made a mistake during the ritualistic magic to treat her illness, so I failed. I failed to save her. I now know it was because I had yet to master mysticism. But now, I now have enough knowledge and experience to complete everything! Itās regrettable that I wasnāt inspired by the maxim of the Mystery Pryers and Dalyās example. I missed the best opportunity. If-if I was a High-Sequence Beyonder, all of this would become extremely easy.ā As he spoke, Old Neilās voice sounded tearful, āNo, I cannot give up againā¦ Dunn, go back. Go back, please. I beg of you.ā
Klein clenched his teeth as he heard the Captain ask emotionally, āHow do you plan on resurrecting Celeste?ā
Old Neil instantly became very excited.
āIāll use the āAlchemical Lifeā method to create an immortal body for her. Dunn, you might not know of it, but Sequence 4 Beyonders from the Church of Mother Earth are good at this. The corresponding Sequence in the Savant pathway can barely do it as well. Yes, I will complete it with the aid of Godās favor.
āThen, Iāll summon her spirit from the spirit world and pray for Godās help to combine her spirit and body together.
āIsnāt it a great idea?ā
Dunn lifted the corner of his lips forcefully and said, āYes, itās a great idea. Old Neil, let us in. Perhaps we can help you.ā
āā¦ Dunn, are you still not willing to let me off the hook?ā Old Neil pleaded, āGo back, just go back. Iāll return to normal tomorrow, really. Dunn, I swear Iāll never steal your coffee beans again. Klein, Royale, I swear I wonāt make you help me with my undeserved claims! Really!ā
In Kleinās and Royaleās blurry vision, Dunn lowered his head before lifting it up again. āOld Neil, youāre misunderstanding. Weāre here to visit you. You are our teammate. Youāre sick, and you arenāt well. We definitely needed to visit you. Open the door. Let us see you, so that we can be certain. If youāre really okay, weāll return immediately. As you know, there are especially many missions recently. We have to monitor the asylum while we take care of various other sudden incidents.ā
Old Neil hesitated for a moment before saying, āThereās really nothing serious about my condition, really. Iāll recover by tomorrow.ā
The bloody water that flowed out through the gap under the door went down the stairs, towards the stone path, and onto the gardenās soil.
āOld Neil, weāve known each other for about fifteen years now, right? Weāve worked on countless missions together. Iām really concerned and worried for you. I have to see you with my own eyes before Iāll be at ease,ā Dunn said gently.
āā¦ Alright,ā Old Neil pouted. āThereās really nothing wrong with me.ā
With a creak, the door opened slowly. Klein quickly wiped his eyes and allowed his sight to return to normal.
Then, he saw that the carpet in the lobby was red and sticky, covered in blood and hair.
He looked forward and up, only to realize that the living roomās floor, ceiling, round table, piano, and chairs were all covered in the same disgusting, sticky and hairy liquid.
Old Neilās head hung in the air, connected to the ceiling by a thick liquid. His forehead and cheeks each had a pair of eyes. They were cold and ruthless eyes with no eyelashes.
The pianoās keys were dancing on their own, playing a melodious tune.
āDunn, look. Iām really okay,ā Old Neil said with a radiant smile. āRoyale, Klein, you think so too, right?ā
The moment he opened his mouth, Klein saw the same thick, hairy, and bloody liquid flowing inside it.
Dunnās gray eyes shimmered as he chatted like everything was normal.
āOld Neil, where did you learn the Alchemical Life and resurrection ritual from?ā
Old Neil replied excitedly, āI heard it. I tried the first part, and confirmed its authenticity! Itās a gift from God! He kept describing it in my ears. He kept describing, He isāHe isā¦ā
Old Neilās voice came to a halt. More than ten seconds later, he continued in fear and in apparent loss, āHe is the Hidden Sageā¦ā
The Hidden Sage? Isnāt that the non-anthropomorphic god that the Moses Ascetic Order believes in? The god that was resurrected, bringing about evil and corruptionā¦ The Moses Ascetic Order has the complete Mystery Pryer Sequenceā¦ Kleinās heart stirred as many thoughts came to him.
Upon mentioning the Hidden Sage, Old Neil seemed to finally awaken. He looked around vacantly and observed everything.
In the indescribable silence, his six eyes looked towards Dunn, and he said with a bitter smile, āSo it turns outāit turns out that Iāve already become a monsterā¦ā
Without waiting for Dunn and the others to reply, Old Neil suddenly revealed a smile, one of groveling, fear, and cowardice.
āLet me go. Iāll go deep into the mountains and wonāt appear again. Iāll never harm anyone. Iāll only attempt my ritual quietly, really. Let me go, please. I beg of you.ā
Just then, Klein felt something illusory shatter before his eyes.
Then, Old Neilās four cold-looking lashless eyes flashed with a dark glow and locked onto Dunn. His expression suddenly turned cold.
āYouāre pulling me into a dream!
āNo, itās useless! My eyes can see through all of that!ā
The sticky blood that covered the ceiling, floor, and walls started squirming, like a giant opening its mouth to swallow Klein and company. Old Neilās head grew blurry like overlapping afterimages.
Klein didnāt fumble for his revolver; instead, he extended his hand into his pocket and planned to use his Slumber Charm.
Suddenly, everything calmed down before him. The sticky, bloody liquid suddenly turned placid like a still lake.
Old Neil lost his coldness, hatred, desire, and all other expressions. He became quiet and peaceful.
It was unknown when Dunn had thrown Sealed Artifact 3-0611 into the blood.
The four lashless eyes on Old Neilās forehead and cheeks slowly closed, seemingly having lost the desire to keep them open.
Any living creature that came into contact with the Peaceful Hair Strands would turn peaceful and lose all motivation until the end of their life.
Dunn, Klein, and Royale drew their guns at the same time and aimed at Old Neilās head.
Then, Old Neil revealed a look of extreme fear. He was struggling, his strong desire to live fought against the effects of Sealed Artifact 3-0611.
The four extra eyes disappeared. The wrinkles at the corners of his eyes and mouth were still deep, his hair was still white, his crimson eyes were still turbid, just like when Klein had first met him.
āDunn, do you remember the time I saved youā¦
āRoyale, do you remember when I helped you redeem your familyās livesā¦
āKlein, do you remember how I taught you mysticism every day? Do you remember when we talked about how to make claims? Do you remember how I made you hand-ground coffee? Do you remember when we fought against a Mandated Punisher Rampager?ā
ā¦
The illusory pleading echoed in Kleinās ears, and his right hand that was holding the revolver trembled. He found it difficult to pull the trigger.
Bang! Bang!
The two silver demon hunting bullets flew out and penetrated Old Neilās head one after another.
Klein watched as the familiar, abnormal face revealed a hopeless expression. He saw the manās skull tear open, the red and white within spurting in all directions.
The sticky blood that coated their surroundings started shrinking as it flowed back into Old Neilās broken head that had fallen to the ground. Dunn and Royale lowered their guns simultaneously, and all was silent.
Klein looked at everything before himāOld Neilās ācorpseā was becoming a ball of rotten flesh. He saw that there was a pair of eyes, crimson and crystal clear, yet incredibly pained amidst the blood and flesh.
He felt like everything that had happened was just a dream and found it impossible to bring himself into believing the sequence of events and how it had ended.
He stood dumbfounded as he saw Dunn take two steps forward, his figure stooped.
Dunn looked at Old Neilās ācorpseā and muttered heavily, āWe are guardians, but also a bunch of miserable wretches that are constantly fighting against threats and madness.ā