His fingertips gently slid along the rim of the cup.
There was a stifling sensation he could not shake, as if something were weighing heavily on his heart.
At a slight tremor, Lutherch’s brow furrowed tightly.
For some reason, he felt that things were very wrong, and an indescribable unease settled in his chest.
When his thoughts yielded no answers, Lutherch turned his gaze toward the Map beside him.
This Map currently included the edges of the Kostershka Mountains.
The Church had people exploring the Black Mist at every moment to complete it.
After a moment of silence, Lutherch pulled a silver coin with a strange luster from his pocket.
He then picked up his cup and slowly let the last drop of goat milk fall onto the coin.
The coin was tossed high, flipping repeatedly in the air.
Under Lutherch’s deep gaze, it slammed heavily onto the Map.
Lutherch watched as the location of the Kostershka Mountains was soaked by the goat milk, while the coin landed steadily on the southern mineral vein.
His eyebrows shot up.
After a long silence, Lutherch stood up and took the Shepherd’s Staff from the side.
He then slammed it into the ground, punching a hole through the smooth floorboards.
Without a shred of regret, Lutherch immediately walked out of the meeting hall after receiving his answer.
“Mosen, hurry to the southern mineral vein! You must be fast!”
“Teacher, did something happen?”
Seeing Lutherch’s urgent expression, Mosen looked somewhat confused.
Lutherch had no time to explain.
He struck Mosen’s forehead directly with his Shepherd’s Staff and said sternly, “Just go!”
Mosen let out an “ah” as his hunched body trembled.
He did not dare to ask further.
He hurried to grab his staff and, after a silent incantation, flew out of the Mage Tower.
After watching Mosen leave, Lutherch quickly took out an azure crystal and tapped it a few times with his finger.
“Qiansitelin, it’s coming…”
***
Buzhaqi was sprinting through the Black Mist.
He had guessed wrong; Naar was not there!
But… if she was not there, where could she be?
Buzhaqi’s eyes were filled with anxiety and a hint of confusion.
Murmuring Beikeze’s name, the image of that figure, who had already become somewhat crazed, surfaced in Buzhaqi’s mind.
‘He must know!’
His speed suddenly increased.
Ignoring the obstruction of the knights at the gate, Buzhaqi charged directly from the Black Mist into the encampment.
“Buzhaqi?”
Before Buzhaqi could reach the Church, a familiar voice rang out halfway there.
“Have you not found her yet?”
Seeing the man before him who looked confused and slightly weary, Buzhaqi stopped abruptly, his heart sinking.
‘Does he not know either?’
But… he was clearly the person most likely to know…
“Beikeze… do you know where she is?”
With a raspy voice, Buzhaqi asked with a sliver of hope.
Beikeze looked into Buzhaqi’s bloodshot eyes, which were full of despair and pleading.
A trace of an extremely complex expression flashed across his weary face.
He subconsciously looked away, his voice low and carrying a deliberately maintained calm.
“Buzhaqi, calm down. Things aren’t as bad as you imagine…”
At Beikeze’s slightly stern tone, Buzhaqi’s body slowly relaxed a little.
He opened his mouth and hesitated for a long time before finally speaking.
“Now, think back carefully… was there anything abnormal about Naar…”
“Yes…”
Upon receiving Buzhaqi’s answer, a look of solemnity flashed in Beikeze’s eyes.
He continued, “She went to find His Holiness last, and you told her to head to the Church after she finished, right?”
As if afraid of touching a sensitive spot for Buzhaqi, Beikeze kept his voice as soft as possible.
Buzhaqi was now pinning almost all his hope on Beikeze.
“Yes…”
However, after Buzhaqi’s answer, Beikeze’s brow furrowed deeper and deeper.
After a long silence, Beikeze looked at Buzhaqi, hesitating as if he did not know whether to speak.
“What’s wrong?”
Seeing Beikeze’s hesitant appearance, Buzhaqi immediately spoke up.
“Naar… she is very likely going to destroy a Node…”
Beikeze’s words were like a thunderclap exploding in Buzhaqi’s mind.
Buzhaqi subconsciously denied it.
“Impossible…”
But noticing Beikeze’s expression, which was full of worry and urgency, Buzhaqi immediately swallowed his rebuttals.
Beikeze would not lie to him about such a thing…
Besides, if he could not find Naar no matter what, did that not explain the problem?
“Are you going to capture her?”
Buzhaqi accepted the reality, his voice laced with bitterness.
Beikeze hesitated for a moment before saying solemnly, “Yes… it is urgent…”
“Let me go…”
Every word felt like it was squeezed out from between the cracks of a rock, heavy and firm.
Buzhaqi’s voice was low, yet it carried an unquestionable determination.
His bloodshot eyes locked onto Beikeze, churning with pleading and a searing pain that almost pierced through him.
“Fine.”
Beikeze’s Adam’s apple bobbed.
He remained silent for a long time before finally giving in.
“But Buzhaqi, remember your identity. Her actions threaten the very foundation of the Church—the Lightforce that His Holiness worked so hard to rekindle! If the situation becomes untenable…”
His unfinished words were like an icy iron spike driven into Buzhaqi’s heart.
“I know.”
Buzhaqi’s voice also turned cold.
He spun around and rushed toward the direction of the Node at a speed several times faster than when he arrived.
His mind was a blur; he was not even sure how he had made it here.
This was the third Node he had rushed to…
“Naar…”
Arriving at the Node and seeing it dyed in a deep black, Buzhaqi’s pupils shrank violently.
Next to the Node, a staff had been inserted through the severed section of a neck into Naar’s head, standing bolt upright.
Meanwhile, Naar’s body was prone on the ground, with countless fleshy sprouts piercing through her clothing, swaying incessantly.
Naar’s head turned with some difficulty.
Her face was extremely distorted, and tears constantly flowed from her eyes.
“Don’t come over here…”
Seeing that staff, Buzhaqi’s heart wrenched, and he simultaneously felt a surge of regret… that was Luther’s staff!
Buzhaqi did not listen to Naar’s plea at all.
He simply walked numbly toward Naar’s head, which was skewered by the staff.
The body crawling on the ground saw Buzhaqi approaching and suddenly pounced on him.
Several fleshy sprouts suddenly lengthened and instantly pierced through Buzhaqi’s body.
Buzhaqi could not help but let out a muffled grunt, yet he continued toward Naar with steady steps.
Feeling the intense pain radiating from his body and the blood welling up in his throat, he let out another grunt but kept walking toward Naar.
Staring blankly at Buzhaqi, who was covered in injuries in just a few moments, Naar cried out repeatedly, “Don’t… don’t come any closer…”
The tears in her eyes were gradually stained red with blood.
Seeing that it could not stop Buzhaqi, the headless body on the ground seemed to be enraged.
More fleshy sprouts lengthened and stabbed forward.
*Squelch—* They passed through Buzhaqi’s body and then tied themselves in a knot.
A pulling force came from his weary body.
Buzhaqi flicked his wrist.
At the moment his dagger appeared, he wanted to cut them away…
But looking back at Naar’s unrecognizable body, the dagger in his hand dissolved into nothingness…
All his Lightforce gathered at his wounds to stop the constant flow of blood, and then Buzhaqi took another step.
Allowing that body to pull and tear at him, Buzhaqi walked steadily toward Naar.
“…Naar must be very scared…”
Seeing Naar’s face getting closer and closer, a smile involuntarily appeared on Buzhaqi’s face.
He reached out with hands stained with his own blood, wanting to touch Naar’s face, which was no longer as distorted.
“Naar isn’t afraid…”
Naar’s voice carried a sob, yet it still held that last bit of stubbornness.
“But… is Naar really not afraid…”
As his voice fell, Buzhaqi’s hands finally touched Naar’s face despite the increasingly intense pulling.
Following that was Naar’s low whimpering.
How could she not be afraid? Having her head separated from her body and being unable to control herself made Naar feel both alienated and terrified…
Buzhaqi wanted to wipe away the bloodstains with his fingers, but seeing more blood appear on her face because of the blood on his own hands, he fell silent.
Their voices rang out at the same time, and Naar finally could not hold back any longer, breaking into a loud wail.
“I’m sorry…”
“I’m sorry!!”
Buzhaqi did not speak.
His Lightforce was constantly being consumed, and his internal organs were even being dragged out of his body, yet it did not affect him as he gazed at Naar.
However, their shared gaze did not last long.
A beam of golden light instantly descended, piercing through Naar’s body behind Buzhaqi.
Buzhaqi’s body loosened, but his heart sank.
“Master Buzhaqi… you actually…”
Following Beikeze were dozens of knights and Guards, all of whom had seen the interaction between Buzhaqi and Naar.
And the Node, which had already been corrupted by black, practically solidified the proof of Buzhaqi’s “crime.”
“Kill me… Brother Buzhaqi…”
Naar’s voice was desolate, filled with reluctance.
Buzhaqi did not answer.
His slightly trembling hand slowly lowered, and his body staggered before he looked at Beikeze.
“Beikeze!!!”
His heart was now filled with rage and hatred toward Beikeze.
He understood everything now!
He truly had not expected Beikeze to act against him…
Now… he had been backed into a dead end…
Beikeze’s voice was very steady, yet it made Buzhaqi feel a bone-chilling cold.
“Buzhaqi… you should remember what I said, shouldn’t you?”
“I—”
Just as Buzhaqi spoke, he felt his hand rise uncontrollably.
Lightforce erupted from his body and instantly pierced into Naar’s skull.
“Buzhaqi… thank you…”
Naar’s voice sounded as if she had been liberated, leaving Buzhaqi stunned for a moment.
Why…
Beikeze had not done this… it was Naar’s ability…
Beikeze’s satisfied laughter drifted over, and then he slowly walked toward Buzhaqi.
In an instant, it felt as if all the strength had been drained from Buzhaqi’s body.
He knelt straight on the ground, his entire frame trembling incessantly.
“Heh… heh…”
Beikeze reached out to pull Buzhaqi up, but then a splash of warm liquid hit his face.
Buzhaqi… had taken his own life…
Looking at the dagger that was slowly dissolving into points of light and the wound that nearly pierced through his neck, Beikeze’s eyes narrowed slightly.
“Bishop Beikeze… this…”
“Purify them together.”
At least… two cores were now in his hands…