Chapter 217 Awakening Ritual

call……

Lin Hui let out a long breath and withdrew his consciousness from the alternate dimension.

He looked at Evelyn and asked, "Is the town's curse also caused by that being named 'Theranos'?"

Evelyn shook her head, her expression grave. "No! It's a higher rule! Even Theranos is affected by the curse."

"The sacred fruit can dispel this curse because it contains the power of 'Theranos.' For lower-ranking humans, this power is enough to temporarily preserve their memories."

"The more powerful a creature is, the greater the curse it suffers."

"Theranos was also affected by the town's curse. Although it was powerful, it had existed in the Misty Town for countless years. Under the erosion of that rule-level curse, its consciousness had long since become muddled and slumbered."

At this point, Evelyn took a deep breath and made a startling deduction:

"I suspect that the Curse of Oblivion once existed in the Misty Lands. This would explain why most of the high-level monsters we encountered there were in a dazed and confused state!"

Lin Hui nodded thoughtfully.

He thought of the high-level monsters he had encountered when he first entered the Misty Lands.

Indeed, although they are powerful, they seem to have no intelligence other than instinct.

Following Evelyn's train of thought, Lin Hui's eyes lit up, and he asked, "So, the reason 'Seranosh' tempted players to consume the Sacred Fruit was to regain his senses?"

"That's right!"

Evelyn gave her an approving look. "This is the conclusion I've reached after so many years of investigation!"

"It's exploiting the players."

"As long as there are enough believers and the more faith power they provide, the more it can gradually regain its senses, even if only a little bit, by using these 'anchors'."

Evelyn pointed to the enormous Tree of Flesh and Blood, "As more and more players enter Misty Town these past few days, I can see that the tree's pulse is growing stronger. The time until it fully awakens is getting shorter and shorter..."

"Once it awakens some of its consciousness... we may be facing a fully conscious 7th-tier... or even 8th-tier mythical creature..."

Evelyn's voice trembled as she said this, "At that time, let alone leaving the town, we will all perish here instantly."

Lin Hui took a deep breath.

8th or 9th order...

That's a level that today's players simply can't imagine.

This dungeon truly lives up to its reputation as a "nightmare" level dungeon.

This dungeon is even more difficult than the previous Nightmare-level dungeon, [God's Gaze]!

In this [Misty Town] instance, if you only explore during the day, even if you explore for a hundred years, you will never know the truth.

Even if you realize there's something wrong with the Divine Tree, even if you decisively use a nuclear bomb to destroy it, it won't help, because it's an illusion!

After the explosion, you'll be hunted down by the town's eerie inhabitants.

If you wish to explore after 7 PM when the fog descends, you will need the power to ignore the tree demons and extraordinary items capable of resisting the fog's encroachment...

Thinking of this, Lin Hui looked at the old black portable kerosene lamp in Evelyn's hand.

He had been wondering why Evelyn and Ryan were able to enter the mist.

Now we have the answer.

Even though you know everything, you'll be facing a being of unimaginable power, one that, even with only a wisp of consciousness, could be at the 7th or even 8th rank...

Even the powerful Evelyn before her wasn't entirely confident she could end it all.

Lin Hui took a light breath and asked a crucial question: "Lady Evelyn, what is your strength?"

Since we're going to team up, we naturally need to know our teammates' strengths and weaknesses.

Evelyn touched the silver ring on her finger and said frankly without any concealment, "I don't have a 7th-rank rank, but I can exert the strength of a 7th-rank."

There are no 7th-order lattices?

Has the strength of a 7th-tier being?

Lin Hui's heart stirred slightly. Was it to borrow the power bestowed by the gods?

"Besides, it's not like I haven't been prepared all these years..."

Evelyn looked at Lin Hui with a hint of anticipation in her eyes: "So? Are you willing to make this deal with me? My time is running out. If you don't show up, I will try again soon."

Lin Hui smiled and said, "Do I have any better options?"

Evelyn nodded, a relieved smile appearing on her face.

She organized her thoughts and was about to explain her battle plan to Lin Hui in detail.

But just then...

Her expression suddenly changed, and she abruptly turned her head to look at the open space below the sacred tree.

"Oh no! We've been discovered!"

Lin Hui's heart skipped a beat, and he immediately looked over with his pale eyes.

Beneath the Tree of Flesh and Blood, the dense crowd that had been kneeling and praying devoutly with their backs to them suddenly stopped without warning.

Followed by.

They are like puppets controlled by the same brain.

Everyone.

Whether it's Lyon in his police uniform, the residents with blank expressions, or the players who just entered the town yesterday.

More than a thousand heads turned around at the same time.

More than two thousand pairs of eyes, devoid of any white and completely black, stared intently at the location where Lin Hui and Evelyn were.

There was no anger or murderous intent on their faces.

Yes, but it was a chilling...smile.

Chief Inspector Lyon was in charge.

His crisp police uniform seemed particularly conspicuous at that moment, but he didn't draw his gun. Instead, he gracefully opened his arms in the direction of Lin Hui, as if welcoming a distinguished guest from afar.

Did you see that?

Lyon's voice pierced through the mist, ringing clearly in Lin Hui's ears. The voice was no longer its usual authoritative tone, but rather carried a trembling, fanatical quality.

"What magnificent life...what perfect evolution..."

"Mr. Lin Hui, my friend, why do you refuse this favor?"

As Lyon spoke, the flesh and blood tree behind him suddenly throbbed violently.

"Thump! Thump! Thump!"

The dull thumping of the heart was like a war drum, each beat striking the heart.

The "sacred fruits" on the branches began to glow, emitting a cloyingly sweet aroma.

The fragrance drifted through the mist, and even from a distance, Lin Hui felt dizzy, and a strong urge to kneel down surged within him.

"Oh no! This is psychological manipulation!"

Evelyn gave a low shout, and the kerosene lamp in her hand suddenly burst into a dazzling light, forming a protective shield around the two of them.

"They're performing an awakening ritual!"

Evelyn's voice grew urgent. "Lyon's gone mad! He wants to awaken [Theranos] prematurely! He's sacrificing the souls and flesh of all his followers!"

......