Chapter 166: Wind Chimes (1/2)

The temperature of the surroundings immediately dropped down the moment they entered the tunnels. For some reason, even though the darkness within the tunnels weren't so different from the darkness of the outside world. Their Predator Senses seemed to have malfunctioned as they couldn't see the end of the tunnel.

There was only darkness at the end of the tunnel, nothing else...

”Calvin... Is your Vision okay? Or you also can't see what's at the end of this tunnel?” Ricardo asked.

Heisenberg also turned to look at Calvin who was bringing up the rear.

”Yeah, I also can't see that far... Heisenberg, do you have anything that we can use as a light?” Calvin turned to look at Heisenberg.

As if on cue, Heisenberg gave a proud smile, ”Coincidentally, I do have something that we can use to provide light around us. However, I need you to be close to me for this method to take effect. At least, you must be within five meters around me, since that is the limit of the light that I can channel through the crystal orb without it shattering.”

”That should be good enough...” Ricardo nodded. As a member of one of the three Judiciaries, Ricardo's physical abilities were vastly superior compared to an average person. Of course, it was a given that every Predator out there was stronger than average people, but Ricardo's abilities were slightly higher than average.

Five meters should be enough for him to react. Furthermore, as a Scout. If there was indeed a danger, then he should be able to know where it was coming from earlier than Calvin and Heisenberg.

A confident smile appeared on Ricardo's lips.

He turned to look at Calvin and he found that the latter also had a smile on his face.

”Five meters should be enough. But can you maintain it? If you are just channeling light into a crystal orb, shouldn't that be a huge waste of Mana?” Calvin asked.

Ricardo was astonished. He actually forgot about that issue.

But Heisenberg seemed unfazed, ”I can have all the problems in the world and it would never be about Mana... Out of everyone in the cathedral, I am the one with the naturally highest energy recharge stat. If I claim second, then no one would dare to claim that they were first...”

”Oh?” Calvin's interest was piqued. However, he didn't probe any further since there was something more important that he had to do.

”What are those?” Ricardo suddenly asked.

Heisenberg and Calvin followed his line of sight and discovered that there were wind chimes hanging from the stalactites of the tunnel. For some reason, despite the cold draft that constantly assaulted the group coming from ahead of them. These wind chimes weren't moving...

They weren't bothered by the wind at all...

It was as if the wind didn't exist...

”Wind chimes...?” Heisenberg also noticed this peculiarity and he gulped a mouthful of saliva to calm himself. Sweeping his gaze at both Ricardo and Calvin, he sternly declared, ”Keep close to me now... I'll deploy some light that can help us navigate...”

”Okay...” Ricardo softly whispered.

Calvin moved closer to Heisenberg and Heisenberg took out his crystal orb the moment he saw that the two were ready.

”Ah, Goddess of Compassion and Light... Your servant seeks your guidance...” Heisenberg briefly chanted and the crystal orb in his hand started glowing with light. The darkness that seemed to be omnipresent around them was pushed backwards and Heisenberg could finally let out a sigh of relief.

Humans were naturally afraid of the dark for it contained the unknown. Despite being a Priest of the Church of the All-Encompassing Light, Heisenberg wasn't an exception to that rule. Even Ricardo had a pale look on his face that gradually disappeared as the light slowly spread around them.

Only Calvin wore a faint smile on his face.

A piece of paper was shining in a faint divine light in his hands.

Behind him, shrieks filled with madness, pain, and sorrow constantly rang out, yet Heisenberg and Ricardo had no clue about it at all.

It was because the moment Heisenberg activated the light that illuminated the darkness around them. Calvin had used the border of that light to create a vision and sound blocking illusion. It was an illusion similar to what Captain Ron Samuel utilized back on the second floor of the Captivating Fragrance Coffee Shop.

But despite its simplicity, it was quite unbreakable.

Especially when everyone's focus was ahead of them instead of behind.

A faint apparition of a man clad in a hospital's gown was floating near the entrance of the tunnel.

The Emperor's Commandment enabled Calvin to see what was happening, and there he saw the Mortician having a feast with the Specters and monsters that wanted to ambush their group from behind.

These monsters were no match against the Mortician that had just consumed a fragment of Valefor's soul and the soul of a Sigbin at all. In fact, the fight going on right now couldn't even be called a fight...

It was a slaughter.

[Gained 0.2 Ascension Points for the Mortician]

[Gained 0.1 Ascension Points for the Mortician]

[Gained 0.3 Ascension Points for the Mortician]

The smile on Calvin's face intensified as these notification windows continued on popping out in his field of vision.

”More... More...” Calvin softly mumbled.

Then, the system notifications disappeared.

”Fuck, I jinxed it!” Calvin audibly cursed.

”What jinxed?” Ricardo turned to look at Calvin in shock.

”No... Nothing... I was just imagining some scenarios in my head...”

”You sure are a weird person. Is that what it takes to get the weakest class in Las Felipinas?”

”Hahaha...” Calvin let out a dry laugh.

[The Mortician's Ascension Points: 78/100]

[22 Ascension Points necessary for Ascension to Purveyor.]

'As expected, Specters or monsters that are weaker than the Sigbin or the Hag won't net me that much ascension points. Well, it's fine... The real deal is in the village anyway and those small fries are just cannon fodders.' Calvin smiled.

He would surely let the Mortician have a feast once he entered the Village of Tulog.

”There it is! I can see the end of the tunnel!” Heisenberg exclaimed. Everyone turned to look where he was looking and Calvin could see the vague silhouette of houses in the distance. They continued to walk towards the exit of the tunnel, but before they actually left the tunnel. They stood near its exit and looked at the scenery around them.

”Those things in front of their doors are...?”