845 The Eighth Research Institution of the Congress of Magic (1/2)
The dark mist spread out so densely that one could not see his own fingers or hear his own voice. They felt that they were caught in the purest and quietest death. Even their soul was befuddled, without the slightest idea occurring to them.
Suddenly, something gray penetrated through the intense black mist. Donnie shivered and got away from the mind frigidity. He found himself standing in the middle of a desert that was full of black sand. The sky was pale and gray, the same as any part of the World of Souls. Not far away up ahead, a black, ragged palace was standing. It was ancient and splendid, releasing the infinite air of death.
Dum, dum, dum.
Donnie's heart was beating fast again, as if something was summoning him inside that dilapidated palace. The call was so strong, so clear, and so irresistible.
”Is there something summoning me in the palace?” somebody asked, and the voice appeared in Donnie's mind.
Donnie turned back in confusion, only to discover that Sammy, Karl, and a fatty were standing behind him looking at the same palace not far away.
Well, who is this fatty?
Donnie did not ask it out. Since the guy had a nightmare together with them and was included in Karl's mind communication, he had to be very close to them. It was a shame that he did not carry his notebook…
The ghost behind Sammy trembled nonstop and buried its face on Sammy's neck, as if it were intimidated by the black palace and what was in it. However, in the meantime, its hands pulled Sammy's body, as if it were urging him to enter the palace and approach the thing.
”It's a dream of such a level?” Karl said to himself, half lost and half refreshed. Then, he announced as if he were giving an order, ”Let's go in and take a look!”
Donnie and Sammy did not reply. Under the strong summoning, they had already walked off.
Passing the desolate wilderness, the four of them drew close to the black palace and saw the gate that was carved with pale patterns.
The patterns were weird, twisted, mysterious, and vintage. They seemed to be in a certain intangible rhythm.
Wu! Wu! Wu!
Suddenly, a loud and miserable cry came over. Donnie and Sammy almost tripped themselves over.
In a defense posture, Karl looked at the source of the sound eagerly. The ”attacker” must be either strong or special to make sounds in the dream that was similar to the World of Souls!
They saw a half-rotten owl on the top of a broken pillar near the gate. Pale bones protruded from its body made of black, rotten meat, and its two wings were gray and slim. On its head, one of the eyes had decayed into a black hole, but the other retained the strange brownish colors and was staring at the strangers indifferently. It kept letting out miserable cries, which made Donnie, Sammy, and Jones tremble in intimidation. Was it the envoy of death? Was the sound here to claim their lives?
”An owl that can keep its original appearance in the palace shouldn't be surprising. Have you not seen any undead creatures? I must've dissected dozens of such owls…” Karl said in disappointment.
Donnie couldn't have thanked Karl's talkativeness more at such a moment, which relieved him from the devastating and strange cries of the owl. Otherwise, he feared that his soul would be broken one bit after another and transformed into part of the palace. Although he did not know why Karl was not affected, his feeling was definitely unmistakable!
”Let's go in.” After an elaborate talk, Karl opened the gate with mysterious patterns.
The gate opened without a sound. It was nothing but pitch darkness inside, as if countless monsters were hiding.
Dum, dum, dum.
The moment the gate was opened, Donnie, Sammy, and Jones all clearly sensed something. It was right there in front of the palace!
”Come on!”
”Come on!”
The summoning had already turned into a concrete voice. Donnie and his other two roommates stepped forwardly subconsciously, but Karl looked around and observed the environment in great curiosity.
The more they stepped forward, the clearer the voices of summoning became.
”Come on! You will receive power and a long life!”
”Come on! Strength, wealth, glory, and beauties are waiting for you!”
”Come on! You need not study or research arduously anymore. You will grasp the unparalleled power immediately!”
”Pu.” In the mind communication, Karl laughed in amusement, which slightly woke up Donnie, Sammy, and Jones whose heads were already swollen with blood.
”What are you laughing for?” Donnie asked subconsciously.
Unable to hold back his laughter, Karl said, ”The temptation is glaringly inconsistent. The first two statements are formal and grandeur, but the last one is too specific. Haha. You need not study or research hard to grasp power. It seems to be specifically prepared for the students who have taken the College Entrance Exam. It's like a weaselly man holding a donut and saying to a little girl, 'You should come with me. You will have wonderful food every day, and you don't have to go to school or finish your homework'. Haha. Don't you find it petty and amusing?”
”No…” Sammy blurted out.
Donnie and Jones also nodded. Karl truly had strange humor.
”You can hear the summoning?” Donnie suddenly realized something. Didn't he say that he could not hear the summoning?
Karl chuckled. ”I have certain special abilities…”
He did not explain much. Intense curiosity beamed out of his face, as if he could not wait to meet this tasteless tempter.
After they passed the hall, it was seven stairs before them. Above the stairs was a grave and intimidating throne.