Chapter 362 (1/2)

After Vivian and Lily completed their debriefing, Hao Ren turned to Y’zaks and Becky. “What have you found?”

The pair had gone to the northern side of the mountain range where the rock monsters were most active. But now, it seemed like the biggest mystery in Beinz was in another part of Beinz. The rock monsters were little more than just an annoyance. Shaking her head, Becky said, “Not much, except the many rock monsters that were wandering in the mountains. Some gathered in groups. Anyway, the knights have sent reinforcements. There’s a megalithic fortress built with magic at the foot of the mountain. A mage-level officer is probably in charge. Biggie and I made a few rounds in the mountain. We were nearly spotted by the patrolling knights.”

“The rock monsters were just wandering in the mountain. They had no intention to attack,” Y’zaks added. “But the way I see it, it’s out of character. I mean they’re low-intelligence creatures; they’re supposed to behave as such—stomping their targets with brute force. I have a hunch that someone’s controlling these monsters. However, the person behind this is clearly not very good at it.”

Even though it was not much, what Y’zaks and Becky found was still something. Just that, it was not something critical. After the debriefing, Hao Ren cleared his throat. “Ahem… let’s talk about who I met—a bunch of cult followers.”

Everyone held their breath and listened attentively. Lily almost screamed when Hao Ren recounted how the cult conducted the evil ritual and human sacrifice. But, Vivian and Y’zaks appeared unaffected; they had lived long enough to have seen such a thing. Y’zaks only frowned when he learned that a flesh and blood monster was summoned by the cult. “Was the monster formed with the flesh and blood of the bodies at the scene?”

“Yup.” Hao Ren nodded. “The MDT analysed the monster’s biological make-up and it totally defied any logic. That thing shouldn’t exist.”

“Possessed summoning is a common process used by cults.” Y’zaks nodded. “What they summoned must be from another place—another dimension or planet. As they didn’t have the ability to open the dimensional door, the monster had to project its will and power into this world by possessing a body as a vessel. Due to limited availability of ingredients and technology, it seems like the cult wasn’t able to create a perfect body for it. So, a summoning of this type would only last for a short moment.”

“So, the strength of summoned monster would be much lower then?” This was the most important question bothering Hao Ren. He was traumatised by the gigantic brain; it was far more powerful than humans, and even many unusual creatures. If he had not found its weakness by accident and possessed an all-powerful gun of the Empire, which could penetrate all types of shields, things might have gone really awry.

“Not necessarily. It all depends on the form of life and the power of the possessor,” Y’zaks said as he shrugged. “If the possesor relies heavily on a physical body, its strength might be severely limited. If the soul and spirit are its main weapons, its power isn’t really affected. Sometimes, the method of possession and skills also affect its strength. According to your description, the brain-like being must have been fighthing using a supernatural ability. Even if it possesses a body, it still has the magical power to manipulate gravity and kinetic energy. But like I said, it’s just a guess based on what I know from my hometown.”

Lily slid Y’zaks a weird glance. “Sound like you’re very familiar with stuff like this.”

Y’zaks spread out his hand and said, “It’s what I’m good at, after all. Teleporting all the way from the Demonic Abyss to the human world is troublesome. So, most of the time I travel by way of possessed summoning. Although I don’t like to build a following in the human world, I do have a few human subordinates.”

Felling surprised, Hao Ren asked, “Didn’t you say you wanted no war with the humans?”

“I didn’t come for war.” Y’zaks scraped his bald head with his hand, giving an honest smile. “Mostly for travel.”

Everyone rolled their eyes, feeling speechless. The demonic king, whose appearance alone was enough to cause worldwide chaos and unrest, purportedly went to “war” with humans only because he wanted to see the world. That would have made the brave army, who gathered in anticipation of the demonic king’s arrival look stupid. Hao Ren could not even begin to imagine how the brave in Y’zaks’ hometown would react to Y’zaks’ line of thinking. Anyway, Y’zaks’ interest in travel was good for the business of weapon makers and adventure pubs.

As if Y’zaks knew his habit was hard to believe, he scraped his bald head again and smiled wryly. “Let’s not make this about me. In conclusion, the gigantic brain is dead. It’s true that a summoned creature could abandon its vessel and return to its own world at any time, but you have a very special gun. Your gun can exterminate the soul and burn the linkage of the possessed projection. So, we don’t have to to worry about the gigantic brain returning with its buddies for a second match.”

Y’zaks made the conclusion based on what Hao Ren told him about the gun.

After the debriefing, Hao Ren and Vivian, who were the team leaders as well as think tanks began to compile all the information into a report.

The mysterious underground tentacle at the lakeside (which was certainly part of the root system of the Gnarled Grove); the person responsible for the rock monsters; the cult ritual in Dragonspine Ridge; the summoned flesh and blood monster; the appearance of Church Knights and Royal Knights among members of the cults; the Disciples of Glory, which were accused of stealing the power of God, and the illusion of the red ocean in the faraway land…

And lastly, the final words that the dying, gigantic brain left Hao Ren with: “You are all just scum.”