Mithra looked for the "Blazing Man" information. It wasn't very clear.

This was normal; most information about the Forty-Four Pillars era was vague and incomplete, except for the main narrative.

For example, Anderet, who had seemingly orchestrated Eternal Night while secretly investing in humanity, was so enigmatic that humans weren't even sure if it was one of the Pillars.

Mithra made a note to investigate the skyfire incident after her societal integration assessment.

Perhaps she might even unlock another "Blazing Man" gift.

Mithra took a bus to the teleportation point and traveled to Sun City.

She regularly checked in with Salomo.

During her studies, she had fused the branch leader's staff into her hammer after extracting the Eternal Night Crystal.

Another bout of nausea.

Arriving in Sun City, she checked the communication tablet.

She hadn't expected a reply, but the tablet flickered. There was a message.

Salomo had contacted her. She agreed to meet him at the Sanctuary's base in Sun City.

It was a rather grand building. This was her first time there. She had assumed the Sanctuary would be more discreet, but it seemed she was mistaken.

Salomo greeted her personally.

"Welcome, Mithra. How are you?"

"Fine."

"I see. I hope everything is going well. The blacksmith has arrived and is waiting inside," Salomo, used to Mithra's brevity, got straight to the point.

Entering the room, Mithra saw a slender figure, not the "traditional" image of a weaponsmith. But in this world with the versatile Reinforce Body miracle, that wasn't important.

He wore patched leather clothing and small glasses.

"Hello. Call me Diehl. I'm here because I heard there's funding available. Let's have a pleasant collaboration," he said.

His tone was casual. He seemed like a typical "technician."

Mithra shook his hand and turned to Salomo.

Salomo quickly introduced him. "Master Diehl is a weaponsmith from Andemiriya. He's participated in the creation of three god-killing weapons: the Xyrin Empire's 'Xyrin Warhammer,' Ms. Orph's 'Sisterly Radiance,' and the Sella Kingdom's 'Siren'."

Mithra noted the keyword. "Orph has a god-killing weapon?"

"Yes. Her sword. It appears rather plain, but it's Master Diehl's masterpiece! Ah, of course, the other two are also exceptional, but Master Diehl only assisted in their creation; he wasn't the lead blacksmith,"

Mithra paused, trying to remember.

A god-killing weapon had been so close, and she hadn't even used Night Eyes on it. It had been so unremarkable.

Collecting god-killing weapons wasn't urgent enough to warrant stealing, especially not from powerful Sanctuary members.

"This little girl just wants to learn more about god-killing weapons, right? I'll explain everything clearly and concisely," Diehl said, seemingly unconcerned about his earlier achievements.

"No, I'm going to make one myself," Mithra replied casually.

"Yourself...? Huh?" Diehl paused, then realized what she meant. "Make one yourself?!"

He stared at Mithra incredulously. "You want to create a god-killing weapon? Seriously? Where are the materials?"

"Here," Mithra calmly pulled the "Chrysalis" Hand Holding Heart from her pouch.

The moment it appeared, Diehl and Salomo's expressions turned serious, clearly sensing the Wandering God's aura.

"Mr. Mithra! You didn't tell us you were carrying that!" Salomo exclaimed.

"You didn't ask. Is there a problem?"

"This... this... well... there's no problem, I suppose..." Salomo stammered, looking at the Wandering God's remains resting peacefully in Mithra's hand. His preconceived notions were shattered.

Why wasn't Mithra affected by the Wandering God's remains?

Why were the remains so docile, not emitting any aura without restraints?

Diehl also stared at Mithra. "Are you serious?"

"Is there a problem?" Mithra asked, genuinely confused.

After encountering the Stranger, both the Night Hunter's beast form and the writhing Chrysalis had become surprisingly docile.

She wasn't carrying them around; she was storing them.

Diehl stood up, adjusting his glasses. "Miss, are you perhaps a hidden master weaponsmith?"

"No, I only have basic knowledge of weapon crafting," Mithra said honestly.

"Then how can you be so confident about creating a god-killing weapon from a Wandering God's remains?"

"Because, as far as I know, the creation of god-killing weapons is rather arbitrary."

Diehl paused, seemingly pondering this, then looked up. "It seems I've been tricked. Salomo, increase my payment after this."

Salomo: "..."

I'm also quite shocked, he thought.

"Put that thing away. It's disgusting. It's from the 'Chrysalis', isn't it? Even Schumann couldn't completely eradicate it. It's rather pathetic that it's been reduced to this," Diehl said flatly.

After Mithra stored the heart, she followed Diehl to a room prepared by Salomo.

They sat down to compose themselves, mainly Salomo and Diehl.

After Salomo served tea, Diehl tapped the table. "Tell me about your understanding of god-killing weapons."

"For various reasons, under specific and relatively stable conditions, weapons imbued with the power of Wandering Gods through certain methods are created. They have no fixed form, and their appearances vary, but they possess the power to harm Wandering Gods," Mithra explained simply.

"Who taught you this?" Diehl immediately asked.

"Uh, a teacher I met along the way?" Mithra considered keeping Phaselos's involvement a secret for now.

"Did your teacher live through the Wandering God era?" Diehl asked seriously.

"Maybe even longer ago?" Mithra countered.

"...Alright, I'll be blunt. Regardless of where you learned this, that knowledge is outdated. To be precise, it's a rejected theory of god-killing weapons,"

"Oh really?" Mithra said, feigning surprise.

Phaselos, you're not just old, your knowledge is ancient too, Mithra thought.

"What's the fundamental theory of miracles?" Diehl asked.

"Miracles have a high price?"

"Exactly. God-killing weapons are also a form of miracle, so they also have a price. Those early god-killing weapons, 'naturally' born through various coincidences, still retained most of their original miracle essence; they had a strong sense of being 'alive.' To put it bluntly, those so-called god-killing weapons were just Wandering Gods in a different form, a more refined and manageable form,"

Diehl's voice was serious. Mithra considered his words and realized he was right.

The Night Hunter Greatsword was the Hunter's main symbol, the vessel for its revival. Whoever wielded the sword would become its next host.

"What about the newer god-killing weapons?" Mithra asked.

"Stability," Diehl said. "Modern god-killing weapon theory emphasizes minimizing the Wandering God's influence, to prevent it from affecting the user. They need to be stable and reliable,"

"That makes sense," Mithra nodded.

"To compensate for the reduced power, modern god-killing weapons require meticulous planning and a suitable framework to restrict the unpredictable nature of the Wandering God's power. This requires high-grade, rare materials. It's usually not something a single person can easily achieve. Do you understand how outdated and dangerous your methods are?" Diehl asked, looking at Mithra.

Mithra nodded.

"Give up on creating a god-killing weapon. I'll take these materials. Name your price, and Salomo will pay," Diehl said, taking a sip of tea.

Salomo: ?

"I'll keep them."

Diehl frowned. "You're not giving up?"

"I'm confident," Mithra replied.

She had faith in her beast form, her Stranger form, and even Phaselos. They were a dream team.

Diehl scratched his head in frustration and stood up to pace around the room.

After a while, he sat back down, looking at Mithra. "I'll teach you modern god-killing weapon crafting techniques. Consider it a lesson. Create the weapon here in Sun City. Xyrin's presence will prevent any accidents. Then show me the finished product. If you can control it, I'll forge any future weapons for you, free of charge. How does that sound?"

Mithra looked into Diehl's seemingly apathetic eyes. He seemed genuinely helpful, but also stubborn.

"Fine." Although she didn't need a blacksmith, Mithra decided to reciprocate his sincerity.

And she wanted to see what Phaselos's knowledge was lacking.

The lessons weren't long. Diehl quickly realized that Mithra's understanding of the fundamental principles of god-killing weapons was genuine and even quite deep.

So he skipped the basics about Wandering God miracles and focused on constructing suitable frameworks for integrating their remnants.

While modern god-killing weapon theory aimed to suppress a weapon's growth and changes, it wasn't entirely opposed to the nature of the Wandering God remnants.

Some accommodation was necessary; it was better to guide than to restrict.

For example, the Night Hunter Greatsword. The Hunter was an aggressive Wandering God. Transforming its greatsword into a small, round shield, while still usable as a weapon, would likely displease the Hunter. And a displeased Hunter was a dangerous Hunter.

Diehl used similar examples. Mithra, however, interpreted this as "raising a pet," which made it easier to understand.

Creating and using a god-killing weapon was like raising a difficult, unruly pet.

They were dangerous, unpredictable, lacking any true sense of morality, each acting on their own whims, ready to devour their owner at any moment. To control them, one had to be firm and unwavering.

They needed to be restrained, controlled, and disciplined.

But in less important aspects, it was best to accommodate them, to make them comfortable.

A strange balance of opposites.

Based on this philosophy, modern god-killing weapons could be even stranger than the naturally formed ones of ancient times, often with peculiar additional functions. After all, even humans didn't always know what they wanted; perhaps Wandering Gods were the same?

Diehl cited Orph's "Sisterly Radiance" as an example.

He insisted that it wasn't due to his poor design that the weapon appeared so plain. It was because the Wandering God whose power it contained was like a protagonist from a fantasy novel.

It preferred to remain unassuming, only revealing its true brilliance in critical moments. It was the result of negotiations.

A "self-concealment" miracle was even added, making it appear ordinary.

And Sisterly Radiance was a relatively simple god-killing weapon. Many others incorporated complex transformation functions, satisfying multiple needs at once.

A sword that could also become a shield, a hammer that could transform into an axe, an anchor that could unravel into a sword.

"God-killing weapons are divas! To borrow their power, you must appease them! Of course, appeasing them is the blacksmith's job. The user only needs to worry about controlling them,"

This was Diehl's bitter conclusion, born from his experience in the Inquisition.

Finally, using practical examples, Diehl and Mithra created a preliminary design for the Chrysalis god-killing weapon.

...

"Tch, as expected of the infamous 'Chrysalis'. So many demands... Staff form, sword form, whip form, and it even wants to retain some Flesh Transmutation abilities," Diehl muttered, frowning at the design.

Mithra remained silent.

The Chrysalis hadn't actually said anything.

She had asked, but it hadn't responded, simply playing dead, seemingly despondent.

So she had improvised.

Hopefully, the Chrysalis wouldn't mind.

"Did you actually negotiate with it? Don't let it lead you around. While we should try to accommodate them, too much autonomy is unnecessary. Wandering Gods are notoriously uncooperative," Diehl said to Mithra.

"What do you do if they refuse to cooperate?" Mithra asked, curious.

"We do what we can. Aggressive Wandering Gods are made into obvious weapons. The more unusual ones require more creativity. We aim for eighty, ninety percent compatibility. There's no such thing as a perfect god-killing weapon," Diehl said, scratching his head.

Stolen story; please report.

It didn't sound very rigorous.

Mithra cursed internally.

"This Chrysalis is fine. Its current abilities are quite versatility," Mithra said.

"Versatility god-killing weapons are the worst; they're too easy to rely on, subtly changing the user. It's the same as with miracles themselves," Diehl frowned.

But he didn't argue further. Mithra's design was excellent, especially for someone who had only been studying modern god-killing weapon crafting for less than half a month, even with his guidance.

He offered some suggestions, but knowing Mithra's personality, he didn't expect her to follow them completely.

Salomo had said Mithra was approachable, but Diehl didn't agree.

She was fine normally, but when things got dangerous, she was reckless, which he couldn't understand.

After their first meeting, Diehl had learned about Mithra from Salomo, including her connection with Safin.

That was why he was so dedicated to teaching her. He didn't want to see a young person lose their way because of hatred. Many cases of miracle loss of control and corruption stemmed from such emotions.

But as a Sanctuary member, as an outsider, he couldn't interfere too much.

He sighed.

Mithra, noticing Diehl's complicated expression, was confused.

Was he overthinking things?

She had realized that these Sanctuary people tended to overanalyze things, especially when it came to her.

No matter how much she denied it, her sincere denials couldn't change their perception of her as a "tormented soul."

Did she really seem that gloomy?

"I'll refine the design tonight," Diehl said.

"Is that necessary? Although I plan to modify it slightly, I still intend to use the old method," Mithra said.

It wasn't entirely the old method. She didn't know if the "Flesh and Blood Forge" was commonly used in the old method. This was the first time she would consciously control the Forge, so she needed to prepare.

Previously, fusing materials with the hammer had been mostly automatic.

"Just wait. What's the rush? Do you want to be eaten by a Wandering God?" Diehl glared at Mithra and took the draft, leaving the room.

Mithra shrugged and decided to get something to eat at the canteen. The food there was better than at the university.

Diehl went directly to the forge with the draft.

He lit the fire and started working.

Night fell quickly, but the forge remained hot.

Suddenly, the door opened, and Salomo entered, carrying a lunchbox. He saw a shirtless Diehl, his body covered in sweat, working diligently.

Beneath his clothes, the seemingly slender Diehl had a surprisingly muscular physique.

"I heard you haven't eaten. While Mithra is admirable, you're overdoing it. Trying to handle the initial framework for a god-killing weapon by yourself is absurd," Salomo said, setting down the lunchbox.

Diehl didn't look up. "I consulted with some colleagues, getting their input, so it's not just my work."

"But you're the one doing the actual work. There's no need for this," Salomo said worriedly. "I regret contacting you,"

"I'm not responsible for handling the Wandering God's remains, I'm just mitigating the other risks," Diehl shook his head.

"You're still not over what happened with Kula," Salomo said seriously.

Diehl was silent. Only the sounds of the forge remained.

"In that way, you and Mithra are quite similar," Salomo sighed, then added with a hint of self-reproach, "I thought you two might have something in common. I was wrong."

"Not really," Diehl smiled faintly, a rare sight. "If I can help someone avoid being consumed by a god-killing weapon, I'm more than happy to,"

"Are you trying to comfort me?"

"Well, you're the one paying for this and providing the funding, a bit of comfort is the least I can do,"

"You brat!"

"But you should come back and visit us when you're done gallivanting and making your fortune. Although your miracle skills are rusty, your old teacher still misses you," Diehl retorted.

Salomo chuckled heartily. "Maybe later. I don't want to get scolded by the old man,"

"Tch," Diehl scoffed and went back to work.

...

The day after, Mithra didn't see Diehl. Salomo apologized, saying he had an urgent matter and asked Mithra to wait a few more days.

Mithra suspected they were hiding something but patiently waited.

Half a month passed.

During this time, Mithra returned to Planet Blue.

Her societal integration assessment results were in. She had passed with high marks, receiving her official Planet Blue ID card.

Looking at the seemingly ordinary card, she felt a strange sense of unease, which she quickly suppressed.

Matsuri, seeming to sense Mithra's feelings, didn't disturb her. They shared a meal, and then Matsuri quietly left.

Mithra caught up on some missed classes, further honing her skills, mastering miracles, and expanding her Unified Sense. Time passed quickly.

When she returned to Sun City, she was immediately summoned by Salomo and Diehl.

Seeing a long whips on the table, Mithra fell silent.

"Take it and use it. I've also modified your original design. With your skills, crafting it step-by-step shouldn't be a problem, as long as you can control the Wandering God's remains. Now, prove yourself," Diehl said coldly before turning and leaving.

Salomo remained, sitting opposite Mithra.

"He did all the work," Mithra said, after examining the long whips.

Salomo gave his usual polite smile and nodded.

"Another debt. A little greed really does lead to more trouble," Mithra sighed. "While god-killing weapon crafting isn't incredibly difficult, it's not something you can just pick up."

"You shouldn't think that way. You saved lives in both incidents. And Diehl's assistance was his own decision," Salomo said quickly.

"No need for praise. Just contact me if the Sanctuary needs anything. Investigating cults, fighting Wandering Gods, I'll do it," Mithra said, gathering the long whips and leaving.

Salomo, left alone, smiled wryly.

"Why are they all like this...? It makes my job as an intermediary so difficult."

...

Mithra decided to take some precautions. She informed everyone that they shouldn't bother her except to deliver food, then began her work.

She took out the "Chrysalis" Hand Holding Heart, the "Chrysalis Larva" distilled sense, and the long whips Diehl had provided.

She stored them all in her body.

The moment the Hand Holding Heart entered, it began to move, but a surge of dark energy from Mithra calmed it.

She opened the blueprint and began the forging process.

The process was far more intense than simply fusing materials. Excruciating pain shot through her body.

Her head spun, her stomach swelled, feeling like it was constantly filling with gas she couldn't expel. It was endless, her internal organs playing a deadly game of hide-and-seek within her body.

Every part of her body seemed to have its own will, even her thoughts danced wildly.

Stabilize Stabilize Stabilize!

Ding ding ding...

She couldn't stop activating Stabilize.

The Flesh and Blood Forge was connected to Mithra's body and mind. Without focused control, the three materials couldn't be fused.

The Hand Holding Heart conflicted with Diehl's long whips. The automatic forging process couldn't integrate it.

Mithra needed to intervene manually.

The Flesh and Blood Forge could eliminate the need for tools and manual labor. But creating a god-killing weapon required a clear mind!

"Ugh...damn it...ah...maw...eat it, eat the flesh..."

"Hungry..."

The maw extended its tongues, saliva dripping, but this wasn't simply hunger. Mithra felt nauseous, and the maw seemed equally distressed, its tongues lashing out wildly, almost frenziedly.

Mithra, seeing the tongues lashing out, biting her face, opened her mouth and bit one.

Rip!

A piece was torn off and consumed.

"Hungry…!"

"Keep going. Help me finish this, good boy… ugh… ach…" Mithra gasped, a rare expression of emotion, but soon, the pain and nausea overwhelmed her.

Unable to move easily, she struggled to stay upright, staring at the long whips, controlling the Flesh and Blood Forge.

Time passed slowly.

It wasn't a one-to-one ratio; Mithra had no concept of time. One hand continuously fed the maw, her other hand constantly activating Stabilize.

Her eyes were bloodshot. A twisted smile played on her lips, her body convulsing sporadically.

It wasn't like forging of a god-killing weapon; it was more like a grotesque demonic ritual.

After following the instructions, Mithra completed the manual part of the process.

Theoretically, she could rest.

"Hungry!" The maw roared, a mixture of agony and release, quickly retracting its tongues. Its mouth closed, vanishing into Mithra's chest.

Mithra closed her eyes, collapsing to the ground, her body still convulsing.

...

Mithra slowly opened her eyes, but she wasn't in the forge.

She was in a dilapidated hospital, seemingly abandoned.

Mist shrouded the area, obscuring her vision. The hospital seemed to be the only structure around.

Mithra tentatively walked towards the mist.

But the mist made her nauseous. After a few steps, she decided to stop and returned to the hospital entrance.

"What's going on? Wasn't I forging a weapon?" Mithra mused.

【Event —— "Dreamscape Gap"】

【Dreamland has many faces. Congratulations on discovering an unknown aspect of it.】

【Agenaka's Gift: Guidance within your dreams.】

【Price: The guidance is unreliable. You may become lost and disoriented, potentially encountering danger.】

Mithra stared at the gift.

A dreamscape gap in Dreamland?

Was there a "dream within a dream" in this dream world?

"Accept," Mithra said.

The uncertainties and potential dangers didn't concern her. Her mindset remained "whatever." Working for mysterious, powerful entities in this bizarre world, she accepted the possibility of death.

Even if her death was meaningless.

To see the sights, one had to move. To see how much she could see before she died, that was her priority.

The text vanished.

A silver and white bell appeared in Mithra's hand, with a small bird carved on it.

【Sleeping Bird Bell: A bell that calls for guidance within dreams. Ring it in your dreams, and guidance will come.】

【—The bells of dreams haven't rung for a long time.】

She gently rang the bell. A clear chime echoed.

A gust of wind ruffled her clothes and hair. White feathers appeared before her eyes.

Mithra's eyes widened slightly, and she heard soft, slow breathing.

"Ah...a familiar yet distant signal, pulling me from the endless slumber… The faces become more unfamiliar, so unfamiliar that I can't find them in my memories…" a raspy, low female voice echoed nearby.

Mithra turned.

A tall, slender woman with intricately patterned grey clothing and a black feathered cloak. Her long, white hair cascaded down, some hanging over her shoulders, tinged with purple at the ends.

Her eyes were completely black, the sclera and irises both black, only a thin white line separating them. They looked like two black suns, not human at all.

The woman placed her hands on her abdomen and bowed slightly. "Greetings, passerby. I am...Elise. I apologize; I don't remember much. I hope I can be of assistance."

"I'm Mithra," Mithra introduced herself.

"I may forget soon, but I will try to remember, Ms. Passerby," Elise said, her voice unchanged.

This guide seemed a bit more reliable than her patrons.

Was she just lucky?

"Where are we?" Mithra asked.

"This is the Dreamscape Gap, the boundary between spirit and matter, illusion and reality. The dreams of countless beings converge here, separated yet intertwined. Here, time and space are meaningless, and many lost entities from Dreamland find a temporary rest. But they can't be sure if they're merely illusions or their true selves."

"..." Mithra stared at Elise.

"Any more questions, Ms. Passerby?"

"I don't understand."

"Are you stupid, Ms. Passerby?" Elise smiled, her tone sharp.

"Possibly. And you don't even intend to remember my name," Mithra retorted.

Elise sighed. "In a particular state, you received guidance and entered a dream. This dream could involve a single person or a group."

That made sense.

"So Dreamland has this too? Even people from the Enchanting Land can have dreams here?" Mithra looked at the hospital.

The distinctly modern architecture wasn't from Dreamland. It was Planet Blue's style.

"Enchanting Land?" Elise looked puzzled.

"Huh?" Mithra was also surprised.

She had always been the clueless newcomer, but now she'd encountered someone who seemed to lack knowledge.

Mithra used her clumsy words to explain the Enchanting Land to Elise. She hoped quoting Safin wouldn't cause problems.

After listening, Elise showed a fleeting expression of surprise before regaining her usual composure. "I see. The matter of another world, waking up from a dream, the changes are significant."

"Ms. Elise, when are you from?" Mithra asked smoothly.

According to Dreamland records, the Enchanting Land citizens had appeared at the end of the Wandering God era.

"I don't remember," Elise replied simply.

"Are you forgetful, Ms. Elise?"

"Perhaps," Elise answered without hesitation. "But I remember being in a beautiful era. I've forgotten many things, but I remember one phrase."

"Please tell me."

"'You are the guide of weary souls, leading the lost birds of dreams. When you awaken, the world sleeps.'"

"I don't understand."

"Ms. Passerby, you're very rude."

"Ms. Forgetful, you're very blunt."

Ignoring this, Elise continued, "My sleep must have been beneficial to the world. But now that I'm awake, I need to guide you..."

She looked at Mithra.

"It's difficult to return to sleep."

Mithra: ?

"Let's go. I'll guide you towards wakefulness. Perhaps, I'll remember more along the way, and I can help you leave sooner," Elise muttered, stepping towards the abandoned hospital.

Mithra shrugged and followed.

"Dreams sometimes restrict those who are asleep. But not here. If you can remember what you usually do when you're awake, it will help you wake up here," Elise explained.

"I see," Mithra said, stabbing herself in the stomach.

Elise turned to look at her.

Rip!

Mithra pulled out her hammer and casually tossed it into the air, catching the handle. "Precisely,"

She felt no delay in the pain. This dream felt incredibly real.

Elise: "...Ms. Passerby, are you sure you're awake?"

"Perhaps," Mithra nodded, activating Stabilize.

Ding.

It felt good.

Elise nodded slightly. "You don't seem to be affected by the dream."

Mithra looked at Elise. "So, there's still danger here, right?"

"Yes."

"What about you?"

"I don't need help, Ms. Passerby. I can assist you in this dream. If you're overwhelmed, I can even act on your behalf. However, my overall power is similar to yours. If you're truly desperate, we'll face it together," Elise said flatly.

"Then it seems I don't need to die with you. That's good," Mithra said, relieved.

As she spoke, Mithra sensed a gaze and turned towards the hospital building.

The windows were dark, obscuring the interior.

"We're being watched as soon as we arrive...Are you disliked by many dream owners, Ms. Passerby?"

"I don't even know whose dream this is," Mithra replied, remembering Sheng's gaze as she dismembered him. It felt similar.

"...Maybe you are disliked," Mithra reconsidered.

Before Elise could respond, heavy footsteps echoed.

A corpulent figure appeared, shirtless, wearing hospital pants, covered in stitches. His lips were torn, revealing sharp, inhuman teeth.

Seeing Mithra and Elise, the figure paused and then spread its legs, taking a large step forward.

Bang!

With a resounding crash, the creature lunged at them with incredible force.

Elise moved in front of Mithra, two curved blades appearing in her hands. With precise strikes, she severed the creature's arms.

But the severed arms continued to move, leaping up to attack. Elise continued to parry with her blades.

With a clap, Mithra appeared behind the creature and swung her hammer.

The creature's head was severed, its blood vessels and nerves still twitching as Mithra pulled them apart.

The head landed on the ground, splattering Mithra with blood. She continued her attack, repeatedly striking the head.

The headless body collapsed, twitching.

Elise swiftly dismembered the arms, then turned her blades towards the headless corpse. A silver light flashed, and the flesh was instantly pulverized.

Elise, covered in blood, didn't bother wiping it off and looked at Mithra.

Mithra examined the remains.

"Another Flesh Slime?"

【"Chrysalis" Dreamscape Cursed Creature: A creature that exists within a dream, affected by the "Chrysalis," resulting in unique cursed creatures. Their appearance is largely determined by the dreamer, otherwise similar to ordinary cursed creatures.】

"Slime, another new monster from a later era?" Elise asked.

"No, it's just my term for them," Mithra explained the situation concerning the "Chrysalis" Wandering God.

"Altering flesh for power... sounds familiar. But the term 'Chrysalis' is a bit crude," Elise commented.

They continued deeper into the hospital.

"You said you would guide me to wakefulness. How do we do that?" Mithra asked.

"Go to the dreamer. If you can force them to wake up, everything is fine. But that's unlikely. The final outcome will probably be killing the dreamer," Elise said casually.

"Why?"

"The logic in dreams is chaotic. Those trapped in their dreams might not even understand the difference between sleep and wakefulness. Forcing them to wake up is unrealistic, and even if they understood, forcing them to destroy their own world is cruel," Elise explained.

Mithra said, "So we just kill them?"

"Yes, we just kill them. No need to drag the awake into the sleeping world," Elise said coldly.

Entering the main hospital building, they found it deserted. The medical posters on the walls were faded and tattered.

The building was in disrepair.

"Playing hide-and-seek in such a large hospital is a bit much," Mithra commented.

"Dreamers often freely express their desires in their dreams and won't deliberately hide. They may even bring crucial clues to our attention," Elise explained.

As she spoke, fleshy needles shot from the shadows. Elise's blades moved swiftly, deflecting them for Mithra.

A figure in a white robe flashed at the top of the stairs.

Mithra dashed up the stairs, forming a Ki pattern and using Ki Attraction to pull the fleeing figure down, trapping it between rusty railings.

The figure was stitched together, only the white robe remaining clean. The rest of the body was similar to the previous corpulent figure.

The figure extended a hand, transforming its arm into spikes that pierced towards Mithra.

Mithra swung her hammer, shattering the spikes.

Then, she used "Accumulate Dust" to create a stone and, using Control Object, pinned the figure's neck.

The stitched-up figure, attempting to escape, struggled against the restraints.

Mithra ignited her hammer and swung it down.

The figure, screaming, was reduced to ash.

Elise walked over. "Miracles offer incredible power, even gods can't wield so many different kinds of power, yet you can borrow them so easily,"

"But the power of the gods is still beyond reach. It's just that the types are more diverse," Mithra replied.

Elise shrugged. "As long as a path exists, someone will follow it. And miracles are countless paths."

Mithra ignored her, noticing a name tag amidst the ashes.

The flesh was completely incinerated, but the tag remained intact.

She picked it up. Most of the writing was illegible, but the department was visible.

"Neonatal Ward," Mithra read.

"A clue from the dream itself," Elise said.

"So we should go to the neonatal ward…"

As she spoke, the lights on the stairs flickered.

Then they heard sounds from upstairs, as if something were crawling on the stairs, blood dripping down the railings.

Mithra and Elise stood silently.

"Aren't you going to investigate, Ms. Passerby?" Elise asked.

"Why don't you go?" Mithra countered.

"Exploring the dream is your task. I'm your guide."

"I don't want to," Mithra said pointedly.

Elise sighed.

Their conversation drowned out the crawling sounds from above. Then, a figure tumbled from the stairs, landing beside them.

Pale, blood-stained hands gripped the railing as the figure pulled itself up.

A woman with disheveled hair, her legs twisted and unable to support her, her belly like a torn balloon, her body covered in blood.

Her thick, dark hair framed a pair of resentful eyes, fixed on Mithra and Elise.

Mithra and the woman exchanged gazes before Mithra swung her hammer.

Bang!

The hammer struck the woman. As she struggled, Mithra noticed the intense scent of blood. Grotesque babies were forming from the blood gushing from the woman's abdomen.

Insect-like limbs sprouted from the newborns as they scurried across the stairs.

Mithra and Elise killed several of the creatures, but the newborns were emerging faster, and more were forming from the blood the woman had left on her trail.

Desperate, Mithra and Elise left the stairs.

Quickly sealing the stairwell with a wall of fire, they returned to the main hall.

The fire wall was breached almost instantly. Blood flowed, and creatures emerged from the blood, crawling towards them.

"The power of flesh transformation has become something truly ironic," Elise commented.

"Unleashing the body's potential isn't so bad," Mithra replied casually.

Elise glared at her.

As they walked down the hallway, a heavy feeling descended upon them.

It felt like a weight on their shoulders, a feeling completely different from the main building.

Reaching the elevator, Mithra saw the floor number for the neonatal ward.

"Why is this hospital so tall...?" Mithra muttered, looking at the number twenty.

"Shall we take the elevator?" Elise asked.

"In this horror-movie setting, you really want to take the elevator to the twentieth floor?" Mithra said before suddenly realizing something. "You know what an elevator is?"

"Yes, although the name is different. It's a device that uses special power for vertical transport. I believe it was invented by... 'Phaselos'," Elise said.

"..." Mithra was speechless.

This world is too advanced, she thought.

The era of the Forty-Four Pillars was thousands of years ago. And Phaselos had created something akin to an elevator back then?

It made sense.

Typical of Phaselos, her patron, he was quite capable.