Chapter Eleven: The Godchosen
Elsa was a Grotesquery Apostle.
Even though the Grotesquery she worshipped was unusual, a subtle connection still formed between them, allowing her to wield a portion of its power. However, Elsa herself possessed a unique constitution. She wasn’t an Awakened One, yet she had a physique closer to a Grotesquery than any Awakened One. She could contain a Grotesquery’s power without succumbing to distortion or collapse. This made it difficult to distinguish her from other Apostles.
The only certainty was that Elsa possessed all the characteristics of a typical Grotesquery Apostle.
Luo Ling hadn’t just been comforting Elsa earlier. She had also learned about Elsa’s experiences during her slumber.
In addition to the partial truth gleaned from Luo Ling’s “Weave” domain, there was another crucial clue.
“Within this Incubation Barrier, there’s more than one ‘gaze.’ Meaning, there’s more than one Grotesquery.”
“No, perhaps this isn’t just an Incubation Barrier for Grotesqueries, but a sanctuary created to nurture these Grotesqueries’ Apostles…”
The Company and the Harbingers of Calamity’s records on Grotesquery Apostles were surprisingly consistent.
…Elusive and little known.
All records indicated that Grotesquery Apostles might have a hidden sanctuary, explaining their elusiveness.
The most common speculation placed this sanctuary within the Realm of Nothingness.
No one would have imagined it could be within a moment of a Boundary’s collapse.
And here, within this hidden sanctuary, multiple Grotesquery Incubation Barriers existed, unknowingly nurturing terrifying beings.
“If this is a sanctuary, it explains the previous anomalies.”
From the moment they stumbled into this place until now, Luo Ling and the others hadn’t encountered any real danger.
The memory cage only trapped them. The ever-present threat never materialized.
Even when Cen Xiangyun and the others tricked the cage and entered the next layer of the Incubation Barrier, there was no reaction.
The tall grey figure swayed slightly, then crouched down and said,
“Elsa.”
“Hmm?”
Elsa looked up, tears still in her eyes. Despite her aged appearance, she still looked adorable.
“Do as I say.”
According to Elsa, several gazes within the barrier had focused on her before she lost consciousness. Perhaps that was when they were pulled into this strange place.
However, after they entered, these gazes fell silent. Their presence could be sensed, but they remained unresponsive.
In that case…
They probably wouldn’t mind another “Incubation Barrier,” would they?
Luo Ling turned to Cen Xiangyun and Lu Manqing. “Please shut down your senses. The situation might be… unexpected.”
Performing a Grotesquery Apostle ritual in front of two Company employees was audacious, to say the least. Even if she could manipulate memories, unless it was complete control, traces would remain.
A single trace could lead to complete failure.
Luo Ling was always cautious, even with Cen Xiangyun and Lu Manqing, whom she was willing to trust.
“Okay.”
Cen Xiangyun and Lu Manqing nodded and promptly shut down their senses.
Don’t ask why they were so obedient. After the previous ordeal, they had learned that following Miss Luo Ling’s instructions was the best course of action.
After all, even Eve knew to punch herself.
Elsa closed her eyes, reaching out with her faith to the ethereal presence.
An eerie aura emanated from her. A few silver strands fell from her hair, and when she opened her eyes again, they had turned grey.
Above this ninety-years-in-the-future Boundary, an eye slowly opened in the sky and descended.
Despite being midday, a crimson crescent moon suddenly rose, its blood-like color flowing down.
Using Elsa as the “egg,” Luo Ling established an Incubation Barrier, just as her sister had done to her.
However, her sister, driven by the Puppet Ballad’s instincts, had consumed a part of Luo Ling’s flesh and blood. Now, Luo Ling was merely applying her abilities to Elsa.
This was only a temporary bestowal of power. If the incubation period were longer, and the “egg” implanted deeper, Elsa would become an Agent.
Of course, that wasn’t Luo Ling’s goal. She merely wanted to attract attention.
The Puppet Ballad excelled at concealment. An Incubation Barrier could be established silently, just like in Jiangcheng County.
She did this deliberately, with another purpose in mind.
However, the resulting impact… was somewhat unexpected.
“…”
Meanwhile, outside the sanctuary, Victoria experienced another tremor. The winter sun vanished in an instant, replaced by a vast, encroaching shadow. The Awakened Ones searching for the “Agent” looked up, then quickly closed their eyes.
For in the sky was a presence that could not be gazed upon directly.
“This is a provocation! An absolute provocation!”
Company headquarters was furious. In less than half a day, the White Witch had performed two “miracles.” What else could this be but a provocation?
Recalling her actions in Jiangcheng County, it was hard not to believe that this being intended to unleash chaos in Victoria, replicating the Jiangcheng County incident.
Victoria had experienced a bizarre collapse just a few years ago, losing ninety years of time. The Company had barely recovered and couldn’t afford another Boundary collapse.
The original investigation period was immediately extended. The Awakened Ones, who could have clocked out at 9 pm, were now working overtime. Even shift changes had to maintain a 24-hour emergency state.
The other Awakened One organizations stationed in Victoria followed suit. No one wanted to witness the eruption of a High-Risk Grotesquery.
For a time, the Awakened Ones of Victoria were shrouded in the gloom of overtime.
The Harbingers of Calamity, their opposing force, weren’t having a good time either. The White Witch’s miracles didn’t affect their plans directly, but the investigations by the Order-Path Awakened One organizations inadvertently unearthed several of their hidden agents in Victoria.
These “landmines,” intended to be detonated upon the plan’s completion, causing chaos for the Awakened Ones, were now triggered prematurely.
Not only was the outside world in disarray due to this blatant display of the Incubation Barrier, but the “sanctuary” itself was also affected.
Luo Ling could sense several intense gazes. Fortunately, she had instructed Cen Xiangyun and Lu Manqing to shut down their senses, making them resemble the local NPCs, preventing them from being scrutinized.
Among these gazes, one was particularly intense, even furious.
“Hey, hey, hey! Who do you think you are, showing off ‘miracles’ in someone else’s territory without paying protection fees?!”
An old lady, with a speed impossible for her age, swooped down and stopped Elsa, preventing her from establishing a connection with the White Witch.
Even Luo Ling’s expression turned serious. She realized that she could no longer sense the Apostle connection with Elsa.
The old lady, seemingly just stopping Elsa’s actions, had used some method to sever Elsa’s abilities as an Apostle.
In an instant, all traces of the White Witch vanished from Elsa, including the Incubation Barrier.
“Um…”
Elsa, intimidated by the old lady’s shout, lowered her head.
“Wait, whose kid is this? So young and already a Godchosen?”
The old lady lifted Elsa up, frowning slightly.
She seemed to see through Elsa’s aged facade to her true youthful appearance.
“Wait, there seems to be another Godchosen…”
The old lady twitched her nose, then looked around, peering left and right.
Watching her, Luo Ling was reminded of some kind of animal.
Soon, the old lady noticed Luo Ling, her eyes widening in shock.
“Wait, you… what’s going on with you? The ‘Kingdom’ can’t even hold your shadow?”
The old lady put Elsa down and approached Luo Ling, scrutinizing her carefully.
Within the “Weave” domain, Luo Ling seemed to glimpse the old lady’s true form, though it was hazy and indistinct.
“Oh, I see. You’re Naraku’s Godchosen. Damn, what bad luck.” The old lady waved her hand dismissively, a look of disgust on her face. “Well, you’re bound to go crazy sooner or later. I’m outta here.”
She turned back to Elsa, warning her,
“Go back and find your guardian. No miracles without protection fees in this place!”
“I am her guardian.”
Luo Ling spoke up, reaching out to help Elsa, but her hand passed right through.
She was still trapped in the memory cage.
The old lady froze, turned back again, and circled Luo Ling, scrutinizing her.
“Huh, you can actually hear me?”
“…I’m not that old yet.”
“It’s not about being old. Tsk, tsk, interesting. I thought all Naraku’s Godchosen were lunatics, obsessed with the ‘truth of the world’ and all that, unable to listen to anyone.”
The old lady marveled, looking at Luo Ling like she was some strange creature.
“And a Naraku Godchosen hanging out with… Wait a minute, kid, whose Godchosen are you, to be so unfortunate as to be mixed up with a Naraku Godchosen?”
The old lady’s words were filled with prejudice against “Naraku’s Godchosen,” even Luo Ling couldn’t help but want to retort.
What did Naraku’s Godchosen ever do to you?
However, Luo Ling didn’t have a good impression of Naraku either. If it weren’t absolutely necessary, she wouldn’t use this “big sister” form.
She felt like using it too much would change her…
“Um, the White Witch…”
“The one who replaced the Puppet Ballad? Holy moly, you’re following a top-tier killing god. Tsk, tsk, no wonder you’re hanging out with a Naraku Godchosen. Birds of a feather flock together.”
“…”
Luo Ling grew even more silent.
So, Grotesquery Apostles referred to Apostles as Godchosen…
“Whose Godchosen are you?” Luo Ling asked, holding back her irritation.
“I’m not a Godchosen, I’m God’s Favored.” The old lady said proudly. “You know what a God’s Favored is, right? The number one under God!”
In other words… an Agent.
However, Luo Ling’s perception of Grotesquery Apostles crumbled a little at this moment.
Were all Apostles as eccentric as this old lady?
No, that couldn’t be right…
In the Company’s files, Apostles were described as heinous criminals.
The Harbingers of Calamity hadn’t committed that many city-destroying incidents, only five or six at most.
But whenever Grotesquery Apostles appeared, at least a thousand people would die.
“Wait a minute, I don’t think I’ve ever seen you two before. Did you register before entering? Or did you come to the wrong place?”
The old lady crossed her arms, looking at Luo Ling and Elsa like they were illegal immigrants.
“This is the seventy-fourth Kingdom, with three Gods. Who are you with?”
“…Seventy-fourth?”
Luo Ling’s calm facade finally cracked.
So, there were seventy-three other similar places?
“Oh wait, why are you still trapped in the memory realm? Wait, don’t tell me… you’ve never been to a Kingdom before?” The old lady exclaimed. “My god, a Naraku Godchosen who’s never been to a Kingdom? You’re a stray!”
“…”
This old lady was really asking for a beating…
Perhaps even the old lady herself realized she had gone too far. She coughed and explained,
“Normally, you can’t access Naraku’s miracles outside the Kingdoms. Only the eighth Kingdom, established by His God’s Favored, retains a trace of His power. But Naraku’s Godchosen aren’t very popular. They tend to go crazy on the spot…”
Luo Ling thought of Scientist’s state before her death and suddenly understood, nodding thoughtfully.
“You’re… different from the Godchosen I’ve met.” Luo Ling said tentatively.
Of course, she hadn’t met any other Apostles. Elsa was an exception.
Luo Ling wanted to know if all Grotesquery Apostles were as… abstract as this old lady.
“Oh, a lot of people have said that. But everyone has their own personality. It’s perfectly normal.” The old lady scratched the back of her head. “I don’t like hanging out with weirdos either. If you couldn’t understand human speech, like the other Naraku Godchosen, I’d run the other way. Who wants to be associated with lunatics?”
“I see.”
Luo Ling nodded.
So, even among Grotesquery Apostles, not all of them were as insane and bloodthirsty as the Company files described.
Thinking about it, it made sense. Elsa hadn’t changed much after becoming her Apostle.
Her personality remained the same, soft and gentle, not becoming cold and indifferent like Luo Ling.
In fact, Luo Ling had noticed at the Company that Grotesquery Apostles, when not using their Grotesquery-related powers, were indistinguishable from ordinary Awakened Ones.
In other words, if a Grotesquery Apostle didn’t act out, it would be difficult to identify them.
The Company’s files were more like survivorship bias.
However…
Even so, Luo Ling still didn’t want to be associated with this old lady.
“In that case, can you tell us how to leave?” Luo Ling said. “I want to return to the present.”
She was interested in this so-called Kingdom, but her team was still here. She couldn’t involve them in this.
The old lady seemed friendly because she perceived Luo Ling and Elsa as fellow “Godchosen.”
If she knew that ordinary Awakened Ones had also stumbled in…
“That’s easy.”
The old lady snapped her fingers, and the surrounding scenery dimmed.
The ninety-years-in-the-future scene gradually faded. Luo Ling vaguely saw the abstract old lady transform into a young woman, though her features remained hazy.
“Whoa… so it was the entrance I accidentally left open when I was investigating the White Witch last time. Scared me for a second, I thought it was some new sneaking technique that bypassed my senses.”
“Tsk, you even brought guests. And you sealed their senses beforehand, no wonder I didn’t notice… Using this method to escape the memory cage, unexpected. As expected of a Naraku Godchosen with a functioning brain.”
“But why are you just a grey figure the whole time… so strange…”
The young woman retraced the events within the “Kingdom,” muttering to herself as she sent Luo Ling and the others out.
After a moment of disorientation, Luo Ling found herself standing in a dilapidated warehouse, next to a dazed Elsa and the sense-blocked Cen Xiangyun and the others.
They were back at their initial destination, the entrance to the “Kingdom.” A hidden memory resurfaced.
They had actually arrived at the commission location from the start, but under the influence of the memory cage, they had seamlessly retraced their steps.
Just then, Cen Xiangyun and Lu Manqing released their sense block, looking around in confusion.
“Huh? How did I fall asleep?”
“Was it because Miss Cen woke me up last night?”
Even Eve slowly regained consciousness, rubbing her neck and saying with a puzzled expression,
“Did I fall asleep too? Why do I feel like I’ve been beaten up…”
Luo Ling remained silent, observing for a while before realizing that they no longer had any memories of the “Kingdom.”
“Did she erase that part of our memories?”
Luo Ling’s mind conjured the image of the hazy young woman, her expression unreadable.
“Miss Eve, how many times has Victoria collapsed?” Luo Ling asked, turning to Eve.
“Seventy-four times… Whoa, why are you asking me that? Hey? Whoa, why am I okay? Wait, whoa, why am I missing a Sacred Medicine capsule…”
Eve frantically rummaged through her backpack. Lu Manqing also discovered that her camera’s film was inexplicably used up, and she couldn’t find the photos.
Cen Xiangyun sat beside them, filled with regret and frustration, reflecting on how she could have fallen asleep during a mission. Elsa squatted by a puddle, giggling at her restored face.
Luo Ling, however, fell into deep thought.
Seventy-four collapses, seventy-four Kingdoms.
These… didn’t seem entirely unrelated.
Were Grotesquery Apostles truly the prejudiced and insane individuals depicted in the Company files and the Harbingers’ memories?
Luo Ling didn’t doubt the existence of the Kingdoms, or whether what had just happened was merely a dream.
Eve’s missing Sacred Medicine and Lu Manqing’s vanished photos weren’t the evidence. The real proof was…
Within that fragment of the ninety-years-in-the-future Boundary, there remained an almost imperceptible web.
The omniscient “Weave” domain, unbeknownst to anyone, had taken root within the Kingdom.
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