Chapter 323

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Chapter 323: Shrine = Gathering Branch of the Yingzhou Witches

Kokonohana Nori got lost on her way.

She found Sengoku Shrine, and here she discovered the amulets left behind by Saki Jingūji and Mizuko.

She followed the amulet and entered the interior of the shrine, where she found the mysterious entrance to the realms of the underworld.

After waiting for half a day, contemplating for a long time, she finally made up her mind and ventured into the realm of the underworld.

Then, she became lost in the realm of the underworld.

The Underworld labyrinth, without remembering the map or understanding the spatial characteristics, it would be impossible to escape solely relying on determination and the "follow the wall" principle.

For Kokonohana Nori, the inside of the Underworld labyrinth was like a huge spider web, trapping her tightly. Not only could she not find any trace of Jingūji and Mizuko, but she also couldn’t find the way back. Along the way, she left talismans as markings, but even when she followed the direction of the markings, she still encountered deviations. Both paths in a cave had markings, which meant that the space had overlapped.

This kind of trouble had occurred more than once, and the result was that she became completely lost.

To make matters worse, the suppressed Scarlet Curse inside her was approaching its eruption period.

On the night of December 14th, the crimson moonlight was nearing its peak.

No witch should be active on this night, they must find a safe place and do whatever they can to resist the enchanting songs of the Chaotic Witch.

The witches of Europa would hold a ceremony to resist the Scarlet Curse by using the remains of a king, passed down as a golden legacy.

But this is Yingzhou, where the blessings of emperors cannot reach. Even if prayers were offered, they would be of no use.

It was too far away and spoken too softly, making it impossible to hear at all.

The funeral attendant collapsed in the Underworld labyrinth, struggling to resist the Scarlet Curse’s erosion of her body. She could feel beneath her skin and flesh writhing like worms, as rebellious forces traveled through her body. Mentally, a distant song echoed like waves crashing against the shore, swiftly erasing all traces. Physically, the witch’s bloodline was awakening and undergoing rapid transformation.

This is an irreversible process of transformation. Every year, several shrine maidens undergo this transformation in the shrine. Once transformed, their bodies undergo a metamorphosis. If the symptoms are mild, they can still remain in the shrine for treatment. However, if the symptoms are severe, they must leave the shrine and go live in a remote village. But going there doesn’t guarantee improvement; at most, it can only delay the process. Their average lifespan is less than ten years.

In the most extreme case, when utter chaos ensues, it is the responsibility of the High Priestess to take full charge and execute necessary measures before she becomes the vessel of the Chaotic Witch.

It was very cruel, but also necessary.

The uncontrollable Sword Witch was difficult to tame. After receiving the blessing of the Chaotic Witch, her power skyrocketed, becoming three times stronger in her corrupted state. But how much more frenzied and mad did she become? Certainly more than tenfold!

In nearly an instant, it would become a disaster for the people.

Kokonohana Nori knew that she had accumulated a considerable amount of the Scarlet Curse within her body, but she never expected it to arrive so soon. She wasn’t able to endure through this winter.

Flesh and blood started to undergo a transformation.

She leaned against the wall, as her senses were being stripped away and detached. It felt as if her soul was leaving her body. At the same time, a burning sensation came from her back, sweetness tingled at her fingertips, her tongue experienced a pricking sensation, and her pores were breathing, while her eyeballs heard sounds.

Senses were in disarray, flesh and blood were undergoing transformation.

The body was undergoing a transformation, and this transformation, for 99% of the time, meant becoming a monster.

If this keeps up, what will I become?

She bit her lip and struggled to lift a ceremonial sword, hoping to eliminate this threat before she fully transformed into a monster.

Just as if she knew she was bound to become a zombie, it was only natural for her to save the last bullet for herself.

The sense of detachment from her senses and the inner hesitation were even stronger than she had anticipated, her mind not being as clear as she had thought.

She raised the sword and briefly cut her wrist artery, but within just ten seconds, the wound, foaming with blood, healed. The mutation of her flesh and blood awakened an extraordinary vitality, just like cancer cells. With an incredibly strong life force, she attempted to cut herself multiple times, but each attempt failed. Finally, she lifted the sword and placed it in front of her chest.

As long as the heart is pierced, even the extraordinary regenerative power will cease to function.

She raised the sword, hesitated several times, and the blade pierced a few centimeters, but in the end, she couldn’t bring herself to do it.

Harming one’s own body requires great courage. Slow and gradual forms of self-harm may be acceptable, such as staying up late or relying on external forces, like jumping off a building. However, raising a sword and stabbing the heart or slitting the throat is indeed too challenging for the human body’s self-preservation mechanisms.

And so, Kokonohana Nori, amidst her arduous struggle, fell into a semi-conscious state.

This was both a good thing, saving her from mental stress and torment, and a bad thing, as it meant that her fate from now on relied entirely on luck.

If unfortunate, there was a high chance that she would directly transform into the ominous symbol of the sewer’s disgrace.

Luck was on her side, and she encountered her younger brother, Cedric.

Luck got even better, and there stood the valkyrie, Melaniya.

Luck was incredible, and there was the hermaphrodite creature, Radagorn.

In any case, there wasn’t a single one that looked like a human.

Either they developed completely abnormally, or they developed incompletely abnormally, or they developed abnormally but in a way that others couldn’t see on the surface.

In a dazed state, several hours had passed, and more than thirty percent of her flesh had undergone a strange transformation.

Kokonohana Nori was awakened by a voice and a slap.

"Awake, Kokonohana Nori, I am Saffron."

She felt a tingling pain on her face left by a wake-up slap, and with great effort, she raised her eyelids. A translucent figure appeared in her line of sight.

"Who are you…" Her vision was blurry, and the transformation of her flesh had taken away almost ninety percent of her eyesight. Her eyes appeared completely blind, displaying a pale gray color. She was severely nearsighted, unable to discern whether someone within a few steps was male or female, human or animal. Even her voice fluctuated in distorted highs and lows, and all her senses had become strangely unusual.

Bai Wei asked, "Can’t you see anymore?"

Kokonohana Nori whispered, "No matter who you are, whether a resident or a visitor, it would be best for everyone to leave this place."

"I am neither a visitor nor a resident," Bai Wei said, "you need assistance."

"You cannot help me," Kokonohana Nori said with difficulty, "The Crimson Moon illness has already flared up. If you are truly a kind-hearted person, I kindly ask you to take this sword… and plunge it into my heart."

"Why? When you’re sick, you need to get better."

"I don’t want to turn into a monster," Kokonohana Nori wiggled her fingers, "Do I still look like a human being?"

Bai Wei observed the appearance of Kokonohana Nori, the funeral attendant. After a strange transformation of her flesh and blood, her body took on a partially melted form. Underneath the dissolving tissue, another layer of restructuring was taking place. However, due to the curse of the Crimson Moon, this flesh and blood mutation displayed various eerie shapes. The blood that fell on the ground solidified into red crystals, while the exposed bones underneath the melting flesh appeared translucent, resembling semi-crystal structures.

"Um, actually not much has changed," Bai Wei replied.

"Thank you for your comfort, but I can’t hold on much longer," she couldn’t move, and her body beneath the clothes was undoubtedly in an even worse state.

Bai Wei observed briefly and understood, "There’s no need to be overly pessimistic. Your body is currently out of control, simply because the Crimson Moon has triggered your potential, causing your body to enter a state of chaotic expansion."

"What?" Kokonohana couldn’t understand at all.

"My meaning is, it can be cured, no need to worry."

"You… You mustn’t say such things," Kokonohana Nori said, still not believing, "How is it possible to be cured?"

Once the flesh undergoes a mutation, it will transform beyond human recognition. Even if one manages to hold onto their consciousness, they will become unrecognizable as a human. This damage is irreversible, and it won’t be long before they are consumed by the curse of the red moon.

Twenty years ago, her fellow sword witch met the same fate. For over a decade, she has witnessed countless sword witches either perish or leave the shrine in despair, never to return to the realm of humans.

"What do you mean by ‘cannot be cured,’ I don’t understand," said Bai Wei, not wanting to waste any more words. He reached out and gently touched Kokonohana Nori’s forehead, saying, "Harmonize your core and focus your energy. I will assist in your adjustment. Pay attention to the rhythm of your breath."

Kokonohana Nori was about to say something when suddenly a powerful force surged into her soul. It felt like a stream of heat, no, more like molten lava. It burned intensely, yet her body remained unharmed. A golden flame flickered on her forehead and immediately spread to her limbs. The festering Scarlet Curse was swiftly expelled and eradicated. However, after the curse dissipated, she noticed that her melting and mutating body was now undergoing self-repair instead of further transformation.

But there was no sign of reverting back from the transformation. She hadn’t regained her original form, only been repaired.

"Am I still human?" she questioned herself.

"Do not let your focus waver," Bai Wei said. "Harness your spiritual energy and attempt to control these transformations. They were always a part of you."

Kokonohana Nori didn’t refute and went along with the other person’s words. Soon after, she genuinely sensed the emergence of a completely new energy derived from the physical transformation.

After a while, her eyesight gradually returned. She lowered her head and looked at her palm with eyes full of joy and astonishment. The energy had gathered and formed into a red crystal.

The crystal bloomed, spinning around gleefully, transforming into various shapes according to her desires. It was beautiful and dazzling, but it wasn’t just about appearances. The energy contained within was equally formidable, comparable to a powerful spiritual explosive symbol.

Kokonohana Nori thought she was done for, but not only was she saved, she also felt that her strength had reached new heights. She was both happy and worried, completely unaware of her own situation. In the end, she couldn’t help but ask the person who had come to her, "What is going on here?"

Her vision and hearing returned to normal. She lifted her eyes and looked at the figure in the darkness. It was a moment of rebirth for her, and she felt incredibly grateful and overwhelmed with joy.

But when she saw the other person clearly, her eyes widened in shock.

The person appeared young, a youth with golden hair and golden eyes. Their figure seemed partially transparent, with features that were blurry and not very clear.

But the attire was unmistakably a traditional palace costume from Europa. She recognized it because there was a painting of such attire stored in the deepest part of the shrine.

The man in the painting was the ancient origin of the shrine, the very first shrine, built because of him!