Facing an Ancient God for a Year

Chapter 2266: Chapter 2261: Lunar Eclipse (End of This Ben)

”Here?”

Fu Qian looked at the door in front of him.

To be honest, it was the most unfamiliar one among them, dark green, yet there seemed to be flames smoldering within.

The surface wasn’t smooth, covered with spherical protrusions of various sizes, giving an impression of utmost security at first glance.

”Here.”

The Witch observed as well and was quite certain.

”Does it have a name?”

A slight nod, for this door’s corresponding honored name, Fu Qian currently didn’t possess any knowledge.

”Demon Moore... and the Dark Moon.”

The Witch really seemed to be searching through the Covenant Book and indeed provided a composite name in the next moment.

Aha, finally found it.

At that moment, Fu Qian sighed deeply inside, gazing into the barren landscape before him.

This is the true God Eroder.

...

If the Dark Moon truly left traces in the Nightmare Corridor, in what form would it be?

For this operation, this question was unavoidable.

And for Fu Qian and his companion, one reference point couldn’t be ignored — the Interlocutor.

It’s known he came from a world where the Dark Moon once existed, known he is an abstract conceptual creature.

It’s known why he appears in the Nightmare Corridor remains unknown to this day...

It’s hard not to suspect that the Dark Moon had a hand in it.

Of course, even if it was truly the Dark Moon’s doing, they almost certainly wouldn’t have contact now.

Never consider opponents as fools, facing such a suspicious character, the prisoners’ eyes would likely be bulging with blood.

Had there been any clues, they likely would have already followed the trail and found them.

Even if they didn’t completely eliminate, they would attempt to utilize.

However, the many times of entering and exiting the corridor, no one seemed to probe with something similar.

Until they discovered during the Witch’s exploration, then came the collision in front of them.

If one insists that it was all part of the prisoners’ plans, indeed it can’t be entirely denied but the probability is quite low.

In summary, the situation could be summarized as ”the former Dark Moon” hiding in a special way at this location, while the prisoners used this as bait to entrap them, seeking an opportunity to break free.

And since the Interlocutor has been adequately confirmed as unimportant, he was safely released to mislead them both.

Yes, if there was still a slight possibility before, the Interlocutor’s erratic behavior was due to his own broken mental state.

Then his actions now are almost certainly influenced by malicious guidance.

The Witch’s excessively ruthless means along the way, and the dark seeds planted on all the prisoners through the Inner Diplomat, can be said to have caused significant pressure.

The nearly motionless blood sea, and the thoroughly hidden Inner Diplomat, are evidence.

By this point, the courage of prisoners to confront directly was completely exhausted, their engagement clearly entering a phase of maneuver warfare.

Stronghold defense, mobilizing all resources to trap them here.

For instance, regardless of how naturally the Interlocutor reacted, the door he chose at that time, Fu Qian inclined toward being the one among many choices where he and the Witch were least likely to discover anything.

But it didn’t matter because the Witch chose another door.

As for why the Witch inexplicably chose this one?

Because it was not without reason.

The Covenant Book in the Witch’s hands was something only she could decipher, and could essentially be considered the Interlocutor’s ”homeland.”

Her ”Dark Moon mother” might no longer have Bonds with the Interlocutor, but this book certainly did.

From beginning to end, using the Interlocutor’s actions never expected him to truly lead the way, nor expected him to escape the prisoners’ influence.

On the contrary, it was all to gamble on a possibility, that the Interlocutor’s tale could be reflected in the Covenant Book, for instance, who was guiding his will.

The goal was a name, one possibly related to the Dark Moon.

...

In fact, not just themselves, but even the Witch had been using relatively gentle means until now.

Perhaps her chess style was fierce, but at least she hadn’t swung the board to hit others.

Here specifically, even if the strikes on prisoners were harsh, there hadn’t been attempts to dismantle the prison.

As previously mentioned, overly cruel means might disrupt the traces left by the Dark Moon, affecting the search.

The prisoners obviously knew this too, which is why there was such a fierce battle within boundaries before.

From this, it also became apparent, they hadn’t thought of letting them smash the prison to escape.

But for themselves and the Witch, not doing so now didn’t mean it couldn’t be done later.

Following the Dark Moon’s feelings, the Witch could attempt a full-power search, disregarding everything else.

Then when could such a forceful break be attempted—after obtaining a certain clue.

For instance, behind which door the Dark Moon was hiding.

...

Divine Corrosion, the essence of the Interlocutor’s self-declared power, even now viewed by Fu Qian as something extremely intriguing.

To some extent, Interlocutor could be considered a Parasite upon the prisoners and the corridor — what about Dark Moon?

Could it possibly be the same category?

Just more hidden, potentially more sinister, quietly parasitizing upon the already unfree prisoners, unbeknownst to the latter.

For Fu Qian, this wasn’t far-fetched but a reasonable inference based on known information.

Potentially, it was also the only secret path for them both.

No matter how much the prisoners knew about the ”Dark Moon,” they would certainly do their utmost to hide it from them.

And to truly defeat within the rules the prisoners set, was undoubtedly a long and pursuing project.

Perhaps not impossible, but merely out of curiosity, Fu Qian was not inclined to take that risk.

Thus came the scene of forcibly recalling the Interlocutor.

Afterwards, all the manipulations were merely to give the prisoners an opportunity to deceive them.

Because during manipulation, their names might, due to the Interlocutor, be revealed in the Covenant Book.

And indeed, after much toil, they finally obtained a special ”name,” faintly confirming the corrosion’s suspicion.

Demon Moore, easily imaginable as the Superior Being behind the door, but followed by an addition of the Dark Moon.

”Let’s begin.”

Fu Qian wasted no time, directly signaling.

”It’s started.”

The Witch, without hesitation, watched the door as it started to melt away.

Under the reflection of blood and mist, the brilliance of the Dark Moon became dazzling like never before.

...

What is this?

As the brilliance dimmed slightly, Fu Qian realized he was already inside a small building.

The space was so narrow, enough only for a statue in the center.

Not very tall, with its back to them, yet unmistakably revealing it was a female.

In her left hand, an equally elegant, exquisite bow was held.

The key was that the exquisite beauty was so familiar, whether to himself or the Witch beside him.

”Blasphemy’s Embrace...”

The latter seemed both sighing and lamenting, uttering a name.

(End of Volume Nine: Blue White Red)