Blasphemy Wizard by Deceit World-Chapter 8: Dream Hidden King

The meaning between the lines was almost explicitly telling Yang Qizhou that there was something valuable in this room and urging him to push the door open and enter.

The Dark Crow of Profane Fortune could still be used four more times; at worst, he could choose again. Yang Qizhou felt no pressure and immediately made a decision.

"The adventurer's greed has once again led you to make a bold choice."

"You push the door open and step inside,"

"You see an altar brimming with an eerie and sinister aura, atop which stands a grotesque statue. Around it are offerings made from human entrails. Fighting off the nausea, you begin to search the room."

"You discover a piece of cloth on the altar, stained with dark red blood."

"You pick up the 'Bloodstained Rags.'"

Bloodstained Rags (Superior): Once an ordinary rag, it was unexpectedly stained with the blood of the "Dream Hidden King." It can be used as a Holy Relic medium for Divine Descent or as a material for crafting "ancient objects."

It was most likely tied to yet another Evil God.

Yang Qizhou was at a loss for words. The game had only just begun; he hadn't even left the Newbie Village, and yet he'd already gotten entangled with so many deities.

The Moonlight Ancient God, the Mother of Beauty and Fertility, the Sovereign of the Dream Realm, the Lord of Night, the Fire Stealing Ancient God.

And now, the Dream Hidden King was added to the mix...

It must be noted that any one of these names could serve as a final boss in most other games!

Grumbling aside, he was still delighted with the spoils. Yang Qizhou continued clicking through the text.

"Just as you pick up the 'Bloodstained Rags,' you suddenly hear barking. Yet, there's no sign of a dog anywhere around you."

"Your neck is bitten and snapped."

"You are dead."

???

Alright, that's a rather Cthulhu-esque way to die.

The narrator once again mocked the arrogant adventurer, asking whether he wished to use the power of fate to rewrite his death or rely on the ability of the Dark Crow of Profane Fortune to return to the moment of his last choice.

Yang Qizhou considered his options.

To steal the "Bloodstained Rags" would likely alert whoever had set up the Evil Altar, making any future infiltration impossible.

Moreover, based on the text, the house seemed to hold additional secrets.

Thus, Yang Qizhou decided to use the power of the Dark Crow of Profane Fortune.

"You return to the moment of your previous choice. You see the purple glow seeping from the room and know it conceals an altar dedicated to the 'Dream Hidden King,' along with the presence of an unseen monster. Entering the room would be certain death."

"So, despicable and shameless cheater of an adventurer, do you choose to boldly enter the room again, only to be ripped apart by the unseen monster,"

"Or do you decide to explore elsewhere?"

Yang Qizhou chose the latter.

"You decide not to provoke the unseen monster after all. Having your neck snapped is unpleasant, of course, not out of fear—never that. You reassure yourself that continuing to explore the house might yield better rewards."

"You search numerous areas and come up empty-handed."

"You step into the study,"

"You find a journal. Its contents both puzzle and horrify you."

"I had a dream, a dream so enchanting—a realm devoid of omnipresent terror, without the lurking horrors of the wilderness. In the song of the Great Existence, I found peace enough to sleep peacefully."

"I am waking up. Desperate and terrified, I try to cling to the dream, but I cannot. This land is already ruled by Evil Gods, and the Great Light cannot reach it anymore."

"No, no, no, no..."

"I will not allow anyone to take away my dream, not even an Evil God."

"I will ensure that the Great Light shines upon this land once more."

"Just wait—everyone will be saved."

"Frightened, you throw the journal away, convinced the writer had clearly lost their mind."

"Footsteps sound from outside. The house's owner has returned, and you frantically hide."

"The owner steps inside and notices the journal has been disturbed. They immediately know a thief has trespassed."

"You've been discovered."

"Suddenly, you hear barking, and memories of the sinister Evil Altar flash through your mind. Terrified, you try to flee. Before you get a clear look at the owner, your skull is crushed by a bite."

"You are dead."

The same familiar formula, the same familiar flavor. Play for long enough, and one could surely compile ten thousand ways for the protagonist to die.

This content is taken from fгeewebnovёl.com.

Yang Qizhou found himself fixating on all the strange details.

Fortunately, he quickly regained focus.

The revelations about the world's lore were still just the tip of the iceberg, far too sparse to draw definitive conclusions. He decided not to bother overanalyzing for now.

The game continued.

This time, Yang Qizhou decided against using the Dark Crow of Profane Fortune, opting for a standard revival instead.

"You open your eyes again in the accommodations Yixiu arranged for you."

"Recalling the journal's contents, a chill runs through you, a lingering sense of dread: something big is about to happen in Fire Stealing Village."

"Yixiu has returned. He mentions that Captain Lena, upon learning about Alice, wishes to meet with you. However, with darkness about to fall, the villagers must immediately perform the 'Fire Stealing' ritual, and the meeting will have to wait until tomorrow."

"You consider telling Yixiu about the large house, but hesitate in the end. The house's owner clearly holds significant status in Fire Stealing Village, and you cannot be certain whether this Night Watcher is a man or a wolf."

"Noticing your doubt, Yixiu prompts you to speak freely."

"You redirect the topic, asking about the 'Fire Stealing' ritual instead."

"Your exceptional acting convinces Yixiu to divulge the origins of the 'Fire Stealing' ritual to you."

"The Fire Stealing Ancient God is one of the Great Existences active during the previous epoch. He once stole the Fire Sparks from the Star Realm's deities, a flame that illuminates the darkness, shielding his believers from being devoured by the terrors of the night."

"Each night as darkness falls, the villagers conduct the 'Fire Stealing' ritual, using the stolen flames of the Star Realm deities to ignite their home lanterns. This is the only way to avoid being consumed by the horrors of the night."

With clarity dawning, Yang Qizhou nodded in understanding.

He had been puzzled before. If the night hid such terrors, logically the land should be barren of life, a desolate wasteland. How had the villagers of Fire Stealing Village survived until now? Now it made sense—they relied on the Fire Stealing Ancient God's blessing, using the stolen flames from the Star Realm to light the darkness and fend off the spawn of the Lord of Night.

Of course, this was only conjecture based on current information. Whether it was the truth still needed confirmation.

The game continued.

"The next day, you meet Night Watcher Captain Lena. She does not immediately ask you about the suspected 'Old God believer,' Alice. Instead, she inquires about the 'Moonlight Ancient God Sacrificial Ground.'"