Chapter 15: The Man in the Black Robe and the Faith of Suffering

Red furrowed his brow. “Are you saying...?”

“It might be a warning,” Ye Mi replied coolly. “Either way, forcing our way through isn’t wise.”

She shifted her tone, “But clearly, even with this many blood cocoons, their breathing only raises the energy density in this area by three percent. That suggests they can’t release enough energy to cause aberrations except through direct contact.”

Red caught on immediately. “So as long as we keep those things from getting close, we're safe?”

Ye Mi nodded, acknowledging his words.

Of course, she even suspected that the cause of the aberrations might not be energy-related at all. What if it was some horrifying parasite?

A heavy silence fell over the squad.

For now, the blood cocoons seemed threatening only in their sheer numbers. Their combat ability didn't appear formidable. If Ye Mi maintained a shield while Kira and Red handled the clearing, it might be possible to move forward.

Among them, Raj looked the most uneasy. As a healer with little means of self-defense, even though Red had long since pressed a black-market rifle into his hands for protection, it did little to soothe his nerves.

Red, clearly aware of Raj’s anxiety, spoke in a low voice, “We don’t know enough yet. Let’s wait and see.”

In the distance, other exploration teams were engaged in heated debate. Some packed their gear, ready to retreat, while others lingered around the ruins, unwilling to leave but too afraid to enter.

As everyone hesitated, the Defense Bureau team suddenly made a move—they dispatched a C-rank esper clad in full protective gear, wielding a blue energy shield device, who cautiously approached the building wall beside the ruin’s main gate.

There, a distinct red vein traced the surface.

Everyone held their breath, watching his every move.

Closer and closer—five meters, three, one.

When the blue shield was just half a meter from the ruins’ surface, nothing happened. Not even a blood cocoon appeared.

Yet this discovery did not bring relief; it only heightened everyone’s unease, for no one knew what exactly would provoke these damned creatures into attacking humans.

The Defense Bureau esper stood there for three long minutes. Having confirmed the blood cocoons would not attack simply because a human approached, he slowly retreated to a distance of ten meters, then activated his ability.

His right hand morphed into the form of plant roots, a vibrant green bud at the tip. The tendrils extended, stretching over ten meters, until they pierced the red vein beneath the scale-like metal plates—

A blood-red cocoon insect leapt out instantly!

Ye Mi’s eyes narrowed slightly.

In that very instant, the Bureau’s fire esper unleashed a tongue of flame, incinerating the cocoon where it landed, leaving only ash.

Of course, the plant esper’s root tip was also burned away, but it seemed not to bother him; he could conjure new roots at will.

Ye Mi took note of their abilities and looked away.

Everything was clear now.

As long as they were left undisturbed, the blood cocoons would remain quietly “breathing” on the surface of the ruins, not attacking those who approached. The earlier unfortunate soul who had aberrated must have startled the cocoons in some unpredictable way and paid with his life for his recklessness.

The Bureau’s little experiment rekindled hope among the explorers who had just been packing to leave.

At that moment, a tall figure draped in a tattered black robe appeared like a specter, standing beside the Defense Bureau’s camp without anyone noticing.

Ye Mi, keen-eyed, spotted him first. Soon after, the Bureau’s team leader seemed to exchange a few words with the robed stranger in hushed tones, then summoned all the exploration squads to assemble.

As the crowd gathered, under countless watchful eyes, the robed man spoke in an ancient, solemn cadence, “Greetings, all. I am a missionary of the Great Suffering Yae Faith.”

His voice was deep and hoarse, like stones grinding across coarse sandpaper.

“Suffering Yae Faith?”

“What’s that?”

“Never heard of it.”

“A cult, probably—the type that ends up in jail. Just look at him.”

Confused murmurs rippled through the crowd. Some clearly didn’t take him seriously.

The robed man seemed to catch their skepticism; the shadow beneath his hood shifted slightly toward the source of the voices. “The Suffering Yae Faith is unlike any sect you know.”

Then, his voice grew suddenly reverent: “In the beginning of the world, the Creator God slumbered at the bottom of the abyss. His breath became the energy of this land, his dreams gave rise to all things. The Suffering Yae Faith is the guidance left at the moment of His awakening. We are the faithful serving the slumbering Lord at the world’s depths—His chosen upon awakening.”

The fire esper of the Defense Bureau narrowed his eyes. “So this ruin...”

“It is the sanctuary,” the robed man’s voice rose with fervor, “the trial bestowed upon the faithful by the Creator God! Only through sacrifice of flesh and the completion of the grand ritual can one prove devotion and open the door to truth!”

His words echoed in the air, carrying a strange, compelling power. The red veins on the surface of the ruins appeared to glow in response, resonating with his proclamation.

It was unsettling in the extreme.

A sacrifice of flesh—no one needed telling that was nothing good.

Raj swallowed hard and whispered to his teammates, “This guy’s got to be some cult leader, right...?”

The plant esper of the Bureau suddenly sneered, “Tricks and theatrics.”

“Fools,” the robed man abruptly dropped his hands and gave him a sinister grin. “Believe it or not, this is how the sanctuary’s gate is opened.”

He produced a white bone dagger, pointing it toward the door of the ruins.

Red’s eyes narrowed. “There’s a slot shaped just like that on the door!”

The robed man continued, “This sanctuary holds the secrets of the Creator God. Only through sacrifice of flesh can you earn the right to enter. This isn’t slaughter—it’s ascension!”

The plant esper, upon seeing the bone dagger, glanced at the team leader—the fire esper. “Boss, want to give it a try? We have plenty of ‘offerings’.”

The fire esper nodded slightly.

The plant esper’s gaze swept over the smaller exploration teams, finally locking onto a D-rank esper on the outermost edge.

He acted instantly; dozens of root tendrils shot out like vipers, binding the target in the blink of an eye.

“What are you doing—!” The esper and his teammates barely had time to react before they were dragged before the robed man, limbs tightly entwined by the roots.