books44 Chapter 235
Chapter 235
Chapter 235
“...Ah.”
A short exclamation escaped me.
So this is the heart of the Bloodstone Cult.
The cult’s base is shrouded in absolute secrecy.
Even in the game, not once was its location explicitly revealed—only vague mentions here and there.
This led players to debate whether the Bloodstone Cult operated as a decentralized network or if it was merely a fictional organization fabricated entirely.
And yet, here it was—this “impossible” scene unfolding before my eyes.
But my amazement didn’t last long.
“Come here.”
The Blood Witch quietly linked her arm with mine.
The soft sensation of her touch lingered on my arm, but it was her imposing presence that weighed heavier. It was as though her aura enveloped me like something precious.
Like a child being handled with care, I found myself unable to refuse her lead.
With each step we took, the gazes of the cultists fixated on us, only for them to hurriedly avert their eyes upon meeting hers.
Every cultist here wore their hair tied back like martial artists, their long locks flowing down their backs.
“Only those with sufficient qualifications may enter the Sacred Gate. My residence is also located here.”
The structure resembled the layouts of capitals in various nations, where only those of higher status—usually dukes—resided within the inner sanctum.
‘In the case of the Bloodstone Cult, they must rank themselves based purely on strength.’
This place was a brutal meritocracy.
Soon, we passed through a grand gate.
It resembled a royal palace in its magnificence.
“This is the main sanctuary of our cult.”
The redwood columns stretched so high they seemed to pierce the heavens.
It felt utterly detached from the world of martial arts and fantasy.
That’s when I understood why the buildings here were made of wood.
Wood, as a living material, carries vitality.
And the wood here brimmed with energy.
The overwhelming vitality in the air seemed to disrupt my senses constantly.
‘This place is absolutely insane.’
It was a realm that defied all common sense.
Perhaps for that very reason, there might be another key hidden here—
A key to why I had been transported into this world.
If the cult possessed unknown knowledge, it could very well be tied to my situation.
Returning home.
If there were evidence, I’d risk half my life to obtain it.
‘...But only after seeing how this scenario ends.’
Running away wasn’t an option.
Who I was here still mattered.
Whether I returned or not, I’d see this through to the end.
Finding the reason I was transported and the way back—that was central to my identity as someone who had been thrust into this world.
– Step.@@@@
The sound of a guard coming to attention halted both me and the Blood Witch.
He stood at the gate, towering—easily over 10 meters tall.
“Blood Witch.”
“I am here to see the Cult Leader. Open the gate.”
“My apologies, but I have received no prior notice of this.”
“Tell him I have brought the Vessel.”
“Ah, yes!”
I followed her inside.
The place where the leader of the Bloodstone Cult resided.
Essentially, the boss room.
◆
A throne, befitting a Demon King, stood elevated in the center.
I raised my head to look up.
A man sat there, leaning against the chair.
A face I had never seen before.
That stark white hair—it was impossible not to remember.
In Fantasy X Academy, black hair and white hair each carried specific meanings.
But no matter how hard I tried to recall, this face wasn’t in my memories—not even after countless hours of playtime.
In any case, revealing that I was a transmigrator wouldn’t help me.
Keeping it hidden made it easier to gather information.
And by not giving him an opening, I could prompt the Cult Leader to ask more questions instead.
Perhaps my brazen response worked, as the Cult Leader chose not to press further.
He murmured to himself, as if speaking to no one in particular.
“Ah, brewing an elixir from such vessels would be a true delicacy.”
I had no response to offer.
But my skin prickled.
The oppressive aura pouring from the Blood Witch standing behind me was palpable.
She was releasing her energy in an aggressive manner.
At her level, she could use that energy to do virtually anything, making it extremely dangerous—essentially the equivalent of pointing a blade at the Cult Leader.
However, the Cult Leader merely chuckled lightly.
“Just a jest. Why would I destroy such a precious vessel that I worked so hard to find?”
The Blood Witch’s energy subsided.
But the word that had come from the Cult Leader’s mouth wasn’t something I could ignore.
“A vessel?”
“Indeed, you are a vessel.”
“What do you mean by ‘vessel’?”
— Swish.
The Cult Leader shifted his posture, leaning casually to the opposite side of his throne.
“You’ve heard of the 5-star limit, haven’t you?”
“Yes.”
“Outside of our cult, most believe the fifth star to be the pinnacle and settle for it.”
The Cult Leader raised the corners of his eyes in a mocking sneer and asked.
“What do you believe is the limit of the stars?”
I pondered briefly.
In the game’s system, the limit was indeed five stars. However, the power disparity within the fifth star was immense.
Characters who reached the pinnacle of 5-star were leagues beyond those in its early stages.
Take Sharon Pierce as a prime example when fully developed—ten early-stage 5-star opponents would struggle against her.
But beyond that limit...
After my transmigration, I had experienced it firsthand.
Figures like Richard Pierce or my master, Sasha Asilia, stood on a plane distinctly above 5-star.
In essence, there was a level far beyond the already immense gap within the fifth star.
If that were called the 6-th star...
“Wouldn’t 7-star be the ultimate limit?”
I spoke, gazing at the man before me, whom I speculated had reached the 7th star.
The Cult Leader burst into laughter, seemingly pleased with my answer.
“Richard, whom you faced, was at the 7th star. Even though he was injured, you defeated him.”
...Richard was at the 7th star?
Suddenly, I recalled his dantian—his energy core.
It was an immense, almost infinite landscape of power.
Indeed, his level was vastly different.
“And our two Protectors—Two and Three—have each reached the eighth star.”
The Cult Leader glanced at the two individuals, first at the Two kneeling below him, and then at the Blood Witch standing behind me.
The Two bowed his head deeply.
“It is all thanks to your guidance, Cult Leader.”
“You have followed well.”
“It is an honor, Cult Leader.”
“You must continue to strive. This is the most challenging threshold to cross.”
Their conversation felt almost like that between a master and a disciple. It clashed sharply with the image I had of the Bloodstone Cult. Though, of course, it was likely only a facade.
The “striving” they spoke of was probably through the extraction of human life force.
In contrast, the Blood Witch stood proudly, as though dismissing the notion that she had learned anything from the Cult Leader.
The Cult Leader simply smiled faintly as he looked at her, before continuing.
“To possess the talent to surpass the 9th star, and even beyond.”
Could the Cult Leader himself have reached the 9th star? Or perhaps... the 10th?
“Those with such unparalleled talent and potential are called vessels.”
Perhaps he had already reached the 10th star.
The thought flashed through my mind.