Brain bloom

"But at least, you can no longer make a splash."

Sen remained silent. Just as they had said, now it was unclear where the poison had been delivered.

Somewhat dejected, she packed the withered branches and leaves into her bag, but still stubbornly pondered... Perhaps, the only option was to try her trump card. She wondered if, by assuming the title of coffin bearer, she could shatter this illusion.

Suddenly, she felt something touch her from inside her bag.

It felt cold and hard to the touch, like…bone, but with a subtle sense of intimacy.

These are the remains of the first pope.

With some skepticism, Mori took out a hand bone. Its index finger bone was pointing straight in a certain direction.

And at the end of that direction, there was a tiny point of light. So faint as to be almost invisible, yet it certainly existed.

Volume 1, Chapter 318: The Light of the Spine

Before him, the tiny ray of light possessed a strange beauty in Sen Shi's eyes.

Especially in this deep, seemingly boundless illusion, she couldn't help but recall her past life, when at night, in the darkened night sky, smeared by thick human lights, a single star would hang forlornly.

This point of light is just like it.

There's a sense of loneliness about it...

Looking at it, Sen Shi felt a sense of peace, and for a moment she even forgot how Hodge had provoked her, only feeling that she needed to seek the light.

"So that's how it is..." she murmured, a sense of realization welling up within her.

"W-what's wrong? Coffin bearer, have you found another way to escape this hellish place?" Master Woodpecker asked expectantly.

After thinking for a moment, Sen Shi nodded in agreement.

Then, just as she had done when exploring ruins before, she tied the two hand bones of the first pope to her shoulders with rope. This way, they could continue to guide her. The first pope—her most mysterious, yet most reliable, follower.

Now, she is even more convinced of this.

“Let’s go,” she said.

"Where are you going?"

Looking into Mori's resolute eyes, Master Woodpecker suddenly felt a sense of enlightenment and realized he had found the answer.

"Did you find Hodge?"

"No, if I had to put it that way, just as you said, this is an illusionary maze, and I've only seen the exit. Perhaps if I follow that path, I'll reach the exit..."

She used "maybe," but her tone showed no hesitation whatsoever.

Master Woodpecker immediately flew to her shoulder. He was a ruthless pragmatist; why ask questions at a time like this? It was a waste of time; he might as well just follow along.

What Sen had just said was like sweet candy, stuffed into the mouths of the Hodges, soothing the pain caused by the spreading poison. So much so that they all resumed their laughter—a mocking laugh.

"You saw the exit?"

"Your poison is indeed very potent, destabilizing the structure of our illusion."

"But... so what if we see the exit? This is still our territory."

The Hodges gritted their teeth and began to alter their surroundings once more. Before, they were surrounded by nothing but air, a void devoid of direction. But now, steel walls appeared, one after another, blocking their path completely, without the slightest gap.

This really works...

Helpless, Sen Shi had no choice but to take out a dry branch, while the woodpecker master, being quite clever, was also prepared, wanting to chisel away to his heart's content. Steel was nothing to its indestructible beak.

The Hodges discovered and feared her poison; no matter how many steps Mori took forward, the wall would retreat a few steps, preventing her from poisoning him. At the same time, they also effectively blocked the view, looking pitiful, as if that would stop Mori.

"Wait, why go through all that trouble? Why not just imagine a bunch of ropes and tie me up?" Mori asked Hodge and the others.

Sighs came one after another—

"Alas, it's a pity, you are, after all, a true god..."

“We’d like to tie them up too, that would be so much easier! But the body of the true God is an inviolable domain.”

"Even if we are our own illusion, we cannot take away your freedom. Of course, fighting outside is a different story."

Sen Shi thought that these three hooligans might not be so bad? They even had the leisure to explain such common sense to her... but that also proved their stupidity.

The light that guided the exit did not disappear.

Mori walked quickly toward it. Gradually, the closer he got, the larger the point of light became, taking on its own shape.

Coming.

Hodge realized that Sen Shi wasn't wandering aimlessly, but was heading precisely towards the exit. It immediately conspired with the other deities and quickly altered the illusion again, conjuring up countless terrifying monsters that swarmed towards Sen Shi.

Hundreds of ferocious dragons of various species rushed towards Morishi. Beneath her feet, countless gaping maws opened, sharp teeth gleaming coldly, saliva and tongues intertwined, an endless bloody spectacle that made Morishi dare not proceed.

Hodge's visions were incredibly realistic, even mimicking the monsters' stench and various roars.

"—To those carrying the coffin, do not be afraid! These are all illusions! They cannot touch you at all!"

"Ok, I know."

She was absolutely certain, and remarkably calm.

It was similar to having a nightmare, the only difference being that Sen was fully conscious and showed no fear. She even had the leisure to crush withered leaves into crumbs and casually scatter them at the pile of hungry monsters below, forcing Hodge to switch to a different species…

But it was too late; some of the poison had already been ingested, and it had harmed Hodge.

A wail arose, and the illusion's structure became unstable once more. The point of light in Mori's vision gradually grew larger.

"Oh, I see..."

Taking this opportunity, Mori finally gained a clear understanding of the entire process.

"My poison worked, making the illusion less perfect and creating some cracks. And the resonance from the relics of the first Pope can come in from such a place... How interesting, thankfully the church is nearby."

"What are you talking about?" Master Woodpecker asked.

"Isn't the church we're going to enshrine the relics of the first pope? He was my most devout believer, and he illuminated my path ahead."

Master Woodpecker understood, and couldn't help but marvel at the power of the first Pope. To leave behind such a delightful surprise after so long in death—just how much did he love those who carried his coffin? Or perhaps… his soul hadn't actually dissipated?

Getting closer and closer.

The light was no longer a small point of light; it had taken on a larger form.

It looks like the spine.

This bone is the very core that supports a person, and it is of extraordinary weight. The divine power it contains is exceptionally pure, and so immense that it is second only to the Holy Skull. Moreover, it carries a very incredible...sense of loneliness.

In an attempt to thwart Sen Shi, Hodge devised numerous methods, conjuring countless terrifying and horrifying objects, but not only were they ineffective, they were also too late. The illusion was no longer perfect, and the falsehoods could no longer shake the opponent.

Amidst the overwhelming terror, Mori walked and asked—

"Do you know the first Pope? Woodpecker."

“I have a name… never mind, it’s up to you. As for your number one follower, I… I don’t know how to explain it to you, so it’s best not to ask me. After being stripped of my divinity, I’ve forgotten a lot of things.”

Sen did not make things difficult for it, because there were many others who knew the answer.

Alternatively, she could travel throughout the Kingdom of the Holy Coffin, piecing together those remains, and perhaps she could reconstruct the soul of the first Pope himself. In that case, he would certainly be happy to answer the questions of the true God.

Oh right... we could also ask Dandelion to put on those over-the-knee socks? Thinking about it that way, Sen Shi suddenly thought the latter would be more efficient and couldn't help but laugh.

"—Goodbye, Hodge." Mori reached the end and waved to the illusion.

"You... damn it, this is terrible."

"We couldn't stop the coffin bearers..."

"Don't go! I've discovered some other little secrets about you!"

This Hodge was clearly the smarter one, and he shouted quickly—

"Think it over carefully! If you leave, I'll tell the whole world that you were so hot while forging iron that you opened your chest to cool off, and I'll expose everything inside!"

Upon hearing this, Mori stopped in his tracks just before stepping out of the illusion.

He turned back and smiled, but the anger in his eyes was overflowing.

"I told you, you won't survive today. Enjoy the process of waiting for your death. I wonder how much experience I'll gain from killing three True Gods... Hehehe..."

The smile was so cold that it silenced the Hodges. Master Woodpecker, feeling the same chill, empathized with them and even wanted to embrace them, to say a proper goodbye. They would even make a pact that if they met again after death, they would be friends and not fight…

Mori stopped entangled with the other party and left the illusion completely.

Behind them, the illusion vanished, revealing the interior of an ordinary church.

"...Wait, the coffin bearers!"

"Hmm? Don't worry, as long as you don't go around spreading rumors, I won't kill you."

“I… thank you… wait, that’s not what I meant. We seem to have forgotten something.”

A slight sense of regret crept into Master Woodpecker's heart, as if something had been lost. Its reminder struck her, and Mori suddenly felt a similar sensation. It wasn't until a minute later that the two of them, their faces ashen, remembered what they had lost…

That unlucky guy, the one who traveled with them...

His Highness, the First Heir of the Holy Coffin Kingdom.

Mori felt extremely guilty and lowered his head, asking softly, "Will I die in the illusion...?"

"No, it's all fake. He still has that sacred object you sold, which is enough to protect him... well, I'm just afraid he'll starve to death. I feel quite guilty, after all, he was a big spender."

They tried several times but found they couldn't find the illusion anymore, and were helpless.

“Let’s just say we got separated, do you think… that would be okay?” Mori said quietly.

"Hmm... I knew Hodge was too cunning..."

"Once we deal with Hodge, it should be revealed, right, Prince?"

"Explode? Uh, if we can deal with Hodge before he starves to death, at least we can save him."

That's good, it's convenient since it's on the way. Whether it's the human world that takes action, or Sen Shilai who does it, it's only a matter of today or tomorrow, there's still time. Letting the future heir to the worldly king's crown suffer some hardship can be considered a trial given by the coffin bearers.

Let's just leave it at that.

As for now—

She was inside the church, in a long corridor.

A light and slightly sweet fragrance wafts through the air, thanks to a fresh daffodil placed in a crystal vase every few meters along the corridor.