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Chapter Sixty-Eight: The Fear that Penetrates to the Bone

After examining all the deceased children present, Liliya concluded the cause of their deaths.

Soul Exhaustion.

The soul and the body are inseparable, intertwined entities.

The flesh bears the vessel of the soul, while the soul is the source driving the body. These children, their souls had completely disintegrated, and even the Redeeming Saintess of the Holy Empire could not revive them.

As someone in the know, Edwina had seen that person unable to do anything due to the souls of the deceased having dissipated for too long.

Ultimately, ordinary people’s souls are just too fragile; while a normal death might retain some essence, they had clearly suffered direct attacks on a soul level…

“Wh-why, why could this happen…? Just a moment ago, everything was fine!”

To have everyone who was so close to success mercilessly killed felt like a slap across the face of the entire team.

Not only was Edwina unable to accept it, but even the composed Princess displayed anger on her delicate and noble face.

Yet, Liliya managed to maintain her composure.

“I don’t know; the soul’s intricacies are too profound. The people I brought only understand a little. But… their earlier condition was a bit off; they must have been tampered with long ago, and it just detonated now.”

In other words, regardless of the circumstances, they couldn’t save those children.

Everyone fell silent, the atmosphere plunged into despair, and just as Liliya held back her discomfort under scrutiny while contemplating whether to head to the prison and ensure the safety of other hostages…

“Your Highness, don’t you feel it? The air here is becoming increasingly cold?”

A swordsman named Nickles suddenly looked up at the high experimental dome, subconsciously gripping the hilt of his sword.

“Indeed, it feels that way, but it’s still within…”

Before she could finish speaking, the Princess’s pupils dilated, her hair standing on end as an overwhelming chill and intense sense of crisis surged within her — that dark feeling of being watched reached its peak!

Someone was behind her!

“Who!”

Liliya instinctively turned around, slashing with her sword!

“…?”

There was nothing there, just the chilling wind swirling around that seemed to come from nowhere, caught up by the air around the Princess’s long sword.

No matter how she pivoted, even with reliable companions right behind her, that terrifying sensation of being watched by something dreadful lingered relentlessly.

For the first time, the Princess felt fear.

No, something was definitely wrong; something was in this place! Where, exactly where?!

“Liliya, calm your mind!”

A gentle shout struck heavily against the chaotic heart dominated by fear, snapping her back to reality.

Hua’s arrow was already perched on her short bow; it was clear she, too, was affected by this eerie environment. Though not as lost as Liliya, her eyes had turned serious and sharp, scanning the empty space around them.

“!”

“I just…”

The reassurance brought by a reliable companion temporarily suppressed the fear, and Liliya quickly realized her previous state was somewhat off.

At this moment, she also noticed that most of the expedition team displayed unusual symptoms.

Pupils constricted, bodies trembling, instinctively gripping their weapons, nervously glancing around. If it weren’t for the Princess’s presence, along with their reason barely suppressing their instincts, they probably would have gone mad and started attacking wildly due to sheer terror.

The more capable Sky-level members, like Edwina and Nickles, and a few top adventurers or Shadows fared a bit better; even so, their breaths were rapid, appearing as if they were facing a formidable foe.

It seemed only the legendary Miss Fiery Blossom was minimally affected, still able to calmly analyze the situation.

“Sister Hua, what is going on…?”

“Rules, mimicked rules. From the effects, it should be [Fear].”

Miss Hua answered without turning her head.

Fear…?

No wonder.

When it came to mimicked rules, Liliya was no stranger; back in the Tapeya Basin, while fighting that legendary fox assassin, Mavis, the girl had faced what she called “Fox Spirit Techniques,” a form of mimicked rules.

Indeed, even if it was just simulated power, Liliya still couldn’t think of any way to resist after reviewing that battle. Forget about later when Mavis summoned the terrifying existence known as [Death Star], true [Death].

If not for Vilyric intervening, she might have already perished in a foreign land.

Such an absolute emotion cannot be resisted simply by a strong will; only powerful strength can weaken its influence.

“Plakaka, stop hiding! If you have any clues, spill them now!”

After a while, the somewhat lewd voice of the ratman finally rang in the Princess’s ear.

Through the item, Liliya sensed that this guy had already hidden in the corner the moment the rules began to spread. Though a legendary, he seemed more affected than anyone else?

“Your Highness! It’s Leopold’s research product! Vengeful Spirit, it must be a merging of Vengeful Spirits!”

“This feels very similar; my goodness, it actually succeeded! This wasn’t just a fluke before, it has truly stabilized and created a Vengeful Spirit with mimicked rules!”

“Stop babbling! Get yourself together!”

Liliya kicked at an empty spot beside her, barely resisting that innate fear, but her actions inevitably reflected some agitation.

“Vengeful Spirits aren’t invincible; the immediate priority is to find its true body!”

As a Princess, Liliya’s knowledge base was undoubtedly abundant. Normally, a Vengeful Spirit would either rely on possession, preying on another’s body, or maintain its form from life, manifesting directly as a spirit.

But why could this Vengeful Spirit disrupt everyone’s minds at will without us even locating it?

That’s just too underhanded!

“Liliya!”

At a critical moment, it was rather Miss Fiery Blossom who took action.

She withdrew her short bow and swiftly donned a series of white bracelets onto Liliya’s right wrist, explaining at high speed.

“Listen, what exists here now is merely resentment, and the dominating Vengeful Spirit consciousness hasn’t fully merged yet. It’s getting stronger at an incredible pace; we must interrupt its process. Do you understand?!”

“Ah…”

The chains on her wrist emitted a faint white light, and the Princess took several deep breaths, finally calming down completely.

Now the situation was unclear. Plakaka had been triggered by the fear rules, making him unreliable, and only Hua was capable of countering this obviously legendary Vengeful Spirit.

As the commander, all the Princess could do was avoid being a hindrance to her.

“I understand, Sister Hua.”

“Everyone! Those below Sky level, immediately exit the room, and the rest prepare for battle!”

I have to say, Liliya truly held great prestige in the hearts of this group. Even under the pressure of mimicked rules, most people immediately complied with the Princess’s orders.

The few adventurers with weaker mental fortitude, caught in extreme chaos, were knocked out by the Shadows and taken outside.

After the bulk of the group exited the room, only a handful of ten or so remained in the experimental chamber.

Liliya, Hua, a Plakaka reluctant to flee, Edwina, Nickles, a few Sky-level Shadows, and several elite adventurers.

Once ready for battle, Miss Fiery Blossom drew her short bow and aimed at the dome above the experimental site that she had long been aware of.