[Vol. 7] Chapter 27: The Ritual of Sacrifice
Reverse the [contamination]…?
Violet pondered the question, not responding to Longbei’s hopeful gaze right away.
She was now completely certain that this [contamination], supposedly originating from the [Ghost Ship] and those [Deep Sea Ghosts], was actually the influence of a far greater power.
From what Violet had gathered so far, most races and factions in this world had very limited knowledge of the soul. Even someone as skilled as Vast Dream, a traveler from another world with remarkable abilities, had struggled to solve Cheese Mochi’s soul loss issue. If even they couldn’t fix it, how could ordinary beings possibly stand a chance?
If this "contamination" were merely a unique kind of mental magic, there might be a way to counteract it manually. But since the very structure of the victims' souls had undergone targeted mutations, the only logical conclusion was that the source of this "spiritual contamination" existed on an incredibly high level.
This power reminded her of something she had encountered before in the Holy Empire. The Demon Lord of [Defilement]. That was a plague that directly afflicted the soul. However… despite their similarities, there were clear and fundamental differences between the two.
The situation here is more like some guys deliberately used, and even amplified, forces like high-level magical information pollution, and spread it through some means, affecting this place.
As for whether she, a priestess, could cure this "contamination" that acted directly upon the soul…
Of course, she could.
After all, she was a Level 110 priestess. On top of that, she had acquired a vast amount of knowledge and power from the Spirit Fox Shrine Maiden, significantly deepening her understanding of souls. If this had happened back when she had just arrived in this world, she might have been completely lost. But now?
It was just… a bit troublesome.
The real issue lay in something else entirely.
"In my opinion, as long as a living being hasn't completely transformed into something else at its core, there's always a chance to save them. But at the end of the day, that’s just my power. It’s not a method that can be widely applied."
"...That makes sense."
After Violet’s not-so-subtle explanation, the old merfolk quickly understood and sighed in regret.
The reason the priestess is able to heal this ailment isn't due to any specific technique she possesses, but rather because she has attained such a high realm of power and authority that she can simply overpower it.
It was like the difference between unlocking a door and smashing it open. She might be able to save one or two people, maybe even everyone in this room, but her method wasn’t something the merfolk or the entire Emerald Sea could use to fight the contamination. It wasn’t about ability, it was about possibility.
What the merfolk truly needed was the first option. A way to unlock the problem properly.
Or better yet… to eliminate it at the source.
Standing up from beside the unconscious patient, Violet clapped the dust off her hands and, without hesitation, walked toward Queen Anies and the others waiting nearby. Longbei hesitated for a moment before letting out a sigh and following.
Violet chose not to attempt any treatment for now. Not because she couldn’t, but because there was no need to rush. More importantly, she still didn’t fully understand the source and nature of this informational contamination. Acting recklessly wouldn’t be a wise decision.
contamination of this nature was completely different from regular mental magic or brainwashing techniques. While it might not take effect instantly like the latter, it was far more insidious and difficult to guard against, even affecting those with strong mental defenses.
It was like subliminal messaging. Images, words, or even specific gestures that could influence someone’s subconscious. This wasn’t just theory. Long ago, similar techniques had been smuggled into the Aibus world, disguised as biotech offerings to the Goddess of Earth Seth. The result? They subtly influenced her decisions, leading to her tragic downfall.
Of course, that had only worked because Seth was already in a fragmented, unstable state of mind, and she had no prior defenses against such an attack. But it had proven one undeniable fact. This kind of corruptive influence could even affect a god.
Violet had no intention of rushing in recklessly and getting caught in some kind of trap, allowing strange things to creep into her mind. After all, if she wanted to treat these patients, she would have to make deeper contact with the contamination, and when it came to information-based contamination, mere exposure was enough for it to take effect.
Let’s not forget, they weren’t invited here by Queen Anies just to play doctor. These patients had been deliberately gathered in this location for a specific reason. Instead of acting hastily, it was better to wait and observe.
"Miss Violet, are you done checking already?"
While waiting for Violet and Longbei, the queen hadn’t just been standing around idly. She had been directing the Sanfin merfolk to arrange various unknown items, incense, refined animal bones, ointments, and other ritualistic materials, throughout the massive, stadium-sized room. However, before they could finish, the black-haired girl had already returned.
"I just wanted to confirm some theories. That’s enough for now. Today’s event is led by Your Majesty, so it wouldn’t be appropriate for me to overstep my role."
The elegant and mature woman, who bore a striking resemblance to Nitila, tilted her head slightly in confusion.
"Overstep… what? What does that mean? Well, never mind. You’re right, the most urgent matter is still finding Nitila. But aren’t you at all curious about what we’re doing here?"
"Hmm… Some kind of ritual that centers around these patients?"
Queen Anies smiled.
"You are quite perceptive. But ‘ritual’ isn’t the right term. To be precise, this should be called a ‘sacrifice’."
At that moment, the Sea Priestess, who had been busy with the preparations, returned and respectfully reported,
"Your Majesty, everything is ready. We can begin at any time."
"Very well. Have all unrelated personnel leave the room and light the sacrificial candles."
As she spoke, Anies paused briefly, casting a meaningful glance at Silisa, who seemed to be in charge of the ritual.
"Do not disappoint me."
"Yes… I will do my utmost."
The Sanfin merfolk who had been tending to the sick quickly withdrew, leaving only the stronger, carefully selected warriors, along with the queen, the royal deep-sea mermaid girl named Valda, Longbei, and the three women.
Under everyone's watchful gaze, Silisa stepped forward. She approached the unconscious patients, who lay surrounded by ritual offerings and specially crafted candles. With a solemn expression, she bit her fingertip and reached out toward the nearest sacrificial candle.
Whoosh!
The moment a drop of blood landed on the candle’s surface, all magical lamps in the room instantly went out. A ghostly blue flame ignited in the darkness, spreading rapidly in a predetermined pattern across all the candles. The flickering light cast eerie shadows over the pale, unconscious faces of the merfolk, making them look like offerings to some unknown deity.
A deep blue glow, reminiscent of the vast ocean, began to radiate from all the ritual objects. Strangely, the same glow also emanated from Silisa herself, her entire body, including her flowing, wave-like hair, shimmered with the same eerie light.
Suspended in midair by an unseen force, she began to chant in a commanding voice.
"Oh, Ruler of the Seas, Lord of the Waves, the Storms, and the Whirlpools, oh, great Truth of the Sea, your devout followers offer their prayers, calling for your gaze and power! Please use the [Storm Halberd] to cleave the waves, the [Lamp of Truth] to illuminate the path ahead, and guide us through our lost direction..."
"We offer you this sacrifice, may it serve as proof, and may Truth descend, revealing the whereabouts of our tribe's royal daughter, Nitila Mingjiao!!!"