Apotheosis

The warriors hiding in the hollows got disrupted when a grief-stricken cry reverberated across the temple, echoing off the bare walls. Presumably, someone got killed.

But the Soul-melting Light's deadly rays failed to penetrate the hollows on the walls, so how did this person get murdered?

"Harding! What just happened?" Hammer bellowed.

"I don't know. It's this guy settled next to me," Harding answered in a shaky voice.

The man who screamed just now was the leader of the group who had confronted Hammer earlier.

Before Harding's voice fell to a whisper, he fumbled over his next few words. "Wh-what are these... m-monsters? Stay away!"

"Harding! What's happening to you there?" Hammer called at the top of his voice.

"Ahhh!"

Harding shrieked desperately; then his screams halted rather abruptly.

"Answer me! Harding, please, I'm begging you..."

No matter how much Hammer pleaded, his brother didn't respond.

With the Soul-melting Light outside the hollows, nothing could be done to help out his brother. He just roared, "No matter what monsters you are, come to me! Leave my brother alone! I'm going to tear you apart!"

As she listened to Hammer howl, Dorothy's face darkened. She never envisioned such a critical situation would befall her.

The monsters, in particular, scared Dorothy out of her wits. She knew nothing about their origin and form, which made her more apprehensive.

She squeezed in beside Zen despite the cramped space, soliciting for some comfort.

The emotions of the Soul of Light could be easily sensed, and Zen sensed Dorothy's fear. He pulled her closer and coaxed her softly, "Don't be afraid."

"But what could they be?" Dorothy sighed under her breath.

"Whatever they are, they would reveal themselves soon," Zen assured with certainty.

He already encountered several incidents similar to this before, so he consciously knew how to manage the situation better than Dorothy.

Just then, they heard loud, grinding bursts of sound which reflected from the nearby wall. Hammer's shaky voice came again, with a hint of anxiety and dread in it. "Go away! What the hell are you? Nooo..."

Just like the previous confrontations, the sobbing stopped after a few seconds.

This time, Zen's brows knitted a pensive frown.

Despite its mixed reputation, if expressed appropriately, anger led to many beneficial consequences. It made people act brave and forced them to be energized in dealing with conflicts. The situation Ha

with her as she started to break down.

"Nooo... Zen, they got me! They're dragging me out! Please, help me..."

No matter how frantic Dorothy called out, Zen acted as if he hadn't heard it.

But he still clasped Dorothy tightly in his arms, not yielding at all. They were stuck in the hollow, not dragged out by the Dreaded Eye Demons.

'The Dreaded Eye Demons seem weak, ' Zen contemplated.

He figured that Hammer and his brothers weren't killed by the Dreaded Eye Demons. Fear controlled them until they lost the ability to resist.

Just like Dorothy.

But Zen clutched Dorothy tightly, and the Dreaded Eye Demons failed to draw her out of the hollow. She survived because she wasn't exposed to the Soul-melting Light.

'If that would be the case...'

Zen concentrated once more and raised his hand gently.

His fingers gradually changed into thorns and he poked the air before him with his fingers.

In this process, Zen measured the distance thoroughly so his fingertips wouldn't extend outside the hollow.

He took extra precaution for his fingertips to remain within the domain of the hollow. His attempts would deem useless if he brushed upon the Soul-melting Light and perished.

Zen tried a few times but failed to stab the Dreaded Eye Demons. He felt the force pulling Dorothy away had increased. Clearly, the Dreaded Eye Demons began to get agitated.

Zen sneered, his lips slightly curled upward. He thrust at the air with his thorn-like fingers more aggressively.

After he tried more than a hundred times, one of the thorns pierced through an eyeball.

Snip!

Ensuing a strange cry, the force yanking Dorothy eased.