Apotheosis

As far as most creatures knew, no one was allowed to enter the Dark Region.

Anyone who entered would be swallowed up by endless darkness.

What happened in there was shrouded in mystery. No one knew how and why the Souls of Light disappeared in the depths of the Dark Region.

People who entered died suddenly and silently. Their Souls of Light were lost and their bodies were left empty, like ships without a rudder.

Everyone carried a deep and abiding fear of the Dark Region. It was terrible to lose your own soul. And so the Souls of Light wandering Stage Thirteen would be careful to stay far away from the Dark Region.

Chaim paused, analyzing the situation. "The bridge should be within the Dark Region," he said.

The two Dark Regions in Stage Thirteen formed two semicircles, the ends of two arcs connected behind the Grand Sky Temple.

At Chaim's words, those from the Oneness Sky Palace stopped in their tracks. They even took several steps back, as though retreating from some horrible monster awaiting them on the bridge.

However, the Nine Li people stepped confidently onto the wooden bridge. Hutton said, "It's true that the bridge is located within the Dark Region, but we're safe in the place with light."

Zen followed Hutton forward onto the bridge. He looked around, his curiosity increasing at the sight of the mysterious light. "Where does the light come from? It's so strange."

According to No. 9527, only those candles could light up the Dark Region.

When Zen had first reached the entrance of the Grand Sky Temple, he'd been able to see the wooden bridge from a distance. He had wondered to himself if there were candles on the bridge. He couldn't see any candles now, which made him feel uneasy.

Where was the light coming from?

"The light comes from something we can't see," Hutton replied calmly.

They knew little about the Dark Region, and they had accepted that they would never unravel most of its secrets.

Zen nodded, still observing the light. He knew that the candles could light up the Dark Region. But What were they made of? What else was in here?

Dorothy followed behind Zen, and in turn she was followed by Chaim, Elvinia and the other disciples.

The disciples were very scared, but they had finally come to the Dark Region which had never been explored before. If they could find a unique Other Shore Token, their status would be greatly improved in the Oneness Sky Palace in the future.

And so, dreaming of the possibilities, they cautiously stepped onto the wooden bridge.

There was a creaking sound, followed by anoth

t scare me!" Sally said, her voice trembling.

The environment of the Nine Li race had made its people strong, but after all Sally was still quite young.

"The noise only comes when I move," Zen said softly.

He took a step forward.

The bridge creaked, and beneath that creak was the distinct sound of something unfamiliar.

This time, everyone on the bridge heard it clearly.

"It seems that there is something under the wooden bridge!"

"What the hell is that? Is something following us?"

"Oh my God! It must be a monster of the Dark Region!"

The disciples spoke in hushed, panicked voices, looking around them fearfully at the darkness.

Dorothy couldn't help but lean towards Zen. Although Elvinia was scared, she still looked around the wooden bridge, squinting her eyes.

"It's down there," said Zen. "Something is following us."

He held on to the railing of the wooden bridge and looked down over the side, into the black chasm below.

The planks of the wooden bridge were wider than the railings on each side. This made it impossible to probe what was under the bridge simply by leaning over the edge. The underside of the bridge was shrouded entirely in impenetrable darkness. Nobody could explore it just by using their spiritual sense.

Everyone was anxious and afraid. All of a sudden, Hutton, who was in the lead, spoke in a low and urgent voice, "Thad, look behind us."

Zen, Dorothy, Sally, and Elvinia turned their heads. To their horror, a black tail was visible on one side of the wooden bridge.

The tail was as slender as a rope, and tapered to a sharp hook at the tip.

Without making any sound, the tail flicked and moved towards a disciple who stood in the rear of the group.