Hyperdimensional Player

Chapter 390 The Kill Begins! Dance of Death

Joyful Church.

After acquiring his equipment and weapons, Duncan returned directly to the Temple of Joy. He would be based in the temple area for the foreseeable future, as his human form might also be on the assassins' kill list. Considering the many unpredictable methods possessed by the powerful in this world, Duncan was clearly safer with a healer nearby.

With the world's miraculous healing arts, even someone barely clinging to life could be brought back to life instantly.

At the lavishly decorated bar, Duncan said to the cheerful waiter who had been wiping the table earlier, "A glass of tequila, please."

The temple of the goddess of joy, Lira, can be in any style.

Basically, apart from the main temple which is decorated according to the style of ancient temples, most of the other temples have different styles. They are usually built around a huge conference facility, banquet hall, ballroom, etc., from which smaller meeting rooms, bars, chat rooms, lounges, etc. can be extended.

Does it look familiar?
You can think of most of the temples of the goddess of joy, Lira, as a fully-equipped but relatively secluded clubhouse.

The second most popular club goddess in all of Faerûn.

The upper floors of the temples were typically the residences of the clergy, who lived in comfortable apartments. By any standard, the temples of Lira were opulent, often featuring crystal chandeliers, parquet or marble floors, velvet curtains, exquisite gilded mirrors, and solid oak bars with ample supplies of wine.

Duncan is even more comfortable here than at home, because basically everything you could want can be found here.

However, if we're talking about the most luxurious temples with the most complete facilities, the temples of the goddess of love and the goddess of wealth are the top choices. The former even has uniquely designed small cubicles and beautiful screens. Once you're inside, you can't see anything from the outside. They were designed specifically for flirting and secret rendezvous. In the temple's rest area, there are also various small private rooms, providing a secluded space for men and women attending the salon.

As for the Temple of Wealth, it's pure extravagance, a typical nouveau riche decorating style.

Duncan's room was arranged by a party master, who was the bishop's deputy. Next door were a bar, a ballroom, and a banquet hall. There was also a large restaurant on the first floor, which employed a halfling chef from elsewhere.

The Mother of Great Bliss lived in a luxurious private room upstairs from Duncan's, with a secret lock placed at the top of the stairs and special guards. She rarely returned to her large villa.

Within the Church of Joy, the Mother of Great Bliss's duty is to guide all church members to follow the teachings of the Goddess of Joy and the various laws of the church, as well as to draw funds from her seemingly inexhaustible treasury to maintain the temple's expenses.

Don't ask where this money came from; it certainly wasn't raised through donations from believers, and the Pleasure Cult doesn't have such a large business.

The answer is that it was sponsored by a kind person.

Thank you, Ms. Fortune.

Because of the assassination of the Mother of Great Bliss, the usually lax Pleasure Cult became somewhat tense, and the cult recalled combatants from various places, mainly members of the Scarlet Actor's Order.

"Lord Duncan."

Vera changed into a gorgeous and elegant banquet dress, and a dazzling gemstone necklace adorned her full bosom. Her entire appearance changed, as if she had dressed up carefully. Her long, light golden hair was styled up and secured with a delicate gemstone hairpin. Two exquisite gemstone chains were added to her wrists and ankles. At first glance, she looked like a beautiful and charming noblewoman, but upon closer inspection, she seemed to have gained a touch of bewitching allure. She must have been wearing a magical artifact that enhanced her charm.

Duncan looked her up and down, his gaze finally settling on the dazzling gemstone necklace.

Vera looked slightly nervous and said cautiously, "These were all bestowed by the Mother of Great Bliss."

understood.

Because she served Duncan last night, or rather, because she successfully became Duncan's lover, her status immediately rose, and she was promoted directly from Pleasure Servant to Pleasure Priestess, and was rewarded with many good things.

This can't be described as achieving instant success.

But because of her service last night, she completed her transformation from the bottom of the church to middle management.

The Mother of Great Bliss values ​​her own power even more than she realizes.

And she's quite generous.

Duncan calmly lowered his longsword and slowly asked, "What is it?"

Vera, with a docile expression, poured Duncan a cup of black tea and said softly, "Tonight, the Mother of Great Bliss will hold a sacred funeral."

"She specifically requested that you be one of her bodyguards."

funeral?

Yes, a lot of people died last night, even the pleasure dancer Lila was killed.

But isn't it too rushed to hold a funeral at this time?

Duncan's expression shifted, as if he had thought of something, and he said in a deep voice, "The leader of the Scarlet Performers is back?"

Vera nodded gently and said, "Yes."

Led snakes out of their holes?

Duncan continued, "The Archbishop of the Red Curtain, the Laughing Priest, and the Dream Musician have all returned?"

Vera shook her head cautiously and said, "I don't know."

That means at least a few powerful figures have been recalled. This world has teleportation magic, and the Mother of Great Bliss was assassinated. It's impossible that the powerful figures of the Pleasure Cult didn't take action.

"I understand," Duncan nodded.

Since the Mother of Great Bliss has made this arrangement, he will follow orders and see what the specifics are as he goes.

Night falls.

After enjoying a delicious meal prepared by the halfling chef, Duncan returned to his room and waited quietly. Around midnight, Vera and a priestess of pleasure came to his door and gestured that he could set off together.

Followers of the goddess of joy are not buried in tombs.

Duncan saw the Mother of Great Bliss outside the temple. Even at this moment, she was dressed in a radiant and magnificent outfit, only her clothes were no longer so revealing. Everything that needed to be covered was covered, except for a patch of white skin on her chest.

Almost no one was dressed in black or somber colors; even the accompanying attendants were dressed quite extravagantly, as if they were attending a grand ball.

Fully armed, Duncan served as the Great Mother of Bliss's personal bodyguard, while the other was a woman hidden in the shadows of the carriage.

Don't know who.

But he should be one of the higher-ups in Scarlet Actors.

The sacred forest.

The group consisted of about thirty people. They entered a quiet grove outside the temple area, then passed through a garden, and finally arrived at the sacred resting place of the Pleasure Cult.

"Tonight."

"We hold a funeral for our dear brothers and sisters, sending their souls to the land of the ladies' joy!"

"Enjoy eternal moments of joy."

A messenger of joy was reciting something.

Not long after, the figure of the Mother of Great Bliss emerged. She gestured for the others to carry the corpses up. There were five corpses in total, all of them mid-to-high-ranking members of the Pleasure Cult. Among them was her lover in human form, the Pleasure Dancer Lila, who was in the very front position.

—Dance of Death (Divine Spell)!
The figure of the Mother of Great Bliss hovered in mid-air. Duncan could see under her skirt with just a glance, but he remained composed and simply stared at the corpses in front of him.

As the divine light descended, Lila, the joyful dancer who had been meticulously dressed and looked as if she were alive, stood up.

One by one, the other corpses stood up.

The corpses began to dance, dancing endlessly, and other members of the Pleasure Cult joined in the dance around the funeral, as if trying to pass on joy to the dead.

Amusing ourselves to death!

There was no sadness, no weeping, only the melodious tunes played by the entertainers. On the outside, the ecstatic danced, while inside, five corpses danced, dancing endlessly, until the corpses were completely disintegrated. The various parts of the corpses would continue to try to move until all the joints lost their mobility, and the remaining parts were cremated on the spot.

Duncan's expression was unreadable.

He watched silently as the corpse of his human lover, the dancer of pleasure, Lila, danced wildly, until her joints broke, her arms fell off, her body collapsed, her flesh separated, and finally only a skeleton remained, still dancing the 'dance of death'.

This scene was commonplace for everyone else, as only the most devout followers of the Lady of Joy were entitled to such a sacred funeral.

ceremony.

Duncan sensed a power of ritual.

At the dimensional level.

Suddenly, an invisible light appeared on the projection screen, followed by the opening of an invisible door. Everyone else present was unaware, except for the Great Blissful Mother, who looked up and stared at the position in mid-air.

It seemed as if singing could be faintly heard all around.

This was the response of the goddess of joy, who had already sensed this sacred funeral.

It didn't take long.

An invisible angelic phantom appeared. After stepping out of the gate of the divine kingdom, she first nodded slightly to the Mother of Great Bliss, who responded with a glance, seemingly still arrogant, her status even higher than that of the otherworldly divine servants.

—Otherworldly Divine Servant (Guide) (Five-Star Silver Gray)!
After the outbreak of the Holy Cataclysm.

The pantheon of death is in turmoil.

The Goddess of Joy directly dispatches otherworldly messengers from the divine kingdom to guide the souls of believers. Even when the God of Death was in power, there were some unique rituals of the church that could bypass the messengers of the God of Death and guide the souls of devout believers into the divine kingdom.

A faint glimmer of light appeared. A priestess of joy ignited a sacred flame, and the corpses and scattered flesh were gradually burned. Under the radiance of the otherworldly divine servant, Duncan saw Lila's soul, which was gradually transforming, revealing its angelic outline little by little.

"Has he been promoted to a divine servant of another world?" Duncan asked calmly.

The souls of five devout believers.

Four were marked as supplicants, and one was marked as an otherworldly attendant. Together they were brought into the kingdom of the goddess of joy.

The funeral ended quickly.

Just when Duncan thought he had gained nothing tonight and was merely doing routine guard duty, the radiant Mother of Bliss suddenly appeared before him. She waved for the others to step back, then looked down at Duncan and said in a deep voice, "Duncan - Starfall."

Duncan deliberately feigned nervousness and replied in a low voice, "Madam, I'm here."

The Mother of Great Bliss seemed quite pleased with his attitude. She even rose slightly, her long, slender, and fair legs now about a meter above Duncan. As a unique emblem fell, she solemnly said, "Take it."

"This is your way of repaying me for saving my life."

"It is also a gift from Lady Joy."

A sacred emblem descended.

Duncan respectfully reached out and took it, his expression one of shock as he stared at the goddess mark on it.

—"The Symbol of the Lady of Pleasure (Relic) (Legend)!"

— "[Summon Otherworldly Divine Servant] (Pleasure Dancer - Lila) (Rechargeable)!"

—"Pleasure Dancer - Lila (Otherworldly Divine Servant) (5-Star Blank): A newly promoted lower-ranking Otherworldly Divine Servant, possessing a portion of her past life's memories, skilled in using divine arts in the fields of charm and healing. Activating the sacred relic will open a gate to a divine kingdom, summoning the currently marked Otherworldly Divine Servant."

—"You must go to the Temple of Joy to recharge."

—"Bond [Lover]: Pleasure Dancer - Lila was your lover in life. After being summoned, she will most likely obey your orders."

Can you do this?

Looking at Duncan's shocked expression, the Great Blissful Mother, with a hint of amusement in her beautiful face, said softly, "Serve me well."

"I am watching you."

"Lady Joy is watching you too."

The words fell.

Duncan now bears a mark called 'Gaze of the Goddess of Joy,' seemingly anchored to this sacred relic.

After doing all this, the Mother of Great Bliss returned to her previous arrogance and composure. She continued to float in the air, her feet never touching the ground, as if getting dirty would desecrate her holiness. This woman was very incompetent, but her attitude was ridiculously arrogant.

The group prepared to return to the Temple of Pleasure.

The flames engulfed the corpses, and everything around returned to calm.

Holding the sacred emblem in his hand, Duncan noticed the envious glances from others. The Great Mother of Bliss's actions undoubtedly elevated his status significantly.

Inside the carriage.

A female voice came from the shadows, and the figure lurking in the corner of the carriage said, "Godmother."

Why do you value this man so much?

"Is it because he saved you?"

The Mother of Great Bliss, with an enigmatic expression, gently shook her head and said, "No."

"This is the lady's will."

"His identity is very useful for us to consolidate the power of the Wealth Church."

It was nearly dawn.

Just as the group returned to the temple district, Duncan suddenly paused. His consciousness instantly entered a higher dimension, locking onto a series of lurking figures in the distance.

Wanderer.

assassin!

What exactly did the Mother of Great Bliss do?

Why are these people so determined to kill her?
They launched an assassination attempt just last night, and today, merely after leaving the temple district, they have already organized another one.

—The Painful Dark Blade (The Order)!
——Bloodthorn Lord-Kahn (5-star silver-gray).

——Shadowbinder-Alice (Four-star Gold).

—Pain Eater - Gray (4-star gold).

—Lina, the Soulbreaker (Dark Creature) (5-star Silver Gray).

——Night Owl-Black (Four-Star Gold).

What the hell!

Is this really going to cost the Mother of Great Bliss her life?

Duncan entered a dimensional perspective directly because of the enemy's killing intent lock. In addition to these lurking members of the 'Painful Dark Blade' cult, another group of wanderers was ambushed on the only road to the temple district. On the roof of the alley near the port, there was also a magic archer with a four-star silver-gray mark.

It seems that more than one force is trying to assassinate the Mother of Great Bliss.

Why did they have to kill her?

Duncan looked thoughtful, wondering to himself, "Could it be because the Church of Joy is absorbing the power of the Church of Wealth?"

"Is the Mother of Great Bliss the mastermind behind this?"

"Only she is dead."

"Would the Pleasure Cult be thrown into chaos?"

Some people do not want the Pleasure Cult to grow stronger, nor do they want to see the combined rule of wealth and pleasure. Only the death of the Great Bliss Mother will plunge the church into turmoil and internal strife.

No matter what the reason is.

The Mother of Great Bliss must not die right now.

Even the Church of Wealth hoped she would live well, and they were hoping to get information about the Goddess of Wealth from her.

Duncan quickened his pace silently.

He approached the carriage of the Great Blissful Mother. From the shadows of the carriage, someone moved instantly and asked in a low voice, "Is something wrong?"

Duncan nodded subtly, noticing a faint crimson glimmer.

The Mother of Great Bliss reacted instantly, looking at Duncan with admiration in her eyes, and then nodded to the people around her.

A slender figure slipped into the shadows and vanished instantly.

—The Scarlet Performers (Order)!
The Mother of Great Bliss's slightly tense voice rang directly in Duncan's mind: "You will command these Pleasure Priests."

She knows her own limitations very well.

She still has this bit of self-awareness.

The words fell.

The entire team's markers suddenly turned green, and Duncan, as the Gold Guardian of the Great Treasury and the highest-ranking security personnel of the Church of Wealth, took command of the order's members.

This action immediately made Duncan glance at the Mother of Great Bliss.

very good!

Being able to delegate authority at crucial moments.

I'm committed to protecting your life.

Duncan's cold gaze pierced through the darkness, directly locking onto the coordinates of 'Painful Dark Blade' from a godlike perspective.

Let’s kill!

Whether it's the Church of Wealth or the Church of Pleasure, he must prove his abilities in order to gain more leverage.

Since you still dare to come, then I'll take your heads!
…………

(End of this chapter)