Academic gathering with Lich colleagues

"Oh, is this your reliance? King of the Crusaders, Angel of Light..." That deadly voice echoed in his ears like a nightmare. Lyle looked at Mr. Raymond in front of him. The Chapel of Holy Light shattered and dissipated like a mirror. He fell into the nightmare again. He was still in Susanna's hands.

Everything that just happened was just a dream fabricated by Susanna.

"A dream within a dream?" Lyle looked at the nightmare before him, his heart filled with bitterness.

“To be precise, it’s a dream that’s constantly falling. You can keep rising, trying to find the reality of wakefulness. But believe me, you will be forever asleep in my dream. If you still want to try, I’m always ready. Dreams have no concept of time, and I’d be happy to watch your soul be swallowed up by despair little by little.” Susanna’s soft laughter echoed in his ears, and Lyle’s struggles with his self-awareness lessened considerably.

Without any obstruction, Susanna's nightmare power began to penetrate Lyle's inner self, and the ominous power was gradually stripped away. "I will prepare a separate cell for you in the Emerald Dream, right next to Father God Triton. To prevent you from being assimilated by him and thus creating the possibility of you escaping, I will strip away all the power you have acquired."

"Let me find your most filthy and true nature..."

As his mind was being dismembered, Lyle felt his consciousness growing weaker and weaker, and he became increasingly sleepy.

A cool sensation touched Lyle's face, the icy chill bringing him back to his senses. He opened his eyes and saw the Nightmare Beast staring at his tiny form with a strange look.

“You really are… just as special as Ilan said…” Susanna looked at the nascent evil god in her palm, her emotions a jumble of feelings. Deep within Lyle’s soul, in her hand, it shone with a pure, warm light, like a precious gem, utterly untainted.

"Are you not only an infancy of an evil god, but also a pure spirit? You separate evil thoughts and good thoughts into two interdependent parts..."

"To cultivate twin flowers in the soul, or separate flowers?"

"To divide one's wholeness into two parts..."

"Are you crazy?"

Are you an idiot?

Chapter 654 The Initial Order

"In the early stages of talent formation, it was corrupted by the power of the evil god, and then the corrupted talent was stripped away. It even split off a part of the soul and mixed its own spirituality into the corruption..." Susanna's dream was like a bottle filled with mud and sand. Those vague forces that were suspended in the air were settling and accumulating, turning into a thick earth and a clean night sky.

The luminous soul was also dimming, the shadow of the evil god was the recurring plague covering the light, the ominous evil god's power was repairing, and Susanna did not stop it.

“That’s outrageous, isn’t it? Andrei has always been like this. My mentor has subtly criticized me and the participants of that talent ritual for our recklessness and stupidity more than once.” Lyle’s body was rewoven under the power of the evil god, and a high-pitched, bagpipe-like voice came from the black giant’s chest.

“A brilliant idea.” Susanna ignored Lyle’s surprise and continued, “Although you see it as a series of coincidences caused by a series of mistakes, the miracles produced by a series of absurd collisions are rarer than conventional success. Having gone through all this to become who you are today, perhaps you are destined to become my kind. You have the potential to be crazy.”

The ominous giant has reformed and stands in Susanna's dream, a scene that resembles a nighttime version of the Dream Forest. Susanna has softened her hostility, seemingly no longer in danger.

"You're not going to deal with me?" Lyle knew that his identity as a Purifier was very attractive to Paladins, but he didn't expect that the Purifier would also have an effect on Susanna.

“My purpose is to restrain you and prevent the evil god’s malice from harming this world. Why should I bother to break the shackles of a prisoner who is arrogant and shackled, and risk locking him in a deeper prison?”

A sickeningly sharp, grinding sound echoed as the Nightmare Beast's body withered and shrank like an upside-down plant, shrinking into the armored elven governor. But Lyle, who had already witnessed her true nature, would not be fooled by this exquisite disguise.

"No wonder those skinny arms and legs could arm wrestle with a dragon."

As the shadows fell, Lyle, dressed normally, looked at the woman before him with lingering fear. He and Susanna were somewhat familiar with each other, though they were enemies.

"So you want to imprison and seal me away just for world peace, to prevent evil gods from harming living beings?"

Susanna leaned forward, staring into Lyle's somewhat evasive eyes.

“I understand the dangers of evil gods better than anyone else, because we are the same kind, and I know myself.” Susanna’s hands pinched Lyle’s cheeks, rubbing them up and down, as if examining a cub’s physical condition. Lyle dared not resist, because those slender fingers pressed against his cheeks could crush his jawbone at any moment. Although it was a dream, the pain was real.

"I originally thought your somewhat naive and shy appearance was just a disguise of an evil god, but it turns out it's truly your true nature. So this is what an evil god's infancy looks like? Is this the result of humanity taking the lead?"

Susanna's changed behavior gave Lyle a strange sense of déjà vu; she seemed to have acquired some of the characteristics of an older person, and this atmosphere stimulated Lyle's nerves, tilting him toward Andre's side.

"I thought you were jealous because of my close relationship with Ms. Irason, so you wanted to kill me."

"..." Susanna shifted her weight back, turning to look at the moon in the dreamlike night sky. "I am the elven governor, the ruler of a race, and I have my own code of conduct. I will not use my power recklessly for such matters..."

"Didn't you just say we're the same kind? I think I have some insights into the rampant and arbitrary actions of evil gods..."

"Well."

Lyle suddenly felt a chill run down his spine, as if insects were crawling up his back. The feeling quickly dissipated, and Susanna released her grip on Lyle's hand, covering her face as if somewhat embarrassed.

“Lyle, rationally speaking, knowing you have value to cultivate, I should, like a diligent gardener, instill some goodwill in you.” Susanna’s fingers parted slightly, her icy gaze piercing Lyle’s heart through the gaps. “But you keep showing me your potential to become fertilizer for roses, which puts me in a difficult position, Lyle…”

Lyle chickened out; this was in Susanna's dream.

“But it was indeed my fault before. As the elven governor, I attacked you, a guest, based on my own judgment, and I apologize for that. If you want compensation, that is reasonable.” Susanna disarmed herself, and the elven governor, after removing her mask, looked earnest, seemingly having realized her mistake.

A national leader brutally murdering a visiting envoy and then begging for forgiveness is, no matter how you look at it, an unreasonable act. Lyle knew that if he weren't the Dragon King's priest, with the Dragon Father and the Dragon Priest Council standing behind him, this scene would never have happened.

Lyle is in a difficult position.

He hadn't anticipated these events, and both Irason and Claudia were close friends. Yet, Susanna, knowing all this, still did it, out of fear of the evil god. It's hard to say whether she was decisive or reckless; perhaps she never even considered the possibility that Lyle would be spared.

Now the problem lies with Lyle. Given Susanna's aggressive stance, he can't simply let it go; he needs to devise a "punishment" that won't harm Irason and the others, but will genuinely upset Susanna.

“Ah… if that’s the case…” Lyle raised his head, the black pupils in his eyes shimmering in the moonlight, writhing shadows overflowing within them, covering his blood-red eyeballs.

"The ominous sign says you are a remnant born with God's command. Then, Sister Susanna, tell me, what is Triton's reason for your birth? What is your original purpose in life, the meaning of your existence?"

Susanna's body trembled visibly. She looked up and her gaze towards Lyle changed from anger to relief, and finally only envy remained.

"Was it a command I was born with...?"

"Drive the Green Dragon Priest, who sealed the mind of the god, into madness, and set the trapped god of the Emerald Dream free."

A piece of flesh, given commands and shed from the body of a god, sacrifices everything for a single thought, like a machine. Susanna is a destroyer created by the Sleeper Triton to overthrow the Elf Kingdom, a killing machine existing specifically to target the Green Dragon Priest Irason.

As a result, this being, born for destruction, became the guardian of its target.

"Elven Archon, founder of the Senate, so that's your background... What a terrible secret. With your current status, this order should be easy to carry out, Lady Susanna."

"You have defied your creator and betrayed your god." How could this be done? The remnant of the evil god is not an independent infant; her flesh and blood should contain the strong spiritual imprint of the slumbering being. How could the Chaos God, who is proficient in mind control and corrupting people's hearts, allow his puppet to lose control?

You keep saying Lyle's twin souls are a miracle, but you yourself are a traitor who betrays the Creator.

Susanna smiled gently.

"This may be the essence of our madness. Evil gods seem to be beings that like to create trouble for themselves. They split off the Devourer Yemotar, which evolved into dragons that contradicted chaos, giving birth to the most ancient order. They split off the rebellious me, which became the guardian of the Emerald Dream, this cage, and then you appeared... the rebellious son who claims to replace the Lord."

Lyle was amused and shrugged helplessly.

"Who knows what the sleeper is thinking? Maybe this eternal god is just bored out of his mind."

Susanna's existence was explained, although Lyle felt that this noble and dignified elven governor seemed somewhat dejected. He had uncovered her darkest secret, and this dishonorable origin was probably the most terrifying secret for the governor who now loved Irason and the dream elves.

This is a form of appeasement, a way of intimacy, a secret that can only be shared with one's own kind.

"This feeling of carrying the deepest darkness is a little heavy."

Susanna's tone was slightly playful.

“You’re the only one who knows my secret, Lyle. We’ve gotten closer, shouldn’t you show some appreciation?”

"for example?"

The confidante's expression turned cold.

"Stay away from Ilan from now on."

Chapter 655 The Theory of Evil God Cells

A rootless flower suddenly bloomed in the deep night sky, as if embedded there, replacing the moon in its bright light. The abruptly appearing bud quickly blossomed, its petals, stretched to their largest, bursting out from the calyx. The shattered petals fell before Susanna and Lyle, fluttering down like an endless snowfall.

"Heave-ho." Irason crawled out of the pile of petals. The green dragon priest had arrived at the Emerald Dream first, but soon realized that the two were not there, so he turned back and found his sister and his guest in Susanna's dream.

“Susanna, how come Lyle is in your dream? As the guide, shouldn’t you have led Lyle into the Emerald Dream? Could it be…” A conflicted expression appeared on the elf’s face, as if she had guessed something.

A vine wrapped around Lyle's neck, pulling the unsteady Lyle to Susanna's side. She reached out and hooked her arm around Lyle's neck, forcefully pressing the guest against her battle skirt in an intimate pose.

“Lyle and I hit it off immediately, and after a short chat, we’re already as close as siblings!” Susanna said in a light and unusually lively tone.

“No… that’s right, we are very good friends…” Lyle gripped Susanna’s wrist tightly, trying to give himself enough breathing space.

"So mysterious, but... I hope we can become good friends." Irason raised his cane, which transformed into a vine and burrowed into the doorway of the dream. "Hurry and take Lyle to the Emerald Dream. I need to check on the nightmare's spread first. Don't worry, Lyle and Claudia can chat a little longer."

Susanna released her grip, and Lyle knelt on the ground, gasping for breath. Lyle's frailty caused the nightmare to pause. After a moment's hesitation, she reached out and patted the boy's shoulder. "Have you forgotten? This is a dream. You don't actually need to breathe. The pain you're feeling now is just something you're dreaming about."

After Susanna pointed it out, Lyle felt the burning sensation in his throat subside, and the tearing sensation disappeared.

"Thank you."

"It's nothing. Don't confuse dreams with reality. Dreams are the fantasies you crave most, and they have a great attraction for everyone. It is also our duty to awaken people from their slumber and prevent them from getting lost in their dreams. If you're ready, hurry up and come over. We're going to continue descending into the Emerald Dream."

A chamomile flower grew before Lyle, its slightly pungent scent invigorating him. The dream flower, having fulfilled its mission, withered in the air. Lyle harbored a deep psychological trauma from Susanna's sedation technique.

"Is there anything I need to prepare?"

“If it’s an ordinary dreamer, I would suggest that he enter a state of deep sleep. Sleep is the instinct of living beings to protect their souls. Consciousness is dull and clumsy in a sleep state, so it can protect them from being affected when they fall into the dream,” Susanna said, flexing her wrist and making a fist. “For those with overly active wills, I would also lend them a hand.”

"..."

"But you don't need to prepare anything. You are one of my kind, and the erosion of nightmares and the infection of emotions cannot interfere with us. Why are you looking at me like that, with a look of being deceived? Don't you believe me? Well, just to be on the safe side, come and take a punch from me."

"No, no, I trust Sister Susanna." Lyle thought to himself, "So that means I don't need to fall into a deep sleep to enter the dream world from reality? Susanna, that evil spirit, only wanted to beat me up before."

The elven governor paid no heed to the young man's ulterior motives. With his palm down, he directed the soil and sand to transform into a vortex that stretched straight to the heavens, enveloping the two of them. Susanna's dream collapsed into a small space just large enough for them, beyond the smog lay a lightless darkness. The direction of the breeze within the smog indicated that the two were subconsciously descending, sinking into deeper depths. Susanna maintained that pose, her expression relaxed.

It evokes the feeling of riding a sightseeing elevator, only the darkness outside the space is more oppressive than the confined crampedness.

"Outside is the gap between dreams, the original appearance of dreams without the embellishment of living beings. Here, all emotions are stripped away, only madness remains. Nightmares are born in this gap, pouring into dreams to create trouble."

"Is an evil god lurking in the deepest depths?"

"All the deep paths lead to the same destination; you can always find the source. Within it lies the subconscious of the slumbering one, whose mind is isolated in the Emerald Dream, severing the connection between his soul and power. If one day he breaks the seal, this sea of ​​despairing will will engulf all dreams."

A large patch of light appeared below, and a continuous stream of luminous orbs drew closer to the two of them. A sense of joy welled up within them, and in contrast, the darkness between the dreamscapes seemed even more eerie.

"The subconscious power of the evil god, the power of nightmares, is not entirely bad. Dream druids have the ability to purify the power of nightmares. We will transform the subconscious of the evil god into the dream power we use, and thereby establish that stronghold of the dream of living beings, the Emerald Dream."

Lyle scratched his head. "It feels like the Sleeping Evil Gods have become a resource. Is it really okay to abuse the power of Nightmare like this?"

Susanna paused, staring at Lyle for a few seconds. "Didn't Irason, or any other dragon priest, tell you the origin of this world?"

"The theory of the origin of evil gods?"

“I already told you, so it seems it’s a matter of understanding. Let me explain in more detail.” Susanna tapped Lyle’s forehead with her finger. “The Sleeper Triton is the source of all life. To be precise, the evil god is this world, this planet. Triton’s blood is the source of all fluids, and Triton’s flesh is the foundation of all solids. Magic, natural forces, blood and energy, knowledge—all these are branches of the evil god’s knowledge. We all enjoy its benefits, and that’s why we call it a god.”

"Yet all living beings are like parasitic ticks; we suck His blood and eat His flesh to survive and make things convenient for ourselves. Therefore, God is our enemy because He wants to destroy the parasites that live on Him. The dragons and their priests were worried about this, so they defeated Triton, who was still in his infancy. We dismembered his consciousness to delay the day he would grow up, because that day would be our end."

"The planet is reviving, the gods are awakening, and His divine kingdom is dedicated solely to Him..."

"There is no such thing as justice or evil, only a struggle between the host and the parasite for survival. At present, we have the advantage. But everyone knows that the end of the world is waiting for us in the distance."