'System, can you detect what's happening in that direction?'
[Unknown interference factors detected.]
High-sequence interference... Had Olson encountered a Grade 0 sealed artifact?
'To be able to interfere with the system and block spiritual world creatures' detection—this isn't just any ordinary Grade 0 sealed artifact. Is this the work of some secret organization? Or an out-of-control high-sequence artifact? Or perhaps... an advancement ritual?'
After the War of the Four Emperors, while the major churches' forces had diminished, the secret organizations had suffered even greater losses.
To do something like this under the watchful eyes of the three major churches... They must be extremely confident in their concealment abilities?
For some reason, Don recalled that demon from earlier.
The Blood Sanctify...
Don stood up and headed toward the castle while opening the system interface.
"System, locate the spiritual world coordinates in that direction."
[Affirmative.]
---
Beneath the enormous dome stretched countless thin threads imperceptible to ordinary detection.
These threads originated from the infinite heights of the sky, connecting to every audience member, yet the threads extending from the spectators were all converging toward a single direction.
The audience's cheers continued endlessly, like an everlasting spectacular drama. Everyone wore identical smiles and fervor—staring at them too long would make one's hair stand on end, as if looking at lifeless, rotting puppets whose souls had long departed.
They cheered for miracles, yet repeated their actions mechanically like clockwork.
They seemed alive, yet were all dead.
They seemed dead, yet all moved like the living.
Olson's body moved stiffly toward the stage. Spotlights from nowhere illuminated him, making him stand out conspicuously among the puppet-like crowd.
He wanted to resist, but his body kept slipping further from his control—as if being manipulated by countless thin threads, his autonomy completely stripped away.
As a member of the Abraham family, he clearly remembered this terrifying ability belonged to Sequence 5 of the Seer pathway—the Marionettist.
'But a Marionettist's Spirit Body Thread manipulation couldn't possibly control so many marionettes at once.'
The current venue contained an absurd number of both ordinary people and Beyonders. A small circus tent should never have been able to accommodate so many, yet this space was completely different.
The towering dome seemed boundless, its walls infinitely expanding outward—this place appeared to contain limitless space. More shadows lurked beneath the high dome, like primordial beasts crouching in wait, eyeing every newcomer with predatory intent.
'Sequence 4? No, no no... Sequence 4 couldn't possibly create effects like this.'
Although he didn't know the names of Sequences 3 and 2 in the Seer pathway, this level of influence—capable of effortlessly crushing a Sequence 4 Demon—proved that this place, or whatever entity or terrifying sealed artifact controlled it, had reached at least the level of a Saint or even an earthly angel.
If something like this erupted in Tingen, even the intervention of an orthodox church's archbishop would prove extremely troublesome.
"I should worry about myself first." Olson forced a bitter smile, ceasing his resistance against the spiritual manipulation.
Facing a Sequence 4, as a Traveler he might have stood a chance. But against a Sequence 3—or even a Sequence 2 entity or artifact—any thought of resistance was pure delusion.
"Take it one step at a time." He took a deep breath, steeling his expression.
Judging from previous rounds, it wasn't necessarily a guaranteed death sentence.
Whatever—or whoever—was behind this clearly followed certain rules. As long as he fulfilled their requirements...
"Olson..."
A sudden voice made Olson jump.
But he immediately recognized it—Don's voice.
"Don? Is that you?" he asked urgently, his anxious tone causing the surrounding cheering audience's smiles to stiffen.
Olson quickly shut his mouth.
"It's me."
Don's voice came through faintly, as if penetrating layer after layer of barriers from some unsealed corner of the spiritual world. "No time. First tell me your situation."
"It's like this..." Olson hastily summarized everything from his entry into the circus to the death of the Sequence 4 Demon, keeping it brief and to the point.
"You said they're cheering for miracles?"
"Yes." Olson was puzzled but didn't question it.
Hearing silence from the other end, he smiled wryly. "I probably can't get out, Don. If possible, please tell my parents... I never should have..."
"Don't give up yet."
Don suddenly spoke up. "I might have a way... if it's really what I think it is. There's some danger involved—do you want to try?"
Hearing this, Olson gritted his teeth. "At this point, even if it's dangerous, I have to take the chance."
"Here's what you do..."
Olson listened in a daze. As he reached the stage and saw the beaming magician beckoning to him, Olson clenched his jaw and blurted out before the magician could speak: "I want to perform a magic show!"
He suddenly realized the Spirit Body Threads controlling him had loosened.
"Oh?!" The magician appeared genuinely surprised, his gentle face instantly splitting into an even more exaggerated smile.
His lips stretched to his ears. At close range, Olson could see squirming flesh buds covering the magician's face, the pale makeup making him appear even more horrifying.
"Guest! You wish to present us with an even more fascinating performance?! Wonderful! Wonderful! No problem at all! We of the Freak Show Circus always welcome such unexpected surprises!"
"But remember, guest."
The magician's voice dropped to a whisper. "You mustn't perform unprepared and spoil our audience's enjoyment."
Instantly, all cheering in the circus ceased.
The transition from uproar to silence was executed with rehearsed precision, the audience and magician moving in perfect sync.
Every pair of eyes fixed intently on Olson. Under this concentrated scrutiny, his already stiff body grew even more paralyzed.
The magician smiled, producing several transparent spheres from his red suit and tossing them into the air.
With a bang, the spheres exploded like magical props. The few remaining Beyonders who could still move and hadn't been turned into marionettes exchanged bewildered glances.
Meanwhile, Olson and the magician—who should have been on stage performing—simultaneously vanished.
On the empty circus stage, the previously disappeared monstrosity suddenly reappeared. Together with an equally proportioned clown, they began performing a bizarre and grotesque pantomime.
(Chapter End)