[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-advent-of-the-three-calamities":3,"chapter-advent-of-the-three-calamities-advent-of-the-three-calamities-chapter-352":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Advent of the Three Calamities",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},758687,1005,"Chapter 352: The fight from within [3]","advent-of-the-three-calamities-chapter-352",352,"\u003Cp>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From the very moment that the match started, I kept my gaze on the platform, never once leaving my eyes away from the sight that stood before me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At least that was how it looked on the outside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In reality, my attention was elsewhere.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>....It was toward my mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Where are you...?'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Within the darkness that was my conciseness, I looked around in search of the seed that the statue planted within my mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'I know you're here somewhere.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It had always been there, secretly waiting for an opening to appear in my mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But it was an opening that it would never get. I was always cautious. Never once pushing myself to the point of utter mental exhaustion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And this was even taking into account the fight with Caius.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As precarious as the situation was, I still remained cautious enough to protect my mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The effort paid off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>....The statue never looked for me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But it was now my turn to look for it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Maybe I can help Leon this way.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>More than that, I was afraid the longer someone was under the influence of the statue, the more dangerous the situation was for them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I couldn't waste any more time and pressed my hand over my arm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Sadness'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A wave of pain washed over my mind as my body jolted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Breathing started to become more difficult, and my thoughts blurred.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And finally, the opening that the statue had been so desperately seeking, revealed itself. She didn't waste a single second and jumped at the opportunity as the darkness around me fluctuated as a pair of hands materialized from behind me, tightening around my body and holding me tight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I felt a hot breath run down the back of my neck as the statue's face appeared right next to my shoulder, its hollow eyes turned to face my direction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As I similarly turned my head to stare at it, the Angel greeted me with a smile\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A smile that sunk me deep into the darkness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>*\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The darkness felt cold.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Falling deep into it, it felt as though I was being suffocated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Almost as if I was being dragged down into the deepest parts of the ocean.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My mind grew faint, and the deeper I fell, the more my ears started to pick up certain sounds. Such sounds only became louder the deeper I fell, and it wasn't long before I started to perfectly understand what was being said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Help....!'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'...I don't want to be here anymore.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Someone help me!'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were pleas of help.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The desperation in their voices was palpable, and I shuddered upon hearing the voices.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I felt helpless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I couldn't move, and I could hardly think properly as I sunk deeper into the darkness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thump!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eventually, my feet came to a stop.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The darkness embraced me as I stood with my body raised upright. I tried to move my body, but the arms that coiled around my body refused to let go of me, leaving me completely and utterly helpless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Krrr-\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A sound akin to a stone grinding against another reached my ears.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At first, I was confused, but the moment I looked down, my heart sank as I saw my feet slowly turn into stone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Drip...! Drip!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Blood trickled down into the darkness as I felt a sharp pain down my neck.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I was suddenly reminded of the vision I had previously seen at the start and held my emotions in check, forming locks as my mind cooled down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...Let's get out of here.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though the hands that were gripping me were confusing my thoughts and mind, I didn't allow the statue to take hold of me without a plan. From the start, I was confident in getting out of whatever situation that I was in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was a reason why I chose to do what I did during the fight between Aoife and Leon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The statue would be too busy to focus its attention on trying to keep me in check.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cr Crack!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As expected, faint cracks began to appear on the stone hands that were gripping my body as my body squirmed in place.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I felt a sharp pain invade my mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A futile attempt from the statue to trying to seep deeper into my mind, but unlike before, I didn't let her in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cra Crack!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The statue exploited one's holes within the mind in order to infiltrate it and consume the\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>mind of its victim.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But my mind...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It had no holes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whatever holes it had, I had already sealed them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And so...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bang!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The hands shattered as I staggered forward, falling to the ground and pressing my hand down\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>to stop myself from falling face flat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Huek...!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While the process had sounded easy, it still did leave me somewhat exhausted as my mind throbbed. Pushing the pain away, I looked back at the statue who looked back at me, its hand slowly starting to regenerate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I didn't wait for it to completely regenerate before dashing toward the darkness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Help me...!'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Someone!'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wherever I passed, voices reached my ears. They pleaded and begged for me as they reached out for me, their faces stretching through the darkness in an attempt to reach for me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I ignored everything and headed deeper into the darkness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'I need to find her...'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeping into the Angel's world, I had a plan in mind. Its strength came directly from the victim it absorbed, and while I didn't know exactly what its plan was for sure, I had a feeling\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>that it involved the finals.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'.... It probably wants to send a message to the entire world.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I recalled the chilling sight back in the vision after I used the second leaf, and I hurried my\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>steps. I needed to stop it now before it was too late.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If the statue managed to defeat Leon and absorb his power, then the situation would turn out\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>for the worse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I couldn't allow for that scenario to happen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Partially from the victims of the Angel's schemes, but also from what would happen to me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once the world found out what happened, I could already imagine Grimspire getting locked\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>down with its people being searched for potential 'possessions'.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If it ever came down to that, then my secret would be found.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I didn't come from this world.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everything that I had built up would crumble down, and I'd probably get locked up\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>somewhere if not downright killed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had no choice but to keep silent and resolve the situation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"....?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Coming to a stop, I saw a faint light coming from the distance. It was bright and stood as a massive contrast to the darkness that embraced the entire world.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I was a little hesitant at first, thinking that it could very well be a trap, but upon seeing the\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>light become brighter and feeling a familiar feeling from it, I resolved my mind and moved in\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>its direction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was when I saw Evelyn and was able to make sense of the situation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Stop.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I grabbed her hand, stopping whatever she was doing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her eyes shook the moment I touched her hand, but I didn't let go and instead looked at Kiera\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>who was being engulfed by her own flames.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Y-you...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Let her be. It'll do her more harm than good.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What...?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing the confused look on Evelyn's face, I explained,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The Angel is merely using her abilities to fight Leon. If we stop it now, the Angel will try to\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>take her powers with more force.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though my mind was deep into the statue, a small part of my consciousness was still\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>connected to the outside world.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I could go out of this place whenever I wanted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though I couldn't see what was happening, I could still hear everything that was happening. I\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>knew what sort of trouble Leon was in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"....Are you sure?\" Evelyn appeared a little hesitant at first, but as I looked back into her eyes, she pressed her\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>lips together and pulled her hand away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Akhg! Fuck...!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kiera continued to scream, cursing from time to time, but we only watched in silence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"F-fuck!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her cries were heart-wrenching, resounding deeply into the darkness, but I remained\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>unfazed. Looking toward Evelyn who had a hard time keeping her emotions in check, I began\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>asking her questions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"How did you get here?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"....Uh?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She looked surprised by the fact that I was speaking to her at first but soon managed to\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>recover.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I have my own means.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What was your plan?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"....To free everyone while the Angel is busy with the fight.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So we had the same idea...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And you have a way to track everyone down?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I do.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Evelyn nodded quietly, opening up her palm to show a small projection where several dots\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>appeared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This is...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You can call it a map. This dot over here is where we are whereas the dots scattered around\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>are where everyone else is.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"How do you manage to detect them?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"....It's because of my element.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Evelyn's expression turned complicated as she looked at me. She mumbled something quietly\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>under her breath, faint enough for me to not understand before she continued with her\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>explanation,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The Lightning element is the most effective element in detecting those that have been\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>possessed. By sending a quick pulse into their mind, I can shock their mind awake and clear it\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>for long enough to free them from whatever is controlling them.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But what does that have to do with helping you detect them?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"....Because we aren't in our physical forms.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Evelyn explained, fiddling with her hands as bolts of lightning crackled around it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Right now, we're all connected by a single mind...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Raising her head, she looked up toward the void.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...The mind of the Angel.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ah.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I started to get a better idea of what she was talking about.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Does that mean that you can free everyone that is trapped?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"In essence, yes.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Evelyn nodded truthfully.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But...?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I'd need to get close enough to them first, and I can't be interrupted in the process.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I see.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I nodded thoughtfully, thinking about her words. Since she had entered the mind of the statue\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>during a time when it couldn't fully focus on what was happening inside, Evelyn could get several people free without any interference. This was essentially the only time she could do it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The plan was solid, but it didn't take into account the fact that the statue could use the powers\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>of those that it possessed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My mind started to churn as I laid eyes on the map in Evelyn's hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As I did, a thought occurred to me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Do you have any idea where the Angel is?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You...!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Evelyn's eyes widened upon realizing what I was planning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That-\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We don't have time. I'll take the entire statue's attention while you free the others.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But...!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We don't have time.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Evelyn pressed her lips together before eventually pointing toward a certain dot. I memorized\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>the exact direction before turning toward it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as I was about to move, Evelyn's hand reached out for my shoulder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I looked in her direction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\".....Can I ask you something?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ask me something? I frowned. This was not the time for this. I was just about to tell her this\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>when her next words left me shook.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Have we met before?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Uh...?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Evelyn blinked her eyes, her head tilting as she repeated,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Before you took Julien's body? Did we meet before?\"\u003C\u002Fp>",1921,"2026-06-02T12:40:56.142Z",1,"novelbin.me","c2dd7bdae69e821564ef28e0010442f3868f067af06b1fe6dfe464d159692ccc","advent-of-the-three-calamities-chapter-353","advent-of-the-three-calamities-chapter-351",876,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fadvent-of-the-three-calamities-cover.jpg"]