[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-path-of-the-extra":3,"chapter-path-of-the-extra-path-of-the-extra-chapter-87":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Path of the Extra",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":20,"prevChapterSlug":21,"totalChapters":22,"novelImage":23},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":16,"volume":17,"translator":18,"content_hash":19},420451,684,"Chapter 87: Descent into Madness [2]","path-of-the-extra-chapter-87",87,"\u003Cp>Azriel felt his insides burn as if a fire raged within him, yet at the same time, an icy wind brushed against his skin, making him shiver uncontrollably.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The conflicting sensations gnawed at him—heat scorching him from the inside, cold prickling him from the outside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was disorienting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He collapsed to his knees next to Instructor Kevin, every movement scraping against him like sandpaper.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The bottle of water sat useless in their hands, untouched.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In front of Azriel, a figure materialized.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Blurred, shadowy, its features unrecognizable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet its presence alone was enough to freeze him in place.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ooooo... hmmmm... laaaah... mmmm...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A soft lullaby drifted from the figure, eerie and gentle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The melody wrapped around him like a noose.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Azriel's eyes, wide and unblinking, locked onto the figure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He couldn't look away. He didn't want to look away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ooooo... hmmmm... laaaah... mmmm...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The lullaby persisted, and with every note, a strange comfort washed over him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The pain, the thirst—everything faded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why did this feel so familiar?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was wrong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He knew that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet, the more he listened, the calmer he felt, as though he was sinking into some dark, warm abyss.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His body, previously crippled with pain, moved on its own.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He stood, the bottle of water slipping from his hand and landing in the sand with a muted thud.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Each movement should've hurt, but Azriel didn't notice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was entranced.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Step by step, he moved toward the figure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Mmmm... ohhhh... laaaah... hmmmmm...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He couldn't even tell if the voice belonged to a man or a woman.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"My prince... wait...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kevin's voice was faint, hoarse—distant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It didn't matter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nothing mattered but that song.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Azriel continued walking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The pain that had once ravaged his body dulled into nothingness, replaced by a peaceful numbness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A sense of serenity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He walked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And walked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Until he was close enough to see it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Azriel's steps faltered as the figure's features slowly sharpened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The lullaby still dripped from its lips, but now he could see clearly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a woman.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her hair, a soft chocolate brown, cascaded down her shoulders.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her eyes, aa shade of emerald green, gleamed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her skin was pale—too pale, like freshly fallen snow untouched by the sun that did not exist here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She wore a simple white dress, flowing around her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In her arms, she cradled a torn, black cloth, stroking it gently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She looked down at it with a soft, affectionate smile as she continued to hum the lullaby, her voice soothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Mmmm... ohhhh... laaaah...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ah...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A breath escaped Azriel's lips, barely audible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His body trembled, lips quivering as the realization struck him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He knew this woman.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Mother...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment the word escaped his lips, Azriel felt his blood freeze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His eyes widened as he suddenly snapped out of the trance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The lullaby didn't cease.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The woman remained oblivious, still cradling whatever lay beneath the torn cloth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was wrong. Everything was wrong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Why... why is she here...?'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A mental attack.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It had to be.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just like that time in Europe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had nearly succumbed to the crying fog then; he wasn't about to make the same mistake again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Or... at least, that's what he wanted to believe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet, he couldn't move a single muscle, his gaze locked onto the woman before him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She looked so real.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The more he stared, the weaker he felt, memories flooding back unbidden.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their last conversation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The accident.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The hospital.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The hateful eyes she had given him in her final moments.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Azriel's hands curled into fists, his nails digging into his palms until blood dripped.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Why the fuck is it always a mental attack...?'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sheer fact that a creature could invade his mind—and was strong enough to manifest here, on the second floor—darkened his thoughts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Of course, something like this would happen...'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If the first floor hadn't finished him off, then the second surely would.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And if that didn't do the job...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"My prince... please, don't move.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kevin's hoarse voice reached him as he stood beside him, offering the bottle of water Azriel had dropped.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Don't get too close. Don't look away from it... and don't talk to it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Azriel nodded heavily, eyes still fixated on the figure that resembled his mother.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He gulped down the water in one go, his focus unbroken.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What you're seeing is what we call a Cradler—nasty void creatures that manipulate your mind by taking the form of someone you wish to see. It's not someone I know, so it must be someone you desire. Here, I thought it would be someone more familiar…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Get to the point, Instructor.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kevin's expression darkened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Right... The thing is, Cradlers are supposed to only appear from the seventh floor onward...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Great...'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A void creature that belonged on the seventh floor had manifested on the second.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Azriel kept staring, unwilling to look away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Squinting slightly, he tried to sense its mana core, but found nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Instructor, where is its mana core?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We're not seeing its real body... I think.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His words provided little comfort as a sigh escaped Azriel's lips.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So how do we kill it?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A surprised expression crossed Kevin's face, but he didn't break his gaze from the Cradler.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"My prince, we can't. We need to retreat and head back to the surface. I thought we'd be fine, even with a small floor shift or two, but... a Cradler on the second floor? Gods know what else might be lurking.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Azriel bit his lip.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kevin was right; it was becoming too risky.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only Jasmine knew about the void dungeon targeting him, and even he found it ridiculous to confront a Cradler on this floor in person.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Cradler showed no signs of changing its actions, still singing that lullaby, still cradling whatever lay beneath the cloth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That smile...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It made Azriel sick.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His face contorted in disgust.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Instructor, what's beneath that cloth?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His voice came out colder than intended, surprising Kevin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I don't know. All Cradlers have them; they specialize in mental attacks. Their singing lures victims and leads to their demise, but I can't say what's hidden beneath that cloth.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Silence fell as Azriel continued to stare at it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"My prince... if it's not too rude, who is this woman before us?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kevin's curiosity was understandable, though there was a time and place for such questions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Azriel hesitated, listening to the lullaby echo in his mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"... A dead woman.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I see... I apologize for asking something so insensitive.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Azriel nodded, his gaze fixed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It's fine, but how do we get out of this situation?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kevin tilted his head, considering the woman.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We walk back slowly and hope it leaves us alone?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"....\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'What did he just say...?'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Azriel felt a chill of disbelief, though he couldn't bring himself to look at Instructor Kevin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He simply nodded and followed the instructions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Slowly, he took a step back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then another.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And another.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instructor Kevin mirrored his movements.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It didn't take more than five steps before an icy shiver ran through Azriel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The singing had stopped.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Instructor...!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Calm down! Just don't move!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Azriel obeyed, frozen in place.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Neither of them dared to budge as they watched the Cradler, who continued to stare at the cloth, its smile unmoving but its song ceased.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Azriel's heart pounded against his ribs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was desperate to destroy the void creature in front of him, yet he knew he was powerless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A Cradler was a formidable foe—even Instructor Kevin had to be on high alert.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With the same smile, the woman who resembled his deceased mother finally looked up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A shuddering breath escaped Azriel's lips as those familiar, eyes locked onto his.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He felt as though he was suffocating.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Instructor...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Don't move, my prince... not yet.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They continued to stare at one another, cold sweat dripping from both Azriel and Kevin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The tension was suffocating.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Until...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It has been so long, hasn't it, dear?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Azriel's eyes widened, his breath catching in his throat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The voice, unmistakably his deceased mother's, made his blood run cold once again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He gritted his teeth, remembering Kevin's warning:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Don't get too close. Don't look away from it and don't talk to it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Azriel wanted to rip the Cradler's tongue out, his rage boiling over.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Cradler tilted its head, a look of confusion on its face as it tapped its chin thoughtfully.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Is something wrong, my dear? It's been so long. I long to hear your voice.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Don't say a word. It wants you to fall for its tricks,\" Kevin murmured urgently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Azriel nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He wanted this to end swiftly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing his deceased mother's acting like this was agonizing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had to bite his tongue, struggling to keep the urge to vomit at bay.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Oh, I see…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A look of sudden realization spread across the Cradler's face, her smile widening unnervingly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"\"!!\"\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She took a deliberate step forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And then...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was right in front of Azriel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inches away from his face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Azriel's mind went blank.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He could barely react as a cold shiver ran down his spine from the sudden, chilling touch on his cheek.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It must have been lonely, right? You don't need to hold back in front of me anymore, my sweet, sweet dear…\"\u003C\u002Fp>",1528,"2026-05-30T08:07:17.136Z","2026-06-01T04:30:42.950Z",1,"novelbin.me","0b110aa4d10c2f9e3d4ec4887bca7d2ca69955dcaa6623e5b51b30b69d2a9fde","path-of-the-extra-chapter-127","path-of-the-extra-chapter-126",424,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fpath-of-the-extra-cover.jpg"]