When the plot-skips players into the game world

On the other side, Ligeia was still murmuring softly, "Some children are too skilled at imitation, too focused on those 'imitate me' commands, ardently following the shadows cast by the light. Thus, they become 'good children,' 'clever children'... But what they imitate is not the sacred and flawless icon, but the deeply flawed human."

"So this imperfection also manifests within their imitation. Eventually, they will encounter problems that cannot be solved by merely imitating those around them—and the more fervently they imitate, the more intense the shock they will endure when they first face failure."

"Children have no power to refuse adults. Therefore, the ones who issue the 'imitate me' commands, every 'no' they utter is thunderous and formidable, insurmountable, and indisputable."

"The inevitable failures encountered during imitation only serve to intensify their desire to imitate. In such a vicious cycle, they fall into an abyss of being controlled."

"And if the seeds of evil thoughts germinate in their hearts during this process, they will want to escape this cycle. This craving is Transcendence, and that seed is Fall, Change, Violence. And this kind of violence is also an extension of Authority."

"——Among many acts of Transcendence, the essence of 'sacrifice' is violence."

Ligeia spoke as if reminiscing about someone, recalling some person's teachings.

Yulia stared at her as if she were gazing at another person emerging from within her.

That was someone who had once shared these "secrets of sacrifice" with Ligeia... or rather, with Meg—a person who belonged to the Path of Transcendence.

"Whether out of fear of drought, the desire to prolong life, the search for a scapegoat, the yearning for peaceful rest after death, the pursuit of victory in war, or the enjoyment of drunken revelry... Ancient humans around the world eventually made the unanimous choice to 'sacrifice.' Whether the sacrificial offering was human or beast, it was a form of collective violence, a kind of violence sanctioned by the community."

"——The essence of ritual is imitation, and the essence of sacrifice is violence. Imitation is the proof of humanity as the children of the Serpent Father, while sacrifice is the instinct of fall that is stained with desire deep within the human soul."

Ligeia paused briefly as she spoke, her fingers unconsciously tightening.

She whispered softly, "Transcendents of the Path of Transcendence tend to have tendencies for self-destruction. They regard themselves as vessels, and vessels are a form of shackles. Those who seek Transcendence will eventually harbor the desire to smash those shackles."

"For the sake of their purpose, they will harm themselves... not out of greed, but for the sake of the purpose itself."

"... I once knew a Transcendent of the Path of Transcendence. Before a nearly fatal battle, he had completed his self-sacrifice. By the time the battle was fought, victory could not bring him back, so this cannot be considered a sacrifice for survival; they were unlikely to win, so it wasn't for success; no one valued their death, so it wasn't for honor."

"I've wondered for a long time why they would do such a thing... It wasn't until recently that I came to understand, the purpose itself is the goal, the extension of desire is still desire. Transcenders are always like this."

As Aiwass lifted the third salt spear, the shadows within the salt basin became instantly still and silent. Ligeia's voice grew hoarse.

Yulia suddenly turned her head, then noticed the bright purple glow shining in Ligeia's pupils.

Witnessing such a Transcendent ritual, a resonance occurred between the Paths of Transcendence. Just as artists feel beauty when appreciating the work of others, Ligeia's physical stability, too, began to falter due to the resonance from the Shepherd's Nurturing ritual.

The dragon scales on her body creaked, as if worms were crawling beneath the flesh. She was visibly growing at a pace discernible to the naked eye.

And Aiwass's deep, raspy voice continued to rise in the bedroom:

"Who shall be sacrificed? What shall end? Which words will be immortalized?

"——I offer you my song of sacrifice!

"My love, my child, my flesh, my legacy, my altar, heed my command——"

Suspended in midair, the grains of salt transformed into dazzling stars, with Aiwass now standing amidst the Milky Way.

He lifted the salt spear, aiming for his own heart.

At this moment, the shadow beneath Aiwass and the shadow in the silver basin in front of him were eerily calm, displaying a strange tranquility.

Yulia's grip tightened, as she was about to rush forward, but she was held back by Ligeia's firm grip on her arm.

She turned back almost angrily, only to see Ligeia's face cracked like shattered porcelain, oozing blood. Ligeia, who up until now had appeared four or five years older than before, now seemed to be about Yulia's age. Her eyes flickered with a strange purple light, yet she was expressionless.

——Merely listening to the "Nurturing Secret Sequel" had triggered growth in her body.

Ligeia felt an intense thirst—a longing originating from Aiwass, who stood before the salt basin soaked in his own blood.

But her unwavering rationality swiftly suppressed this desire, and incidentally, she restrained Yulia as well.

Aiwass, looking down at the Shadow Demon with pity, murmured, "I offer you...

"——My moment of death." Explore more adventures at My Virtual Library Empire

As Aiwass's voice fell, the salt spear shrouded in shadows pierced his heart like a stake through the Son of the Moon.