The formless fog floated towards the unmoving body of Adam.
Unbeknownst to it, the youth had already broken through the mind prison and had gained consciousness.
While the great horror was dealing with Felix, Adam had the perfect opportunity to run away. From what he had surmised, it was quite difficult for it to deal with him. However, he did not escape.
There were two reasons.
First, the four-armed creature that he and Felix had fought earlier was still out there somewhere. It hadnāt entered the temple along with them.
Second, and most importantly, Adam was not going to leave until it devoured the bastard!
It had dared to use the memory of his late mother against him. That was utterly unforgivable. There were very few things in the world that could enrage him and bring out such hatred and fury.
This was one of them.
So he allowed himself to become the fogās helpless prey. He had already seen how the entity had killed Felix. Now, Adam grew more and more certain of his speculation. And that was why he chose to stay and fight back.
Because he had a chance!
The formless fog slithered towards the raven-haired youthās motionless body. Just like what had happened with Felix, the creatureās tendrils of gray mist slithered around Adamās limbs and torso, lifting him into the air like he was a broken marionette.
Still, Adam remained motionless.
This wasnāt going to be a battle of physical might. No, this was going to be a battle of the mind and soul!
The next moment, the fog surged forward like an all-consuming tide and slithered inside Adam through his facial orifices. The youthās body trembled violently as the fog bypassed the physical barrier and entered his mind.
Once again, he heard the familiar voice of his dear mother.
"Adam, supperās ready."
The youth found himself lying in bed, under the warmth of the thick quilt. His eyelids trembled ever so slightly.
Not yet.
Then, came the sound of footsteps.
Adamās mother walked towards the bed, then sat beside him. With a gentle expression on her face, she reached out with a hand and carressed his raven hair.
Her lips parted, and she gently whispered:
"Wake up, dear. Itās time for supper."
Adamās lips quivered. The sound of his late mother clawed at his heart. Oh, how much he wished to hear that gentle, loving voice. But he never wanted it to be under such circumstances.
Though it was all a fabricated lie, woven by a powerful entity of the spirit world, Adam couldnāt help but give in to it.
"Mother," he gently called out.
"Yes, dear. Iām here." His mother smiled warmly.
Adam involuntarily gulped. Then, with a strained voice, one choked with emotions, he said:
"I missed you, Mother. I... missed you so, so much. You would have been proud to see the man Iāve become. Just like I promised you that night... Iāve made lots of friends. They care for me. They look up to me. And just like I promised Father... Iāve become a splendid Magus. You both would have been so proud of me."
The creature froze. It didnāt speak for a long time.
Then, it said with a warm and doting smile, "Iām proud of you, Adam. Did you have a nightmare? Come, open your eyes. Let me look at you."
Adam sat up on the bed and wiped his tears.
"Yes... my supperās ready," he mumbled, his heart igniting with murderous fury.
"Come now, open your eyes, my son," said the creature. "Look at me."
The creatureās voice was indistinguishable from Adamās motherās, yet its twisted form was a cruel mockery of her memory.
"You want me to open my eyes?" Adam asked, his voice cold.
"Yes. Open your eyes." The creatureās voice was the same as ever, full of love and warmth.
After witnessing how the formless fog had killed Felix, Adam became certain of its nature. There was a reason why it invaded his mind, wearing the guise of a loved one. There was a reason why it kept urging him to open his eyes.
Eyes were the windows to the soul, after all.
An aura of intense bloodlust inadvertently radiated from Adam. Immense hatred and anger surged forward as he spat through gritted teeth:
"Then look into my fucking eyes!"
His eyelids snapped open, and in that moment, the entire cottage was drowned in a blinding holy light. Before Adam stood the formless fog, its countless eyes shining with gluttony.
But when Adam opened his eyes, the creature suddenly froze.
Then, one by one, the countless eyes scattered across its body reflected the lotus pattern!
The creature had never beheld anything so pure, so divine, so... utterly beautiful. Overcome by insatiable hunger, it dove straight into Adamās spirit sea, impatient to devour his soul.
Once inside, the formless fog froze once again. It was just as it had expected. This was the purest soul it had ever come across! Perhaps... perhaps, once it devoured this soul, it would finally be able to pass through those flames and form a physical body!
Floating on the surface of the azure sea, its countless eyes gazed at Adamās figure, who was standing in the near distance.
Something was strange...
Why didnāt the human appear scared?
Why did the human look like... he was waiting for it to come inside?
Adamās eyes were bloodshot from unfiltered anger. Without a shred of fear, he walked towards the abomination, who had dared to invade his spirit sea.
"You dare..." The youthās voice trembled with fury he had never known before. "You dare use her memory!"
The formless fogās countless eyes flickered with avarice as it rushed towards Adam. It couldnāt wait to devour his soul.
However, Adam was dauntless. He continued to march forward.
"Unforgivable..." he spat through gritted teeth.
Then, he outstretched a hand.
A split second later, something shot out from the depths of his spirit sea.
When the fogās eyes landed on this object, they turned wide as saucers. Those countless, grotesque eyes flashed with recognition, reverence... and dread.
But it was already too late.
The Eternal Soul Lotus settled gently into Adamās palm. He stepped forward, his dark eyes burning with hatred and vengeful wrath.
Then, his lips parted and he coldly said one, simple word:
"Bloom."