Watching the gradually calming "Spirit World," that chilling presence once again fell into slumber. Uchiha Sogetsu finally breathed a sigh of relief.
"No wonder they say: it's easy to invite a god, but hard to send one away."
Even as the King of Angels with the 'Uniqueness', Sogetsu still felt a lingering unease.
"What exactly is that will?"
From the power it displayed, it effortlessly drove away the "Mother Goddess of Depravity."
And judging by the thunder and light it carried, it seemed somewhat like 'God Almighty' himself.
Sogetsu fell into deep thought. "Could a part of God Almighty's will have been left behind in the 'Spirit World'?"
It wasn't impossible, but the thought unsettled him.
Or perhaps it was another pillar-level 'Great Old One'?
For now, the answer remained unknown.
After a brief rest, Uchiha Sogetsu composed himself and turned to look at 'Shinnō.'
Because his connection to the 'Spirit World' was cut off, Shinnō could no longer sense the 'Mother Goddess of Depravity.' His panic-stricken screams and already twisted sanity seemed to sink deeper into darkness, his body surrounded by rotting black mist.
"We must speed up the plan."
Sogetsu frowned and looked toward the spiritual sky.
The Spirit World, a reflection on the mental plane, appeared chaotic and unpredictable.
Though the flowing black mist had mostly dissipated, the power of the 'Mother Goddess of Depravity' still could not be fully expelled.
On top of that, the mysterious presence hidden within the Spirit World forced Sogetsu to quicken his progress once more.
"Adam!"
Suddenly, Uchiha Sogetsu spoke, his voice penetrating the collective subconscious realm.
His voice was like a mighty bell, stirring ripples across the Sea of Collective Subconscious, weaving through countless islands of the mind, a phantom web of intertwined thoughts, directly reaching the deep layers of "Shinnō's" consciousness.
On the surface-level mental island where "Shinnō's" awareness formed, there was no sign of "Adam."
"Could he be hiding in the deeper subconscious?"
Logically, once his "name" was called by Sogetsu, even if trapped in some irreversible dormant state, the waves of the Sea of Collective Subconscious should have "awakened" him.
However, Sogetsu called out "Adam," but received no response at all.
That meant "Adam" was hidden far beneath, deep in the collective subconscious beneath the sea's surface—within the islands of the mind at an even deeper level.
"This is getting a bit troublesome."
Uchiha Sogetsu sighed slightly. He had no intention of giving up on "Adam," after all, this was a carefully nurtured "Virtual Persona."
Without hesitation, his figure became translucent. With a single step, he entered "Shinnō's" subconscious realm.
"Whoa, a black forest?"
Seeing that sickeningly dark forest truly shocked Uchiha Sogetsu.
He had already suspected something, but after seeing the mental island overtaken by this black forest, he could now be certain.
"The mythical form of the Mother Goddess of Depravity is almost identical to the 'Shub-Niggurath.'" He frowned thoughtfully. "Or maybe… these two are one and the same, just carrying different symbolic meanings?"
After all, whether it was the 'Shub-Niggurath' or the 'Mother Goddess of Depravity,' their greatest authority was nearly identical—
"Reproduction," or simply put, "birth"!
"Hah, if that's the case, then what exactly is the 'Lord of Mysteries'?"
Uchiha Sogetsu shook his head and couldn't help but chuckle, pushing the thought from his mind.
No matter what, he would personally explore this strange island.
Perhaps only then could he uncover even the tiniest piece of information about the island—and the Mother Goddess of Depravity herself.
Uchiha Sogetsu wrapped himself tightly with layers of mental defenses, completely hiding his spiritual presence.
This way, he could sneak directly into the deeper layers of consciousness beneath without disturbing the awareness of this mental island.
However, the result seemed different from what he had expected.
As soon as he stepped onto the ground that resembled rotting flesh, Sogetsu furrowed his brow slightly, sensing the disturbance in this forest.
The silent, pitch-black forest had detected his intrusion!
The "offspring" growled deeply as they uprooted from the rotten flesh-like soil.
One by one, their flesh and blood twisted into disgusting, crazed monsters, roaring fiercely to block the intruder.
"It's your turn."
But looking calmly at the approaching "offspring," Uchiha Sogetsu's expression remained serene and indifferent.
In the next moment, the shadow beneath his feet seemed alive.
Suddenly, it stood up beside him, shedding the shadow's veil to reveal the "Angel of Concealment" draped in a tattered yellow robe.
The Angel of Concealment extended a pure, white palm as if bidding farewell to those flesh monsters, waving lightly.
In an instant, those flesh monsters vanished layer by layer, like paint erased from a canvas by an eraser.
The "offspring" snarled and clawed, horrifying and fierce.
But unfortunately, in front of the Angel of Concealment, it was meaningless.
Without even the slightest resistance, they were directly "erased".
Where they went, no one could know.
After all, in this world, there was no Foggy Town created by the "Evernight Goddess," so naturally, they went somewhere no one could reach.
"Keep moving forward."
Uchiha Sogetsu acted as if nothing had happened, stepping on the rotten flesh-like soil and advancing deeper.
One thing had to be admitted — on this mental island, shrouded by the residual power of the "Mother Goddess of Depravity," he could always sense the ever-present, pervasive "corruption" trying to invade.
"Still persistent, trying to corrupt me?" Uchiha Sogetsu furrowed his brow again but didn't worry too much.
Having embraced "Uniqueness," with his stature, as long as he was not facing the true Mother Goddess of Depravity, it was almost impossible for any silent, distant force to corrupt a King of Angels across the Spirit World.
"A mere 'Sequence Four,' yet so many 'offspring' hidden in this mental island?"
Uchiha Sogetsu pinched his brow, watching the continuous wave of "offspring" trying to stop him, and couldn't help but smile lightly.
"After so much effort and cost, you've only made me more curious about what you're hiding inside."
The Angel of Concealment stepped forward, and with the power of a Sequence Two, directly erased that group of creatures trying to block the way!
"Should I call Sasrir?"
The previously silent Angel of Concealment suddenly spoke, "The situation is complicated now. I fear more will come from behind."
Uchiha Sogetsu thought for a moment and nodded slightly, "Sasrir."
"Understood."
As the word was spoken, a man in a black robe adorned with silver threads, intricate patterns, and lavish accessories suddenly appeared beside them.
His deep black hair curled over his shoulders, his eyes seemed shrouded in shadow, and behind him, faint dark wings flickered like illusions.
The Dark Angel, Sasrir!
Though still only a Virtual Persona, he could briefly wield the power of the 'Hanged Man' pathway at the 'Angel' level.
In this mission, he was barely an indispensable member.
*******
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