The Chanis Gate opened without warning, and a mass of black threads surged out from behind the door.
Like hair, or perhaps seaweed, they spread toward Blaine peacefully and silently.
Was this the sealing power from behind the Chanis Gate?
Blaine looked at the mass of black threads, and images he'd seen before naturally surfaced in his mind.
These threads quietly filled the world behind the gate, suppressing those dangerous sealed artifacts, though he didn't know what their source was.
In that brief moment of distraction, these threads reached him with astonishing speed.
Not good!
Blaine's heart jumped.
If they could suppress even sealed artifacts, these threads were extremely dangerous, especially now at night!
He was about to retreat and dodge, but a tranquil and hidden aura had already surged over, immediately slowing his movements.
He watched helplessly as the threads completely enveloped his head...
Is this how it ends?
Blaine thought in confusion.
He stood frozen in place. Countless scenes from both his past and present lives flashed through his mind in an instant, finally settling on Cecilia's bright, smiling face.
I wonder if Miss M will spare her...
Blaine regretfully closed his eyes.
One second.
Two seconds.
Blaine suddenly realized something.
Wait, seems like nothing happened?
Opening his eyes, the black threads surrounded his head like they'd put some strangely styled hood on him.
The threads squirmed quietly, releasing silent, peaceful power. Something had changed imperceptibly.
Spiritual intuition made Blaine instinctively look to the side of his face.
He was shocked to discover that the red blood mist that had been coiling around him seemed suppressed by the black threads.
It no longer drifted about, but had congealed into a clump.
The eyeball on it was dim and lifeless, wrapped in layers of threads. That ear had also shriveled up, its canal filled with threads.
Blaine stared wide-eyed at this scene.
This, this is...
Could it be that these threads sealed off Miss M's senses?
And I didn't explode, which means Miss M hasn't even noticed!?
After a moment of shock, Blaine suddenly grasped his current situation.
Right now, he had temporarily escaped Miss M's surveillance.
Whatever the principle behind this mass of black threads was, whatever its purpose and consequences, at least for this moment, he had truly escaped Miss M's monitoring!
I have to do something!
His mind was immediately filled with this thought. This was an excellent opportunity.
If he didn't seize it properly, he would definitely regret it.
What should I do? Contact the captain?
No, the captain had already left work.
Ringing the bell to call teammates downstairs and tell them the truth wouldn't work either, because the bell's location was too far away, and the threads couldn't extend that far.
Write to Azik?
No, the contact method was with Klein. He couldn't even send a letter, and he had no paper or pen anyway.
So what should he do?
Blaine anxiously thought at lightning speed.
He could only stay put. What could he do, something that might counter Miss M...
Suddenly, inspiration struck Blaine.
He'd almost forgotten that he'd been a Secrets Suppliant for quite a while.
When it came to what he was best at, wasn't it praying to gods and other great existences?
Pray to great existences, and perhaps one of them would bestow grace, providing abilities that could counter Miss M!
With this thought, he unhesitatingly took out candles, herbs, a ritual dagger, and other items from his coat.
He began rapidly setting up an altar, methodically completing various preparations.
He didn't know how long the Chanis Gate would stay open. He had to hurry and complete the ritual quickly.
Although the black threads somewhat obstructed his vision, he still swiftly prepared everything.
Blaine had wanted to use the silver dagger to create a spiritual wall, but considering the wall might cut off the effect of the black threads, he ultimately abandoned the idea.
He simply lit two candles, scattered herbs and essential oils, then tried his best to appear devout as he recited the Evernight Goddess's honorific name in Hermes:
"Evernight Goddess, more lofty than the stars, more eternal than eternity."
Having learned from last time, when it came to matters involving Miss M, Blaine no longer prayed to the True Creator.
"You are the Crimson Lord, You are the Mother of Secrets."
Blaine's reason for turning to pray to the Evernight Goddess was also quite simple.
This was underground at Blackthorn Security Company, the Nighthawks' headquarters in Tingen.
Moreover, these threads from behind the Chanis Gate had suddenly helped him suppress Miss M's surveillance.
No matter how he thought about it, the Evernight Goddess was helping him.
That being the case, what reason did he have not to pray to the Evernight Goddess?
"You are the Empress of Disaster, the Mistress of Repose and Silence!"
Hidden and tranquil power gathered mysteriously. Blaine could feel the goddess's influence descending.
With an excited heart, he continued reciting the incantation:
"I pray to You."
"I pray You grant me the power to change my current situation."
"Grant me the power to save Your innocent believer, the power to restrain evil enemies..."
Blaine prayed to the goddess for a way to rescue his sister and defeat Miss M. If he were under Miss M's gaze, he wouldn't dare speak such a prayer. According to the ritual's procedure, this was when the goddess should send down divine revelation. So he waited expectantly.
However, nothing happened.
Blaine looked up, somewhat puzzled.
There was nothing wrong with the ritual. The goddess's power had truly descended, but she was only watching Blaine, not responding to his prayer in any way.
Why...
Blaine stared blankly as the candle flame extinguished on its own despite no wind, signifying the goddess had left.
What kind of nonsense is this, giving me hope but not providing further help?
Is it because I'm still not devout enough?
Or is it...
In his heart, Blaine actually had another understanding.
Perhaps the goddess was simply a shrewd investor.
After taking a liking to certain people, she was willing to provide help. But this help was limited.
You had to prove your worth, let the other party see that you had potential for upward development, before there would be room for further cooperation.
At this moment, Blaine suddenly recognized once again the most important rule in the Secrets Suppliant acting principles he'd summarized: They are not benevolent.
The black threads before his eyes gradually thinned. Blaine understood he didn't have much time left.
What should I do, let this precious opportunity go to waste?
He stood silently in place.
After a moment, he gritted his teeth hard, raised the silver dagger, and pressed it against the back of his hand.
Then, without hesitation, he cut open the skin on the back of his hand and forcibly carved the pattern of an eye without eyelashes into it, blood flowing as he did so.
To hell with it, I'm going all in!
Blaine closed his eyes and loudly recited in the more effective but more dangerous Ancient Hermes:
"Incarnation of Spirit and Numbers,
Wellspring of all knowledge,
Hidden Sage above the wilderness..."
He was going to pray to the Hidden Sage for power!
That's right.
Since the Evernight Goddess was only willing to provide a little help, the rest could only depend on himself.
Among the great existences whose honorific names Blaine knew, whom he could pray to, and who had sufficient mystical status, only the Hidden Sage remained.
Although, because of what happened with Old Neil, he had committed some blasphemous acts.
But as far as Blaine knew, this strange and eerie existence didn't care about such things.
The only thing He wanted was to spread knowledge to His followers.
As Blaine finished reciting the Hidden Sage's honorific name, a certain mysterious power suddenly descended.
۞۞۞۞
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