Inside the Thunder Cathedral, the dome was high and wide, arches followed one after another, and murals covered the walls without leaving any empty space, mainly in gold and blue, making those walking inside instinctively feel sacred and solemn, and involuntarily lower their heads.
In the quiet atmosphere, led by a priest, they made their way to the clergy quarters in the back of the cathedral, and each received a room.
Closing the door, Alger saw the blood-like moonlight streaming through the window, making the environment eerie and sinister, while countless shadows and resentful spirits seemed to watch the real world through a thin veil.
Whenever the "Blood Moon" appeared, spirituality would surge, the power from the Spirit World and hell would be greatly enhanced, and the negative emotions of living beings would erupt; the higher the Sequence, the more pronounced the sensation.
Dimly, Alger heard sounds of crying, low shouts, and whispers, which were completely different from the solemn feeling he had experienced earlier in the Thunder Cathedral.
Before his eyes seemed to appear illusory arms extending from the walls, the floor, and the ceiling, like a three-dimensional pale forest.
Alger knew the anomaly of the "Blood Moon," and without any panic, he took off his captain's hat, entered the washroom, and washed his face with tap water.
During this process, he suddenly heard a distant and beautiful song.
The song was indistinct, seeming to come from the center of the island yet also lingering and echoing, as if right beside Alger; it did not inspire fear, but was like a woman far from her family, far from her relatives, far from her lover, standing on the edge of a cliff, gazing at the surging tide, humming softly, heavy with sorrow.
Alger tore off a towel, wiped his face, and then listened for a few seconds.
He frowned, took out a small iron box from a hidden pocket in his priestly robe, and brought it close to his ear.
Inside was the "Ocean Singer" Beyonder characteristic he had bought from "The World"; he suspected that the residual spirit in the item had temporarily increased under the influence of the Blood Moon.
As the box approached, part of the song in Alger's ear became clear: depression, sadness, longing, and pain—these emotions were almost tangible.
But besides that, there was still an ethereal ancient song coming through, clearly distinct from the clear part, as if they were echoing each other!
"Whose song is this? It sounds elvish... Is there an elven item inside the church? Or did this 'Ocean Singer' Beyonder characteristic on me come from an elf?" Alger nodded in speculation.
Because the
If it was a magical item, there was no problem, but if it was a sealed artefact, the fact that the song could penetrate the isolation indicated it was far from ordinary... Alger retracted his thoughts, brushed his teeth, and lay down on the bed.
He soon fell asleep and entered a dream.
After an unknown amount of time, Alger suddenly became somewhat awake, vaguely knowing he was dreaming, but also consciously looking around.
He found that above him was swaying deep blue seawater, overlapping layer upon layer, with no sky visible; ahead stood a magnificent palace seemingly made of coral, tall, splendid, gloomy, and dark.
Alger subconsciously walked toward the palace and entered the open gates.
Inside, huge coral pillars stood, supporting an exaggerated dome, with walls and ceiling covered in murals primarily depicting the terror of storms.
At the end, a hundred meters away, a seat inlaid with sapphires, emeralds, and lustrous pearls sat on nine steps, particularly eye-catching.
Alger looked over and saw a woman sitting there, dressed in an ornate, antique long gown; her hair was black and shiny, styled in a high bun, her features soft and delicate, possessing a beauty not subject to prejudice across time.
The woman's expression was cold, her ears slightly pointed, and her brown eyes deep, looking down at Alger from above.
She was playing with a golden goblet covered in intricate patterns.
Just as Alger was about to speak, the woman's eyes blazed with silver light, as if lightning had kindled, burst out, and pierced the dream!
Huff... Alger sat up with a start, catching his breath, feeling that the dream was both vague and clear.
Among it, vague were the woman's appearance, the details of the murals, and the specific shape of the coral palace; clear were those eyes that contained lightning and the slightly pointed ears.
A High Elf? Did her left-behind item resonate with the "Ocean Singer" Beyonder characteristic on me under the effect of the Blood Moon, thereby influencing my dream? While making guesses, Alger casually wondered which item it could be.
Due to his low status, he knew only a limited number of sealed artefacts and magical items, but with knowledge others didn't have, he soon had a target:
"Calamity Hochinam?
"The '