《Evil God Ridge》 The Worlds Highest Pinnacle, the Mountain Range Where the Malevolent Deity Slumbers In the year 2177, at Evil God Ridge in West Virginia, USA. A vast, obsidian mountain range burst into the world''s view. Estimates suggest that its principal peak has soared to an unprecedented elevation, arrogantly surveying all of creation to claim the title of the highest summit on Earth¡ªboth in absolute altitude and relative prominence. Yet as those who dared tread its domain vanished without a trace, aircraft succumbed to fatal crashes, and even wireless signals were swallowed by its depths, unsettling rumors began to spread. It was whispered that beyond a mist-enshrouded pass, on the other side, lay an endless necropolis¡ªa city of the dead hewn from immense, ancient stones and dominated by an impenetrable darkness. Thus, this range acquired ominous epithets: ¡°The Mountain of the Sleeping Evil God,¡± ¡°The World¡¯s Third Pole,¡± ¡°The Gate to Hell,¡± and ¡°The City of Shadows.¡± Even so, there remained a cadre of mad souls, irresistibly drawn by its mysterious and austere allure, who schemed by any means to circumvent official barriers and infiltrate this forbidden realm. They chanted slogans like, ¡°Offer your heart, offer your soul, and attain eternal life.¡± When authorities intercepted and interrogated these zealots, they discovered that, in their eyes, the barren, foreboding black mountains transformed into a lush, breathtaking paradise teeming with life¡ªand inhabited by enchanting, amiable spirits. All disquieting accounts of the range were, it seemed, unconsciously dismissed by these believers. An interrogator argued that they were merely delusional, suffering from hallucinations; to which they retorted, ¡°Why should the vision of the majority be deemed the truth? Only those who have truly set foot upon that land have the right to speak, for truth is grasped by but a select few. What, then, lurks in the depths of that mountain range?¡± Such questions haunted every citizen of the Federation, though the dreadful, forbidden truth was a burden not all could bear. Inside the Federal Bureau of Investigation, a remarkably beautiful woman quietly perused the declassified files spread before her¡ªfiles detailing the secret taboos of that pitch-black mountain range. With her long, silky golden hair and pale, shimmering eyes, her exquisitely defined features could easily captivate any onlooker, were it not for the restless shadows dancing within her gaze that betrayed her inner turmoil. ¡¾Evil Ominous Mountain Range, Enigmatic Code: 0-03¡¿ ¡¾Entity: Suspected to be of ¡®quasi-unknowable¡¯ level¡¿ ¡¾Classification: Rule-concept category, ultra-colossal domain type¡¿ ¡¾Risk Assessment: Harbors perils of fatal curses, memetic contamination, exponential growth, and the nurturing of subordinate anomalies; its vastness and impenetrable core render it beyond confinement, sealing, or limitation¡­¡¿ ¡¾Taboo One: Exalted beings who command anomalies or wield powers over the undead must not approach the range¡¿ ¡¾Taboo Two: Upon entering the mountains, one must not utter the name of any human being¡ªincluding one¡¯s own¡ªand it is advisable to retain all personal belongings (even a single strand of hair)¡¿ ¡¾Taboo Three: Should one encounter a blood-red cluster of flowers¡ªreminiscent of otherworldly blossoms with ocular centers¡ªor a stunning woman clad in crimson deep within the mountains, one must immediately retreat and refrain from any further exploration¡¿ ¡¾Taboo Four: ¡­¡¿ Furthermore, the documents reveal that just a decade ago the region, now dominated by these sable peaks, was a fertile landscape of rolling hills. At its heart lay a quaint town named ¡°Eden,¡± as idyllic as a terrestrial paradise. Yet following an uncanny event, code-named ¡°Ghost Tomb,¡± this earthly haven was transmuted into a treacherous inferno. Eden was reclassified from a ¡°safe zone¡± to a ¡°contaminated area,¡± its populace vanishing en masse, and no investigator who later ventured into its confines ever returned alive. ¡°There remains a chance to withdraw now; such forbidden knowledge is beyond the purview of an investigator of your rank¡­ and besides, you are young and without children¡­¡± a middle-aged man urged softly, glancing at the woman across the table. Ava withdrew her gaze from the dossier and, with steely resolve, replied, ¡°Director, my only kin vanished a decade ago. If I cannot find him, then it matters not if I depart from this world.¡± Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original. What were the odds that someone missing for ten years in such a place might still be alive? The man recognized her fixation¡ªeven a potential chance for redemption. Suddenly, a dimpled smile played upon Ava¡¯s lips as she continued, ¡°Moreover, isn¡¯t thwarting the rampant expansion of this colossal aberration¡ªthis force that devours human realms¡ªa pledge every investigator swears upon joining?¡± A century ago, during the era of Cthulhu, a select few humans erected a ¡°Wall of Life¡± to shield against the onslaught of otherworldly forces, establishing fifty sanctuaries to shelter ordinary folk. Yet as increasingly brazen, ¡°unknowable¡± monstrosities¡ªespecially gargantuan ones¡ªemerged, humanity¡¯s habitable space was relentlessly compressed, leaving merely thirty-six safe zones today. Consequently, neutralizing the threat of these monstrous behemoths has become the foremost mission in preserving humanity¡¯s fragile flame of survival. After a sigh, the middle-aged man murmured, ¡°Headquarters has appointed the legendary investigator Denver as your team leader, which should ensure your safety to some degree. Now, go and rest these next few days.¡± This famed investigator had once survived an encounter with a ¡°quasi-unknowable¡± anomaly, though his mind remained disturbingly unsettled. Yet the ¡°Mountain of the Sleeping Evil God¡± belonged to the same forbidden echelon¡ªand no investigator had ever survived two such encounters. Despite the near-certain fatality, Ava had a purpose she could not renounce. A decade earlier, her brother had vanished in the very vicinity of the nascent pitch-black range, in that town known as Eden. Her sole motivation for joining the Bureau was to find her only remaining family. After a brief conversation with the director, Ava departed the office. The director, meanwhile, repositioned the dossier before him, murmuring as he perused its contents: ¡°A decade ago, Ava¡¯s brother disappeared¡ªcoinciding with the emergence of the ¡®Ghost Tomb.¡¯ There must be some connection. While many vanished due to the Ghost Tomb, why is it that no trace of him remains? Not even a name¡­ as if every mark of his existence had been mystically obliterated.¡± He had long promised to help Ava in her search, yet the tidings he received sent shivers down his spine: ¡°I remember his face vividly, but¡­ I seem to have forgotten his name.¡± ¡­¡­ Let us turn back the clock to a decade ago, to the year 2167. David awoke from a deep slumber, coming to terms with the surreal fact that he had become one with a tract of land¡ªmore precisely, a land marked by a towering, spire-like stone monument. This patch of earth measured roughly 2.5 meters in length and width, and 0.5 meters in depth¡ªa modest physique, indeed, for its early stage. The soil, embodying his corporeal form, was an abyssal black, utterly devoid of insects or even microbes, as though all life had been barred¡ªor dared not intrude¡ªrendering it a veritable forbidden zone. Yet along the edge of this stygian earth encircled a ring of vividly crimson red spider lilies, as if proclaiming the presence of an entrance to the netherworld, impervious to the morbid forces that reigned elsewhere. Upon closer inspection, one would notice that each flower¡¯s heart harbored an eye, veined with streaks of blood and with an enigmatic pink pupil that occasionally shifted its gaze. At the very center of this accursed zone stood a triangular obelisk, as tall as two men, its grey-black surface mottled with the passage of countless ages. Only at the summit of one of its three faces were inscribed cryptic symbols¡ªancient, mysterious characters beyond the ken of ordinary mortals. Only David knew that these symbols bore his very name! The inscription signified that he¡ªhis human self in the biological sense¡ªwas, in all likelihood, dead; he had become nothing more than a stone monument and a parcel of land. ¡°But who can tell me why, in this form, my life is doomed to a mere two and a half hours?!¡± he silently lamented, acutely aware of his dwindling state. Indeed, in just over two hours, his soul would fade, his consciousness would lapse into eternal sleep, and he would die once more¡ªa cruel jest of fate. The circumstances that had led to his transformation traced back to several days prior, when he had journeyed to an anomalous town, entered the dwelling of a mother and daughter, and witnessed a scene that defied the limits of the flesh and sullied the sanctity of the mind. Had he not ventured into that accursed town, David might have been preparing a simple lunch for his blind sister, fretting over her surgical fees and her impending conscription. Yet now, his thoughts were singular: how to extend his pitiful two and a half hours of life, and¡ªwithin that fleeting span¡ªcommandeer an entire town to join him in his final descent into oblivion! Eden, the Daughters Town **Chapter 2: Eden, the Daughters'' Town¡ªMetamorphosis into a Forbidden Graveyard, Birthplace of the Malevolent Mountain Deity** The clock rewinds to a few days earlier. David disembarked from the steam-powered locomotive, dragging his suitcase behind him. He glanced at the weathered signpost bearing the name "Eden" and stepped onto a path paved with dark amethyst-hued stones. These peculiar stones, known as "Disenchantment Ore", possessed the rare ability to repel the majority of the eerie creatures that prowled the wilderness beyond the "Wall". Widely employed in the construction of railways and roads, they stood as one of the "Three Pillars" safeguarding human civilization in an age where humanity had shared the world with these anomalies for over a century. After a brief walk, David found himself standing before an imposing 25-meter-high wall, stretching endlessly across the grassy plains. This barrier, like the path he had just traversed, served as both shield and boundary against the encroaching horrors. Beyond it lay his destination¡ªthe quaint yet enigmatic town of "Eden". David had come here for a purpose: to secure a full-time position as a manservant in the household of a wealthy family, hoping the generous wages would fund the surgery his blind sister so desperately needed. After presenting his identification and passing a routine contamination scan, he was granted entry through the iron gates, stepping into the heart of the walled town. Had he foreseen what awaited him, David would have sworn never to set foot in Eden. Crossing that threshold was a grievous mistake¡ªone that would entangle him in horrors beyond imagination and introduce him to a woman unlike any he had ever known. Yet, at first glance, the town seemed nothing short of idyllic. Broad, immaculate streets crisscrossed in neat grids, flanked by elegant villas adorned with vibrant floral arrangements. For someone who had grown up in the squalor of the slums, the sight was dazzling. But the most peculiar aspect of the town soon became evident¡ªthere were scarcely any men in sight. It was as though he had stumbled into a "Daughters'' Town", a matriarchal enclave perfumed with an overwhelming blend of floral fragrances. The heady aroma, as though countless blossoms had been boiled down into a cloying syrup, stung his nostrils and prompted several sneezes, even through the fabric of his mask. As the sole man walking the streets, David couldn''t ignore the subtle yet undeniable weight of countless female gazes falling upon him. He felt like an exotic specimen under scrutiny. "They can tell I''m an outsider".Whenever he returned their glances, the women would nonchalantly avert their eyes, yet their whispered conversations would falter as he passed, replaced by an uneasy silence. The sensation was disconcerting, like a lone Black man straying into a hostile, segregationist Southern town¡ªan outsider in an enclave where the unspoken rules were written by centuries of exclusion. Or perhaps, it was more like stumbling into an aristocratic masquerade, where every reveler wore an ornate mask, yet every eye remained fixed on the uninvited commoner in their midst, weighing whether to cast him out or pass judgment. David knew his unremarkable appearance hardly warranted such attention. Dismissing the unease, he quickened his pace, hauling his suitcase like a scurrying squirrel, eyes fixed on the address given by his new employer. Yet long after his silhouette vanished around the corner, eyes rimmed with vibrant, peacock-hued eyeshadow lingered on the spot where he''d stood, glimmering with intrigue and something far less innocent. Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation. As the streets grew quieter and the presence of passersby dwindled, David finally reached his destination. The tension that had coiled in his chest began to unravel¡ªonly to be replaced by astonishment. Before him stood a stately three-story white villa, its fa?ade pristine despite the patina of age. A lush, multicolored flower garden sprawled across the front yard, bisected by a slate pathway leading to the entrance. The entire estate exuded the charm of an old-world manor. He rang the doorbell, and moments later, a young woman in a flowing white dress appeared, flanked by two impeccably dressed maids. Her radiant smile lit up her delicate features as she stepped forward. "David, I presume?" she asked, her voice lilting with amusement. "Ah¡­ yes, that¡¯s me. Hello."For a moment, David found himself caught off guard, momentarily dazzled not just by the girl¡¯s beauty but by the striking contrast of the maids¡¯ traditional black-and-white uniforms¡ªan aesthetic reminiscent of Western aristocracy from centuries past. The young woman, Sophia, had conducted his interview online. As the second daughter of the household, she carried herself with an effortless grace. The maids, still smiling sweetly, relieved David of his luggage. Once again, that overpowering floral scent enveloped him. *"Allow me to formally introduce myself¡ªSophia White."* She gestured for David to follow her toward the villa. *"Your room has been prepared, and you can rest tonight. We¡¯ll go over your duties tomorrow."* Midway through the garden path, David''s attention snagged on a tall, imposing figure leaning against one of the villa''s rounded columns. It was a woman¡ªno, a *lady*, in the truest sense of the word. She radiated an air of mature elegance, clad in a vintage black gown paired with a wide-brimmed hat that cast an enigmatic shadow over her flawless features. Her stature was striking, nearly two meters tall, and her presence exuded an almost palpable authority. *"That¡¯s my mother,"* Sophia remarked, catching the flicker of awe in David''s eyes. *"Mrs. White¡ªthe mistress of the house. You may address her as Lady White."* Her lips curled into a knowing smile, as though amused by his reaction. *Mother?* David found the formality peculiar. *Why not just call her ¡®Mom¡¯?* Still, the sheer grandeur of the woman before him left little room for familiarity. He nodded respectfully. *"Good evening, Lady White."* The towering matriarch returned his greeting with an elegant smile, though her gaze lingered on him a beat too long¡ªcool, assessing, almost predatory. It was a look that sent an involuntary shiver down David¡¯s spine. Only once he crossed the villa''s threshold did the weight of her stare finally lift. The interior was no less impressive. The grand hall alone dwarfed the cramped apartment he shared with his sister. Three more maids, each of varying ethnicities and hair colors, flitted about with practiced efficiency. David silently marveled at the household''s wealth, though Sophia casually dismissed it as *modest* by Eden''s standards. *"Most families here employ seven or eight servants,"* she explained. *"After my father¡¯s passing, my mother dismissed half the staff. Hiring a male attendant was her idea."* *"So¡­ I¡¯m the first male servant?"* David ventured, still puzzled by the town''s glaring gender imbalance. *"Second, actually."* Sophia gestured for him to sit, the mahogany coffee table before him laden with delicate pastries and chilled tea. *"If you prefer, you can call yourself a *male steward*. The first one has been with us for some time now."* David glanced around, noting the absence of any other man. *"Is he¡­ off duty?"* Sophia hummed noncommittally. *"He encountered some¡­ health issues. That¡¯s why we needed a replacement."* *Health issues?* David nodded, accepting a glass of tea. The first sip, however, made him wince. Beneath the refreshing coolness lurked an odd, briny undertone. Setting the glass aside, he opted to focus on the matter at hand. *"Could you clarify my responsibilities? The job description during the interview was rather vague."* Sophia chuckled, a playful glint in her eye. *"Eager to get started, are we? Fair enough¡ªsome things are best discussed upfront." She leaned forward, her next question catching David entirely off guard. *"By the way, I couldn¡¯t help but notice how long you were staring at my mother earlier. Tell me¡ªdo you find her beautiful?" Can You Bear a Child for Me? Can You Bear a Child for Me? "Pfft!" At those words, David nearly choked on the briny tea, his face flushing as he hastily apologized, "I¡¯m sorry, madam. Your presence is simply impossible to overlook." He could ill afford to lose this lucrative position. Admittedly, he had cast a few furtive glances; Lady Bai¡¯s form was so extravagantly curvaceous¡ªher hips overshadowing her shoulders, and, dare I mention, her height exceeding two meters¡ªtruly a sight seldom seen. He had presumed Sophia would be displeased, yet her ensuing words made David question whether he was indeed hearing correctly. The exquisitely beautiful young woman surveyed the room with a graceful air, propping her porcelain chin on one hand as she murmured softly, "Then tell me, between my mother and me, whom would you prefer to serve?" David¡¯s lips parted in a single, puzzled syllable, "Ah?" Sophia elaborated in a tone as smooth as silk, "My elder sister and my other siblings are away. In this household, it is only my mother and I. You may elect to serve one exclusively¡ªthat is the nature of your employment." Something felt amiss. David, his brow furrowed in suspicion, replied, "Does it truly matter? I shall follow your directives, miss." Sophia¡¯s smile deepened into a knowing, enigmatic curve as she fixed him with a lingering gaze. "Of course it matters. My mother lacks the gentleness that I possess; if you choose her, your toil will be considerably more arduous, draining your energy far more so." Unable to withstand her gaze, he looked away, his head suddenly awash with inexplicable dizziness, leaving him utterly speechless. At that precise moment, through the window, he observed a blonde maid gently holding the hand of a young man as they strolled through the flowerbeds of the front courtyard. Indeed, she was holding him. It was the first man David had encountered since entering Eden. The young man, appearing to be in his early twenties, was strikingly handsome, his features refined yet pale, his frame slender and delicate. Yet his stomach was grotesquely distended, as if burdened by an unbearable weight, rendering his steps labored and necessitating that he be led. David¡¯s gaze fixed on the swollen abdomen, his intuition whispering that this was no ordinary beer belly¡ªit bore the semblance of a nefarious tumor. Taking a bite of a sweet pastry, Sophia¡¯s eyes softened as they lingered on the man¡¯s belly. "He is the male steward you had before." What strange malady could have befallen him? Before David could inquire further, a muffled groan emanated from outside. In a sudden collapse, the steward knelt, clutching his protruding stomach, his face contorting in agony as he unleashed a prolonged, harrowing cry: "Hmmph! AHHHHH!" In the very next instant, he thrust his hand into the garden soil, seizing handfuls of earth which he then forcefully stuffed into his mouth, swallowing with great difficulty as the crunching of his chews resounded grotesquely. Handful after handful, his anguished screams were reduced to pained whimpers. David¡¯s eyes widened in horror, a mysterious heaviness gripping his chest as a disquieting thought slithered through his mind: Has the steward succumbed to pica, his stomach bloated by the incessant consumption of soil? "Why at this moment?" Yet, as the bloated steward writhed in torment, the blonde maid¡¯s countenance brimmed with both astonishment and delight. She did not halt his bizarre act; instead, she summoned other maids. In no time, two more arrived with a stretcher, hastily and collaboratively hoisting the young man and carrying him upward toward the villa. "What on earth is happening?" Observing the steward¡¯s agonized expression, David felt an icy dread crawl along his spine¡ªas if that very pain might soon be his own. This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it. Then, in a most unexpected and eerie twist, Sophia laughed softly as she gazed toward the stairwell through which the young man had vanished. "How splendid! I shall have another sister." "...Sister?" David¡¯s mind swirled with a disquieting conjecture¡ªa chilling suspicion that defied reason, though his rationality insisted it could not be. "Indeed," Sophia stated evenly, "I was destined to have three sisters; alas, two perished in infancy. This, then, must be my fourth sister..." The peculiar behavior of the steward and the maids, coupled with Sophia¡¯s illogical revelation, left David¡¯s head spinning as though beset by heatstroke, his thoughts growing sluggish and muddled. Fourth sister... Who is she? Where might she be? Wait¡ªmy head is so dizzy... "You seem rather unwell¡ªcould it be that the prolonged train ride has worn you out? Come, allow me to take you to your room..." Sophia rose gracefully, drawing near and linking her arm with David¡¯s, effortlessly lifting him as they ascended to the second-floor corridor. In an instant, a sharp, acrid stench¡ªa nauseating blend of disinfectant and the metallic tang of blood and decay¡ªfilled his nostrils, nearly compelling him to vomit. "Ah!" Simultaneously, the steward¡¯s tormented cries rang out once more, sending shivers of dread and restlessness through him. David could not recall how he had been led into the room, nor could he fathom what fate had befallen that poor steward. No sooner had he collapsed onto the bed than a tidal wave of drowsiness, mingled with dizziness, swept over him, submerging his senses until the horrifying cries faded into silence. ... When David, still dazed, finally opened his eyes, the familiar anguished cries resumed. Outside, darkness had fallen. What, pray tell, ailed that male steward? The door creaked open slowly, its feeble light barely illuminating the corridor. Whether in a half-dream or driven by overwhelming curiosity, David moved toward the sound. Before long, he stood before a door whose very sight would forever haunt his memories. Bathed in the soft glow of orange lamplight, he beheld a scene that defied both psychological and physical boundaries. Inside what might more aptly be termed a ¡°birthing chamber,¡± a gaunt, naked young man lay on a bed; his abdomen bulged like a stone pedestal, his scalp slick with sweat. Upon closer inspection, a deep, bloodied gash marred the center of his belly, from which a tiny, crimson-stained hand emerged, feebly clawing at the void. Beside him, two maids worked in eerie unison, their steady hands widening the incision with a scalpel. In a moment that defied nature, they extracted a newborn¡ªits skin swollen, pallid, and marred with blood. David was struck as if by lightning, rendered immobile like a petrified statue. Boom! Simultaneously, a potent, decaying floral scent erupted into the room, its intensity overwhelming his senses many times over. Overwhelmed by the assault on both sight and smell, David¡¯s vision darkened, the room spinning wildly as his breathing grew labored and his stomach churned in violent upheaval. Amid gentle pats from a maid, the infant emitted its first sound¡ªnot the heart-wrenching cry expected of a newborn, but an unnervingly crisp, eerie laughter: "Hahaha!" The young man on the bed fell silent, as if surrendering to unconsciousness. The infant¡¯s unsettling laughter persisted, each peal weighing on David¡¯s chest like heavy stones, as if a swarm of ants were gnawing at him, his thoughts descending into chaos: Surely this must be a dream¡ªa nightmare. Men cannot bear children! And yet, why did the scene appear so vividly real, accompanied by such a nauseating, repulsive odor? Could it be that he¡ªor perhaps she¡ªis transgender, possessing the organs of a woman despite a masculine fa?ade? No, no¡ªa lady in white had mentioned that I was to replace the former steward. Could that, too, be connected? David felt his dizziness intensify, his head on the verge of bursting, as the world around him swayed and blurred, leaving him utterly paralyzed. "Splendid! It appears remarkably healthy," exclaimed the blonde maid, exhaling a relieved sigh as she gazed tenderly at the infant, whose face was etched with bizarre, mischievous wrinkles. "John, the steward, has toiled to bring a princess to the White family; I must swiftly present her to the madam¡ªshe will be overjoyed." The brunette maid murmured a few words to the unconscious youth before cradling the infant and preparing to leave the birthing chamber. "They¡¯re coming out; I must not be seen here..." A colossal wave of terror seized David¡¯s entire being; he yearned to flee, yet his legs felt as though bound by cement. At that very moment, a female voice from behind sent a jolt through his body, "You saw, didn''t you?" Slowly, he turned to find, to his dismay, a figure in a white dress standing behind him, her expression impassive as she regarded him. "I''m afraid you''ve seen too much. I had intended for you to come to accept it gradually," she declared in a flat, unwavering tone. The brunette maid, upon noticing the two outside the door, paused briefly before respectfully bowing to Sophia, completely disregarding David¡¯s ashen visage. Meanwhile, another maid remained within the birthing chamber, tending to Lu Ziqing¡¯s wound. David¡¯s heart pounded as countless questions swirled within him, yet no sound emerged from his lips. All the while, a single, insistent thought reverberated in his mind: Leave immediately! Abandon this mansion¡ªbetter yet, this entire town! These people are utterly deranged! Now! Yet he had lost all control over his movements, as if the very air had congealed into a viscous, muddy quagmire, forcing him to cling to the wall lest he collapse. It was that tea¡ªyes, that very tea was the source of his affliction, David suddenly surmised. "Do not be anxious; take a deep breath. This state is perfectly normal." Sophia approached, gently stroking his back as a comforting smile played upon her lips. "Childbirth is, by nature, excruciating yet profoundly magnificent, is it not? Initial reluctance is understandable, but once you truly conceive, you will experience the joy of fatherhood... Come now, let me escort you to your room to rest." Thus, David was led back to his room like a lifeless automaton, collapsing onto the bed as his consciousness swiftly faded. Before succumbing to oblivion, he glimpsed a tall, ample figure standing at his bedside, a hand pressed upon his chest, as a rich, enticing voice slowly murmured, "Can you bear a child for me?" Born of a Mother David slowly awoke to find himself in a vast, gloomy chamber, his skin pierced by delicate tubes that incessantly infused a mysterious, translucent fluid. His head reeked of a relentless hangover, and just as he struggled to cry out for help, the door creaked open¡ªand in stepped Sophia. In an instant, memories flooded back: a town populated solely by women, men who bore children through caesarean incisions, and the bizarre eccentricities of his employers. The mere recollection of that grim delivery room sent a fresh, harrowing shock through his psyche. ¡°Why must this be my fate?¡± he rasped, dismissing the disturbing visions from his mind as Sophia silently regarded him. With the nonchalance of casual banter, Sophia replied, ¡°Why else? It is, of course, to prepare you for conception. The nutrient solution being infused is entirely benign¡ªdesigned to render your body in robust health while preventing any bouts of fasting.¡± Conception? David¡¯s head began to throb anew; every word she uttered was clear, yet their collective meaning eluded him entirely. The only certainty was that he had been deceived¡ªthe recruitment of a male attendant was nothing but a fa?ade concealing a vast, insidious danger. ¡°¡­So, the child residing within that steward¡ªis it the progeny of him and your mother?¡± Drawing a deep, trembling breath, David voiced this absurd conjecture in a grave tone. Sophia murmured a casual ¡°mm¡± and replied, ¡°Indeed, though you need not envy¡ªsoon, you too shall become a father; this, after all, is the true purpose behind our recruitment of you.¡± Father?! Am I¡­ to become a father?! Under normal circumstances, such tidings would evoke joy in any man. Yet David¡¯s heart harbored no such elation; it was as if he had been struck by a sudden, thunderous bolt. Not that he was an irresponsible scoundrel¡ªhe was utterly baffled as to the identity of the corresponding ¡°mother.¡± And more horrifying still¡ªthe prospect fell upon him, the very one who was to bear the child! ¡°You¡¯ve lost your minds! How can a man such as I possess the organs to bear a child?!¡± David roared after a pause. The absurd challenge to both nature and reason was nearly unbearable, and he feared that if it persisted, he would soon be driven to madness alongside them. At these words, Sophia¡¯s expression twisted into something peculiar. ¡°Men giving birth¡ªis that not the natural order? My sisters and I were all born of our father. Tell me, aren¡¯t you likewise fathered?¡± David was rendered speechless, utterly dumbfounded. After a long, silent moment, he murmured inwardly, ¡°I was born of a mother¡­ born of a mother¡­¡± He repeated the phrase as if to anchor his identity, lest he forget or falter in comprehension. This town¡ªand the entire Bai family¡ªhad succumbed to madness¡­ I must flee this accursed place¡­ In a fleeting moment, despite knowing the hopelessness of his plea, David implored, ¡°Let me go. I vow never to speak of this place¡ªI have a sister to care for, and you, too, have a sister; surely, you can understand¡­¡± Before he could finish, Sophia interjected, ¡°Why leave? Is it so detestable to become one of my family?¡± With a puzzled look, she continued, ¡°You may opt to sire a child with either me or my mother, and thereafter dwell in Eden, where comfort and abundance are assured¡ªindeed, we could even bring your sister into our fold without hesitation.¡± If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. Though the offer seemed almost idyllic, a chill ran through David¡¯s heart¡ªhow could he ever allow his sister to be consigned to a life among such lunatics? Then she added, ¡°Moreover, you are mistaken¡ªI abhor my sister; she has even attempted to annihilate our entire family.¡± Realizing that Sophia would not permit his departure, David suppressed his turmoil and, in a chilled tone, inquired, ¡°And what of the steward named John? After last night¡¯s ordeal¡­ is it conceivable that he might survive to luxuriate in comfort with you?¡± Sophia replied serenely, ¡°Ah, him? He has been whisked away to the town¡¯s physician for emergency treatment due to excessive blood loss. Childbirth, after all, is fraught with peril¡ªif he dies, then so be it; at least he leaves behind a child.¡± It appeared that the man, who had borne a child for her mother¡ªenduring immense suffering¡ªwas nothing more than a mere vessel for procreation. ¡°But why me? Aren¡¯t you afraid that kidnapping someone would not go unnoticed?¡± David suddenly asked, raising his eyes. ¡°Given your status as an orphan from the slums, your disappearance would scarcely attract notice, let alone investigation,¡± Sophia remarked, pacing nonchalantly. ¡°Furthermore, along the route between the main city of the ¡®Stability Zone¡¯ and its satellite town, it is not uncommon to vanish amidst the enigmatic dangers beyond the wall. And, of course, the more pivotal reason is that you are one of the ¡®innately inspired¡¯; I eagerly anticipate the exceptional offspring you shall beget for our esteemed Bai family.¡± They had scrutinized him meticulously¡ªit was a premeditated recruitment¡ªand David¡¯s heart sank further, for he was, indeed, an orphan. At the tender age of eight, his parents had evaporated into thin air one afternoon, later branded by the authorities as cult members implicated in sinister rites. Thankfully, he and his congenitally blind sister had survived unscathed, clinging to each other with their lives sustained by federal and social welfare aid. His sole hope of rescue now lay in his sister, for Qiu Li was aware of his arrival in this Eden-like town. Yet, the brazen audacity of the Bai family suggested they possessed some potent advantage. Sophia had even seized his phone while feigning conversation with her own sister¡ªby the time her sister discerned any anomaly, it would be all too late. Then, with a subtle smirk, Sophia continued, ¡°If you refuse to comply, I shall have no alternative but to summon your sister to cajole you. Conversely, if you cooperate meekly, I might even fund her surgery, leaving her life undisturbed.¡± Faced with such unabashed coercion and enticement, David¡¯s anger surged as if to burst forth; he could only grit his teeth and ultimately acquiesce. If escape was impossible and he could no longer protect her, then at least he must not allow her to be ensnared as well. ¡°Hehe¡­¡± Sophia nodded in satisfaction, then suddenly sighed, ¡°Alas, if only my sister¡ªever entangled with different men¡ªcould display even half as much concern for our sister as you do.¡± In the span of three fleeting days, from the hushed exchanges between Sophia and the maidservants, David gleaned that this family worshipped a nefarious, clandestine entity they called the ¡°Mother Goddess.¡± Yet David had never heard of such a being; in the ¡®Stability Zone¡¯ where mankind dwelled, any veneration of deities or hidden forces was strictly forbidden. Besides his regular rations, they force-fed David a greyish-green earth, its taste faintly bitter and brackish, yet otherwise not wholly intolerable. But that earth held transformative, addictive properties, capable of swiftly remolding him into a subservient instrument of reproduction. The former male steward, having ingested countless quantities until his body became dependent, was seen¡ªright before David¡¯s eyes¡ªscraping and consuming a similar substance from the flowerbed. At that moment, the chamber¡¯s door was flung open. Trailing behind Sophia, two blonde maidservants entered, and as usual, they compelled David to ingest the grey-green earth. ¡°The time has come,¡± Sophia intoned meaningfully, offering no further explanation. Under the influence of the grey-green earth, David¡¯s faculties dulled, and he soon sank into the same state of languor and dizzying disorientation that had overcome him during afternoon tea. Indeed, it appeared that the tea from three days past had been similarly tainted. As the restraints and slender tubes embedded in his skin were removed by the maidservants, he knew that the inevitable had come. ¡°Where are you taking me?¡± ¡°To the altar¡ªthe site of our conception rite.¡± The Mother Goddess, The Ritual The so-called conception ritual, as Sophia described, was a supernatural method enabling a man to bear a child. The previous injections of nutrient fluids and the feeding of gray-green soil had merely been preparatory steps. The altar where the ceremony would unfold lay just above the underground chamber of confinement. Sophia led the way, while two maids effortlessly supported David, guiding him through a dimly lit corridor lined with flickering candlelight. They ascended a flight of stairs, pausing before a concealed door. With a silver key, Sophia unlocked it, revealing a vast elliptical altar below. A ring of candles surrounded its perimeter, casting a wavering glow upon its surface, which was etched with intricate occult sigils. At the altar¡¯s center stood a raised platform, just large enough to accommodate a person¡ªakin to a double bed¡ªadorned with a delicate array of pink and pale-gray blossoms. Beside this floral-draped dais awaited Lady White¡ªan imposing figure, towering at least two meters in height. "Mother, I have brought him," Sophia announced. "Lay him down." Lady White was garbed in a simple yet sacred white robe. A dark-golden mask, etched with celestial motifs, obscured most of her visage, yet the exquisite curve of her lips and the elegant line of her jaw hinted at her undeniable beauty. David could neither speak nor muster the strength to resist. He could only watch, helplessly, as he was placed upon the altar¡¯s platform¡ªlike a fish upon the butcher¡¯s block, powerless against the blade of fate. ¡°Mother seems to have taken quite a liking to you," Sophia murmured reassuringly from a short distance away. "She refuses to let you go, no matter what. But don¡¯t be afraid¡ªwhat follows will not bring you pain." Her voice softened, carrying a note of false sympathy. "Once you bear the child, I¡¯ll bring your sister here as well¡ªto help care for you." David¡¯s gaze turned frigid, his pupils contracting sharply. Sophia offered an apologetic smile. "According to our sources, your sister, too, possesses ''innate spiritual resonance.'' So, I¡¯m afraid I must rescind my previous promise." "When her eyes are healed, we will welcome her into the faith of the Mother Goddess. She, too, will bask in the divine blessings¡­ just like us." A shuddering breath escaped David¡¯s throat, rage erupting in his eyes¡ªso fierce it nearly took physical form. If he had the strength, he would have torn the woman before him to shreds. But then, Lady White¡¯s hand, cool and gentle, cupped his cheek. Her voice was serene, almost tender. "From the moment you were born, your fate was intertwined with the Church¡­ and the Mother Goddess." Noticing the fleeting flicker of confusion and shock in David¡¯s expression, she continued, her tone measured and unhurried. "There is no harm in indulging your curiosity¡ªafter all, the conception ritual is not without risk. It could very well cost you your life." This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report. "Your parents¡­ once stood among us, faithful followers of the Mother Goddess¡¯s hidden church. But in the end, they chose betrayal. And for that, they paid the ultimate price." "It was not without reason that you and your sister were permitted to live until now. The Church has long prepared for this moment. And now¡­ it is time for you to repay the kindness bestowed upon you." David lay frozen upon the altar, his mind plunged into stunned disbelief. A chill burrowed into his very bones, spreading from the depths of his soul¡ªa suffocating powerlessness in the face of destiny. Never had he imagined that the truth behind his parents¡¯ disappearance would be unveiled under such circumstances. It was them¡­ These so-called "faithful" were the ones who murdered my parents. Even Lady White herself¡­ her hands are steeped in their blood. Had they been watching from the shadows all along? Observing as Ava and I grew, merely waiting for the harvest¡­ preparing for the day they would claim us? A single thought surfaced amidst the chaos in his mind: *Sometimes, the true monsters are not the ones lurking beyond the Safe Zone¡ªbut the ones who walk among us, masquerading as our own kind.* Unforgivable. They deserve to die. If I ever get the chance¡ªI will kill them all. Every. Last. One. Even as this silent oath burned within him, Lady White ascended the altar, kneeling gracefully at his side. Her mask obscured any expression, but her mere presence exuded an undeniable allure. Somehow, she now held a small vial¡ªwhere it had come from, David did not know. The liquid within shimmered, an unsettling shade of dusky pink, exuding an ominous presence. "Rose oil," she murmured. "An essential element of the ritual. Just like the flowers beneath you and the candles that surround us, it serves to bridge the path between us and the Mother Goddess." "Under Her watchful gaze and boundless grace, we shall conceive a child¡ªone perfect in form and spirit." Her whispered declaration faded into the heavy air as she tipped the vial, letting the translucent oil spill onto her alabaster palm. Then, with deliberate slowness, she pressed her hand to his bare skin. The oil was cool, silky¡­ yet to David, it felt like the kiss of a serpent¡ªslowly winding across his flesh, whispering of death and asphyxiation. Below the altar, the gathered maids watched with fervent devotion, their eyes ablaze with reverence, as though they were witnessing a divine miracle unfold. "I¡­ I want a child, too¡­" Sophia, lost in the moment, touched a finger to her lips, her gaze unfocused, her voice barely a whisper. It did not take long for the oil to fully anoint David¡¯s body. Lady White¡¯s crimson lips parted, and from them spilled a series of guttural, archaic syllables¡ªwords of a language long buried in time. As her chanting grew clearer, rising in fervor, the candlelight shifted¡ªits once warm, golden glow mutating into a ghostly gray-green. The flames trembled, though the air was still. An overwhelming terror coiled around David¡¯s very soul, a suffocating force as if Death itself had reached into his chest, tightening its grasp upon his heart. A single thought pounded in his mind: *I am going to die. But¡­ what about Ava?* At that very moment, Lady White straddled him, lifting her face in exultation. Her voice rose in an impassioned chant, her hands now clutching a delicate paper talisman. The moment it touched the candle¡¯s flame, it ignited¡ªnot with fire, but with an eerie, otherworldly radiance. David¡¯s consciousness wavered, reality blurring at its edges. From beyond the veil of his fading awareness, he heard the ghostly echoes of a flute, a melody drifting from the abyssal heights of the cosmos. The black altar and vaulted chamber dissolved, replaced by a celestial expanse¡ªdeep, infinite, and ancient. Within that boundless void, a vast silhouette emerged¡ªa figure vaguely feminine in form. But her size defied comprehension, a colossal presence stretching across the stars, eclipsing the heavens. She bore no face, no discernible features, only an abundance of thick, root-like tendrils that spiraled outward, pulsing with incomprehensible energy. A single glance at her was enough to send David¡¯s soul spiraling into a chasm of primal dread. His mind teetered on the brink, seconds away from shattering entirely. Then, the titanic figure extended one of her tendrils, reaching for him, pulling him toward the abyssal stars. And in a voice that resonated beyond time, she uttered words ancient and ineffable¡ªwords David should not have understood. Yet, in that moment, their meaning was unmistakable. "Bear my child." Death and Resurrection Beyond the realm of David¡¯s consciousness, upon the altar of reality. ¡°It is done! It is done!¡± Mrs. White suddenly erupted in an ecstatic, fervid cry. Beneath her star-etched mask, her expression alternated between unbridled joy and stark terror, revealing inscrutable emotions that shifted in a mesmerizing, heart-stirring cadence. ¡°What is it, Mother? Has some unforeseen mishap occurred?¡± inquired Sophia with palpable anxiety. Never before had she seen her mother so unhinged, and she feared that the ritual might have failed¡ªdamaging David, the precious vessel chosen for this sacred rite. After all, a being blessed with innate divine inspiration was a rarity beyond measure, a singular marvel amid ten thousand. David and his sister Ava were of such monumental significance to the Church that no error could be permitted. ¡°It is Him¡ªthe great One has bestowed His gaze upon us!¡± declared Mrs. White, raising her arms in exaltation. Him?! Sophia¡¯s eyes widened in astonishment as she abruptly fell to her knees, gazing with devout reverence at the omens unfolding upon the dais¡ª A gaping void, as dark as pitch, had torn open the fabric of space to reveal a profound, endless starry abyss, from which emerged tendril-like vines, reminiscent of living flora. The maidens stationed at the altar¡¯s edge, upon witnessing this spectacle, too sank to their knees, their eyes alight with a mingling of deep veneration and fear. As specks of starlight cascaded down from above, enveloping David¡¯s form, Mrs. White withdrew from the dais and lifted her gaze in respectful awe. Never had she beheld the ¡°Mother Goddess¡± display such divine wonders at a ritual¡ªsurely, the extraordinary nature of the innately inspired had captured the Goddess¡¯s attention. In a startling reversal, the Mother Goddess had supplanted her, electing to complete the rite herself! What marvels might arise from the union of the divine and the mortal? Mrs. White trembled with anticipation, her entire being alight with fervor. Yet at that very moment, the shimmering starlight began to wane, and the cosmic rift contracted at a pace discernible to the naked eye. Within the sacred confines of the altar, upon the dais, David¡ªhis eyes tightly closed¡ªbegan to exude an aura of decay; his presence grew somber, his visage paling to the hue of delicate parchment. ¡°What?¡± gasped Sophia, disbelief etched upon her features as she beheld the scene. ¡°The ceremony¡­ it has indeed failed.¡± For several heartbeats, Mrs. White stood stupefied. When at last she spoke in a dry, measured tone, her lips pressed together and a fine sheen of perfumed sweat clung to her face and neck. David was dead¡ªbereft of all vitality. Moreover, his body visibly succumbed to a rapid, almost tangible decay: his skin withered and cracked, revealing fissures through which the dark, clay-like remnants of flesh and blood could be seen. Removing her subtly gilded, star-patterned mask, Mrs. White revealed her pallid, jade-like countenance, her voice raspy from the ritual¡¯s exhaustive toll: ¡°An innately inspired soul¡ªa marvel scarcely found in ten thousand¡ªis lost. What a tragedy.¡± If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. Sophia rose and approached, pleading, ¡°Mother, what has transpired? Surely the success rate for the innately inspired should far exceed that of ordinary souls¡­ And even if the rite should fail, resulting in immediate death, how could it manifest thus?¡± After a moment¡¯s reflection, Mrs. White murmured, ¡°Perhaps it is precisely the overwhelming divine inspiration, which, when met by the gaze of the Mother Goddess, becomes too intense to bear. And as for the transformation of the corpse, it must be the influence of the Mother Goddess¡¯s power.¡± Though grief-stricken, Sophia had no recourse but to accept the grim reality, and she commanded the maidservants to tend to David¡¯s remains. Thereafter, four maidens carried his lifeless body from the altar, through a narrow passage, and loaded it into the trunk of a carriage. They drove to the rear of the villa, into a lush expanse of woodland. Deep within this grove, a towering wall stood as a sentinel, marking the boundary of the ¡°Safe Zone¡± and shielding it from the tainted ¡°Contaminated Zone¡± and its eerie denizens. Here, the maidservants were to inter the body. Judging by their practiced movements, this was not their first such undertaking. Before long, after four sturdy maidens had excavated a deep pit and deposited the young man¡¯s corpse within, the sun had sunk below the horizon and darkness began to claim the town. They hurried, for even with the wall¡¯s protection, the Safe Zone¡¯s fringes were not immune to sinister happenings. In the rhythmic clang of shovels, clods of rotten, darkened earth gradually covered the pale features¡ªhis eyes, face, chest, abdomen, and legs¡ªuntil he was completely entombed, severed entirely from the world. Yet, in their haste to fill the grave, the maidservants overlooked a curious detail: the earth in contact with the corpse was gradually darkening to a deep, uncanny black. Before they could discern this anomaly, fresh layers of brownish-black soil concealed it. Soon, the pit was sealed, and the maidens departed with their tools in tow. It was foreseen that the young man¡¯s body, now buried in this cursed ground, would eventually decay¡ªhis flesh consumed by vermin until naught remained but a bleached skeleton; and no tombstone would be erected to mark his resting place, depriving any kin of the solitary duty of mourning. Until his sister herself perished, no vestige of his existence would remain¡ªa final erasure from memory. Death, it seems, is like a cool summer night. The woodland fell silent; the night beckoned the souls of the departed to slumber. A refreshing summer breeze swept by, dispelling the lingering heat, while leaves and grasses whispered in a somber requiem. In truth, David was not the sole soul interred here; all those lost by the White family slumbered in this forsaken ground. Perhaps due to an accumulation of lingering resentment and malevolent energy¡ªor perhaps for reasons unknowable¡ªmysterious and inexplicable changes began to unfold. First, the land sprouted brilliant red cluster amaryllis, burgeoning rapidly and blooming to nearly half a meter in height, clustering around the burial site. Next, aside from the amaryllis, all other nearby vegetation decayed swiftly, exuding a damp, sinister fluid that seeped into the soil. Lastly, centering on the spot where the young man¡¯s body was laid to rest, the brownish-black earth within several meters transformed into a profound, unyielding black, its tendrils even extending beyond the silver wall¡­ It exuded an aura of death and forbidding dread, and, perhaps under its influence, the silver wall began to fissure and splinter with a brittle, cracking sound, as if striving to breach the barrier between the Safe and Contaminated Zones. Beyond this wall, in the Contaminated Zone, upon the deep blackened soil, a triangular stone monument erupted from the ground. Its emergence further scarred the wall¡¯s surface, drawing the wary eyes of unknown beings hidden within the dark forest depths. In that fateful moment, a soul who should not have clung to life¡ªor rather, a spirit unwilling to succumb to death¡ªawoke. The First Stirrings of Revival, the Epitaph of the Ghost Tomb Area Nine Settlement, Guardian Battalion, ¡°Wall of Life¡± Surveillance Center. ¡°Report: A slight breach has been detected in the wall of Eden Town, accompanied by suspected anomalous activity in its vicinity.¡± The monitoring staff promptly relayed the data from the luminous display to their superiors. ¡°Eden, you say... Yet if this were merely an initial anomaly, it ought not to have worn away the wall to such an extent¡­¡± Upon receiving the report, the chief of surveillance resolved to contact the garrison stationed at Eden Town, ordering them to inspect the scene firsthand and repair the wall accordingly. In the deathly silence and darkness, David slowly regained his senses, as if the spring sun had melted a layer of ice, allowing thought to flow anew. ¡°Where am I?¡± This was the very first notion that arose in David¡¯s mind. He recalled being drawn into the embrace of an immense, spectral female figure, and what followed became a blur¡ªa blackout reminiscent of drunken amnesia. Damp, frigid, pitch-black soil; withered, lifeless vegetation; blood-red blossoms exuding a grotesque allure; towering trees in the distance; the marks left by wheels; and bodies devoid of warmth¡­ All these details converged upon his perception, evoking perplexity: The surrounding flora appeared to have withered entirely, yet why did that singular patch of crimson blossoms remain vibrant? Why did this corpse evoke a sense of eerie familiarity? Wait¡ªcould it be that he¡­ seems to be me¡­ In an instant, memories of subterranean chambers, altars, and arcane rituals surged back, and David¡¯s mind faltered, overwhelmed: To behold such horror... death would scarcely be surprising¡­ Yet if I am dead, why then do I still ¡°see¡± and even think? Drawing his thoughts inward, he strained his vision to focus on the nearest object¡ªhis gaze traversed from his eyes to his nose, from his nose to his mouth, and from his mouth to his heart¡ªuntil he beheld the central element of his view: a jet-black, pyramidal obelisk. Rising to a height of roughly two men, the obelisk stood beside the ¡°Wall of Life¡±; on one of its faces, at the center of its apex, were etched inscrutable ancient characters in a language unknown to David. This¡­ is my present form? In that moment, David realized that the dark obelisk served as his current brain and heart¡ªa repository of memories and consciousness with the power to command certain elements. For instance, the soil around him. ¡ªMore precisely, the soil that had been utterly transformed into a deep, inky black, starkly distinct from ordinary dark earth. It spread over a radius of just over two meters, serving as limbs under David¡¯s control¡ªcapable of meandering at a snail¡¯s pace, yet forever bound to the obelisk. ¡ªMuch like a human cannot wield a severed limb. Meanwhile, the black obelisk itself remained immovably fixed, as if it were affixed to the very wall¡ªon its exterior side. Most of the soil (his ¡°body¡±) lay on the inner side of the wall, unable to traverse outward, just as the soil outside could not move inward. David, in no haste to shift his form, instead concentrated on scrutinizing the source of all his sensory perception¡ªthe jet-black obelisk. He harbored a vague recollection of having seen this object before, though its origin eluded him. Undoubtedly, it was the principal reason he still ¡°lived¡± despite the loss of his fleshly form. Alas, although he had been resurrected, it was merely a reprieve from death¡ªa state in which he could neither exact vengeance upon the White family nor return to his sister¡­ What, then, was the purpose of this rebirth? With a measure of bewilderment, David regarded the obelisk when suddenly streams of information began to cascade into his consciousness. ¡¾Name¡¿: Epitaph of the Ghost Tomb ¡ªA sealed malevolent artifact devoid of self-awareness. Interfered with by higher-dimensional forces, it is now in the early stages of revival, its seal broken; as it reawakens further, it will commandeer more soil to serve as its corporeal form and reclaim its inherently mysterious and sinister power. ¡¾Dimensions¡¿: 2.5 ¡Á 2.5 ¡Á 0.5 meters It took David a considerable moment to comprehend the revelations unfolding within his mind¡ªas if, in his rebirth, he had received direct feedback from this new vessel. The ¡°Epitaph of the Ghost Tomb¡± must be his current identity¡­ I have, in effect, transmogrified into the uncanny! ¡ªThe term ¡°uncanny¡± denotes the collective of extraordinary, enigmatic entities that defy conventional cognition and scientific understanding. The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. Furthermore, his perceptual field now spanned roughly ten times his own area, capturing every detail within a fifty-meter radius with remarkable clarity. David was momentarily at a loss as to which emotion to embrace. Beyond the elation of rebirth, an undercurrent of unease stirred within him¡ªa deep apprehension towards the mysterious, unfathomable forces at work: The ¡°Epitaph of the Ghost Tomb¡± had originally lacked self-awareness, which had allowed its seamless occupation¡­ Yet, the dark obelisk should have remained sealed, exhibiting no anomalies. What, then, had caused the seal to break and triggered this nascent revival? Instantly, David recalled the ritual in which he had been the vessel for impregnation, and the vast, enigmatic female specter beneath the starlit sky. Only a profound mystery could account for these incomprehensible events. And the origin of the obelisk¡ªthe higher-dimensional realm¡ªseemed to be an undeniable reality. David dared not delve further into the obscured chronicles of hidden history and the unknowable truths; instead, he persisted in assimilating the information now at his disposal. ¡¾Rank¡¿: Quasi-Resentment ¡ªIn the higher-dimensional sphere, the uncanny is classified into seven distinct categories: ¡°Resentment, Malevolence, Turbulence, Fratricide, Ferocity, Catastrophe, and Nightmare.¡± Each category is further divided into four tiers: ¡°Quasi, Pale, Obsidian, and Blood.¡± The higher the rank, the greater the danger and horror it embodies. Above these seven categories lie the realms of ¡°Quasi-Unknowable¡± and ¡°Unknowable,¡± domains forever beyond the reach of human comprehension since time immemorial. ¡°This classification aligns with modern society¡¯s stratification of the uncanny¡¯s threat level; it appears the authorities have long since concealed the history of the higher-dimensional world¡­¡± Though his current rank was merely ¡°Quasi-Resentment,¡± it would ascend in tandem with his revival until it reached its zenith. David surmised that the jet-black obelisk must originally have been an uncanny artifact of at least the ¡°Turbulence¡± echelon; otherwise, how could it have manifested within the wall? Once its revival reached a certain threshold, the prospect of vengeance¡ªor even complete resurrection¡ªwas not beyond possibility¡­ A flicker of hope ignited within David. Yet the subsequent influx of data made him realize that his elation was premature. ¡¾Soul Lifespan¡¿: 2.5 hours (duration of conscious awareness) Once this span elapses, the soul¡¯s consciousness will succumb to an eternal slumber. What? Two and a half hours?! What does this duration imply?! David¡¯s vision darkened, and he nearly fainted from the shock. Having at long last escaped the frailty of his mortal shell, the promise of immortality now seemed but a cruel jest¡ªfor he would not survive beyond two hours, his lifespan even shorter than that of the most ephemeral creature. Such brevity¡­ it appears that my rebirth is rendered utterly futile? A final, feeble glow of life¡­ David could not help but ruefully chide himself. Yet, in the next moment, a fresh cascade of information rekindled his hope: ¡¾Advancing in Rank can Extend the Duration of Conscious Existence; The Key to Such Advancement Lies in ¡°Yin Sha Qi¡±¡¿ ¡¾Accumulated Yin Sha Qi: 10 units¡¿ ¡ªThe principal means of acquiring Yin Sha Qi is through the death of living beings; the demise of an ordinary mortal typically yields 1¨C2 units. Yin Sha Qi will naturally accumulate or dissipate over time depending on environmental factors. Moreover, transmuting the dead into ¡°Yin Corpses¡± similarly generates Yin Sha Qi. ¡°Ten units of Yin Sha Qi! Does this not suggest that countless souls lie interred here?! I am not the sole victim¡­¡± David was astounded; in a modest town called Eden, the White family alone had sullied the land with such a multitude of lives, yet no external outcry had arisen, nor had any official investigation been launched. And what of the other affluent residents? Had they not too, their hands stained with blood, been cognizant of the White family¡¯s sins¡ªcondoning, even abetting them, or partaking as accomplices and beneficiaries¡­ Eden, though its name suggests paradise, was in truth a hellish pit where flesh was devoured without so much as discarding the bones. Mrs. White, Sophia, and the five maidservants were all complicit in demonic dealings. In many respects, they were far more terrifying than the uncanny entity into which David had transformed. To exact revenge and expose the town¡¯s dark underbelly, conventional means would be woefully insufficient¡ªespecially given his current inability to move or employ tools and weapons. Thus, as these thoughts surged through him, the extraordinary capabilities inherent in his uncanny nature flooded David¡¯s consciousness. The Inscription of Death鈥擧er Name [Uncanny Trait¡ªThe Soil of Deathly Stillness]: First, the grave soil is capable of devouring the life force of living beings, refining it into a malevolent energy known as Yin Sha Qi, which it then stores. Second, by consuming Yin Sha Qi, the rank of the ¡°Graveyard Monument¡± may be elevated¡ªunleashing further supernatural traits and augmenting the total volume of the grave soil (its very mass). Advancement to the next echelon, ¡°Bai Yuan,¡± requires five units of Yin Sha Qi. Third, the grave soil can alter its form at will¡ªaccumulating into mounds or subsiding to burrow deep beneath the earth. Fourth, should the grave soil be ingested by a creature, it ¡°contaminates¡± the organism, inducing a supernatural metamorphosis; the higher the creature¡¯s intrinsic stature, the lesser the effect. ¡°So, it appears that while my core essence remains immobile, my form may extend limitlessly¡ªmuch like a malleable rubber man¡­¡± ¡°If I could expand the reach of my grave soil to encompass an entire city, might that not allow me to extend my being to the main city of the Ninth Safe Zone¡ªand thus, to behold Qiu Li once more¡­¡± A surge of anticipation welled within David. Though the notion seemed utterly fantastical, after witnessing men beget offspring and the transference of consciousness, it appeared not entirely implausible. ¡°Of course, all of this presupposes that my soul¡¯s lifespan endures long enough¡­ Fortunately, the Yin Sha Qi I have amassed is sufficient to further prolong my existence¡­¡± In that moment, David experienced an overwhelming sense of destiny. The Yin Sha Qi accumulated by those once interred here now seemed destined to empower one to exact vengeance upon the treacherous Whitmore family. At present, there were a total of ten units of Yin Sha Qi¡ªall of which, according to his perception, could be manipulated at will. He immediately endeavored to consume the energy to ascend to a higher echelon. ¡°Is it so?¡± Under the sway of David¡¯s will, the Yin Sha Qi nestled beneath the soil flowed like a gentle stream into the obsidian monument, with a small fraction evaporating into nothingness. The characters upon the ¡°Ghost Monument¡± shimmered with a fluid luminescence, and the entire stone edifice trembled ever so slightly before returning to tranquility. The entire process was far less dramatic than David had envisioned, and he felt little beyond the emergence of new data: [Remaining Yin Sha Qi: 5 units] [Current Rank Elevated to: Bai Yuan] [Yin Sha Qi Required for Next Ascension: 8 units] [Current Volume: 5¡Á5¡Á1 m] [Soul Lifespan Extended to: 2.5 days (of conscious existence)] [Awakening of a New Uncanny Trait¡ªThe Inscription Curse]: By inscribing the name of a living being upon the ¡°Graveyard Monument¡± and interring a part of their body or an associated object within the grave soil, a curse is unleashed upon them. Should the living be slain by the Inscription Curse, a measured dose of Yin Sha Qi is instantaneously fed back, irrespective of distance. Further variations of the Inscription Curse may yet manifest upon attaining an even higher rank. ¡°I have ascended¡ªthe ¡®Graveyard Monument¡¯¡­ or rather, my power has exceeded even my expectations; to think that at merely the Bai Yuan level, such bizarre abilities are already within my grasp¡­¡± David murmured silently, ¡°Yet the price for this power is death, and I owe it all to you¡ªLady Whitmore, Sophia¡­ Since fate has ordained my survival, I shall not let you escape my retribution.¡± ¡°Although I may live until the day after tomorrow, my soul¡¯s lifespan remains too brief; the urgent task is to swiftly accumulate more Yin Sha Qi. For now, there are two primary means: the death of life itself, and the transmutation of Yin corpses.¡± Gazing upon the withered vegetation surrounding him, David mused, ¡°Devouring the life force¡­ Could it be that these plants were stripped of their vitality by the grave soil at the moment of my awakening, thus reduced to this state?¡± Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. With that thought, he immediately extended his grave soil to draw the inherent life force from an outer ring of foliage. Gradually, the Yin Sha Qi seeped into the deep, ebony earth. Yet, as expected, the cluster of red spider lilies remained untouched by the grave soil, swaying seductively in the breeze. David¡¯s intuitive sense revealed that these crimson blossoms too possessed an uncanny nature¡ªharmless to him, and indeed, sharing a mysterious bond. ¡°Could they be symbiotic anomalies?¡± Contemplating this possibility, he noted that the ¡°Graveyard Monument¡± offered no corroborating evidence. Within moments, the surrounding plants withered to a grim, ashen hue, disintegrating into dust with the slightest breeze¡ªsave for the enduring cluster of vivid red spider lilies. Meanwhile, the Yin Sha Qi had increased. [Accumulated Yin Sha Qi: 6 units] ¡°Only one unit more¡ªstill insufficient, still insufficient¡­¡± Since the current ¡°Ghost Monument¡± had not yet revived to transmute Yin corpses, he could only contemplate the art of taking life. The Inscription Curse, which could fulfill this need, required as a prerequisite the acquisition of a body part or item belonging to the intended victim. David then amplified his perception, scouring a fifty-meter radius. In succession, he uncovered a multitude of human skeletal remains¡ªeach in varying degrees of disrepair. When assembled together, and including his own corpse, they amounted to exactly nine sets of remains. The bones revealed both male and female forms, with some appearing not yet fully matured¡­ Perhaps due to the absence of a human brain, David¡¯s emotions remained unperturbed as he observed the remains, though numerous questions arose: ¡°Wasn¡¯t the purpose of the impregnation ritual to require a man? How then is there a woman present? Could it be that Lady Whitmore and her cohorts have engaged in other acts of life-ending treachery?¡± ¡°And those juvenile remains¡ªmight they be the stillborn sister of Sophia?¡± After a brief interval, through his acute perception, he finally discerned the object he sought upon the earth¡¯s surface¡ªa single strand of gently curled, golden hair, perfectly suited for his experiment with the Inscription Curse. ¡°I recall that among the five maids of the Whitmore household, only two possessed golden hair¡ªone named Caroline, the other Mary¡­ They must have been complicit in my interment, leaving behind this token.¡± Guiding his own form¡ªnow a mass of obsidian soil¡ªDavid wormed his way to engulf that strand of golden hair. The next step was the inscription; yet, bereft of limbs or tools, how might he accomplish it? In a sudden flash of inspiration, David found his mind attuned with the obsidian monument. A recessed groove began to emerge upon its surface, extending and twisting until it resembled a particular character. The process unfolded slowly, taking several minutes to ultimately manifest as a peculiar symbol bearing a faint resemblance to modern script. Though David was certain that this character belonged to no contemporary language, he miraculously comprehended its meaning¡ªit corresponded precisely to the name ¡°Mary.¡± Yet nothing further occurred. Consequently, he proceeded to inscribe, with his mind, the name ¡°Caroline.¡± Since the origin of the golden hair was uncertain, he inscribed both names. Once the second name was fully etched, the golden strand buried within the soil vanished without a trace, as if evaporated into thin air. Along with its disappearance, one unit of Yin Sha Qi was expended¡ªreducing the total back to five units. ¡°Is it done?¡± David mused, convinced that the curse had been activated, its target none other than Caroline. Simultaneously, a graceful maid¡¯s figure materialized within his consciousness, establishing an enigmatic connection. He could clearly observe Caroline bustling about in the Whitmore household¡¯s kitchen; David understood that this had formed a kind of surveillance¡ªa real-time monitoring. Yet the curse did not appear to take immediate effect, for nothing aberrant was manifest in her behavior. ¡°What manner of effect will the curse yield?¡± he thought, already impatient to witness her demise. Only if Caroline were to be slain by the curse would it confirm his capacity to exact further vengeance upon Sophia and Lady Whitmore. At that very moment, the wheels of fate began to turn with ever-increasing haste, as the shadow of death spread from the periphery of the ¡°Wall of Life,¡± slowly encroaching upon the Whitmore mansion. Perhaps one day, it would ultimately envelop the entire town¡ªand even the broader expanse of humanity¡¯s Safe Zone.