Extraordinary Voyage

At this moment, Aiven recalled what Liweina had said earlier, and it started to make some sense:

"There was indeed a 'Killing Ghost' that lingered during the dungeon massacre; it's just unclear whether it was the 'Killing Ghost' that killed all the out-of-control individuals or if someone among them became the 'Killing Ghost'?

And Wack Wells, with whom I hold a grudge, was also an inmate during that time. So, was he one of the victims, or the 'Host'? Either possibility is plausible..."

When he enrolled, Wack Wells challenged the officers of the short training course at the school gate, due to his dissatisfaction with the upper echelon's prejudice and suppression, using this to prove his ability and the school's ignorance!

However, due to some sinister ritual losing control, he went mad, then Aiven subdued him until he lost his ability to resist, and he was handed over to the Academy Guard. Later, as Princess said, at some unknown point, he was transferred to the Crowman Team's underground prison.

Aiven had also heard from Krell about Wack and his Wells Clan's story, uncertain whether to pity or resent them. Seeking the power of the Evil God ultimately led to the clan's destruction and also caused the 'Killing Ghost' rampage eight years ago, which was reaping what they sowed.

With Aiven's hands tied, he's not going to stand on moral high ground to judge anything further.

But this incident clearly stems from the toxic legacy left by the Wells Clan eight years ago. If not for them, the "Box of Dead Souls" would not exist, the "Killing Ghost" wouldn't have rampaged, nor would there be a chain of subsequent tragedies.

Even if Wack hasn't lost control, he's very likely to be dragged out by the upper echelon to be the scapegoat, to bear the anger of countless people.

Combining the event eight years ago and this dungeon massacre, one can't help but wonder the deep reason why this Wells family remnant survived back then.

Finally.

Even if it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy, and Wack Wells indeed emerges once again as the "Killing Ghost," I wouldn't mind finally putting a full stop to this pathetic family!

Unfolding the intelligence.

Except for Krell, the others were surprised to find that the records detailed the "Violet Eye" Witchcraft Association's secret pursuit and analysis behind the "Killing Ghost" rampage.

Evidently, "Violet Eye"'s intelligence delved deeper into the Mysterious Side and was closer to the truth!

Opera God Persel (This name is just an alias, the True Name of the Divine Spirit is neither visible nor audible, one of the ultimate secrets mortals can't bear) was also a Good God fond of peace and tranquility, dedicated to bringing happiness and joy to the people hundreds of years ago.

In that "special" era, he invented opera and many kinds of artistic activities. He brought many epics praising justice and heroes to the stage, enriching the spiritual life of the people and guiding their values, with the main theme being positive.

But over time, He sadly discovered that his efforts didn't make humanity love peace and uphold justice more! Wars, plunder, slaughter, and violence occurred globally at any time. Day after day, year after year, the tragedy in reality continuously replayed, unchanged!

Eventually, He, who developed immense doubt about his path, experienced a spiritual collapse and completely fell!

After falling, the Evil God went to another extreme, turning from a love for comedy to pursuing tragedy!

Even personally involved, wantonly creating disasters among humans, directing one tragic scene after another! Making mortals feel pain, misery, and hopelessness. At this time, He believed that only unforgettable pain would make mortals realize their mistakes and return to the path guided by the God!

However, soon, even that glorious facade disappeared, and He began to treat tragedies as an end, not a means to lead people to good.

The reason is quite realistic—power!

By unscrupulously creating scene after scene of human tragedies, the more tragic the mortal tragedies, the more intense the negative emotions, the more powerful the strength He could draw from it.

He believed when he possessed enough power, even surpassing the personality of a Demigod to become a True God, he could reshape this ugly world at will according to his original idea.

However, before He could gather enough power, the overly reckless Persel had already drawn the attention of the True God.

Due to the eternal quality of divinity, it couldn't be completely destroyed. Only when angels descended by the Goddess Church sealed Him, did that era filled with pain and tragedy finally end.

And the sealing location, unsurprisingly, years ago's barren land, now... "New Inn Port"!

"Our city actually has an Evil God sealed beneath it?!!!"

A shout of amazement erupted simultaneously from the young people! Aiven felt as if he suddenly discovered one day that his basement unexpectedly harbored a nuclear arsenal capable of exploding anytime, an unsettling revelation...

If the truth of the "Killing Ghost" incident was allowed to be disseminated with some limits, then the tremendous secret of the "Evil God's seal location" would necessarily have to be absolutely restricted.

They dare not imagine, should this secret leak out, how many malicious onlookers with evil intents will the city attract!

As Princess said, the current "Killing Ghost" rampage is merely a trivial manifestation.

Under the command of the "Box of Dead Souls," they create misfortune in what were once happy, complete families through targeted killings, parents losing children, women losing husbands, children losing fathers or mothers, using cruel methods, causing the entire city to be inundated with pain, sorrow, and anger.

This extreme negative emotion accumulates bit by bit, forming a special domain covering the entire "New Inn Port," eventually reaching a level high enough to summon and unseal the Evil God Persel.

Although the power growth of the "Killing Ghost" has been reset, as long as the "Box of Dead Souls" is not found, they will inevitably resurrect again someday, then commence killing anew.

Thus, the havoc wreaked by the "Killing Ghost" is really nothing at all.

The true purpose of the "Box of Dead Souls" is to summon the Evil God through such sorrowful and painful emotions!

At this moment, they finally understood what the "greatest crisis" the Princess referred to meant, and why Her Highness personally informed them of this secret. However, they might have preferred not knowing...

Heh, is it possible that the big BOSS is the Evil God?!!!

"The headmaster must know the truth! Why hasn't he acted? What about the Great Knights in the fleet? The bishops of the Church? Shouldn't they be the most anxious at this time?!"

These questions echoed in everyone's mind. It's not that we are cowardly, it's just that our little arms and legs cannot bear the dreadful consequences!

However, no one could provide them answers.

After a long silence.

"Uh, do you think we should still take action today?"

Although Anthony was asking everyone, his eyes were fixed straight on Aiven.

"Avoidance won't solve the problem."

His reasoning was simple: the demigod's personality had already given the Evil God Perseus an aspect of divinity that cannot be beheld directly. If He truly descends, the destruction of "New Inn Port" could be only a matter of moments.

The only way to avoid facing the Evil God Perseus directly now is:

"To find the last 'Killing Ghost' and the 'Box of Dead Souls' in advance, and completely end this tragedy!"

...

Soon, the night of the seventh day quietly arrived.

New Inn Port, a desolate and uninhabited small beach.

A "youth" with unusually long arms and a tall, hunched figure cradled a pitch-black wooden box, staring fixedly at the distant sea.

Behind him, the strange silhouette with three black holes in its distorted face, surrounded by a blood-red aura, silently howled toward the sky.

The outside world was completely unaware, yet something very real spread far and wide with this roar.

Shua!

Under the moonlight, which somehow began to glow with a faint red, a vast portion of the shimmering sea was now tinged with blood. At this moment, the ocean seemed to transform into a portal leading to the Otherworld, with its deep waters concealing unknown strangeness and mystery.

Crash—

Soon, murky waves began to surge beneath the surface, followed by the sound of three chains snapping as though breaking free from restraints.

Crash! Crash! Crash!

Beneath the water, a giant shadow rapidly ascended. First, a black mast marked with scorch marks appeared, then a tattered black and yellow sail. Finally, with a loud boom, a gigantic hull burst through the water's surface.

This ship not only had sails but also oars on both sides, allowing it to be rowed by manpower in the absence of wind. However, from its design, it resembled an ancient riverboat more than a seafaring vessel.

The entire ship was marked by traces of a devastating fire; the ship's planks and damaged hull bore at least a dozen black holes, all overgrown with barnacles, tube worms, mossworms, mussels, algae, and other such epibiota.

Had it been an ordinary sailboat damaged to this extent, it surely would have sunk long ago. But just now it miraculously surfaced from the depths, evidently with some mysterious force at work beyond the ship itself.

"Oh! The 'Grand Theater' has finally seen the light of day again!"

The same goosebump-inducing aria echoed from the Box of Dead Souls.

"Did those ridiculous fools think I did nothing in the eight years of silence? Did they think they could simply end the Killing Ghost's journey of slaughter? As long as I'm on this ship, no one can stop me! Oh hohoho..."

Evidently, this "Ghost Ship" had long become the lair of the "Box of Dead Souls," and the Sea Hunter Leader, Stanley, was not wrong; the Box of Dead Souls itself was their client.

And the original recipient was none other than Wack Wells...

After the fallen God of Opera's summoning failed eight years ago, the Box of Dead Souls had hidden inside this sunken ship, continuously drifting across the seafloor while persistently using the Evil God's power to modify it.

The original vessel was a performing ship for offshore shows, destroyed by Pirates' raids and slaughter, a "Mobile Water Theater." But under the Box of Dead Souls' transformation, it had become a true "Ghost Ship"—the "Grand Theater"!

"Oh hoho, Mr. Wack, please take your stage!"