As Luo Wei sprinted towards Tilis, a revolting sea of flesh had already spread beneath his feet. He watched in horror as the rapidly growing mass of blood and muscle formed into a massive hand that descended from the sky, aiming to crush him.
With a quick dodge, he flashed a crimson glow in his hand.
A blood-red scythe, resembling the one wielded by Evir, sliced through the giant hand like a hot knife through butter.
Blood Magic - Crimson Blade could alter the form of any weapon at will. If one mastered the art of Blood Magic sufficiently, it wasn't impossible to summon a fifty-meter-long cleaver in theory.
Luo Wei cut his way towards Tilis, severing countless fleshly limbs of the "president" along the way.
"Luo Wei?" Tilis exclaimed, her face filled with shock. "What do you want with that key? What are you planning?"
Ignoring the chaos around them, she hurriedly landed beside Luo Wei.
In a hurry, Luo Wei steadied her and began rummaging through her pockets.
"What else? I need to open the door!"
"Quick, quick! Where did you put the key?"
Tilis's eyes widened in disbelief. "Are you insane? The Hounds will hunt you to death! You'll die!"
She was thoroughly puzzled by Luo Wei's request. Not to mention his current state made him incapable of resisting the Hounds, but even if he could, Tilis had decided not to open the door after hearing his earlier speculations.
"There's no time to explain!" Luo Wei quickly glanced behind him and urged Tilis, "There's someone far more troublesome than the president chasing me! It's urgent! Just give me the key! Trust me!"
Tilis had never seen Luo Wei so frantic before. Subconsciously, she turned to look behind her.
Instantly, she felt an indescribable horror staring back at her.
This feeling was even more terrifying than the sight of the Hounds she had encountered when the door was last opened...
Trembling, she turned back to Luo Wei, and that single glance was more convincing than any explanation. She immediately realized the gravity of the situation.
This was a problem far more severe than the current crisis with the president...
Without further questioning, Tilis extended her hand, and a rustic key floated into her palm.
Luo Wei snatched the key and glanced back at Naya.
Naya was glaring at the dropped "Sign" on the ground with obvious disgust, her irritated gaze shifting back to Luo Wei.
[Affection Level: 12↓]
"Luo Wei..." Tilis felt the tension rising, her voice trembling. "What is that? What kind of trouble have you gotten yourself into?"
"We'll discuss that later! Right now, you have an important task! Very important!"
Seeing Naya's expression grow darker, Luo Wei knew she was stewing in frustration, probably plotting how to kill him. He quickly whispered into Tilis's ear.
"Once I need you, use your most powerful move!"
"Most powerful?" Tilis blinked in confusion. "Soul Torrent? Inferno of Heaven? Or... Dark Annihilation?"
"No, no! The one with massive teleportation!"
Tilis immediately frowned. "Do you mean the super ninth-circle... ancient forbidden Level XII spell?"
"Exactly!"
Tilis stared at him in disbelief, but as Luo Wei quickly revealed his plan, her expression grew even more shocked.
"Is... is that your plan?"
As she watched Luo Wei race off towards the president, she muttered to herself.
"Crazy...
"He's totally mad..."
But in the end, she couldn't help but let out a resigned laugh.
"Ah, well...
"Who am I kidding? I trust you too much... Guess I’ll join you for this wild ride..."
Luo Wei continued to sever the president's fleshly appendages, even summoning a fifteen-meter-long blood blade in a desperate attempt to grab its attention and strike directly towards its central region.
Though he wasn't sure if that was the core of the president's being, it was the place from which the voice demanding "consumption" emanated. As expected, the president's body began to tremble.
It let out a deafening roar, and its body was soon crackling with bursts of energy.
Luo Wei suddenly saw countless eyeballs emerging from the flesh, newly formed, closely packed eyeballs that all locked their gaze onto his figure.
Instead of feeling fear, Luo Wei grew excited.
Right in front of the president, he inserted the key into the air ahead of him, as if there was truly a keyhole there.
Luo Wei remembered the steps to opening the door: first, one had to be sincere... to silently invoke His name, imagining the key could truly unlock an unimaginable doorway...
'I seek truth, to witness the omniscient existence of past and future...'
The key in his hand began to glow faintly, transforming into a silver key adorned with intricate patterns.
Luo Wei turned the key with eager anticipation, unlocking the door.
For an instant, blinding bright light enveloped everyone in the chaotic conflict.
All fighting ceased.
Luo Wei glanced at Naya once more.
She was now resting her chin on her hand, no longer displaying any irritation, but rather keenly watching Luo Wei with an expectant glint in her eyes.
Naya seemed to want to see whatLuo Wei would do, her gaze reflecting her curiosity.
After opening the door, Luo Wei laughed maniacally at the president.
"Idiot, weren't you always seeking godhood?"
"Right here is the truth! The dream of every mage in your life!"
"Don't you dare miss this opportunity! What are you waiting for?"
Luo Wei sneered at the pile of disgusting flesh, as his foot stepped through the gate.
The blinding light enveloped him, and the door symbolizing truth began to slowly close.
The president's entire body shivered with excitement; its boundless flesh began pressing desperately into the narrow threshold.
All the mages present gaped at the scene.
The door's entrance was too narrow, and the president, fearing it would close, screamed in anxious excitement, adjusting its form like a amoeba.
Every bit of flesh piled up in the hall and corridors turned black and rotten, resembling diseased cells dying suddenly, losing all vitality in an instant.
By forcing its front segments into the doorway like a salamander shedding its tail, the president barely twisted itself through, though its frame still appeared awkwardly bloated.
Tilis watched the closing door vanish, her expression already resolute.
In Luo Wei's plan, whether or not she succeeded was crucial.
But she was determined to pull it off.
A dark blue magic circle encircled her feet.
In the blink of an eye, Tilis disappeared from the research institute hall, leaving the startled stares of mages behind.