The tentacle continued to circle him, its movements erratic and predatory. After a few laps, the massive pupil at its tip suddenly split open.

  A mouth—lined with rows of jagged, needle-like teeth—erupted from the center of the eye. It twisted into a grotesque grin and let out a series of high-pitched, distorted sounds: "Hehe... hehe... hehehe!"

  Eros felt his stomach do a somersault. His face went pale, then a sickly shade of green.

  Gods above! He watched in horror as a mouth grew out of an eyeball. His skin crawled, and a cold sweat broke out across his entire body. The eerie laughter echoed from every corner of the grey fog, a cacophony of wet, rhythmic giggles that seemed to vibrate his very bones.

  Eros collapsed onto his back, covering his ears in a desperate attempt to block out the noise. He quickly realized it was futile; the laughter wasn't a physical sound—it was ringing directly inside his skull.

  "Will you shut up?!" he finally roared, his sanity fraying at the edges. "Just kill me! If you're going to do it, just kill me already!"

  The laughter stopped instantly. The tentacle retracted the mouth, the eyeball sealing shut once more as it resumed its unblinking stare. Eros, exhausted and defeated, stopped struggling. He lay motionless on the ground and, against all odds, drifted into a deep sleep.

  When he woke again, he was lying in his own bed in Estelle’s room. He stared at the familiar ceiling, his mind a haze. The grey fog... the tentacle... was it all just a dream?

  Estelle, who had been keeping a constant vigil by his side, noticed his eyes opening. She leaned over, her voice a soft whisper. "Are you thirsty?"

  Looking into those clear, beautiful eyes—overflowing with maternal love and relief—Eros felt a sudden, profound gratitude for being alive. He reached out his arms for a hug. Estelle, though slightly surprised by the sudden display of affection, leaned down and pulled him close.

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  Eros gripped her back tightly, his heart racing. Sensing the intensity of the embrace, Estelle assumed he’d been plagued by nightmares. She patted his back gently, whispering comfortingly, "Don't be afraid. Mama is here. It's okay, my darling."

  Eros felt a bit embarrassed at being coddled like a toddler, but he didn't let go. He remembered the final moments of the ritual—the brainwashing voice nearly shattering his mind before that beam of black light intervened.

  "How long was I out?" he asked.

  "Seven days," Estelle replied softly.

  Eros was stunned. He did a quick mental check; he felt refreshed and brimming with energy—hardly the state of someone who had been comatose for a week. As he scanned his internal condition, he felt a strange, rhythmic energy flowing through his veins.

  Is this the 'Spirit' Father talked about?

  According to the Duke, "Spirit" (灵) was the fuel of the supernatural. Its presence meant he had officially crossed the threshold. So, I’m officially a Sequence 9: Mystery Pryer now?

  Curiosity got the better of him. He wanted to test his new powers immediately. He dove into his mental library, searching for a usable spell.

  Divine Art: Judgment of Eternal Night and Divine Art: Life’s Decree were out of the question—those were heavy-duty offensive spells that would probably level the bedroom. That left the Chapter of Life.

  He randomly selected a skill called Divine Art: Life’s Prayer and followed the mnemonic instructions etched in his mind.

  He had, however, vastly overestimated his "Mana Pool."

  In an instant, he felt as if a vacuum had been applied to his soul. His entire reservoir of Spirit was sucked dry in a heartbeat. All that remained of his effort was a tiny, emerald-green speck of light, no larger than a soybean, flickering at his fingertip.

  The light drifted into Estelle’s body as he pointed. Then, with a graceful lack of ceremony, Eros’s eyes rolled back, and he promptly fainted again.

  Estelle felt the green speck merge into her. Instantly, the bone-deep fatigue from seven days of sleepless guarding vanished, replaced by a surge of vitality.

  She stood frozen for a moment, then looked down at the unconscious Eros, who had essentially "blue-screened" from spirit depletion. She didn't know whether to laugh or cry.