26. Nuxeon Cult Recruitment Ceremony
Several hours earlier...
The intel squadron arrived at the location of the Nuxeon cult recruitment ceremony. At the center of an open space encroached by trees stood a mildly elevated altar. Atop it stood a man with a slightly malnourished face, sunken eyes, and broad shoulders, clad in a pitch-black robe with golden hems at the edges, neatly stitched together to form snake-like symbols around his sleeves.
He was surrounded by about thirty to forty individuals, enough to form a crowd. Bright red balls of light illuminated the gathering.
Some other figures, clad in brown robes with hems similar to the design of the man on the altar and bony masks latched to their faces as if they were a part of them, stood at strategic points. They were low-ranked Nuxeon cult disciples. Their eyes burned with intense devotion as they meticulously surveyed every parameter of the gathering site.
The intel squadron entered the recruitment ceremony with their impeccable disguises made by the architect herself—Dina. With their spirit energy dampened, the Nuxeon cult disciples paid them no mind. They joined the remaining aspiring recruits, standing at the very back of the crowd.
"Can you hear me clearly?" Hina said mentally.
"Hihihihi, loud and clear," Vampika sent across the link.
"Mhmhm, yes," Uriel projected into their minds with a sleepy tone.
"Good!" Hina sent across the link. "Can we go over the mission details one more time?" she transmitted.
Uriel groaned inwardly. "Infiltrate the Nuxeon cult headquarters and collect sufficient intel on the Grand and Vice Overseers, plus Berry."
"Regroup with Nirvana's intel unit—Vroh and Delta. Avoid fighting while studying the enemy terrain," Vampika relayed.
"Valid enough," Hina said mentally.
Vampika exhaled gently, her ears twitching as she focused on the heartbeats of everyone on the premises. Her eyes widened—she had just made a shocking discovery.
"Hihihihi," she giggled inwardly. "So this is how they managed to warp Nirvana's intel unit without them noticing," she transmitted.
"Will you spit it out already!" Uriel relayed.
"Don't you find the positioning of those cult members in robes and the layout of this place suspicious? Not to mention their fast-beating hearts. If they were just standing, their heartbeats wouldn't be that loud," Vampika said mentally.
The gathering was held in a round circle surrounded by tall trees, with the altar at the center. Vampika had realized it was no mere coincidence—they were currently standing inside a magic circle. Uriel and Hina soon noticed that each Nuxeon disciple was standing in front of a tree.
"Runes!" Hina transmitted.
"Hihihihi, bingo! Our friends here are making use of a mass teleportation magic circle. Normally this would require a lot of spirit energy, but they are making use of runes, most likely inscribed on those trees they are standing beside," Vampika explained mentally.
"Those runes most likely allow them to individually supply spirit energy to meet the quota needed to activate the magic circle," Uriel added telepathically.
"The trees are connected to the magic circle by S.E circuits," Hina transmitted.
S.E circuits are lines invisible to the eyes, created by imprinting one's spirit energy into the environment. An individual has to focus a certain amount of spirit energy into their eyes to see them.
Hina placed a finger crookedly on her lips. "The person that created this magic circle most likely knows the S.P.C [Spatial Pass Code] of the mirror dimension's protective barrier. That being said..." she relayed.
A mild frown formed on Uriel's face. "We have to also place a transport marker to serve as a base for the break-in portal," she transmitted, completing Hina's statement.
"Hihihihi, let's not forget the most important part..." Vampika added mentally.
"Steal the S.P.C from the Grand Overseer," they all said at the same time mentally.
"But of course... without killing him," they added in unison mentally.
It was quite obvious to them that the Grand Overseer would be the one with the S.P.C, because he was at the very top of the Nuxeon power chain.
The man atop the altar parted his lips, adjusting his posture in a commanding manner.
"You all are welcome to your very first stage of refinement. I applaud you for deciding to make this destiny-changing decision." His voice boomed, echoing throughout the gathering site.
He stretched forth both hands, his nails painted in absolute black. Veins became visible around his neck as he opened his mouth wider.
"On behalf of the Grand Overseer, I—Swahwn, Class 2 disciple—hereby declare you as official members of the esteemed Nuxeon cult, granting you the title of official recruits," he announced loudly, grabbing the attention of everyone present.
A male recruit raised his hand, shifting the attention to himself. The crowd parted, dividing into two halves and giving way for the recruit to walk forward.
The recruit walked boldly to the altar. He was a male with blond hair and blue eyes, carrying himself in a pompous manner.
"Hey! Old man," he said rudely.
"What about the privileges and benefits you promised?" He walked to the front of the altar, slamming the pulpit haphazardly.
"Young man! Take a step back," Swahwn commanded with a deadly tone.
The pompous recruit's survival instincts screamed, forcing him to take a step backward.
"Sorry! Sorry!" he exclaimed with a disturbed tone.
His confident facial expression eroded, replaced by a faint smirk of fear.
"But what about the benefits?" a voice echoed from the back.
"Yes! What about all the privileges you promised us!" another voice echoed.
Murmurs from the crowd soon filled the air. They were all here for the benefits they had been promised. After all, they were desperate to survive the Summoners' War.
"Rest assured," Swahwn's voice echoed louder than the murmurs, directing the crowd's attention back to himself.
"You will be better provided for—all your heart's desires fulfilled. 'The Great One' will refine you to perfection in His infinite grace and grant you all your heart's desires by His omniscient will," he declared boldly, with a strong sense of devotion.
His statement calmed the crowd. Cheers of celebration followed immediately afterward. The pompous recruit walked back into the crowd.
"May 'The Great One'... refine you all," he declared.
Red light burst forth from the ground they were all standing on, encompassing the entire open space. Before anyone could react, they all vanished.
They appeared outside a large cathedral inside the mirror dimension created by the Nuxeon cult. Whispers and murmurs filled the air. Most of the crowd behaved like lost sheep in a new farm, while a few distinct individuals—including the intel squadron—stood undisturbed.
A strange woman stood nearby, wearing a dark jumpsuit latched to her body, outlining her near-perfect structure. Her pitch-dark hair fluttered mildly in the wind, and her face was covered with a half mask only covering her nose and eyes designed with a flowing golden dragon.
She caressed her lips with her sharp black nails as her cheeks turned slightly red.
"Phase 3 can now begin..." she muttered.