The 'accidentally formed' palm mask is larger than a regular palm, just like an adult's palm covering a child's face, completely covering William's forehead, eyes and nose, leaving only the mouth exposed.
When this palm-shaped mask was fully formed on William's face,
Even Lord Karimus, the black tree man who ruled the settlement, was sweating profusely from between his tree trunks. He instinctively leaned back. If his legs and feet had not turned into deep roots, he would have probably taken a few steps back.
"Why is there a mask of this shape? The masks of all the people who have the ability to condense faces should be of the same shape, but the strips that make up the mask are different.
Moreover, the abyss strips formed by this guy are surprisingly so thin, even thinner than the roots I condensed at the beginning, and several times more in number. There is also an indescribable feeling, as if this mask is controlled by something.
There is only the limit of open source, how can it be achieved to this extent? "
As Lord Karimus continued to stare at the young man, he even gradually saw some unrealistic images.
First, I saw a pale arm resting on the young man's shoulder.
Then he saw a head with a strange smile rolling down to the side of the young man.
Soon after, more and more phantoms of the dead stuck to the young man's back, and the final stacked scene was even taller than his giant tree body.
But in the blink of an eye, these images disappeared again.
The young man who had already completed the congealing of his face at the foot of the tree did not move at all. He seemed to be quietly feeling the process, or he seemed to be suppressing the murderous intent and thoughts that were growing wildly in his body, or he seemed to be reconciling with "himself".
He remained seated for three days and three nights, and no one dared to approach him.
On the fourth day, William, who was sitting cross-legged, finally moved. He shifted his body and slowly stood up.
Supporting the back of the neck with one hand, he rotated his head a full circle with force... Click~click~the sound of the cervical vertebrae cracking echoed in the square area.
"Ah, really... Great! This is the essence of the Abyss Mask. It replicates the best genes of the organism through the virus and displays the most real and excellent side of the individual through the form of a mask.
Only when you face the abyss in this state can you show your sincerity.
Don't you think so, William?"
"Yi Chen, is this your purpose? To influence the process of mask formation by implanting memories, so that your consciousness can be attached to the mask and exist at the same time as me."
“It is undeniable that this is indeed one of my goals... But, William, you have to admit that this is definitely the most perfect and most suitable mask for us.
Only when you and I coexist can we unleash the maximum potential of this body.
Don't worry, I'm not the brat I used to be. I can still maintain the most basic self-control. I will honestly assist you and complete the next important task, the path you've been thinking about day and night."
"It would be better."
"Let's quickly move on to the next step - to see what is called a pilgrimage."
The above exchange seems to be a conversation between two people.
In fact, from the perspective of an outsider, it seemed that William was talking to himself alone.
This form of self-conversation also invisibly exudes a more specific kind of social phobia. No one dares to step forward for fear of being suddenly approached.
William, wearing the Abyss Mask, took the initiative to walk towards the black tree man. The black tree man slowly stabilized his body and calmed down to ask as a gatekeeper:
"You have completed the face-condensing process. According to the rules, you can start the pilgrimage... But I suggest you take a day off in the settlement. People who have completed the face-condensing process can enjoy the settlement's highest level of service for free for one day."
"(Yi) Oh? Is there a service like that, where you can provide me with some pretty girls with duplicated lower bodies, preferably legs and feet.
If you have any, please help me call a few more and then set up a school scene. It would be best if they could wear school uniforms!
(William) We are here to do serious business, don't waste time! Three days of meditation is enough for us to rest, let's quickly embark on the pilgrimage and face the abyss.
(Yi) Oh, that's right! As long as we can establish contact with the Abyss, or even completely control it, we can play however we want, even directly perform targeted lesions according to my XP.
Well, then I'll trouble Lord Karimus to open the pilgrimage to the abyss."
The big black tree looked at the mentally ill boy in front of it and actually felt a little fear. Social phobia was actually growing in the veins of its trunk.
Faced with the young man's request to embark on the pilgrimage, he did not say anything more.
Ka~ As the base of the tree trunk slowly cracked, a path that stretched downward and led to the deep roots was revealed.
Just when Yi Chen's body was eager to step in, William suddenly seized control with his strong willpower and stopped at the entrance.
Look up at the top of the tree,
"Lord Karimus, there should be some precautions or conditions regarding the pilgrimage, right?"
After hearing what William said, the gatekeeper realized that he had forgotten to explain the relevant matters of the pilgrimage, which was one of his main responsibilities as a gatekeeper.
"Ah! That's right, pilgrimage is a necessary process to face the abyss.
The so-called "pilgrimage road" is an absolutely dark road without any concept of direction. Only those who are pious enough and walk forward with a pilgrimage posture can walk firmly in the right direction.
Even if there is a trace of distracting thoughts, the direction will be deviated and you will never reach the abyss.
During the pilgrimage, the mask will continue to grow. If the mask completely covers the head but still fails to reach the edge of the abyss, the pilgrimage will be considered a failure.
By doing so you will remain here forever, a slave to the abyss."
"Are you pious enough? The conditions are very broad... OK, I understand."
"Then I wish you good luck."
Lord Karimus' attitude was much better at this moment, and he even forgot the young man's previous disrespectful words.
William put his hand on the opening of the tree root. He didn't know if it was his illusion, but he felt that he could crush the lord's tree roots with his bare hands in the state of concentration, and even have a face-to-face encounter with the lord who had completed the path.
When William had this thought, Lord Karims also felt a chill in his crotch.
The lower part of the trunk was reinforced decisively, and several spikes rose from the soil and hovered around.
"I'll see you later, sir... Don't worry, I'm not out of control yet."
William reached out and gently tapped the tree roots, then leaped into them.
Under the tree trunk is a slide woven by ancient roots, whose length is beyond William's imagination. The only thing that is certain is that the concentration of the abyss is increasing in this process, getting closer and closer to the tenth abyss.
During the gliding process, the two consciousnesses communicated again.
"William, leave the rest of the pilgrimage to me."
"Why?"
"Because I am more devout than you in this regard. I did have certain beliefs when I was alive, although these beliefs did not have much effect."
"Is it some memory that I didn't inherit?"
"No, no, no~ It's just a matter of cultural influence. Where I live, there are related concepts such as pilgrimage and worship... and William, you seem to have never believed in these things. The only thing you believe in is yourself.
Just leave it to me, I won’t joke about my own future.
Look at me, I am not only good at killing people, I am also very good at these so-called 'pious' things."
"OK."
William did not deny Yi Chen's words. Indeed, he did not believe in any gods and had always only believed in himself.
At this moment, he voluntarily gave up control of his body, and Yi Chen took complete control of his body through the Abyss Mask.
Ten minutes later, he finally slipped and fell out of the tree root passage.
Unlike the black and white picture created by the lighting of black candles in the settlement, there was only endless darkness below, but it was nothing for Yi Chen who was used to a small dark room.
Without the use of grapes to illuminate, any release of light would be an act of impiety.
Yi Chen, who had always been crazy and irritable, calmed down in the darkness, took off all his clothes and left only the mask.
The chin is retracted, the tongue is pressed against the gums, the chest is held in and the back is lifted, the mind is humble and the breath is lowered.
Stand still with both feet, bend forward and kneel, put your palms together, and bow your hands in front of you.
A Taoist ritual learned during life was performed in the darkness with an extremely standard procedure - three bows and nine kowtows.
but,
Yi Chen performed a personal enhanced version, where he would slam his face deeply into the ground every time he knocked his head.
After nine kowtows, the entire facial bones were shattered, and the palm used to support the forehead was smashed into a bloody mess.
After completing one round of kowtows, Yi Chen slowly stood up, stepped into the groove formed by his kowtow and started the second round of kowtows.
This way of moving seemed extremely slow, and even after an hour, the distance traveled was less than 30 meters.
But... the aura of the abyss below became stronger as Yi Chen kowtowed.