Chapter 222: The Beginning of the Dream
William put away the monocular telescope: "The souls of the trapped people don't seem to be in their bodies. If we only perform external exorcism, it will likely be in vain."
Just now, when he projected Holy Power onto those people.
He found a gray aura lingering around everyone's brains.
If William remembered correctly, this should be the sin of "Pain."
If not relying on [Messenger of Sins], it would be very difficult for William to find this clue.
But their souls were not within it.
He had seen this situation in the "Hand of the Apostle" commission.
So William immediately started looking for "Spirit Body Chains."
He urged [Holy Eye], and after consuming a lot of Holy Power, finally found some transparent chains.
And these chains were all connected to the nearby space, extending to an unknown destination.
Combining with Freddy's characteristics and his knowledge of the original work.
William quickly realized one thing—these people's souls had all been dragged into the dream world.
Only by bringing them out of the dream could they truly be rescued.
Otherwise, Freddy could still kill them in the dream.
That's why William said what he just said.
But among the people present, only a few understood his meaning.
Wilton narrowed his eyes.
Before coming, he had already read the file about William and knew the latter's Brand was "Eyes Manifestation."
This was also the reason why he allowed William to follow.
But Wilton didn't expect this guy could actually observe the spirit bodies of living people.
According to the Church's classic records, only when the second-stage Holy Art of Eyes was about to be completed could one "See" deep enough.
At the same time, this would also consume a massive amount of Holy Power.
"Stupid guy, does he think showing off some skills can represent the Church?" Wilton snorted coldly in his heart.
Knight Henry was another person who understood William's words.
He inherited the spirit of "Loyalty," thus being cultivated as a confidant by the "Lord."
Since childhood, Henry had experienced various exorcism commissions and knew some special evil spirits and demons could snatch human souls through certain means.
This kind of evil was often very powerful.
General means could hardly destroy them; only by finding where the souls were trapped could they be rescued.
But this often meant danger, requiring one to personally set foot in the territory of evil.
Thinking of this, Henry couldn't help glancing at William.
This guy was disheveled; at a glance, he was the kind of guy who didn't know etiquette!
He hated this kind of person the most.
In comparison, that Church dog named Wilton was at least passable.
But Henry was still surprised by William's observation skills.
However, he wouldn't go along with the other party.
This commission attracted the attention of many people; the Lord Knights must tear off the Church's ugly fig leaf!
Thinking of this, he snorted coldly.
"You were the one who reminded us to pay attention to the influence of evil forces, and now you are the one asking us to proactively enter the dream world."
Henry suddenly raised his voice.
"Is the Church planning to commit murder while we are asleep, and then shift the blame to the evil spirits inside?"
This remark of his was quite vicious.
The people present came from various forces and had no trust in each other.
Even if everyone thought William's observation was correct now, they wouldn't easily take the risk to cooperate.
Sure enough, after Henry finished speaking, Mark and Winona both revealed doubtful looks.
Wilton also intended to refute William, but seeing someone throwing dirty water on the Church at this moment, he immediately spoke up to refute.
William watched all this with a calm gaze.
These forces, who styled themselves as the embodiment of justice, were actually busy throwing dirty water when civilians really needed them.
What an irony.
The argument lasted for another period. Henry looked at everyone coldly.
"No matter what tricks you plan to play, the Lord Knights will save those people in our own way."
He said as he turned around.
"Knight Pence, I think we should go."
Pence's face showed some hesitation: "But... that priest's words make some sen—"
Before he finished speaking, he met Henry's cold gaze.
"Apprentice Knight, have you forgotten your oath when you were knighted?"
Pence looked like he had done something wrong: "Sorry, Knight Henry."
The two quickly disappeared from the stairwell.
Seeing this, Gail aside stepped forward proactively.
But Mark beside her grabbed her.
"Gail, have you forgotten the philosophy of Light of Humanity?"
He lowered his voice and said.
"The organization still needs time to develop, which is why we came into contact with the Church, but the two sides are ultimately not on the same path."
"But..." Gail's face was hesitant.
She looked at William but ultimately didn't speak.
"We still need some materials to research ways to avoid falling asleep." Mark spoke. "So excuse us first."
After speaking, he also pulled Gail and left.
In just a few minutes, only people from the Church, the police, and the Witch Association remained present.
Winona looked at Lombane, planning to call the other party to leave as well.
But the latter stepped forward first.
"Gentlemen from the Church, rescuing the people inside is the most important thing right now. Witch Winona and I will fully assist you."
Winona: ??
When did I say that!
Didn't you hear what that annoying Knight just said!
She roared inwardly.
The struggle between the Church and witches could be traced back to thousands of years ago.
It wasn't until the last dozen years that it eased somewhat.
Today's witches had long realized that only by becoming the makers of the world order could witches truly walk in the sunlight.
It happened that in this era, evil had descended upon the human world again.
Therefore, some pioneers traveled to various places, trying to unite all forces.
But there were still some conservatives who were very doubtful of this change.
Winona was one such witch.
She just wanted to speak up to refute, but Lombane shook his head slightly.
Seeing this, Winona could only hold back and shut her mouth.
After all, before coming out this time, she had reached a deal with Lombane.
On the other side.
Wilton looked coldly in the direction of the stairwell.
"These lowly heretics will receive the Lord's holy judgment sooner or later," he thought inwardly.
At this time, he also heard the dwarf wizard's words.
Wilton turned around, looking at the other party with the gaze of a superior.
"The Church has always greatly appreciated civilians who proactively contribute value."
These words sounded very harsh; he clearly treated the other party as a vassal.
But in Wilton's view, this was already a great favor.
If it were a few hundred years ago, he would have thrown the two heretics in front of him onto the stake long ago.
Lombane's brow frowned slightly, but he still maintained a smile.
"We can provide a kind of 'Awakening Potion'. After application, it can wake the user up within a certain period, no matter how deep this person was sleeping before."
He looked at the witch as he spoke.
"Winona, you are good at potion-making; I leave this matter to you."
The latter looked somewhat reluctant but still nodded.
But Wilton interrupted: "No need."
"The Church has its own exorcism methods. I will arrange for Father William to make the corresponding preparations."
After William's reminder, Wilton realized that his proposed exorcism method was difficult to achieve.
Although unhappy inside.
But whether for the Church's purposes or out of respect for the Archbishop behind William.
Wilton had to make a compromise.
However, all this must be under his, Wilton's, "Orders."
William heard the implication behind his words.
He smiled slightly and walked straight towards Lombane.
"Then I'll leave it to you, Mr. Wizard."
Lombane aside was originally somewhat disappointed, but hearing these words, he immediately raised his head.
"With the Church leading the way, those trapped innocents will definitely be able to return safely."
He raised his hand above his head.
"I believe this will be a tacit cooperation."
William also bent down and held Lombane's hand: "I hope so."
The two ignored Wilton, who was sulking aside, and reached a strategic agreement.
"Father Wilton, I think the Church appointing you as the leader must be because they value your devout belief and noble status."
At this time, Betty spoke to comfort him.
"The subsequent exorcism ritual will still need you to supervise from the side."
Her words made Wilton feel much better, and the latter ultimately didn't speak again.
Sheriff Roberto had been standing aside like a transparent person all along.
"Oh God! After this commission is over, I will submit a transfer application," he thought inwardly.
If he continued to participate in such struggles, he might have to prepare for his funeral in advance!
After the two wizards went to make the potion, William found Roberto again.
"On the way to the sports field, I saw supporting police officers collapsed in different positions. Could it be that this boundary line that makes people 'Fall Asleep' has expanded?"
"Correct. When receiving the report on the first day, it was only limited to the sports field. But within an hour after we arrived, this range expanded three times successively, becoming the current scale."
William lowered his head in thought upon hearing this.
"However, after that, this range hasn't expanded anymore," Roberto added.
William nodded: "I understand; this clue is very important."
At this time, Betty walked over: "Father William, what are your thoughts? Maybe I can help."
William said: "Proactively enter the dream world and bring those trapped people back."
"But before going in, we have to arrange defensive magic arrays in advance to prevent other evils from taking advantage of the opportunity to invade."
Betty put on a look of listening seriously.
"I understand. Leave the magic array matters to me."
Before coming out this time, Archbishop Ortega gave her many high-vintage holy artifacts.
William pointed to a location within the school's range.
"That place is on the edge, and the vicinity is also very open. If a crisis occurs, we can quickly evacuate. Choose that place for the magic array location."
Betty nodded and noted it down.
Wilton aside was unhappy inside.
But he also had to admit that William's considerations were very comprehensive.
After Betty and Wilton left, William came to a meeting room in the building again.
He took out holy artifacts and Demon-Trapping Bells, arranging them around.
There was no evil aura nearby.
But making the potion would take some time, plus having just learned that the range of the evil power had expanded before.
Therefore, during the waiting period, William still decided to set up some measures in advance to avoid being caught off guard.
Sometime later.
Click.
The meeting room door was opened, and a peculiar smell drifted out from inside.
Lombane walked out from inside, holding a glass bottle filled with pale purple liquid in his hand.
"This is the Awakening Potion. The medicinal effect will start working in the fifth hour after application."
He opened the stopper as he spoke, proactively poured some out, and smeared it on his forehead, then handed over the remaining potion.
William reached out to take it, then projected Holy Power onto it and observed carefully.
"Some power that can affect the spirit is indeed attached to it; looks like it's not fake," he thought secretly.
Lombane continued: "This bottle is for one person. Witch Winona is making additional backups."
William nodded and put the glass bottle into his pocket.
At this time, the entire building suddenly shook a bit.
Immediately after, the surrounding air suddenly became distorted.
"Wh-at h-ap-pe-ned..."
Lombane looked vigilant.
But from William's perspective, this wizard's voice actually had an echo.
"Problem with the potion?" He narrowed his eyes but quickly ruled out this suspicion.
At the same time, three low sinister laughs suddenly rang out around.
Accompanied by an echo, as if someone was peeking from the dark.
And William also suddenly felt a wave of sleepiness hit him.
He instantly realized what had happened.
But this power could actually act directly on the human body's mental power, simply hard to resist.
Lombane opposite had already fallen into a deep sleep, and the sound of things shattering rang out in the meeting room.
William circulated the Holy Power in his body, forcing his heavy eyelids open.
At the last moment before falling asleep, he opened the glass bottle and smeared the potion inside on his forehead.
The same situation also happened everywhere in the school.
On the open space at the edge.
Betty was lying flat on the ground with her mouth open. Her chest heaved slightly, and a light snore came from her nose.
There were many holy artifacts placed around her, but their positions were obviously messy; apparently, the final magic array had not yet been formed.
Not far away, Wilton's head was stuffed into a trash can, with only his buttocks kneeling outside.
He held a silk handkerchief in his hand, on which was stuck half a piece of chewing gum, while the other half was on the edge of his shoe.
By a lake.
The two knights slept sprawled on the ground, without the slightest bit of elegance.
Inside the equipment tent.
Mark slumped on the table, and the drool flowing out had already soaked the paper.
Gail was right on the stool next to him.
Her face was peaceful, and she was very elegant even when falling asleep.
However, Gail had her arms wrapped around her chest; with every breath in and out, it was entirely a blood-pumping scene.
But unfortunately, Mark aside didn't have this eye candy.
"Wake up! You've been discovered!"
In his sleep, William jolted awake.
He looked around.
Green wooden desks and chairs, bright fluorescent lights, and a long whiteboard with writing on it.
This place seemed to be... a classroom.
"Why... am I here?"
William narrowed his eyes and raised his head, blocking the dazzling lights with his hand.
He tried to recall, but only felt a wave of exhaustion.
"So sleepy..."
Ultimately, William still couldn't remember anything.
But he still had an impression of the words in his ear just now.
"I've been discovered..."
He turned his head and saw a tall lady sitting beside him.
The other party looked familiar, but William couldn't remember her name.
At this time, that lady looked anxious and was constantly hinting with her eyes.
But William stared blankly at a certain towering part.
Until a low, hoarse voice interrupted him.
"Cunning, cruelty, greed; these are the dark sides existing in human nature."
"Every human is an executioner, only you are good at disguising it..."
William showed doubt on his face upon hearing this.
"Am I... in class?" he thought to himself. "Isn't this content a bit inappropriate."
But at this time, the classroom suddenly became extremely quiet.
William was instantly startled.
He looked at that female classmate; the latter remained motionless, her expression as if solidified.
William took a deep breath, then slowly turned his head.
Immediately after, he met a gaze.
He saw a thin figure standing on the podium.
The other party wore a red and green striped sweater and a round-brimmed felt hat on his head.
After seeing the other party's face clearly, William's eyes instantly sobered up a lot.
Charred skin, scars of varying depths; these were all squeezed onto one face.
It looked twisted and horrifying.
"Hehe."
That "Teacher" on the stage let out a creepy laugh again.
"You're distracted."
In the next moment, most of the classmates sitting around mechanically turned their heads.
They smiled, their mouths almost tearing to the maximum extent.
"Found you." The classroom spoke in unison.
William instantly felt a creepy sensation.
He wanted to get up and leave, but couldn't move no matter what.
At this time, the figure on the podium suddenly disappeared.
William hurriedly turned his head to look.
But in the next moment, the other party actually appeared at the desk in front of him.
"You can run, but you can't hide."
The "Teacher" said in a low voice from his throat.
William only then realized that the person at the front desk had already trembled like a sieve.
Immediately after, he heard the sound of sharp blades tearing through flesh and skin.
Subsequently, a large amount of fresh blood sprayed onto William's desk.
But he stared fixedly ahead.
He saw a pair of leather gloves stretch out from the back of the front desk person's head.
Inserted on it were five sharp blades. Besides the dripping blood, there were also some pieces of meat stuck to the surface of the blades.
William forcefully turned his head, meeting the "Teacher's" smiling gaze.
"Next, it's you."
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