Veil of Destiny

Chapter 20 The Mysterious Powers of Sophia

Dorian hadn't dreamed in a long time. With his extraordinary mental fortitude, fortified by the necromancer's resilient will, it was impossible for him to experience dreams.

Yet here he was, in a haze, not knowing where he was. The thin, gray mist around him was almost tangible, leaving a slick, icy layer of gray muck on his hand as he tried to wave it away. The oppressive and dim light only allowed him to see about ten meters ahead. Nearby, a solitary dead tree stood, its branches twisted in bizarre and eerie shapes.

There was no sign of life here.

Though Dorian did not reject the presence of death, such pure and intense death energy made him extremely uncomfortable. Where was this place? He shouted, but no sound came out.

"This is the world of death, the paradise of the undead, the ultimate purgatory for all living beings!" A cold, evil, and sharp voice pierced through Dorian's mental defenses, echoing in his mind. "Who are you?!" Dorian roared, but the voice fell silent.

Dorian tried to shout again, but no sound came out. He tried to run, but he couldn't move. All that remained was fear, despair, and breakdown.

A powerful force pulled Dorian upwards, quickly breaking through the mist and soaring into the sky.

Dorian watched in terror as the grotesque forest, gray-black rivers, and barren hills swept past beneath him. Experiencing flight for the first time, his heart nearly leapt out of his throat. But he still couldn't move; all he could do was use his mental power to shield his body, preventing his life force from leaking out. This strange world constantly drained the life energy of living beings.

The sky was gray. The clouds were like lead, and the wind felt like a knife, driving one to the brink of madness.

Through the clouds, a faint light peeked through, though its source was unknown.

A gigantic skeletal bird flew in the sky, heading straight for Dorian. His nerves grew taut, but he was powerless. His face twisted, eyes bulging.

With a whoosh, the skeletal bird passed through Dorian's body, as if he was just a ghostly shadow.

Dorian made a sweeping arc, descending from the sky and heading straight for a small mountain.

Scattered across the hill were countless bones, among which stood a proud skeleton, a dark scythe occasionally flashing with a cold light. It was Sophia.

Dorian plunged down, and Sophia turned her head, seemingly gazing at Dorian. With a roar in his mind, Dorian's vision spun. When he came to, he found himself merged with Sophia, still unable to move, with only his vast mental power being drained like a tidal wave.

A fierce wind suddenly rose from where Sophia stood, sweeping up all the bones within a few dozen meters. The flames in Sophia's eye sockets turned from pale to dark red. A streak of black spread from head to toe, swiftly dyeing her entire body. The once white skeleton was now pitch black, and the previously scarred bones were now flawless.

Sophia raised her head in a silent scream, her previously drooping bone wings spreading wide.

The black streak spread to Sophia's scythe, causing the handle to writhe like a living vine, growing frantically. Sharp metal spikes sprouted from the broad blade, which twisted and crackled with small bolts of lightning.

An invisible barrier extended from Sophia, reaching about ten meters. Any creature within this barrier would be subjected to various negative emotions and mental assaults. However, in this necromantic paradise, the barrier was useless.

After a while, Sophia looked towards the other side of the hill. Dorian, nearly drained of his mental energy, also sensed an ancient, evil, cold, and arrogant presence over there.