A Core Ship From The Start Chapter 675

Chapter 675: Chapter 500: He Won't Die If He Doesn't Court Death_1 Chapter 675: Chapter 500: He Won't Die If He Doesn't Court Death_1 The oldest and strongest emotion of mankind is fear. And the oldest and strongest kind of fear is fear of the unknown.

This is a quote recorded in Kristin's diary, and it is the biggest reason for her current predicament.

As Professor Osborne pointed out, while studying at Miskatonic University, Kristin was a brilliant student. Her paintings were filled with strength, earning her recognition from many. If Kristin had stopped there, she might have become a famous painter, an acclaimed artist.

Yet, as an exceptional student, Kristin apparently did not intend to stop there. She aspired to become a maestro. It was, admittedly, a noble pursuit.

Of course, Duanmu Huai could never understand Kristin's obsession. To him, all paintings are more or less the same. Take the Mona Lisa for instance. While Duanmu Huai could accept its historical significance, artistic value? How could one see that? Did it just resemble a person?

Apologies, but being a crude man, Duanmu Huai couldn't appreciate such things.

However, it was clear that Kristin was genuinely troubled by this. Making big money through painting didn't seem to equate to success for her. She wanted to go further, to obtain the supreme honor in art.

At some point, Kristin came across this quote. Therefore, she recorded it.

The oldest and strongest emotion of mankind is fear. And the oldest and strongest kind of fear is fear of the unknown.

Kristin found her direction from this quote. She wanted to create a painting that would instill fear in everyone from the bottom of their hearts, so that she could make a name for herself in history and become a legendary artist.

Of course, this wasn't an easy task. Kristin initially experienced many setbacks. But she was lucky (or unlucky) to be a student at Miskatonic University, where the most abundant thing was the exploration of the unknown.

Therefore, by Kristin's relentless pursuit, she eventually discovered a piece of information.

Once, there had been a burglary at Miskatonic University. The thief had died in the library. However, that was not significant. It was rumored that the thief was not human but a monstrous creature resulting from the intermingling of a horrifying existence with a human. Afterwards, three professors even visited the burglar's birthplace, Dunwich Town.

No one knew what they did there. All that was known was that when they returned, they were all haggard, as if they had witnessed the ultimate fear in this world.

Of course, Kristin never met those professors, but that did not stop her from making a decision.

She too would go to Dunwich, to Sentry Ridge, to see what was there. Perhaps… that would be the opportunity to gain inspiration!

So, Kristin packed up, took a leave of absence from Miskatonic University, and went to Sentry Ridge in Dunwich. She stayed there for three full days.

No one knew what Kristin encountered. All that was known was that when she returned, with an expression which read, “Having heard the Way in the morning, one may die in the evening,” she locked herself in her studio. She did not leave for an entire week, after which she had completed the painting of the Void Ghost.

However, at this juncture, Kristin's sanity seemed to finally reassert itself.

“I don't understand why I have become like this. Looking at this painting in front of me, I can't imagine this was created by my own hand! So evil, so scary, so blasphemous! Why, why would I create something like this? Did I really paint this? Even though my body is stained with paint and the brush is still in my hand, I can't remember anything about painting this…”

“It wasn't me, it was something else using my hand to paint it, that night! That night at Sentry Ridge! What did I see! No, I don't want to remember. I made a horrible mistake! I shouldn't have answered that call. I didn't want this…!!”

The diary ended there.

“I just don't understand why these artists always enjoy courting death.”

Duanmu Huai sneered, tossing the diary onto the table. To be honest, he didn't understand much about art, but when it came to Kristin and her obsession, he was truly at a loss. Artistic types tended to stir up trouble, in this world as well as theirs.

“Sentry Ridge…”

Looking at the content in the diary, Anthony knitted his brows.

“I remember seeing the name Dunwich in a case file before. Perhaps I should revisit that case to see what really happened.”

After saying this, Anthony got up to carry on with his work, leaving only Duanmu Huai sitting there, staring at the diary.

Admittedly, although Kristin was obsessed, her quote made sense.

The oldest and strongest emotion of mankind is fear. And the oldest and strongest kind of fear is fear of the unknown.

Well… for some reason, Duanmu Huai felt very familiar when he read this sentence.

In fact, upon closer consideration, it seemed quite normal. It's like thalassophobia, the fear of the sea. When you look into the abyss of the deep sea, the fear that comes from within is because you have no idea what lies within its depths. As a result, you start to imagine all sorts of possibilities, often scaring yourself in the process.

Essentially, this is no different from encountering a ghost on a night road or being excessively wary.

However, it was clear that while Duanmu Huai thought such, the system didn't.

Because at this moment, a system message suddenly popped up before Duanmu Huai's eyes.

[Activating special task “The Origin of Fear”]
[The oldest and most profound fear is the fear of destruction and death!]
[Task objective: Please proceed to Sentry Ridge. Show your power, defeat your opponents, and become the true source of fear!]
“……………….”

Upon seeing this, Duanmu Huai was rendered speechless.

What's going on with this damned system? Is it trying to drive me to my death?

I don't want to engage in this showdown!

If it likes fear, then let it be. Why do I have to compete with it over that? And besides, Duanmu Huai thought this was quite a reasonable idea, but the system didn't care about his opinion, because it all depended on their own thoughts… In that case, there's no other way.

Can I just admit defeat?

Unfortunately, it seems that this task doesn't allow Duanmu Huai to surrender.

Well, I have to beat the opponent… What kind of thinking is that?

Damn it…
Right now, Duanmu Huai felt like he was just sitting at home, with trouble dropping from the sky. He could predict with his ass that if he completes his task, who knows, it might just lead to another +1 fear
Is it never-ending?

The reason why Duanmu Huai didn't want to accept this task was simple, because he knew what was in Sentry Ridge. It was in the ultimate void, beyond all planets, beyond all universes, beyond all matter, where an entity comprised of infinite existence and self was found. Everything was within it, and it was connected to the ultimate source providing life to everything within the boundless range. Furthermore, it was an absolute realm devoid of limits, beyond all whimsy and numerical logic.

That's… Yog Sothoth, known as The Gatherer of All Things.

Only a brain-dead Duanmu Huai would interfere with an Outer God more superior than Cunning Deception!

Not to mention, strictly speaking, he and Yog Sothoth have a score to settle!

Back in the Borderlands, Duanmu Huai killed the Beast of Aleden, and its weird shape reminded Duanmu Huai of Yog Sothoth.

According to the records, Yog Sothoth looks like a bunch of rainbow-colored spheres, shining with strange and malicious light – in other words, the Beast of Aleden was sent by Yog Sothoth to manage the Borderlands, only to have been killed by Duanmu Huai.

Under these circumstances, Duanmu Huai would be crazy to deliberately provoke Yog Sothoth. Was he tired of living?

But on second thought, might it not be Yog Sothoth?

Regardless, Duanmu Huai cannot possibly avoid this forever, and he is also a deity. Honestly, he should give it a try…

With that, Duanmu Huai got up and coincidentally bumped into Anthony, who was returning.

“Hey, where are you going?”

“I'm going to Sentry Ridge. I believe it's about time to put an end to this.”

“I'll go with you.”

Hearing Duanmu Huai's words, Anthony quickly picked up his coat, but was stopped by Duanmu Huai.

“I advise you not to go. This won't be as easy as the adventure in the museum. Honestly, I might run into quite some trouble, and you might just end up like Kristin… I don't think you'd want to spend the rest of your life sitting in a wheelchair, immersed in endless panic and fear, becoming a walking dead.”

“That…”

Listening to Duanmu Huai's words, Anthony hesitated and wavered. He remembered Kristin's dreadful state, and honestly, Anthony didn't want to turn into that kind of neither human nor ghost creature. But…

“Are you sure you'll be okay on your own?”

“Most likely there shouldn't be a problem.”

Duanmu Huai also had a way out. In fact, when he saw the task, he had already thought of a solution.

However, he just really didn't want to use this solution…
In the end, Anthony still listened to Duanmu Huai's words and stated that he wouldn't go to Sentry Ridge, but he requested that Duanmu Huai write him a report after resolving this issue. Duanmu Huai agreed and had his maid drive him to Sentry Ridge, located in Dunwich Town.

It was an ordinary-looking range of mountains, but it also had an unusual aspect to it – looking along the ridge, a pathway could be seen extending from the middle of the mountain to the top. It wasn't dug out by manpower, it seemed more like something incredibly enormous had knocked down the trees in the forest and plowed a path to the top through the trees with its massive body.

Not only that, but this road was extremely desolate; even green grass could not be seen, and the trees on both sides had long since died.

“Sigh…”

After instructing his maid to park the car a bit further away, Duanmu Huai followed this road towards the peak of Sentry Ridge.

At this moment, dark clouds, seemingly from nowhere, gradually covered the entire sky.

The calls of night hawks echoed in the forest, as though they were performing some kind of ritual.

Duanmu Huai gripped his staff, coldly observing the peak in front of him.

Then, he took the first step.

Chapter end

Report