After returning once again to the Ancestral Cathedral located in the Spirit Realm, Barbara turned to Eros and spoke:
"You can just wait here!"
As her voice fell, she took the two pitch-black Temple Guards—whose bodies seemed composed entirely of shadows—and departed from the cathedral. Having nothing else to do while waiting, Eros began to clear away the clutter and debris within the hall.
About two hours later, a series of shrill, mournful wails echoed from outside the cathedral.
Is Barbara back? Thinking this, Eros stopped his movements and walked toward the entrance.
However, Eros quickly realized that the closer he got to the cathedral doors, the louder and more agonized the shrieks of the "Weird Thing" outside became. This discovery caused him to halt his steps. He was somewhat worried that if this creature saw him, it might be scared to death on the spot. Even though it was a Transcendent-rank Weird Thing, Eros had an inexplicable premonition: as long as he stepped outside, this creature would instantly collapse.
After a moment of hesitation, he decided to trust his gut and did not move further forward. Capturing a Transcendent Weird Thing was no easy feat; if it truly died of fright because of him, all of Barbara’s previous efforts would be wasted.
Soon, Barbara floated inside. She had clearly noticed the issue as well. Upon entering, she fixed her gaze on Eros and spoke solemnly:
"It seems these creatures fear the One in the Deep Sea even more than we imagined. For now, I can only refine it into a Profane Spark outside before bringing it in for you to use."
Eros nodded and continued to wait inside the cathedral.
Returning outside, Barbara looked at the Transcendent Weird Thing currently restrained by the two Temple Guards. An involuntary flicker of worry passed through her eyes. She had a nagging premonition: even a Profane Spark refined from a Transcendent creature might not be enough to help Eros ignite his Spiritual Fire.
But if he couldn't ignite his Spiritual Fire, he wouldn't be able to advance to Sequence 6. What then? Would they have to capture a Mythical-rank Weird Thing to refine a spark? A Mythical creature was equivalent to a human Sequence 2; with the family's current strength, how could they possibly contend with such a thing? They would likely be polluted and mutated into mindless monsters the moment they made contact.
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Barbara bit her lip, a visible expression of concern clouding her small face. After a long while, she suppressed her worry, her expression becoming resolute again. regardless, they had to try—what if a spark from a Transcendent creature actually worked?
An hour later, after another failed attempt at ignition, Barbara looked at the disappointed Eros and pressed her lips together, offering soft comfort:
"It’s alright. We will always find a way to advance. If it really comes down to it, we can Switch Pathways to the 'Weird Object' (Gwi-mul) sequence. That pathway doesn't require using a Weird Thing to ignite one's Spiritual Fire at Sequence 6."
Eros was stunned by her words. "Pathways can be switched?"
Barbara nodded. "Human sequences and the Weird Object sequence are interchangeable at Sequence 2. This is also why I originally said that only by becoming a Mythical Lifeform could one attempt to become a God by bearing Original Sin. Normally, switching pathways before Sequence 2 results in 100% loss of control and madness."
"But you are different. Perhaps your unique body can grant immunity to the madness caused by an early switch. However, if you do this, you will no longer be 'human,' and you will lose the bloodlines of both the Elves and the Night. Of course, this is only a worst-case scenario, as I cannot be certain your body will definitely protect you."
"I see!" Eros nodded, his voice calm. "If there truly is no other way, then we will switch! As long as I can become a God, I don't care about not being human."
Only by becoming a God could he ensure his family no longer lived like rats in a gutter. Only then could the people he wanted to protect live a life free from the fear of being slaughtered because of their identities. If "not being human" was the price, he was willing to pay it.
Looking at the resolute Eros, Barbara remained silent for a long time before finally breaking into a smile:
"I almost forgot! If things truly get desperate, we can still pray to The One of the Elves for help. With the benevolence of that Lord, He will surely lend you a hand. Not to mention your ancestor, the Angel of Silence, truly did unite with that Lord's Forest Saint. Even setting aside my Master's pride, He would certainly help you."
"After all, He was willing to grant you His bloodline, which shows He recognizes your identity as an Elf. With His status, dealing with the projection of the One in the Deep Sea should not be too difficult."
Eros blinked; this method did seem feasible. He recalled that during his baptism, the way that Great One spoke his ancestor's name was quite intimate. It seemed their relationship was indeed good.
In the end, even if the worst came to pass, there was a safety net. Eros’s expression grew less stern. He looked at Barbara and said in a relaxed tone:
"We should return to the physical world. Staying in the Spirit Realm is useless for now, and I reckon it's almost time for lunch out there."
Barbara nodded and brought Eros and the two Temple Guards back to reality.