Mystery: Gray Walker

Chapter 85 Purgatory of Desire

The scene inside the room was a true hell.

At least fifteen men, like hypnotized puppets, surrounded the tree trunk and had intercourse with the fleshy growths resembling female genitalia that grew from the branches.

Their movements were frenzied, their eyes vacant, and a twisted, obsessive smile played on their lips.

Her skin was a dull, waxy yellow, and her life force and desire were being frantically drained and transported through the vines to Mariana's body in the center of the tree trunk.

In the corner, seven or eight people were huddled together, shivering.

They seemed to retain some semblance of consciousness, but their eyes were filled with despair, as if they were queuing up to await their inevitable, swallowed-up fate.

Green's gaze swept across the faces, spotting several familiar ones—guests from tonight, including even the banker who had been so eloquent at the banquet.

Then he saw Henry Burns.

The port authority executive, who was always lustful, was now huddled in a corner closest to the door, tears streaming down his face. When he saw Green push the door open and enter, a last glimmer of hope for survival appeared in his eyes.

He knew that Green was no ordinary person, but a powerful extraordinary being.

"Green! Green, save me!" Henry scrambled over, grabbing Green's trouser leg. "Please! Take me out of here! I don't want to die! I don't want to end up like that!"

His finger pointed to the men being drained dry, his voice distorted with fear.

Green glanced down at him.

Henry's dress was tattered and torn, his face was covered in filth, and his eyes held only the desire to live.

Green didn't speak, his gaze passing over Henry, past the men who were being devoured, and landing in the center of the room.

It landed on Mariana.

And, standing beside her, Viscount Linus Fairfax.

The Viscount was still wearing that magnificent evening gown, but now it looked utterly ridiculous. He stood beside Marianne, looking up at her with undisguised adoration and infatuation, as if gazing upon a goddess descended to earth.

"Anna..." Linus's voice was so gentle it sent chills down your spine, "I've waited for this day for far too long. Every day, every night, I've missed you, I've prayed for this moment."

Marianne lowered her head, looked at him tenderly, and a charming smile appeared on her lips.

"I know, my dear Linus."

Her voice was no longer the gentle tone she had in life, but a thick, honey-sweet one: "I have also been waiting... waiting to be with you, never to be separated again."

"Forever..." Linus murmured repeatedly, his eyes blazing with ecstatic light.

Mariana extended a finger and gently touched his forehead.

The next second, a thick vine with a split tip like a flower bud emerged from the tree trunk, gently wrapped around Linus's waist, and slowly pulled him toward the trunk.

Linus offered no resistance whatsoever, and even opened his arms wide, his face beaming with happiness.

"Let's become one, Linus."

Mariana whispered, "Be a part of me, a part of this eternal life... We will be together forever, never to be separated again."

On the surface of the tree trunk, near Mariana's waist, a crack slowly appeared.

Inside the crevice, there was a wriggling, dark red fleshy interior, emitting a warm aroma and a richer, sweet fragrance.

That was a... a blasphemous organ ready to be received, digested, and integrated.

Linus was slowly guided into the crevice by the vines.

His face still wore a happy smile, and even when half of his body was swallowed up, he turned his head and gave an encouraging smile to the other people in the room, those trembling guests who had not yet been swallowed up.

It's as if it's saying: Look, this is the highest glory.

Then, the gap closed.

The trunk was slightly swollen, and a faint, chewing-like wriggling sound could be heard from inside.

Mariana let out a satisfied groan, her eyes slightly narrowed, and a sickly blush appeared on her pale cheeks.

"We... will never be apart again..." she murmured to herself, then turned her gaze toward the doorway.

He turned to Green, and to Clarice, who had just finished drawing a rune and was pale-faced.

"Ah...we have new guests again." Mariana's voice was filled with pleasure. "A night watchwoman, and a...elegant gentleman."

He looked at Green and said softly, "I knew you couldn't bear to part with me. Come... let me have a child for you."

A branch, having shaken off the motionless man, slowly extended, its tip containing a fleshy organ that throbbed like a heart. Its surface was covered with fine blood vessels, constantly oozing a milky white, viscous liquid that emitted a fishy odor.

Like a courtship snake, it gracefully and slowly reached out to Green, stopping just an inch from his cheek, trembling slightly, as if waiting for his response.

"Come......"

Marianna murmured softly, her dark green swirling pupils reflecting Grin's pale face, "Let me bear you a child... let our blood flow... you will be the most perfect father..."

Green felt a strong urge welling up from the bottom of his heart, a desire to get closer, to touch, to merge into that eternal pleasure.

"Green! Close your eyes!" Clarice shouted.

Green suddenly bit his tongue, the sharp pain instantly bringing him to his senses. Images of Emily's curses, his aunt's heart-wrenching grief, and his uncle's dying words of apology flashed through his mind...

He turned to Clarisse. "Do you have any weapons?"

A hint of surprise flashed in Clarice's eyes.

She hadn't expected Green to be so calm, rather than being swayed by desire.

Without hesitation, he quickly drew a revolver with silver runes engraved on its shaft from his waist and tossed it to Green.

"Six Demon-Slaying Bullets, no need to hold back!"

Green caught the revolver; it was heavy and cold to the touch. He expertly turned the cylinder to make sure it was full, then abruptly raised the gun.

"Bang!"

The silver bullet pierced the bulging tumor.

Milky white mucus mixed with dark red tree sap splattered, and the tumor quickly shrank as if deflated.

But Mariana only let out a soft moan that was a mixture of pain and pleasure.

The next second, the flesh at the ruptured tumor began to writhe wildly, regrowing and expanding at a speed visible to the naked eye.

A new, fuller sarcoma bulged out, and its surface rapidly differentiated into more complex structures.

Dark red patterns appeared at the top, the flesh in the center bulged, and even began to ooze a pale golden juice that emitted a rich, sweet aroma.

The newly formed organ trembled slightly in front of Green, 'breathing' like a living thing, each rise and fall carrying an irresistible allure.

"Look..."

Marianna's voice grew even softer, "Every destruction...brings a more beautiful rebirth...this is the truth bestowed by 'Mother'..."

She stretched out her fingers and gently stroked the newly formed organ, pale golden fluid dripping from her fingertips.

"Come and taste it...this is the nectar of life...it will make you forget all your pain..."

As she spoke, the tip of the tumor opened slightly, and a drop of thick, golden liquid slowly seeped out, hanging at the tip, shimmering with an alluring luster in the dim light.

The fragrance in the entire room suddenly became ten times stronger.

Green felt his throat go dry, a primal desire surging through his blood, a deeper, greedy yearning for the 'origin of life'.

Even Clarice's breath hitched, and the light from the silver-powdered magic circle beneath her feet flickered for a moment.

Don't be tempted!

Clarisse gritted her teeth and hissed, "Drink this and your soul will be marked, forever becoming its slave!"

Green gripped the revolver, his finger on the trigger, but found he couldn't fire.

It's not that I'm afraid.

Rather... I don't want to.

It was as if a voice deep within my heart was whispering:

Take a bite, just one bite, and all the pain will vanish—Emily's hatred, Aunt's tears, Uncle's death... will all turn into nothingness and joy...

"Yes...that's it..."

Marianna smiled, manipulating the newborn organ to slowly approach Green's lips, "Accept the gift of 'Mother'...you will gain eternal peace..."

The golden droplet almost touched his lips.

"Green!" Clarice shouted again.

"Think about your uncle's last words! Think about Emily! Think about why you're standing here!"