Chapter 52: The Path of the Abyss

It seemed the Duchess and Queen Isola had been right after all, Levi mused. He would likely embark on another path, one intrinsically linked to the Mad Hatter.

However, the Mad Hatter then changed the subject.

“Do you wish to join the Abyssal Cult? It’s not entirely out of the question, as I sense a profound connection in you, my young friend,” he said, his tone shifting. “But so-called prophecies are never an absolute future. I can’t simply initiate you based on a single statement.

“Tell me, then, what exactly did you see in your prophecy?”

Levi pondered for a moment, then nodded. He mentally organized his thoughts, first explaining the vision he’d had while divining his revenge: the Mad Hatter holding the ‘Devil’s Currency’.

“If you saw this vision while divining your revenge, the meaning couldn’t be clearer,” the Mad Hatter explained with a smile. “You will harvest your enemy’s soul as material for your own advancement.

“That ‘Devil’s Currency’ must be the soul of the young lady you intend to deal with.”

“I’ll… harvest Camilla’s soul?” Levi’s eyes widened.

“Beyond the ninth initial Sequence, the subsequent Sequences of the Abyss path require the transcender to personally harvest different souls, craft them into ‘Devil’s Currency’, and then absorb them—sounds rather evil, doesn’t it?” the Mad Hatter explained.

“However, contrary to what the Church preaches, the Abyssal Cult’s tradition dictates that one can only harvest the souls of those who have committed grave sins. This is actually a traditional execution method of the Scarlet Land tribes.

“A wrong has its perpetrator, a debt its owner. If that young lady has truly wronged you, then her soul being taken by you is perfectly justifiable.”

Levi recalled the Church’s propaganda: demons would harm mortals, devils would tempt them to fall and steal their souls, and heretics who worshipped the Abyss would sacrifice living people. The propaganda claimed their harm was indiscriminate.

Yet, listening to the Mad Hatter, it seemed the so-called ‘demons’ and ‘devils’ likely referred to those blessed by the ‘Abyss’ pathway who had reached certain Sequences.

They had to hunt the souls of sinners to advance, which was the very origin of the Church’s propaganda. In other words, the narrative of devils harvesting souls was merely a smear campaign—much like the Church’s portrayal of witches.

According to Church propaganda, witches were both depraved and insidious. They fed on the pain and misfortune of others, tormented them with curses, poisoned them with potions, and bewitched ordinary people, turning them into slaves to extract their vital essence.

This propaganda was based on witches’ unique powers. However, true witches, in terms of temperament, were not significantly different from ordinary people.

Whether devils or witches, they were merely ordinary individuals who had embarked on other blessed pathways and gained special powers, not so different from the Church’s bishops and paladins.

If this were the case, the Church’s propaganda against vampires, werewolves, and necromancers was likely of the same nature.

Only by branding other faiths as evil could the Church righteously command the Inquisition to bloodily suppress these ‘heretics’.

“What happens to someone whose soul is harvested?” Levi asked.

If the soul in his premonition truly belonged to Camilla, he needed to confirm her ultimate fate.

“After a soul is harvested, the body doesn’t die, but the mind becomes blind and foolish, almost completely devoid of the ability to think or discern. Simply put, they become a living corpse,” the Mad Hatter replied.

Levi realized that by using this method, he wouldn’t need to kill his enemy, yet the suffering inflicted would be no less than death itself.

However, the series of visions he’d seen during his advancement seemed to foretell certain difficulties he would face on this path.

Suddenly, Levi remembered something.

“Mad Hatter, in the premonition I saw, you told me you had entrusted the tea party to someone else,” he revealed this information to the Mad Hatter.

He didn’t specify that the person the Mad Hatter had entrusted it to in the future was himself. In such a situation, suddenly telling someone, ‘I saw that I’ll inherit your organization,’ would undoubtedly create a very awkward scene.

Regardless, the Mad Hatter handing over the tea party’s leadership undoubtedly implied a future possibility for such a change. He felt this information was necessary for the Mad Hatter to know.

As soon as he spoke, he noticed March Hare’s expression turn tense. Even the drowsy Dormouse managed to force open their eyelids, looking at the Mad Hatter.

Yet, the Mad Hatter remained composed. “Is that so? So it will indeed come to pass…”

“No, prophecies aren’t absolutely certain to come true!” March Hare exclaimed loudly.

“Some things are ultimately unavoidable. We can only adapt to circumstances,” the Mad Hatter said with a calm smile.

“Um…” Levi realized the Mad Hatter seemed to be hiding something. Just as he was about to ask, the Mad Hatter stopped him with a look.

“Continue telling me what else you saw,” the Mad Hatter gestured for him to go on.

Levi could only continue, describing the Abyssal Gate he had seen, the smiling cat, the Smog-Raging Beast guarding the gate, the strange birds flying out of it, and the indescribable entity on the other side of the Abyssal Gate that had met his gaze.

Upon hearing these details, the Mad Hatter’s expression visibly grew serious, his eyes burning as he stared at Levi.

Finally, Levi mentioned the poem the Mad Hatter had chanted in his premonition dream, and the Mad Hatter motioned for him to recite its contents.

Levi then recited the poem as instructed. It wasn’t difficult for him; the poem he’d heard in the prophetic vision was deeply seared into his memory.

“Beware the Abyssal Gate, my child.

Beware the troublesome Jabberwock, shun the Smog-Raging Bandersnatch.

Your nemesis awaits on the other side of the gate.

Beware the Gate Lord of the Abyss, the Jabberwock…”

Halfway through Levi’s recitation, the Mad Hatter joined in, chanting with him:

“My child, with shining sword, cleave off its head!

Stare into the Abyss, embrace the Abyss.

My child, you shall become the Demon King of the Abyss!”

When they finished, the Mad Hatter nodded.

“This long poem, ‘The Jabberwocky,’ was passed down through generations of the Abyssal Cult. Only high-ranking priests who reached a certain Sequence had the chance to learn of it. It seems your prophecy wasn’t just idle talk to deceive me. To see the Abyssal Gate means you will have the opportunity to touch the higher Sequences of the Abyss pathway in the future.

“Excellent! It truly seems you have a profound connection!” The Mad Hatter burst into laughter. “Honestly, I’m quite fond of you personally. I can guide you, but the question is, are you prepared to yield to this prophecy?”

“I…”

Just as Levi was about to answer, the Mad Hatter added:

“I must be clear with you: pursuing the power of the Abyss carries great risks. You saw the Abyssal Gate in your premonition, but you didn’t see your fate after staring into the Abyss, did you? To tell you the truth, nine out of ten people who attempt to advance to a high Sequence and stare into the Abyss go mad. I am one of them.”

“While you’re occasionally a bit eccentric, overall, you seem fine,” Levi remarked.

“I have never lost my mind in front of you, my friend. What you’ve witnessed is merely my personality,” the Mad Hatter said, shaking his head with a strange grin. “March Hare bears a portion of my madness through her ‘Mark of Sacrifice,’ which is why I’m able to seal away the madness I acquired from gazing into the Abyss. Should I ever lose control, the consequences would be unimaginable!”