The gss bottle, about the size of a mineral water bottle, was covered in greasy stains.
Lin Xun immediately shoved the bottle back into the game, shaking his hand in disgust. "This is supposed to be holy water…?"
"But the item description is suspicious. Maybe it has another use. Let me try this approach—maybe I can save this bottle."
He clicked Reshape Shell.
[You have consumed 1 Soul Strength to reshape the ‘Guardian Knight’ shell.]
[The radiance of your soul coalesced into the knight’s shell. Only the initial wounds remain—the injuries inflicted by the shadowy assaint did not carry over.]
Lin Xun stroked his chin, deep in thought. The game’s mechanic seemed to be that wounds sustained after soul possession wouldn’t persist when reshaping the shell.
Otherwise, dying to a monster would leave you with injuries to heal upon revival, creating an endless death loop.
He tapped the nun’s skill, Hymn.
[You used the skill ‘Hymn’ to heal the knight’s shell. The shell’s injuries improved slightly.]
[You used the skill ‘Hymn’ to heal the knight’s shell. The shell’s injuries improved slightly.]
[You feel slightly fatigued.]
---
[You used the skill ‘Hymn’ to heal the knight’s shell. The shell’s injuries have fully recovered.]
[You are utterly exhausted. Even taking a single step feels like an impossible luxury.]
[The Choir Sister’s shell has colpsed from overexertion. Will you exit this shell?]
Without hesitation, he clicked Exit Shell.
[You have left the nun’s shell and chosen to possess the knight’s shell.]
[You have taken control of the knight’s shell…]
"This approach fits the intended game progression—not only did I heal the knight, but I also saved a bottle of Holy Water." Lin Xun was meticulous, cherishing the limited resources at his disposal.
He casually opened the knight’s Shell Panel.
[Shell — White Moon Church Guardian Knight]
[True Name: Unknown]
[Compatibility: 103% (+15%) — Compatibility exceeds threshold! Shell quality improved!]
[Shell Quality: Ruined+]
[Shell Level: 1]
[Shell Equipment: Shattered Knight Armor (Ruined) — Once-sturdy armor now greatly weakened after being torn apart by brute force.]
[Shell Skill: Punishment Swordpy (Ruined) — A basic sword technique practiced by church knights. Requires a weapon to activate.]
Lin Xun froze. "Compatibility exceeding 100% actually improves shell quality? My soul talent has insane potential."
The shell’s quality had risen to Ruined+, making the knight slightly stronger than the nun. The only downside was the ck of a weapon in the equipment slot, preventing skill usage.
He resumed the game and clicked Push Open the Doors.
[The eerie creak of the doors opening pierced the silent night.]
[The noise caught the attention of a certain monster…]
[Outside the church doors, a grotesque creature turned abruptly, its crimson eyes locking onto you.]
[The monster lunges at you. Now fully healed, you stand a fighting chance against this ambusher.]
[You swing your fists at the deformed figure cd in Blood Sun robes.]
[You have defeated a ‘Corrupted Blood Sun Cultist.’ Experience slightly increased.]
Lin Xun smirked. "Just as I thought—healing the knight’s injuries lets me fight normally and level up."
"Now… it’s hunting season!"
[You have obtained: Basic Forging Stone ×1, Rusted Church Cross Sword (Ruined+)]
"Oh? Loot drop?"
Just as Lin Xun was about to check his inventory, the game’s text continued…
[You look up. Under the cold moonlight, the once-prosperous streets of the town lie in ruins, littered with severed limbs. The stench of blood permeates Moonlight’s Hometown—Saint Rance.]
[Amid the wreckage, countless pairs of crimson eyes turn toward you. The commotion of battle has drawn their attention.]
[You are swallowed by a tidal wave of monsters…]
[You died!]
???
Lin Xun was dumbfounded. "So it’s a nesting doll situation? Opening the door attracts one monster, killing that one attracts a horde. Basically, don’t make noise—or else monsters keep coming?"
[You open your eyes to find yourself reborn as a wandering soul in the ruined church. Only two usable shells remain inside.]
Of the two avaible shells, the nun had colpsed and was likely unusable.
His options were:
Possess the priest’s shell.
Spend his st 1 Soul Strength to reshape the knight’s shell.
Lin Xun opened his Inventory to inspect the loot he’d earned with his life.
[Basic Forging Stone: A mystical ore containing unknown power. Used for the most rudimentary equipment enhancement. Requires forging-reted skills to use.]
[Rusted Church Cross Sword (Ruined+): A standard-issue weapon for church combatants. The crimson rust has significantly dulled its once-formidable edge.]
The Forging Stone was enhancement material, useless without the proper skills.
Lin Xun dragged the Cross Sword into the knight’s equipment slot.
"I only have 1 Soul Strength left, and it takes 12 hours to recover. Might as well try the priest next."
[The feeble wandering soul has possessed the shell of the Bck-Robed Priest.]
[Current Shell Slots: 2/2 — Guardian Knight, Preaching Priest.]
[You have taken control of this unfamiliar body. Fragmented memories linger within.]
[The corrupting power of the Blood Sun Church creeps ever closer. Death may come by tomorrow. After despair, the priest succumbed to madness, seeking one st indulgence before the end. His gloomy gaze fell upon the young nun singing hymns…]
[Screams… Resistance…]
[Frowning, the priest retrieved a bottle of Holy Water he had long treasured.]
[…]
[The fragmented memories end here.]
Lin Xun’s jaw dropped.
"This priest really knew how to have fun."
He was equal parts horrified and impressed. Opening the priest’s Shell Panel:
[Shell — White Moon Church Preaching Priest]
[True Name: Unknown]
[Compatibility: 94% (+15%)]
[Shell Quality: Ruined]
[Shell Level: 1]
[Shell Equipment: Gleaming New Moon Tome (Ruined) — A prayer book containing the church’s doctrines and commandments. Its thick, sturdy pages could double as a makeshift shield in emergencies.]
[Shell Skill: None]
Lin Xun’s eye twitched. "This is the mage css? Not a single skill? Even the nun was better."
No fireballs, no magic shields—just a broke priest with nothing to offer. A huge disappointment.
Still, the game had to go on.
[The priest’s shattered organs make movement agonizing. Every step is a struggle.]
[Will you push open the church doors?]
Looking at the priest’s pitiful state—weaker than the nun—Lin Xun knew stepping outside meant suicide.
"Should I use the Holy Water to heal the priest’s injuries?"
But even a fully healed knight couldn’t withstand a horde of monsters. What chance did a priest have?
"None. Absolutely none."
"Let’s try exiting anyway. Maybe the priest unlocks new story branches."
[The church door’s rusted hinges screech as they grind against each other.]
[The eerie creak of the doors opening pierced the silent night.]
[The noise caught the attention of a creature outside…]
[Beyond the doors, a monster whips around, its crimson eyes locking onto you.]
[You are attacked. Your grievously wounded organs leave you defenseless.]
[You died!]
"The trash mob respawned… This is a Souls-like, isn’t it?"
He’d expected the priest to at least die to the second wave of monsters—not the same one at the door.
The screen fshed with a bloody DEAD.
Respawned enemies, no new options… Was this a dead end?
Whether as the knight or the priest, exiting the church attracted monsters. Killing one just summoned more.
Reading the pre-death text again, Lin Xun fell deep into thought.
"Rusted… hinges… grinding… noise…"
A fsh of insight struck him.
"I get it now! This is what the Holy Water is for!"
Far from discouraged, Lin Xun finally understood how to break the cycle.
[You open your eyes to find yourself reborn as a wandering soul in the ruined church. Only one usable shell remains inside.]
