Chapter 55: The Forgotten Goddess of the Tuatha Dé Danann

The Blackbird - Noir had inherited the same innate ability as Levi, he didn't know if it was due to his Dominance ability or due to the Black Wing of Lunacy which also had the same skill. Whatever the case, this had proven incredibly useful.

Realizing this, Levi devised a plan, first, he would use Lunacy on the bird, then order it to use Lunacy back on him. This way, both of them constantly improved their ability and resistance to mental attacks.

But it wasn't as simple as Levi had hoped.

He vividly remembered the first time he fell under Lunacy's effect. It felt as though something foreign had invaded his mind, disrupting his thoughts and digging up his deepest emotions. He had nearly lost his sanity during that first attempt.

In comparison, the blackbird handled it slightly better, only letting out some distressed caws under Lunacy's influence.

Nevertheless, the practice had greatly benefited them both.

To Levi's surprise, the black bird had even grown slightly after consuming the underdeveloped meat from the black cocoons. These cocoons were plentiful, and oddly enough, the flesh inside didn't seem to rot, allowing Levi to keep his food supply steady. Though he still felt disgusted whenever he had to rely on the white mucus for hydration, he couldn't deny its utility.

The black bird's abilities had also improved. Although its *Carrion Feast*, which appeared to be a passive ability, hadn't shown any notable effect even after devouring nearly twenty cocoons, its *Phantom Flock* had grown stronger. Now, the bird could summon up to twelve dormant-level ravens and maintain them for about two minutes—an impressive leap in power.

Noir was also becoming adept at MorphWing. While it wasn't at the level of the Black Wing of Lunacy's which he had faught, the bird had learned to shift its wings mid-flight, changing direction and altering its shape to fly faster.

Levi was intrigued by the possibilities and potential of this ability. Could Noir eventually transform completely, perhaps even into a humanoid form? The thought of the bird descending from the sky and transforming into a humanoid creature filled him with excitement.

How cool would that be?

Another thing Levi had grown accustomed to was his new artifact, the Eternal Vigil. It was more incredible than he had imagined.

The invisible armor - the Second Skin skill of the artifact, was astounding. He had tested its limits with Noir, and to his amazement, the black bird couldn't even pierce it. Considering Noir was stronger than most essence monsters, this meant Levi was now capable of withstanding their attacks with ease.

Levi's eyes widened in shock. The bird was enormous, standing at four meters tall even while it rested on the ground.

Its beak and talons gleamed like they were crafted from pure gold, in stark contrast to the pitch-black feathers that covered its enormous body. Under the light of the crimson moon, its feathers shimmered, reflecting a luster that resembled freshly spilled blood.

Just the sight of the chained creature made Levi's skin crawl. Even Noir, perched on his shoulder, trembled at the sight of the magnificent bird.

This being wasn't like anything Levi had ever encountered. Its aura, its presence—everything about it screamed power, and something far more. It was otherworldly.

"What in the name of the fucking gods is that thing?" Levi whispered, his voice barely audible.

And as if responding to his bewilderment, a name appeared before his eyes:

[The Forgotten Goddess of the Tuatha Dé Danann]

A goddess?

Levi's blood ran cold. His face drained of all color, leaving him pale and trembling. A single question now burned in his mind, a question that made everything he had experienced so far feel insignificant in comparison.

What the hell was this Sanctum?

---***---

Sorry for the late chapters~

I'll be releasing an additional chapter today for reaching the 50 Powerstone goal last week.

Plus, I have some exciting news—I'm planning a mass release of at least 5 chapters! Expect them to drop later this week. Stay tuned!