Reincarnated as a Mushroom?
Chapter 81 - 80: The Communion of Shadows: The Kinship Unveiled

Chapter 81: Chapter 80: The Communion of Shadows: The Kinship Unveiled

Chapter 80: The Communion of Shadows: The Kinship Unveiled

As the heavy double doors groaned open and swung wide, Sophia stepped forward, her presence commanding the vast chamber before her like a queen ascending her throne. A few deliberate paces carried her to the center of the elevated dais, her eyes sweeping over the congregation below with a serene yet unyielding grace. Her children—numbering in the thousands—were huddled in clusters, voices bubbling with low excitement that abruptly fell silent the instant her gaze anchored upon them.

"Greetings, my children," Sophia’s voice rang out, crystalline and enthralling, weaving through the air like an ancient incantation that demanded reverence.

"Greetings, Mother," came the resounding reply, a chorus rising in perfect unison, their voices fused together as though channeling a force of nature itself.

"Our family is but a single shard of the collective," they intoned, every syllable reverberating through the hall, "and we await the day when we may once again be whole."

A ripple of goosebumps blossomed over my skin at the intensity of their chanting. I whispered under my breath, "Well, damn. So they’re a real cult cult."

Orchid cocked her head, confusion knitting her brow. "What do you mean, Irvine-mate?"

I merely waved a dismissive hand, signaling her to drop the subject.

Several more rounds of eerie, rhythmic chants echoed through the chamber, thickening the air with a solemn gravity before Sophia’s tone softened, loosening the strict ritual formality.

"My children," she began, "as you have been told over a month past, your dear Father has chosen to grace this galaxy with his presence."

A murmur of excitement rippled through the gathered crowd, anticipation sparking like static electricity across thousands of skin surfaces, but Sophia lifted her hand, silencing them like a conductor wielding a baton.

"You have been slowly and quietly making yourselves at home over the past moon cycle, preparing to welcome him. I bring you good news—you shall wait no longer. He is now among us."

Taking my cue, I stepped forward from the doorway, planting myself firmly beside Sophia. To cement the role bestowed upon me, I slid an arm possessively around her waist, pulling her close and brushing my lips gently against her temple in a soft, PG kiss meant to reassure and unite.

From the sea of faces cloaked in identical hooded robes, it was difficult to distinguish one from another. But judging by the silhouettes, the crowd skewed about sixty percent female and forty percent male, their varied heights and shapes betraying backgrounds ranging from hardened military veterans to weathered farmers.

All three thousand pairs of eyes—some wide with wonder, others burning with fierce loyalty—were fixed on me. The weight of their attention left me oddly unprepared, as if an unseen script called for me to deliver a speech I had no prepared lines for.

Glancing at Sophia, her eyes mirrored the expectant anticipation of the crowd. Taking a breath deep enough to drown eighteen years of isolated self-doubt, I swallowed my nerves and spoke.

"Hello, my family," my voice carried, raw but steady. "On my journey here, I spent a brief moment with one of your own—Ronnie. I told him then that you need not revere or worship me. We are one family, bound not by hierarchy but by mutual support. I intend to treat you all accordingly."

A pause. Silence so thick it might have been carved from obsidian. To fill it, I pressed on.

"My primary purpose for visiting this galaxy is exploration. I have spent my entire life confined to my homeworld and wish to witness all the breathtaking sights it holds. If I can aid you while here, I shall do so gladly—and I hope you will aid me, should the need arise. Thank you."

More silence, the kind that hangs momentarily in the air before breaking with the force of a tidal wave.

Applause thundered through the hall, cheers erupting like wildfires among the ranks of the cultists.

Turning to Sophia, I whispered, "Was my speech good? Or are they just happy to hear me speak?"

With a sly grin, Sophia replied, "Why can’t it be both, my sweet?"

The roar of claps and shouts swelled as Sophia raised her voice, commanding the room back to order with a silence as absolute as the void.

"It is known that human culture revels in celebrating good tidings. So tonight, enjoy yourselves. Be free. Indulge in the revelry you desire, without fear of judgment from me."

With that decree, the sea of hooded figures shed their cloaks, revealing attire as diverse as the cultures and backgrounds from which they hailed: military fatigues mingled with the worn garments of farmers and artisans, all united in joyous solidarity.

Along the chamber’s periphery, tables groaned under the weight of sumptuous feasts. Many rushed to partake, spoons and fingers flying into platters with eager abandon.

My gaze snagged on a familiar sight—a figure shamelessly stuffing her cheeks with food, utterly devoid of decorum.

"Onyx?" I called out, voice carrying across the room.

Though separated by at least a hundred meters, she caught my voice immediately, turning with cheeks puffed outrageously from the volume of food packed inside.

Blinking once, I looked again—and she was gone.

Left standing was a thoroughly perplexed Samantha, who had somehow located her despite Onyx’s stealthy nature.

Before I could scan the room for Onyx, a voice spoke softly right beside me.

"Did you call me, my universe?"

Turning, I found Onyx standing inches away, feigning innocent confusion.

"What were you stuffing into your face?" I asked, eyes narrowing suspiciously.

Tilting her head coyly, Onyx shrugged. "I was not consuming anything, love. Perhaps your mind is playing tricks on you amidst all this excitement?"

Before I could call her bluff, Samantha came bounding up a nearby flight of stairs, clutching a plate heaped with shrimp.

"Mistress! You vanished suddenly, leaving your plate behind," Samantha announced, lifting it toward Kimchi’s face.

To save Onyx’s dignity in front of her mate, she morphed seamlessly back into her stalking form, delicate fingers curling around the plate’s edge.

"Oh, what is this? Looks appetizing. I suppose tasting it wouldn’t hurt," she said, a mischievous glint sparking in her eyes.

Samantha’s presence unsettled Onyx, disrupting her mental calm and throwing off her usual poised calculation.

No sooner had she brought a shrimp to her mouth than a ripple of gasps cascaded through the crowd like a wave.

The mass of observers grew uneasy, the presence Onyx radiated strange yet familiar, an alien tension that prickled skin and twisted gut.

Fortunately, Sophia acted swiftly. Channeling her sub-link, she flooded the hive mind parasites with a surge of biochemical signals, asserting Onyx’s status and importance within the family.

Another crescendo of gasps followed—this time infused with reverence for one bearing such a vital role in the quest for universal unification.

Onyx, unused to the weight of so many eyes upon her at once, glanced around uncertainly before shooting Samantha a sharp, aggrieved look.

With swift precision, she snatched the plate from Samantha’s hands and vanished again into the shifting shadows.

"Damn, you’ve got to teach me how to push her buttons like that," I said, genuinely impressed by the peculiar performance.

After searching frantically without success, Samantha finally realized where Onyx had disappeared—and the social faux pas she’d committed in front of both her Mother and her Daddy.

"Apologies, Mother. I did not mean to disturb the atmosphere. I will gladly accept punishment," she said with a deep bow.

Sophia was about to reply when I cut in, deciding to ’punish’ Onyx myself for attempting to lie to me.

"It’s okay, Samantha. It wasn’t your fault," I leaned in close and whispered in her ear, causing her to flush a warm pink.

"You see, Onyx has a special ability—foresight—that allows her glimpses of possible futures. In those futures, you are incredibly important to her. That’s why she was trying to avoid you—she fears that future happening too soon.

In my opinion, you should bother her at every opportunity. Bring that future closer. It’s your destiny, after all."

Samantha’s eyes shone with newfound purpose. She finally understood why she had felt such an inexplicable pull to the strange creature in the VIP suite.

Her destiny was clear: to stand by Onyx’s side, fighting for her Daddy for all eternity.

As if summoned by fate itself, Samantha’s head snapped toward the far side of the hall, spotting a woman with glowing green eyes preparing to consume more food.

Forgetful of herself, she launched into a tight, ecstatic hug, wrapping around me.

"Thank you for telling me, Daddy! I’ll find her and stay by her side no matter what."

Suppressing laughter, I didn’t even feel the need to twist the knife this time.

"That’s my girl. Go get her!"

Without hesitation, Samantha charged across the room, barreling past many cultists—sometimes slipping right through them like a ghost.

I settled into a nearby chair, Kimchi hopping onto my lap, both of us thoroughly enjoying the spectacle of Onyx’s torment—though each for our own reasons.

For nearly twenty minutes, I watched the chase unfold: Onyx teleporting from one shadowed corner to another, blending perfectly into the chaos, her stealth perfected.

Though I occasionally lost track of her, Samantha never did—tracking her relentless quarry with unerring precision.

Amid my laughter, a sudden wave of defeat crashed into my Mindspace—a sulking presence complaining bitterly about being a failed stalker, unable to escape the persistence of one pesky hybrid.

End of Chapter