Raising his head expressionlessly, Carvindi Lanser was silent for a moment. After leaving a few "Spirit Worms" covered in intricate patterns on the table, his figure dissolved and disappeared from the carriage.
-----------------
Intis Republic, capital Trier, within the underground building of the intelligence agency "Directorate of Foreign Security."
Blaise drank the "Faceless Man" potion with some trepidation. As a Beyonder who had joined the intelligence organization under the identity of a Secret Order member, he had finally earned the opportunity to advance.
The cold potion felt like magma within his body, all his muscles seemingly melting and restructuring. Just as Blaise was enduring the pain, his vision suddenly blurred, and voices that seemed to come from afar echoed in his ears:
"Ovile... Dilan... Tingen..."
The physical pain instantly lessened significantly, and the potion smoothly integrated into his body. Fine beads of sweat seeped from his forehead, and Blaise gasped for breath.
He had been a "Magician" for several years, but during every previous advancement, he had only heard the murmurs of "Hornacis... Flegrea... Hornacis... Flegrea..." and had almost lost control several times because of them.
Unlike before, the content of the whispers seemed to have changed this time, and what was more terrifying was that he couldn't feel his body anymore; his consciousness seemed to have fallen into chaos.
In a daze, he saw a deep, dark palace with no natural light. Inside, there was a huge, writhing mass. It was so blurry that it was like a pencil drawing erased by an eraser, making it impossible to see any specific details.
The illusory, overlapping sounds, like demonic whispers, came from that indescribable mass. Space seemed to be twisted and intertwined by some force, chaotic and bizarre.
His consciousness was sluggish, his thoughts seemed frozen. Blaise stared blankly as a notebook with a cover made entirely of dark black stiff paper fell from the huge, writhing mass and drifted towards the outside of the palace.
For some reason, the term "Antigonus Family Notebook" suddenly appeared in his blank mind...
The notebook emitted an ancient and distant aura, showing no signs of softening or decay. As the book drifted, the cover seemed to be turned by an invisible hand, and a line of text appeared:
"Sequence 5 'Marionettist'...."
In the strictly disciplined Secret Order, every advancement required a large amount of contribution, and from the middle Sequences onwards, only complete potions were provided. Looking at those few short words, Blaise's somewhat blank eyes suddenly shifted, as if he wanted to see the remaining content clearly.
Accompanied by short, hoarse whispers, the scene shattered. The black notebook, which recorded the subsequent potion formulas, seemed to drift into the phantom of a city.
His consciousness was no longer blocked, and Blaise regained control of his body. He suddenly opened his eyes, a mix of greed and worry within them:
"What does Ovile represent? I lack enough information to interpret it at all..."
"Dilan, the high-level members of the Secret Order mentioned this name before. Our mysterious and terrifying leader once hid an ancient castle called Dilan."
"Tingen, Tingen in Loen... Perhaps my opportunity to advance further lies there..."
The light in Blaise's eyes grew more greedy. What he didn't notice was that a black crow mark had unconsciously appeared on his palm, and then it disappeared.
207Chapter 202 Magic Mirror "Arrodes"
In the Backlund Queen's District, a dazzling New Year's Eve ball was being held in the brightly lit banquet hall.
As a New Year's Eve ball hosted by the royal family, only the upper echelons of the Loen Kingdom's society were invited.
The ball was divided into two parts. One was the dance hall, located on the ground floor, paved with magnificent stone slabs carved with intricate patterns, and featuring an excellent royal band in the corner.
Up the gilded staircase from the hall was a gallery on the second floor that circled around. Guests held wine glasses and stood by the railing, looking down at the dancing below.
From time to time, gentlemen would approach ladies or married women to invite them to dance. If permission was granted, the pair would hold hands and walk down the stairs into the hall.
On the other side of the gallery, away from the main hall, were numerous doors, mostly leading to guest lounges.
However, above the double doors, a vertical sword was suspended, its hilt a ruby crown, symbolizing the 'Sword of Judgment' emblem of the Augustus family.
Behind the doors was a corridor lined with plaster statues of every Loen king, from the first 'Founder' William I to the last, George III.
At the end of the corridor was the other part of the ball. This was also a large hall with long tables laden with various foods and fine wines. Another royal band played elegant and relaxing music for the guests.
In this hall, nobles gathered in groups of three or five, sitting or standing, discussing various matters. Those seeking a brief escape from the noise entered the balconies attached to the hall, gazing at the garden scenery and the red moon in the sky.
Audrey Hall, dressed in formal attire, was originally standing in a corner of the hall, staring blankly at the huge crystal chandelier hanging from the ceiling. This kind of ball was not suitable for Susie, so she had to leave her at home.
"Beautiful Miss Hall, may I have the honor of this dance?"
A somewhat unfamiliar male voice spoke. Audrey, whose gaze had been slightly unfocused, instantly snapped back to reality and looked to her side. It was a man whose appearance strongly resembled Henry Augustus I, the face printed on the 5-pound banknote.
He had a round face and a pair of narrow eyes, but he wasn't serious at all. Instead, he always wore a smile, looking young and vibrant.
Audrey had already recognized the person as Edsac Augustus, titled Earl of Ruston.
First, she elegantly curtsied, lifting the hem of her dress in a standard courtly manner. A apologetic smile appeared on Audrey's face as she lightly touched her forehead with her hand, which was covered by a diamond-studded glove.
"I'm very sorry, Prince Edsac, but I'm feeling a bit unwell. Thank you for your invitation."
Edsac's smile faltered slightly. Just as he was about to speak again, he was interrupted by another voice:
"Third Brother, please don't trouble a beautiful lady. I believe this is a principle every Augustus should understand."
From the other side of the hall, a man wearing royal attire similar to Edsac's slowly approached. This was Cowinton Augustus, the eldest son of George III and a strong contender for the future Crown Prince.
Cowinton walked towards Edsac with a smile, but his eyes flicked towards the burly man who had been following Edsac with his head slightly bowed. A hint of apprehension and resentment flashed in the depths of his eyes.
Watching the two princes vying with each other, Audrey felt a headache coming on. She wasn't interested in princes and didn't want to become a victim of a political marriage, even though she believed her dear Earl Hall would not do such a thing.
Viscount Glaint, who was discussing the recent situation in the Southern Continent with the youngest son of Earl Wolf not far away, also saw Audrey's predicament. Although he wanted to help his good friend out, as someone who had just inherited the Viscount title, he felt insignificant in this setting.
Just as Viscount Glaint was about to go find Earl Hall, he heard a stir of whispers at the entrance of the great hall and instinctively turned his head.
Aaron, wearing a crisp military uniform, walked through the corridor lined with statues, carrying a strange aura. Everyone who met his gaze involuntarily lowered their heads.
Cowinton retreated to the side, his smile undiminished. Feeling the oppressive aura, Edsac, whose expression had turned somewhat unpleasant, had the burly man who had been slightly bowing behind him step forward and stand in front of him.
Aaron, who had just arrived in Backlund by special train from Pritz Harbor, had also heard the previous conversation. Without even looking at Edsac, he walked directly to Audrey, who had a look of pleasant surprise on her face.
He elegantly took Audrey's right hand and led her away from the hall, leaving Prince Edsac somewhat awkward.
Aaron led Audrey through the corridor. A nearby lounge suddenly opened, and Viscount Stratford, the Court Chamberlain, and Major General Chunus Colger, the Deputy Director of MI9, walked out with smiles on their faces.
Aaron's eyes narrowed slightly, but his expression remained normal as he nodded to Chunus. He glanced out of the corner of his eye at the Court Chamberlain before taking his leave.
The interlude at the ball ended there. Aaron and Audrey chatted as they walked, and Aaron only returned Audrey to Earl Hall's side at the end of the ball.
-----------------
Backlund Queen's District, East Tock Villa.
Aaron, who had just returned from the royal ball, opened the door to his long-unoccupied bedroom. He looked at the full-length mirror on one side, his eyes flickering.
Entering the partition, he responded to himself, taking some spiritual blood rich in spirituality from above the dark golden mist. After setting up a wall of spirituality, he drew a blended symbol representing concealment and prying on the mirror surface.
This was the symbol he had obtained from "Orange Light" Hilarion that could be used to contact "Magic Mirror" Arrodes. Although it was directional, its response range was very small and would only be effective within the Backlund area.
As the last stroke of the symbol fell, the full-length mirror in the bedroom emitted a dim but pure light, like a quiet undercurrent surging at the bottom of a lake.
A phantom-like, ancient, and eerie silver mirror then appeared within the mirror's surface. The black gem-like eyes on either side shimmered faintly. The image suddenly blurred, then shattered with a crash and disappeared.
His raised hand and the smile on his face froze simultaneously. Aaron looked at the mirror surface, which had returned to calmness, and immediately fell silent.
He expressionlessly took out the "Ring of Concealment" and, after infusing it with spirituality, it gradually emitted a certain aura. Aaron then redrew the blended symbol representing concealment and prying on the mirror surface.
After a long while, the mirror surface began to undulate again. As if sensing it could not escape, pale white words quickly outlined themselves on the mirror, conveying a sense of tragedy:
"Great existence who controls the rules, I can assure you that when the Church of Steam was investigating clues before, I did not reveal any information about you."
"May I, may I ask what instructions you have for me this time?"
Aaron snorted lightly in his heart, watching the pale words and the smiling face that appeared at the end with interest. He hadn't expected this mirror to be able to sense the aura of the Beyonder characteristic on him. He then lightly tapped the table with his finger and asked with a smile:
"This should be our first official meeting. I'm very curious, why are you so afraid of me?"
The pale words quickly twisted, and lines of text appeared:
"No, no, no, I didn't mean that. It is my honor to serve you."
"I possess powerful divination abilities and can also obtain various kinds of information through the Spirit World, so I happened to learn about some of your affairs in the Spirit World."
Coincidence? Aaron didn't press the eccentric mirror further. He looked at the words that reappeared on the mirror surface:
"Limited by my own rules, after I answer one of your questions, as an exchange, you must also choose to answer one of my questions."
"You see, is that acceptable?"
Aaron, who understood Arrodes's rules well, wasn't surprised. He also wanted to see what question this fellow planned to ask. He calmly replied:
"Yes, you can ask."
Splendid fireworks appeared on the mirror, and a few pale golden words appeared in the corner:
"Oh, no, no, no, you have already answered my question. You can continue to ask your question."
Aaron was stunned for a second, his expression somewhat strange. However, he didn't hesitate and immediately asked:
"I want to know which sea area the 'Death Knell' of 'Undying King' Agalito is currently in?"
The splendid fireworks dissipated, and the mirror surface rippled with faint light. A huge black sailing ship, nearly two hundred meters long, appeared. The hull was shrouded in mist, and a black tombstone was depicted on the sails. It was the 'Death Knell'.
Is this the Fog Sea? Aaron's eyebrows twitched slightly. The 'Death Knell' had been luring Beyonders into the Divine War ruins to search for the so-called 'Fountain of Youth'. He hadn't expected it to travel such a long distance from the Sonia Sea to the Fog Sea.
As if sensing Aaron's confusion, the image faded, and a passage of text appeared:
"The true form of the 'Death Knell' is actually a 'Whisperer' who escaped from the Abyss. Although it managed to break free from control at the cost of self-mutilation, it also lost some of its imprint and had to merge with that ghost ship, becoming a living Sealed Artifact."
"But it has always yearned to complete itself and break free from the shackles of the ghost ship. The so-called 'Fountain of Youth' serves this purpose."
"And some time ago, the 'Abyss' underwent a change. With the ghost ship's perception of the Spirit World and its connection to the Abyss, the 'Death Knell' left the Sonia Sea."
"Has my answer resolved some of your confusion? Respected great existence."
Having gradually become familiar with this guy's routine, Aaron coughed lightly and didn't correct the inappropriate address. He slowly nodded.
The large block of text dissipated, and the font returned to a pale white. Even through the mirror, Aaron could feel the deep sense of self-reproach:
"Great existence who controls the rules, due to the limitations of the summoning, this will be the last question. Do you accept my apology?"
The last question, huh? Aaron frowned slightly, and a mischievous thought suddenly popped into his mind. He said leisurely:
"I think you're quite good. If I were to take you away from the Church of Steam later, would you be willing to follow me forever?"
The mirror surface instantly solidified, and the pale white words twisted and rearranged incessantly. After a long time, they finally formed continuous words again:
"Please forgive my presumption, but I cannot give you an answer yet. As compensation, you can ask another question."
Sensing the magic mirror's struggle, Aaron didn't make things difficult for it and smiled as he asked another question:
"I want to make some advanced charms for the 'Diviner' and 'Marauder' pathways. Do you know the corresponding ritual processes and specific symbolic signs?"
The mirror surface shook for a while. As if to make up for its previous rashness, an image appeared:
A castle that seemed to be built entirely of emerald. A mature and beautiful lady suddenly turned her head to look at the mirror. A pair of eyes without pupils appeared, and the image then shattered.
The next image was of a dim room. Under the candlelight, a notebook with a cover made entirely of dark black hard paper glowed. It emitted an ancient and distant aura, showing no signs of softening or decay.
The bottom of the image was thoughtfully annotated by Arrodes with "Tingen City, the Antigonus family's note...."
Before the last word could appear, the image collapsed with a bang, and even faint cracks appeared on the mirror surface.
With the sudden change, Aaron was stunned for a few seconds before stepping forward and stroking the full-length mirror with fine cracks. No matter how he called out, he received no response.
Recalling the last few words that appeared, an existence that could make Arrodes run away without even saying goodbye, Aaron's eyes flickered slightly as he silently looked at the damaged mirror surface.
-----------------
Pritz Harbor, White Oak Street, Pritz Harbor Fishermen's Association.
Dorian Gray stood by the window, his face full of exhaustion, silently looking at the red moon outside.
He was of medium build but had exaggeratedly large arms. His hair was meticulously combed, completely different from the bird's nest hairstyles of most people in the association.
During the last secret family gathering, the Abrahams, who were already riddled with contradictions, found it increasingly difficult to reach a consensus due to the increasingly frequent red moon.
Feeling inexplicably sad, Dorian Gray withdrew his gaze and slightly turned his head. Using the light of the red moon, the corner of his eye noticed a figure had appeared on the sofa at some point.
He was slightly startled. As an 'Astrologer' skilled in divination and spiritual sensing, he hadn't detected anything at all. This was enough to indicate the seriousness of the problem.
Without any hesitation, Dorian Gray was about to reach for his chest when he found his body stiff and even his thoughts seemed to be frozen.
This was extremely similar to the ability of a Sequence he knew. He managed to produce a broken voice with difficulty:
"Are you a 'Puppet Master' from the Hermit Order?"
Amidst his despair, there was even a hint of relief. Just as he thought he was about to return to the embrace of his ancestors, all the abnormalities suddenly disappeared.
Dorian Gray staggered forward a few steps. After regaining control of his body, his right hand quickly reached into his Pregnant. He looked at the sofa with vigilance and a hint of doubt.
It was a man with completely unremarkable features, but Dorian Gray, who had some understanding of the Diviner pathway, didn't pay attention to this. After all, for a 'Faceless', let alone their appearance, even their gender could be disguised.
"I didn't expect the Abraham family, who stood at the pinnacle of all surnames in the Fourth Epoch, to fall to such a state."
His pupils constricted slightly. Dorian Gray even prepared himself for death. He shook his head, denying the mysterious expert's statement, and even showed a confused and bewildered expression:
"I don't understand what you mean. All my potions were obtained through black market transactions. I haven't heard of any Abraham family."
Cavendish Lancer tsked and put away his playful tone. He glanced at Dorian Gray's right hand, which was reaching into his chest, and continued nonchalantly:
"All Abrahams are affected by the murmurs during the full moon. This is the most fundamental reason for the decline of your family."
"Don't be nervous. If I had other intentions, you would already be a puppet. I'm here this time to show you, to show the Abrahams, a true path!"
Chapter 203 "Death Announcement"
The group of lunatics from the Aurora Order back then said the same thing...
Dorian Gray lowered his head to conceal the strange look in his eyes and did not respond. After the Aurora Order's raid, most of the surviving Abrahams were cautious, and even if their hearts were moved, they wouldn't show it.
As a survivor of the disaster caused by the Aurora Order, the strongest person he had ever seen was Kosma, the 'Dark Saint' of the Aurora Order, and the 'Astrologer's' spiritual intuition told him that the person before him was even more terrifying than that 'Dark Saint'.
Glancing at this 'Astrologer' who was unresponsive, Cavendish Lanther pondered for a moment, recalling Aaron's words, and continued:
"I know you might not trust me, but there are some things I think you might be interested in."
"That ancestor of your Abraham family, Bethel Abraham, did not perish in the 'War of the Four Emperors', but was jointly exiled from the real world by the Lord of Storms and the Evernight Goddess, lost in the deep darkness, trapped within the storm."
Dorian Gray suddenly raised his head, staring at the mysterious powerhouse before him with some disbelief, he pursed his somewhat chapped lips and murmured softly:
"Night... Storm... Why? Why is it like this?"
Seeing that he didn't respond, Dorian Gray forcibly gathered his chaotic thoughts, his hoarse voice revealing deep exhaustion:
"Are you from the Hermit Order?"
Even though the Abraham family had declined, its foundation still remained. Although the headquarters were destroyed, leading to the loss and damage of some occult books and records, core members like him still knew many secrets.
In his understanding, a high-level Beyonder of the Diviner Pathway was very likely from the Hermit Order established by Zaratul.
"Hmph, an organization without the favor of a deity, not even comparable to the Aurora Order, what right does it have to lift the Abraham family's bloodline curse?"
With his face shrouded in shadow, Cavendish Lanther's tone was quite arrogant, but his expression was a little strange, with a hint of inexplicable guilt.
For a moment, Dorian Gray didn't know what to say, but then his eyes suddenly brightened, and his voice trembled slightly:
"You, you know the truth about the bloodline curse that has plagued the Abraham family for a thousand years?"
At this moment, he couldn't care less about concealing his identity and eagerly pressed:
"As long as you are willing to tell me the answer, I, no, the entire Abraham family will definitely offer a reward that will satisfy you."
Under Dorian Gray's expectant gaze, Cavendish Lanther slowly shook his head. It wasn't that he didn't know the truth; Aaron had already told him before he left.
The 'Door' who was closest to godhood, after being exiled, would naturally seek help from descendants with the same bloodline and at a lower sequence in the same Beyonder pathway.
Unfortunately, because all the powerhouses had perished, His cries instead brought a curse that lasted for over a thousand years to His descendants, almost causing all Abrahams to disappear.
Cavendish Lanther was well aware of Aaron's thoughts. It was not easy to subdue a proud Angel family, and it would take a long time for these Abrahams to truly become helpful, so some things were not suitable to be said directly.
Looking at the disappointed Dorian Gray, Cavendish Lanther slowly stood up. The oppressive aura made Dorian involuntarily take a few steps back:
"The Apprentice pathway, from Sequence 3 'Traveler' onwards, can be free from the constraints of the Spirit World. I presume there are many records of this in your family's classics. The Apocalypse is approaching, and time is running out for the Abrahams."
"There are always warriors at the turning point of destiny, and I believe you have the resolve to sacrifice yourself for it. If so, are you willing to take that step for the Abraham family?"
"We can provide a method to free the Abrahams from the bloodline curse. You will be the best example."
The room immediately fell silent. Dorian Gray's thoughts raced, and the last thing remaining in his mind was the warning left by the Traveler of the Abraham family in 'Spirit World Sightings':
"The day the bloodline curse is lifted is the beginning of the true tribulation for the Abrahams."
Raising his bloodshot eyes, Dorian Gray nodded and asked in a hoarse voice:
"Now can I know which secret organization you are from?"
A smile finally appeared on Cavendish Lanther's face. The pressure covering the entire room slowly dissipated, and he replied calmly:
"Chaos Council..."
-----------------
Loen, Enmat Port, Baron Yutas's manor.
A young man with a round, amiable face was led by a maidservant to the basement deep within the manor.
He maintained a gentle demeanor throughout, with a kind smile, like a sunny young man, until the basement door was opened.
The room was dimly lit. Baron Yutas was prostrate on the ground, looking up ingratiatingly at the front. On a chair sat a woman in revealing clothing, her captivating charm constantly stirring the heartstrings around her.
Tris bowed slightly, a strange light flashing in the depths of his eyes. Staring at the black flames flickering on the woman's palm, his voice rose slightly:
"I have completed the task you assigned. I hope you can bestow upon me the next Beyonder potion."
A smile curled at her lips. She slowly rose and walked towards Tris. Baron Yutas, who was still prostrate on the ground like a puppet, took a bottle of silver-gray potion from a mirror on the side and placed it before Tris.
Her soft, alluring voice, accompanied by a warm breeze, blew into Tris's ear:
"This is the Sequence 8 'Instigator' potion. After drinking it, you can induce the evil desires in everyone's hearts, intensify conflicts, provoke clashes, and create bloodshed."
"Your performance over the past year has demonstrated your loyalty to the organization. Go forth and spread disaster; this is a necessary suffering..."
-----------------
Southeast of the Fog Sea, a ghost ship several hundred meters long, with the divine pattern of waves inscribed on its hull, emerged shrouded in mist.
Aaron stood in the captain's cabin at the highest point of the flagship, with Cavendish Lanther and Bayer Belel standing beside him.
After spending the New Year in Backlund, Aaron went to MI9 to prepare for his routine report to Churinas about the past year's intelligence, only to learn that the Major General had disappeared after appearing at the New Year's Eve party.
Afterwards, Aaron attended the banquets held by Earl Hall and his maternal grandfather, Earl Woolf, and then temporarily left Backlund. The intelligence about the 'Death Consul' provided by 'Magic Mirror' Arrodes was not to be ignored.
Since the other party was so considerate as to come to them, it saved the 'Morningstar' the trip to the Sonia Sea.
A faint light flickered in Cavendish Lanther's eyes. He slowly put away the divining pendulum in his hand and spoke softly to Aaron:
"There is a small island 2 nautical miles ahead. The divination shows that it is the most suitable location for our ambush."
Aaron took the divining pendulum. As long as it didn't involve high-level existences influencing the divination, a divination and interpretation made by an 'Ancient Scholar' would definitely be much better than his half-baked attempt.
Aaron nodded slightly towards Bayer Belel, who was standing to the side and slightly behind him:
"Once the ship docks, you can prepare. This is also a test for the 'Morningstar'."
Aaron did not plan to keep the 'Morningstar' far away. The only ones who could truly pose a fatal threat to the 'Death Consul' were Aaron, Cavendish Lanther, and Bayer Belel.
The inherent characteristic of a 'Demon Hunter' allows them to conceal their malice, making them a natural enemy of 'Demons'. Although Aaron didn't have this characteristic, he achieved a similar effect in another sense through the hidden state provided by the Mark of Evernight.
Bayer Belel inscribed the ritual spell obtained from 'Orange Light' Hilarion at the center of the small island. Aaron placed the 'Devil' Beyonder characteristic, which he had taken from above the dark golden mist, at the center of the altar, simultaneously removing the spiritual wall that covered it.
As the spiritual wall was removed, the strange roars of corrupted minds immediately echoed throughout the island. However, the expressions of the few people present were quite calm. Only Shattas, standing at the back, frowned slightly, but after electric arcs flashed in the depths of her eyes, she also returned to calmness.
Even Bayer Belel, whose emotional control was poor due to the influence of the potion, had already made amends based on the advice previously given by 'Orange Light' Hilarion.
Watching the black mist filled with corrupting aura spreading from the 'Devil' Beyonder characteristic and gradually integrating into the inscribed array patterns, the Mark of Evernight on Aaron's wrist flowed with pure darkness, transforming him and Cavendish Lanther into a hidden state.
Ink-green symbols appeared in Bayer Belel's eyes. Silver armor emerged on his body, and he stepped aside.
Shattas walked to the front of the altar with some trepidation, took a deep breath, and chanted the sacrificial spell that Aaron had taught her, which was a modified version from 'Orange Light' Hilarion, in ancient Hermes.
As she chanted repeatedly, the entire small island seemed to awaken. Black mist rose, and invisible fluctuations spread outwards.
In another sea area also shrouded in mist, a sailing ship nearly two hundred meters long, with its bow and stern raised high, the whole resembling a crescent moon, slowly drifted.
A black tombstone was depicted on the sailboat, which was the 'Death Consul' that struck fear into countless hearts.
At the front of the flagship's deck, a middle-aged man, so pale he seemed about to rot at any moment, knelt on one knee as if listening to something. He then faced the deck and said:
"Your will is my will, great 'Death Consul'!"
The entire ship instantly erupted in black flames of sin. Demons bared their drooling fangs. Amidst the rising flames, the 'Death Consul' twisted and disappeared.
The corrupted 'Devil' Beyonder characteristic at the center of the altar instantly burst forth with a viscous black light. A whispering sound, as if it could stir the deepest sins of living beings, emanated from it. Shattas's low chanting abruptly stopped, and she clutched her head in pain.
This was a common tactic used by high-level demons, and also a drawback of this ritual. As long as a connection is established, an 'Orator' can transmit their voice to the target's mouth from a very distant location, causing them to die inexplicably in a safe place.
Similarly, if the 'Orator' foresees the source of danger, they have the opportunity to exert influence in reverse on the spot. In other words, this was just a test from that 'Orator'.
Bayer Belel did not act rashly. Ink-green symbols seemed to occupy his pupils. His 'Demon Hunter's Eye' stared intently at the sea area to the east, and the silver-white 'Dawn Armor' resisted the corrupting influence.
The foul whispers that permeated the small island and could cause Beyonders to lose control or even die gradually ceased. Thanks to the sedatives Aaron had distributed to the elves on the 'Morningstar' earlier, although they were all affected, not many crew members suffered irreversible damage.
Although Frank's mind might be somewhat different from ordinary people, the potions he made were very effective.
As if sensing that the time was right, the 'Death Consul', which had not sensed danger, sailed out of the distorted space, with black flames rising.
Viscous black mist permeated the deck seams. It was filled with a corrupt and evil scent, completely enveloping the 'Undying King' Agharitu, the corruption integrating into his body.
Patterns radiating endless corruption appeared on his pale skin, which seemed about to rot at any moment. A terrifying aura comparable to that of a demigod emerged with it.
Demonic wings grew from his body, carrying insane laughter that could cause one to lose control, and he charged straight towards the center of the small island.
The rest of the viscous black mist quickly gathered and drilled into the bodies of the First Mate, 'Slaughterer' Gilseas, and several other members of the 'Death Consul'. Their target was the 'Morningstar' anchored at the edge of the island.
A hazy and indistinct figure appeared in the sky directly above the small island. A majestic and grand voice echoed throughout the entire sea area:
"Teleportation is forbidden here. The corrupt and degenerate should be punished."
The black flames surrounding the 'Death Consul' immediately dimmed slightly, and even the whispering became blurry. The Spirit World corresponding to this space seemed to be divided into another space from which one could not teleport away. This was the ability of the 'Law of Imprisonment' at a lower sequence, strengthened to a certain level.
Cavendish Lanther quietly appeared beside the historical void image. This was the historical projection of the Transost Empire's Chief Enforcer, Sequence 2 'Balance'.
This was also why Aaron had gone to great lengths to help him advance to 'Ancient Scholar' back then. Having witnessed the peak period of the Transost Empire, even Aaron was unsure how many Angel projections he could summon.
Even if these Angel projections were only a fraction of the original's strength due to the influence of the 'Ancient Scholar', in certain situations, they were the key to breaking the situation.
The half-demonized 'Undying King' Agharitu was struck by the 'Light Storm' and sent flying backward. Bayer Belel, holding the 'Dawn Sword', fought Agharitu with the flames of revenge burning in his eyes, forcing him to retreat step by step.
The 'Orator' within the 'Death Consul' had already realized that this was a targeted trap. Piercing screams that penetrated the mind echoed, and Aaron, standing beside Cavendish Lanther, his pupils constricted.
One by one, the twisted and ugly demons on the 'Death Consul' contorted their bodies. Strands of black mist converged. Amidst the rising and falling wails, slender blood crystals with faint patterns broke out of their bodies.
It was as if the 'Death Consul' had already prepared these as supplements for itself. As the blood-colored crystals integrated, the ship's hull, with its bow and stern raised high, began to twist and collapse inward, instantly leaving only a huge demon head with blurred features.
The head had no specific facial contours but was covered in mouths. Viscous black mist and terrifying, ceaseless whispers constantly spread outwards. It seemed to want to break through the constraints of the Law in this way.
209Chapter 204 The Mutated Moon
Not far away, the black patterns on the body of the "Undying King" Agarito, who was locked in fierce combat with Bayer-Bale, quickly faded, and the azure hell flames dimmed slightly, revealing skin as pale as a corpse.
His partially demonized body also stumbled, and was immediately struck by the pursuing "Sword of Dawn." After the sudden burst of light storm ended, a deep pit appeared on the edge of the island.
As the light dissipated, residual azure flames remained in the deep pit. Agarito's body was completely demonized, his curved ram horns on his head were broken in the middle, and viscous black liquid flowed out, corroding small holes in the bottom of the pit.
The black patterns that had covered his body had drawn out Agarito's demonic power, converging at the heart of this demonized body.
However, he was much better off than Gilshias and the other crew members. At least as a demigod, he wasn't instantly rendered powerless. He wasn't entirely helpless against the 'Seed of Demonic Power' that the 'Death Announcer' had planted in his body.
It was just that this sudden backstab caused the Seed of Desire, which Agarito had managed to plant in Bayer-Bale through a trade of injuries, to die prematurely before it could take effect.
The "Demon Hunter" before him was like a stubborn plaster. Whether it was due to the opponent's special sequence ability or the use of a corresponding Sealed Artifact, his most effective ability, corrupting the mind, had minimal effect.
While demons possess top-tier physique and spell-like abilities at the same level, they are more adept at and prefer mental confrontations.
Compared to the 'Apostle of Desire' stage, demons no longer need to wait for the target's emotions to fluctuate or desires to surge. They can directly induce a state of hallucination in specific targets or all targets within a certain range through voice, gaze, actions, and other means.
Under the Expediting of the Seed of Desire, emotions and desires would rapidly expand, then either detonate the mind, destroy reason, or lead to loss of control.
But when facing a "Demon Hunter" who was fully prepared in advance, all of this seemed like the death throes of prey.
Agarito's crimson eyes showed a momentary blankness, which was quickly filled with malice, ruthlessness, and anger.
As a servant of the "Death Announcer," he was well aware of his position: nothing more than a more palatable meal. Although he had achieved demigod status with the help of the "Death Announcer," his essence had not changed.
And the fact that the "Death Announcer" could instantly abandon all its crew members, including himself, a meal painstakingly cultivated, could only mean that the entity on this island was even more terrifying.
Although this was bad news, if utilized well, it might be the best opportunity to escape the "Death Announcer."
His thoughts raced. While suppressing the restless heart that seemed ready to burst out at any moment, Agarito used "Words of Filth" and various demonic domain spells to lure Bayer-Bale into taking the battle to the other side of the island, away from the "Death Announcer."
Aaron, with a side glance at this scene, curled up the corner of his mouth. His figure was immediately enveloped by the dark mist again, entering a state of concealment. He did not want to participate in the confrontation between the "Whisperer" and the "Ancient Scholar," and he also wanted to see how far Cavendish-Lancer's strength had reached.
Having the "Demon Button" himself, he was well aware of the demon's intuition's ability to predict danger. Aaron proactively entered a state of concealment and approached the other battlefield.
The sea surface, perpetually shrouded in mist, was now dominated by viscous black fog and never-ending terrifying whispers, as if blocked by some invisible barrier, the spreading momentum was forcibly interrupted.
"Betrayal..."
Feeling Agarito's aura getting farther and farther away, and having failed to absorb the crucial demigod "Seed of Demonic Power," the countless mouths on the massive demonic head formed by the "Death Announcer" opened and closed simultaneously, letting out a roar that seemed to come from hell.
Accompanied by the integration of other "Seeds of Demonic Power" in the form of blood-colored crystals, the viscous black fog lifted the massive demonic head. Like a devil crawling out of the abyss, two masses of deep red light appeared on the head that lacked specific facial features.
Without the protection of the concealed state, the demon's intuition at Sequence 3 level made this "Whisperer" truly sense the danger of death. It decisively sacrificed the food it had cultivated in exchange for a period of peak state.
In Cavendish-Lancer's hand, the historical void image of the "Scepter of the Sun" had already appeared. Looking at the "Whisperer" spreading infinite aura of corruption, his cold eyes revealed undisguised disgust.
Threads of spiritual body churned in the viscous black fog. They all came from the consumed "Seeds of Demonic Power." Although Cavendish-Lancer could also influence the battle by manipulating the threads of spiritual body, the abyssal pollution attached to the threads would also inversely erode his own spirituality.
The Scepter of the Sun surged with endless light, as if it had instantly become the sun descending into reality. The pure and clear light transformed the surrounding area into a land of no darkness, no shadows, and no evil.
The Words of Filth spewed from the countless mouths of the "Whisperer" and the viscous black fog that could corrupt everything were enveloped by the "Domain of Light," preventing this terrifying pollution from affecting the outside world.
Arrows of pure white light appeared, swelling into miniature suns bright enough to illuminate a city, piercing through the body of the "Whisperer." Flames clashed with black fog, and countless unjustly killed souls were annihilated.
The Words of Filth, capable of polluting a demigod, had no effect on Cavendish-Lancer, seemingly separated and isolated to another space by the projection of the "Balancer" angel.
Feeling the restrictions placed upon him by that strange angel projection, as well as the "Domain of Light" and the arrows of light radiating infinite purifying power that were reforming not far away.
On the head of the "Whisperer," formed by the "Death Announcer," the mouths spewing Words of Filth exploded one after another. The black blood that flowed down fell into the viscous black fog, and a massive, illusory altar, somewhat similar to the array engraved in the center of the island, instantly appeared, enveloping the "Whisperer."
As a high-level demon closest to an angel, having escaped from the abyss, he naturally knew more about the arrays for sacrificing to demons. Feeling that there was no way out, he chose to sacrifice a part of his own body in exchange for the help of an entity in the abyss.
In the eyes of demons, life is insignificant, but this clearly does not include their own lives. As long as they could escape from here, any price was worth paying.
The viscous black fog took on a bloody hue, like a passage leading to the abyss. A blood-colored hand that blotted out the sky reached out from the black fog. Even through the barrier constructed by the "Balancer," an uncontrollable fear still surfaced in the hearts of all living beings.
On the other side of the island, Aaron withdrew the "Sword of Judgment" from Agarito's corpse. Bayer-Bale threw the massive demonic body, which still retained some azure flames, onto the ground.
His left arm, which had not held the "Sword of Dawn," was corroded by black blood. His hand held a black heart that was still beating, shrouded in black mist and emanating an aura capable of corrupting everything.
Agarito's completely demonized body did not exude anything further, as if everything, including his Beyonder characteristics, had been stripped away by the "Seed of Demonic Power."
Unlike the Beyonder characteristics condensed in the past, the "Seed of Demonic Power" seemed to strip away life force as well. Although there would be some loss, if time was seized, the required lifespan could still be extracted from it.
Satisfied, Aaron took the demigod-level "Seed of Demonic Power." After sealing it layer by layer with a wall of spirituality, he turned his head to look at the sea in the distance. Suppressing the fear in his heart and the constantly surging blood in his body, his eyebrows couldn't help but twitch. It seemed a big guy had arrived!
Aaron turned his head and instructed Bayer-Bale, who had already lifted his demigod creature form, to take Agarito's corpse and lead the crew of the "Morning Star" to clear out the remaining crew members who had come down from the "Death Announcer."
As one of the Four Kings, Agarito and his subordinates could provide a generous bounty. This money was also the development fund Aaron planned to leave for the "Morning Star," after all, he couldn't just give the crew members empty pay.
Bayer-Bale looked at Agarito, who had become a corpse, with some complexity. The great revenge for the annihilation of his family was avenged, and the mental flaw that had plagued him for decades, and even became a flaw after he was promoted to a demigod, completely ceased to exist.
The potion shattered and was digested within his body. Bayer-Bale, who was two or three heads taller than Aaron, knelt on one knee. He said nothing, but respectfully kowtowed, then picked up the demon's corpse from the ground and ran towards the other end of the island.
Satisfied, Aaron withdrew his gaze from the receding figure of Bayer-Bale. His figure gradually faded as he rushed towards the main battlefield.
The giant bloody hand reaching out from the abyss of hell directly shattered the Scepter of the Sun's arrow that shot towards it. As the aura of bloodthirsty slaughter permeated, a giant abyssal mouth opened in the center of the hand, and it turned around and tore off a small half of the "Whisperer's" body.
This was the price of forcefully summoning a Sequence 2 "Duke of Blood." If he were in the abyss, his entire body would have been swallowed just now.
His expression still calm, Cavendish-Lancer slowly raised his empty left hand and dragged a figure out of the historical mist.
It was a plump and graceful lady. Even though her face was somewhat blurred, anyone who saw this figure would not be stingy with their words of praise, as if she represented the most beautiful things in the world.
That was the Empress of the Trunsoest Empire, Sequence 1 "Goddess of Beauty," "Queen of the Blood Moon," Ornnia!
Over the past few months, with the assistance of the hidden history of the Second and Third Epochs provided by Aaron, he had digested most of the "Ancient Scholar" potion, and the number of historical void images he could maintain simultaneously had increased from two to three.
However, the duration of maintenance was less than a quarter of an hour, and there wasn't much time left. Cavendish-Lancer was planning to end the battle quickly using the Empress's historical image.
The whispers echoing throughout the entire space seemed to have weakened slightly. The "Goddess of Beauty" continuously radiated a tranquil light outwards.
A blood moon appeared, standing side by side with the crimson moon already in the night sky, like the eyes of a certain existence.
The first to notice the anomaly was the bloody arm reaching out from the abyssal black fog. As if it sensed a certain aura inscribed deep in its soul, it directly abandoned the delicious sacrifice that was within reach.
Under the "Whisperer's" disbelieving gaze, it transformed into a torrent of blood and drilled into the viscous black fog that seemed to connect to the abyss, no longer responding no matter how the "Whisperer" called out.
The second to notice the anomaly was Cavendish-Lancer. Looking at the two red moons rising in the sky, his face twisted for the first time.
That "Red Moon" was not just a full moon; it was closer to a blood moon, even exceeding it. Unspeakable spiritual power was generated as a result.
An eerie and distorted feeling lingered in his heart. Even holding the projection of the "Scepter of the Sun," Cavendish-Lancer could feel the evil thoughts in his heart expanding, and he could feel an unimaginable change brewing within his body.
This change was not only due to the influence of the red moon in the sky, but more so the inverse influence of the "Goddess of Beauty" historical void image he had summoned on the summoner.
Aaron, who had already arrived near the central battlefield, was even more sensitive to this change. Not even a demigod, he could clearly feel his belly slowly swelling, and he felt the pulse of life slowly condensing inside, trying to take shape.
The authority of the "Moon" itself includes reproduction and fertility!
And after the "Mother Tree of Desire" gained partial control of the "Moon" authority, this authority was infected with an exceptionally evil taint, even more evil than before...
Silently cursing in his heart, Aaron was about to mobilize the sub-consciousness left within the original body and give himself a divine purification with the "Scepter of the Sun," when the Mark of Night on his wrist suddenly bloomed with light. Darkness surged out like a tide, clearing the pollution Aaron had received.
Because the "Duke of Blood" unilaterally terminated the sacrifice ritual, the "Whisperer," already seriously injured, suffered a backlash again. Under the illumination of the eerie scarlet moonlight, voices seemed to appear in its consciousness.
Within the massive and bloated body, twisted and wriggling masses of bloody flesh appeared. They seemed to be the transformation of the "Seeds of Demonic Power" it had previously devoured, and they were also the source of the voices in its consciousness.
Thanks to the inherent limitations of the historical void image, the transmitted pollution only contained partial power and characteristics. Cavendish-Lancer, relying on the purifying power emitted by the "Scepter of the Sun," barely managed to withstand the first wave of invasion and did not collapse into consciousness like the "Whisperer."
However, his face became increasingly grim, not only because of the pollution he suffered but also because he suddenly found that he could not dispel the maintenance of the "Goddess of Beauty" historical void image. Things had gone out of his control.
Even though he had interrupted the spiritual supply to the historical void image, the red moon in the sky and the "Whisperer" on the sea, who was on the verge of collapse, seemed to be continuously providing power to the "Goddess of Beauty" historical void image he had summoned.
The projection of the "Scepter of the Sun" was about to reach its maintenance limit. Cavendish-Lancer glanced at Aaron, who was shrouded in darkness at the edge of the battlefield, sighed in his heart, and a look of determination gradually appeared in his eyes.
Just as he was about to do something, a sense of indescribable joy suddenly arose in his heart. It was the joy of all things growing and new life arriving.
The "Red Moon" in the sky dimmed slightly, as if a large amount of its brilliance had been absorbed by someone.
The mist in this sea area dissipated, and another moon appeared in the night sky. The color of this moon was no longer the previous scarlet, but a pure white, exceptionally bright.
Chapter 205 Lilith's Gift
Looking at the bright, slightly silvery moon.
Suddenly, a word almost simultaneously appeared in Aaron and Cavendish-Lancer's minds:
"Lilith!"
The ancient god Lilith, who once held the 'Moon' pathway!
The unique silvery moonlight instantly illuminated this sea area, illuminating the projection of "Goddess of Beauty" Ornia, and also illuminating the "Whisperer" whose consciousness was collapsing.
The invisible connection was severed, and the indescribable pollution was blocked. The pressure Cavendish-Lancer felt immediately eased, his body trembled slightly, and his blood boiled a little.
Following the connection with the historical void image he had summoned, the headache-ridden Cavendish-Lancer subconsciously looked over, his pupils suddenly contracting.
The projection of "Goddess of Beauty" Ornia he had summoned had turned sideways at some point, the corners of Her mouth slightly turned up. That bright moon with a hint of silver was now floating behind Her.
Not only Cavendish-Lancer, but Aaron, who was enveloped in deep darkness not far away, also felt a terrifying gaze fall upon him. When he looked up, he saw those slightly smiling eyes.
When an "Ancient Scholar" summons a historical image, they cannot converse or communicate with it. However, this is not absolute.
Just like Beyonders of the Darkness pathway can conceal themselves, allowing the summoned historical void image to gain consciousness, high-level Beyonders of the Seer pathway can enter the historical fog, allowing their historical projection to gain consciousness.
Although he didn't know what authority the Blood Ancestor used to achieve this step, the scene just now was enough to explain everything.
Fortunately, that terrifying gaze did not linger for long. This high-level confrontation was not over. Although the eerie crimson moon was briefly suppressed, it did not disappear.
The corrupted "Whisperer" on the sea surface suddenly roared towards the sky, echoing the eerie red moon. The countless mouths covering his tattered body roared in unison:
"Lord of the Abyss..."
"King of Filth and Degeneracy..."
"Great Dark Side of the Universe..."
Is this the honorific name of the Dark Side of the Universe?
Aaron's expression, which had just relaxed, stiffened again. However, before he could react, the deep darkness around him surged like a boiling tsunami, enveloping the entire space.
The roars, composed of countless screams, as if from the abyss, silently vanished. The countless mouths opened and closed frantically, but no sound came out. Everything was concealed, and even the eerie red moon was covered by a layer of dim shadow.
The historical projection of "Goddess of Beauty" Ornia, manipulated by another will, seemed unsurprised by this. After nodding slightly towards the deep darkness, She raised Her right hand.
At the same time, Cavendish-Lancer's face suddenly turned pale, his Spirituality like a flood from an opened gate. However, he immediately borrowed power from his past self, and his Spirituality became abundant again.
Silvery moonlight poured down, and an endless surge of Yin power erupted. The viscous black fog surrounding the "Whisperer" was pierced by the moonlight, and some strange patterns appeared on his body.
These patterns converged. Accompanied by the "Whisperer's" roars, his massive body gradually withered. At the very top of his giant head, it seemed as if a "Tree of Life" had grown, drawing all his nutrients.
At the end of the pitch-black, corrupted trunk, two "fruits" grew: a black heart the size of a head, covered in black lips, with faint whispers of filth emanating from it.
The other was a pure green crystal without any impurities, exuding an indescribable aura of life.
Aaron pursed his dry lips, his eyes fixed on the two fruits that had grown on the "Tree of Life". He wanted them a little but didn't dare to speak.
Facing an ancient god who had endured since the Second Epoch, even indifferently watching the Blood Race suffer heavy losses, Aaron had no doubt about Her ruthlessness, even if She seemed to have shown goodwill.
Just as Aaron was inwardly conflicted, he suddenly felt a sense of pressure. With a light sigh, he followed his spiritual intuition and looked over, seeing those eyes that seemed to hold new life.
There were no words, but a thought suddenly popped into Aaron's mind, instantly understanding the meaning in those eyes:
"You can choose one..."
Aaron was stunned for a few seconds. He looked at the two "fruits". The black heart covered in lips was clearly a Sequence 3 "Whisperer" Beyonder characteristic, and the pollution within it seemed to have been expelled.
Although Aaron didn't know what the other green crystal was, the life aura it exuded even surpassed that of the Undying. It seemed to be the Source of Life condensed by Lilith using Her authority.
Although its value was far less than the Sequence 3 Beyonder characteristic, it was sufficient for Aaron. There was no free lunch in the world. Staying humble was the long-term plan, and contentment brought happiness.
The moment he made his decision, the twisted and hideous "Tree of Life" began to tremble, and the emerald green crystal flew directly towards Aaron.
Before he could react, it instantly merged into his body, leaving a simple outline of a baby surrounded by symbols of wheat ears, flowers, and springs on his right wrist.
Aaron, familiar with the information of the major churches, instantly recognized this symbol. This was the life holy emblem of the Mother Goddess Church.
The corner of his mouth twitched slightly. Aaron looked at his hands with a mix of amusement and helplessness. On the left was the Mark of Darkness, and on the right was the Life Holy Emblem.
Before he could think further, emerald green light flickered, and a stream of information instantly appeared in his mind:
Life Mark:
Summoning Gate: Consume Spirituality and vitality, and use the moon's influence on the Spirit World to summon various types of powerful creatures from the depths of the Spirit World to help you.
In certain abnormal environments, there is a chance of uncontrollable mutation, causing strange creatures that are not from the Spirit World and have not signed a contract to descend into reality.
This may point to the vast and dark universe, where powerful abilities or items different from the twenty-two Sequences may appear, and the burden on Spirituality and vitality will greatly increase.
Embrace of the Earth: Except for beings that have already begun to lose control, no matter how severe the injury, it can be healed. It can fill the surroundings with vitality, allowing both plants and animals to grow vigorously and reproduce quickly.
With the assistance of rituals, it can absorb the vitality of beings that have lost the ability to resist or have just died, condensing Life Stones or storing vitality.
Divine Favor: Greatly increase resistance to spells in the domains of the moon, darkness, and life, as well as the success rate of corresponding rituals.
While Aaron was still receiving the information in his mind, the battle had entered its final stage. Under the encirclement of the silver moon and the deep darkness, the eerie red moon was forcibly torn in half.
Half instantly vanished into the deep darkness, as if going to another world, while the remaining half was swallowed by the bright silver moon. The twisted Tree of Life on the sea surface silently withered, and the black fog also disappeared completely.
A phantom door covered in mysterious patterns appeared in front of the projection of "Goddess of Beauty" Ornia. The black heart covered in lips flew towards it, constantly changing shape under the illumination of the bright moonlight, finally transforming into a black horn.
The phantom door creaked open backward, widening the gap. The black horn instantly entered, and the projection and the silver moon dissipated thereafter.
All of this happened in an instant, so quickly that Cavendish-Lancer, standing not far away, was a little slow to react. But having experienced the Four Emperors' War in the glorious Fourth Epoch, he had already judged the level of those who had just made a move.
Looking at Aaron, who was shrouded in emerald green light, and the deep darkness swirling around him not far away, Cavendish-Lancer was momentarily at a loss for words.
Before he could sort out his thoughts, a sudden sense of ominous danger arose in his heart. He subconsciously looked up, and Cavendish-Lancer's face changed drastically.
The crimson moon in the sky had become incredibly large, occupying the entire sky. The light on the surface of the red moon pulsed and expanded, as if it had come alive.
The blood-colored light rapidly condensed towards the center, continuously piling up, finally forming a phantom figure that was entirely blood-red and whose specific appearance could not be clearly seen.
This phantom figure was countless times larger than the moon. Countless eyes grew on its branches. It looked down upon the blue planet shrouded by the original barrier, casting its gaze towards the place where its power projection had been torn apart and swallowed!
Bubbles immediately appeared one after another on Cavendish-Lancer's raised face. Each bubble contained a mutated "Spirit Worm", each bearing a different face, seemingly representing the identities he had used in the past.
The surrounding deep darkness suddenly surged, spreading outwards, enveloping the sea area around this island, blocking that terrifying gaze.
Cavendish-Lancer, whose mutation was forcibly interrupted, lowered his head, his heart pounding wildly. Being a Seer from the initial Sequence, he hadn't even felt a spiritual warning and was directly affected.
Under the shroud of deep darkness, this sea area seemed to be dragged into a hidden world. The vast red moon occupying the entire sky flickered, as if it had blinked.
At the same time, in the Astral World, which was more abstract than the Spirit World and seemed to encompass all the authorities and symbols of the entire universe.
In a boundless sea enveloped by never-ending storms, lightning, and thunder, a phantom figure woven from symbols such as lightning, strong winds, and waves appeared, looking down upon all things.
In the depths of the boundless sea shrouded by lightning, strong winds, and rain, a point of light suddenly lit up.
It carried a portion of matter, approaching the limit of speed, thereby creating violent "waves" that could destroy planets.
These "waves" fiercely struck the invisible barrier that separated the portion of the Astral World corresponding to Earth from the complete Astral World and the entire universe.
In other locations in the Astral World, areas lit up one after another. Some were covered in vibrant flowers, some were enveloped in twilight, and some seemed to be composed of books, either open or closed.
Phantom figures without specific outlines appeared, but none of them continued to make a move. They merely illuminated their corresponding areas of the Astral World.
The "Tyrant's" provocative counterattack and the divine kingdoms within the invisible barrier did not elicit a reaction from the vast phantom figure in the universe, but the crimson moon obscuring the sky gradually returned to normal, as if everything before was an illusion.
212Chapter 206: Return to Bayam (Updated)
The Forsaken Land, Silver City.
As it was an afternoon with frequent lightning, the guards stationed at high vantage points overlooking the entire city were the first to notice the anomaly in the sky.
The lightning and darkness they were accustomed to, that they were familiar with, completely vanished in those brief few seconds, leaving not a trace.
That blood-red full moon, occupying half the sky, was so obvious, so immense, illuminating everything with incredible clarity.
Derrick Berg, not yet an adult and only reaching the abdomen of his parents, who were already Sequence 5 powerhouses in the Warrior pathway, stared blankly at the red moonlight illuminating the black bread on the table.
Derrick Berg, who had already learned about the moon's description and corresponding illustrations from the general knowledge textbook, raised his slightly childish face to look at his stern-faced parents beside him, accidentally messing up the hair his mother had just combed:
"Mom, is that... the moon?"
A few seconds later, the moon disappeared, and deep darkness re-engulfed everything, with frequent lightning becoming the primary source of illumination.
"What just happened?"
"Did you see that red mass?"
"The moon! That was the moon!"
"That was the Crimson Moon!"
Waves of discussion came from the streets outside. Derrick's father finally snapped back to reality and gently patted the bewildered Derrick with his somewhat rough hand.
He exchanged a glance with his wife beside him, instructed Derrick to stay at home and not go out, then left the house with the other exploration team members and headed straight for the central Round Tower.
Silver City, top of the Round Tower, within the Chief's room.
Lovia, wearing a black robe with purple patterns, possessing silver-grey curly hair and a pair of light grey eyes, sat quietly opposite Chief Colin Iliad. Together, they witnessed that incredible scene in the sky.
Unlike the vast majority of Silver City residents, the two of them did not regard this phenomenon as a good omen in mysticism. Instead, their faces were solemn and their brows were tightly furrowed.
After a long while, Colin Iliad lightly tapped the tabletop with his finger and spoke to the 'Shepherd' Elder opposite him:
"Your proposal still needs to be discussed. After all, it's too risky. First, gather the elders of the 'Six-Man Council' for a meeting at the Round Tower."
Lovia also knew the situation was urgent and did not object. She stood up and left to notify the other elders about the meeting.
At the bottom of the Round Tower, flickering yellow candlelight illuminated the complex and mysterious symbols and markings carved onto the surrounding walls.
In the shadow of the corner, a deep yet rather aged laugh echoed. An old man with a weathered face raised his head and looked upwards. A crystal-like light condensed in his right eye, as if he was witnessing scenes unfolding in the astral world.
The curve of 'His' lips grew wider and wider. Finally, 'He' let out a 'tsk', completely unconcerned if anyone heard:
"How lively, how interesting..."
Loen Kingdom, underground of the Striven section of the Tussock River, Ruin No. 1.
Within the vast black mausoleum inscribed with numerous complex patterns, George III, wearing the Balam crown, withdrew his gaze from the top of the mausoleum. The distorted symbols in his eyes gradually faded.
Prince Grove stood respectfully at the lowest level, like a subject presenting himself before the Emperor.
George III remained silent for a long time. The distorted order within the mausoleum became increasingly chaotic, causing fine beads of sweat to seep from the forehead of Prince Grove, who was already a Sequence 3.
"This is a win-win cooperation. After I succeed, I will fulfill my previous promise. Therefore, I hope to see another portion of the 'Prince of Disorder' Beyonder characteristic as soon as possible."
The distorted order covering the entire mausoleum suddenly loosened. George III turned his head to look at the side of the throne. The 'Eye of Disorder' stared intently at the area not covered by any rules, his tone gradually becoming heavier.
A priest wearing a simple white robe and a silver cross pendant slowly emerged. His face was benevolent, but His eyes held indifference to everything. His gentle voice even smoothed out the chaotic order within the mausoleum.
"What happens in the astral world is not your concern. Given that, why be so anxious?"
"The future I have declared will surely unfold and become reality..."
The Raging Sea, the capital of the Rorsted Archipelago, the 'City of Generosity', Bayam.
The weather in May was already starting to get hot. Alger Wilson, with deep features and a rugged outline, silently walked onto the pier. He had already disguised himself and was preparing to go to the Church of Waves to report on his duties.
Ever since that 'Crimson Moon King' completely angered the Church of Storms and the Mid-Sunya Navy, peripheral members like him had also started acting as intelligence brokers between various pirates, thus requiring regular baptism by the storm to maintain their unwavering faith.
Just as Alger walked off the pier, he suddenly saw dark clouds gathering above the Church of Waves not far away, forming a blurry human face.
His forward steps immediately froze in place. Following the exclamations around him, he stiffly turned his head to look at the sea area in the direction of the pier.
Amidst the intermingling light of deep blue and silver-white, a massive ship, so large it made Alger feel a little suffocated, impossibly appeared. The face formed by the dark clouds above the Church of Waves was staring fixedly at this uninvited guest, yet was slow to act.
A ghost ship? Such a huge ghost ship?
His sluggish brain slowly turned. The shock deep within his eyes was unconcealed. Alger, who had already attended a pirate gathering once, had seen the flagship of 'King of the Five Seas' Nast, the 'Black Emperor'. The ship before him, even if slightly inferior, was not much different.
In the captain's cabin at the highest point of the 'Ship of Dawn', Aaron looked at the blurry face in the sky in the distance, playing with an emerald green crystal radiating vitality in his hand. He smiled and said to Cavendish Lanther and Boyer Bayley behind him:
"I originally thought we'd have to fight before we could talk properly, but it seems that's not necessary. Tsk tsk, this isn't Yann Kortman's style..."
Boyer Bayley glanced at the silent 'Ancient Scholar' beside him, then looked at Agarito's massive demon body hanging in the most conspicuous position, as well as the other hanging crew members of the 'Death Knell'. They tacitly remained silent.
Last time, thanks to the protection of the Goddess of the Night, the 'Ship of Dawn' was preserved. Only Cavendish Lanther was unlucky enough to be contaminated at the end.
This time, he brought all his helpers to Bayam, not really to fight the 'Sea King'. There was no benefit in that.
The most fundamental purpose was still to announce the fall of the old king and the birth of the new king, and incidentally collect the bounties for the 'King of Immortality' Agarito, including his crew members. After all, without proving sufficient strength, bounties at the pirate king level were not so easy to collect.
And even though Agarito had the lowest bounty among the pirate kings, when counting all his crew members together, it was still not a small sum.
Thinking this, the emerald green crystal in Aaron's hand turned into light and merged into his Mark of Life. This was the 'Stone of Life' condensed from that 'Blasphemer' back then.
And as an item required for a Sequence 5 'Druid' to advance to Sequence 4 'Classical Alchemist', even the lowest quality 'Stone of Life' required sacrificing a demigod. Accordingly, its abilities were also extremely powerful.
Chapter 207 Sacrifice and Chance Encounter
The most significant value is its ability to perform the ultimate "Life Alchemy" using incomplete spirits and various materials, with the "Stone of Life" as the foundation.
This can create transcendent bodies that can exist for a long time, and also manufacture different puppets for combat and various tasks, including Stone Golems, Clay Golems, Iron Golems, and can even create some unprecedented species.
However, these require specific ritual assistance, which are considered secrets of the Church of the Earth Mother, but with the life imprint left by that entity, Aaron felt he could try his luck in the Feynbot Kingdom later.
Furthermore, the "Stone of Life" can repair damaged and incomplete souls and reduce the degree of loss of control and madness. Unlike when creatures created by "Life Alchemy" die and the "Stone of Life" reforms, the consumption of the "Stone of Life" for repairing souls is permanent.
Aaron had originally planned to use this "Stone of Life" along with the lifespans of various demigods collected using the "Ghostly Picture Frame" to awaken Faust-Ellen, the Sequence 3 "Raving Magician," who was sleeping in the Ghost Empire.
But then he remembered what he had learned from Hermes and Varner: Ward-Will, the Sequence 3 "Bishop of War" from the East Tack Family, had formed a mental stitched-together monster with a certain "Bishop of War" from the Ainhoorn Family during the Twenty Year War.
Perhaps through some ritual, the self-awareness and mental imprint belonging to a certain ancestor of the Ainhoorn Family contained within the Beyonder Characteristic in Ward-Will's soul could be forcibly separated, and then this Stone of Life, originating from a Sequence 3, could be used to repair his soul.
Seeing Aaron lost in thought and no longer speaking, Boyer-Bailer, in order to avoid unnecessary trouble, steered the "Morning Star" to stop in the sea area about a dozen nautical miles from Bayam.
Taking out the "Mask of Death" Aaron had given him, Boyer-Bailer changed his appearance. Dark green symbols emerged in his pupils, and his body swelled, transforming into a silver giant clad in the "Armor of Dawn."
Using Spirit World traversal, he arrived directly above the "Morning Star," unleashing the oppressive aura of a "Demon Hunter," directly facing the giant face formed by the dark clouds above Bayam.