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Chapter 1052: Reluctantly Showing Off
Circle of Inevitability

Late at night.

Neither Anthony's intelligence channels, nor Franca's gang informants, nor Jenna's neighborhood contacts were able to provide any information related to the Sick Church.

Franca sat down at the mechanical typewriter, turned on the wireless telegraph transceiver, preparing to ask 007 if the Eternal Blazing Sun Church had gathered any valuable intelligence.

'Ding, group message notification: Hidden Blade, who did another good deed today, has joined the chat!' Franca announced her arrival in the telegraph group.

Before she could send a second message, she saw a telegram come in with 007 as the header: 'Hidden Blade, you didn't actually advance to Sequence 4, but to Sequence 3, right?'

The other telegrams that should have responded to Franca suddenly came to a halt.

Franca was stunned at first, then understood.

Wow, I originally didn't want to show off about this, but you helped me do it anyway?

She felt she should display three parts helplessness, three parts pain, three parts confusion, plus one part inevitable secret joy, so she carefully replied: 'Ah… yes.'

After a brief, indescribable silence, one telegram after another was spat out by the small analyzer under queue control, accompanied by clicking sounds.

The mechanical typewriter seemed overwhelmed, working so hard it might start smoking.

'Are you serious?'

'Hidden Blade, that kind of joke isn't funny, it's too cruel!'

'Hidden Blade, I remember you mentioning just a month ago that you were a Sequence 5 Demoness of Affliction, and now you're Sequence 3 in just a month? Even a rocket isn't that fast!'

'Have you been blessed by the God of Fortune lately?'

'A Sequence 3 Demoness, I can't imagine how beautiful and charming…'

'Really, are there any secrets to advancing? Name your price, we brothers might be able to scrape together a down payment.'

'Hidden Blade, did something happen to you? Do you need any help? At my sequence, I might not be able to participate in combat, but I can help curse those people!'

'…'

'007, how did you know?'

After the expression of various emotions and feelings, someone finally brought the topic back on track.

007 replied: 'Hidden Blade is now a patron saint of a cathedral, with her own honorific name.'

Sure enough, the changes at Saint Franca Cathedral had been noticed by the Eternal Blazing Sun Church, and 007 had known before that I was 'Red Boots' Franca Roland… Franca's speculation was confirmed.

'Patron saint… honorific name… I really can't connect these two terms with the 'life is short, why not give it a shot' Hidden Blade.' Moon King was the first to marvel.

'Indeed.' Wind Sound sent a telegram in response. 'It's too surreal, too surreal, more surreal than any fantasy novel!'

'Please show some respect to the great Hidden Blade!'

'Lord Hidden Blade, is there any chance you could take me as your apprentice?'

'You want to become a Demoness too? If I remember correctly, you can switch.'

'I can't accept that the strongest in the research society is now the silly Hidden Blade…'

'Hey, if you put it that way, wouldn't that make us even more silly and stupid?'

'…'

Looking at these telegrams, Franca couldn't help but curl her lips into a smile.

I have to say, showing off like this feels pretty good!

Moreover, those joking remarks gave her a sense of still being grounded, still connected to the masses.

'Hey hey hey,' she quickly typed out the words, 'You don't really think I'm brainless, do you? I was just being approachable before, trying to get along with you all.'

Then, she humbly added: 'Madame Hela should also be Sequence 3 now, either a bit earlier or later than me.

'As for the President, I'm not quite sure.'

'So you really are Sequence 3… Is there anything you can tell us about it?' Wind Sound and others asked in succession.

Franca elaborated a bit more than before: 'In advancing to Sequence 4, digesting the Sequence 4 potion, and advancing to Sequence 3, I met some special conditions as a transmigrator that allowed me to take shortcuts, so I became a Saint with an honorific name within a month.'

She didn't mention that she had completely digested the Sequence 3 potion, after all, the telegraph group had quite a few members, and most of which she hadn't met in the real world. Although she was willing to trust their character, she couldn't gamble on their circumstances—critical information about her Sequence abilities still needed to be kept secret.

Besides, if someone asked what a Sequence 3 Demoness was called, Franca didn't want to hide it, because after 007 pointed out that she was already a patron saint of a cathedral, her honorific name couldn't be hidden from those who paid attention. This way, some telegraph group members might make certain connections between the instant digestion of a Sequence potion and the name Demoness of Unaging.

'One month…'

'Really only took one month…'

'…'

At this point, Moon King, Wind Sound, and others seemed to have lost even the mood to joke.

'So what kind of Demoness are you now?' After a while, group member Little Peppa asked.

I knew it! Franca immediately replied: 'Demoness of Unaging.'

'Unaging… eternal youth?' Little Peppa seemed somewhat envious.

Moon King then asked: 'Can you also extend lifespan?'

'Theoretically speaking, living another two thousand years wouldn't be a problem.' Franca tried to control her pride.

'So envious…' Group members responded with similar words.

One after another, all expressing genuine feelings.

Who wouldn't want to be immortal and ageless?

As for the negative effects of the potion, there were no ordinary people in this group!

Franca thought for a moment, then typed out more words: 'For those in the Trier region, if you have difficulties and need help, you can recite my honorific name.

'For those not in the Trier region, I can't help—I won't hear it and can't respond.

'My honorific name is:

'The One Who Never Ages, Keeper of Diseases and Plagues, the Demoness Accompanied by Strife and Catastrophe, the Cup Bearing Joy and Pain, the Great Franca Roland.'

Seeing this honorific name, seeing the prefix 'Great,' the telegraph group members truly realized that Hidden Blade had obtained godhood, was half-god half-human, and possessed an honorific name, was a patron saint of a cathedral, could respond to prayers, and bestow power.

After a while, Little Peppa sighed.

'I feel like there's now a sad, thick barrier between us…'

'Want to call me lord and let me hear it?' Franca very skillfully responded to these words.

After discussing her own matters and explaining that Cup took its concept from the Tarot Cup cards's corresponding symbolism and the sacred object that bore joy and pain, she finally asked 007:

'007, do you have more intelligence about the Sick Church?'

Based on their team's collection and analysis of information, they believed that the Order of All Extinction and the Sick Church probably worshiped the same evil god, but the former mainly corrupted the upper and middle classes, while the latter targeted the lower classes, preaching about the authority of the Malady God and the terror of illness, developing followers through intimidation.

007 typed neither fast nor slow, with telegrams coming in line by line: 'The several Sick Church-related cases discovered earlier have been handled, and the corresponding Blessed have been eliminated, but we still haven't found their upper ranks.

'Those followers who only know the name Malady God, we now have sufficient manpower, with Mid-Sequence Beyonders watching them, to see if anyone will contact them or if any unusual events occur.

'Besides these, there's no other intelligence. The cultists in Trier have been very quiet for the past month or two, hiding very deep.'

Very well-behaved? This is very similar to the state before the Hostel incident… Is something big really going to happen within a year or two? Other great existences might not know what the Great Mother wants to do and how She would do it, but They should have foreseen that something would happen, after all, we've all made some guesses, so They've restricted the Blessed in Trier, letting them either transfer elsewhere or wait patiently to fish in troubled waters when the time comes? Franca made her own speculation based on 007's words.

At the same time, she also caught another hint from 007.

Followers who only knew the name Malady God could be saved.

Indeed, those great existences all preach using aliases, not letting followers truly understand Them. This isn't because They're merciful, but because truly understanding Them inevitably leads to corruption. Some might be fine, only experiencing personality alteration and extreme mentality, but most would have their bodies collapse, becoming monsters that constantly spread corruption, making it impossible to preach in secret, as it would be easily discovered by official forces… Franca muttered silently.

One reason why seeking boons required performing rituals was to protect the corresponding humans through the ritual, and after establishing a stable but temporary channel, the corresponding being could consciously contain the mental and will corruption in the boon, preventing the bestowed from collapsing on the spot.

Even Saints like Franca and Lumian's understanding of those great existences was limited to aliases, but compared to other Sequence 4 and Sequence 3 demigods, they also know that these existences stand at the top of multiple paths.

In reality, among the great existences, the only one who didn't preach using an alias was the Mother Tree of Desire.

Madam Magician mentioned that Mother Tree of Desire was a small segment of the corresponding existence's long string of honorific names. There were two reasons why understanding and reciting it didn't directly bring corruption: First, it was only a small segment, incomplete; second, the Mother Tree of Desire indirectly controlled the one worshiped by the Rose School of Thought in the real world and the Devil Monarch in the Abyss, so when this honorific name was mentioned, under conditions of limited understanding and while the barrier still existed, the proximity-based mystical phenomenon occurred, making it not so dangerous.

'What can we do…' Franca didn't hide the troubles of a Saint with an honorific name.

007 quickly replied: 'Trier has gathered a large amount of official force, those cultists won't surface for now. Later, we'll have enough manpower to investigate everyone in key positions.

'That's how it is in Trier, but in the marginal towns of the Trier region, in places where the Church and government forces are weak, there might still be active cultists. You can go look in those places.'

Right, with Trier's current situation, we definitely won't find anyone, but we can search in the suburbs and villages… Indeed, only official Beyonders have this kind of vision and experience, we would have wasted some time before possibly thinking of this… Franca immediately replied to 007: 'Genius!'

***

Thanks to the users "Максим Довбняк", "TempestUknow", "Nightblade" for the chapters provided!

Circle of Inevitability
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  1. Offline
    Jack_Nat_Mikhail
    Jack_Nat_Mikhail
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    Thanks for the chaptwr
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    YellowFlame
    YellowFlame
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    Quote: Максим Довбняк
    link to the channel in profile description.

    At that moment, a figure clad in a black trench coat followed the trace of the connection, descending from above and landing in front of Him, at the edge of the unknown land.

    The figure used his right hand, gloved in black, to press down on the half-height silk top hat atop his head, gradually straightening his posture.



    Damn infinite coolness level
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    Максим Довбняк
    Максим Довбняк
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    link to the channel in profile description

    Chapter 1068: Connection


    Petrification did nothing to stop the advancing knowledge; instead, petrification became a part of them, and they surged forward toward Lumian like an army of puppets.

    At that moment, a strange thought crossed Lumian's mind.

    If I were in Morora, could I use the authority of 0-01 to turn these knowledge statues into my soldiers and then redirect their assault on Seids, the Moses Ascetic Order's brass holding the Grade 0 Sealed Artifact?


    Unfortunately, there was no "if."

    The knowledge statues collided with Lumian, producing a cracking sound.

    Lumian had activated his Mirror Substitution in advance.

    In the next instant, he used Teleportation, outlining his figure mid-air, positioned behind Seids and slightly above the tower.

    Despite his fear of the Grade 0 Sealed Artifact, it was being wielded by a person, not the artifact itself wielding the person. This naturally left vulnerabilities to exploit.

    For example, Seids' body was blocking the dense bumps and stark black-and-white eyes on the surface of the silver flask, obscuring his view of what was behind him.

    Lumian's lake-like eyes quickly locked onto Seids' back, preparing to cast a curse.

    Just then, the back of Seids' head, uncovered by a hood, began to writhe with flesh. Black-and-white, emotionless eyes sprouted from the dark gray hair.

    The Saint seemed to become one with the silver flask, an extension of its power.

    Pop! Pop! Pop! Black-and-white eyes spread across Seids' back, his hair parting and clothes tearing as they all turned to gaze at Lumian.

    Lumian froze.

    Sequence names and fragments of relevant knowledge surged into his mind all at once: Mystery Pryer, Melee Scholar, Warlock, Scrolls Professor, Constellations Master, Mysticologist, Clairvoyant, Sage, Knowledge Emperor, Hermit, Savant Archaeologist, Black Knight, The Hanged Man, White Angel, The Sun, and more.

    It wasn't enough to overwhelm his mind and spirit, but it did disrupt his thoughts, making them sluggish and chaotic.

    The knowledge even vaguely coalesced into a scene with an ancient, worn stone slate.

    Lumian's consciousness grew foggy.

    Simultaneously, from within the silver flask, covered with eyes and bumps, streams of blazing. golden, pure sunlight poured forth.

    They illuminated the palace rooftop area, lifting a miniature, fiercely burning sun.

    That "sun" expanded rapidly, purifying and igniting everything around it.

    Mystical Re-enactment!

    Lumian, riddled with countless issues, was immediately engulfed in searing pain, as though his skin were forcibly peeled away to expose raw flesh beneath. The lingering aura of the Blood Emperor in his palm, the Underworld Daoist's seal, and the black pinhole all activated in response, flaring into prominence.

    This brought a sliver of clarity amidst the fog of confusion.

    Crack!

    He used Mirror Substitution again. As shards of glass fell toward the base of the tower, he shifted positions, appearing at the edge of the palace rooftop,

    That led deeper into the dark side of Avalon.

    But sunlight was everywhere, leaving no shadows behind. Lumian abruptly ignited, golden flames bursting from him.

    His body began to melt.

    A sudden chill struck him from behind as if a ghostly, sticky shadow clung to his back, coiling around him in layers, trying to invade.

    How could there still be shadows in such blazing, pure, holy sunlight? Where is the absence of darkness? What sort of spell is this-both holy and sinister... Lumian.

    though resilient to flames, feared the purifying force.

    He activated the black mark on his right shoulder without hesitation.

    Teleport!

    He disappeared from his position, instantly reappearing in the next area.

    His mission was not to kill or stall Seids or seize the Grade 0 Sealed Artifact. Witnessing the terror of such an artifact, he knew there was no point in lingering-it would only interfere with his main objective.

    The reason he had fought Seids earlier was due to his reluctance to advance too quickly, fearing he might stumble into an Angel's battleground, which was likely even more dangerous than staying here. It was better to see if he could handle an opponent wielding a Grade 0 Sealed Artifact.

    As he emerged in the next area, he quickly used Mirror Substitution again, leaving the golden flames and chilling shadow to the mirror image.

    Glancing back, he saw the golden flames indeed melting the mirror, within which a patch of deep black writhed and struggled.

    Both vanished simultaneously.

    In the palace rooftop-like area, Seids' entire form seemed amiss; the mass of black-and-white eyes on his back did not retract quickly.

    He strained to pursue the Demoness of Unaging holding Destined Madness.

    Suddenly, from the entrance of the dark side of Avalon, a thick mist of pale steam flowed into the area, coalescing mid-air into a figure.

    This figure was clad in a monk's gray robe, wearing an apron like that of ancient stonemasons, with chestnut hair, blue eyes, a handsome, youthful face, and a tall, slender build.

    …

    Under the influence of various spells, broken stone pillars were either completely shattered, collapsed entirely, sprouted eyes, or became a part of knowledge, bearing no resemblance to their original form.

    Using the Ugly Duckling magic to reveal an incomplete Mythical Creature form, The Hermit Cattleya was held in a crushing grip by Retia, now a magenta dragon.

    Her attacks, her magic, all became ineffective once absorbed into Retia's informatized body.

    Ten seconds had passed, and the effects of the Ugly Duckling magic were nearing their end.

    Cattleya, unwavering and resolute, prepared to cast Ugly Duckling for the second and final time, according to plan.

    Only by relying on the incomplete Mythical Creature form could she hold her ground against Retia!

    At that moment, streams of transparent, intangible information cascaded into the area, reforming into the figure of Queen Mystic Bernadette, with chestnut hair, straight brows, and eyes as deep as the ocean.

    …

    In a boundless wilderness, translucent, ethereal information coalesced into the figure of Torriope, Chairman of the Moses Ascetic Order,

    He had evaded Madam Magician's first round of multi- directional attacks using informatization to dodge from various directions with diverse abilities.

    Now reformed, Torriope still wore his hood, but his upper body was bare.

    His torso no longer appeared human, resembling a fusion of five or six things:

    There was a menacing wolf's head with black fur, a blazing throne of fire, a pale face with strange eyes, a writhing mass of maggots, and multiple asymmetrical black symbols...

    These were the Mystical Re-enactment spells Torriope had added to His information body over the years, making them truly a part of Him.

    In this form, the corresponding magic would immediately trigger and strike any target.

    As for the Loss of Control Gaze spell, Torriope deemed it too dangerous and hadn't fully deciphered its secrets. He feared adding it would destabilize the overall information structure, resulting in a loss of control.

    Clang!

    Just as Torriope completed His reformation, preparing to unleash numerous spells simultaneously, an ancient, ethereal chime echoed, and he glimpsed a massive, weathered bell in shades of blackish-green and gray-white.

    For an instant, He was dazed, but then He quickly cast the five or six spells all at once.

    They missed every target and had no impact on any life form.

    Madam Magician had vanished from the wilderness.

    A pulse of information flickered in the corner of Torriope's brow.

    His emotions became slightly unstable.

    He knew his enemy would be back any moment!

    Striking, but never hitting; fleeing, but never escaping!

    Then, Torriope saw the ground deep within the wilderness silently cave in.

    A vast pit opened, leading to a hazy, misty, obscure place.

    Torriope's spirits lifted again, His mood brightening.

    The great Hidden Sage had finally responded!

    That hazy, foggy area was actually a hidden escape route, granted by the Hidden Sage when Torriope had established Avalon.

    Once He escaped through there, His enemies would be unable to track or locate Him.

    Based on the Hidden Sage's namesake, He naturally wielded powers of concealment!

    That was also why He was still alive from the Fourth Epoch to the present.

    Joyfully, Torriope dissolved into a flood of information again, rushing toward the large, collapsed pit.

    Madam Magician reappeared in the skies above the wilderness.

    …

    On the Blue Avenger, Franca handed out three pieces of yellow paper, covered with fine patterns, tiny writing, and strange symbols, to Professor, Periodic Table, and Prototype.

    "Burn them by rubbing them with your spirituality." Franca instructed solemnly.

    Taking the yellow paper, Prototype quickly glanced over it, noting a resemblance to, yet significant difference from, the entries in Roselle's Diary.

    He faintly discerned two characters: "Celestial Master."

    Wh-Professor and the others hesitated for a second before setting their yellow papers aflame.

    The blue smoke from the burning paper didn't dissipate but instead coalesced into a column, rising into the gray-white mist above.

    In the next second, Professor and the others seemed to see a wilderness filled with countless figures wandering and screaming. The knowledge pursuing them surged, becoming fiercer.

    They once again experienced the intense agony of the Hidden Sage's relentless indoctrination.

    Then, a hazy silhouette began to emerge before them.

    The figure sat cross-legged, his face as smooth as jade, dressed in a blue robe with a high crown atop his head.

    He held something known as a "whisk."

    …

    In an unknown, mysterious realm.

    A light composed of complex information concealed itself and the surrounding area.

    It was none other than the Hidden Sage, who had foreseen the danger.

    Suddenly, He trembled violently, His form twisting like a massive serpent pierced by an unseen force.

    He had predicted the danger, but He hadn't foreseen that it would come from the wilderness!

    Enduring the pain, He attempted to sever the connection, hoping to conceal this part of His information.

    At that moment, a figure clad in a black trench coat followed the trace of the connection, descending from above and landing in front of Him, at the edge of the unknown land.

    The figure used his right hand, gloved in black, to press down on the half-height silk top hat atop his head, gradually straightening his posture.
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    1. Offline
      Tимофей Кыркелан
      Tимофей Кыркелан
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      Minus one malignant tumor
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    2. Offline
      IzuChukwu
      IzuChukwu
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      god is here........!
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    3. Offline
      TempestUknow
      TempestUknow
      + 3 ⋅ 0 -
      The seq 3 lumian fought should be Twilight hermit order member
      That explains his exposure to blasphemy slate
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      HanterHirow
      HanterHirow
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      Пафос от Клейна,Шута,Моретти!
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    TempestUknow
    TempestUknow
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    1067 Grade 0 Sealed Artifact







    Retia was a quiet, taciturn person who made The Hermit feel like there was something strange about her as a warlock, though she had never explicitly said so, and Cattleya believed She had already become an Angel.

    And in the intelligence Cattleya had obtained in advance, the current high-level members of the Moses Ascetic Order guarding Avalon were only Torriope and two other Pillars who had been doing research there for years, so Retia should have already left.

    Unexpectedly, She appeared again.

    She was on the dark side of Avalon.

    Except for when there were real matters that needed to be handled, every time She said She was leaving Avalon, She was actually just taking a detour and entering the dark side? Was She guarding against something, or doing some secret thing? Queen of Stars Cattleya was surprised but not panicked.

    Retia being at the Moses Ascetic Order's headquarters was a good thing, so she wouldn't have to go looking for Her everywhere to eliminate Her!

    At this time, Retia in a loose robe with wavy wine-red hair stood on top of a broken giant stone pillar, looking towards the traitor foretold in the prophecy, Her voice echoing in the current area, 'I see you turning into a swan…'

    As she spoke, Retia's body rapidly expanded, the loose black robe quickly tearing apart, transforming into a mass of cloth fragments that drifted down below the stone pillar.

    In the blink of an eye, this Vice Chairman of the Moses Ascetic Order had Her neck elongated, covered in magenta scales, Her entire body the same.

    She was now five or six meters tall, her tailbone extending and becoming very long, filled with joints and barbs.

    Retia had actually transformed into a giant dragon, powerful and exuding an evil beauty, Her head still human-like in the magenta color.

    Her amber vertical pupils immediately locked onto The Hermit Cattleya.

    The Sequence 2 of the Mystery Pryer pathway was called Sage, with the core ability being the mastery and utilization of information, including but not limited to the informatization of one's own self.

    In such a situation, if one had enough self-understanding, without disrupting the overall information balance, one could add appropriate, non-conflicting, and already fully grasped mysticism knowledge in the form of information into the corresponding information flow, and delete the unnecessary parts, thereby completing the transformation of one's own body and the fixation and acceleration of certain spells.

    Retia chose to gradually transform Herself into a giant dragon at the information level, in order to gain a huge boost in physical strength and vitality.

    For this, She spent hundreds of years researching the remains of various dragons, and was also known as a 'Dragon Scholar' within the Moses Ascetic Order.

    Queen of Stars Cattleya originally thought this title meant Retia's research on the dragons was very in-depth, making Her a true expert in the field, until Queen Mystic also became a Sage did they guess there was another layer of meaning: A scholar like a dragon!

    Immediately, countless cold, eyelashless eyes opened in the cracks between Retia's magenta scales.

    The Mythical Creature form of the Mystery Pryer pathway!

    At the same time, countless fragments flashed in The Hermit Cattleya's mind.

    There was the warning from Queen Mystic when she chose the 'Mystery Pryer pathway on the Dawn; the constant pursuit of knowledge and the repeated indoctrination of the Hidden Sage; the painful episodes of almost losing control several times; the protection provided by Mr. Fool; the ostracism and suspicion she had suffered since becoming one of the Pillars; and all the scenes of evil and corruption she had seen along the way into the dark side…

    All of this is finally about to come to an end… With a sigh, Cattleya's back arched slightly, and pure white illusory feathers sprouted.

    Fairytale magic, Ugly Duckling!

    Even an ugly duckling could transform into a swan!

    A Sequence 3 could also manifest an incomplete Mythical Creature form, supporting it for a short time under the impact of an Angel!

    As these swan feathers grew out, cracks also appeared on Cattleya's surface, with blood and flesh congealing in each crack to form stark black and white eyeballs.

    These eyeballs swept around, meeting the countless eyes on the magenta dragon's body.

    Ma'am Hermit and the draconized Retia both became somewhat ethereal, one seeming to have become an abstract black shadow, the other's body dimming, no longer exuding an evil beauty.

    …

    Although Lumian had Teleportation, considering the many dangers lurking in the dark side of Avalon, he didn't dare make a direct advance like Madam Magician, but Blinked in stages instead.

    After three or four jumps, he arrived at what seemed like a palace rooftop.

    It was paved with large slabs of water-black stone, surrounded by walls and towers, the night sky above dark and deep, with clusters of dazzling stars dotting it, blinking on and off as if countless unknown existences were watching this area, those stars being their eyes.

    A tall, thin man dressed as a warlock stood at the top of the nearest tower, carefully cradling a long-necked silver flask.

    The surface of the flask was covered in dense bumps, each with a deep crack, within which countless black and white eyes slowly rotated.

    This was an unnumbered Grade 0 Sealed Artifact, because it was not from the orthodox churches, and sometimes it was an Angel, sometimes a Sealed Artifact, its form unable to be fixed.

    It originated from a founding member of the Moses Ascetic Order, that angel's bizarre and uncontrolled death leaving behind this sealed artifact, and in the long years that followed, three of the Order's saints had successively used this artifact to become angels, but ultimately all went mad and died or became monsters within three hundred years, bringing great disaster to the Moses Ascetic Order.

    In the last thousand years, no one had dared to use this Grade 0 Sealed Artifact to advance, and thus it has earned a name: 'Destined Madness'!

    As a long-standing secret organization, the Moses Ascetic Order was at its peak, possessing six Grade 0 Sealed Artifacts besides Angels. Later, some were lost in internal strife, some were offered to the Hidden Sage, and some became the foundation of Angels. Now, only three remained, and Destined Madness was one of them.

    The warlock holding this cursed flask was Seids, one of the Pillars, who had been stationed in Avalon for years, researching mysticism knowledge.

    As a Sequence 3 Clairvoyant of the Mystery Pryer pathway, he chose Destined Madness over the other two Grade 0 Sealed Artifacts because, for him, the current negative effects were still bearable, and he could endure for some time.

    The countless eyes on the slender silver flask brought with them a flood of illusions.

    They were diverse fragments of knowledge, some turning into human shapes, eyes bursting, clutching their chests, or heads exploding; some resembling writhing masses of snakes, slick and repulsive; some grotesque and indescribable, all racing madly toward Lumian.

    Knowledge was in pursuit!

    A swath of gray-white surged before Lumian, rolling forward like waves toward the embodied knowledge.

    Wherever the gray-white wave passed, the stone slabs grew denser, and even the air thickened.

    When the petrifying force met the knowledge entities, those apparitions donned a gray-white veil.

    However, in the next second, knowledge of 'stone,' 'rigidity,' 'slowness,' and 'lifelessness' seeped into the apparitions, becoming part of them.

    The knowledge pursuing Lumian didn't stop; they merely transformed into heavy yet swift knowledge statues.

    …

    On the azure sea thick with gray fog.

    Because the area was so disorienting, Franca couldn't use conventional methods to contact Ma'am Hermit. She had to resort to praying to Mr. Fool to inform that Major Arcana card holder that they could start their operation.

    After she finished, Mr. Hanged Man began advising Professor, Periodic Table, and Prototype,

    'Next, you may experience some hallucinations, see some illusions, but under no circumstances should you believe them, or the harm will extend beyond you to your companions as well.

    'Even if you see me turn into a monster, or see a nearby companion attack you, you must neither evade nor retaliate—trust that it's all false.

    'Of course, it might not even be that intense.'

    Professor and the others exchanged glances, eventually choosing to trust the experienced, powerful captain. Besides, Hidden Blade was there too.

    Then, the Blue Avenger continued deeper into the sea along the murky course.

    After a moment, Professor sensed an unnatural silence around her.

    Though it was a ghost ship with few people on board, it had never been so silent that not a single sound, save for the waves, could be heard.

    Professor looked slowly toward the captain, Hidden Blade, and the distant sailors, only to see them moving in jerky slow motion, as if controlled by strings.

    Professor was startled and instinctively looked at Periodic Table and Prototype.

    Both members of the Curly-Haired Baboons Research Society were smirking, identical chilling grins on their faces.

    Their smiles matched in every detail.

    Shuddering, Professor remembered the captain's warning and quickly shut her eyes, repeating silently,

    It's not real, it's all fake…

    At that moment, it seemed as though tentacles were reaching out from the water, the slick sensation drawing closer and closer, while Professor's thoughts grew sluggish and even a bit muddled.

    It's not real, it's all fake… she muttered to herself, braving her terror.

    It was unclear how much time passed before all abnormalities abruptly vanished as though they had never been there.

    Professor opened her eyes and saw that the captain was back to normal. Both Hidden Blade and the others—Periodic Table and Prototype—wore expressions tinged with confusion and fear.

    Professor and the others were about to ask questions when they all furrowed their brows simultaneously.

    They felt knowledge pursuing them, surging from the dense gray-white fog!

    Of course, it wasn't as extreme as the Hidden Sage's indoctrination, more like a manageable pressure.

    Mr. Hanged Man saw this and quickly said to Franca, 'We've reached the target area.'

    Franca nodded, pulling out several pieces of yellow paper etched with intricate patterns from the Traveler's Bag.
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      Melovelent_King
      Melovelent_King
      + 0 ⋅ 0 -
      Is the target area a part of the western continent? And if so, how did HS ravings pass through the barrier?

      Still, I don't actually believe that that is the western continent bond
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      1. Offline
        James005
        James005
        + 0 ⋅ 0 -
        There is a theory (mine) that says ,the sefroit in the Western continent of hermit seq corrupted the uniqueness..thus attaining living characteristics ...that is the origin of hidden sage ... atleast that's what I believe
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      IzuChukwu
      IzuChukwu
      + 0 ⋅ 0 -
      More spoils of war for the Tarot Club, Sealed Artifacts and Beyonder characteristics.
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  5. Offline
    Максим Довбняк
    Максим Довбняк
    + 21 ⋅ 0 -
    link to the channel in profile description

    Chapter 1066: Deep in the Fog Sea


    Loss of Control Gaze was a spell that could cause even Angels to show obvious signs of losing control, with better effects the more unstable the target's mental state.

    However, just as Torriope cast this spell, The Magician vanished from the entrance to the wilderness.

    She didn't appear anywhere else in this area, seemingly having left entirely.

    Torriope's gaze focused as He watched the horrifying figure created by Loss of Control Gaze gradually dissipate.

    He didn't take this chance to escape.

    It wasn't that He didn't want to, but it was too late. Only when Queen of Stars Cattleya entered the warlock's tower did He receive the revelation and make the corresponding prophecy, spending some time to interpret it.

    He had no time left to escape.

    He could only come to the depths of this wilderness and wait patiently.

    Wait for an opportunity.

    This approach wasn't just interpreted from His own prophecy, but also came from His understanding of this wilderness on the dark side of the warlock's tower, and His knowledge of the Moses Ascetic Order's past events.

    In just a second or two, the Loss of Control Gaze spell completely ended.

    At the same time, Torriope once again saw that young lady wearing the black robe embroidered with silver stars.

    She had returned.

    …

    On the Blue Avenger, struggling to navigate through the fog and sea.

    Professor, Periodic Table, and Prototype were all at sea for the first time, and they all walked to the ship's rail to gaze into the distance where the light was quite dim and the waves seemed to roar.

    "Westward... is this the depths of the Fog Sea?" Professor made her judgment based on Franca's earlier words and the surrounding environment.

    "Yes." The person who answered wasn't Franca, but a middle-aged man who walked out from the cabin.

    This man was of medium build with rough skin and messy deep blue hair, wearing a linen shirt, brownish jacket, and darker pantaloons. His bearing was rather dignified, giving the impression of someone long accustomed to authority.

    "This is the captain," Franca said, not introducing him as The Hanged Man of the Tarot Club, only telling Periodic Table and the others that he was the owner of this three-masted sailing ship.

    After a courtesy bow, Professor asked with some curiosity, "I've heard the western Fog Sea is extremely dangerous, often with fierce winds and huge waves. Even official exploration fleets can't continue deep into it, and can only advance one section of waterway at a time by establishing forward bases."

    "Actually, the weather here isn't as changeable and intense as the Berserk Sea, Captain The Hanged Man said in a slightly low, magnetic voice. "What's dangerous here is the fog."

    Most Beyonders of the Warlock pathway had strong curiosity. Prototype repeated the captain's words. "Fog?

    "What's dangerous about fog... Does it make fleets lose their way, unable to find supplies or retreat?"

    The Hanged Man smiled slightly. "Do you know why this ocean is called the Fog Sea? Why fog often rises in the archipelago waters too, completely different from the weather in the Sonia Sea?"

    Recalling various meteorologists' explanations from newspapers and magazines, Periodic Table touched the chemical symbols on her face and suddenly realized. "It spreads from here?"

    The Hanged Man nodded gently. "The fog in this area sometimes contracts, sometimes expands. When it expands, the fog spreads eastward, affecting the weather.

    "The closer you get to here, the more foggy weather there is, and the slower the fog disperses. By the time you reach the archipelago waters, the fog here needs to expand very dramatically to affect that area."

    "So it's actually due to mystical reasons..." Professor murmured to herself.

    The Hanged Man continued, "Similarly, the deeper you go into this area, the further west you sail, the thicker the fog becomes and the harder it is to disperse.

    Eventually you can't see anything but gray-white, dense fog, making it impossible to determine your coordinates and the correct waterway based on any external conditions.

    "Who knows how many explorers and adventurers have vanished forever here? Perhaps their ships will only return from history much later in the form of unmanned ghost ships."

    Franca beside them listened with great interest.

    So this is the true origin of the Fog Sea's name?

    Did this fog come from the Celestial Worthy's seal on the Western Continent?

    "What about us?" Professor asked with some concern.

    We're also heading deep into these waters!

    Unlike Prototype who only had to worry about feeding himself, she and Periodic Table had strong attachments, naturally making them more anxious and worried.

    The Hanged Man looked around and said, "Don't worry. I've entered and left these waters many times and have some understanding of the waterways here. We won't lose our way before reaching our destination."

    Of course, you're a top seafarer... Franca muttered internally.

    The Hanged Man added, "This experience was bought with lives. I've lost my way here before, encountered dangers, and nearly disappeared with the entire ship several times.

    "Fortunately, with divine protection, I prayed in time and received accurate positioning, which helped me successfully find my way back."

    Seeing how the captain introduced his experiences exploring these waters without arrogance, boasting, fear, or trepidation, Professor and the others gradually settled their hearts.

    This was indeed a safe waterway explored through countless hardships plus divine guidance, worthy of trust.

    At this moment, they all felt the captain was very steady and reliable.

    Periodic Table looked at the sailors who were clearly not enough to operate such a three-masted sailing ship, and asked with an investigative spirit, "Is this a ghost ship?"

    "Yes." The Hanged Man didn't deny it.

    Just then, the entire ship was thrown up by a wave, flying through the air.

    With a splash, a giant sea fish twenty to thirty meters long emerged from beneath the surface.

    Its body was covered in silver-white metal scales that flickered with dawn's light, and from the blowhole on its head spurted a water stream that seemed composed of early morning twilight.

    This water stream was like a giant sword wielded by a deity, slashing fiercely toward the Blue Avenger.

    This scene was visually stunning, leaving Professor, Periodic Table, and Prototype, who were used to fighting in cities and small environments, momentarily unsure how to respond.

    Silently, a gray-white color spread from the ship's rail. colliding with that deity-like dawn sword.

    The dawn's light on the giant sword immediately dimmed, taking on a gray-white color.

    It failed to create a Hurricane of Light, quickly turning into a stone sword that broke into sections falling toward the sea surface.

    At the same time, The Hanged Man flew into the air, his deep blue hair spreading wildly like tentacles.

    Bam! Bam! Bam!

    The Hanged Man clenched his fists, throwing out bolts of lightning.

    These silver-white lightning bolts pierced through sky and sea, striking the sea fish covered in silver-white scales.

    Boom! Only now did the thunder echo out.

    Just as Professor and others watched dumbfounded as the captain brought down divine punishment like a deity to discipline the sea monster, the area where the Blue Avenger was about to fall began bubbling.

    Countless rotting creatures emerged along with the rising and bursting bubbles, cramming densely together.

    A horrifying, strange summoning from the realm of death's destination came from beneath the sea surface, pulling the Blue Avenger off course directly toward it.

    The gray-white color fell before the ship, turning all the rotting, undead creatures instantly into stone sculptures, even the azure seawater became like a cement ground, uneven with highs and lows.

    The gray-white continued to penetrate beneath the sea surface, and everything fell silent.

    The Blue Avenger landed steadily on the water beside it, and The Professor and others saw large patches of gray-white stone being shattered by the incoming water flow, some sinking, some floating.

    "A Sequence 5 sea monster, a Gatekeeper?" Franca muttered questioningly as she prepared to collect her spoils. "Isn't this display of ability a bit exaggerated?"

    The first creature to attack the Blue Avenger should have been a whale that had consumed a Sequence 5 Guardian Beyonder characteristic of the Warrior pathway.

    "Different species and environments can lead to different manifestations of abilities," The Hanged Man landed back on deck, ordering the sailors to quickly harvest the whale sea monster's Beyonder characteristic and valuable parts. "Besides, you forgot that Sequence 5 at sea qualifies one to compete for the title of admiral."

    Listening to their exchange, Professor and others finally realized.

    The captain was the other demigod Hidden Blade had mentioned.

    The power of a demigod was mind-shaking!

    As Franca used Demoness spider silk to drag up the Keeper sea monster hidden beneath the surface-it was a flat, human-sized, spiky deep black mutated sea urchin-she casually asked,

    "The deeper we sail into these waters, the more monsters like this we'll encounter?"

    "No." The Hanged Man shook his head. "The most dangerous things are the environment itself and our companions. Of course, as long as we stay on the pre- determined waterway, there won't be much risk. These sea monsters have only appeared in recent years, possibly related to that war back then."

    Seeing Professor and others clearly confused, The Hanged Man briefly explained, "After the God of Combat's defeat, many Beyonder characteristics fell from the astral world onto the earth and into the oceans. His divine kingdom also experienced some collapse, with many items falling into reality."

    I see... The Backstabbing Armor, no, the Pride Armor came from that? That whale sea monster just now should also be... Gatekeeper is Sequence 5 of the Death pathway, adjacent to the Warrior pathway, so it's normal for the God of Combat's divine kingdom to have some related items... As Franca came to this realization, she waited for the pale and black-mixed Beyonder characteristic to gradually precipitate out.

    She and Lumian would need to gain more believers in the future, which required priests to spread their teachings, so they needed to prepare some Beyonder characteristics for their subordinates.

    After collecting the spoils, the Blue Avenger continued forward.

    As they sailed deeper, the gray-white fog around them grew increasingly dense, making it impossible to see clearly beyond several dozen meters.

    During this process, Professor and others occasionally discovered things floating through the fog-there were faintly visible peaks, indistinct islands, and giant figures that seemed to hold up the sky...

    The Hanged Man didn't explain, only telling them, "They seem close but are actually far away. unreachable."

    After another half day, when the gray-white fog reached a certain density, The Hanged Man suddenly said to Franca,

    "We're almost at our destination. Notify Ma'am Hermit that she can enter the Moses Ascetic Order's headquarters now."

    …

    In the dark side tunnel of the warlock's tower.

    Ma'am Hermit continued to advance deeper. Her responsibility was to hold back the Moses Ascetic Order's upper echelons as much as possible until allied forces arrived.

    Suddenly, she stopped in an area filled with many broken stone pillars.

    She saw a familiar figure.

    It was the Moses Ascetic Order's Vice Chairman, another Pillar who she couldn't get a read on-Retia Austin.
    Read more
    1. Offline
      Tимофей Кыркелан
      Tимофей Кыркелан
      + 0 ⋅ 0 -
      Thoughts aloud: "Lumian participates in the plan for the fall of God. The ritual for the Apocalypse should also work for the Demoness of Disaster. So I think this is his opportunity. Where can I get a Characteristic? A Fool will handle this matter."
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  6. Offline
    Esasly
    Esasly
    + 1 ⋅ 1 -
    Quote: IzuChukwu
    "Ate about ten to twenty tons of fish and shrimp. Can't afford to feed him, can't afford to feed him," Lumian said, clicking his tongue.


    Too many of this Pathway demigod in one planet will definitely affect the ecosystem.
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  7. Offline
    TempestUknow
    TempestUknow
    + 12 ⋅ 0 -
    1065 Forced Entry






    As soon as The Hermit card appeared in Cattleya's hand, it seemed to emit a glossy light.

    At the same time, outside the warlock's tower, in the mist shrouding Avalon's sky, a star began to shine in broad daylight, growing brighter and brighter until it was dazzling to the eye.

    In an instant, a figure emerged from that star.

    It was Madam Magician, wearing a deep black warlock's robe embroidered with twinkling silver stars.

    Using the mystical connection provided by The Hermit, she forcibly located and tore open a gate to Avalon.

    After The Hermit Cattleya gained free access to Avalon, The Magician could actually have broken in using a Grade 0 Sealed Artifact from the Abraham family. After all, this place was merely created by Torriope using Mystical Re-enactment, not granted by the Hidden Sage—how could it stop a high-sequence Door pathway Beyonder who could enter with or without doors?

    But the Moses Ascetic Order was an ancient organization with at least two Angels and multiple Grade 0 and Grade 1 Sealed Artifacts. At that time, even with the combined strength of the Tarot Club, the Church of The Fool, the New City of Silver, and New Moon City, they could at best fight them to a draw. Moreover, the enemy had the Hidden Sage's protection while The Fool was not yet awake, so the Major Arcana card holders didn't act rashly but waited patiently.

    Today, the opportunity had come.

    Mr. Fool and the other deities were responsible for dealing with the Hidden Sage—the most difficult part was how to find and lock onto the target without letting Him escape. Meanwhile, the Tarot Club and friendly forces were tasked with attacking the Moses Ascetic Order headquarters to eliminate all the Beyonders who had been deeply influenced or even corrupted by the Hidden Sage.

    Of course, the Tarot Club and the Church of The Fool hadn't deployed all their High-Sequence Beyonders—they needed to guard against enemy forces and evil god cults taking advantage of Mr. Fool's personal hunt to launch surprise attacks on places like the New City of Silver. For Angels like Suah of the Rose School of Thought, winning wasn't important; what mattered was whether they could cause damage, which would shake The Fool's anchors.

    Miss Messenger and Mr. Pallez must remain in the Rorsted Archipelago…

    Will and Mr. Azik won't participate in this kind of thing…

    Only I can take action, but fortunately, allies will provide help…

    In a flash, numerous thoughts crossed The Magician's mind, finally converging into one: But I still have manuscripts to submit…

    Her sigh didn't affect her actions as she stepped to The Hermit's side in one motion.

    The fact that only she had appeared so far didn't mean she was the only Angel arriving—she was just faster, the first to reach here.

    In Madam Magician's eyes, starlight suddenly gathered, seeming to condense into a book.

    Immediately after, a giant sword composed of orange-red twilight light materialized out of thin air, piercing through the void to strike the masked dark gold statue.

    The Twilight Sword then shattered, transforming into countless orange-red shards of light that tore apart everything around them, cutting all objects to pieces, causing them to decay until they collapsed.

    The three dark gold statues were the first to be affected. In the storm of twilight light, they quickly broke into tiny fragments, each piece dim and rusty, as if washed by the passage of endless time or having reached its twilight years.

    In the hall, the walls, floor, and ceiling covered in strange cold eyes dissolved in the orange-red storm, sliding down inch by inch before shattering.

    This void also collapsed.

    But Madam Magician had already switched positions, flashing multiple images of herself, surrounding herself and Ma'am Hermit with layer after layer of protection.

    There were cages bearing a sense of holiness and glory, and darkness curved into spheres. By the time they shattered, the orange-red Hurricane of Light had completely subsided.

    As the hall atop the warlock's tower collapsed in ruins, another scene entered The Hermit Cattleya's eyes.

    This was a long, deep tunnel leading to an unknown destination. The tunnel was wide, seemingly composed of connected rooms. In the current room, more than a dozen High-Sequence Warlocks were busy with their own tasks.

    This space seemed to be a reflection of the warlock's tower, another side of Avalon, a secret area The Hermit had no way to enter.

    It had been forcibly opened by The Magician using the Hurricane of Light created by the Twilight Sword and the positioning ability of the Grade 0 Sealed Artifact.

    Madam Magician didn't delay, dropping a mirror before disappearing from the spot with Ma'am Hermit, flashing toward the depths of this dark tunnel.

    Before the thrown mirror could hit the ground, Lumian and Jenna, wearing black warlock robes but with their hoods down, emerged from it.

    The warlocks in this room had just awakened from their previous concentration, all turning their gazes toward them.

    Lumian and Jenna also saw what they were doing:

    Some were consuming dead infants, some were using infants to make potions, some were extracting infant fat to apply to objects—various such activities, all utilizing newborns to complete witchcraft, potions, or mystical items.

    Wh— Lumian raised an eyebrow.

    Although in folktales, warlocks were often associated with killing infants and children, and some strange, inhumanly cruel witchcraft preparations, Lumian knew this wasn't actually mainstream for the Warlock pathway.

    Were there warlocks who did such things, were there similar witchcraft practices? Of course there were, but definitely not many.

    Who would have thought that within the Moses Ascetic Order, which emphasized morals and precepts, emphasizing the maxim 'do as you wish, but do no harm,' there would be so many warlocks doing such things in Avalon's dark side.

    Of course, what surprised Lumian wasn't the Moses Ascetic Order's fall from grace—that had been confirmed long ago. Otherwise, the Moses Ascetic Order wouldn't have transformed from a respected society with good relations with various Churches into an evil, shadowy secret organization.

    What astonished him was how deeply ingrained the practice of utilizing infant corpses had become in the Moses Ascetic Order—this couldn't have developed in just a year or two.

    And infants inevitably made him think of birth—of mothers.

    Was the Hidden Sage's mutation really related to the Great Mother? Had this practice started when She brought evil and corruption to the Moses Ascetic Order? Utilizing birth and death? Lumian tilted his head, looking at Jenna, whose expression changed from shock to anger, and quickly said, 'This place is yours.'

    He then flashed toward the depths of the wide, dark tunnel.

    His mission wasn't here.

    The reason Jenna participated in this operation was because Lumian believed the role of a Demoness of Despair could also be fulfilled through combat, through killing, through destruction.

    A Demoness who brought despair!

    Jenna wouldn't participate in the battles deep within Avalon, mainly focusing on clearing out the corrupt low and mid-sequence warlocks, bringing them despair. In this process, if she encountered a Saint, or even two or three Saints, with a Demoness of Despair's survival abilities, she might not win, but death was unlikely.

    The warlocks in the current room had already realized enemies had invaded, some preparing to cast spells, some taking advantage of their materials, some trying to bring out their mystical items—none retreated.

    What excellent materials!

    What excellent materials!

    Their eyes burned with madness and greed as they looked at Jenna.

    The angry Jenna suddenly smiled, as if light had entered this somewhat dark world.

    All those warlocks of different sequences were stunned for a moment, unable to carry out their intended actions in time.

    Almost simultaneously, they felt the cold.

    A layer of frost formed on the surface of their bodies, their hair, and the tables themselves where infant corpses and various materials were laid out.

    They began to shiver, their joints stiffening, their movements becoming obviously labored and difficult.

    Then, one crystalline ice spear after another shot out from in front of Jenna, accurately piercing each wrlock's body, pinning them to the walls or floor, their blood seeping out and freezing.

    The warlocks tried to resist, but not only were their bodies frozen, they were also bound and affected by invisible spider silk, making it difficult to take effective action.

    Jenna didn't kill them immediately, letting the mystical plague spread simultaneously with her Charm freely erode these fallen ones, making them clearly feel their lungs tightening, their heads burning, and their life slipping away.

    They began to despair.

    The Magician pursued in a wandering manner, leaving even The Hermit behind.

    Finally, ignoring other enemies along the way, she reached a desolate, boundless plain.

    Torriope, wearing a black hood and warlock's robe, seemed to be in the depths of the wilderness.

    He gazed into the distance at Madam Magician and raised His right palm.

    An illusory figure was quickly sketched in the endless wilderness.

    This was a spell derived from Mystical Re-enactment.

    As an Angel who advanced in the middle to late Fourth Epoch, although Torriope wasn't a founding member who established the Moses Ascetic Order, he had lived for over a thousand years, witnessed many mystical events, mastered much mystical knowledge, and through this created several powerful spells.

    With the core ability of Mystical Re-enactment, Beyonders of the Mystery Pryer pathway could indeed potentially live longer and grow stronger.

    However, because too many people knew about major events like the War of the Four Emperors and the Pale Disaster, Torriope couldn't draw power from them to create spells that would be considered terrifying even at the Angel level, and could only choose second-rate ones.

    As soon as that illusory figure in the wilderness solidified, bloody chunks of flesh began falling continuously from its body.

    Each piece of bloody flesh turned into a cold, emotionless eye, and they quickly looked toward Madam Magician, emanating an aura of chaos, madness, and evil.

    This was a spell Torriope created from the strange death of one of the Moses Ascetic Order's founders: 'Loss of Control Gaze'!
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    1. Offline
      Error404
      Error404
      + 0 ⋅ 0 -
      Finally some good battles, hope we also see seq 0 Hermit abilities.
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      1. Offline
        midoan
        midoan
        + 0 ⋅ 0 -
        I hope we see the world hunting again
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      Melovelent_King
      Melovelent_King
      + 0 ⋅ 0 -
      An angel level battle at long last. I wonder if Magician will be as terrifying as the World
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        IzuChukwu
        IzuChukwu
        + 0 ⋅ 0 -
        She "copied" the Twilight Sword ability from Evernight or an Angel of the Giant Pathway, and is facing an Angel on Her own, from her level of confidence I believe She must be terrifying.
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          Warspoon
          Warspoon
          + 0 ⋅ 0 -
          Или она очень спешит с завершением своей книги.
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            IzuChukwu
            IzuChukwu
            + 0 ⋅ 0 -
            She can use the ability of a "Scholar of Yore" to pull out a historical projection of Herself to finish Her book, while the original participates in the invasion.
            Is She to lazy to come up with ideas....?
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    3. Offline
      IzuChukwu
      IzuChukwu
      + 0 ⋅ 0 -
      I'm already thinking about the spoils of war from this invasion. This Torriope guy is a walking "treasure trove" of Beyonder Characteristics of Seq 9 to Seq 1 (or Seq 2) that means Bernadette and Cattleya can advance in the nearest future. More Angels for the Church of the Fool, the Sealed Artifacts have to be shared among the participating factions of course.
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        Melovelent_King
        Melovelent_King
        + 0 ⋅ 0 -
        Bernadette probably has to fight the other angel. It said that the order has 2 angels. The likelihood of there being a sq1 angel is minimal but not nonexistent so the Hermit will be the most likely to advance
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          IzuChukwu
          IzuChukwu
          + 0 ⋅ 0 -
          Miss Magician is expecting Angels from the other Churches, She's the first Angel to arrive but there are more coming. Maybe Angels from Evernight, or Steam church might turn up.
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            Kiber
            Kiber
            + 2 ⋅ 0 -
            Стим обязан быть, ведь это буквально их враги cutie
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  8. Offline
    Максим Довбняк
    Максим Довбняк
    + 23 ⋅ 0 -
    link to the channel in profile description

    Chapter 1064: Headquarters


    After Professor communicated with their eyes with her husband, Periodic Table and others for a while, she finally nodded and said, "Hidden Blade, we're willing to join."

    Making this decision and speaking these words made her suddenly relax, no longer so tense.

    At this current crossroads, whether for good or ill, whichever path they chose, they had to move forward. They couldn't stop or retreat anymore.

    If they didn't seize this opportunity to completely eliminate the Hidden Sage, they would either be forced to stay in Trier to face the possible coming apocalypse. or lose control and go mad in another big city, becoming monsters and even endangering their families.

    Franca breathed a sigh of relief, stating. "Would you like to sign a notarized document to ensure I fulfill all my promises?

    "Don't worry, this notarized document was created by another Saint and is watched over by a true god-it has strong binding power over me as well."

    Professor shook her head and said with a smile, "No need. We trust you and Madame Hela."

    She paused, then hesitantly asked, "How long will this operation last? We have children at home who need care. Though we have servants, we're not entirely at ease."

    Franca had already prepared for this.

    "For those of you who are married couples with children, only one person needs to go. Those who are single parents or have other relatives needing special care can opt out of this operation. However, those who stay behind need to bring their children or other dependents to live together in one place, under Madame Hela's watch and protection."

    This was to prevent secrets from leaking-the relevant personnel had to be placed under secrecy or sworn to secrecy.

    Phew... Professor noticeably relaxed and turned to Associate Professor, saying, "I'll go."

    "I'll go!" Associate Professor rejected her proposal without hesitation.

    The two argued until Professor made the final decision.

    "My Sequence is higher than yours and my condition is better. It'll be safer if I go!"

    "Fine..." Associate Professor regretted for the first time spending too much time on unrelated research.

    After some discussion, those participating in this operation would be Professor, Periodic Table, and another male Warlock called "Prototype."

    "Let's go." Franca tossed out a mirror.

    Under the influence of phantasms, the mirror grew larger and larger, fixing itself as a crystalline entrance.

    Franca led the three Warlocks of different sequences across the solid mirror surface into the dark void of the mirror realm.

    They plummeted through an illusory dark tunnel, with light and shadows rapidly shifting around them, as if other mirrors were projecting their reflected images into it.

    Thus, after an unknown period-perhaps very short, perhaps very long-Professor and the others finally saw the exit.

    Led by Hidden Blade Franca, they whooshed out of the mirror, stepping onto a wooden floor that creaked under their feet.

    Periodic Table instinctively looked around and found they were aboard an ancient three-masted sailing ship. The gray-white mainsalls billowed in the fierce wind, and only one or two sailors were on deck, making it feel quite eerie and quiet.

    Outside the ship, dark blue waves rose and fell, with thin fog permeating the entire sea area.

    When Professor, Periodic Table, and Prototype all looked at her, Franca raised her right hand, pointing in one direction, and said with a smile, "Our destination- west!"

    Splash! A low wave crashed over.

    An ice-blue wave crashed against Future's bow. producing numerous white sprays.

    The Hermit, wearing a purple-patterned robe and thick glasses, stood at the bow, glanced at the changing weather above and the brewing snowstorm, then raised her right hand, signaling the ship to slow down and circle this small area of sea.

    The sailors performed their duties, some adjusting the sail direction, others lowering one of the sails, until Future's condition finally satisfied the captain, Queen of Stars Cattleya's requirements.

    Cattleya removed the thick glasses from her nose bridge, revealing a pair of deep purple, almost black eyes.

    She immediately began speaking numbers with a mysterious aura, "1, 5, 4, 3, 7, 8..."

    These numbers materialized one after another, becoming entangled in mid-air, numbering several hundred.

    They were the entry password to the Moses Ascetic Order headquarters!

    The Moses Ascetic Order headquarters was created by one of the Ten Pillars, the respected Chairman Torriope, using Mystical Re-enactment, and named "Avalon."

    Avalon existed neither in reality nor in the spirit realm, but was completely hidden somewhere in the North Sea. Only those invited or qualified could enter, and they must also grasp a corresponding string of numbers numbering 365 digits.

    For the Moses Ascetic Order, everything was numbers. Each number had spirituality, symbolism, and special meaning. When combined, these numbers naturally possessed mystical power.

    As The Hermit Cattleya spoke the correct spiritual numbers, which materialized and became entangled in mid-air, the numbers suddenly vanished, as if sinking into somewhere.

    Within seconds, it was as if an invisible curtain was drawn aside in front of Future, and a small boat sailed out unhurriedly, unmanned.

    Starlight quickly lit up, extending from Future's bow to fall upon that small boat. The Hermit Cattleya stepped across the brilliant bridge formed by starlight and boarded the small boat in just a few steps.

    As one of the Ten Pillars of the Moses Ascetic Order, she naturally had the qualifications to enter Avalon, and currently barely qualified as part of the core team.

    The small boat carrying Cattleya turned around and headed back in the direction it came from.

    The Queen of Stars's silhouette gradually faded until it disappeared from the view of Future's crew.

    After passing through layers of transparent curtains, The Hermit Cattleya saw an island.

    The island was shrouded in mist, lined with trees bearing golden apples, with music faintly drifting from the distance-peaceful, tranquil, and abundant.

    The small boat stopped at the dock, and the Hermit walked toward the depths of the apple grove, where there stood a warlock's spire as if stepped out of a story.

    Along the way, she encountered over a dozen humans dressed as warlocks.

    These people stopped in succession, greeting the Ten Pillars with nods.

    They were all members of the Moses Ascetic Order, raised in Avalon since childhood, receiving corresponding teachings, most trusted. Currently, they were all in their period of silence to increase focus, enhance spirituality, and deeply master various morals and precepts.

    Only Warlocks who grew up this way could eventually compete for the positions of Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Moses Ascetic Order, "Outsiders" like the Queen of Stars, who joined later, could at most become one of the "Pillars," and would need to undergo years of testing and observation before having any hope of entering the core team.

    The Hermit likewise responded to these silent Warlocks with nods, and soon passed through the trees laden with golden apples to reach the tall black spire.

    Inside the spire, the wall protrusions, floor tiles, statues on both sides, and the elevator pulled by invisible servants were all composed of numbers. They looked normal at first glance, but upon closer inspection, one would find that even a small bump was formed by multiple intertwined numbers.

    Hundreds of millions, billions of numbers were densely distributed throughout the spire, settling into different objects. Walking among them, The Hermit felt surrounded by countless numbers.

    In her eyes, there were no walls, no bricks, no statues, no elevators-only numbers!

    At this time, some Warlocks who had finished their period of silence were moving about in the spire. They either conversed quietly, went about their business, or huddled in corners, letting the strange eyes within the cracks on their faces observe their surroundings,

    These latter ones were members approaching loss of control. After the Hidden Sage's knowledge infusions became increasingly crazy and frequent, even the Moses Ascetic Order, which had mastered safe "listening" methods, inevitably had Warlocks moving toward loss of control, far more than in previous years.

    What was once safe was no longer safe.

    If not for this problem, with the Moses Ascetic Order's accumulation plus the initial spiritual decline as the apocalypse approached, they certainly had more than ten demigods. But unfortunately, they still only had ten Pillars.

    The Hermit's gaze withdrew from these Warlocks' faces as she entered the elevator. Pulled by invisible servants, she went all the way up to the spire's top floor.

    Here, the Chairman and one of the two Vice Chairmen were always on duty. Among them, Chairman Torriope and Vice Chairman Retia Austin were Pillars that the Hermit couldn't quite get a read on.

    Before arriving today, The Hermit Cattleya had already confirmed that Chairman Torriope-an Angel on the Mystery Pryer pathway-was on duty in Avalon.

    As soon as the elevator steadied, Cattleya walked forward.

    This was a hall larger than the spire's top floor itself. On the black walls, floor, and ceiling were eyes, each different, strangely shaped, and all cold eyes.

    They all seemed to be watching the Queen of Stars.

    At the end of the room, against the windowless wall, stood three dark gold statues-one wearing a mask, one resembling a lion, and one like an eagle.

    Chairman Torriope seemed not to be present.

    Just then, the masked dark gold statue's mouth moved, issuing a grand but hollow voice, "I have foreseen your betrayal!"

    Hearing these words, Queen of Stars Cattleya wasn't surprised, only somewhat sighing.

    Indeed, it was impossible to truly hide from a high- sequence Clairvoyant.

    Once there was action, They would prophesy certain scenes or fragments. One could only try to delay when such perceptions appeared, or make the corresponding prophecies difficult to interpret!

    A card suddenly appeared in Cattleya's hand. On its face was depicted a lonely old man with a cane, carrying a glass lamp.

    The Hermit card!
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      Error404
      Error404
      + 13 ⋅ 0 -
      Fool woke up and chose violence.
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        HanterHirow
        HanterHirow
        + 1 ⋅ 0 -
        Резня!!!
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      IzuChukwu
      IzuChukwu
      + 1 ⋅ 0 -
      Summary of this chapter, Franca took them to the Ship, Cattleya entered Avalon and met an Angel. Did I miss anything...?
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  9. Offline
    TempestUknow
    TempestUknow
    + 15 ⋅ 1 -
    1063 Helpers







    Upon hearing Ma'am Hermit's words, Lumian's eyes suddenly lit up.

    The corners of his mouth gradually turned upward, his smile becoming quite bright. 'What can I do to help?'

    …

    Trier, cathedral district.

    At the entrance of the Church of Steam and Machinery's patriarchal cathedral, with its towering iron-black chimneys, Lumian, wearing a lady's soft hat and face covered by a black veil, looked up for two seconds before walking through the open doors into the interior.

    The first thing that caught his eye were thick grayish-white pipes crisscrossing everywhere—some attached to walls, some supported by pillars, some winding across the dome.

    They were components of a giant steam engine, or rather, this cathedral was made up of a giant steam engine and several other large mechanical devices.

    Currently, no heat radiated from these pipes, but come winter, when the giant steam engine would run continuously, the entire patriarchal cathedral would be enveloped in warmth, allowing worshippers to experience the pleasantness of early summer.

    Lumian then saw many believers walking out, seemingly having just finished listening to a sermon, still immersed in the solemn atmosphere.

    Lumian passed by them, walking toward the altar area.

    Many believers, both men and women, suddenly found their gazes following this tall, beautiful figure, unconsciously turning their bodies sideways and looking back.

    Lumian walked forward naturally, neither fast nor slow.

    Arriving at the first row of seats before the altar, he gazed at the Triangular Sacred Emblem representing the God of Steam and Machinery, his eyes slowly moving between the symbols of steam, gears, and levers within the solid triangle.

    At this moment, he wasn't thinking about how sacred or mechanically beautiful it was, but rather pondering a question, If the God of Steam and Machinery truly evolved into the God of Electric Power and Information Technology, what would this Sacred Emblem look like?

    Lumian controlled his blasphemous thoughts and, under the watching eyes of the preaching bishop, sat in the first row near the center aisle, raised his hands, lowered his head, and began to pray.

    When his spiritual intuition told him that the bishop had looked away, he reached into his Traveler's Bag.

    He took out a mobile phone.

    The one he had used in the dream city.

    Of course, this wasn't real, but rather woven from his memories by Madam Dreamweaver—it had no functions and couldn't last long.

    The woven phone's screen was lit, displaying a WeChat dialogue box between Lumian and Stiano.

    The content of the conversation showed Stiano sending Lumian a mini-program called 'Information Shredder.'

    Lumian held this false, dream-like phone and began praying again, 'Great God of Steam and Machinery, You are the embodiment of essence, the protector of artisans, the glory of technology, please grant me once again the ability to shred information, effective for one week…'

    After praying earnestly, Lumian drew the Triangular Sacred Emblem across his chest with his right hand.

    At the same time, he felt a subtle change.

    He lowered his head and looked again at the dream phone in his left hand, finding it seemed more tangible now.

    Lumian instinctively swiped the screen with his finger, watching the dialogue box retreat to WeChat's main interface.

    Then, he switched back to the home screen and found all the previously downloaded apps were there.

    Was a real phone created based on the corresponding information? Is this the glory of technology, a Sequence 0 true god? Although Lumian was already a Sequence 3 Demoness of Unaging, he was still quite amazed.

    He studied it for a while, confirming that the phone really worked, just without network connectivity.

    Of course, the Information Shredder didn't need an internet connection.

    …

    In an apartment on Avenue du Boulevard.

    Professor, Associate Professor, Periodic Table, Isotope, and two other Warlocks currently in Trier sat on the sofa, backed chair, and armchair, looking at each other with unease and anxiety.

    After receiving Hidden Blade's request for an urgent meeting, they contacted each other and, after much consideration, finally decided to meet with her.

    Of course, they chose the time and place.

    'What urgent matter could Hidden Blade have?' Isotope whispered with concern.

    If it weren't for Hidden Blade's consistently good reputation and character, they would definitely have refused such a hasty meeting request without specific details.

    'Whatever her purpose, I believe she has good intentions,' Professor, wearing a black butterfly mask, said looking around. 'Besides, don't we also have something to discuss with her?'

    Everyone nodded.

    At this moment, they heard a knock at the door, using Morse code.

    'Come in,' all the members of the Curly-Haired Baboons Research Society present straightened their backs.

    Not only did Hidden Blade enter, wearing her 'assassin outfit' but with hood down, revealing her striking features, but also Hela, dressed as Black Widow.

    'Madame Hela, you're here too?' Periodic Table and others stood up simultaneously.

    Listen to that, just listen to that, you've never addressed me as 'Madame'! Though Franca complained internally, she wasn't actually upset—too many 'Madames' would give her goosebumps.

    Hela nodded slightly and replied, 'I'm here to vouch for Hidden Blade and handle the aftermath.'

    Professor and the others immediately turned their gaze toward Franca.

    This time, they were all captivated by the Demoness of Unaging's features, momentarily unable to look away.

    Franca walked to the fireplace where no charcoal was burning, and smiled at Professor and the others. 'Please sit down.

    'Actually, I'm here today to ask for your help. Look, I've even shown my face to help you trust me more.'

    Professor, who had sat back down, asked puzzledly, 'Hidden Blade, you're already a demigod, what could we possibly help you with?'

    Franca glanced at Hela, waited for her to nod, waited for the night outside to seem deeper, then said with a smile to Professor, Associate Professor, Isotope, and others,

    'Would you like to completely solve the problem of the Hidden Sage force-feeding you knowledge?'

    'Completely solve it?' Professor was quite a calm woman, but even she couldn't help blurting out.

    This was something they had never thought possible—no, they had fantasized about it when they were weak and ignorant.

    'How to completely solve it? Can we really help?' Periodic Table, who had already clearly told Franca she was a member of the Moses Ascetic Order, asked repeatedly.

    Although she didn't hold much hope, even if it was just a straw floating on water, she wanted to grasp it.

    The other Warlocks present shared the same mindset.

    Franca didn't answer immediately, watching as they raised one question after another.

    Finally, Professor, with pale lips and a somewhat pale complexion, smiled bitterly and said,

    'Hidden Blade, actually, we were preparing to consult you about this matter.

    'Previously, you told us that the small ritual plaza at the entrance of the third level of the catacombs had divine power remnants that could block most external influences. That really helped us tremendously, even saved many of our lives. Otherwise, with the Hidden Sage's increasingly frequent and crazy knowledge infusions, some might barely hang on, but others would probably be gone already.

    'What we wanted to ask you is, after leaving Trier, are there other places that can block the Hidden Sage's infusions, or are there ways to reduce the negative effects?'

    Indeed, while others are reluctant to leave Trier mainly for emotional reasons, Professor and others have a practical need, a life-or-death need… I was planning to have Lumian ask Ma'am Hermit if she, as a senior on the Warlock pathway, had any good methods to 'plug ears,' then trade for that method and tell all the Warlocks in the Research Society… But now… Franca suddenly felt somewhat emotional.

    Then, she smiled and said to Professor and the others, 'The solution is to kill the Hidden Sage.'

    'You're… not joking, are you?' Associate Professor asked with difficulty.

    Isotope followed up, 'Hidden Blade, although you've become a demigod, the gap between you and the Hidden Sage might be even bigger than the gap between us and you. It's a fundamental difference.'

    'Even the entire Research Society together couldn't handle the Hidden Sage.' Professor likewise had no confidence.

    Franca smiled. 'I'm not the main force.

    'This matter has some big shots taking the lead, I'm just providing support.'

    'Big shots…' Professor pondered before asking, 'How big?'

    Franca pointed to the sky. 'That big, even bigger than the Hidden Sage.'

    Isotope, Periodic Table, and others looked at Hidden Blade, suddenly remembering that Sequence 4 demigods could already be called Saints, and were definitely high-ranking even within orthodox churches.

    Their gazes moved back and forth between Franca and Madame Hela several times, gradually understanding that they might be involved in an event worthy of recording in mysticism history.

    A divine war!

    'Is this what you sought us out for? We're not even demigods…' Professor said hesitantly.

    'You won't need to fight the Hidden Sage. Like me, you'll be doing support work,' Hidden Blade Franca thought for a moment before saying, 'This matter does carry some risk, though not from combat—other demigods and I will handle intercepting all enemies and monsters. Your danger comes from something else, but it won't be much more dangerous than receiving another knowledge infusion from the Hidden Sage. I can't tell you the specifics now.'

    The six Warlocks present again communicated with their eyes, both somewhat tempted by this excellent opportunity to escape the Hidden Sage's threat, and very nervous and worried.

    After a few seconds, Associate Professor asked, 'Are you confident?'

    'We wouldn't be planning this hunting operation if we weren't confident. Don't worry, even if we fail, the Hidden Sage won't discover your betrayal. Trust me, by failure I mean not successfully killing the Hidden Sage and letting Him escape, not that the Hidden Sage could win.' Franca displayed complete confidence.

    'Why ask for our help, why us?' Professor asked, as if making a final confirmation.

    'Warlocks, transmigrators, gray fog aura,' Franca answered simply. 'Don't ask me what gray fog aura is right now.'

    Periodic Table's face, covered in chemical symbols, frowned. 'Muggle also meets these conditions, why don't you ask her?'

    Franca immediately smiled. 'In this operation, she has a more important task.'
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    1. Online Offline
      YellowFlame
      YellowFlame
      + 1 ⋅ 0 -
      Rap god --- we are coming for you oru2x
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        Doksoo
        Doksoo
        + 1 ⋅ 0 -
        The god of rap is the true creator, but unfortunately he was swallowed up by Adam...
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          YellowFlame
          YellowFlame
          + 0 ⋅ 0 -
          Aaahh Yes ... I wonder how a rap battle between the 2 will turn out
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      Unlucky Morpheus
      Unlucky Morpheus
      + 0 ⋅ 0 -
      Stiano is actually the goat
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      1. Offline
        Error404
        Error404
        + 1 ⋅ 0 -
        Roselle disagree with you.
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      IzuChukwu
      IzuChukwu
      + 2 ⋅ 0 -
      I hope Mr Fool personally makes a descent for this hunt.
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        Melovelent_King
        Melovelent_King
        + 0 ⋅ 0 -
        It's Gherman Sparrow
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          IzuChukwu
          IzuChukwu
          + 1 ⋅ 0 -
          That's all I'm asking for.
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  10. Offline
    TempestUknow
    TempestUknow
    + 13 ⋅ 0 -
    1062 Mission






    After Lumian called out that name, the image reflected on the mirror's surface shattered, like a stone thrown into a lake.

    'Zaratulstra? No, in the real world, we should call Him Zaratul.' Franca also recognized who those eyes belonged to.

    Jenna added, 'The Celestial Worthy's subordinates are cooperating with the Malady God's bestowed?

    'What's the purpose of this Tudor coin?'

    Lumian first shook his head, then said, 'Mocoxidos only received the Sequence 3 boon after the Vortex event. I suspect that whoever possessed that palm—the cooperation between the Celestial Worthy's subordinates and the Malady God's blessed ones—is an aftershock of the Vortex event, or rather, a result of one of its branches.

    'Such a massive event, involving so many great existences, definitely can't be ended just because the one the Aurora Order believes in says so.

    'This might be why He changed His stance, hoping for Mr. Fool to awaken soon.'

    Franca and the others nodded—Ludwig had been taken care of by Jenna while Lumian was performing Magic Mirror Divination, changing out of his wet clothes, and was now once again a clean and fresh little boy.

    'The Tudor coin's purpose involves the schemes of great existences, so we probably can't divine its purpose,' Lumian pondered aloud. 'But we can try to divine who owned the coin before its previous owner, which might yield some insights.'

    He immediately put his words into action, again seeking Mr. Fool's observation to eliminate certain dangers and interference.

    'Who was the owner before the previous owner of this coin…

    'Who was the owner before the previous owner of this coin…

    '…'

    Lumian held the dark gold coin, chanting the question several times.

    The mirror placed before him suddenly became bright, as if there was a light source bursting from within.

    No, that was formless, colorless flames burning—the entire mirror had caught fire.

    Thin gray fog descended, preventing the flames from spreading, but the mirror and desk quickly turned to ashes.

    Seeing this, Franca's first two thoughts were: There really is great danger. Good thing we were careful enough, and good thing Mr. Fool is so powerful!

    That was scary—fortunately, I had already collected all the coins from the drawer…

    After the formless, colorless flames extinguished, Lumian, as the 0-01 proxy, laughed with a slightly deep voice.

    'I know where this Tudor coin came from:

    'Fourth Epoch Trier!'

    Everyone present, except Ludwig, had been to Fourth Epoch Trier, and this revelation sparked certain associations in their minds.

    'The goal of cooperation between the Malady God's bestowed and the Celestial Worthy's subordinates points to Fourth Epoch Trier?' Franca said thoughtfully. 'Will this Tudor coin serve as a medium for some purpose then?'

    Lumian nodded and placed the Tudor coin into the Traveler's Bag. 'What we need to do next is search for clues about Zaratul's whereabouts and uncover more of the Celestial Worthy's subordinates and members of the Order of All Extinction.'

    Then, he said to Anthony, 'We don't know how long we'll have to wait for Madam Justice, so we can first get the Manipulator's potion formula and try collecting and preparing the ingredients ourselves. If we run into difficulties, we can ask for their help then.'

    Manipulator was the name of the Sequence 4 potion in the Spectator pathway, and it was Anthony's next Sequence.

    'I have no objections,' Anthony agreed, feeling they couldn't pin all their hopes on Madam Justice finding that ancient dragon.

    Lumian then turned to Jenna. 'Julien will be back in two days. Have you figured out what to do?'

    Jenna was silent for a few seconds before saying, 'I'll use money and Instigation to help create a good position for him in Port LeSeur, Suhit, or Nouvell—one of these big cities—with a three-year term.

    'And then…'

    Jenna paused before continuing, 'If Julien won't listen to my persuasion and insists on staying, I'll get Anthony to help me 'convince' him with some degree of hypnosis.'

    'Wh—' Franca blurted out in surprise.

    Wasn't this the approach Jenna had been quite opposed to and unwilling to use?

    She didn't want to use Beyonder powers to influence Julien or interfere with his personal choices!

    Jenna gave a self-mocking smile.

    'If this were a choice that would affect Julien's entire life, I definitely wouldn't do this, but for just three years, I can accept it.'

    The smile gradually disappeared from her face as she muttered to herself, 'Life is about constantly moving forward while giving up certain principles…

    'At this point, some obsessions with purity can be discarded. Demonesses are meant to bear pain and torment. Whether I become harsh or cold-hearted doesn't matter—what matters is whether Julien can escape his dangerous situation.'

    At this point, Jenna mocked herself again, 'Let's push the guilt and blame onto divinity, just consider it the price I pay for obtaining godhood.'

    'No, a certain someone will bear all of this sin,' Lumian responded in a joking tone.

    Then he nodded. 'This is the best solution. It's like moving house—if you have plenty of time, many days ahead, then naturally you can carefully pack and organize, abandon nothing, break nothing. But if you only have a few minutes before the room explodes and you can't prevent it, you can only take what's most important and essential, leaving everything else to be destroyed no matter how reluctant you are.'

    As they listened, Franca, Jenna, and Anthony suddenly realized that Lumian was actually talking about the conflict between humanity and godhood, about what Beyonders should do as they advance sequence by sequence.

    Lumian was speaking from experience, thinking of his previous conversation with Mr. Fool.

    For the sake of more important things, this was the only choice.

    Was it worth it?

    It's worth it.

    'Indeed.' Franca sighed, then turned to Jenna and said, 'Actually, have you considered teaching your brother mystical knowledge and collecting corresponding potions for him, letting him become a Beyonder? This way, he could understand why he must leave Trier.'

    Jenna slowly shook her head.

    'No, I know him well. He's a very stubborn person. Once he understands the real reason, if I don't leave, he won't either, and I…'

    At this point, Jenna's gaze swept across Lumian and Franca.

    Then, after some thought, she said, 'The hypnosis will still be necessary, but that doesn't conflict with teaching Julien mystical knowledge and guiding him to become a Beyonder.

    'Yes, even just a low sequence would improve his ability to protect himself, but we absolutely cannot tell him about the approaching apocalypse or that major changes will happen in Trier within a year or two. That would make him anxious, and when he's anxious, he tends to go to extremes and take wrong paths.'

    'Then we need to choose a good pathway for him, at least not obviously problematic ones like Devil, Prisoner, Earth, Moon, or Assassin.' Franca helped think it through.

    In the end, she still felt that, being Demonesses, flipping a coin and relying on spirituality to choose might yield better accuracy.

    …

    In the afternoon.

    Since Jenna was taking the slightly taller Ludwig shopping for new clothes with Franca accompanying them, and Anthony had gone out to meet his informant and contact members of the Psychology Alchemists, Lumian was left alone in the large villa.

    He collapsed onto the sofa, wondering whether he should contract a spirit world creature specialized in house cleaning.

    After resting for a while, Lumian contemplated the tasks ahead and his responsibilities as the Major Arcana—The Chariot.

    First is to consolidate and deepen the faith of the Sick Church's believers in me and Franca.

    Second, I need to consider the Sequence 2 issue. I have the Demoness of Catastrophe potion formula, but as a Demoness of Unaging, I still don't know how difficult Demonesses of Catastrophe are to kill. Plus, they have the protection of the Primordial Demoness, and Mr. Fool is only in a preliminary awakened state… The best choice would be the Sequence 2 Weather Warlock from the Hunter pathway. During the previous divine assembly, Mr. Fool showed the Red Priest card—I could exchange the potion formula from him.

    Besides the Sauron family and Einhorn family, where else might there be Weather Wizard's Beyonder characteristics? Some Grade 0 Sealed Artifact in a Church?

    If there weren't any other choices, I'd rather not go to the Blue Avenger's treasury and face that Alista Tudor inside the mirror…

    Heh heh, maybe I have no choice…

    Among the Tarot Club's missions, I'm not responsible for the Great Mother matters right now, but with my current condition, it's very difficult to truly avoid it… For now, I just need to find Zaratul's whereabouts and members of the Order of All Extinction… The first task isn't easy—even Mr. Fool, as a supreme being of the Seer pathway, hasn't located Zaratul… At this point, Lumian suddenly sensed something and turned his gaze toward the edge of the living room.

    His messenger, who looked like a charred corpse, Penitent Baynfel, appeared holding a letter.

    Lumian stared for a few seconds at Bayenfeld, whose eye sockets burned with dark flames, before finally speaking, 'Give me the letter.'

    He then took the letter and opened it, finding the contents were simple.

    'I would like to visit you this evening, if possible?

    'The Hermit.'

    What does Ma'am Hermit want? My previous speculation about the Hidden Sage state? Lumian nodded thoughtfully and said to Baynfel, 'Please help me reply to the sender, tell her it's fine.'

    Baynfel nodded and disappeared at the edge of the living room.

    In the evening, just as night fell, Lumian, Franca, Jenna, and the others who had been waiting heard the doorbell ring.

    Ding dong, ding dong.

    'Ma'am Hermit is so polite…' After getting used to Madam Magician's style of suddenly appearing and disappearing and rarely using doors, Lumian felt somewhat unaccustomed to this situation.

    He personally went to open the door and found it was indeed Ma'am Hermit, wearing thick glasses and a purple-patterned robe.

    After exchanging greetings, he led his peer, a king of the seas, into the living room and invited her to sit in an armchair.

    Lumian sat down next to Franca and Jenna, and after just a few moments of small talk, heard Ma'am Hermit say directly, 'I have something I'd like your help with.'

    'What is it?' Lumian asked thoughtfully.

    The Hermit looked up toward the ceiling without immediately answering.

    The next second, thin gray fog spread throughout the living room.

    Wh— Lumian realized things weren't as simple as he had imagined.

    After everyone sat up straight, The Hermit said in a low voice, 'Mr. Fool is preparing to hunt down the Hidden Sage.'
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    1. Offline
      Error404
      Error404
      + 12 ⋅ 2 -
      Time to get Revenge for Old Neil.
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        Tимофей Кыркелан
        Tимофей Кыркелан
        + 0 ⋅ 0 -
        6 Demonesses of Catastrophes and one characteristic of the sequence 2 the Original Demoness, we do not know exactly how many exist, but 7 (now 6) Gods must have at least one characteristic of the Catastrophe.
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          IzuChukwu
          IzuChukwu
          + 0 ⋅ 0 -
          The number of Seq 2 BC isn't fixed, it varies among the Pathways, because some were sealed of with the Western Continent.
          The Seer Pathway has 9 Seq 2 BC, and they've all been accounted for.
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            Tимофей Кыркелан
            Tимофей Кыркелан
            + 0 ⋅ 0 -
            I think there should be more Disaster characteristics than Miracle Invoker. My analogy is that it is easier to create a catastrophe than to create a Miracle. And what is easier to do logically should be in greater quantity.
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              Error404
              Error404
              + 0 ⋅ 0 -
              ?? For a Hungry kid, just getting food might be a miracle, for someone surviving an accident can be Miracle, creating Miracle is easier than a disaster that can killed thousands.
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                Doksoo
                Doksoo
                + 0 ⋅ 0 -
                if you swap the Miracle and Disaster in your comment, nothing will change.
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                  Error404
                  Error404
                  + 1 ⋅ 0 -
                  A Catastrophe is something bigger bro, all accidents and deaths are not Catastrophe. A Catastrophe is something that do Big and sudden damage.
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        Kiber
        Kiber
        + 0 ⋅ 0 -
        Да, бедный старик не заслужил такой участи gloom
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      FunFact
      FunFact
      + 3 ⋅ 0 -
      Remember that the current Mr. Fool is still Gehrman Sparrow so expect a proper hunt especially that a Conspirer is involve.
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        Tимофей Кыркелан
        Tимофей Кыркелан
        + 2 ⋅ 0 -
        One glance from a Hidden Sage is enough for a saint, even in sequence 3, to be engulfed by an ocean of knowledge and lose control. The Angel level is necessary to have a chance to escape. Amon, as one of the strongest Angel Kings, thanks to the Collection of Corpses, was able to escape death from the lightning of a Tyrant who was in the Astral World. The Hidden Sage is the weakest of the Gods, as he does not possess all the Characteristics of the Emperor of Knowledge, but can fight with the God of Steam
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          IzuChukwu
          IzuChukwu
          + 0 ⋅ 0 -
          Something you should know about the god of steam is that, when it comes to confrontation, Beyonders from the Savant Pathway are not very reliable.
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          FunFact
          FunFact
          + 0 ⋅ 0 -
          Well, for one Lumian isn't just some sequence 3, he is also considered as the offspring of the Great Mother with the umbilical cord and Zedus's soul. He also has Amon's boon so that means he is closer to him. Alista Tudor's aura many more. Plus, I'm sure Klein has a proper plan in mind.
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      IzuChukwu
      IzuChukwu
      + 0 ⋅ 0 -
      I wanted someone to deal with the Hidden Sage after the role it played during the Fool's Apotheosis ritual. Everyone that participated in that fight had an agenda, personal gains and the "whatnot" but the Hidden Sage doesn't gain anything from stopping the ritual. Klein being the LOTM doesn't have anything to do with the Hidden Sage, but he had to make an enemy of Klein, time to get that pound flesh.

      Any speculations...?
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        Tимофей Кыркелан
        Tимофей Кыркелан
        + 2 ⋅ 0 -
        The Hidden Sage is in the top 3 of the paths related to the power of Fate on Earth. Klein developed a negative attitude due to the periodic attention to people on this path of the Old Nile. Therefore, the Sage did not want Klein to become a Fool, and even more so LoTM.
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          IzuChukwu
          IzuChukwu
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          I thought the Mystery Pryer Pathway was more about mystic knowledge and spells.
          Anyway what do you think Klein would do with the Hidden Sage once they capture it, do you think he will hand it over to the god of steam..?
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            Doksoo
            Doksoo
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            there is no reason NOT TO DO this, the God of steam has been his ally since the first book (as well as the other 7 gods)
            and if you think about it, he seems to be the most "normal" of the 7 gods. Because I can't remember anything so "dark" about him (for example: 3 traitors, 1 committed genocide and used the body of Antigonus' sister as a vessel, 1 stole the identity of another being and pretended to be her for thousands of years)
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              Unlucky Morpheus
              Unlucky Morpheus
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              Also as the apocalypse is really close, getting another above the sequence ally would be way more valuable than anything else.

              Creating more above the sequence gods has been the whole point of the orthodox gods helping Klein and now Lumian to advance, it would just make sense for Klein to also help the God of Steam get closer to above to sequence too.
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            Tимофей Кыркелан
            Tимофей Кыркелан
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            What's your option? Will Klein keep it for himself to strengthen his power over Fate? Will he give Bernadette away and make a Hermit out of her?
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              IzuChukwu
              IzuChukwu
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              We know Klein is not selfish, plus the world needs more Great Old Ones, I think Klein is going to help Stiano become a Great Old One.
              Bernadette can become a Seq 1 Angel later, maybe.
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        Não é o Matheus
        Não é o Matheus
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        The Hidden sage was responsible for what happened to Old Neil, Klein considered him a enemy since volume 1, of course he had reasons to stop him, also, Klein was supported by the orthodox gods and even though steam didn't make a decision, Klein surely would favor him over the Hidden sage, anyway, Klein becoming LOTM would be a terrible outcome for the Hidden sage.
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          IzuChukwu
          IzuChukwu
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          If Klein hands him the captured Hidden Sage, what can he give to Klein in return, the Uniqueness of a Pathway is a big deal. Another Deity helping you capture it has to count for something right...?
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            Doksoo
            Doksoo
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            Did Klein somehow repay him for helping him become a 0 sequence Fool?
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              IzuChukwu
              IzuChukwu
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              No, but during the world war he betrayed Loen and attacked the Storm god.
              That's why His church was removed moved from Loen Kingdom.
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      Tимофей Кыркелан
      Tимофей Кыркелан
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      How to lure out the Hidden Sage? Very simple. To use the characteristic of the Emperor of Knowledge. The one should be in the Church of Steam, after Rosella's death 200 years ago. Another question is what to do with the Uniqueness of the Hermit? We will soon see Klein's candidate for the post of Demon of Knowledge.
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        IzuChukwu
        IzuChukwu
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        I don't think they have enough time to nurture a new god, I think Klein might just give it to Stiano. Honestly speaking the god of steam stands a good chance of becoming a Great Old One.
        It will be faster this way.
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          Kiber
          Kiber
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          Стиано так же ходил во сне Дурака и будет сотрудничать со всеми, чтобы повторить технологии которые увидел, так что да, лучше отдать Стиано путь Отшельника
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            IzuChukwu
            IzuChukwu
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            Yes, they can make airplanes and hydro power plant and other things now that Klein gave them inspiration from his dreams.
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