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An expression of disbelief appeared on his stiff face, a cold sensation permeated his entire body, yet he couldn't utter a single word. Qonas laboriously turned his eyes to the full-length mirror in the depths of the room.
If the 'Saintess of White' Katarina, who had just left, sensed the anomaly here, he might still have a glimmer of hope.
But what utterly despaired him was that a person was standing in front of the full-length mirror, which still bore traces of spider silk. The aura emanating from this person made Qonas feel as if he had fallen into the Abyss.
He had only sensed a similar aura when he last met Prince Grove; that at least represented a Sequence 3!
Faus Ellen lightly touched the mirror surface, and after fine black patterns rippled out, he coldly turned his head to look at Qonas, who was being forcibly controlled by Astolfo, who had already recovered to the Sequence 3 Disciple of Silence.
A cold arc formed at the corner of his mouth, and with his palm turned into a blade, he lightly swung it down. Under the distorted influence, Qonas's right arm, holding the "Concerto of Light and Shadow," was severed at the root.
Qonas, unable to even let out a scream, heard the last words of his life:
"You dog of the Augustus Family, consider this a small interest..."
Among the four demigods involved in the hunt, there were even two Sequence 3s. With ample preparation, the outcome was already predetermined.
The only deviation might have been the unexpected appearance of the 'Queen Mystic,' as Arrodes could at most help pinpoint locations, not predict the future.
Fortunately, everything went smoothly. Aaron watched Astolfo swiftly extract Qonas's Beyonder characteristic, pondered for a moment, and slowly said:
"Your current state of recovery should have reached its limit. To advance further, you can only return to your main body."
"But as you know, the body you left in the Spirit World not only contains pollution but is also constantly monitored. In the current situation, at least the East Tucker Family cannot make another move."
"If all goes well, I should be able to find other helpers, but that also requires time."
Astolfo nodded silently. His more abstract body could only be seen when Spirit Vision was activated. He handed the extracted Beyonder characteristic of Qonas to Aaron.
It was a deep black crystal, intuitively giving a sense of power and malevolence. The dark gold patterns covering it seemed to follow normal rules, yet were full of contradictory connotations, as if a large amount of madness and chaos were hidden within.
As the East Tucker Family, who also wielded the Black Emperor Pathway, this Beyonder characteristic of a Sequence 4 Earl of the Fallen could be put to its greatest use.
However, these Sealed Artifacts held by Qonas couldn't be exposed, at least not recently. Thinking this, Aaron took the Beyonder characteristic and picked up the "Concerto of Light and Shadow" that had fallen to the ground.
Qonas's desiccated corpse suddenly turned to dust. Aaron watched Faus Ellen grind the bones to ashes in an act of venting, and patted his shoulder, comforting him:
"This is merely the trumpet call of our revenge. I will make those traitors pay the price, and that time is not far off."
Having fully experienced the Fourth Epoch and knowing the Black Emperor Pathway's peculiarities, Faus Ellen had already learned of George III's ambition under Aaron's prompting, but he still nodded firmly.
Worms of Time converged from various corners to form Mobet's figure. He secretly clicked his tongue as he looked at the two figures behind Mr. Blessed, who were constantly stimulating his spiritual perception. He dared not delay and quickly gestured that he was done.
Aaron nodded slightly, and with a subtle spiritual movement, his sub-consciousness located in the Nation of Disorder instantly integrated the black emperor card into his body, mobilizing a portion of the dark gold mist's power to activate the "Sun-Chasing Staff."
Golden flames immediately enveloped the "One-Eyed Skull," incinerating the lingering traces of Aaron and his party, but without igniting the ship. After using the Sefirah's authority to interfere with subsequent divinations, the four demigods vanished from the ship, which now contained no living beings.
A quarter of an hour later, the figure of Katarina appeared in the cracked mirror, but this was only a mirror image clone.
She had sensed the attack on the "One-Eyed Skull" immediately, but the distortion cast by Faus Ellen had messed with her travel through the mirror world, and she only arrived after the battle had ended.
"'Frenzied Mage'... Which old friend made a move? Could it be those guys from Castiya?"
The charming smile she had earlier was gone from her face. Her dark eyes reflected the pirate corpses hanging from the mast. As the mirror shattered completely, her figure vanished with it.
-----------------
Backlund Greater Region, northwest hills.
Simple ritual symbols were carved on the open ground. A scar-faced man in damaged pirate attire calmly chanted:
"The Sacred Spirit that Pursues Knowledge;
The Mysterious World's Lighthouse;
Eyes that Pry into Fate;
The Royalty above the Sea;
The Pure and Holy Bernadette Gustav."
After he finished chanting, a Worm of Time detached from his body and merged into Mobet's body. The life of the sole survivor of the "One-Eyed Skull," freed from its parasitic state, rapidly withered as if stolen.
The black emperor card in Aaron's palm shimmered with starlight, and he immediately sensed a prying gaze, yet he felt no tension at all. Having advanced to demigod and further controlled the Nation of Disorder, he had this confidence, and besides, he was not alone.
Faus Ellen raised his right hand, and his eyes instantly turned dark. As the void above the altar distorted and writhed, pea vines dangled down from the sky. Bernadette's figure appeared, her gaze fixed on Aaron, and she spoke with an ethereal voice:
"It's actually you. As expected of an Angel Family that has continued to this day, your foundation is indeed profound. It's an honor to finally meet you today, Your Grace. What brings you here?"
Ignoring the blatant stare, Aaron's fingertips traced the black emperor card, and he responded calmly:
"It is also my great honor to conduct a transaction with the 'Queen Mystic' renowned throughout the four seas."
Bernadette's eyes immediately sharpened. She suppressed her impatience and asked in a deep voice:
"A transaction?"
Aaron, clearly aware of what the lady was thinking, curled the corners of his mouth and calmly said:
"You also know that the advancement ritual for a Sequence 2 Sage is to prevent a disaster involving high-level powers. While a Clairvoyant can give you some insights, prophecies concerning one's own advancement become extremely vague. I'm sure I don't need to elaborate on that."
"I have a way to help you successfully advance to Sage within half a year!"
Bernadette, though somewhat disappointed, did not show it. She calmly asked with her eyes:
"Then what is the price? And I also foresaw such an opportunity appearing in Backlund, so I made arrangements here many years in advance, but the time I predicted was the second half of next year."
The second half of next year, isn't that when George is trying to advance... Aaron suppressed his thoughts and responded with a smile:
"That's easy to resolve. If I successfully help you advance to Sage, the price you need to pay is that after you become an Angel, you will act for me, and that is all."
Seeing Bernadette agree, Aaron took out the Beyonder characteristic of a Secrets Sorcerer, which he had already sacrificed from Botis. He pointed to the crystal ball formed by countless worms and continued:
"I recently acquired a Beyonder characteristic. I want to forge it into a Mystical Item and preserve its corresponding Beyonder abilities to the greatest extent possible. You may state your conditions."
Bernadette had already understood what this fellow meant. This was clearly not something an ordinary Artisan could accomplish, but it was not difficult for Bornova, who was an Angel of the Church of the God of Steam and Machinery.
A pea vine extended, enveloped the Beyonder characteristic, and retracted. Bernadette's azure and profound eyes flickered with complex emotions, and she softly asked:
"I want to know if my father, Roselle Gustav, is still alive?"
"That is my condition."
Looking at Bernadette's complex gaze, Aaron hesitated for a moment and briefly replied:
"He has not completely fallen."
Whispering the sentence again, Bernadette did not press further. She put away the Beyonder characteristic and asked in an unruffled tone:
"Once this Mystical Item is made, how should I give it to you?"
"Just give it to Frank." Aaron didn't dwell on this topic for long, trusting that Bernadette understood what he meant.
Finally, he tentatively asked:
"I want to exchange items you possess that can briefly restore a certain amount of power during their weak period. Beyonder characteristics and potion formulas are all acceptable for trade."
She took a deep look at this mysterious Duke heir, not asking how he knew she possessed such an item. Bernadette slowly shook her head. Just as Aaron thought he had been rejected, she added:
"Were those things He did in His later years influenced by external, unnecessary factors?"
"I don't need those things. I just want to know the truth, even if it's only a part."
Aaron, who knew exactly who "He" referred to, felt a bit emotional, but he wouldn't give up on his freebie plan. He pretended to ponder for a moment and then spoke in a low voice:
"It wasn't an influence, it was pollution—pollution that is very difficult for the person themselves to detect."
"At your level, you should more or less know that some pollution comes from the Cosmos."
Mobet, who was listening intently to the secret, felt an uncontrollable sense of panic when he heard "Cosmos," and his face subtly changed.
Bernadette's eyes, however, brightened a few shades, as if the resentment that had accumulated in her heart for years had dissipated. She did not press for more, seemingly knowing that the Duke opposite her also wasn't aware of more specific details, and understanding that only Angels could detect and resist that kind of pollution.
She nodded lightly, and her figure suddenly became transparent, turning into a pile of bubbles. A staff inlaid with numerous elongated transparent gems emerged from the bubbles.
Its surface was engraved with complex, mysterious, and three-dimensionally indescribable symbols and magical marks.
The bubbles dispersed and floated away, vanishing in an instant. The greenish-black pea vines retracted and disappeared into the night.
Looking at the symbolic patterns intertwined with "Pupiless Eyes" and "Distorted Lines," Aaron nodded in satisfaction. For him, the most valuable part of this one-time item was the symbols inscribed on it.
Within the Nation of Disorder, with his authority and abilities, he could perfectly replicate the symbolic patterns and magical marks on it.
The Worms of Spirit of a Scholar of Yore were themselves the most suitable material for carrying power. A Sequence 3 demigod could already respond to prayers and bestow power within a certain range.
After putting the item away, Aaron pondered about making time to let Cavendish Lancer Pinto try to create a "Yesterday's Recurrence" charm. After clearing the traces, he looked at Mobet, whose expression was a bit strange. He flicked the Solomon gold coin to him and said with a smile:
"This is a gift your old man left for you. Don't go to Tingen recently. Take a break, and you can prepare to go to the Feynapotter Kingdom."
-----------------
June 30, 1349, Saturday. Klein lay on his bed, his eyes somewhat vacant, looking at the eerie crimson Moon outside the window, his mind filled with chaotic thoughts.
Having experienced "dream walking" and "Spirit Channeling," he had truly glimpsed a corner of the Beyonder world, but he had also successfully passed the assessment and obtained the job—an employee of a security company.
Although it didn't sound as high-class as a Tingen University lecturer, the pay was too generous. With a substantial sum of 17 pounds, Klein always felt a sense of being watched when he walked on the street.
This was not his imagination, because he had just assisted Dunn in killing an infiltrator from the Secret Order, and he also learned the culprit behind the original body's bizarre suicide—the "Antigonus Family Notebook."
Klein sat up from the bed, somewhat annoyed. This state of mind was not only due to the attack he suffered tonight but also stemmed from the diary of Emperor Roselle he had seen yesterday.
Even this senior Transmigrator, who had already become a great figure, couldn't find his way home, let alone him, an ordinary person trapped in this predicament. The shattering of hope and the troubles of reality made him unable to calm down.
Having made up his mind to become a Beyonder, Klein stared at the four black dots that formed a small square on the back of his right hand, appearing with his thoughts.
Just as he was hesitating whether to enter the boundless gray fog space again to study it carefully, a burst of dark golden light suddenly erupted before his eyes.
This light was like flowing water, instantly engulfing Klein, and also submerging the lit crimson light.
By the time Klein partially regained consciousness, he only felt an intense stinging pain on the back of his right hand. The once clear pattern had become blurred. Before he could ponder the reason, he found himself standing in a magnificent Temple supported by huge stone pillars.
At the deepest part of the Temple was a throne carved with mysterious patterns, situated atop nine stone steps, and upon the throne sat a blurry figure enveloped in a thick, dark gold mist.
Klein, who had already seen such magnificent creations in his own gray fog world, did not panic. Even though he was panicking internally, he still tried his best to maintain his composure and asked with a trembling voice:
"Great existence, where is this place?"
As he asked this question, he already had an answer in his heart. His intuition told him that this might be the existence that his honorific name had pointed to earlier.
He couldn't help but smile bitterly. As expected, what goes around comes around. He had just pretended to be a great existence, and now he truly encountered one.
He glanced at the strange stone chairs around him from the corner of his eye. A feeling of order and chaos intertwined instantly filled his heart. This was completely different from the gray fog space he had entered.
Looking at the nervous Klein below, Aaron, whose body was obscured by the dark gold mist, showed a strange smile but did not speak. With a slight spiritual movement, a ray of light appeared out of thin air and merged into Klein's body.
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