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"A testament to history and glory?"
Aaron's gaze fixated on the slowly rotating, boundless Dark vortex. Both the "Gate of Rebirth" itself and Alvin Gallows, as the sealing subject, were at the angel level.
Even with the True Vision provided by the Nation of Disorder, the City of the Dead behind the Door was in chaos, making it impossible to clearly discern.
Aaron was not impatient. Regardless of whether this chief of the Guards had other intentions, his willingness to proactively open the "Gate of Rebirth" was, to some extent, an acknowledgment of Aaron's status as an inheritor of Trunsoest's legacy.
Unlike Faus Ellen and Cavendish, who had not yet become angels, Alvin Gallows, who had achieved the "Ancient Bane" in the Fourth Epoch, clearly knew about the pollution from the Cosmos and part of the truth of the apocalypse.
After understanding the world situation from Aaron, from the collapse of the Trunsoest Empire in the Fourth Epoch until now, and realizing that George III intended to assault the Black Emperor's divinity, he revealed the treasure.
Aaron didn't care about this shift in attitude. His mind was entirely focused on Alvin Gallows's description of the "Gate of Rebirth."
The ritual for a Scholar of Yore to advance to a Miracle Invoker is to bring a lost history back to the current era. Simply making the Specter Empire appear in the real world does not fulfill the ritual.
The main body of history is people, or more accurately, living beings that can interact with the Spirit World to form corresponding concepts; only then can it be considered a return to the current era.
This is like Klein's act of allowing the City of Silver residents to escape the Forsaken Land of the Gods and return to the Northern and Southern Continents, which fulfilled his advancement ritual, rather than merely bringing the City of Silver, a city symbolizing history, to the outside world.
Previously, Aaron had not considered the return of the Specter Empire as a potential advancement ritual for Cavendish because there were only two demigods and one angel within the entire mausoleum.
The spirits wandering within the Specter Empire were already riddled with holes. The unique environment of the Specter Empire preserved their last shred of obsession, but these, even the lowest-level Evil Spirits and Wraiths, would completely dissipate once they fully interacted and assimilated with order and the outside world, making it impossible to complete the ritual's requirements.
Aaron's previous idea was to fleece Mr. Fool again, borrow a path through the Abyss to the Forsaken Land of the Gods, complete the ritual with the help of the residents of Moon City, and incidentally borrow a "Miracle Invoker" Beyonder characteristic from the Dark Demonic Wolf Kotar.
But now there was a better option: the Trunsoest Warriors housed in the City of the Dead constructed by the "Gate of Rebirth" were the best anchors for Cavendish.
Aaron, having clarified his thoughts, asked somewhat impatiently:
"How many Warriors are housed within the 'Gate of Rebirth'? How have they survived until now?"
Alvin Gallows, whose body had expanded enough to fill the entire mausoleum hall, suppressed the rich Death aura emanating from the "Gate of Rebirth." His voice, carrying a hint of Vicissitudes and capable of penetrating spirits, then resounded:
"There are 365 of them in total. They were all the most elite personal guards of the Trunsoest Empire, who voluntarily signed a contract with the 'Gate of Rebirth' during their lives, ensuring that even if they died, their spirits would return."
"Centuries of chaotic warfare accumulated these. The contract is both the foundation of their existence and a form of pollution; all the spirits have evolved into Evil Spirits."
"The spirits capable of returning were at least Mid-sequence in life. Although their original Beyonder characteristics have long been lost, as long as there are enough resources, they, as Evil Spirits, will be your sharpest blades against those traitors in the future."
"Therefore, most of the Beyonder characteristics are in that City of the Dead, serving as the source of their existence. The last Sealed Artifact Level 0 I preserved is also the cornerstone of all this."
"That is a Sealed Artifact formed from a Sequence 2 'Duke of Entropy' Beyonder characteristic, the 'Mirror of Entropy,' which His Majesty stripped off after achieving True Godhood. The distortion of Death brought by entropy increase allowed the Warriors, who lacked corresponding Beyonder characteristics to sustain them, to continue existing until now."
"Before you take this Sealed Artifact Level 0, I hope you will consider this point."
Looking at the gradually closing bone portal, Aaron nodded. To be honest, he was a little disappointed when he heard there were only two Sealed Artifacts Level 0.
But on second thought, the most precious and dangerous "Crown of Chaos" had already been obtained by him. In a situation where various jackals were eager to gnaw a piece of flesh from Trunsoest's massive corpse, being able to retain an angel and two Sealed Artifacts Level 0 was already extremely difficult.
What excited Aaron most were the 365 Evil Spirits. Their appearance filled Aaron's biggest current weakness.
No matter how much strength was accumulated, East Tucker was only a county. The army, whether in quality or quantity, could not compare to Loen or Feysac, which was why Aaron had been secretly expanding his influence at sea before.
Now, such an army, composed entirely of Mid-sequence Evil Spirits, would provide the most solid foundation for Aaron's subsequent plans, and the connection with the "Gate of Rebirth" also, in another aspect, weakened the Death Pathway's restraint on Evil Spirits.
Although he would have to pay a lot of Beyonder characteristics for this, Aaron didn't care much at this moment. He didn't intend to use the family's treasury. Cavendish was already nearing the secret entrance to the Abyss and the Forsaken Land of the Gods.
With Cavendish's abilities, avoiding the Giant King's Court and the awakening Ancient Sun God's Chernobyl in the Forsaken Land of the Gods, as long as he didn't unluckily encounter Amon, there wouldn't be too much danger.
The abandoned city-states and mutated Monsters in the Forsaken Land of the Gods were excellent sources of Beyonder characteristics. After removing the pollution within them, they could be used directly.
Gathering his scattered thoughts, Aaron looked at Alvin Gallows, who had returned to his normal size and remained silent, and slowly spoke:
"I have already helped Cavendish advance to Scholar of Yore. I also know the potion formula for Miracle Invoker. The advancement ritual requires your cooperation."
"Additionally, I want to explore an Elven ruin, and I need your help. It belongs to Queen Cohinem, the 'Elven Queen' of the Second Epoch."
His scarlet eyes flickered, and the strange vines Entanglement his body subtly writhed, crushing the white feather that suddenly emerged from his chest. Only then did Alvin Gallows slowly speak:
"Yes, but if the ritual is completed as you say, the 'Gate of Rebirth' will only prevent further interaction with the outside world and influence on the return of history if I personally suppress it. I must warn you that this will, to some extent, affect my strength."
Aaron smiled, his back straight, appearing incredibly confident:
"No matter, I have also found other angels to accompany me!"
After gazing at Aaron for a moment, lingering for a few seconds on the "Sun Chaser Scepter" and the "Ring of Mysteries" in his hand, Alvin Gallows finally looked at the shimmering Night and Life imprints, and nodded in silence.
-----------------
Deep blue waves surged forward one after another, occasionally with silvery-white electric arcs appearing in the waves, briefly bringing light and dispelling the thick black mist, which seemed to permeate the entire world like liquid.
Cavendish sat on the back of a hideous and strange avian Devil, exuding a wicked and corrupted aura that, though not as strong as that of the "King of Immortality" Agalito back then, was not far off.
Last time, due to the Hidden Sage's pollution, he had to split into many Worms of Spirit and hide in the historical fog. Although the pollution was eliminated, he also benefited from it, accelerating the digestion of the Scholar of Yore potion.
However, as a corresponding price, while Cavendish was hiding in the historical fog, preoccupied with himself, the "Death Announcer," lacking control, was completely corroded and corrupted in an area of the Abyss extremely close to its inner layer.
Ultimately, without that Blatherer, it was just a dilapidated ghost ship with residual high-level Devil aura. Lacking Cavendish's infusion of spirituality, its ability to resist the Abyss's erosion was inferior to that of native Devils.
When Cavendish emerged from the historical fog and returned to the Abyss, he found that his current mount was tearfully licking the bag, absorbing the last remaining high-level Devil aura from the "Death Announcer."
He used the "Parasitism" charm Aaron had bestowed earlier, combined with Worms of Spirit, to control this mount, which had long been subjected to erosion and whose mind was no longer normal.
Looking at the strange symbols covering the stone figure in his hand, which "Orange Light" Hillarion had given him to guide his direction in the Abyss, Cavendish sighed.
He didn't know if Hillarion's guidance was affected, or if it was a factor of the Abyss itself, but he had been in this area for a long time. He could only confirm that the secret entrance to the Forsaken Land of the Gods was near this Abyss area, but he couldn't pinpoint the exact location.
Passing over a black mountain peak from which viscous liquid continuously flowed downwards, and using the occasionally brightening silvery-white electric arcs, Cavendish looked beyond the peak, where there was still an endless, boundless black mist.
Even though he was somewhat prepared, he was still a little disappointed, and he raised a hand to rub his slightly aching forehead.
After receiving the symbolic diagrams and magical sigils for making the "Yesterday Once More" charm from Aaron, Cavendish had been trying ever since he recovered.
Each failure meant the loss of another "Worm of Spirit," and each time he separated a "Worm of Spirit," it was like a tearing of his spirit, requiring a period of recovery.
The environment of the Abyss dictated that he couldn't frequently be in a state of spiritual injury. Therefore, to leave a margin for unexpected situations, Cavendish never pushed himself to the limit each time.
After separating three to four "Worms of Spirit," he would choose to rest and then try to engrave. He continued this on-and-off trial until now, when he finally mastered the method and produced the finished product.
He glanced at the two rectangular "diamond-shaped" charms placed nearby. Cavendish saw complex symbols, layered and extending into the void, in the constantly refracting light.
Just by touching them, he saw the historical fog flash before his eyes. As a Sequence 3 Scholar of Yore, Cavendish, who could respond to his honorific name within a certain range, created "Yesterday Once More" charms that even had some effect on angels.
Because they borrowed power from his past self, there was no question of success probability. However, as the source of the charm, Cavendish's Beyonder rank was lower than an angel's, so the duration of the effect would be greatly shortened.
After carefully putting these two charms back and divining to confirm their effects, Cavendish turned his gaze to the base of the craggy mountain.
His observations during this period confirmed that there were no passages on those mountains that he wanted. Even though he was unwilling, he had to start exploring.
There was no limit there either; the deeper he looked, the more profound it felt, as if once something fell, it would fall forever.
Dark threads spread from his pupils to various parts of his body, and festering, pus-filled blisters, exuding a corrupted aura, quickly appeared on Cavendish's body.
When you gaze into the Abyss, the Abyss also gazes into you. Invisible pollution surged along the Worms of Spirit controlling the Devil mount towards Cavendish.
Cavendish, who was gradually becoming a Devil, flickered and instantly disappeared. A calm-faced Cavendish reappeared.
When he decided to explore the bottom of the Abyss, covered by black mist and deep blue waves, he had replaced himself with a historical projection.
New Worms of Spirit extended to the Devil mount beneath the Devil's crotch. After re-controlling it, Cavendish simultaneously felt the fear surging through the Worms of Spirit.
From the black mist, seemingly condensed with the endless sins and filth of the world, a bloody giant palm suddenly stretched out. As a bloodthirsty and murderous aura permeated, a giant Abyss mouth cracked open in the center of the hand, covered with distorted, strange patterns, as if it wanted to swallow Cavendish and the mount beneath him whole.
Suppressing the sudden fear in his heart and the constantly surging blood in his body, Cavendish decisively abandoned this not-so-smart mount.
This familiar feeling also reminded him of the Sequence 2 "Bloody Archduke" from the Abyss who appeared when they hunted the Blatherer on the Death Announcer.
He didn't know if this Archduke remembered his aura, or if he recognized the high-level Devil aura his Devil mount had absorbed from the Death Announcer. With a silent sigh, Cavendish conjured the "Sun Chaser Scepter" in his hand, while silently chanting the honorific name of the "Lord of Order."
In a place like the Abyss, he had always avoided contact with high-level Devils to prevent the aftermath of battle from attracting the attention of certain existences in the Abyss.
But he didn't expect to finally encounter a "Bloody Archduke." Regardless of the outcome, he was very likely to be watched by the "Dark Side of the Universe" next.
Although it was a pity that his mission was only one step away from completion, this was not the time to be reckless; only a God could face a God.
Above the dark golden mist, Aaron, who had already taken Alvin Gallows away from the battlefield ruins and returned to Loen, felt the prayer and immediately returned to the Nation of Disorder.
Aaron, who had been following Cavendish's journey into the Abyss, sighed. Looking at Cavendish, who was entangled with the "Bloody Archduke," he decided to rescue his subordinate first. If the Forsaken Land of the Gods really couldn't be reached, it could be postponed.
Just as Aaron finished containing the Black Emperor card and was about to activate the "Crown of Stars," borrowed from Valen, to take Cavendish out of the Abyss, an indescribable corrupt aura emerged, and the prayer light points were covered by a layer of viscous black mist.
Aaron's brows immediately furrowed. In the entire Abyss, only the "Dark Side of the Universe" could cause such an impact on the Nation of Disorder.
The first to notice this corrupt aura was the "Bloody Archduke." Sensing this aura, which was engraved deep in his soul, the foul words instantly turned into a wail, and distorted bloody patterns oozed black blood.
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