After activating the "Pure White Eye" and studying it carefully for a while, Ebner basically figured out what new "experiences" he had gained after advancing to "Prophet."
Enhancement to existing skills isn't worth mentioning, since that's the inherent ability of the Pure White Eye—every Sequence has it…
What benefits me most is the sublimation of the 'Simulation' ability!
The upgraded Simulation lets me briefly transform into the 'Incomplete Mythical Form' of other pathways to fight!
This is also one of the signature abilities of the 'Cognizer.'
Of course, the prerequisite is that the model of the Incomplete Mythical Form must be fully analyzed and mastered by me…
Heh, I recall that Teles, after receiving the 'Blood Fairy' reward from Lilith, once said that the ritual to advance to 'Cognizer' requires an in-depth understanding of at least three Incomplete Mythical Forms. Only by fully parsing their models can one consume the potion…
Moreover, the more Incomplete Mythical Essences one masters, and the wider the fields covered, the higher the chance of a successful promotion.
Now that I think about it, this ability of the 'Cognizer'… perhaps it should be called 'Mimicry'… it ought to have been acquired from the ritual itself.
This ritual seems simple, but it's not easy at all… after all, what demigod would willingly expose themselves entirely for someone else's study? Either you must be trusted deeply, or you must have enough power to forcibly parse them…
But for me… in a certain sense, this ritual is already complete!
Thinking of this, Ebner recalled the information he had just obtained from the Pure White Eye. Inside it—or rather, inside that illusory brass eye set upon the "Sun"—there were preserved the complete models of the Mythical Forms of nine pathways: "Monster," "Apothecary," "Corpse Collector," "Apprentice," "Prisoner," "Savant," "Hunter," "Arbiter," and "Bard."
The 'Monster' information should have come from the 'God of Luck.' He really was me? What concerns me is, what exactly is His relationship with the 'Queen of Calamity'?
As for 'Apothecary,' that must be the 'Observer with Silver Eyes,' Rhine Karenardia… Tsk, can't believe that back then I was so shameless, actually pretending with a title from Arcanism…
I remember Lilith said that he… no, 'I' once told the other party stories from Arcanism… Ha, did I even use the line 'whenever you see the moon, think of me' to curry favor? That really does sound like something I would do.
The 'Corpse Collector' knowledge corresponds to the 'Lord of Spirits,' Vicente Miranda… yet another… forget it, better not complain about myself again…
But this 'me' was very likely Jane's ancestor… No wonder the first time I met Jane after transmigrating, I felt such familiarity… But how should I get along with her in the future?
Forget it, best to pretend nothing happened, to avoid awkwardness when we meet.
The 'Apprentice' is also clear: the 'Wanderer' Alwen Abraham, who died in the Land of Evernight.
Heh, Alwen? No wonder the mysticism book he left behind was called "Book of Astrology and Elements"…
If my Arcanism-related memories hadn't been blocked, I probably would've clarified some things long ago! Hm, it feels like the former me left many methods behind, but they weren't systematic… From Alwen onwards, however, 'my' scheming ability seems to have grown by leaps and bounds.
The puzzles in the Quiz Labyrinth, the arrangements in the Land of Evernight, the connection with the Goddess… everything is so mysterious!
Was it because upon entering the Fifth Epoch, 'I' finally felt a sense of crisis? Couldn't afford to be as reckless as before?
'Prisoner' is the one I currently know best besides Giuseppe—Danitz Tinekerr… who schemed against the Mother Tree of Desire, freed the Chained God, who is now the Spiritual Angel Tolzna.
I've more or less figured out his other arrangements. The only unclear part is what kind of experiment he conducted with the God of Knowledge and Wisdom, and what transaction they had… Hm, perhaps I can reverse-engineer this by studying Baron Conva, who was sealed away by Mr. Azik.
Also, although I lack proof, the brass-colored eye within the Pure White Eye—that illusory 'All-Knowing Eye'—was most likely the product of Danitz and the God of Knowledge's experiment.
The model of the 'Savant' Mythical Form should belong to the unlucky 'me' who transmigrated to the Forsaken Land of the Gods and even built a floating city!
Though I don't know his name, judging from the secret techniques of the floating city—'Ivans's Hidden Barrier' and 'Vaolit's Perfect Restoration'—they must've been named after figures from Arcanism.
This 'me's black spot wasn't too far from the entrance, just slightly farther than the Calamity Seal. Once I become stronger, I should be able to read his memories.
'Hunter' is undoubtedly the Calamity Seal. This 'me' is the most unusual, even feeling unfamiliar to me… It was because of him that for the longest time I didn't consider the possibility of having transmigrated multiple times.
He's the ultimate schemer. In countless events I've encountered, his shadow has loomed! He even tied together all the prior arrangements of 'me'… The millennium plan against the Mother Tree, the 'Silver Moon Project' to seize the Goddess of Beauty's power—most likely these were perfected in tacit agreement with the gods.
He feels the least like me of all the 'me's!
The 'Arbiter' representative is Giuseppe Castiya, no need to say more. Among the demigod versions of me, he was likely the lowest Sequence—just a Sequence 4 'Imperative Mage.'
The last, the 'Sun,' should not be 'me,' but rather the model provided by that illusory sun within the Pure White Eye…
I still don't know what it truly is… After all, the Eternal Blazing Sun and the God of Knowledge and Wisdom still exist, so where did the 'Pure White Angel' and the 'All-Knowing Eye' at Sequence 1 come from?
After wandering in thought for a while, Ebner suddenly realized something and mocked himself:
All my past selves—except Giuseppe—were really amazing! They've 'arranged' everything for the current me so thoroughly…
Take advancing to Sequence 3 'Cognizer,' for example. Right now I'm just Sequence 4, but my potion digestion is already four-fifths complete. The next potion formula and one of its main ingredients, the 'Eye of Asmo,' I've already obtained from 'Lust' Owen. The other main ingredient, the 'complete brain of a Mist Monster,' also has a lead from Princess Vera…
Couple that with this ritual already being completed, barring accidents, I just need to gather the auxiliary materials, and within one or two months I can smoothly advance to Cognizer!
As for the next step, 'Wisdom Angel,' its characteristic has already been arranged within the Dream Labyrinth Tower…
If I really were a rebellious youth, I'd surely resist this kind of 'arrangement'! Too bad I'm not… so I choose to say, 'It smells sweet.'
But one must have ambition. I should set a small goal for myself first… Hm, within the next one or two months, I'll try to collect as many more Incomplete Mythical Form models as possible.
After sorting through the "All-Knowing Eye" portion of the Pure White Eye's abilities, since he could already observe the scenes within the channels and distinguish between them, Ebner then experimented with stirring the power of the "Pure White Angel" alone. He discovered that, without even using Simulation, he could already wield most of the Sequence 4 "Unshadowed" abilities.
Moreover, the effects seemed even stronger than those of a genuine Unshadowed.
"It's equivalent to having another Grade 1 Sealed Artifact with hardly any side effects…"
Ebner gave this evaluation, nodded in satisfaction, then packed away the beakers and flasks, dismissed the Spirituality Wall, and pushed open the door of his home at 28 Kinster Street. He was heading toward the main theater of the "Bryan Film Company" in Hillston District to attend the "banquet" after the premiere of their new movie.
Because he had donated all the 3 million pounds' worth of valuables salvaged from the "Laurel" as offering, Ebner was about to be conferred the title of "Viscount of Belden." Thus, he had been staying in Backlund recently, awaiting an audience with the King.
Speaking of which, Ebner's original plan after advancing to demigod was to visit the "Harvest Church" to meet Lilith's descent vessel, then seek out Lady Yalolan, who wished to meet him, and finally consult Princess Vera regarding the lead to another main potion ingredient…
But plans couldn't keep up with changes. Ever since learning that all the past transmigrators had been himself, Ebner had resolved that until he got Roselle's crucial diary from Klein and figured out his actual relationship with those "ladies," he would avoid them for now.
This wasn't because he had "prophesied" anything, but because Ebner's intuition told him this was the more "prudent" choice.
(End of Chapter)