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The tremors in the Spirit World became increasingly obvious. Aaron, using the perspective provided by the Ring of Mysteries, could clearly see streaks of light emerging from the surging historical fog, which seemed to be phantom images of creatures in different forms.
Before he could examine them closely, everything returned to calm. The headless body floating deep within the Spirit World slowly split open from its smooth neck, and the corpse oil bandages stained with yellow-green liquid also disintegrated.
A humanoid creature, wrapped in thorny roses and resembling a mummy, slowly walked out. Its eyes, as red as blood, held no human aura.
An invisible, chilling wind quietly emerged. Astolfo, who had returned to being an Ancient Bane, first nodded towards Aaron not far away, then lowered his head to look at the huge corpse that had split into two halves.
His scarlet eyes then reflected the two constantly squirming, bizarre corpses that seemed to want to gain new life. After losing Aurmir's lingering thought and all angelic characteristics, the remaining pollution was unhinderedly eroding this ancient, deeply rooted remnant in the Spirit World.
Silently, the distorted, squirming flesh glowed faintly, mixing with the broken thorny vines and corpse oil bandages, transforming into strange and bizarre creatures Aaron had never seen before.
Having lost all characteristics and being cut off from the Spirit World by the "Deformation Curse", those strange, bizarre creatures flowing with black stickiness roared as they were entangled by thorny vines and dragged into the blood-colored pupils.
Aaron did not interfere with Astolfo's actions. Having regained his characteristics, he could, to some extent, be seen as the reborn "Chained God".
Furthermore, Aaron couldn't be sure whether the distorted beliefs of the Rose School of Thought's Indulgence Faction, which pointed to the "Chained God", would affect Astolfo's divine balance after he returned to the angelic Sequence.
The historical fog shrouding the depths of the Spirit World slowly receded, and the seven clear lights hanging high in the spiritual sky gradually became distinct. A deep voice, as if capable of moving souls, echoed:
"More than a thousand years of resistance, and finally, a glimmer of hope before the apocalypse arrives."
Looking at Astolfo, who had returned to calm and showed no abnormalities, Aaron's vigilance eased slightly. He pondered before asking:
"What should I call you now?"
"Astolfo, or, Tolzna?"
As soon as he finished speaking, the mummy-like figure covered in thorny thistles appeared before him. Controlling his body's instinctive reaction, Aaron finally saw his messenger's face at such close range.
It was an ugly face hidden beneath thorns and vines, with the light in its blood-red eyes flickering erratically!
"A name is just a code. I am him, yet I am not him. Since I have been reborn, the old appellations should also be discarded."
"The dawn brought by perseverance, Astolfo is the beginning of my new life!"
Meeting the gaze of those blood-colored eyes and clearly feeling the emotions contained in the words, the smile on Aaron's face grew more sincere. The only thing he couldn't understand was why Astolfo's humanity was still so strong despite having just advanced to an angel and lacking sufficient anchors.
A bandaged hand wrapped in thorny thistles pressed onto Aaron's shoulder, just like the first time they went to Calderon City. The surrounding colorful Spirit World space seemed to lose its realism and faded, turning into a black-and-white ink painting.
The two figures in the center of the image had strangely disappeared, and the remaining aura and traces also vanished along with the fading Spirit World.
But a moment later, a distorted arm, black and viscous, suddenly stretched out from the Spirit World. In the flowing evil liquid, numerous white feathers stained with yellow oil seemed to be floating, and an extremely evil and mad aura permeated the air.
-----------------
Backlund, North Borough.
Melissa led Benson across the still damp streets, through the square, and into St. Samuel Cathedral.
After waiting for a moment outside the grand prayer hall, she joined other believers attending the Moon Mass and, led by a priest, entered the hall.
In the dim and quiet atmosphere, they were greeted by neat and ethereal chants. This sound grew louder and louder, transmitting through the church to the square outside, where even more believers gathered.
As the sacred and rhythmic voices echoed in layers, the crowd spontaneously calmed down, seemingly forgetting their life's troubles and no longer worrying about the terrible disaster.
Led by several priests, the believers each found a seat. In front of the altar, Bishop Electra, who was in charge of this grand mass, held the "Revelations of Night" and began a simple sermon.
Melissa saw candles lighting up on the altar, which, against the backdrop of Darkness, resembled stars in the night, emitting comforting light and warmth. The empty voice, imbued with a sacred feeling, entered her ears.
Melissa, who had already thoroughly digested the Archaeologist potion, seemed to resonate with all the spirits present. As a Sequence whose initial Sequence was Savant, Melissa at this moment also felt as if her Spirit Body was being cleansed, and her spirituality flowed out naturally and smoothly.
Then, a serene Darkness seemed to appear before her eyes, a Darkness without the slightest sound.
In the Darkness, bodies lay there, surrounded by slumbering flowers and Moonflowers, their faces pale but peaceful, as if they had not died, but were merely in slumber.
In the densest part of the flower bushes, a young man with black hair, brown eyes, ordinary features, and a clear scholarly aura, lay with his eyes closed in relaxation, a faint smile seemingly on his lips.
"Klein...."
She silently spoke that name, and then the sacred and ethereal voice echoed in Melissa's ears:
"The only destination is peace!"
The dim, hazy world shattered. Melissa lowered her head, closed her eyes, raised her hands, and crossed them over her chest, chanting along with all the believers attending the mass:
"The only destination is peace!"
Again and again, until the Grand Prayer Hall became extremely quiet, Melissa finally opened her eyes and raised her hand to wipe away the dried tear stains at the corners of her eyes.
Aided by the dim candlelight and the crimson moonlight slanting into the hall through the stained glass, she noticed that a stern young man in a priest's robe had appeared before her at some point.
Handing over the glowing Deep Slumber Flower, Klein, wearing the face of Gehrman Sparrow, pulled at the corners of his mouth and revealed a brilliant smile:
"Suffering will eventually pass, and those who have left do not wish to be a burden to others."
"Although it might be a bit early to say this, I still wish you and your family a Happy New Year, and may the Goddess bless you."
Taking the Deep Slumber Flower, Melissa smiled faintly and drew a Crimson Moon on her chest. Looking at Klein as he turned to leave, her voice no longer carried the heaviness accumulated over the past few days:
"Thank you for your blessing, Pastor, and I wish you a Happy New Year too."
Walking towards the empty and deserted corridor, Klein's expression grew increasingly wistful, but he ultimately did not look back.
Upon reaching a corner, Klein stopped, took off his priest's robe, and handed it to Bishop Electra, who stood opposite him, having just returned from the altar after the mass. He spoke calmly:
"Praise the Goddess, Bishop, I should leave now."
Bishop Electra looked at the guest whom his attendant had specifically instructed him to observe, and did not question him further. He pointed to the deep passage behind him:
"Go down to the 2nd floor from here, and someone will lead you out of the North Borough."
"Remember, underground, no matter what you hear, do not look back."
Maintaining a stern expression, Klein nodded subtly, guessing that this might be a passage specifically reserved for internal custodians, similar to St. Selena Cathedral in Tingen City.
Having already known that Leonard had left Backlund, Klein no longer had any reservations and walked directly into the Darkness.
-----------------
Beyond the Sonia Sea's safe shipping lane, the high-altitude clouds grew thicker, and the occasional crimson moonlight cast a faint glow on the dim night.
On the choppy sea surface, dark clouds layered, pressing very low, and substantial hurricanes swept back and forth, covering an immeasurably wide sea area.
Under the illumination of streaks of silver-white lightning, two figures quietly emerged amidst the dense downpour, and the originally terrifying disaster, like the end of the world, silently vanished.
The thick, layered dark clouds dispersed, revealing the blood-red full Moon behind them.
After the colorful patches around his body completely disappeared, Aaron surveyed his surroundings, his gaze lingering on a nearby area, where mist permeated and light was dim.
At Aaron's Sequence 3 level, ordinary mist naturally couldn't obstruct his vision. In an instant, the scene obscured by the mist naturally appeared in his mind:
The azure sea was cut off here by a huge fissure, and endless seawater, like a waterfall, plunged vertically into the bottomless Darkness!
This was the entrance to the Sea of Ruins!
Confirming his current location in a few breaths, Aaron turned his head to look at Astolfo, who had returned to normal human size, awaiting his explanation.
His body drifted uncontrollably towards the gloomy area, then stopped. The scarlet in his eyes suddenly flickered, and Astolfo let out a long sigh.
His deep voice carried a hint of inexplicable reminiscence, as if drifting from the long river of history:
"The Chained Pathway, or more precisely, high-level Beyonders of the Chained Pathway before being corrupted by the Mother Tree of Desire, require far less faith and anchors than angels of other Pathways."
"Controlling faith, letting the heart become the body's prison, we have always been restraining madness and suppressing desire. Whether it's an Ancient Bane or an Abomination, every battle is a release of suppressed madness."
"Each release will lessen the pressure on the anchor, but it can also lead to indulgence in that pleasure of abandon. This is a divine corruption unique to the Chained Pathway. Currently, Barranca, the 'King of Curses' from the Rose School of Thought, has fallen in this manner."
Looking at Astolfo, who was covered in black thorns, Aaron suddenly understood. In the previous hunt in the Spirit World, whether as the hunted angelic remnant or as the bait, Astolfo had already released the madness accumulated within him.
This was also why he could remain clear-headed and retain his humanity after re-ascending to the angelic Sequence, even without sufficient faith for positioning.
Recalling how Tolzna, who had been dormant, suddenly appeared after the Death of the Balam Empire fell, establishing the Highland Kingdom with the title of "Chained God" and based on the Rose School of Thought to collect faith, Aaron frowned slightly and asked directly:
"Were you already corrupted when you established the Highland Kingdom? Was taking Reinette Tinekerr as an attendant to better collect faith and resist corruption?"
Astolfo nodded silently, then whispered with a hint of self-mockery:
"The Rose Redemption caused that great change. Although I participated, due to insufficient strength, I gained little."
"After that, I stayed in the Southern Continent until the Death of the Balam Empire became increasingly mad, that Lunatic...."
Seemingly recalling some unpleasant memories, the black thorns covering his entire body gently wriggled, and Astolfo continued:
"To protect myself, and also because the gods were in opposition at the time, which gave me an opportunity, I wanted to take advantage of it to accommodate the Uniqueness of the Chained."
"You should know that the most feasible way to accommodate Uniqueness now is to use an incomplete ritual of becoming a god."
"Heh, my initial goal was to borrow pollution from underground, but I didn't expect it to almost cause me to lose control directly."
"So I changed my approach and thought of the Abyss, which is a neighboring Pathway, but I didn't expect...."
He didn't expect that the Devil Monarch Farbauti had already been controlled by the Mother Tree of Desire, becoming a delicious meal delivered right to her doorstep... Completing his unspoken words in his mind, Aaron glanced at the dark and deep entrance to the Sea of Ruins, his eyes flickering as he retorted:
"So now, you want to obtain that last Abomination characteristic? Do you know its exact location?"
Without hiding anything, Astolfo nodded and then added after some thought:
"That place is already considered the core of the Sea of Ruins. The few who assassinated the Creator in the Third Epoch left their power there. Besides those who have disappeared without a trace, the remaining ones have even formed power projections under the blessing of faith over these few epochs."
Listening to Astolfo's narration, a scene suddenly appeared in Aaron's mind: the moment the Evernight Goddess's divine power projection acted outside the Sanguine Holy City in the Forsaken Land of the Gods.
His mouth twitched slightly. Although he often visited the Sea of Ruins, he usually reached the Specter Empire directly through the Darkness of the ruins, using a token.
That Death's ruins was already the deepest he had explored. He had never actually been to the true core of the Sea of Ruins, at most only seeing corresponding abstract images in the dream world.
Able to guess what Aaron was thinking, Astolfo gazed into the distance, sensed for a moment, and then continued:
"It's not about entering now. The deepest part is very dangerous. I just came to confirm that the characteristic hasn't been taken by Suah. "
"After all, this is the only thing I can get a head start on now."
Aaron did not refuse. For him, the Sea of Ruins was an extremely important place. Whether it was his future advancement or the emergence of the Specter Empire, it was inseparable from here.
join p atreon.com/KeyofStars for advance chapters | Every 100 powerstones=1 extra chapter | Report issues @discord.com/GVBdncd9Wr | 16 novels being updated, I can't read all comments