029: Theater With Curtains That Never Draw

Yeah, right. Like I'd believe that.

Don examined the newly added "Bionic Marionette" module in the System interface. After some thought, he decided to wait until he found a more suitable candidate before using it.

After all, marionettes couldn't grow stronger. Even if fed potions, they'd only combine into bizarre sealed artifacts—marionettes themselves couldn't advance.

Even with this module installed, the "processor" would still be him, and the marionettes would remain corpses.

"Speaking of which, where did that wraith controlled by the Bizarro Sorcerer go?"

In the theater, the Sorcerer had swapped places with his marionette to evade Olsen's banishment. Logically, it should've been ejected when the theater vanished.

'Turned into a marionette.'

The System replied, [Inside that theater, everyone who wasn't already a marionette was attacked. Aside from the Black Knight of the Secret Suppliant pathway, that included the banished wraith (once the Sorcerer lost control), as well as any Beyonders or ordinary people still trapped inside. They've all been marionetted.]

"..."

With so many disappearances in Tingen, the Church would undoubtedly launch a full investigation—possibly even dispatch a demigod from the Holy Cathedral.

After all, this involved an Angel-Level sealed artifact.

But even if they investigated, the theater itself was Sequence 2-grade, compounded by the influence of multiple demigod-tier marionettes, his father's authority, the System's authority, and his own elevated state during "Knowledge Pursues Man." Any divination attempts by non-specialists would likely hit a wall.

Failed divinations would be the best-case scenario. For those below demigod level, succeeding might mean drinking a cup of consequences—whichever entity they managed to scry would serve them a bitter draught.

Setting aside the "Bionic Marionette" module for now, Don turned to his inventory.

"To be fair, the System's rewards are... average. Not unexpected."

He'd completed plenty of missions. The System rarely handed out direct items—mostly just appraisal uses, Artisan module charges, or knowledge fragments... Then again, maybe the System was just broke.

The real prize lay here.

Rubbing his hands together, Don felt the same thrill as opening a blind box in his past life.

The System's description flooded his vision in dense text.

"Holy shit. No, really—holy shit."

His eyes widened.

[Sealed Artifact: 'Theater With Curtains That Never Draw'] (The Never-Ending Theater)

[Item Info: Born from fused Sequence 2 Miracle Invoker characteristics, this artifact retains an unusually high degree of "living" traits.]

[Description: At first glance, this appears to be an ordinary box. Opening its lid reveals a miniature theater inside, complete with a stage and audience seats filled with lifelike figurines. Many of these figures wear expressions of agony.]

[When unsealed, the theater expands outward via a special "curtain." Maximum deployment time: six minutes. During this period, the curtain's coverage grows continuously. Without spectators, it can envelop a 100m x 100m cubic space in reality—though internal spatial limits do not apply.]

[All spiritual lifeforms within the curtain's range are forcibly inducted as "audience members." Escape requires fulfilling the theater's demands.]

[The curtain's expansion accelerates with more spectators.]

[Note: The curtain severs external connections to varying degrees. This effect strengthens alongside audience numbers.]

Here, Don paused.

"The Seer pathway only gains this 'pseudo-divine kingdom' ability at Sequence 1 (Attendant of Mysteries). Did this Miracle Invoker's death during the Four Epochs' wars—possibly influenced by the Evernight pathway's concealment or other abilities—cause its resulting artifact to inherit such traits?"

"Or did its marionettes include demigods/angels with similar powers? Maybe it used miracles to grant its curtain 'concealment' authority?"

Hmm. Needed more data.

[Abilities:

'Accumulates miracles. The more fulfilled, the greater its explosive power (core function).'

'Can shift the entire theater into historical intersticesfor 30 minutes.'

'Can replicate up to six former attendees (two at Angel-tier).'

'Marionettizes those who fail to perform miracles…'

'Capable of divination…'

'Magician performances available…'

'...'

[Drawbacks:

'Every attendee must fulfill a miracle to leave. Failure results in marionettization.'

'Entering the theater means partial marionettization has begun. Spirit thread control intensifies over time—even successful performers degrade eventually. If audience numbers stagnate, the theater randomly pulls outsiders in.'

[Containment: Propose a miracle achievable but difficult for its grade, then store it in a black box within an isolated space. No spirit thread-bearing objects within 50 meters.]

In short, even a lucky Wheel of Fortune Pathway who avoided being named would still turn into a puppet given enough time.

And if people realized the danger and stayed away? The theater would drag them in forcibly.

"Fewer drawbacks than most angel-level artifacts, but hyper-specific and near-impossible to satisfy."

Take the first rule: leaving required performing a miracle. Aside from Olsen's steam engine ("industrial miracle") and Don's metallic hydrogen ("creation miracle"), no one else had escaped.

The rest aligned mostly with Seer pathway traits.

As for marionettes, Don skimmed the exhaustive list—then asked the System for an abridged version. To his surprise, aside from the Sequence 4 demon, the theater only housed one other demigod-tier puppet: a Sequence 3: Warmonger Bishop of the Red Priest pathway.

Fewer than expected.

"Just two demigod marionettes—the rest were historical projections. Makes sense; demigod puppets aren't exactly common."

That Sequence 3 marionette must've been the theater's trump card, hidden until "Knowledge Pursues Man" obliterated it.

Scrolling further, Don found an odd entry:

[Marionette: Meatball.]

He didn't question the System's naming sense. The label instantly reminded him of the grotesque entity the Black Knight had fought.

This might be his biggest haul from the ordeal—second only to the Miracle Invoker artifact itself.

The System's display showed... well, clumps. Literal clumps of Beyonder characteristics fused into something indescribable.

(End of Chapter)