030: Spoils of War

Merely gazing upon this indescribable mass made one's blood run cold, chilling to the very bone.

Its structure wasn't composed of mere flesh and blood.

A twisted, icy-cold head was embedded on its surface, adorned with countless limbs of unknown origin. Internal organs spilled out—a pulsing heart, a writhing stomach, lungs that expanded and contracted with each breath of air. Blood churned within it, while protruding veins carried heterochromatic fluids of unnatural hues. The pervasive aura of corruption and distortion radiated outward as relentless spiritual pollution.

This monstrosity, fused from countless Beyonder characteristics, was still "alive." With every twitch and movement, it emitted eerie murmurs—sometimes praising the sun, sometimes extolling the True Creator, sometimes singing hymns to deities and great existences, sometimes proclaiming miracles, and at other times simply muttering incomprehensible nonsense.

If there existed any sin in this world worthy of divine judgment, this abomination—no longer deserving to be called a living being—would undoubtedly rank among them.

Don felt that if not for the System's protective barrier, merely looking at it would cause his spirit to instantly collapse, turning him into another component of this horror.

"Sequence 3? No—this thing, formed from the fusion and distortion of multiple Beyonder characteristics, likely approaches Sequence 2 in both grade and power."

This must have been what fought the Black Knight earlier. Yet back then, its level of terror hadn't reached such extremes.

"Theater With Curtains That Never Draw had partitioned it. Now, the System has reassembled all these components, giving birth to this... blasphemous existence."

Even the System's appraisal struggled with something so chaotically fused. Scanning the results, Don couldn't help but marvel.

Thirteen Demigod-tier characteristics. Countless Sequence 5 and 6 traits.

In theory, if properly separated and reorganized, with correct rituals and acting, he could cultivate up to thirteen demigods under ideal circumstances!

Even in this Fourth Epoch—later hailed as the Age of Gods—demigods remained formidable forces.

"Some of these were likely the Miracle Invoker's marionettes."

For a Sequence 2 Miracle Invoker of the Seer pathway, with abilities like "resurrection as miracle," "historical projections," and "marionettes," dying was exceedingly difficult—even when besieged by other angels.

A Miracle Invoker's death would inevitably involve the loss of numerous marionettes, the expenditure of all four resurrection chances, and the exhaustion of all opportunities to borrow spirituality from the past. And during this process, if the Miracle Invoker fought desperately, how many demigods could they drag down with them?

"Some were the Miracle Invoker's marionettes; others were likely demigods from opposing factions during the Four Emperors' War. After the Miracle Invoker's death and transformation into a sealed artifact, these became components, with their historical imprints stored within."

As for later periods—after the artifact's formation but before full containment, while still in an out-of-control state—it might have claimed a few more demigods who carelessly entered. But not many.

"From the System's data, this artifact, despite having living traits, lacks mobility."

Demigods aren't so densely packed. For an immobile [Theater With Curtains That Never Draw], even if it could manipulate external Spirit Threads, any demigod could retreat beyond its range before being fully controlled.

And even if one stumbled inside—as happened today—the Law of Beyonder Characteristics Convergence would ensure they had means to significantly delay their demise.

Thus, the immobile [Theater With Curtains That Never Draw] must have been brought to Tingen by someone.

Who? And why?

After prolonged contemplation, Don buried his face in his pillow, wriggling slightly before reluctantly leaving his bed's embrace. He walked to his desk and snapped his fingers.

Outside, stars and the crimson moon still dotted the night sky.

A flame ignited the candle as he retrieved parchment and charcoal from a drawer, beginning to sketch and jot notes.

"[Theater With Curtains That Never Draw] originated from the Four Emperors' War, formed from a Miracle Invoker's residual characteristics. For orthodox Churches or secret organizations, such an artifact would be irreplaceable."

"This artifact was ultimately sealed by the Church of Storms, though specific records of the process are scarce."

During the Fourth Epoch's Four Emperors' War, factions like the Solomon Empire's Black Emperor, the Tudor Empire's Blood Emperor, the Trunsoest Empire's Night Emperor, and the Southern Continent's Death Emperor—alongside seven orthodox deities, ancient families, and secret organizations—all participated.

Closing his eyes as if meditating, Don then wrote a single term:

"The Blood Sanctify's Sect."

This loose alliance, formed through devil worship.

He added a question mark after it.

"Recently encountered: one demon turned into my marionette, one devil marionetted by the theater."

Why would a half-demon of the Abyss pathway come to Tingen? And have their activities intensified lately?

Unfortunately, his spirituality and grade prevented him from performing a séance on a Sequence 4 demon. The System's appraisals mostly provided basic information rather than memories or experiences.

Still, attempts could be made.

"I can't do it, but that doesn't mean others can't. For a Death Consul, marionettes should still count as deceased, right?"

Having powerful backing felt wonderful.

Setting down the charcoal, Don stretched.

'System, attempt separation.'

[Separate marionette: [Meatball]'s Beyonder characteristics for recombination? This complex process requires 2,000 knowledge fragments.]

'...Proceed.'

[Remaining fragments: 315.]

[Reverse-engineer potion formulas for [Manipulator], [Bizarro Sorcerer], [Polymath], [Nightwatcher], [Recorder]...? This method consumes variable appraisal uses. Note: Formula derivation demands significantly higher appraisal usage. Proceed with caution.]

"No."

His appraisal uses were likely insufficient.

[Confirmed. Current extraction progress: 0%]

Well. Back to square one.

The System could independently separate and reorganize characteristics—grouping them by pathway and sequence. More precisely, a Sequence 8 could be split into one set of Sequence 8 main ingredients plus one set of Sequence 9.

(End of Chapter)