146 COI

After a brief moment of frozen expression, Primordial Demoness Cheek let out a seductive laugh. "Fine, fine! Let's die together! Everyone dies, the entire universe dies!"

Amidst the unrestrained laughter, the speed of Cheek's body's disintegration accelerated rapidly.

Lumian, still wearing his mocking smile, made no reply. He quietly observed Her, as if watching a lunatic performing Her final act on the stage of life.

As the echoes of Her laughter resounded, Cheek completely regressed into a cluster of Beyonder characteristics of varying sizes, encircling a statue of a woman seemingly crafted from bones.

The statue was entirely naked, every detail intricately carved, exuding extraordinary allure. Its face shifted—sometimes blurred and chaotic, other times exceptionally vivid—but it always bore Cheek's visage.

A crisp sound of shattering followed, as the special mirror world, ablaze with the Fire of Destruction, collapsed with a deafening roar.

In the World of Ruins, Franca and the others barely had time to react before feeling the earth tremble violently. Near and far, mountains erupted from the ground, spewing dense smoke and crimson magma.

In the sky, bright streaks of meteors blazed across, crashing into various parts of the Northern and Southern Continents. Their impacts triggered fierce explosions and churned up clouds of dust that obscured the moonlight.

In the fiery lands, snowstorms began to howl. Along the coasts, hurricanes of unprecedented strength made landfall one after another. Catastrophes of all kinds descended indiscriminately upon every unprotected corner of the world, some mild, others devastating.

A true god, in all but name, had fallen.

The divine throne of the Primordial Demoness was now vacant.

Hidden within the protective layer of the Glory Crown, Franca exhaled silently in relief.

From her Traveler's Bag, she retrieved a transparent crystal orb that depicted various scenes of calamity.

This was the Beyonder characteristic of a Demoness of Catastrophe, restructured after being shattered and filtered through the gray fog by Mr. Fool.

Franca swiftly concocted a potion, a swirling liquid reminiscent of the sky before a storm.

She gulped down the potion without hesitation.

Elsewhere, Madam Magician and Madam Justice witnessed the self-destruction of the Demoness of Gray and Demoness of Yellow, each silently remarking on how difficult high-ranking demonesses were to kill.

If Mr. Fool had not been occupied merging with the Celestial Worthy during his slumber, and if Gehrman Sparrow had not been preoccupied holding the astral barrier against the terrifying assaults of the Great Old Dominators, Madam Magician might have been able to ensure at least one of the Demonesses of Catastrophe did not escape.

Using her powers as a Planeswalker, she could recreate historical figures, or summon projections of historical events. With these, she could have "produced" a temporary Gehrman Sparrow in reality. Through that connection, Mr. Fool might have descended and projected a sufficiently powerful force.

But alas, Mr. Fool could not descend directly in his current state. The recreated or summoned figure would only have a connection with Sefirah Castle established, carrying faint imprints of his rank and corruption.

It was enough to affect Saints that were not full-fledged Angels in an indomitable fashion. However, a complete Mythical Creature could sever Their connection, just as They could process information related to the Great Old Dominators.

In this context, had the Demoness of Gray and Demoness of Yellow attempted to escape into the mirror world, They would have been unable to evade a Planeswalker's pursuit or imprisonment. Yet They chose self-destruction instead.

Madam Magician had prepared a response, intending to recreate the Angel of Time's time halt, followed by a Mentor of Deceit's manipulation of rules and mystical connections. The aim was to ensure the self-destruction of the Demoness of Gray and Demoness of Yellow extended to Their true bodies, mirror selves, and dormant mirrors alike.

This plan carried a certain risk of failure. However, bolstered by her boon of good luck, Madam Magician was confident in its success. Unfortunately, before she could act, the Primordial Demoness had already fallen. The ensuing disasters accelerated the self-destruction of the two Demonesses.

Noticing Madam Magician's disappointment, Madam Justice tilted her head with a smile.

"I secretly planted seeds of spiritual plague in them. Given the twisted psyches typical of demonesses, They will undoubtedly suffer issues later on, perhaps even leading to Their demise."

Audrey used the term "perhaps," as she wasn't sure if the Demoness Sect possessed a Grade 1 Sealed Artifact capable of curing or suppressing such "diseases."

On another front, Suah and Tirié successfully sought aid from the Chained God and escaped the entanglement of Ma'am Hermit, the Angel of the Holy Spirit, and the Angel of Time before the arrival of Madam Magician and Madam Justice. They retreated in defeat.

In the collapsing special mirror world, Lumian, his face still bearing a mocking smile, gazed at the female statue and the two dark orbs containing the absorbed Beyonder characteristics. Yet he did not allow them to merge with the Cheek face on his shoulder. Instead, he exerted all his strength to resist the inevitable pull of the Law of Beyonder Characteristics Convergence.

He held on until the Fire of Destruction began consuming his original head, melting the Cheek and Tudor faces beside the chaotic vortex. Only then did the two remaining steel puppets take action. The face shared by Aurore and Jenna was not cursed like Cheek's and was only affected by Lumian's burning influence later. Its melting was less severe.

The steel puppet wearing dark gloves extended both hands, extracting the self-awareness and spiritual imprints of Cheek from the two Demoness of Apocalypse characteristics.

This extraction, limited by the puppet's rank, was temporary and incapable of permanently possessing the entities. If suitable vessels were not found, the extracted consciousness and imprint would soon return to their original characteristics.

At that moment, the other steel puppet, cloaked in an illusory mantle, extended its right hand and completed the Grafting.

It transferred the extracted self-awareness and spiritual imprint to the female statue—the Uniqueness of the Demoness pathway.

As the strongest resonance for Cheek's self-awareness and spiritual imprints, the statue readily accepted them. Even if it hadn't, Fooling or Deceit awaited to ensure compliance.

Once this was done, the steel puppets succumbed to the collapsing mirror world, and Lumian ceased his resistance. He allowed the Uniqueness to merge with the melting Cheek face.

Enduring immense pain, Lumian smiled and plunged 0-01 into the melting Tudor face, driving it completely in.

Then, he swallowed the two blood-soaked crowns.

The now-purified Demoness of Apocalypse Beyonder characteristics were guided into the blood-stained faces of Aurore and Jenna.

At last, the three Sequence 1 Beyonder characteristics and the Uniqueness of the Demoness pathway reunited within Lumian, becoming whole.

Their aggregation intensified, and Lumian's head, along with the Fire of Destruction from the curse, seemed to collapse into a singularity.

Enduring immense pain, Lumian smiled and plunged 0-01 into the melting Tudor face, driving it completely in.

Then, he swallowed the two blood-soaked crowns.

The Red Priest pathway's three Sequence 1 Beyonder characteristics and Uniqueness were also gathered.

Rumble!

Thunder rumbled as silver-white lightning struck various parts of the World of Ruins.

The Hanged Man Alger and Justice Audrey instinctively looked to the sky. They saw the projections of the crimson moon and the stars ignited by an invisible, colorless flame, bringing light to the world.

For a brief moment, it was as if they had returned to Fourth Epoch Trier, before the seal had been broken, when the sky was composed of flames.

Catastrophes grew fiercer. Audrey noticed the massive oaks in the distance bending their branches. She saw The Magician Fors and The Moon Emlyn alternating between masculine and feminine forms, sometimes androgynous, sometimes normal.

Coughing and fever afflicted these demigods, inexplicably spreading a strange illness, forcing them to bow their heads.

A surge of impulse arose within their hearts—to track down and confront the demonesses once more.

Amidst this chaos, the cries of monsters filled the oak forest as they turned upon one another.

Simultaneously, as Franca advanced toward becoming a Demoness of Catastrophe, she sensed fragments of her shattered mirrors forming new domains behind mirrors.

The mirror world was reborn!

Within the World of Ruins, patches of gray and chaos were consumed by flames, leaving nothing behind.

In the destroyed then reborn special mirror world, Lumian's three heads rose slowly as his body re-formed. His right side was female, clad in a skeletal white dress, while his left was male, draped in a blood-red robe.

The right head bore the purified faces of Aurore and Jenna—clean, brimming with spirituality, though their eyes remained shut, unable to speak or convey consciousness.

The left head featured Cheek's face, now less maternal and more alluring, with a captivating smile and slightly parted lips. Tudor's face appeared sharper, with the blood-red flag mark on its forehead protruding slightly. The face of the chaotic vortex continued to absorb the Fire of Destruction, rotating faintly.

Lumian's own head grew more handsome, his long hair the color of blood, his features exuding sharp masculinity.

Beneath his left armpit and ribs, additional arms sprouted, holding a scorched, blood-stained banner. On his right, matching arms extended, pale as white jade but empty-handed.

A new Red Priest and Chaos Demoness had been born!

As a god, some Uniquenesses manifested as parts of one's body or belongings; others remained hidden.

In the next moment, Lumian raised his three heads, gazing at the crimson moon returning to the region.

"You're still at your critical stage of merging," he sneered. "This little interference—what can it achieve? Nothing before, nothing now!" Grinning boldly, Lumian raised his four new arms.

Invisible, colorless flames and a chaotic vortex of endless possibilities surged toward the crimson moon's projection.

-x-X-x-

The sky of the special mirror world was split in two: one half dyed crimson, the other divided by a chaotic vortex and formless, colorless flames. The three forces clashed violently. Suddenly, all light vanished, as if something was voraciously absorbing everything around it.

Franca and the others in the World of Ruins had just recovered from their ailments and stabilized their genders. Then, they watched as the burning flames above, meteors streaking across the sky, and mountains spewing smoke and magma all disappeared from view.

They were plunged into darkness-a darkness so profound that nothing seemed capable of existing within it.

After what felt like an eternity, the darkness receded. Crimson moonlight once again illuminated the Northern and Southern Continents and the five oceans. Bright stars of various hues returned to their natural states.

The World of Ruins was restored to its former appearance.

In the special mirror world, Lumian's eyes no longer reflected the crimson full moon. Everything seemed normal.

He let out a chuckle and lowered his four newly grown arms.

Then, he grasped a handful of flames, compressing them into a metallic mirror.

Lumian gazed into the mirror and saw two figures standing back to back-one was Aurore, and the other Jenna. Both had become even more beautiful, their eyes now open. However, their gazes were vacant and hollow, devoid of spirituality. They remained under Lumian's conscious control.

Lumian stared at them blankly for a few seconds. A smile gradually curved his lips, and the Aurore and Jenna in the mirror returned his smile.

Behind them was another indistinct figure-Cheek.

On Lumian's left shoulder, the face of Cheek also smiled sweetly and seemed about to speak.

Suddenly, Lumian summoned the dark-gold, peculiar mask and forcefully pressed it onto the slowly spinning chaotic vortex face.

Starlight descended, illuminating the entire mask.

Cheek's mouth opened, but no words came out. Her reflection in the mirror disappeared along with the attempt.

Her face on Lumian's shoulder showed clear dissatisfaction.

Lumian cast his gaze around and found that the Traveler's Bag he had exchanged with Franca was completely shattered in the previous destruction. Only two items remained intact on the ground: the dark-gold peculiar mask he had just used and the Demoness card-Lumian didn't keep any items in this Traveler's Bag because only the puppet soldier puppets, mask, and Card of Blasphemy could be of use in the previous battle.

Lumian summoned the Demoness card to his hand and discovered that the previously obscured advancement ritual for becoming a god in the Demoness pathway was now revealed: "Descend into the depths of the earth, find the Chaos Sea, endure a degree of its corruption while maintaining oneself-neither falling nor transforming."

Quite considerate. The mention of the sefirah must have been "hidden" in advance. Who would have thought that the advancement ritual for the Demoness pathway would involve another sefirah entirely... Lumian mused, suddenly suspecting there was something off about this ritual. The first Blasphemy Slate was formed from the corpse of the Primordial God Almighty. Perhaps before dying, He altered the corresponding knowledge to make the Demoness advancement ritual involve contact with the Chaos Sea. This would facilitate His unique revival through the pathways of calamity and allow Him to control and utilize the Chaos Sea effectively post-resurrection.

As for the second Blasphemy Slate, though it was created from the Ancient Sun God's corpse, who could say it wasn't influenced by the Primordial God Almighty?

Still, it makes sense for a Demoness, who governs chaos, to need prior contact with the Chaos Sea... Lumian shook his head, dismissing the truth of the matter as irrelevant.

To him, this ritual was unnecessary to perform yet essentially already fulfilled.

The face sealed by the dark-gold peculiar mask came from the Primordial God Almighty, bearing a deep, special connection to the Chaos Sea. Its power surpassed mere corruption from the Chaos Sea.

"So, you went mad during your advancement ritual?" Lumian tilted his head, mocking the Cheek face.

Cheek's face widened Her eyes, as if to say: "When did I ever go mad? My mental state has always been impeccable."

At this moment, the special mirror world fully stabilized, reflecting shades of gray and white, formless and colorless flames, an ambiguous and enchanting atmosphere, and a chaotic vortex encompassing all possibilities.

It was evolving into Lumian's divine kingdom.

For the Red Priest, a divine kingdom emerged from a deeper conceptualization of the authority of Conquest. By completely "conquering" a land, battlefield, or special area, it could be transformed into the Red Priest's divine kingdom. Any living being entering the kingdom, without corresponding protection or sufficient rank, would immediately become a soldier of the Red Priest.

For the Demoness, the divine kingdom was closely tied to the mirror world. The Primordial Demoness had previously established Her divine kingdom in a hidden corner of the mirror world. There, only females could exist-even other true gods would acquire distinct female characteristics upon entry. There, gazing upon what should not be seen would immediately turn one into stone. There, without protection, one would frequently encounter disasters tied to oneself. There, extreme pleasure would sporadically manifest, making one reluctant to leave...

Lumian could now "conquer" the special mirror world, transforming it into a divine kingdom that satisfied the needs of both the Red Priest and Chaos Demoness.

Lumian surveyed his surroundings and allowed the scenes reflected in the special mirror world to change. They became Cordu Village, surrounded by blue skies, white clouds, and lush green grasslands. At the village's edge stood the Rue Anarchie, with Aurore's house built beside Auberge du Coq Doré...

After gazing at it for a moment, Lumian let the scene gradually fade away.

He smiled faintly and entered the astral world composed of concepts and symbols before returning to reality.

His three-headed, six-armed form nodded toward Franca and Madam Magician, who were looking at him, and said, "Thank you all. The operation is successfully concluded.

"Let's head back to the protected zone."

"Alright," Mr. Sun and the others responded one after another.

-

Trier, inside the luxurious villa.

Franca studied the clean, refreshed faces of Aurore and Jenna with undisguised anticipation.

"It really seems like revival is possible if we take it a step further," she said.

Hearing this, Anthony cast a subtle glance at Franca.

Lumian nodded lightly, smiling self-deprecatingly.

"Sometimes, it feels meaningless. Other times, I can't help but hope and yearn for it."

"Hope is good. Hope is very good," Franca replied, smiling at Lumian. "I'm now a Demoness of Catastrophe, an Angel. Surely I can know certain things now?"

Lumian couldn't help but chuckle. "Do you have to be so impatient? Stabilize yourself first.

"Anyway, I need to report to Mr. Fool about this. It's related to future actions. When I return,

I'll explain briefly."

"Alright." Franca didn't hide her anticipation and felt that Lumian seemed in a much better state, having exacted revenge by defeating Primordial Demoness Cheek.

Once Lumian ascended to his room to prepare for entering the gray fog, Franca turned to Anthony and asked curiously, "Why did you give me the look earlier?"

It couldn't be because my allure, still somewhat uncontrollable after becoming a Demoness

of Catastrophe, affected him, right?

When it came to beauty and charm, Lumian's Cheek face clearly surpassed hers!

Anthony smiled slightly and said, "I was just reflecting on how your mental state is much better than I imagined and how your resilience exceeds my expectations."

Franca froze for a moment, then sighed softly after a few seconds. "I have to force myself to

stay calm and optimistic.

"He can be gloomy, he can lose control in madness, but I can't. Although I sometimes fall into gloom, most of the time, I must remain cheerful and optimistic. Otherwise, there's truly no

hope..."

"That's your humanity," Anthony remarked emotionally. "I'm glad Lumian and Jenna met you, and I'm glad to have you as a teammate."

Franca let out a somewhat smug laugh, then warily asked, "Why do I feel like you're trying to

give me therapy?"

"I've never hidden that," Anthony replied with a smile as he turned toward the kitchen area.

"It's free, after all."

...

Above the gray fog, within the majestic palace.

After recounting the highlights of the battle and the Primordial Demoness's performance,

Lumian said, "This time, I've initiated the convergence. With the awareness and spirit of both Cheek and Tudor present, I don't need much time to adapt before mastering the authorities of the Demoness and Red Priest pathways. If things are critical with the Mother Goddess of Depravity, I can conduct a deep secret deed and astral travel to the City of Calamity now. "But if there's no immediate urgency, I'd prefer about a month to stabilize myself and strengthen the newly formed balance."

Shrouded in gray fog, Mr. Fool nodded and spoke with a faintly ethereal tone, "There is at least one month."

Before Lumian could respond, his voice softened.

"Your three-headed, six-armed form stems from a fundamental transformation. Even I cannot restore you to a normal appearance, only conceal it with illusions. However, once you stabilize your balance and the apocalypse passes, I can use Wish and Fooling to grant you a

second form.

"This form will allow you to switch freely, turning your spatial three-heads-six-arms into a temporal one. Your three heads and corresponding bodies will each occupy different time segments of the day, living their own lives but still under your main consciousness's control. "The biggest drawback of this form is that you, Aurore, and Jenna will never be able to appear together or meet each other..."

Hearing Mr. Fool's unhurried words about post-apocalypse possibilities, Lumian suddenly felt a fleeting daze-as if the apocalypse could indeed end and he might truly survive.

Lumian didn't say anything pessimistic. He simply listened quietly.

Gradually, he understood that Mr. Fool wasn't making a promise or offering comfort but expressing his own hope, giving heartfelt blessings.

He genuinely wished for the apocalypse to end, for Lumian to survive, and for him to live a

better life.

"... At that point, your rank will no longer suit being a Major Arcana card holder of the Tarot Club. This isn't the Rose Redemption after all. But you can have Franca take your place as a Major Arcana card holder. Just draw a new card. Every Major Arcana card holder in the Tarot

Club already has dual identities, many representing other factions..." By the end, Mr. Fool's voice carried a hint of amusement.

At some unknown moment, Lumian found himself at peace. He chuckled along and said,

"Alright, Mr. Fool."

Mr. Fool gently nodded and replied, "Then I shall convene an impromptu gathering now."

-x-X-x-

As rays of light rose and solidified into various figures, each completing their greeting to Mr. Fool, the central head of Lumian scanned the room and said, "Thank you all for your help. At the moment, I only possess the Post-Apocalyptic Scripture as an Angel-level item, so I can't provide equivalent compensation for everyone. However, if there's anything you need from me in the future, just let me know."

Hearing the second half of this statement, The Hanged Man Alger was momentarily stunned before realizing something critical: This was a promise.

And this promise was worth more than any Grade o Sealed Artifact!

After all, Lumian was now a dual Sequence o true god. The help promised by a true god surpassed the value of any Grade o Sealed Artifact!

Little do I know, a Tarot Club member has already turned into a true god... The Hanged Man Alger found his thoughts adrift.

When the Tarot Club was first established, he had harbored doubts, excitement, and fantasies but had never imagined witnessing a scene like this.

In the brief silence that followed, Madam Justice, Mr. Star, and the others similarly came to grips with the fact that Mr. Chariot was now both the Red Priest and the Chaos Demoness-a dual-pathway true god poised to become a great existence!

Not even the Rose Redemption of the past had members of such caliber... This sentiment emerged simultaneously in the hearts of Madam Magician and Ma'am Hermit, both well-versed in ancient history.

The Rose Redemption had been a secret organization of the Third Epoch, with members ranging from a true god to Kings of Angels.

Mr. Hanged Man glanced at Mr. Sun and Madam Judgment, then smiled at Lumian. "My spoils of war are my compensation. Besides, it was my duty. The help I provided was actually quite limited."

This was true. Most of what they had done was of little significance in Lumian's battle against the Primordial Demoness. For Sequence 3 Saints wielding Grade o Sealed Artifacts, directly intervening in such a contest would have been suicidal. Even true Angels could only

contribute meaningfully when the Primordial Demoness briefly descended to the level of a King of Angels.

In other words, those who truly aided Lumian were Madam Magician and Madam Justice, who intercepted the Demonesses of Gray and Yellow; the Angel of Time, the Angel of the Holy Spirit, and Ma'am Hermit, who held off the Abomination siblings; the Evernight Goddess's divine descent, which delayed the Primordial Demoness long enough for Amon to finish stealing a wish; and Amon Himself, who transported miracles and enacted direct salvation. The other Major Arcana card holders had three primary objectives for participating in this operation:

To eliminate as many high-ranking Demonesses as possible and seize their potent Sealed Artifacts to prevent them, unprotected after the Primordial Demoness's fall, from defecting to the Mother Goddess of Depravity or succumbing to the crimson moonlight, gradually losing control and become a latent problem.

To claim spoils of war and grow stronger. Although cruel, the reality was that the more Angels and Grade o Sealed Artifacts in the protected zones, the more prepared they would be to confront anomalies and perhaps even safeguard more of humanity when the apocalypse truly arrived.

To assist Franca in bringing a catastrophe upon the Demoness Sect. Without such help, surviving alone would have been a miracle for her.

The Hanged Man Alger believed Lumian's gratitude was primarily directed at the third point. Hence, he did not downplay his contributions but merely clarified their limited scope- especially since The Sun Derrick, Judgment Xio, and even the more significant contributors like Justice, The Magician, and The Hermit had not yet received spoils of war. He could not speak for them.

The Sun Derrick nodded and said, "Finding and adhering to my core justice is compensation enough for me."

The Chariot Lumian did not argue, only smiling in return. "Perhaps I can assist with your advancement ritual."

Though Lumian had never personally seen any Blasphemy Slate or held the Cards of Blasphemy's Sun card, as a true god of the Demoness pathway with the unique chaos vortex face, he could intuitively sense that the Sun pathway's Sequence 2 Sun Chaser (or Lightseeker) advancement ritual involved the sun in either a mystical or real-world sense.

The Sun Derrick was silent for two seconds before choosing not to modestly decline.

In the current situation, this was the justice he needed to uphold.

Lumian then turned to Madam Temperance Sharron.

"I made a promise to Naboredisley-the former Devil Monarch Farbauti. Once I fulfill it, He will ensure His Abomination avatar perishes and transfer the Beyonder characteristic to me.

"When the time comes, I would like to exchange that characteristic for the Calamity of Crimson in your possession."

The name "Calamity of Crimson" came from the consciousness of Cheek's face. Trading a Sequence 1 Beyonder characteristic for a Grade o Sealed Artifact corresponding to a Sequence 2 Demoness of Catastrophe was obviously unequal. However, Sharron knew that the Abomination Beyonder characteristic was a reward for her teacher, the Angel of the Holy Spirit, Reinette Tinekerr. The Sequence 2 Ancient Bane extracted from it would ultimately belong to her. The exchange for the Calamity of Crimson was effectively an intermediary step. Sharon picked up a manifested pen, quickly wrote her answer on paper, and raised it: "No problem."

Lumian nodded before addressing Mr. Sun again, "Once I obtain the Calamity of Crimson, I'd like to exchange it with the New City of Silver for the Sealed Artifact, Gift of the Land. I may need it in the future."

The Sealed Artifact-Gift of the Land-originated from Omebella's remains and was considered a high-risk item. If not for the Church of The Fool's headquarters being located in the New City of Silver and Mr. Fool's constant attention, the six-member council would have long struggled with how to handle it. Now, Lumian had provided them with an opportunity. The Sun Derrick was initially tempted but soon felt reluctant.

Though the Gift of the Land had brought great suffering to the City of Silver, it was also what allowed them to endure over two thousand years of darkness and despair, finally awaiting Mr. Fool's salvation.

Pain had long been intertwined with the continuation of their bloodline, making it difficult to separate the two.

Lumian did not rush him, quietly waiting for Mr. Sun to make his decision.

After some time, The Sun Derrick instinctively looked toward the head of the bronze table.

When in doubt or difficulty, he always hoped for Mr. Fool's guidance and Mr. Hanged Man's

advice.

Mr. Fool gently nodded.

The Sun Derrick took a deep breath, suppressing his reluctance, and said to The Chariot

Lumian, "Alright."

The Chariot Lumian shifted his gaze to Madam Justice.

"Once I've used the Gift of the Land, its issues may be resolved. At that point, I'll give it to

you."

The perceptive Justice Audrey did not refuse, nodding before tilting her head toward Madam Magician with a smile. "If you need it, I can lend it to you."

This referred to Madam Magician's plan to relocate the entire Abraham family and as many humans as possible to a more habitable planet at the edge of the universe when the apocalypse arrived. The Gift of the Land could effectively terraform the environment and

provide sustenance.

Of course, if Omebella's remains retained their unique dangers, carrying it would be out of the question. It would be better to acquire another Grade o Sealed Artifact corresponding to the

Desolate Matriarch.

"Alright," Madam Magician replied without hesitation.

Lumian then addressed her directly, "I will open all special mirror worlds inhabited by

sentient beings. You can travel there and help spread my teachings. The more anchors I have

for my upcoming endeavors, the better."

Madam Magician immediately understood. This was an opportunity for her to Travel and

counted as a form of compensation.

She had never considered visiting the special mirror worlds or the extradimensional spaces attached to them for potion digestion because these belonged to the Primordial Demoness, making them even more dangerous than traversing the cosmos. After all, roaming the cosmos had a higher chance of evading the attention of the Great Old Dominators, whereas entering the Primordial Demoness's domain guaranteed discovery.

Never thought I'd rely on his help for potion digestion one day... The Magician Fors chuckled and asked, "Okay. What is your current honorific name?"

Lumian deliberated for a few seconds before answering, "The Symbol of War and Apocalypse, the Demoness wielding Chaos, the Many-Faced One who offers sacrifices to Calamity, and the Ruler of the Mirror World."

A true dual-pathway true god... Madam Magician silently marveled. Lumian then turned to Ma'am Hermit. "I will assist Queen Mystic in completing her digestion

of the Sage potion and help you digest as much as possible."

Ma'am Hermit made an "mm" sound and thanked him.

A Sage always opposed disaster and calamity, and the individual sitting diagonally opposite

her represented these concepts. There was no one better suited than Lumian to aid in the Sage

potion digestion.

Then, Lumian addressed Mr. Star, "Tell Mr. Pallez that I owe him one."

He turned to Madam Judgment next. "I owe you one as well-or the Post-Apocalyptic

Scripture?"

"Alright," said Mr. Star without declining on behalf of the old man.

Under the circumstances, Judgment Xio, known for her group-mindedness and adherence to order, found it hard to refuse. She chose the favor as compensation.

Having distributed the rewards, Lumian thought for a moment before looking at Madam

Magician again.

"I'd like to borrow the Box of the Great Old Ones for a while. Perhaps I can resolve the third

level's hidden danger for the Abraham family and replace it with an equivalent but more

manageable anomaly.

"If I don't succeed, I'll return it as is."

Madam Magician's expression became thoughtful before she nodded. "No problem."

The Chariot Lumian leaned back in his chair, saying no more.

Judgment Xio immediately looked at Mr. Star Leonard. "Can I trade Solomon's Mask with you for the Justiciar-pathway Grade o Sealed Artifact?"

-x-X-x-

The Star Leonard looked back at Madam Judgment, slightly surprised as he asked, "You're not switching to the Black Emperor pathway?"

Switching pathways could grant unique, hybrid, and sometimes bizarre Beyonder powers. Though the rituals might have hidden requirements and associated risks, theoretically, such individuals were harder to deal with than Beyonders who stayed on a single pathway to its peak.

Judgment Xio spoke calmly, "If there's no other option, I will switch to the Black Emperor pathway. But as long as there's a possibility to continue on the Justiciar pathway, I would prefer to pursue that."

She paused, adding, "I personally aspire to establish orders that align with the morality of the times and devote myself fully to maintaining them while constantly adjusting and refining them based on reality's feedback.

"Once order becomes rigid, it inevitably falls into shadow."

The Star Leonard nodded in agreement, saying, "I'm willing to make the trade."

To him, Solomon's Mask and the Pillar of Severity were essentially equivalent-they were items meant to be handed in, traded for the Sequence 2 Servant of Concealment Beyonder characteristic of the Darkness pathway.

If there wasn't an opening for a Servant of Concealment, he was already prepared to switch to Sequence 2 of one of the neighboring pathways-the Death pathway's Death Consul or the Giant pathway's Glory.

After Leonard and Xio completed their exchange of the two Grade o Sealed Artifacts, Mr. Fool, seated at the head of the bronze table, turned to The Hanged Man Alger. In a warm tone, he said, "The Book of Calamity task cannot currently be completed due to the premature descent of the crimson moon. You will need to wait until the moment the apocalypse arrives. If you do not wish to wait and prefer to ascend to angelhood sooner, I can assist you by using The Setting Sun Rooster to trade for the Sequence 2 Beyonder characteristic and supplementary ingredients from the Sun, White Tower, or Tyrant pathways."

White Tower was the Sequence o of the Reader pathway, corresponding to the God of Knowledge and Wisdom.

The Sequence 2 Beyonder characteristic of this pathway and the Tyrant pathway might no longer exist within their respective Churches but could still be found as Sealed Artifacts in other Churches.

The Sun pathway's Sequence 2 Beyonder characteristics were relatively more abundant, partly due to the fall of the Eternal Blazing Sun and partly because not every Sequence 3 Justice Mentor in the Church of the Eternal Blazing Sun fulfilled the conditions for advancement. In the past few months, Saint Viève and Saint Lutique, two senior Sun Chasers, had each successfully advanced after Mr. Fool returned two Sequence 1 White Angel Beyonder characteristics.

Mr. Fool continued, "You can also consider switching to the Secrets Supplicant pathway. The Setting Sun Rooster, originating from the fall of the Ancient Sun God, carries the Sequence 2 Beyonder characteristic Profane Presbyter tainted by the Sun's power. I can purify the corresponding corruption for you.

"Take your time to consider carefully before deciding."

The Hanged Man Alger fell silent, seemingly torn and hesitant.

After a dozen seconds, he suddenly chuckled. "Honorable Mr. Fool, I wish to become a Profane Presbyter."

The Sun Derrick looked at Mr. Hanged Man in astonishment, utterly baffled by his choice. He believed that the White Tower pathway's Sequence 2 Wisdom Angel or the Tyrant pathway's Sequence 2 Calamity would suit Alger better, especially the former.

Alger smiled faintly and said in a low voice, "This pathway is more adaptable in actual combat and better suited to handling various situations."

He then added in a self-deprecating tone, "By choosing this, my Hanged Man card becomes even more fitting. Perhaps this is fate-one always returns to the card they once chose."

Hearing this, Madam Magician, who had deep knowledge of Tarot cards, was suddenly reminded of a phrase: "The Hanged Man represents downfall, selfishness, as well as endurance, sacrifice, and dedication."

Seeing that The Hanged Man Alger had made his decision, Mr. Fool did not offer further advice.

"After the gathering, I will provide the ritual. Once you're prepared, pray to me to shatter the characteristic, purify the corruption, and supply the supplementary ingredients."

"Yes, Mr. Fool." Alger was both elated and burdened with a sense of responsibility.

As the current Sea God and a legendary adventurer perpetually roaming the seas, he had long since digested his Sea King potion.

The Chariot Lumian straightened his posture and said, "Mr. Fool, I will supply the supplementary ingredients. Just provide me with the corresponding knowledge, and I can envision them out of thin air."

He was unsure whether Mr. Fool had access to the supplementary ingredients for Profane Presbyter or could summon them from the historical fog for temporary use, so he proactively offered to handle it.

"Very well." Shrouded in gray fog, Mr. Fool nodded slightly.

After discussing this matter, The Moon Emlyn glanced around the room and hesitated before saying, "Your potions are either fully digested, were digested during this operation, or you've found ways to expedite digestion. However, my High Summoner is still lacking. Advancing quickly would require taking risks. Do you have any suggestions?"

Before any other Major Arcana card holders could respond, The Chariot Lumian smiled and said, "That's simple.

"After the gathering, set up a ritual and summon me. I will respond."

Wh-Mr. Moon Emlyn was momentarily stunned.

Of course! This individual is a dual-pathway true god, possessing unique traits...

If a High Summoner could complete such a high-level summoning and succeed, their remaining potion would undoubtedly be fully digested.

"Thank you." The Moon Emlyn was not particularly adept at communication and could only express his gratitude in the simplest terms.

After further exchanges, Mr. Fool gently tapped the edge of the bronze table.

Once all the Major Arcana card holders turned their attention to him, he spoke in a warm but emotional tone, "This operation was a success. Though many high-ranking Demonesses were not truly killed, the destruction and reformation of the mirror world left their numbers dwindling. Their relics may have been inherited by the Demoness of Cyan trio, but they will no longer impact future developments.

"Everyone, the final moment is approaching. We have about a month left to make all necessary preparations. Make the most of it.

"I hope that after the apocalypse, no one will be absent from the next Tarot Gathering."

Hearing this, Justice Audrey felt a complex surge of emotions.

She stood up and, alongside the other Major Arcana card holders, curtsied. "Yes, Mr. Fool."

...

Returning to the real world, Lumian descended the stairs into the small living room.

He glanced at Franca and casually asked, "Where's Anthony?"

"In the kitchen, helping Ludwig," Franca replied, glancing toward the living room entrance before lowering her voice. "You can tell me about the knowledge of great existences now,

right?"

Lumian briefly explained the Great Old Dominators such as Mother Goddess of Depravity and Circle of Inevitability, who were Above the Sequences, and Their goals. He also introduced the situation regarding the sefirot and updated Franca on the Mother Goddess of Depravity's

current activities.

Franca listened in shock, murmuring, "Isn't the number of great existences a little too

many..."

She then looked toward the faces of Cheek and Tudor on Lumian's left shoulder.

"They're truly mad..."

She now had a deeper understanding of the monumental risk Primordial Demoness Cheek had

taken with Her grand plan.

If She had failed, she would have dragged the entire planet- and perhaps the universe-

down with Her!

Cheek's face couldn't speak but lifted Her chin proudly, while Tudor's face refused to react.

Lumian sneered and shifted the topic to other knowledge about Above the Sequences. After listening intently, Franca sighed. "So we had our Spirit Bodies extracted and hung up in Sefirah Castle, avoiding the end of the world when the Oldest One awoke, as well as the later struggles between God Almighty and the Celestial Worthy..."

As she spoke, her thoughts wandered. "Most of the Curly-Haired Baboon Research Society have no idea about the truth or that the Northern and Southern Continents are already

destroyed.

"That's probably for the best-let them greet the apocalypse with joy..."

The Curly-Haired Baboons Research Society's members had mostly survived the crimson moon disaster because the one the Aurora Order believed in had shielded them in time.

This was why Franca had complicated feelings about that individual. She knew that Jenna's death and Lumian's ordeals were connected to Him. Yet, He had indeed protected the world,

including her and her friends.

Thus, she had never brought up the idea of revenge-not because she didn't harbor resentment, but because she couldn't voice it. When she heard Lumian had punched Him

twice, she felt both stunned and amused.

After a few seconds, Franca exhaled slowly and said, "If we survive the apocalypse, I want to travel to the Western Continent and live there for a while."

As she spoke, she smiled warmly and sincerely invited Lumian, Aurore, and Jenna. "Would you like to come along? I'll explain and introduce everything to you. I'll be your

guide." Lumian's expression softened gradually. He glanced at the head on his right shoulder and smiled as he said, "Aurore can explain and introduce things too." "Deal!" Franca beamed and extended her right hand, giving Lumian a high-five.

She found pinky promises too childish; a high-five suited her much better.

At that moment, Ludwig entered the living room, chewing on a steak.

"What are you doing here?" Franca asked, slightly surprised.

You haven't even finished your meal yet...

"I called him here," Lumian explained with a smile.

Why would Lumian need Ludwig at this moment? Was it mealtime? Franca was puzzled.

For the past year, Lumian had used his unique abilities to take Ludwig out of the protected

zone daily to feast on the oceans of the World of Ruins, just as Franca accompanied Lumian into the ruins to let him lose control and vent his madness every day.

Seeing Ludwig also looking at him curiously, Lumian retrieved an item from his divine

kingdom.

It was a three-tiered silver-black jewelry box encrusted with countless gemstones-Box of

the Great Old Ones!

-x-X-x-

As soon as the silver-black, three-tiered jewelry box inlaid with various gemstones was taken out and placed on the coffee table, Franca felt an inexplicable chill. It was as if the

environment around her had undergone a strange transformation.

Ever since becoming a Demoness of Catastrophe, her spiritual intuition had grown much sharper.

The head on Lumian's left shoulder turned, and the face of Alista Tudor now faced forward, gazing at the Box of the Great Old Ones.

The intricate jewelry box let out a sudden creaking sound, as if the materials comprising it were buckling under some invisible pressure, on the verge of shattering.

All the anomalies Franca had sensed disappeared simultaneously.

"Box of the Great Old Ones?" Franca asked Lumian curiously.

Although she hadn't participated in the Major Arcana gatherings or the distribution of Grade o Sealed Artifacts, she had been briefed in advance about which items to avoid should a

skirmish occur. This box was one of them.

Lumian nodded slightly and placed his right hand atop the Box of the Great Old Ones, gently tapping it.

"I felt it was fated with Ludwig, so I borrowed it for a while."

The phrase "fated" was something he had picked up in the dream city, though it was no longer rare in the ruins of the Northern and Southern Continents. Members of the Curly- Haired Baboons Research Society had unconsciously spread new terms, and Lumian believed that visitors from Penglai, like Harrison, were also introducing similar ideas.

Fated with Ludwig? Franca instinctively turned her head to glance at Ludwig, who was dressed in formal children's attire.

The boy, steak clamped between his teeth, stared blankly at the Box of the Great Old Ones, as though lost in a dream.

Lumian slid his hand to the third layer of the silver-black jewelry box and smiled as he asked Ludwig, "Can you sense what's hidden inside?"

Ludwig, as if sleepwalking, extended his hand to the opposite side of the third layer of the box.

Almost instantly, Franca's ears filled with bizarre sounds of chewing, swallowing, and digesting. It was as though something was gnawing on her flesh and bones from within.

The sound originated from the depths of the third layer of the Box of the Great Old Ones and resonated from the depths of her psyche.

"It's... it's..." Ludwig stammered, the piece of steak dropping to the ground.

The boy's face, like a sheet covering a bed, was propped up into "tents" by unseen limbs.

With a mix of desire, reverence, fear, and trembling, he said, "It's... the power of Primordial Hunger!"

Primordial Hunger... One of the Great Old Dominators... Franca felt the surrounding environment suddenly grow dark and layered, as though some malevolent gaze had isolated them.

Looking around, she quickly realized they had been transported to Lumian's divine kingdom. This move was to prevent Primordial Hunger from leveraging the mystical connections formed during their discussion to destabilize the protected zone.

The middle head on Lumian's shoulders retained its earlier smile as he continued to ask Ludwig, "What would happen if I opened this layer?"

Ludwig jerked back as if electrocuted, stammering in fear, "It might—it might immediately devour everything around us. Or it might start by consuming-consuming our subconscious and the deepest parts of our islands of consciousness. It would eat emotions, memories, spirit, and consciousness, then flesh and blood, then night, day, good, evil, order, and disaster. It would continue until it consumed parts of the world's fundamental rules, destabilizing reality and dissolving the barriers at their foundation..."

"As expected, your pathway eventually leads to devouring rules, concepts, authorities, and even symbols," Lumian remarked with satisfaction, the middle head nodding slightly.

Looking at Ludwig with an ambiguous smile, he asked in a Demoness-like whisper, "Can you devour the danger hidden in the box?"

Cheek's face turned forward, showing keen interest in Ludwig's response.

Visibly terrified, Ludwig blurted, "How could I?"

His words seemed to imply not that it was impossible but that it shouldn't be done-such an act would be rebellion, blasphemy!

Lumian offered no reply, his smile unchanging as he continued to gaze at Ludwig.

Ludwig fell silent, his expressions shifting from cowardice to resistance, to temptation, to hesitation and fear.

His face had never been so expressive.

Franca adopted a spectator's stance, waiting for Lumian to offer some dark persuasion and Ludwig to respond with his own struggles.

After a few seconds, Lumian spoke in a measured tone, "The core of your pathway is 'devouring' and 'digesting.' Devouring the external world is not the end goal. Even consuming rules, concepts, authorities, and symbols is not the end. Devouring yourself, devouring your father, devouring the god you worship-that is your ultimate fate, the pinnacle of hunger.

"Perhaps that's the very reason He created all of you."

"Isn't that a bit... too extreme?" Ludwig asked with a clarity that suggested he had received some moral education.

Good kid, showing some humanity... Franca thought, nodding in approval.

She figured that if she chose the Spectator pathway, she could act out the role just as well.

Lumian glanced at Jenna's face on the head over his right shoulder and said to Ludwig with a smile, "It is indeed extreme. I wouldn't want you to be controlled by your godhood and instincts to do something so drastic.

"So I'm only asking if you can devour the danger hidden in the box-not if you can devour Primordial Hunger. In the current circumstances, strengthening yourself as much as possible is the best choice."

Ludwig opened his mouth as if to speak but closed it again, his expression shifting. Moments later, the sound of him swallowing saliva echoed audibly.

Oh Lord, you taste so good? Franca mentally captioned Ludwig's reaction.

After some time, Ludwig finally spoke.

"Not yet. I'd need to recover to my original level and receive help from another great

existence."

With a nod, Lumian said, "So even just devouring it temporarily, storing it without digesting or absorbing it, requires the help of a Great Old Dominator?"

"Yes," Ludwig affirmed with a heavy nod.

Lumian pondered briefly before smiling again. "Then we'll wait."

He extended one of the arms holding the Red Priest Uniqueness, along with one of the new beautiful hands that had grown on his right side, toward Ludwig. In the current situation, although the Red Priest Uniqueness still retained the form of a charred flag, it wouldn't cause those who witnessed it to lose control and go crazy. This was because it was a part of Lumian and was under control. Lumian could let it display the influence of godhood as and when he

wanted it to.

"You can pick which one to devour," Lumian said with a smile.

Ludwig froze. "Can I really eat this?"

Franca blinked, finally understanding Lumian's intent.

He was letting Ludwig devour a part of his own body to allow Ludwig to gain the separated Sequence 2 Beyonder characteristic and thus recover his original level, freeing him from the seal of the God of Knowledge and Wisdom.

Lumian currently had three extra Sequence 2 Beyonder characteristics: one Weather Warlock

and two Demoness of Catastrophe.

"Of course. I'm your godfather," Lumian said with a smile.

Ludwig swallowed hard, looked left and right for a few seconds, and hesitated for a few

seconds before saying, "That one."

He pointed to Lumian's left arm, which carried the Weather Warlock Beyonder characteristic

derived from Tudor's Conqueror Beyonder characteristics.

"Very well." Lumian raised the corresponding arm.

Ludwig leaned in and bit down on the hand.

As deep red blood burned like flames and flowed, the sounds of gnawing and chewing filled

the room, making Franca shudder.

Franca gasped in shock, thinking that Lumian was being a bit too extreme. Wouldn't it be better

to separate the Beyonder characteristic first before feeding it to Ludwig?

It's not like it couldn't be done.

She glanced at the Tudor face on Lumian's left shoulder and noticed an expression of faint

pain, a primal discomfort.

The corresponding Weather Warlock Beyonder characteristic belonged to Alista Tudor. Letting Ludwig

directly devour it was this a form of revenge? But you're hurting yourself too... Franca suddenly had

a guess and sighed deeply.

Soon, Ludwig finished gnawing off Lumian's hand, leaving only the exposed, bare, iron- colored wrist bone, dripping with burning crimson blood.

Ludwig leaned back, licking the blood off the corners of his mouth, looking like he wanted

more.

The skin on his face and body was on the verge of tearing apart, as though something massive inside him was about to burst forth.

The seal of the God of Knowledge and Wisdom could no longer hold him back.

At that moment, Ludwig took control of himself, refraining from breaking the sealing layer, maintaining the appearance of a little boy.

Lumian smiled and turned to Franca, saying, "I'll separate the remaining two Demoness of Catastrophe Beyonder characteristics later to balance my body better. Heh, the Sick Church will also need a Grade o Sealed Artifact. Oh, and the name 'Sick Church' will gradually have to

change." "Good, good, good!" Franca replied quickly, as though afraid Lumian might change his mind. Although she knew Lumian was primarily planning for his own future, the fact that he was willing to consider the future at all was a good sign.

Lumian studied Ludwig for a few seconds before smiling and asking, "What's your plan going

forward?"

Ludwig was silent for a moment before replying, "If I don't get devoured during the

apocalypse, I want to remain a child first, grow up normally, grow old, and fully experience the life of a human. Then, I'll make comparisons."

Lumian hummed in acknowledgment and asked casually, "You've returned to the angel level now, haven't you? What's the name of your Sequence?"

As he spoke, blood and flames intertwined at his severed wrist, regenerating a new hand.

Ludwig thought for a few seconds and then said, "In your language, it's called the Angel of Devouring."

-x-X-x-

"Angel of Devouring? What abilities does it have?" Franca asked Ludwig casually, treating him as one of their own.

After all, he was like her godchild!

Ludwig, who had yet to break the seal and regain his full intelligence, answered honestly, "The core ability is to devour the rules of a specific area and certain shallow-level concepts, though there are limits to the number and range."

"Devour rules? How does that work?" Franca's curiosity was unmasked.

It sounded pretty powerful.

Before Ludwig could respond, Lumian reverted the scene back to the protected zone. The surroundings were no longer layered in dark mirrors, and sunlight once again shone through the windows into the clean, bright living room.

Ludwig glanced at the sunlight streaming in and the well-lit room before slowly opening his mouth.

Suddenly, Franca's vision was consumed by darkness; the entire area became unnaturally black.

For someone like her, who possessed Night Vision, it wasn't an issue. She turned to look at Ludwig and could still see the boy clearly.

"I thought you swallowed up the entire area, including us, into your stomach," Franca joked.

Ludwig froze for a moment before explaining, "I could, but at my current level, I can't directly swallow areas or physical targets. I'd need to create a vortex in my mouth to pull you all in, and you'd be able to resist that pull."

"I see..." Franca switched gears and asked, "So what exactly are you devouring right now?" "It's the rule of Sunlight Illumination. Even if a Beyonder creates sunlight again, until this rule is restored, that sunlight won't function," Ludwig explained earnestly.

Lumian smiled and inquired, "Can you spit out the devoured rule?"

"Once something is devoured, it's gone for good; it can't be restored." Ludwig opened his mouth again.

The sunlight returned to illuminate the living room.

"Didn't you say it couldn't be restored?" Franca asked, amused.

Ludwig picked up the piece of steak from the ground, stuffed it into his mouth, and chewed before answering, "It's not that the rule was restored; I created a new rule similar to the original."

"So devouring a rule allows you to use it yourself?" Franca suddenly understood.

"Only once," Ludwig admitted. "To use it repeatedly, I'd need to devour the source power that creates the rule."

Franca had initially wanted to ask how long it would take for a devoured rule to recover, but her spiritual intuition had already given her the answer: one to three minutes.

"And how does devouring shallow concepts work?" she asked instead.

Ludwig turned his gaze to the crystal chandelier with its golden frame. His eyes reflected the object.

He opened his mouth again.

Franca followed his gaze and noticed the chandelier's faint gold frame turning pitch black and dull, utterly unappealing.

The golden hues of other items in the living room also disappeared, leaving a void of blackness.

"Did you devour the concept of 'gold"?" Franca clicked her tongue.

Ludwig nodded. "Can the concept of 'gold' recover on its own?" Franca asked, finding the suddenly drab living room rather unappealing.

"...It depends on how it's devoured. One method allows for recovery, while the other makes the concept permanently disappear within the affected range-unless other Beyonder powers intervene," Ludwig hesitated before answering.

"Which method did you use just now?" Franca suddenly had a bad feeling.

"The second one," Ludwig confessed.

Lumian chuckled and raised his right hand, snapping his fingers.

With a snap, all the golden hues in the living room were restored.

Franca's first reaction was: You can perform magic and create miracles now?

She immediately remembered that this wasn't the World of Ruins, not the real world. Even Frank Lee's thoughts could affect sailors in their surroundings, let alone Lumian, who could partially wield the powers of a Visionary.

"Let me try next time!" she said regretfully.

Lumian turned to Ludwig and asked, "What's the name of Sequence 1? And what about Sequence o?"

Ludwig mumbled, "Overall, Sequence 1 is called Chaos Gastric Juices, and Sequence o... In the dream city, I saw a term I thought was fitting-Gluttony. Otherwise, you could call it Self- Devourer or Tail-Devourer. It means devouring oneself, digesting oneself, and growing oneself anew."

"Tail-Devourer probably represents a cycle rather than literally devouring oneself. Let's go with Gluttony or Self-Devourer," Franca opined.

Lumian chuckled. "Pathways with the prefix 'Primordial' always seem to have some

connection to chaos."

He then said to Ludwig, "You can go back to the kitchen and continue eating. When the time is right, we'll open the third layer of the Box of the Great Old Ones."

Ludwig breathed a sigh of relief and left the living room reluctantly.

Franca's gaze returned to the Box of the Great Old Ones before glancing at Lumian. She opened her mouth but changed her question at the last moment, "What are the abilities and negative effects of this Grade o Sealed Artifact?"

"The first layer swaps the internal space with the target area, rapidly turning whatever is placed into the box into toys. The second layer records various scenes and allows the user to add new ones. When opened, the holder and all living beings within the designated range are forcibly transported to the specified location.

"The hidden risk of this transportation is randomness. It only works as intended a small fraction of the time. Most of the time, the destination changes unpredictably. Furthermore, the good luck given by the Post-Apocalyptic Scripture can't influence it, or to be more precise -Sequence 1-level or lower good fortune cannot influence this randomness accurately.

"As for the third layer, well, you've already heard it." Lumian gave a brief summary of the Box of the Great Old One's abilities.

Franca was taken aback. "Good luck from anything below Sequence o can hardly influence the randomness?

"Then how did Madam Temperance accurately transport herself and the Demoness of Black to the Underworld using the blessings of the Angel of Mercury? Or was it actually Mr. Fool's miracle that made it happen?"

Franca was very interested in her former superior, Demoness of Black Clarice. During their return to the protected zone, she had briefly asked Madam Temperance about her fate. The latter had explained in rough detail through written notes.

She knew that the Demoness of Black had been transported to the Underworld by the Box of the Great Old Ones and perished there. However, her dormant mirror remained intact, enabling future resurrection.

Of course, reviving through a dormant mirror was a process that took time. When the mirror world completely collapsed with the fall of the Primordial Demoness and the world's mirrors shattered, dormant mirrors would be hard-pressed to survive-unless placed in locations with exceptional protection or potent interference.

Based on this, Franca suspected that the Demoness of Black had failed to resurrect before her

dormant mirror was destroyed and was truly dead.

This aligned closely with what Lumian had relayed from Mr. Fool's final remarks.

Lumian smiled at Franca but offered no explanation.

Franca wanted to press further but closed her mouth instead.

As Lumian sealed the Box of the Great Old Ones, he said to Franca, "Give me a dormant mirror

to keep in my divine kingdom. In the future, as long as you're not killed by one of a few

specific abilities, you'll always be able to resurrect."

"Alright, I'll fetch one later-or rather, I'll make a new one," Franca readily agreed. She, of

course, didn't carry dormant mirrors on her person. They were hidden in secret places, like the Nation of the Evernight. After becoming a Demoness of Catastrophe, she could now create three more dormant mirrors even before her potion was fully digested.

Lumian hummed in acknowledgment and stood up.

"Where are you going?" Franca calculated the time and found that his "occasional" bout of

clarity wasn't over yet.

"Helping Mr. Moon digest his potion. I feel like he's about to summon me," Lumian replied

with a smile.

"Sounds like fun," Franca said, her eyes relaxing into a smile.

She pondered for a moment and said, "Once I've made a new dormant mirror, I'll visit my

only subordinate and let her know the Demoness Sect is finished."

...

Backlund, in the basement of a villa.

In the underground area of a villa, a vibrant tomb surrounded by mutated grass, flowers, grains, and insects stood tall. Several Sanguine stood upright before it.

The Moon Emlyn was nearby, setting up a ritual altar.

He felt a little confused about the situation. Originally, he had only intended to enhance the

digestion of his potion by summoning a high-level existence. To ensure the effect, he planned to have a few Counts under his command witness the ritual as audience members for feedback. However, the Sanguine had taken this matter exceptionally seriously. They had asked him to conduct the summoning in front of the Round Moon Duke Olmer's coffin and even summoned several younger marquises to observe.

What was supposed to be a small affair suddenly became solemn and grand.

Although bewildered, Emlyn understood the current situation.

All the existing Dukes of the Sanguine were too old. Their bodies were failing, and leaving their coffins for prolonged periods was not an option. Other marquises were either similarly aged and weakened or lacked sufficient protection from those of higher ranks, making them vulnerable to losing control during the advancement ritual under the crimson moon's

influence.

Thus, Emlyn had become the Sanguine's hope-the marquis most likely to ascend to angelhood in recent years. No amount of importance attached to him was excessive. Did I ever tell them who I'm summoning? I think I only mentioned summoning a high-ranking existence... The Moon Emlyn pondered over this trivial matter while arranging the altar. The upcoming summoning was likely one of the rarest in mysticism history. He couldn't simply rely on his abilities to create a Door of Summoning and call it a day. Respect and ceremony were a must.

Of course, this wasn't his first high-level summoning. If the projection of Gehrman Sparrow he had summoned in the dream city had been complete, his High Summoner potion would

have been fully digested long ago.

Before long, The Moon Emlyn finished preparing the altar. He turned to the tomb of the Round Moon Duke Olmer and the surrounding Sanguine marquises and announced, "I'm about to begin the summoning."

-x-X-x-

"Begin," the rich voice of Round Moon Duke Olmer echoed from within the tomb.

The Moon Emlyn hummed in acknowledgment, erected a wall of spirituality, and began the ritual following standard summoning protocols. He lit candles and offered his sacrifice-a glass of absinthe shimmering with a dreamy green hue.

Taking two steps back, he recited the first verse of the incantation in ancient Hermes, "I!"

As his voice reverberated, The Moon Emlyn broke from convention and continued the chant in ancient Hermes rather than switching to Hermes.

"I summon in my name:"

He stretched out his hands, and with the chant, conjured a phantom door inscribed with countless mysterious symbols amidst the expanding candle flames.

Then, Emlyn uttered the honorific name of the entity he was summoning, "The Demoness wielding Chaos, the Many-Faced One who offers sacrifices to Calamity, and the Ruler of the Mirror World."

He deliberately avoided the part of the honorific name "Symbol of War and Apocalypse" — as summoning a true god-level existence through the Door of Summoning might naturally affect the surroundings. The "Apocalypse" aspect was particularly unwelcome for the aged and frail Round Moon Duke Olmer and his peers.

Hearing the three titles uttered by Emlyn, the surrounding Sanguine marquises displayed puzzled expressions.

Isn't the first line associated with the Primordial Demoness?

And who does the other two lines refer to?

I've never heard of the Primordial Demoness being called the Ruler of the Mirror World...

Did something happen in the World of Ruins? Did the Primordial Demoness's honorific name change? Is Emlyn attempting to summon the Primordial Demoness?

Could he possibly be summoning a true god?

Isn't the Primordial Demoness barred from entering the protected zone? Haw Emlyn been bewitched into summoning Her to destabilize the zone?

The Sanguine marquises, alarmed and wary, were about to recite the honorific names of other true gods for protection when the mystical and hazy Door of Summoning abruptly swung open. Beyond the door lay a profound darkness, studded with countless stars and filled with innumerable indistinct phantoms.

Six massive hands suddenly emerged from within, gripping the doorframe itself.

Some were delicate and beautiful, with flawless white skin, while others were robust, with clearly defined joints, exuding masculine strength. Each set of hands occupied one side of the doorway, squeezing it tightly, making it hard to fathom the size of the being they belonged

to.

Some Sanguine marquises stared blankly at the pristine, elegant hands, their minds conjuring visions of the overwhelming beauty of their owner. Others felt as though the bronzed hands were pressing down on their heads from a distance, causing them to bow involuntarily, forgetting entirely what they had intended to do.

Around the Round Moon Duke's tomb, the grass, grains, flowers, and insects all turned toward the Door of Summoning and prostrated themselves on the ground.

Finally, the six massive hands pushed the phantom Door of Summoning open as far as it would go, and a figure emerged.

In that instant, all the Sanguine present, including Round Moon Duke Olmer and The Moon Emlyn, saw themselves-sometimes with resentful expressions, sometimes with hostile gazes, sometimes appearing as they had in their youth.

These were their mirror reflections, originating from both the present and the past.

They also saw the ideal lover they had envisioned in their hearts, the most captivating member of the opposite sex.

Each of them became entranced, floating in a dreamlike state, as though reality itself had become unmoored.

It was unclear how much time had passed before they managed to regain a semblance of self- awareness. They found that the summoning ritual had long since concluded. The flames on the candles had shrunk back to their original size, flickering quietly.

The Moon Emlyn quickly examined himself and, unsurprisingly, confirmed that he had completely digested the High Summoner potion.

At that moment, the rich voice of Round Moon Duke Olmer came from within the tomb, "Whom exactly did you summon?"

The Moon Emlyn unconsciously lifted his chin slightly and replied, "An existence who has just ascended to become a dual-pathway true god."

...

Trier, Quartier de la Maison d'Opéra, Rue du Chapeau Noir.

Niceea, with her brown curls pinned up, sat in the rocking chair of her apartment, idly swaying as she stared off into space.

Since the night of the crimson moon's immense appearance, as though it had descended upon the earth, she had found herself with little to do.

Most of the core members of the Emperor Party had been arrested and purged, including her lover, Grouès, leading to the organization's complete disintegration.

Her superior, Madame Franca, hadn't assigned her any tasks either, merely instructing her to monitor the citizens in her vicinity and report any anomalies immediately.

With so much free time, Niceea had focused on digesting the Pleasure potion, flitting like a butterfly among her lovers. She even orchestrated situations where, despite knowing of each other's existence, they endured the pain of rivalry, pretended ignorance, or quarreled yet remained unwilling to leave her.

This had led to her complete digestion of the Pleasure potion last month. However, her superior had not provided her with the formula or ingredients for the Affliction potion.

Do I need to make new contributions? But there haven't been any tasks assigned... Also, why did all my mirrors just shatter? I must report this to Madame Franca; something is seriously wrong... Niceea thought, glancing at the drawn sheer curtains shielding her from the sunlight.

As these thoughts crossed her mind, she noticed that the glass window, now cracked as if struck by an invisible force, reflected the image of Madame Franca stepping out. She wore a ponytail and a hunter's outfit.

Niceea didn't immediately rise to greet her superior. She momentarily felt dazed, struck by the overwhelming beauty of Franca. Her superior had grown even more radiant-so mesmerizing that Niceea couldn't look away, so beautiful it made her forget all her worries

and everything else.

Several seconds passed before Niceea snapped out of her trance and hurriedly stood in

greeting. "Good afternoon, Madame."

"Good afternoon," Franca responded with a smile.

Niceea was momentarily dazzled by that smile and blurted out, "Madame, have you advanced

again?"

Franca didn't hide it, nodding gently.

"I'm now an Angel, a Demoness of Catastrophe."

An Angel... Niceea was left speechless.

She recalled that when she had first been assigned to Madame Franca's command, her superior had been a Sequence 5 Demoness of Affliction, while she herself was a Sequence 7

Witch.

Now, she had only advanced one rank to become a Sequence 6 Demoness of Pleasure, but Franca had climbed several Sequences to reach Sequence 2 and become an Angel!

Could it be that advancing beyond Sequence 5 in the demigod realm was easier than

advancing through lower ranks?

That's impossible!

Noticing Niceea's shocked and bewildered expression, Franca also felt a twinge of

sentimentality.

Yes, it hasn't been long, but now I'm a Demoness of Catastrophe.

But I'd rather return to the days when I was just a Demoness of Affliction...

As a Demoness of Catastrophe, Franca's core ability now revolved around "catastrophes," encompassing both natural and man-made calamities. This extended to certain authorities

and abstract concepts.

Natural disasters like blizzards, tsunamis, earthquakes, meteor impacts, floods, volcanic eruptions, or the collapse of the mirror world could be conjured through her abilities. Similarly, train accidents, building collapses, horse stampedes, or accidental gun discharges - all events tied to societal order or mechanical constructs-fell within her purview as a Demoness of Catastrophe.

Additionally, when extended to authority and concepts, "catastrophe" could manifest as the inducement or exacerbation of issues to destabilize a previously stable system.

In such cases, if a Beyonder's state was inherently unstable, a Demoness of Catastrophe could use Her abilities to induce them to lose balance and lose control on the spot. For the target, this was undoubtedly a catastrophe.

Franca understood this as an extension of the Red Priest pathway's Weakness Investigation

ability, reflected in a neighboring pathway.

When Lumian was still a Hunter, he could accurately grasp the structural integrity of a building and identify the key points to demolish it. A Demoness of Catastrophe, on the other hand, could treat Beyonders, areas, or natural environments as if they were such a structure or system, detonating their hidden issues and triggering catastrophic collapse.

When it came to disrupting stability and triggering catastrophe, the main difference between the two lay in their approach: a Hunter targeted weaknesses from the outside in, while a Demoness of Catastrophe worked primarily from the inside out-or combined both internal

and external forces.

From this perspective, the Primordial Demoness was actually very restrained toward Lumian,

who relied on the chaotic vortex face to gain the rank of a true god and maintain his existence and King of Angels power through a delicate balance. However, the problem was that the Primordial Demoness didn't want Lumian to lose balance, lose control, and die. That would render all of Her previous efforts meaningless.

For this reason, the Primordial Demoness was willing to take risks and even face Her own demise by integrating Herself into Lumian's body. After all, from Her perspective, Her consciousness and spirit would remain intact, simply surviving in a different form.

The catastrophes wielded by a Demoness of Catastrophe also manifested as curses of destiny. Franca could now create objects or leave behind words that, without directly contacting the target, cause those who touched the object or heard the words to encounter one catastrophe after another in their subsequent lives.

Her other abilities had also been correspondingly enhanced at the angelic level. For instance,

her mystical pathogens could now erode and influence the bodies of complete Mythical

Creatures.

Lost in these thoughts, Franca turned to Niceea, who had just regained control of her expression, and said, "I'm here today to tell you something.

"The Primordial Demoness has perished. Of the high-ranking color-named Demonesses, fewer than five have survived. The Demoness Sect has effectively been annihilated." "Ah?" Niceea momentarily forgot about her superior's advancement to angelhood. "What about us? And the other Demonesses?"

The other Demonesses? Except for the high-ranking ones involved in the initial events in the mirror

world, most Demonesses were incorporated into the protected zone. Subsequently, some were hunted down, some surrendered directly to official organizations, and others escaped the protected zone to rejoin the remnants of the Demoness Sect in the World of Ruins... If it weren't for your past as a government informant and the fact that the digestion of your Assassin, Instigator, and Witch potions primarily targeted organizations like the Emperor Party, I wouldn't have spared you... Franca smiled and said to Niceea, "We have nothing to worry about. I was one of those who destroyed the

Demoness Sect."

Niceea was stunned. She felt both surprised and unsurprised. Madame Franca is a Saint of the Church of The Fool!

But if I know this, wouldn't the Demoness of Black and others know as well? "Madame, is there anything I should do?" Niceea quickly expressed her intention to continue

her loyalty.

Franca smiled in response. "A month from now, I'll have something for you to do. For now,

you should rest well and adjust your state.

"Oh, and the honorific name of the Primordial Demoness can still be used, but it will now

point to someone else the one I currently follow."

Who is that? Niceea didn't dare to ask and instead inquired, "Madame, may I make my own arrangements for the next month?"

Franca looked at Niceea for several seconds before revealing a clean smile in the sunlight streaming through the sheer curtains.

"Yes, go on dates, bask in the sun, take walks along the Srenzo River, watch operas, read books, read newspapers, ride a bicycle, fish, sample the signature dishes of Trier's famous restaurants, gather with friends-do everything you wish to do."

At the end, Franca placed a hand over her chest and bowed slightly. "In short, I wish you joy."

As her voice echoed, she disappeared into the interplay of light and shadow created by the sheer curtains.

Niceea stared blankly at the spot where Franca had stood, feeling both dazed and confused.

-x-X-x-

New City of Silver.

Derrick Berg picked up the prepared Lightseeker potion, gazing at the liquid that seemed to intertwine pure beams of light. He drank it in one go.

In an instant, it felt as though he had approached the true sun, his entire body igniting and showing signs of melting.

Derrick did not retreat. He continued running toward the light, the sun, sensed in his core.

His body quickly melted like heated metal-first dripping liquid, then softening and flowing toward the ground like water.

His bones melted, his organs melted, his brain melted, and even his spirit and consciousness began to dissipate rapidly.

But he never stopped. Supported by the justice deep in his core, he struggled and wriggled forward, guided by the faint light of the sun in his blurred consciousness.

At this moment, he seemed to return to the Forsaken Land of the Gods, to the days when he ventured into the Giant King's Court with Chief Colin Iliad and Gehrman Sparrow. But unlike then, the surroundings were not cloaked in darkness and lightning but illuminated by the crimson moonlight that shone through the gloom.

Dragging his melted body and soul, fueled by a belief that abandoned everything for the light, Derrick continued his pursuit with difficulty but unwavering determination.

The light grew closer, and his spirit merged with the burning heat, leaving only a sliver of residual consciousness.

Finally, he saw a pair of grand double doors, sensing the sun and light he longed for beyond them.

His blurred consciousness collided with the doors, pushing them ajar.

A sea of golden light entered Derrick's vision, and a sun of intertwining blazing white and gold rose steadily, illuminating all and dispelling the crimson and darkness.

Derrick Berg smiled and stopped at the entrance.

He immediately sensed his spirit, soul, and body flowing back together, merging into one.

The door he saw quickly became illusory, while the sun gradually lost its color and form, revealing its true nature-a slowly rotating chaotic vortex face.

Lumian placed the dark golden, peculiar mask back onto the center of his left shoulder head, covering the face with its starlit glow.

He had come to the New City of Silver this time to fulfill his promise of helping Mr. Sun Derrick complete the ritual.

The ritual for the Lightseeker potion required finding an item with at least the rank of an Angel and a close connection to the mysticism of the Sun. The item had to be bound to the Beyonder's most critical and justice-related memory, then placed in front of them.

This served as a beacon for Beyonders consuming the Lightseeker potion, providing a mystical connection that would be the last to melt, helping them maintain their direction, clarity of consciousness, and determination to persist through the transformation process.

For this ritual, the binding of memory and item was accomplished by Mr. Fool's Grafting, and the item was Lumian's chaotic vortex face. Its close association with the Chaos Sea naturally made it deeply connected to the mysticism of the Sun.

Lumian's role was to arrive at the scene, remove the mask, and let the chaotic vortex face manifest the power of the Sun.

After stabilizing himself, Derrick Berg, clad in a plain white robe, bowed respectfully to Lumian. "Thank you for your assistance."

Lumian glanced around and smiled. "I'd like to borrow a room."

"Alright," The Sun Derrick replied without asking why.

He helped Lumian find a quiet scripture-reading room in the Church of The Fool's headquarters.

Lumian sat down, raised his left hand, and pressed it onto the center of the mask on his head.

His shadow suddenly squirmed as if it had gained self-awareness.

Then Lumian's voice echoed in his heart, plunging into the depths of his shadow and the corrupted part of his nature. "Mr. Naboredisley, I'd like to meet with you now."

The sound sank into the pitch-black abyss, reverberating layer upon layer.

Lumian did not need to unseal or remove the mask to employ the abilities of the Visionary and The Hanged Man at this level.

Not long after, a dark, sinister liquid seemed to churn and surge within his shadow, from which an ice-blue-eyed Naboredisley rapidly emerged.

"Good afternoon." Naboredisley greeted with gentlemanly poise, taking a seat opposite Lumian with a smile. "Are you preparing for the secret deed with the City of Calamity?"

"I still need two or three weeks to strengthen the balance of my body. You wouldn't want me to explode the moment I accommodate the City of Calamity, would you?" Lumian responded with a faint smile.

"Then why did you seek me?" Naboredisley asked directly, skipping any guesses.

Lumian chuckled. "I want you to give me that portion of Abomination Beyonder characteristic in advance. Otherwise, we might not have time to handle it when the moment comes.

"We must prepare for unforeseen events and get all the groundwork done early."

"But you haven't fulfilled your end of the deal," Naboredisley reminded.

Lumian looked at him with a teasing tone. "I'm not that Celestial Worthy. Have I ever broken a promise?

"Besides, helping you is also helping myself. I have no reason not to fulfill my promise. At worst, if I fail to accommodate it, your attempt will fail indirectly, but in that case, everyone dies anyway, including your Abomination avatar. Keeping it would be meaningless."

Naboredisley remained silent, not responding immediately.

He had always been prone to interpreting others' intentions with the deepest malice.

After all, He was the embodiment of malice itself.

"If you're still worried, you can plant a spiritual mark in my consciousness and spirit right now," Lumian offered. "I don't mind living with it for two or three weeks. The only problem is it might backfire and corrupt you. You know what's inside me."

"But you can erase the spiritual mark before the secret deed with the City of Calamity," Naboredisley hesitated before responding.

Lumian burst out laughing. "Why not draft a notarized contract while we're at it? I'll make it,

and Mr. Fool can witness it."

Naboredisley stared at Lumian for a few seconds before smiling. "No need. I trust you. I'll

have my Abomination avatar come over now.

"The spiritual mark can wait until you bond with the City of Calamity."

Lumian responded with a smile, "Deal."

Soon after, Farbauti, the Abomination covered in gold and wearing a mask painted black and

white, emerged from the spirit world before Lumian.

Naboredisley raised His head and locked eyes with Farbauti, nodding slightly in mutual acknowledgment.

Seeing this, Lumian remarked with a touch of sentiment, "After the last Dream Festival, we made many preparations to guard the tomb and deal with the Angels of the Rose School of Thought's indulgence faction and Devil families, all for the next Dream Festival. Yet none of that came into play. The early arrival of the crimson moon turned the world into ruins, making it impossible to hold the Dream Festival again.

"That's precisely why I want you to hand over the Abomination Beyonder characteristic in advance. Our enemies won't sit idle while we prepare; they won't wait for us to complete everything methodically before starting the apocalypse.

"With what little time remains, we must finish everything we need to do as quickly as possible. Waiting for the perfect moment is futile; the future is full of uncertainties." Naboredisley smiled in response. "Though I doubt your motives, my rational mind tells me this is indeed necessary."

As He spoke, Farbauti removed the golden mask derived from the former Death, Salinger.

With a clatter, the gold covering His body fell away piece by piece, landing on the ground with

metallic thuds.

In mere seconds, His body disintegrated, transforming into a grotesque tree-like shape coated in viscous black liquid.

"Is this the Abomination's Mythical Creature form?" Lumian asked, his curiosity piqued for

once.

Naboredisley shook His head with a smile. "The Mythical Creature form of the Chained pathway is actually invisible, intangible, a collection of various curses. What you saw previously as a Mythical Creature form is essentially the vessel that carries this aggregate-or no, not 'carries.' Using terms like 'binds' and 'fixes' would be more symbolically accurate. "So, the outward manifestation of the Mythical Creature form of this pathway depends on one's self-awareness and the choices made during the advancement to Sequence 4 Puppet and Sequence 2 Ancient Bane as a base. These bases bind and stabilize the various curses resulting from the disassembly process."

"An embalmed mummy at the demigod level?" Lumian recalled the unique items required for

the Puppet advancement ritual.

Naboredisley nodded gently and explained, "Yes, that's one type of anchor. However, it's not strictly necessary to use a demigod-level mummy. Any item with a similar function and the same rank can serve the purpose. The Rose School of Thought's temperance faction traditionally uses mummies for their advancement. This practice is tied to the imagery and history of Tolzna and has even influenced the burial customs of the Highlands Kingdom. "Similarly, the advancement to Ancient Bane requires finding an ancient, evil item capable of bearing angelic power. This item becomes the core of the final Mythical Creature form." "Born Mythical Creatures like Suah and Tirié, who have not completed the corresponding Sequence advancements, exhibit forms that are essentially amplifications of Their Beyonder

characteristics."

Having finished this explanation, Naboredisley discussed a few more aspects of the deep

secret deed with Lumian before taking His leave.

Shortly after His departure, Renette Tinekerr, carrying four golden-haired, red-eyed heads,

and Sharron, wearing a small bonnet, appeared in the room.

They had sensed the convergence and followed their spiritual intuition to investigate.

"Our deal can now move forward," Lumian said with a smile.

Sharron nodded slightly, allowing the crimson-stained crystal tiara hidden in the spirit world

to emerge from its seal and float toward Lumian.

This was the Grade o Sealed Artifact, Calamity of Crimson, corresponding to the Demoness of

Catastrophe.

"It's yours now," Lumian said, gesturing toward the Abomination Beyonder characteristic. "Thank"..."you"..."for"..."your"..."help," Renette Tinekerr four heads spoke in sequence. Sharron, on the other hand, lightly lifted the hem of her dress in a gesture of gratitude.

Once the two ladies had secured the Beyonder characteristic and left the room, Lumian, holding the Calamity of Crimson, returned to where The Sun Derrick was waiting. With a

smile, he said,

"You can trade me the Gift of the Land now."

As he spoke, Cheek's eyes transformed into mirrors, and a figure emerged.

It was Zedus, a man of almost unparalleled beauty, with scarlet eyes.