10
---
Shaking his head, Jacks' attitude changed. "But..."
Before he could finish, a rocket pierced the night sky.
**Whoosh—**
Barranca stood up suddenly, his eyes narrowing.
The whizzing rocket swiftly morphed into a fluttering hen.
This was the **'Deformation Curse'**, a unique ability of the **Ancient Evil**!
"Pursuing soldiers!" Jacks and the others reacted instantly.
Two thousand meters away, the Archbishop of the Church of Steam, holding an extended rocket launcher, moved. He raised his hand and said, "Be careful. There may be angels among the Rose School!"
Hearing this, Ikanser Bernard, the captain of the **'Heart of Machinery'**, quickly said, "Bishop Homicla, do you want to activate Plan C?"
**Plan C** — Use those powerful sealed items.
Archbishop Homicla Haydn pondered for a moment before responding cautiously, "Ask first. Then I will decide."
Ikanser Bernard looked pained but knew he had no choice. With the archbishop right beside him, he could not disobey orders. He instructed his men to bring **Sealed Artifact 2-111**.
**Sealed Artifact 2-111**: An ancient silver mirror adorned with strange patterns and black gemstones as "eyes" on each side. It holds immense wisdom and can answer any questions not involving the true God or its uniqueness. However, if angels are involved, the answer may be tampered with or obscured. The mirror requires someone to watch when asking questions and refuses malicious ones—punishing those who try to deceive it.
Ikanser Bernard usually used the mirror to handle cases, including determining the hiding locations of the Rose School tonight. He now hoped it could help them.
Under the watchful eyes of his subordinates and the archbishop, the captain of the Heart of Machinery coughed lightly and touched the mirror three times.
**Buzz—**
The surrounding night grew thick, and layers of water shimmered on the mirror's surface.
Ikanser Bernard took a deep breath and asked, "My question is, are there any angels in the Rose School team in the distance?"
Tens of seconds passed before several lines of ancient Fusac script appeared on the mirror: **"Does not exist."**
Archbishop Homicla Haydn frowned. Someone was clearly interfering with the answer.
The words on the mirror shifted: **"In the principle of reciprocity, it is now my turn to ask. If you lie or give the wrong answer, you will be punished. My question is, what is your sexual orientation?"**
For a moment, Ikanser Bernard felt all the hairs on his body stand up.
The eyes upon him became sharp and heavy.
He straightened his face and replied, "I choose punishment."
**Boom!**
A thunderbolt struck Ikanser Bernard out of nowhere, turning the usually delicate captain of the **Heart of Machinery** into a charred, bald figure.
Though he was a mid-level Beyonder, he recovered quickly.
But just like the mirror's delayed response to the question, the **Heart of Machinery** already had their judgment.
The captain... well, just don't mention it.
Archbishop Homicla Haydn calmly stepped away from his subordinates and said, "When it comes to angels, we can't act recklessly. We'll wait for the Church of Night and the Church of the Lord of Storms to arrive before making a move."
**Caution is key.**
It was always better to be safe.
Of course, the **Rose School**, under Barranca's leadership, was not made up of fools who didn't know how to adapt. Taking advantage of the enemy's pause, they fled north, traveling several kilometers into the vast mountains.
They thought that once they entered the mountains, the pursuit would finally stop.
But who could have predicted that, less than two hours later, the three major Churches joined forces and split the **Rose School** team into pieces?
Not only that, but the enemy was also carrying many Level 1 sealed artifacts, indicating they intended to finish off the Rose School once and for all.
Barranca felt a chill run through him as he looked at the woman in front of him—clad in a simple robe, with a bark belt, long black hair cascading down her back, no shoes or socks, and bare feet.
**The favored one of the Goddess of Night**, the **Servant of Secrets**, **Arianna**.
"Why?" Barranca's expression turned cold and ferocious.
Arianna answered calmly, "This is God's will."
The **arrangement of the Goddess of Night**?
Barranca's heart trembled as he processed the implications, but after handing over, he realized that Arianna had no intention of fighting him to the end.
It was more like she was merely running an errand than preparing for battle.
This angel from the **Chained God** path confused Barranca greatly.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the battlefield, where the teams had been separated, the three **Silent Disciples** stared grimly at the two angels in front of them, their expressions dark.
Was this bullying?
According to Julius's tactics, using the strong against the weak usually turned out unfavorably. Klein was certain in her heart, and without saying a word, she raised her foot and stomped down.
**Boom!**
The ground shook violently.
Sequence 2 of the **Witch Path** is known as the **Natural Disaster Witch**. Blizzards, floods, tsunamis, and earthquakes all fall within its domain.
Jacks and the others realized something was wrong and didn't dare to remain on the ground any longer.
Before they could make a move, Azik spoke first: "Go to sleep."
**Eternal sleep is the end of all life.**
In an instant, Jacks and the others felt their eyelids growing heavier.
To sleep... was to die.
Fear surged in their hearts, and in desperation, all three of them opened their mouths and screamed in unison.
The **Transformation Curse** originated from the same source as Barranca's.
But unfortunately for them...
Both Azik and Klein were now above them in power.
Thus, the **Transformation Curse** failed, just as expected.
One failed move, and in the blink of an eye, another attack came.
The surrounding stones and trees came to life, rushing toward Klein and the others with bared teeth and claws.
Having done all that, the three **Silent Disciples** dared not stay any longer. They turned and fled.
Klein took a step forward, her eyes gleaming.
Everything in sight turned to stone.
Including the three escaping Jacks.
**"This feeling..."** Klein marveled at the Witch's power. **"It feels so good!"**
Azik glanced at her and said warmly, "Don't get distracted."
Klein immediately snapped out of her reverie.
She could sense that, though Jacks and the others were petrified, they weren't entirely dead yet.
**Beyonder people from the Chained God path** had unique life-saving methods, such as possessing others.
Seeing Klein's clear eyes, Azik nodded in satisfaction.
Just as they were about to finish off Jacks and the others, an ominous aura began to fill the mountainous area.
Without a moment to think, Azik pulled Klein back.
The next second—
A sticky tentacle slammed down where they had been standing.
With a single strike, the rocks shattered.
**"Something terrible is coming."** Azik's expression darkened. **"We can't handle it."**
Upon hearing this, Klein couldn't help but take a deep breath.
Something that neither Sequence 2 could handle...
It could only be Sequence 1.
Had the **god** of the **Rose School** arrived?
Azik shielded Klein and said, "Klein, call someone."
The **Rose School** had Sequence 1. Surely the **Church of Fools** had one too?
"I can shake people too."
Klein paused and corrected him, "Mr. Azik, I am **Kleine**."
After speaking, she called out loudly:
**"The reflection of the long river of time, the illusion of the mirror of space, the singularity of order and chaos, the witness of all destiny, the great Julius Astorio. I ask for your attention!"**
---
**Jakes**: "The battle over Sequence is not about fighting but about human nature. Is fighting really useless?"
**Mahams**: "To survive, you must have power and background."
**Zatvin**: "Which path are you from?"
**Klein**: "My name is Kleine. If you don't like it, just call me Nini. I can bear it."
The three of them were stunned, then sneered. "Turns out, it's just the little Yakuza."
After that, he summoned the 'god' with a swift motion.
Klein remained unmoved and began the girl's Witch prayer.
---
What appeared before Azik and Klein was a grotesque tentacle that defied description.
It was called a tentacle, but to Klein, it appeared more as a grotesque ball of flesh, spliced together by countless arms.
These tentacles were so malevolent that even mid-Sequence Beyonder beings would go mad and lose control just by looking at them.
However, Klein and Azik were not deeply affected. They only felt the surrounding spirituality stagnate, as if they had fallen into a quagmire full of sewage.
"Trouble," Azik muttered, raising his hand to press the brim of his hat.
At the same time, he felt fortunate that the Church of Evernight's angels held holy objects and hid this place.
Otherwise, the arrival of the King of Angels would have completely eradicated life for dozens of miles, leaving no chance for recovery!
Beside him, Klein frowned and shook his head.
Come on!
You usually boast, but now you won't shrink at a critical moment, right?
Facts proved: Shrinking was impossible.
Lezi people were fearless!
In an instant, ripples formed in the space, like a turbulent lake.
An invisible portal appeared in front of Klein.
The next second, countless transparent filaments, like poisonous snakes, extended and tightly wrapped around the tentacles of the 'god.'
Seeing this, Klein and Azik breathed a sigh of relief.
Before they could speak, both, along with the three petrified 'Silent Disciples,' were suddenly teleported away, leaving the hidden place.
Julius, holding a tattered rag doll in one hand, appeared quietly and smiled gently at the struggling mass of flesh in front of him. "Daddy's here."
**Siua**: "?"
Although he held a Sequence 1 status, the 'god' was just a product of the "Mother Tree of Desire," which had forcibly torn away the Beyonder traits of the "Chained God." With low intelligence, he was confused all day, unrelated to the ancient gods from eras past. Quite similar, though.
Sensing the danger, Si'a wanted to abandon his pursuit. However, the transparent filaments had already ensnared him, like maggots on the tarsal bones, constantly burrowing into his body.
"Kill... kill... you..." The angry murmurs of the 'god' came from the tentacles.
Facing the threat, Julius was not afraid at all; instead, he was intrigued.
He hooked his hands and mocked, "Come on, come on, kill me. I'm in a hurry."
Ignoring the squirming mass of flesh and filaments, one might think it was a second-rate child teasing a fool at the village entrance. If another elegant man in yellow rubber shoes and cropped trousers appeared, Julius might even have to buy Siua some melon seeds...
Back to business.
Provoked, Si'a fell for the trap.
**Buzz—**
The space vibrated.
The 'god' crossed the border!
The tentacles opened the sky, and a black crack appeared above Julius's head.
Within the cracks, countless arms flailed, like millions of drowning people pulling together.
Between the arms, a dim yellow eye brewed unspeakable evil and madness!
Julius remained unfazed, waving his hand to strengthen the surrounding barrier, ensuring the aftermath wouldn't harm the outside world.
After securing the area, he turned to observe Si'a's mythical form for a moment, then curled his lips in disgust.
"Boring."
He was used to seeing grand things, like the "Fallen Mother Goddess" and "The Mother Tree of Desire." But now, seeing this, he found it a bit too transparent. It was hard to be impressed.
Of course, that's just a metaphor. Julius didn't have any ill thoughts toward Si'a...
"Kill him, cleanly," Julius ordered casually.
He turned and walked toward the outside world.
Si'a tried to stop him.
Suddenly, a black shadow appeared inexplicably.
It was tall and thin, faceless. Transparent silk threads protruded from its back, connected to the void, like a puppet suspended in midair.
"Hello."
An unscrupulous substitute looked at the massive mass of flesh before him, raising his hands to reveal two strange eyes in his palms.
"Let's have some fun~"
Fear.
A tide of fear instantly filled Si'a's body.
As the King of Angels on the 'Chained God' path, even his soul trembled in the presence of that tall and thin puppet.
**God?**
A guess formed in Si'a's mind.
This became his last thought.
---
**Back in the real world**, Klein sighed in relief.
Sequence 2 was still too weak...
Shaking his head, he glanced at Azik beside him.
Azik happened to meet his gaze.
Their eyes met, and the two smiled in unison.
The adopted father and daughter shared a harmonious relationship.
"With His Majesty Julius personally acting, the Angel King of the Rose School need not worry," Azik said deeply.
As he spoke, he gazed at the three stone statues not far away.
Klein instantly understood, waved his hand, and released several pink thorn whips to shatter the bodies of Jacks and the others.
Even so, no Beyonder traits had yet precipitated.
Azik thought for a moment and said, "Beyonder people of this path are adept at curse possession and life-saving. I fear they won't die for a while."
"Stay here while I check elsewhere to see if I can assist," Azik continued.
Klein nodded, "Okay."
Without hesitation, Azik entered the spirit world and rushed off to another location.
To be cautious, Klein set up a barrier around the area to prevent souls from escaping and cast several spells on the rubble. He then relaxed and waited patiently for Jacks and the others to die.
Time passed slowly.
Finally, a Sequence 3 Beyonder characteristic was precipitated from the rubble.
Klein was thrilled.
At that moment, a figure stumbled over.
Miss Witch's eyes narrowed, thinking they were remnants of the 'Rose School.'
But the next second, her expression shifted in surprise.
"Why is it him?"
---
---
Leonard felt incredibly unlucky.
Once, he claimed to be the protagonist of destiny, living a content life in Tingen, clocking into work every day. Occasionally, he'd step out for fieldwork, everything at his fingertips, making life seem smooth and effortless.
But everything changed when Julius Astorio visited this fifth-tier city.
The one who had once relied on Leonard as the destined protagonist was, in reality, the Beyonder parasite living in his body. The evil god who had meant to protect him had instead become his follower, relegated to running errands. Even his junior colleagues had been transferred to Backlund, a city that grew rapidly after that.
Yet here he stood—Leonard Mitchell—still stuck!
But he wasn't discouraged.
Instead, he worked harder.
He recited bad poetry every day, playing the role of the 'Midnight Poet.' Eventually, his potion supplies ran out, so he used his accumulated contributions to exchange for the 'Nightmare' potion, ascending to Sequence 7.
Not only that, but Captain Dunn personally recommended him to Backlund, where he was inducted as a proud 'Red Glove.'
"It's time to get on the right track," Leonard thought to himself.
But then, the 'Backlund Haze Incident' erupted.
As a member of the special operations team, he followed Captain Dunn to the east of the city to quell the disaster. Unfortunately, by the time he rushed there, he had accomplished nothing—not even catching a single strand of hair. His lack of strength and impulsiveness led to him being caught off guard, taking two puffs of poisonous mist, which laid him in bed for several days.
Under the care of Church doctors, Leonard eventually recovered and joined the mission to encircle and suppress the "Rose School."
He chased them all the way from Backlund to the northern mountains, but the remnants of the 'Rose School' fled faster than rabbits whenever they saw him.
This couldn't go on!
How could he be promoted without any contributions?
Without a advancement, how could he find the strength to protect the world?
So, Leonard followed the 'Red Gloves,' charging heroically.
He rushed and rushed, eventually getting separated from the main army.
There was little he could do.
The terrain in the mountains was complicated, and visibility was poor at night. Even though most of Leonard's team were Beyonder beings of the Darkness Pathway with excellent night-fighting abilities, they couldn't withstand the influence of high-level Beyonder powers.
The battlefield fragmented, and Leonard, at the front, became a 'lone wolf.'
"Old man, are you sure this is the direction?" Leonard asked silently, running.
He hated to admit it, but sometimes the 'parasite' in his body was surprisingly helpful.
Grandpa Pales lazily responded, "There's a Level 1 Sealed Artifact here, and the aura is disordered. But my spiritual premonition tells me you're going to encounter something good if you keep going this way... You know, the intuition of Beyonder beings is always spot-on."
Leonard frowned.
Good things?
In the past half-year, he hadn't encountered a single one!
He muttered curses under his breath, but then, a stunningly beautiful girl wearing a white gauze skirt and with skin as white as snow appeared in his sight.
With just one glance, Leonard was entranced.
Pales grew serious and quickly warned, "Be careful, that person is a Witch!"
As he spoke, the old man prepared to take over Leonard's body.
As a former Sequence 1, he could tell that the Witch was no ordinary being—she was a living angel.
"Witch!" Leonard knew exactly what that meant.
Even the lowest-level Witches held Sequence 6, but it wasn't just the Sequence 6 that made the old man so fearful…
Suppressing his attraction, Leonard turned and ran.
At that moment, two black streams of light shot out from the rubble.
It was the souls of Jakes and McHams!
They had been lying dormant, waiting for the arrival of the 'gods.'
Unexpectedly, Si'a didn't appear, but a young man arrived, who would now become their new vessel.
Klein reacted swiftly. His pupils narrowed, and without hesitation, he stopped the two 'Silent Disciples.'
But just then, a voice suddenly whispered in his ear, "Don't worry, let's see what happens first."
Turning, Klein saw Julius standing next to him—how had he gotten there?
This brief moment of hesitation was all it took for Leonard to fall into the trap.
With a crash, something hit him, and he fell backward.
Klein quickly grew anxious and whispered, "He's my friend!"
Tingen's colleagues had treated him well.
Klein, being kind-hearted, couldn't stand to see his friend in trouble.
Julius pressed his shoulder gently and smiled. "Don't worry, your friend's not so simple. He'll be fine."
Klein blinked in confusion, "What?"
Looking carefully, he saw Leonard standing up awkwardly, every part of his body tWitching, his expression alternating between joy and shock.
"Who are you?"
"Who are you?"
"Haha, I'm just a 'tenant' here, just like you."
"Parasite! You're a parasite!"
"Run!"
"Don't rush to leave, stay for a while."
"Hey! Don't mess with my body."
"Sir Barranca, help me!"
"Lord Si'a!"
"Well... I don't want to die..."
"God, save me..."
There's a difference between tenants.
Grandpa Pales, deeply parasitic on Leonard, found devouring two weak souls as easy as a meal.
The battle, with Leonard's body as the battlefield, ended quickly.
Two Beyonder properties were left behind in the rubble.
Klein thought for a moment before stashing the three Beyonder characteristics of the 'Silent Disciples.'
Then, she stood next to Julius, eyeing Leonard in the distance with suspicion.
Leonard nervously checked his body and asked, "Old man! What just happened?"
"Two weak souls tried to possess you, but I dealt with them," Grandpa Pales responded in a strong voice, his energy replenished by the power of the souls.
No wonder his intuition had pointed him in this direction.
It was true.
However…
Grandpa Pales coughed lightly. "Boy, you'd better not act rashly. Look, who's that over there?"
At the reminder, Leonard looked up and, using the moonlight, saw clearly who stood beside the Witch.
'Evil' Julius Astorio?!
"Long time no see, Leonard." Julius smiled and waved.
Seeing Leonard, the unlucky boy, Julius recalled his mess in Tingen.
Well, this was certainly a bit of fun.
Klein remained silent but was carefully studying Leonard.
Or, more precisely, examining the anomaly in Leonard's aura.
"Parasitic..." Klein's aura darkened.
Knowing who his enemy was, Klein had certainly gathered intel on the Beyonder path where Amon resided. Through official and private channels, she understood the 'Thief' path far better than even the 'Seer' she had chosen.
She could tell there was an outsider within Leonard's body.
Thinking of this, Klein calmly turned the sapphire ring on her hand.
It was convenient that the plug-in hadn't expired—time to help her friend and deal with this hidden threat...
Sensing the hostility from Klein, Julius rolled his eyes and smiled widely. "Leonard, come here. Let me introduce you to my cousin.
Her name is Kleine Cappe. You two should get along well in the future."
---
---
I, Leonard Mitchell, am at odds with the forces of evil!
His eyes flashed.
Immediately, he forced a stiff smile and extended his hand. "Miss Keleni, thank you for meeting me."
The situation was more powerful than he was, so he could only bow his head.
This wasn't cowardice.
It was the wisdom of survival...
Looking at Leonard with a slightly flattering expression, Klein couldn't help but admire him.
Good grief, his ability to adapt to changing situations is as impressive as mine.
Trying to feign indifference, Klein didn't shake Leonard's hand. Instead, she casually said, "Hello."
Hearing this, Leonard felt a little embarrassed.
But he quickly regained his composure.
Changing the subject, he said, "Mr. Julius, I didn't expect to meet you here."
"I didn't expect to meet you here," Julius smiled. "Have you transferred to Backlund?"
"Yeah..." Leonard didn't know how to respond.
When a person's luck is so bad that even cold water seems to choke them, who would have thought that simply setting out on a mission could lead to meeting an evil god?
Julius patted Leonard on the shoulder and said earnestly, "Young man, do your best."
Leonard: ⊙﹏⊙[|]
This tone...
Wait, are you a senior member of the Church?
At that moment, Grandpa Pales, who was parasitic on Leonard, suddenly said, "There's a Level 1 sealed artifact from the official Church nearby. Boy, think about the connection. You'd better not offend him."
"Of course I know not to offend..." Leonard responded in his heart.
Even without considering the connection between the person in front of him and the Church, judging solely by his strength, Leonard wouldn't dare make a mistake.
Julius couldn't hear the encrypted conversation between Leonard and Pales.
He maintained a constant smile and said, more to Pales than Leonard, "Be careful. Amon could sneak into Backlund in his true form at any time. Don't get caught off guard, or you'll end up swallowed without any preparation."
Swearing in the name of the goddess, Leonard could clearly feel Grandpa Pales 'trembling' inside him.
This wasn't a verb, but an adjective.
Klein's face also darkened.
Amon, her destined enemy!
But listening to this, it seemed the parasite inside Leonard's body also had a score to settle with Amon?
Leonard's expression changed several times, and he said, "Mr. Julius, the old man said he understands and asked me to convey his gratitude."
Julius nodded.
After exchanging words, he didn't try to stop Leonard from leaving and let him go on his way.
Klein hesitated, but ultimately remained silent.
After Leonard left, she asked with a serious expression, "What's going on with Leonard Mitchell? That 'parasite'..."
"Pallez Zoroastrian, an angel of Sequence 2, the only conscience in the 'Stealer' path, parasitized Leonard to avoid being devoured by Amon. Now, the two of them are both teachers and friends, with a mutually beneficial relationship." Julius briefly explained Leonard's situation. "I discovered this when I was in Tingen last time."
Klein frowned. "Then why didn't you tell me?"
Julius answered matter-of-factly, "You didn't ask."
Klein: ...
I thought it was raining, but it turned out you were the one making me speechless.
However, even though Julius Astorio often had a dark sense of humor, he was usually reliable, especially when lives were at stake.
To be safe, Klein asked, "Are you sure Leonard is not in danger?"
"I'm sure. Don't worry. If something happens to him, I'll definitely take advantage of him," Julius promised confidently.
With that reassurance, there was nothing more to worry about.
Klein turned her focus back to her own mission.
The matter with the 'Rose School' was now over.
But a new crisis was emerging.
'Amon.'
Thinking about it, Klein rummaged through her skirt pocket and pulled out a badge engraved with the symbol of the Wheel of Fortune.
This was the 'anti-mask device' Julius made for the Tarot Club members. As Mr. Fool's favored, she naturally received one.
So far, so good.
There's no Amon nearby...
She wasn't sure if God was playing tricks on her.
Just as Klein was about to put the 'anti-mask device' away, the entire badge suddenly lit up.
In an instant, a dazzling red light filled her eye mask!
At the same time, a certain Beyonder from the 'Rose School' laughed softly as he pinched his eyes. "I didn't expect to encounter such interesting things just after coming back. Haha, I am indeed lucky."
---
---
Sharron stared at the flashing red badge in her hand, a rare flicker of fear crossing her face.
Amon!
The King of Angels from the 'Stealer' path must be nearby.
Meanwhile, Maric was busy collecting Beyonder characteristics from the bodies of the 'Rose School' members. He glanced at Sharron's expression and froze for a moment before asking in confusion, "What's wrong?"
Sharron calmly tucked the badge away, returning to her usual composure. "Nothing."
She couldn't afford to cause more panic.
Coldly, she said, "Maric, let's get out of here."
"But..." Maric wanted to protest, but facing Sharron's unyielding gaze, he wisely chose to remain silent.
The two hurriedly left.
However, during their retreat, they unexpectedly encountered a remnant of the Rose School: a Sequence 5 'Wraith Soul.'
"You!" The 'resentful spirit' immediately recognized the two traitors, Sharron and Maric, and said sternly, "So you were the ones responsible!"
A trace of murderous intent flickered in Maric's eyes.
At that moment, Sharron stepped in front of him, saying, "Leave it to me."
Maric was puzzled.
Although Sharron was Sequence 6, wouldn't two-on-one be more effective than a one-on-one confrontation?
Without further explanation, Sharron calmly said, "Trust me."
After a brief pause, Maric nodded.
The unreserved trust between them was what had kept them alive until now.
Maric took off, sprinting past the 'revengeful spirit.'
Strangely, the spirit made no attempt to stop him.
Now, only the two 'resentful souls' remained facing each other. The 'resentful soul' of the 'Rose School of Thought' pretended to pinch its eyes and grinned. "How amusing. You actually know me."
Sharron remained expressionless.
The 'resentful soul,' who had unknowingly been taken over by Amon, smiled again. "Let me see your current mental state... 'Very good, Maric has escaped. His Majesty Azik and the mysterious Witch should be nearby... I still have a chance. I mustn't show any flaws.'"
As the soul continued, Sharron's face grew paler.
Her thoughts were being invaded!
Amon's plan had worked, and he was even more pleased. He continued, "'No, I can't think about it anymore,' 'Focus on the techniques Mr. Hanged Man shared at the party,' 'Close your heart.'"
At this point, he shook his head and stole Sharron's thoughts of 'closing her heart.'
Poor Miss Temperance was helpless against the intrusion.
"Interesting, so very interesting. What kind of party would be so wary of me?" Amon seemed delighted by his discovery.
With a wave of his hand, the 'anti-mask device' created by Julius appeared in Amon's grasp.
This wasn't difficult for him. Facing a weaker opponent, Amon could steal almost anything.
Sharron stood motionless, her thoughts, memories, and even her existence gradually slipping away.
The wind stirred.
The atmosphere grew eerily silent.
Amon continued to toy with the badge, entirely uninterested in Sharron's plight.
As he fiddled with it, he murmured to himself, "A traitor? Temperance? Boring. Let me see this so-called party... Oh? Some memories are encrypted by higher beings? Haha, I like challenges."
Suddenly, a figure materialized from the spiritual world, casting an 'instant death spell' at Amon.
"Mr. Azik?" Amon's eyes lit up.
Azik didn't respond. His eyes glowed with a gray light.
Anyone who gazed into the 'eyes of death' would gradually wither away—even angels weren't immune.
Amon smiled faintly and stole Sharron's 'time' to resist the effect of the 'death' magic.
Her vitality drained.
Sharron's pale blond hair quickly turned gray.
Azik cursed under his breath, extending a hand.
Massive skeletal claws erupted from the ground, seizing Sharron and pulling her into the spiritual world.
At the same time, countless doors stacked together in the sky, emitting a heartbreaking sound.
Azik stood in the void, a dark symbol appearing on his forehead—the 'core of the underworld.'
The ghost roared, and the skeletal army surged.
For a moment, countless undead souls rushed toward Amon.
Amon pinched his eyes and grinned. "You are also very interesting."
As he finished speaking, Azik suddenly heard other voices deep within his soul: "I will accept this power."
An honest man may not have a short temper, but Azik was the son of the God of Death—he would not let Amon parasitize him.
With a cold snort, Azik began to fight back.
The purest power of death poured out.
Even Amon had to abandon his parasitism and quickly fled from Azik's body.
Buzz—
The air vibrated.
A crystal-polished monocle gradually formed.
Soon after, a figure dressed in a black robe, pointed hat, wide forehead, and black curly hair appeared before Azik.
It was Amon Benmon, returned from the land abandoned by God.
"From the Spiritual Religion?" Amon asked curiously, holding his monocle.
Azik ignored him, his gentle demeanor replaced by a cold, regal presence as he looked down on Amon. "Death."
The 'Death Consul' ruled over death itself.
Under this pure authority, Amon's sharp black eyes lost their gleam.
But the next moment, he staggered and grinned at Azik in mid-air. "An effective attempt; you almost succeeded."
Azik remained silent.
He could feel it.
Someone had indeed died.
Amon had just stolen the fate of a member of the 'Rose School.'
'Death sentence'... 'Destined to die'...
The two were eerily linked.
Thus, Azik's killing blow had no effect.
"Huh—" Azik exhaled deeply.
How despicable a 'thief' was Amon!
To be honest, he was disgusted.
"Stop struggling; you're no match for me." Amon smiled, his voice light and mocking.
Azik's thoughts shifted. "Yes, he is the King of Angels in Sequence 1, and I am just Sequence 2..."
Suddenly, his pupils constricted, and he became alert.
Not only had Amon stolen his thoughts of battle, but he had also implanted the idea of surrender!
How revolting!
Amon adjusted his monocle, his smile widening.
What he loved most was watching others manipulated by him.
So... interesting~
With a pleased grin, Amon continued smiling.
Suddenly, an arm reached out, hooking Amon.
"If something makes you happy, let me hear it," came the voice.
Amon's mood shifted from bright to grim in an instant.
He couldn't forget this voice.
He turned slowly and came face to face with a handsome face.
"What a coincidence, you're here too?" Amon said, forcing calmness into his voice.
Sometimes, smiles don't disappear—they just shift from one face to another.
Julius's sunny smile matched Amon's own. "Yes, I'm here."
Amon reflexively pinched his monocle.
But then he noticed his eyes seemed... empty.
"This thing is good," Julius remarked, adjusting the monocle. "You can see things very clearly."
Amon was momentarily stunned before quickly nodding. "Yes, yes, other than that, it's not very useful."
He blinked, his tone cautious. "So... can you give it back to me?"
"Ah?" Julius feigned confusion. "What are you talking about?"
As he spoke, he fiddled with the monocle again.
Amon's smile vanished.
The monocle was a crucial part of the 'Thief' path and one of the requirements for becoming a god.
It was not an exaggeration to say it was Amon's life!
But now, his life was in the hands of another, being casually toyed with.
That feeling... it was unbearable.
"No wonder you like to bully others. It's really fun," Julius commented as he took Amon's robe and pointed hat.
Azik stood by, stunned.
The Sequence 1 of the Church of Fools was so powerful that they had pushed Amon to the ground and humiliated him?
Amon wanted to cry but had no tears.
The 'monocle,' 'robe,' and 'pointed hat' were all symbols of his power.
In other words, his human identity had been permanently altered.
On top of that, Julius Astorio, this 'Starry Sky Monk,' had left him with a black palace dress similar to the one Sharron had worn—one that he couldn't remove.
"I saw that you liked it, so I gave it to you generously," Julius said with a satisfied nod.
Amon wasn't unattractive, and his attire had a unique charm.
"I don't want... I don't want... I don't want..." Amon emphasized, repeating his protests.
But every time the thought of 'not wanting' surfaced, Julius stole it from him.
In mere moments, Amon's thoughts had been snatched tens of thousands of times.
He understood.
Julius Astorio was definitely out for revenge!
Indeed.
Julius had taken everything that belonged to Sharron and also stripped Amon of some of his memories.
Not only that.
Julius had also bought Sharron extra time and enough Beyonder materials to promote her to Sequence 3 as compensation.
After completing all this, Julius released Amon, now dressed as a woman, and left Azik standing there, his face blank.
---
---
Under the moonlight, a handsome man in a gauze skirt stood quietly for a long while.
The night breeze swept by, snapping him out of his reverie, and the cunning, sharp look returned to his dark eyes.
"What am I?" Amon pinched his eyes instinctively, but he couldn't feel the usual roundness or coldness.
Unsure, he searched again.
After a few seconds, his expression turned intense.
At that moment, a bearded priest with light blonde hair approached quietly.
Hearing the noise, Amon spun around and snapped, "Did you do this?"
As soon as the words left his mouth, he immediately retracted, "No, you wouldn't have the ability."
Adam, standing opposite him, wore his usual neutral expression.
He looked at his reckless charge and said calmly, "Although I paid a price, I managed to retrieve what was lost."
He handed Amon a crystal monocle.
Amon snatched it, quickly placing it over his eye.
He immediately felt more at ease.
However, a new problem emerged.
How could the uniqueness of the "wrong" path be in the hands of this paranoid?
Also, hadn't Adam been planning to infiltrate Backlund? Why was he now unconscious in this wilderness?
"I won't advise you to restrain yourself—recklessness is in your nature," Adam said, his tone steady. "But you need to understand that even gods can fall. Don't provoke beings you can't afford to offend."
With those words, he turned and faded from view.
"Hey, wait!" Amon called out, trying to stop Adam. "I thought you'd never care about me. Speak clearly before leaving."
Adam didn't bother to explain further and left behind a single cryptic sentence: "Everyone has a choice. He chose him, and I chose you..."
Amon's expression shifted as he processed the words.
Godhood rites, lost memories, regained uniqueness...
Connecting the dots, he pinched his monocle and muttered to himself, "Let's see who laughs last."
Just then, he suddenly realized something, his eyes widening. "Eh? Where are my clothes?"
Amon (×)
A Meng
…
The suppression operation was a success, with the 'Rose School' nearly wiped out.
Si'a had been consumed by the evil god;
Barranca beaten to death;
Of the three 'Silent Disciples,' one died, and the remaining two became mere pawns.
Only a few low-ranking members remained, unable to stir any trouble.
Now, the two mid-level players, Maric and Sharron, were the highest remaining combatants of the 'Rose School.'
However, even they couldn't hold the line alone.
So after the operation, Julius specifically instructed Sharron on how to summon specific spiritual creatures.
Renette Tinichole, Sharron's mentor, a Sequence 2 'Ancient Evil Object' from the 'Chained God' path, had once been a favored figure in the 'Rose School.'
Advocating moderation, Renette fought against madness with a life of simplicity and restraint. However, after Si'a's birth, a civil war erupted in the 'Rose School.' To protect Sharron and others of the temperance sect, Renette fell to the siege of Si'a and other high-ranking members.
Yet, Renette had made preparations in advance, ensuring resurrection in a special state within the spiritual world.
Now, with the 'Rose School' in desperate need of reconstruction, it was time for Renette to return and reclaim leadership.
"Mr. Julius, I will definitely find my teacher," Sharron said, her usual cold expression now touched with rare excitement. "Please, don't worry!"
Julius smiled as he met her light blue eyes. "I believe you."
Changing the subject, Julius continued, "Although I've returned 'time' to you, you'll need a few more days to fully recover."
Sharron nodded. "Understood."
Julius added, "I'll keep the Worm of Time on Amon for myself. As compensation, Beyonder characteristics from Sequence 4 and Sequence 3 will be delivered to you soon. They should be ready before the next party."
Sharron's calm expression never wavered. "Okay."
Julius took a moment to think before summoning a monocle and placing it on his eye socket.
At that, Sharron couldn't help but take a few steps back, a look of horror creeping onto her face.
"Haha!" Julius laughed triumphantly, his smile dazzling.
Despite his wickedness, Sharron's reaction mirrored the symptoms of someone suffering from Amon's PTSD.
Sharron, realizing she'd been tricked, wore a complex expression. "Mr. Julius, please don't make such jokes!"
Julius smirked, pinching his ordinary monocle again. "Who told you I was joking?"
Sharron: !!!
Julius had evolved from a gentleman to a scoundrel, and now, he was a god among scoundrels.
No one knew of Julius's upbringing.
Sharron stared at him in confusion, momentarily unable to distinguish between Amon and Julius Astorio.
"If you get scared again, now's the time," Julius said, taking off his monocle. "Let's go. Rest up, focus on communicating with your teacher. We'll see each other at the next party."
Sharron fell silent.
What Julius didn't know was that, in the following two days, Sharron remained in a state of heightened tension. Even Maric, her trusted companion, was forbidden from coming within five meters of her...
But these events were yet to unfold.
---
---
When Julius returned to his manor, Klein and Azik immediately greeted him.
The two had contributed greatly during the operation.
Not only had they dealt with the three 'Silent Disciples,' but they had also helped Arianna surround and eliminate Barranca in the subsequent battle. Moreover, Azik had managed to delay Amon, the 'wrong' angel king, for quite some time as a Sequence 2 angel.
"Thank you for your hard work, Mr. Azik," Julius said, feigning piety. "Mr. Fool will never forget your contribution."
Azik smiled gently and replied, "Praise the Fool."
Klein: ...
Just smile.
After exchanging pleasantries and seeing Azik off, Julius and Klein sat down across from each other.
Julius looked at Klein and grinned. "The Witch tastes good, doesn't it?"
Klein snapped, "Damn you!"
Then, her eyes widened as she quickly processed the implications. "Wait… did you understand Roselle's diaries?"
"I am the one favored by 'destiny.' I pray to Him, and a gift is bestowed upon me," Julius explained nonchalantly.
Klein tWitched her lips.
Fine.
An evil god is hanging over your head; you're special, sure.
But…
A thought crept into her mind, and she lowered her head to hide the strange look in her eyes.
Julius noticed her odd behavior but thought little of it, assuming it was due to Klein remembering 'little Klein,' who had briefly run away from home.
After taking stock of the spoils from the operation, Julius stood up and pulled a stack of banknotes from a drawer. "Although you're serving that Lord, your efforts have gone unrecognized. You nearly bumped into Amon just now. Take the money, buy some jewelry for Melissa, and add more solid wood furniture when you move."
Klein's eyes lit up at the sight of the money, and she quickly grabbed it.
Gold pounds were a good thing.
Besides, taking the big dog's money would be foolish to refuse.
But as she thought about Amon, who could appear at any moment, Klein grew worried. "He told me Amon is our biggest enemy."
"It's you, not me," Julius corrected, "That guy can't beat me."
"Okay, okay, great, Julius Astorio," Klein raised her hands in mock worship. "Your Majesty, please show mercy and tell me how to avoid meeting Amon."
"As long as you stay in Backlund, Amon won't dare act rashly," Julius answered honestly. "The relationship between those gods and Amon is very poor."
Still, Klein wasn't entirely convinced and asked, "But if, I mean if, Amon does replace George III and becomes a god…"
"If that happens," Julius clapped his hands. "Then he'll be completely useless."
Klein: ? ? ?
She didn't understand, but it was shocking.
Julius rolled his eyes and smiled. "I'm in a good mood today, so I'll reveal a few more secrets."
Klein immediately sat up straight, eager to hear.
Julius grew serious. "Leave aside the ritual of becoming a god for now. To become a god, you need three copies of Sequence 1 Beyonder characteristics, along with the uniqueness of that path.
Amon currently lacks one of those Sequence 1 characteristics.
Even if he somehow acquires the missing one and succeeds in replacing George III, he still can't become a true dual-path god. The 'error' and the 'black emperor' aren't adjacent.
By then, the three Beyonder characteristics and uniqueness of the 'Black Emperor' will definitely be separated."
Klein was stunned. "Does that mean being crippled? He's still a god!"
"Being a god doesn't make you invincible," Julius pointed to the sky. "Many gods are watching, and they all say they have a bad relationship with Amon."
That made sense.
With Amon's temper, if the Lord of Storms didn't intervene at a critical moment, he'd never earn the title of grumpy old pigeon.
Also, the 'dual-path true god' thing?
A flash of inspiration sparked in Klein's mind.
After Julius's explanation, Klein suddenly understood much more.
The adjacent Sequence mentioned in "Roselle's Diary," the Beyonder law of aggregation, the metaphor of the original creator being devoured, why Amon was destined to be the enemy of "The Fool," and why the Evernight Goddess wanted to attack the god of war...
From this angle…
'Soothsayer,' 'Apprentice,' 'Stealer.'
The true gods of these three paths could incorporate the authority of the other two Sequences, creating dual or even tri-path true gods!
"Maybe it'll turn into what Julius Astorio once accidentally said—'old days' and 'pillars,'" Klein thought.
"Alright, that's the end of today's little class on Beyonder knowledge," Julius clapped his hands. "Now, I need to focus on dealing with the Loen royal family. I'm scribbling, and many people will die."
The conversation shifted. "As for you, Miss Klein Cape, use this time to gather more information on the 'Iron Cross.' That's the next secret organization we want to control after the 'Rose School.'"
Hearing this, Klein nodded seriously. "Understood."
Julius paused for a moment, then asked, "Are you really not considering choosing another path? One that seems to suit you better?"
Klein stood, covering her mouth as she smiled. "Interesting idea, but I must deKlein."
The various styles of clothing in the room made everything seem brighter.
Julius nodded approvingly. "Congratulations on mastering the essence of 'Faceless Man.' I was wrong. 'Soothsayer' is the most suitable for you."
…
…
A new week began.
Alger walked into the captain's cabin, his crew watching in awe.
Since establishing absolute authority on the Blue Avenger, his life had only improved.
"Praise the Fool," the rebellious pirate leader muttered quietly, his consciousness traveling through the spiritual world to the magnificent palace where the gods seemed to reside.
Mr. Fool was still sitting serenely at the top, which was reassuring.
The lively Miss Audrey Hall, or rather Miss Justice of the Tarot Club, greeted everyone. "Good afternoon, Mr. Fool, good afternoon, Mr. Destiny, good afternoon, Mr. Sun…"
She greeted each person in turn, male and female alike.
Like everyone else, Alger responded politely.
"Everyone," the "Fool" at the top smiled. "I can see everything that's happened in the past few days. Thank you for your hard work."
Everyone fell silent, unable to say a word.
Fors was even more terrified.
To be honest, she hadn't left the house all week and had barely done anything. How could she possibly deserve Mr. Fool's praise for hard work?
Julius, as always, displayed his acting talent. "Thanks to the efforts of all members, the Backlund sacrifice ceremony failed, the Witch Sect suffered severe losses, and the 'Original Witch' fell from her throne. The Rose School was nearly wiped out and merged into the Tarot Club."
He continued with a flourish, "It's also worth mentioning that under Mr. Fool's guidance, we've acquired two new angels…"
The uninformed members were stunned.
In one week, two secret organizations had been destroyed, and a true god had been brought down?
Mr. Fool and his angels were incredibly powerful!
Even Julius himself couldn't help but acknowledge the truth.
He glanced at Julius, speaking eloquently, and sighed inwardly.
I don't want to admit it, but I must admit this guy really is a golden thigh!
"The situation is promising, but we must stay vigilant. Things can change before it's all settled," Julius lowered his voice. "For example, during the Rose School's destruction, Miss Temperance and I unexpectedly encountered Amon."
Amon!
After all the brainwashing, every Tarot Club member knew exactly what those two words meant.
Everyone turned their gaze to Miss Temperance, who remained as still as a wooden doll in the female seat.
Sharron opened her mouth, as though about to speak.
But in the end, she remained silent, clearly unwilling to recall that terrifying experience.
Klein, eager to learn more about Amon, wasn't about to let Sharron off easily.
"Miss Temperance," Klein adjusted her posture, "While the experience was unpleasant, it has value. Let's hear your thoughts and warn the others."
---