13
---
Coincidentally, Leonard, who was eager for success and brave in his pursuits, relied on his nimble skills to scale the wall, only to fall straight into the backyard.
For a moment, their eyes met.
Both Amon and Leonard were stunned.
Suddenly, Grandpa Pales' voice became sharp: "Run!"
Leonard shuddered, turned around, and jumped back up the wall without a word.
On the other side, Amon felt an indescribable thrill surge within him.
Reaching out to grab Leonard, he closed the distance between them.
Leonard's vision blurred, and in the blink of an eye, he found himself standing before the strange vampire.
"We haven't seen each other in years," Amon purred, pinching his eyes with a smile. "Don't you want to catch up with me? I've been thinking of you even in my dreams, Pales Zoroastrian."
Grandpa Pales felt a sudden wave of despair.
Despite all his calculations, he had been outmaneuvered.
In just over ten minutes, the suspicious little bat had turned into Amon.
Could it be that this was a trap from the start?
But that didn't make sense.
The only explanation was that he'd been unlucky enough to cross paths with Amon's people.
Now, it seemed that the little bat was merely the appetizer, and his old bones were the main course.
With this realization, Grandpa Pales stopped trying to flee.
He knew there was no escape now.
Better to fight to the death and try to survive!
He said, "Boy, lend me your body for a while."
Without waiting for Leonard to respond, he took control of his body.
In an instant, Leonard's eyes changed.
Amon, hands folded, smiled. "Well, well, it's rare for you to actually talk to me."
Grandpa Pales snorted coldly, and forced several Time Insects—foreign to his body—out.
He knew Amon too well.
Chat? No, that was impossible.
Amon, the 'God of Mischief,' was a master of conspiracies, and every breath he took was a trap.
"As expected of you, seeing through my tricks," Amon said, his smile unwavering.
But then, his smile faltered.
He realized that the person confronting him was someone else entirely.
"Cunning old fool!" Amon sneered.
The desperate fight to the death? All an act.
With a thought, he closed the distance between them again.
Grandpa Pales sensed something and repeated his old tactic.
One chased, the other fled.
Soon, Pales found himself back at St. Mussel Cathedral in the North District.
Amon didn't dare follow.
He knew the Evernight Goddess was ruthless, and he had suffered a heavy blow.
But not long after, Archbishop Anthony Stevenson emerged, holding a box.
Upon seeing Amon, he spoke softly, "The goddess ordered me to deliver this."
"Oh?" Amon raised an eyebrow, intrigued.
He summoned the courage to open the box, revealing a crystal pillar of intertwined light and shadow, within which Time Insects swam.
The Beyonder properties of Sequence 1!
What he had longed for had suddenly fallen into his hands, but Amon hesitated.
What was going on?
Had his overwhelming luck simply led to this moment, or was it something more?
Was the Evernight Goddess showing favor to him?
No.
That couldn't be right.
He had no such relationship with those gods. Besides, aside from the paranoid few who shared some fleeting bond with him, the rest were his enemies!
Amon examined the Beyonder properties of the precious 'Insect of Time,' uncertain of his next move.
Meanwhile, Archbishop Anthony seemed unfazed.
Though only a Sequence 3, as a true servant of the gods, he was not afraid of Amon, a secret evil god. He set the box down and turned to leave.
Amon hesitated but, driven by instinct, absorbed the Beyonder properties of the 'Insect of Time.'
A sudden spiritual warning flashed in his mind.
Without thinking, Amon relinquished the body of Emlyn—whom he'd only recently claimed—and vanished into the void.
*Whoosh—*
The wind swirled.
Emlyn jolted awake, rubbing his head in confusion. "Hey, where am I?"
Meanwhile, in a nursery:
Julius set down the picture album and smiled. "So, what do you think? Which is more exciting, the story I told, or this one?"
Across from him, Adam remained as indifferent as ever. "This is not a story; it's guidance."
"Every story has its guiding principle. What do you think?" Julius asked.
Adam fell silent for a moment before nodding. "You're right."
Will Auceptin, who had been watching the two men standing by his cradle, dared not even breathe.
The Fool on Earth... no wonder he felt such bad luck today...
Time ticked on in silence.
After a long pause, Adam finally broke the silence. "Your purpose isn't just to have Amon deal with King George III, is it?"
"Actually," Julius said seriously, "I want him to come over and become the bell ringer under my chairmanship."
Adam was speechless.
It was hard to have a conversation with Amon Plus, whose personality was a hundred times worse, and whose abilities had been enhanced beyond measure.
For this being, the only guiding principle was self-interest.
Adam reflected on the fact that the greatest threat to the world was such an unpredictable force. His plans felt suddenly uncertain.
He couldn't help but wonder if all his efforts over the years had truly been worth it...
After some reflection, Adam decided to leave. "Regardless, I still support him."
The moment he finished speaking, his figure slowly blurred, and he vanished in a strange manner.
Will Auceptin let out a deep sigh of relief.
Turning to Julius, his chubby face broke into a flattering smile. "The great master of destiny, the great Julius Astorio..."
Licking a dog? No, licking a snake!
Julius waved a hand, cutting him off. "Serena, you're smart. You should know what to say and what not to say."
"Of course, of course~" Will Auceptin put his little hands together, rubbing them eagerly.
Is it wrong for those on the 'Destiny' path to fear their fate?
No, it's entirely in line with their acting method.
Rolling his eyes, he added, "Lord Master, what should I do next? Give them a break?"
A butterfly's wings can stir a storm.
Not to mention the 'Snake of Mercury.'
This is why Leonard and Emlyn find themselves so unlucky.
It's not that Julius or Will Auceptin are deliberately causing harm.
Their fates simply unfold as they must.
Emlyn, who was too high-profile, was claimed by Amon.
Grandpa Pales, too, couldn't hold on to his Beyonder abilities.
Julius, pressing the fast-forward button, skipped over the process.
In the end, he changed the outcome.
Emlyn, originally meant to die, temporarily lost his memory.
Grandpa Pales, swallowed by Amon, would survive with his Sequence 2 personality.
What? Changing the outcome?
Julius could do that—but didn't want to.
As Adam said, Amon had gained the Beyonder properties of the 'Insect of Time,' which would serve him well.
And Grandpa Pales was destined to lose his Beyonder abilities. Whether snatched by Amon or handed to Klein, he'd be demoted. It was better for him to accept this reality, so he could live without constant fear.
After hearing Will Auceptin's words, Julius shook his head. "What luck? They're fine. More importantly, do you think the 'destined day' has arrived? You'll become a god soon enough, and be able to contribute your power."
Will Auceptin grinned. "With Lord Master here, I feel like I can embrace destiny anytime. Every day is a 'destined day.'"
Fear fate, serve fate.
That's the right way to play the 'Snake of Mercury!'
Julius nodded in satisfaction.
Compared to the cumbersome Ouroboros, Will Auceptin, the little fleshy worm, was far more pleasant to watch.
---
---
That night, Klein received the news that Amon had obtained the last Sequence 1 Beyonder Characteristic.
He was frightened and uneasy, but in the end, his feelings calmed.
It had happened, and there was no use dwelling on it.
Not to mention who would ultimately prevail—taking ten thousand steps back, they really couldn't compete, so why not take a bold leap?
There was the glorious case of his fellow villager Huang Tao, a soothsayer, whose predictions were often accurate—whoever he favored would be judged accordingly!
Of course, leaping recklessly was the worst option. Klein would never take risks that endangered his life and sanity unless absolutely necessary.
"Is Leonard okay?" After calming himself, Klein asked with concern.
"What can happen to him?" Julius replied calmly. "After all, he's the Night Blessed. Even if Pales Zoroastrian dies, he won't."
Upon hearing this, Klein felt relieved.
The parasite on Leonard had lost its Sequence 1 Beyonder characteristic, and Amon would no longer pursue it. This was good for Leonard personally.
Klein just hoped that, after such an unpleasant ordeal, the boy wouldn't end up suffering from Amon's PTSD, like 'Miss Temperance'...
After a moment of thought, Klein added, "Recently, there have been more and more people from the South Continent in the city. From my divination, I suspect the remnants of the 'Rose School' are searching for the properties left by Si'a and others."
"Don't bother me with such a trivial issue," Julius waved dismissively. "Solve it yourself."
After a brief pause, Julius added, "But you should communicate more with Sharron, Maric, and our new unlucky vampires. They'll be happy to help you deal with them."
Klein nodded.
Julius then gave a pointed warning, "Due to the Fusac air raid, the speech has been advanced. Be prepared. What you'll face are the angels and the Holy Spirit of the Augustus family. By the way, do you know where the secret tomb is?"
Klein turned his ring with a chuckle, "Of course I know. As for the angels of the Augustus family... don't worry, Chic still has some power, enough to let me shine the last afterglow of the original Witch."
Julius smiled and shrugged noncommittally. "I hope you won't come crying to me for help then..."
Klein said nothing, decisively turned around, and left, leaving Julius with a fleeting glimpse of his back.
Julius shook his head, then turned to the corner of the study. "Has the investigation been completed?"
The evil red angel spirit emerged from the wall. "It's done."
"The mastermind behind this is Feysac's current patron saint, a descendant of Einhorn."
"Like George III, he hoped to launch a war that would engulf the entire continent, intending to gain enough victories to ascend to the throne of God."
Julius scratched his eyebrow. "Einhorn, your descendants have potential."
The Red Angel Evil Spirit chuckled. "Of course, he's my blood relative."
Just as he finished speaking, two more voices emerged: "But their proud ancestors ended up in such a disgraceful state."
"Shameful, Einhorn, utterly shameful!"
As the three of them bickered endlessly, Julius quickly refocused their attention. "Einhorn is from the royal family of Feysac; the descendants of Sauron once ruled in Intis, but now they've fallen into deKlein. The Medici... your descendants will always guard Bansi Port..."
Julius's expression shifted as he continued, "It's fascinating there. There's a treasure I even covet."
Hearing this, the red angel evil spirit's eyes gleamed.
Could it be that the treasure capable of attracting the King of Angels' attention was the uniqueness of a certain Sequence?
However, they never imagined that the true treasures hidden in Bansi Port were far more precious than any uniqueness.
These treasures were comparable to the Chaos Sea, Sefirah Castle, and other source materials—the city of disaster.
...
Public speaking is actually part of the ritual of becoming a god.
To become the "Black Emperor," one must first establish their own kingdom. Next, they must bind their name to the title of 'Emperor,' making it common knowledge among the people and creating a set of strict and nonsensical rules. Then, the people are forced to build nine secret tombs. Upon entering one, they take the Sequence 0 potion, distributed in various locations with the participation of most citizens, and the individual is officially promoted!
All of these conditions had been fulfilled by George III.
Kingdom—The Kingdom of Loen.
Emperor's name: George III.
Rules—Various reform bills.
Secret Tomb—A large number of people from the East District disappeared and were sold to different places to construct graves.
The speech was the final piece!
That day, the sky was overcast, giving an eerie sense of oppression.
Though hazy days like this were common in Backlund, after the air raid, the gray clouds seemed to carry a deeper meaning.
Fors made a rare excursion outside, having received inside information that the crisis had been resolved and there would be no further dangers.
This was Xianyu's first time going out in more than a month.
Beside her was Xio, dressed in a black hunting suit and white gloves.
The young and petite 'sheriff' looked at the numb and sorrowful expressions of the ordinary citizens around her and sighed softly.
The price of bread had risen, kerosene prices had soared, and the cost of medicine was through the roof.
Many had died in the air raids.
The survivors, meanwhile, were left in misery.
Had the major Churches and the newly emerged Blood Cross Rescue Team not stepped in to help, riots might have broken out, leading to even worse devastation...
"What's going on in this world?" Xio muttered to herself.
She was kind and upright, always willing to fight evil to the bitter end, but she felt helpless against the current state of the world.
Fors blinked, patting her friend's shoulder. "Maybe we can't change anything, but at least we still have each other."
Meeting her friend's dark brown eyes, Xio nodded.
Having friends around might be the greatest comfort for now.
The two walked in silence.
As they neared the central square, the crowd grew larger.
People were dressed in formal attire and carrying walking sticks, while others wore shorts and jackets.
Like drops of water joining the river.
By the entrance to the square, the crowd had finally gathered.
Luckily, Fors and Xio had arrived early and secured a good spot.
This spared Xio the embarrassment of being unable to see due to her height.
Looking around, Fors noticed strange things on the gray and white stone pillars in the center of the square. They were large at one end and small at the other, painted with dark blue paint, resembling connecting cables.
Underneath the stone pillars, groups of soldiers in red shirts and white trousers stood guard. The soldiers carried gray-white metal backpacks and steam rifles with complex structures and large calibers, scanning the area with vigilant eyes.
"I've seen those guns. They say they're the latest product from the Academy of Sciences. They cost about 50 gold pounds on the black market. And those things on the stone pillars... they should be loudspeakers, often used by Intis..." Xio whispered, sharing secret information that only those with connections in the gray areas would know.
Fors blinked and took a few steps back, feeling a bit uncomfortable standing so close.
As the citizens continued to pour in, the square grew increasingly lively.
Time passed slowly, and when the clock in the main square pointed to nine, the strange devices on the stone pillars suddenly rustled.
A deep, majestic voice filled the air.
"Ladies and gentlemen, I am your Emperor and Ruler of East Balam and the Rossed Islands, George Augustus III."
"I am both happy and sad to announce that we have successfully stopped the first phase of the Fusac people's attack and thwarted their plan to destroy Loen in two months."
"But far too many talented young people have died in this air raid and on the frontlines of our Kingdom… They should have had a better future, grown old with their parents, lived with their spouses, matured together, and watched their children grow. However, the Feysacs have destroyed all of that!"
---
---
With the voice of George III, there was a stir in the surrounding crowd.
Sobbs filled the air, and the sadness gradually gathered, bit by bit.
Xio and Fors couldn't help but feel their eyes grow slightly red.
This emotion hit them suddenly.
They suspected it might be related to the fact that they had seen so many numb and suffering people on the road...
"Let us observe a moment of silence here for our heroes."
"Ladies and gentlemen, follow me in your hearts. In the name of Emperor George III, may the spirits of the dead find peace, and may they live forever in the country where they believed in gods."
These words acted like a spell, and George III's already commanding voice became even more irresistible.
All present, including Xio and Fors, involuntarily lowered their heads, clasped their hands, and silently whispered in their hearts, "In the name of Emperor George III..."
However, amidst the silence, George III did not make a move but merely winked at the people around him.
In an instant, the angelic distortion force field descended, and George III's trusted guards sprang into action.
They saw him pull out a wriggling mass of flesh and blood, attaching it to his body. Then, his entire appearance transformed to resemble George III.
Without Adam's help, George III cleverly employed a trick of "Li Dai Tao Zang."
He himself took a step back, as though he had slipped into the shadow of the rules, disappearing entirely.
On the other side, Klein, who had been watching the movements on the high platform, narrowed his eyes, a dangerous and cold smile creeping onto his lips.
"Nothing new, really," Klein muttered to himself.
He had already "rehearsed" many scenarios in his mind, even bringing Azik, Bernadette, and other well-informed Holy Spirit angels together to deduce possible outcomes.
Whether through mental calculation or not, George III's behavior was exactly as they had guessed!
Seeing this, Bernadette no longer hesitated. She turned her palm over and produced an item from the secret space. It looked like a smaller version of a kettle, with a wick protruding from the spout.
Under everyone's gaze, Bernadette's right hand traced the surface of the Beyonder object, which was covered in mysterious symbols.
The wick burned silently, and the light emitted by the flame continued to rise, forming an illusory pale golden figure.
Bernadette took a deep breath and solemnly spoke in the giant language, "Eternal Djinn, my second wish is to confirm the location where King George Augustus III of the Kingdom of Loen entered."
"1 out of 9?"
There was not enough time, and the probability of making a mistake was too high. It was better to go straight to Huanglong and behead him!
As for the other tombs that serve as pillars of advancement, others would take care of them.
The elusive pale golden figure did not move. A secret message flowed into Bernadette's mind through their connection.
Bernadette's eyes lit up, and she whispered, "I have fulfilled this wish."
After hearing this, the elusive pale golden figure seemed to solidify slightly, reentered the copper lamp, and vanished in the blink of an eye.
Klein, Bernadette, and Azik exchanged glances and said in unison, "Let's go!"
The next second, an illusory portal appeared before the three of them.
On the high platform at the front of the square, the fake 'George III' continued his speech.
"Ladies and gentlemen, I pledge to you, in the name of the King, that I will transfer more power to the House of Commons and once again lower the property requirements for the franchise."
"I guarantee, in the name of the king, that the murderers who harmed the Kingdom of Loen will be severely punished!"
However, at that moment, the stand-in who had been transformed from George III's personal bodyguard suddenly faltered in his tone.
Then, as if instinctively, he pinched his eye sockets.
"Sorry, sorry, where was I just now?"
"Ah, right, the murderers who harmed the Kingdom of Loen will be severely punished."
"Actually, these words were all lies to you. I was the one who colluded with the Fusac Fleet. Likewise, I was secretly supporting human trafficking."
The people, who had been stirred up, seemed to be doused with cold water. Their eyes widened, and they stared in confusion.
Did they hear that correctly?
His Majesty the King...?
"Do you want to know why?" The stand-in sneered. "Because it's fun. I enjoy seeing you humans, who claim to be intelligent creatures, squirm in despair."
"Honestly, it's quite satisfying..."
Before he could finish, a thunderbolt suddenly struck from the clear sky.
The crowd only felt their vision blur, and His Majesty the King—who had been smirking just a moment ago—immediately returned to his normal expression.
At the same time, George Augustus III, who had just ingested the Sequence 0 potion, suddenly began bleeding from all his orifices.
"Who did this?"
His face twisted as black crystals began sprouting from his head, irregularly clustering into a strange crown. Thick, curly, black hair sprouted all over his body.
At first glance, he resembled a giant, curly baboon.
However, due to his thorough preparations, the sudden transformation did not cause George III to lose control.
Relying on the nine mausoleums, he forcibly stabilized his mind and continued his attack on the throne.
On an unnamed island, hundreds of thousands of miles away, Roselle suddenly opened his eyes.
Sitting on the stone-carved throne, he radiated an indescribable majesty. His body expanded, revealing his mythical form, and he transformed into a giant covered in curly black hair.
Following a pull from the darkness, he gazed at a distant point and muttered, "Just because I don't come back doesn't mean I can't return."
"If I don't give it to you, you are not allowed to take it!"
---
---
The Angel King of the 'Black Emperor' pathway is often considered the most dangerous in the entire pathway.
For other pathways, if there is a Sequence 0, there will be no Sequence 1. The King of Angels is the biological father of others on this pathway and can influence all the Extraordinaries of this pathway except himself due to his high status.
The 'Black Emperor' path, however, is different.
Even if three Sequence 1s appeared at the same time, they wouldn't be able to discern whether there was a half-dead "Black Emperor" above them.
As long as there is no new "Black Emperor" promoted, or the established order is not completely destroyed, the older generation of "Black Emperors" may return from the star realm at any time.
At that point, the three copies of Sequence 1 Beyonder Characteristics will be automatically absorbed by the returning "Black Emperor."
The original Sequence 1s will all be reduced to Sequence 2, or even lower.
This is also the reason why Alistair Tudor was willing to go half-mad to perform the Red Priest ritual.
It can only be said that, aside from Sequence 0, the rest of the 'Black Emperor' pathways are all subordinates.
Even if one succeeds in defeating an enemy, the boss can return at full strength within moments.
Roselle's ascension ceremony had been quite secretive back then.
However, secrecy does not mean unknowability.
Looking back, there are always some beings who realize the meaning behind his various actions.
What they didn't know was that, after landing on the moon, Roselle himself had been tainted by the evil god of the stars. He had hoped to use the ritual to become a god and rid himself of this influence, but he did not anticipate that the evil god was even more powerful than a true god.
This is why Roselle did not dare return easily after the 'White Maple Palace Incident.'
If he didn't return, outsiders would naturally assume that he had truly fallen.
With this general assumption, George III gained enough confidence to collect three copies of the Beyonder characteristics of the 'Prince Murderer' and the uniqueness of the Black Emperor's path to establish his own status and ascend to the throne of God.
Becoming a god is one thing. It doesn't matter if Roselle, who sealed himself away, remains unaware of it.
But the current situation is that the caring little cotton-padded Bernadette has been using the modified blasphemy card to contact her father.
So, when the ceremony began, Roselle was fully prepared.
He no longer sealed himself away, but instead deliberately lifted the suppression he had placed on himself, allowing the power of rules to guide him back into the real world.
As a result, as soon as George III drank the magic potion, the Beyonder properties and uniqueness within it were summoned by the real "Black Emperor," and they sought to break free from his body.
Had there not been a Sequence 1 'Hand of Order' beside him, George III would have exploded and perished immediately.
"Hold on!" In the distance, William Augustus I called out in a deep voice.
He held a black-and-white mottled pocket watch in his hand.
The hands of the watch began to move, and it felt as though the entire world fell silent.
Though the origin of this pocket watch wasn't too high-level, only Sequence 3, it was rare because this 'Concerto of Light and Shadow' perfectly combined the Beyonder characteristics of both the Black Emperor Path Saint and the Judge Path Saint.
It could be understood as the youthful version of the old god level, the "Disordered One."
Additionally, William Augustus himself held Sequence 1 strength.
Together, these forces suppressed the return of the Beyonder characteristics and uniqueness.
The situation slowly improved. The inhuman George III wiped the blood from the corners of his mouth with his large, black, hairy hands, his eyes filled with madness and fury.
No matter who stood in his way, this ritual would succeed today!
But just as the environment had stabilized slightly, it was shaken once more.
Outside the mausoleum, a giant feathered serpent, hundreds of meters long, spread its wings across the sky.
The Feathered Serpent's body was covered with massive dark green scales, each gap between the scales lined with three to five white feathers. Strange symbols in varying shapes adorned the feathers and scales, and the creature's eye sockets burned with pale flames.
A gray aura spread out, causing everything, including the tomb itself, to rapidly decay and vanish.
The Quetzalcoatl was none other than Azik Eggers, the mythical form of the Son of Death!
William Augustus I, attempting to maintain stability within the mausoleum, was helpless for the moment. He could only use secret methods to summon other angels from the Augustus family.
Drink Augustus, who had been guarding Mausoleum No. 2, received the call for help. His face grew stern as he immediately teleported to Mausoleum No. 1.
He was a Sequence 2 'Balancer,' an angel of the Judge path, equal in nature to Azik.
The moment he saw the feathered serpent, the old man—beardless and slightly arrogant—frowned and asked, "Azik Eggers, is the Spiritual Religion declaring war on the Augustus family?"
He couldn't help but think this way.
The Spiritual Cult worshipped the God of Death, which had been transformed from the Balang royal family and the Death Church. Naturally, the Son of Death would be closely tied to the Spiritual Cult.
Azik did not respond. Instead, he opened his mouth and unleashed a stream of gray flames.
Drink Augustus snorted coldly and extended his hand. "Life and death complement each other."
The symbol of the judge was a perfectly balanced scale and a golden sword.
Yin and Yang, life and death—order endures forever.
Under the power of 'balance,' the decayed plants and trees began to sprout again, and the crumbling mausoleum returned to normal.
Drink Augustus was confident in his victory.
But suddenly, he turned his head sharply, his expression one of deep anger. "Trying to make the tiger leave the mountain?"
This was in the direction of Mausoleum No. 2, where he had been stationed.
The serious, old-fashioned man secretly resented this act.
---
---
At the same time, in Mausoleum No. 2, Bernadette, who had mysteriously appeared, was unleashing her magic.
The ground trembled as the giant's feet stomped upon it;
A White Pegasus soared through the sky;
Thick pea vines sprouted from the earth, wrapping themselves around the mausoleum;
Countless dead creatures roared in low voices, corroding everything they touched at the cost of their bodies—*Feast of the Dead*, a new magic she had mastered based on *Azik's Blood*, was the most powerful of the magics she knew.
In truth, Bernadette's presence here wasn't part of a grand scheme; it was simply a coincidence.
Each of the other eight mausoleums had its own caretaker.
For example, Bernadette oversaw Mausoleum No. 2;
Miss Kleine was responsible for No. 3;
The three evil spirits controlling the puppets were in charge of Nos. 4, 5, and 6;
Will Asceptin managed No. 7;
Reinette Tinichole took care of No. 8.
Their goal wasn't to defeat George III, but to disturb his ascension.
Bernadette, however, had better luck. The most powerful guardian had already left, allowing her to carry out her task far more effectively than planned.
The potion fusion process itself was deeply unsatisfactory. After stabilizing the situation, the mausoleum, which acted as a pillar, was destroyed again.
Meanwhile, in Mausoleum No. 1, George III's eyes split wide open, and his remaining sanity was lost in a frenzy.
Seeing the signs of a complete loss of control, William Augustus I's face darkened, the tension palpable.
They had thought their plans were secret and well-prepared, but they had not anticipated the numerous obstacles that arose at the critical moment.
Just as George III was about to lose control, a force intervened.
Eight tombs materialized out of thin air in remote places around the world.
To create something from nothing in an instant was the power of fantasy.
Adam took action.
For reasons tied to a certain malevolent starry sky god, Adam had always opted to observe the situation from the sidelines.
As the first person beneath the true Gods, an existence close to divinity, Adam's authority was nearly equivalent to that of a "visionary," aside from his personality.
He knew that the Seven Gods had initially tacitly approved of George III's rise to godhood, but that approval had gradually shifted.
At least three of the gods—the Evernight Goddess, the Earth Mother Goddess, and the Lord of Storms—had quietly aligned themselves with the Starry Sky Evil God.
And Adam had his own agenda.
He had supported George III, but his real aim was never to see him become a god. Instead, he wanted his troublesome, rebellious child to replace George III!
Almost the moment the mausoleums appeared, Amon, struck by lightning, manifested strangely beside George III and William Augustus I.
Dressed in a black palace gown, with disheveled hair, a monocle, and a mischievous smile, Amon grinned.
"Amon!" William Augustus I shouted angrily.
Suddenly, the scapegoat had a face.
All the blame, no matter the circumstances, was now Amon's!
Amon raised the hem of his gown and performed an exaggerated, ladylike salute.
But the saluting Amon was an illusion. The true Amon bypassed all theatrics, directly entering George III's body to resist the pull of the "Black Emperor."
One was a mistake, the other was a distortion.
Both abilities were eerily similar.
As expected, Amon was sharper than George III.
The mystifying pull was shattered, and Amon effortlessly suppressed the remnants of George III's sanity.
As for George III's loss of control, that responsibility was handed off to William Augustus I.
"You're welcome; his madness is my madness, and my madness is your madness," Amon said with a grin.
William Augustus I, refusing to concede, stopped maintaining the Beyonder item with ease and declared solemnly, "Possession is prohibited here!"
The *Hand of Order*'s words were law.
With the absence of the *Concerto of Light and Shadow* and William Augustus I's law-based constitution, Amon was pulled out of George III's body.
But there was no joy on William Augustus I's face. In less than ten seconds, Amon had stolen everything from George III. Even if they were separated, Amon had already effectively replaced him.
"Don't even think about it!" William Augustus I roared.
As a veteran survivor of the Solomon Dynasty, his mind was steely, and he refused to give up even in the direst of circumstances.
In an instant, a sealing sword formed from the light of order descended from the air, trapping Amon in a prison-like circle.
William Augustus I was a just judge.
"Judgment," he announced loudly.
Just as Amon was about to continue the ritual, he suddenly found himself unable to move.
The final judgment echoed in his ears.
"Thieves shall be hanged!"
Amon's eyes narrowed.
The next moment, his mischievous smile widened, and the monocle over his eye disappeared.
Pointing to his now-empty eye sockets, Amon grinned. "A fair verdict; the thief should be hanged."
*Fantasy.*
William Augustus I seemed to realize something, and his gaze shot to George III, who had been transformed into a curly baboon.
At some point, a crystal-polished monocle had appeared on the baboon's large, black, furry face.
"No!" William Augustus I bellowed, scrambling to halt the trial.
Unsurprisingly, his violation of the rules had turned the judgment on him.
It wasn't that William Augustus I had been careless, but that Amon—brother Adam—had endless tricks up his sleeve.
A stolen graft, a fantasy illusion.
In a 2 vs. 1 situation, the *Hand of Order* was powerless.
Taking a deep breath, the now damaged William Augustus I revealed his mythical form.
The Black Emperor and the Judge were adjacent paths, and their mythological forms were similar—one a curly baboon cloaked in black, the other a mighty ape with smooth, golden fur.
Order's power filled the space, forcing Adam to abandon his Spectator status and join the fight alongside Amon against the relentless William Augustus I.
"Our time is limited. The imaginary authority is false after all. The ritual must be completed before the secret state expires," Adam spoke calmly.
Despite knowing that such trickery held little weight with the evil starry sky god, Adam knew what he had to do.
This ascension ceremony was a rare opportunity for Amon. If he didn't seize it, he would never forgive himself.
Unbeknownst to the brothers, on a distant island hundreds of thousands of miles away, Julius sat beside Roselle—now transformed into a black-haired giant—and urged him on.
"Come on! You can do it!"
"Harder!"
"Follow my rhythm—breathe in, breathe in, breathe out!"
Honestly, the sound was incredibly annoying.
But Roselle didn't dare complain.
His fear of Julius was greater than even the pollution coursing through his body.
"I'll be back soon...I can feel it...it's very close..." Roselle hummed, his body slowly disintegrating.
The process was slow, but the return was happening.
Julius nodded.
He didn't wish to intervene in the battle outside of Backlund, but compared to the chaos, Lao Huang needed him more.
Seeing that the time was nearly up, Julius acted, using transparent filaments to peel the pollution from the "Fallen Mother Goddess" as he had done with Mr. Door's body. He chewed it briefly, then swallowed it whole.
Roselle:...
This was why he feared Julius more than the "Fallen Mother Goddess."
Back to the matter at hand.
The *Black Emperor* was the shadow of rules and order, capable of distorting and confusing any concept from its source.
George III built a mausoleum to become the Black Emperor.
"I am the Black Emperor."
Therefore, this was my tomb.
Since it's my mausoleum, it's only right that I return from it.
So, as Amon Adam and William Augustus fought, the unconscious curly baboon suddenly grew taller.
At the same time, its eyes regained their vitality.
When the change reached a critical point, both Adam and Amon turned to look at the figure seated upon the throne.
Roselle raised his head majestically. "In front of the emperor, none shall be arrogant!"
The moment his words fell, the atmosphere darkened.
The three copies of the Sequence 1 Beyonder Characteristics and the Black Emperor's uniqueness—previously stolen by Amon—broke free from George III's body and flew toward their true master: Roselle.
He absorbed them effortlessly, as naturally as breathing.
And so, the "Black Emperor" completed his return ceremony.
The true God had arrived!
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**Let's break down the major reasons why George III failed to be promoted:**
First, the people who were supposed to be the cornerstone of his success began to doubt the emperor due to Amon's deliberate interference.
Second, the mausoleum as a pillar was destroyed by the forces of the Church of the Fool, led by Azik.
Third, the former "Black Emperor," Roselle, was forewarned and used his passivity to cause chaos with George III.
Fourth, the two brothers, Amon and Adam, conspired together, actively sabotaging the ceremony.
Fifth, goddesses who had once remained neutral—such as the Evernight Goddess, the Earth Mother Goddess, the Lord of Storms, and the True Creator—had now aligned themselves with the opposition.
Sixth, George III simply lacked the destiny to become a god. No matter how much he tried, he was always destined to fail.
On the throne, Roselle coldly regarded Brother Amon Adam and William Augustus I, his large, black-haired face radiating an undeniable aura of majesty.
Adam gently closed his eyes and sighed for the first time.
The next second, he grabbed his son's wrist, took a step back, and quickly left the land of turmoil.
Roselle made no move to stop him.
Though Adam Amon was not a god, if he truly sought to anger these two brothers, even a true god would have a difficult time handling it.
In comparison, William Augustus I was much easier to deal with.
However, Roselle saw the founder of the Loen Kingdom trembling violently, his golden hair losing its sheen as it withered and dulled.
**True God vs. King of Angels.**
The outcome was inevitable.
Even though Roselle had just returned and was not at full strength, William Augustus I could not resist.
The rules maintained by the 'Hand of Order' were utterly distorted, and this kind of damage to the very source of order left William Augustus I powerless, causing him to fall.
It seemed that not only George III was unlucky— the entire Augustus family seemed cursed. The once-mighty King of Angels perished, and his Beyonder traits were taken by Roselle.
Although it was a fleeting thought, Roselle considered that if he had the chance to become "disordered," he would not hesitate to seize it.
But now was not the time to dwell on this. Sensing the real world rejecting him and noticing the fractured space around him, Roselle abandoned his mythical form and, without hesitation, reached out to retrieve the small cotton-padded jacket from Mausoleum No. 2. He regained his senses.
This logic, which defies time and space, went something like this:
Bernadette Gustave was in the mausoleum.
I am also in the tomb.
Therefore, we are in the same place.
One second, Bernadette was showcasing her powers in the abandoned tomb, and the next second, she found herself in a strange new location.
Looking up, she saw a middle-aged man sitting at the top with long, curly chestnut hair, blue eyes, a high nose, and two beautiful mustaches adorning his lips.
"Father?!" Bernadette gasped in disbelief, covering her mouth.
Roselle smiled gently, lacking the imposing presence of an emperor, and waved for Bernadette to come closer. "My angel, let me take a good look at you."
Bernadette instinctively stepped forward.
But suddenly, she paused, confused. "Wait, what's wrong with you?"
Roselle sighed softly. "It's a long story... Anyway, I've completed the return ceremony, but gods can't stay in the real world for too long. So you must listen carefully to my next words."
The moment he spoke, the mausoleum transformed into an absolutely sealed environment.
Bernadette's expression turned serious.
Roselle spoke with intent. "First of all, be cautious of the moon—no, be cautious of anything above the sky."
Even with his status as a true god, Roselle could only offer this vague warning to his daughter, for knowledge is often poison.
"Second, help me build nine mausoleums. This is something only you can handle. If it were anyone else, I'd worry. By the way, if I have a chance, I'll go to the Church of Steam to bring Bonova out. I think there may be a way to wake him."
Bonova Gustave, Roselle's second son and Bernadette's younger brother, was on the 'Perfector' path, born with Sequence 5.
The God of Steam and Machinery had bestowed favors upon Bonova to win his loyalty, but in doing so, his divinity overshadowed his humanity. Roselle rebelled against the Church of Steam as a result.
Bernadette nodded solemnly. "I understand."
Roselle continued, "Third, I must make good friends with The Fool. If nothing unexpected happens, he will become my most reliable ally."
Despite their separation, Roselle felt a natural affection for this 'little brother' he had never met. It seemed the entire situation had been orchestrated by The Fool.
After a brief pause, Roselle's voice softened. "Finally, I owe you an apology, Bernadette. I've never been a good father, but you are the best daughter in the world. I love you... as always."
After suppressing his feelings for so long, Roselle finally allowed his emotions to show, speaking candidly without the guise of greatness.
Hearing those words, Bernadette couldn't hold back her tears, which instantly blurred her vision.
She longed to embrace her father.
Roselle raised a hand, halting her approach.
There is a clear divide between humans and gods.
Even though Bernadette was a saint on earth, she was still bound by the limitations of being 'ordinary.'
If Roselle hadn't used his power to distort the rules in this place, Bernadette would have lost control and become a monster upon seeing him. She would never have been able to return to normal.
"That's all I have to say," Roselle declared. "I must leave."
After the 'Pale War,' the God of Death had fallen, the original Witch suffered great losses, and rifts had appeared in the outer barrier of the starry sky. To prevent the invasion of foreign gods, the righteous gods had withdrawn from the Kingdom of God and ventured into the starry sky to seal the gaps with their bodies.
Roselle had the same task now.
He glanced at Bernadette, giving her a slight nod.
Then, his body turned into a streak of light and vanished in an instant.
"Father!" Bernadette ran a few steps forward, but all she grasped was air.
She stood motionless, dazed, unable to comprehend the situation.
Time passed, and soon, Azik entered the mausoleum, finding Bernadette standing there, lost in thought.
"Huh?" The Son of Death raised an eyebrow, confused.
Though he didn't know what had occurred, Azik chose not to disturb the grieving lady.
However, the uncultured Medici and the others did not share his tact.
According to the original plan, the three enemies had come here to assist after completing their sabotage mission, and while quarreling, they entered the tomb.
"Finally, we're out to get some air. After a few hits, all the trash from the Augustus family ran off. Such a shame that people like that can even be called royals!"
"Yeah, uncle, I was cursing Zhenghuan out there when an old woman almost lost her mind, but—"
"You think this is nothing? The guy I faced was only Sequence 3. When he saw me, he cried out 'War Angel' in fear and fled the mausoleum. That's the true meaning of winning without fighting. You two should learn from this."
The voices were as annoying as ever. Azik pinched his brow in frustration and spoke softly, "In short, there's no need to fight here anymore. Let's go back. This isn't the place to talk."
With that, he opened the door of the mausoleum and invited everyone inside.
Though not as powerful as the Extraordinaries who traverse the 'Gate,' those who follow the 'Death' path still possess the ability to travel through the star realm.
The three evil spirits filed in, jostling each other.
Bernadette hesitated for a moment, but eventually accepted the fact that her father was gone and stepped through the door, her mind heavy with thought.
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