Chapter 414
Eivass’s Apprehension
Eivass had originally intended not to appear in public again before Isabel’s return. To be precise, he planned to stay out of sight until after Isabel presided over the Round Table Conference and announced the decision to replace ministers. He didn’t want to cause trouble for Isabel, so it was best to distance himself from these affairs. After all, he wasn’t truly here to usurp power. If he had intended to do so, he wouldn’t have bothered with pretense. Queen Sophia had practically told him, “You may take it yourself.”
Even if Isabel’s increasingly resilient heart could ignore the gossip, Eivass could not allow it to exist. His nurturing of the Night Demon, Viness, had concluded. Now, Eivass intended to begin nurturing the Butterfly of Paradox Flame, aiming to cultivate her to the same level as the Night Demon as soon as possible.
As a pastime to relieve boredom, Eivass selected a few specialized books from Yulia’s bookshelf. These were tomes detailing the geography, customs, and culture of the Imperial Era. Eivass planned to dedicate the next couple of days to studying these books.
However, while Eivass was quietly reading in the Queen’s study, someone suddenly knocked and entered. Lily, who had been standing silently behind Eivass, seemed to materialize from the wall, her form sketching out from nothingness and solidifying into a body. She walked to the door and spoke in a low voice with the person at the entrance. Afterward, she brought Eivass the documents contained in a briefcase.
“So early?” Eivass expressed some surprise. It was barely seven in the morning. He had just finished his morning exercises and prayers, and eaten breakfast. What significant matter could possibly arise at this hour? The Round Table Hall meeting wouldn’t have started yet either.
With a sense of doubt, Eivass accepted the briefcase and tore open the seal, opening it. Inside lay not just one letter, but the most important one bore a silver dragon’s head seal. Eivass opened it and saw the brief yet significant message.
“…Scarlett Emma has arrived?” Eivass murmured, his brow furrowing slightly. “So soon?”
This wasn’t entirely an unexpected visit. He had actually received word earlier. The Star Antinomy embassy had sent a message yesterday afternoon stating that Countess Emma would be visiting Avalon shortly to discuss “numerous matters closely related to peace in the next decade”… However, no one anticipated the Succubus would arrive so quickly, and surprisingly, without her team.
Eivass keenly sensed that something was amiss. A shadow fell over his heart. If the Star Antinomy people truly intended to negotiate in good faith, they would have provided an exact list of visiting personnel, allowed the Avalon Ministry of Foreign Affairs to confirm it, and then finalized the itinerary, giving Avalon ample time to prepare. Although the relationship between Avalon and Star Antinomy had eased considerably, disputes and conflicts still existed in various domains. These issues couldn’t be resolved overnight. Even as the current Red Phase’s Chief Secretary, she couldn’t decide matters for so many departments. From this perspective, Eivass believed the Star Antinomy people had no intention of negotiating seriously.
The problem, however, was that Eivass had almost no knowledge of Countess Emma. At least, Emma had never appeared in this iteration of the game, as she had died directly in the background story of the main quest. Eivass only knew her name because her death was sufficiently well-known. As the unfortunate individual who performed the world’s first Ouroboros Ring ritual, she had used her life to impart a crucial lesson to others attempting to replicate the ritual: be careful, the Fallen Heavenly Envoy who pulls you down will strike.
Eivass could only infer her identity through other intelligence. The “Red Phase” and “Black Phase” of the Star Antinomy Empire were two nameless heroes who assisted Valentin I in founding the nation. They left no names in history. From public knowledge channels, one could only discern that they belonged to the Path of Love and the Transcendent Path, and the Twilight Path and Path Adaptation, respectively. Eivass, however, knew a little more. For instance, both “Founding Prime Ministers” were actually still alive. The Red Phase was a Child of the Moon with power approaching the Sixth Tier, a Child of the Moon since the time the Giant Kingdom still existed. Furthermore, from the CG of the preview trailer, Eivass could roughly guess that he was most likely the one who intercepted and killed Meg during the Ascension Ritual in the Dream Realm in the original history. He was the final BOSS of the late-stage Version 0.0 main quest, immensely powerful. Although it was unknown if he possessed such nascent power in the current version, he would at least have the formidable combat ability to transform into a dragon and summon rivers of blood in the future. He also had quite a connection with Eivass. Just as new forms for Kamen Riders always have a protection period, teammates often have a moment to shine when they advance. In the game’s script, that original Red Phase, Pomanach, was defeated by Eivass, who had just advanced to “Lord of Great Beasts.” Players, in contrast, merely provided assistance, with the crucial damage during several phase transitions being delivered by “Eivass.” This original Red Phase, Pomanach, was stylishly killed by the debut of Eivass’s new form.
As for the other, the Black Phase, he was the mentor to all Necromancers in Star Antinomy. He was also the final BOSS of the main quest dungeon, the Thousand Year Vow of Hatred Spirit Tower. Star Antinomy’s best Necromancer academy was called the “Spirit Tower,” and it had already existed since the Imperial Era. At that time, the Black Phase was the headmaster of the Spirit Tower. To this day, the Spirit Tower still exists, and he remains its headmaster. He had long since discarded his physical body, transforming himself into an Undead, achieving a form of eternal life.
Currently, in Star Antinomy, the intense conflict between Alchemists and Demon Scholars was tearing society apart, but this was merely the surface of the transcendent world. The “Red Phase” faction, represented by Children of the Moon, Witches, and Blood Mages, and the “Black Phase” faction, led by Necromancers and Prophets, had already withdrawn from the central stage of the Star Antinomy Kingdom. However, even so, the Black Phase of each generation had always been the vice-headmaster of the Spirit Tower, and the Red Phase of each generation had been the child of the original Red Phase. These two factions rarely expressed their opinions now, but when they did, their words carried immense weight. Both nobles and kings had to respect their opinions greatly.
This was because they represented not only themselves but also the groups of Fifth Tier Extraordinary beings who were unwilling to contend for power and whose control over the royal family was weak, as well as the two extremely low-profile top powerhouses. As the Red Phase’s Chief Secretary, Countess Emma was highly likely—or rather, inevitably—to become the next Red Phase. Considering this, Countess Emma likely had a close relationship with Count Leipzig, who was desperately trying to obtain Miss Alistair. They were probably “related” on the level of Children of the Moon, either siblings or brother and sister.
But behind her stood one of the strongest beings in this World. While not comparable to the Eternal Pope, who could act as the “Mediator of All Wars,” Pomanach was also not to be underestimated and was a dangerous individual. The prospect of such a significant figure visiting alone with ill intentions—if Eivass hadn’t obtained the Night Demon last night—would have certainly made him wary.
“…I must meet her.” Eivass made up his mind. “After all, she is a genuine Succubus, and also a Child of the Moon.” Children of the Moon were also adept at mental manipulation. The combination of these two professions was terrifying. It was practically equivalent to Yulie charging in. Eivass really didn’t want Scarlett Emma to interact with too many people. To be precise, anyone she touched would immediately be classified by Eivass as “temporarily untrustworthy.”
The combination of Love and Transcendence was bound to be powerful. An immensely self-centered, narcissistic, selfish, and simultaneously supremely confident Transcendent. This was because, after the death of either a Demon Avatar or a Fiend, the demon within would break free. At this point, even if they were resurrected as a Child of the Moon, they would completely lose that profession, much like Beyad in the past. On one hand, it was due to the deviation of their Path; on the other, it was because the demon within was gone, leaving them an empty shell. Furthermore, if the energy level of other Paths was too low when they transformed into a Child of the Moon, they would be dyed into the pure Path of Love and have that characteristic erased. This was the exclusivity of the Path of Love. At least Path of Third Tier was required to leave some residual influence.
This meant she had to become a Child of the Moon when the Demon Scholar reached the Third Tier. Then, she had to pick up the declining Transcendent Path again, cultivate it to the Fifth Tier, and advance into a Demon Avatar—equivalent to training the Transcendent Path twice. If she reached the Sixth Tier in this manner, she would achieve a special accomplishment: [Perfect Being]. Also known by players as “Perfect Creature.” Possessing the ageless and immortal vitality of a Child of the Moon, the immense power of a high-level Phantom Demon, and the Mark of Sin from a Fallen Heavenly Envoy. Moreover, because she had a complete material body, she would not be judged as a Phantom Demon requiring departure from the Material Realm, and since she had a physical body, she could continue to level up and advance. Unlike Children of the Moon, she wouldn’t have numerous weaknesses and taboos, nor would she be susceptible to dispels like demons.
A Version 0.0 BOSS was a Perfect Being that gave even the Eternal Pope considerable trouble at the time. Eivass did not know what level Countess Emma’s Path of Love had reached. However, even if she was merely close to being a Perfect Being, reaching dual Fifth Tiers—it was likely even Lixia would have difficulty capturing her. This was a dual-path Fifth Tier non-human operating at peak condition and even steadily improving, fundamentally different from the “Bone Sculpture” who was also Fifth Tier but had only a few months left to live.
However, listening to Eivass, Lily, for the first time, did not immediately agree but hesitated. She looked at Eivass with some concern. “I remember that Children of the Moon are very adept at Charm…” She had also experienced that Child of the Moon Ascension Ritual and personally witnessed the terrifying nature of Children of the Moon. Not to mention, going by Eivass’s words, she was a legendary Succubus.
“Don’t worry,” Eivass said lightly, “She won’t be able to charm me.”
*Really?* Lily bit her lip, wanting to speak but holding back.
“You are not allowed to follow,” Eivass commanded. “You will remain in the Silver and Tin Hall to protect Yulia. Go and tell Lixia to personally escort Isabel back.” He issued this order out of concern that Lily might be manipulated by Emma. At the same time, Emma had already openly entered Avalon, and Eivass did not want Isabel wandering outside alone.
“Yes.” Lily nodded slightly, ultimately choosing to obey Eivass’s command.
