Chapter 183
Anchor for Changing the Future
Ascencists, much like Sin Scholars, are a type of Heavenly Envoy Legacy.
Fallen Heavenly Envoys brought new powers to people, and by further developing these powers, they discovered professions that had always existed in the world, hidden because no one had found them.
“To transfer to the Ascencist profession, you must learn ‘Mutilation’.”
“Mutilation?”
David heard the terrifying word and hesitated, “Does it mean peeling off one’s own skin and growing it back?”
“…No.”
Eivass couldn’t help but burst into laughter, “That’s the ‘Mutilation Ritual,’ just like a caterpillar turning into a cocoon and then into a butterfly. Shedding one’s old body to gain a more beautiful one.
This is a power possessed by the Butterfly Heavenly Envoy of the Path of Beauty… She can inspire ugly things to reshape their shells. There’s a ritual that borrows the Butterfly Heavenly Envoy’s power, which allows people to change their appearance.”
In player terms, this is “facial customization”—meaning to re-sculpt one’s appearance.
Whether it’s race, gender, age, body type, or facial features… except for the “origin” chosen when creating a character, all other aspects can be changed.
This is also one of the rituals players are most familiar with.
David eagerly asked, “So, should I perform the Mutilation Ritual?”
“No,” Eivass denied, “You should train your body.
While Ascencist sounds like professions such as ‘Mage,’ ‘Law Master,’ or ‘Demon Scholar,’ it’s actually a close-combat profession.”
“…Huh? Why?”
David was puzzled, “Isn’t it a ‘Sorcerer’?”
“Because Ascencists have a contract with the Ring Heavenly Envoy, so to be precise, it’s a ‘Contract Sorcerer’.”
Eivass explained.
The “Ring Heavenly Envoy” is the codename for the Son of Father Snake, the Ouroboros, and the source of the power for the “Ouroboros Ring” ritual.
In the game’s lore, the birth of this profession occurred after the Butterfly Heavenly Envoy’s fall. The Ring Heavenly Envoy wished to obtain a fragment of the Butterfly Heavenly Envoy and made a deal with the human who obtained the fragment.
The Ring Heavenly Envoy signed a contract with him, teaching humans how to shed their skin like a snake.
The person who obtained this fragment became the first “Ascencist.”
He was originally an Extraordinary of the Twilight Path. He decisively shed his original body, entered the shell left behind by the Butterfly Heavenly Envoy’s descent, and then performed a Mutilation Ritual with this shell. He immediately became a High-level Phantom Demon, and later became an Apostle of the Ring Heavenly Envoy—what people call ascension to godhood.
“Ascencists continuously perform ‘Mutilation Rituals’ to gradually perfect their bodies. But this ‘ascension’ isn’t about finding a secluded spot to mutilate oneself for fun… it’s about fighting powerful enemies.
Just as a thinking brain gradually becomes smarter, and broken muscles become stronger after healing—when an Ascencist sustains injuries in intense combat, they become stronger; if they suffer severe injuries, there will be greater changes; and if they die in battle, they will ultimately break free from their cocoons like a butterfly and obtain a new body.
Overall, evolution is uncontrollable. Because if you truly reach the realm you’ve always dreamed of, it’s no longer transcendence, but perfection—that is the domain of Twilight. The evolution of Ascencists never stops because they are always changing… Generally, at least a part of them will become like the enemy that defeated them. Through this method, they can steal some of the opponent’s innate abilities.
Therefore, the danger of Ascencists is that they might lose their human form… for instance, growing four arms or three eyes. They might also become giants four to five meters tall, or transform into children or dwarves. But overall, each evolution will always result in a stronger sum of abilities than before.
“…It sounds a bit terrifying.”
David shrank back, “This isn’t human at all anymore…”
But Eivass shook his head, “This is already the gentlest and safest profession among the Transcendent Paths.
Fiends transcend their minds and destinies controlled by demons. Curse Mages surpass their fragile bodies entangled with diseases and curses using powerful rituals and curses.
Demon Avatars transcend the limitations of human lifespan and material bodies; Sin Scholars transcend the existential suppression of High-level Phantom Demons over mortals.
And what Ascencists transcend is merely ‘their past selves.’ No other will manipulates their spirit, nor do curses poison their bodies. There’s no harm to the soul from heavenly calamities or taboos, and no need to bear the Mark of Sin. Apart from the contract with the Ring Heavenly Envoy that stipulates they ‘will not stop mutilating,’ there is no external will influencing them.
In other words, as long as they don’t stop evolving, they will never lose control.
—One could say they are old-school bug-level players.
“You just focus on training your body. If your soul remains intact when you reach Fourth Tier, I’ll teach you how to become an Ascencist.”
Eivass made up his mind, intending to start “cheating” for someone.
Although the Butterfly Heavenly Envoy has not yet fallen, the Mutilation Ritual can still be performed.
However, each transformation requires praying to both the Butterfly Heavenly Envoy and the Ring Heavenly Envoy for power, rather than having it automated after signing a single contract.
Therefore, Eivass isn’t worried about David leveling up too quickly while the Butterfly Heavenly Envoy is still alive.
Just as Eivass can create Great Sin Cards even though Fallen Heavenly Envoys haven’t been yanked down yet—it’s just that the buffet requires a report each time. These professions were discovered after becoming a buffet, but that doesn’t mean they couldn’t be achieved before.
It was precisely because of David that Eivass realized something.
He didn’t need to hide much of the future he knew.
If before, it was because he couldn’t explain where he got this knowledge… then now, with “Alistair,” whatever he says is correct. He can claim his other friends told him.
If you don’t believe me, go confront Alistair directly.
– She would definitely say, “Indeed, that’s exactly how it is.”
Then, the other secrets he knew that spanned across versions could also be attempted.
For example, helping Sherlock get a better advanced profession… a simple Mage is too weak.
For example, persuading old Mrs. Meg… to take on a side job.
Eivass recalled that Meg’s death was due to her nearing the end of her lifespan and attempting to extend it through advancement. However, somehow the news leaked, and she was directly killed in the Actor’s Bureau. This was one of the anchors that led to the fall of Avalon.
Generally, the simplest way to extend one’s lifespan is to take on a job in the Twilight Path.
Stepping into the Twilight Path directly increases lifespan; Path Traits are irrelevant.
However, Meg had a natural aversion to the Twilight Path, so she ruled out this possibility from the start.
…But thinking back, the profession of “Ascencist” might be more suitable for her.
The prerequisite for a Mutilation Ritual is not suicide, nor intentionally seeking death. It must be death resulting from challenging a powerful enemy—and the subsequent Mutilation Ritual cannot be interrupted, otherwise, the person is truly dead. In this regard, mutual destruction is the safest. And since the current Mutilation Ritual is not fully automated and requires an appointment before each use, it cannot take effect in case of sudden emergencies…
However, death from old age is predictable and meets the criteria.
This is, of course, also a “challenge to a powerful enemy”—time is one of the most powerful enemies.
According to the principle of the Mutilation Ritual, Meg, upon dying of old age, could be resurrected in her youth and gain the ability to resist aging. Even if she didn’t advance further, just by taking on the second-tier Ascencist profession as a buff, she could live for several more decades.
If Meg hadn’t died, Avalon might not have been invaded by Star Antinomy… or even if it were invaded, it wouldn’t have been defeated so miserably.
Even with her protection, Her Majesty the Queen might have survived and not been assassinated.
—From this perspective, helping Meg extend her lifespan might be a more effective delaying tactic than rooting out internal spies.
Preventing her from advancing is basically impossible; that old lady is too stubborn. She would never die of old age in bed. But if she were to pursue a Transcendent Path, she might agree—her personality is quite similar to Haina’s. Since Haina has an adaptability for the Transcendent Path, perhaps she does too.
This is a good line of thought.
Eivass thought.
On the other side.
The Sculptor, Lars Graham, looked at Eivass in the newspaper and fell into deep thought.
“…Alistair, could it be Chloe?”
Has Chloe betrayed them?
Update complete!
