Chapter 617: Is He Done Acting?
When the tattered and severely wounded human raised his head, Eivass felt a surge of vitality from his bare chest, labored breathing, and the marks etched across his body, along with his bulging muscles.
A pure sense of “power.”
It was a “bravery” that had completely vanished from Eivass’s era, an inheritance of **Power** that had been cut off.
Just then, the man suddenly plunged forward, about to hit the ground headfirst.
Eivass was startled and immediately urged the Pegasus beneath him.
The Pegasus traced a bright golden arc, carrying Eivass to the man’s front, catching him as he fell through the air.
“Are you alright?” Eivass asked with concern. “What’s your name?”
“I’m fine…” The man’s voice was extraordinarily dry and hoarse, as if he had just recovered from a serious illness and couldn’t even speak: “I am Arthur.”
The Sin Thorns on his body had withered and dissipated into black smoke. Only a small section of Sin Thorns remained connected to his right arm, which clutched the Holy Lance.
“So it really is Arthur,” Eivass thought.
When he participated in this ritual back then, the Giant chieftain had called out Arthur’s name. Judging by Arthur’s youthful appearance, this must have been an adventure before he gained fame. It was during this adventure that Arthur received the recognition of the Holy Lance.
The human avatar of the Silver Crown Dragon was indeed exceptionally brave.
However, his mouth was truly stubborn.
“Judging by your voice, you don’t sound fine at all…” Eivass quipped casually, subconsciously placing his hand on the man’s chest.
He suddenly froze, then realized that the power of his Path of Devotion, and even the Butterfly, were sealed.
During his Ascension Ritual for the Path of Devotion, he could use the Little Butterfly’s power, which also meant he couldn’t use his Ascension Ritual for the Transcendent Path. Conversely, Eivass could use other abilities of a Sin Scholar and could freely use the rituals of the Transcendent Path.
“Wait a moment,” Eivass said, surveying the surroundings and finding usable ritual materials. “A Giant’s Heart can be used for treatment. Although I don’t have the magic cauldron, this Giant should have a water cup, which can be used as a pot…”
As Eivass searched for clues around him, the human warrior he had supported to the open ground suddenly spoke, “Why are you saving me?”
“…What?” Eivass was taken aback. “Why…?”
He hadn’t actually considered this question.
Rather, a native who could communicate normally, was relatively strong, and had no malice, wasn’t that a temporary teammate set up by the boss in the script?
As he pondered, the other party asked again, “You’re using a Giant as a ritual material, is that alright?”
“Giants aren’t my kin…” Eivass blurted out.
But at that moment, his mind jolted, and he was startled.
Wait, what did he mean by that?
Was his perspective… slightly off?
Normally, a human seeing an Elf Knight descending on a Pegasus, accompanied by an Upper Demon, wouldn’t they first ask about the Night Demon? Something like, “Who is she?” or “Why are you with him?”
But the other party showed no reverence for Elves like humans would, nor any fear or dread of Demons.
The first Demon Scholar was Jean de Fontenelle, a man from the early 15th century. And according to Eivass’s first Ascension Ritual for the Transcendent Path… the story of the Giant Pankor Family took place in 1320, and Avalon was established in 1340.
This was at least a century before Fontenelle was born!
In that era, there were no Demon Scholars yet; those Demons were still Disciples of the Fallen Heavenly Envoys!
An Elf Knight serving a Candlemaster mingling with a Demon of a Fallen Heavenly Envoy, was that proper?
…Wait, that’s still not right!
Eivass suddenly realized the crux of the problem.
The “Sir Helchin” he was currently impersonating was actually born before Arthur’s era!
It was because of “Sir Helchin’s” sacrifice that people no longer viewed Giants as supreme gods, which gave Arthur and his nine warriors the courage to seek the Holy Lance there. And since Arthur was coming to seek the Holy Lance, it meant that Carstenning, the Disciple of the Candlemaster, had already died.
If Carstenning’s death was before Sir Helchin’s sacrifice, he wouldn’t have needed to go to Avalon to investigate the “Giant’s sins.”
In other words, Arthur shouldn’t have appeared in Sir Helchin’s story!
In the era when Sir Helchin was still alive, “Arthur” was still a Crown Heavenly Envoy of the Path of Power!
Therefore, the Arthur standing before him was definitely problematic!
And Eivass remembered another thing—he had once sworn before the Silver Crown Dragon not to use his own kin as ritual materials.
Gazing at the calm eyes of the human warrior who called himself “Arthur,” Eivass gradually realized something.
…My god.
Who are you?!
“Very good.” Arthur nodded slowly, his expression solemn. “You must remember that the Heavenly Sin of Transgression is, to a certain extent, idealistic. For example, a half-elf can consider both humans and elves as his kin, or he can consider neither as his kin. How he judges within himself is how the Heavenly Sin of Transgression will also judge.
The fundamental principle of the Heavenly Sin of Transgression is the sin of ‘treating one’s own kind as material.’ It is a sin of arrogance, the foremost of the Seven Great Sins. And this ‘own kind’ is not necessarily limited to ‘the same race’… it could also be the same nationality, or the same country, or even the same kind of person, or like-minded individuals of different races who have deep feelings for each other.
As long as you live with honor and a clear conscience, the Mark of Sin will not harm you.”
Arthur, whose bones were almost completely shattered, did not cry out in pain or rest. He remained in this severely wounded state, acting as an elder, earnestly and solemnly instructing Eivass on something.
Eivass trembled, feeling as if he were walking on thin ice.
He hadn’t even introduced himself yet!
The other party was so familiar as to explain the secret of the Mark of Sin to him… and even for ordinary Demon Scholars, the Mark of Sin was knowledge unrelated to them. Not to mention the “Heavenly Sin of Transgression,” which was secret occult knowledge even five hundred years later.
This was most likely the Silver Crown Dragon himself!
Eivass just didn’t know if this was a helper hired by the boss or if He had come to join the fun on His own…
Speaking of which… the individual that the “Calamity Demon Dragon,” who was still a Crown Heavenly Envoy at this time, had divided to become “Arthur,” seemed to indeed possess the desire to transcend.
This meant he was indeed Eivass’s senior on the Transcendent Path.
Eivass ultimately could not find a copper pot or cup, but he found a copper shield. He built a fire underneath, placed the Giant’s heart and liver fragments on top, and found fennel and plenty of garlic in the kitchen to pan-fry them.
This recipe, resembling iron plate roast meat, was the simplest ritual for utilizing high-grade meat ingredients. Roasting itself was the first ritual—it signified the skill of cooking food until done. In the past, when humans were still in primitive times, “cooking” was the most effective way to extract nutrients from food and reduce toxicity.
Just as some potions made by witches required them to be simmered in soup to achieve their maximum efficacy…
Simmering and roasting were the simplest rituals. Like warriors who slay dragons bathing in dragon blood and consuming dragon hearts—directly consuming a dragon heart would undoubtedly cause one to burst from its power. However, after cooking the dragon heart, its toxicity and danger would be significantly reduced.
The most core principle of Ritual Studies was a sacred act where one “doesn’t understand why it’s done this way, but must perform it accurately and diligently, with a clear purpose and hope during execution, and one’s own ability is insufficient to achieve the goal required by this ritual.”
As long as this sacred act contained supernatural elements, it undoubtedly belonged to Ritual Studies. And if this ritual was completely unveiled and disenchanted, it would become part of Alchemy.
While eating the Giant’s heart, the “Mr. Who’s Identity is Unknown, Arthur” offered experienced evaluations and teachings:
“Your approach is valid. The Giant’s heart and liver possess abundant Life force, and their Mana attribute is Fire and Earth. Copper is an ore of Fire, sufficient to bring out the ‘Fire Element’ within its power. If you had sage, amaranth, ginger, and cinnamon, it would further enhance the healing effect.
Also, Giant bone marrow is an excellent ritual material. It can be used to heal bones after simple detoxification. You can use grapes to ferment and purify it, especially grape skins that have been diseased, shriveled, and grown black-gray fuzz. Mix this with Giant bone marrow, then ferment it. To accelerate fermentation and maintain cleanliness, you can additionally provide Water and Light attributes of Mana. For the Mana carrier, it’s best to choose blessed oak ash or honey. In this way, after concentration, you will obtain an aromatic black ointment.
Furthermore, Giant skin has its uses. Especially the skin of pure-blooded Giants. The red bear fur on their skin can be collected, degreased, and dried. This dried bear fur, mixed with cinnabar, can be used as a potent Fire attribute energizing material. If a small amount of Flame Essence is added, the effect can be further enhanced.
Afterward, the skin on the Giant’s back, after de-hairing, can be tanned with gambier to make leather. Preserve it with oil refined from Giant’s blood, and seven years later, burn it with fierce fire. If successfully made, you will obtain an extremely magic-resistant material, capable ofImmunity to many spell damages below the Third Tier…”
Arthur’s words became increasingly wild.
Eivass listened, terrified.
Brother, stop, brother!
Are you completely done acting?
(End of this chapter)
