Chapter 693
I will fight for Eivass!
“Doesn’t this mean Hengwo will win and evolve all humans—” Isabel blurted out.
“Impossible,” Eivass replied, “because he didn’t reach this realm through a normal path. No one else can replicate his path… that which cannot be replicated is not a [Path].”
“—You are mistaken, Eivass.”
The voice of the Perfect Being·Bram echoed with a synthesized sound, yet carried a thundering divine resonance akin to a choir. It made Eivass feel as though he would be instantly crushed beneath a mountain.
Bram’s voice was lofty and radiant, his expression solemn like a saint. The black crosses in his eyes fixed upon Eivass, giving him a sense of being locked on. He no longer hid his secrets—he had lost both “shame” and “selfishness.”
“My path is the true path. In the legend of the Child of the Moon, the Path of Love and the Transcendent Path both reaching the Sixth Tier can indeed lead to becoming a Perfect Being… but that is merely using the Power of Transcendence to forcibly ‘transcend’ the binding of beastly power with the power of love.
“But I have provided another answer, the true answer! Loki gave me the power of [Love] approaching the Sixth Tier, the purest love condensed from parents ‘dedicating’ their entire lives to their child. Using our similar Adaptation Power as a bridge, connecting his love to my transcendent heart. This has already set me on the true path. Yet, the most crucial point is still missing—the Path of Love and the Transcendent Path cannot reach the Sixth Tier simultaneously.
“Unless, I receive the boon of a Sacred Entity. With the same pure ‘dedication’ power, to strengthen my transcendent heart—”
Listening to Bram’s words, Eivass felt a strange sense of unease.
The Eternal Pope then solemnly asked, “So, who gave you your power…? And what is your purpose? To leave the prison? Then… you are already free.”
“No, I do not crave freedom. I only wish to—repay a debt! The one who gave me power is… Eivass!”
The expression of the Perfect Being·Bram suddenly changed, becoming almost fanatical. “My divine patron, the Sacred Entity who gave me my fourth life—”
Hearing this, everyone present cast strange, subtle glances at Eivass. Of course, they might not have taken it seriously… but with Eivass present, the statement sounded particularly ambiguous.
However, Eivass did not take it as a joke. He felt the increasingly intense throbbing of the Power of Transcendence within him… that restless agitation growing stronger. To use an analogy, it was like that feeling half an hour before the summer vacation starts. As time ticked by, the restless urge to cheer and sing loudly grew fiercer and uncontrollable.
Conversely, a solemn radiance emanated from the Eternal Pope. Bathed in that halo, Eivass felt his mood become peaceful. The closer he was to her, the stronger the comfort felt, like being in his mother’s arms. Yet, even so, the influence from the Perfect Being·Bram’s path grew deeper.
—This shouldn’t be. No matter how powerful the Perfect Being was, he shouldn’t be able to influence Eivass from afar in a domain filled with the power of dedication. Moreover, Eivass could see clearly… besides himself, even Selene, the little lamb wearing Isabel’s mask, who was most sensitive to the Path of Love, did not feel that abnormal sensation.
This meant that the “Perfect Being” indeed had some channel to influence Eivass. Or to be more precise, on a mystical level, the Perfect Being·Bram had a close connection with Eivass!
Could it be… the Shepherd’s Method? Eivass immediately thought of this. But I have no memory of ever shepherding Bram… And even if it were, it wouldn’t make sense—even if Bram was a knock-off Child of the Moon who could draw power from blood, he shouldn’t be able to gain anything from the Shepherd’s Method.
—The Flesh and Blood Shepherd’s Art is to offer oneself as a sacrifice to a Phantom Demon, greatly increasing the Phantom Demon’s power. The Essence Shepherd’s Art is to condense the Phantom Demon’s power source into a seed, allowing life in the Material Realm to gain a projection of the Phantom Demon’s power. …But Bram’s situation doesn’t fit either. The Child of the Moon is not a Phantom Demon; instead, they can gain power by devouring Phantom Demons—the Demon Scholars of the past Hrasal Empire were torn apart and devoured by their Contract Demons by the Children of the Moon.
Unless…
“…A Phantom Demon used the Flesh and Blood Shepherd’s Art on you, didn’t they.” Eivass said slowly.
Hearing that term, Lily was taken aback. The Eternal Pope turned back to Eivass in surprise. The Perfect Being·Bram, however, excitedly slowly raised his head, looking at Eivass with fervor.
“It really was you! Oh, divine vessel—” As he spoke, the mechanical static mixed in his voice became clearer. The sharp buzzing sound was so piercing that one couldn’t help but frown. His every action was becoming less like Bram and Loki.
In the next moment, “Bram” suddenly stepped forward. A pair of pure white, angelic wings suddenly burst from his back. On his head appeared a pure white thorny crown. After appearing, the thorny crown began to transform—gradually turning into a radiant crown of light, inlaid with pure white runes within. Eivass was extremely familiar with the style of those runes. —It was the Mark of Sin that he himself also bore. Mark of Sin: The Sin of Arrogance!
The moment the Perfect Being moved, the Eternal Pope reacted synchronously as if in a reflex—In an instant, nine concentric light screens rapidly descended in order, forming a rainbow-colored luminous disk. The moment the disk formed, Eivass’s vision rapidly flashed with a long string of buffs he couldn’t even see clearly—over twenty in the blink of an eye, and still increasing.
Wings of light appeared behind everyone then vanished. Three circular light shields, rotating around them, appeared beside them. Weapons shone with multicolored radiance fitting their respective paths. A streak of colored light flashed across their clothes. A crown appeared above their heads then vanished again. Everyone’s physique instantly increased by a portion, and strong courage filled their bodies. Golden radiance bloomed from within, the roar of beasts echoed in the air, followed by the flow of harp music, and illusory light formed false visions… Onefold, twofold, threefold… Eivass felt his power increase madly, the nine mixed Path Powers resonating intensely, visibly! The power was so immense that Eivass could barely control it!
Concurrently, “Bram,” the Perfect Being, spread his wings and flew up. A crimson radiance erupted from him, instantly shattering the ceiling, which had been reinforced into a Shrine! The moment the Silver Crown Dragon’s Shrine was attacked, silver freezing winds condensed out of nowhere, as if alive, and chased “Perfect Being·Bram.” It was the Shrine’s automatic counterattack upon being assaulted!
“Bram” slowly raised his right hand high, his gaze fixed on his clasped right hand, as if introducing the sun to people. His movements were elegant yet ostentatious, like an exaggerated stage actor, a swagger etched deep into Bram’s heart, unforgettable. The next moment, golden sunlight converged in his hand, forming a massive spear of light.
“I will fight for Eivass!” His voice was divine and radiant, resounding through the heavens. Then, he aimed the light spear at the cold air, at Eivass behind it, and cast it down like divine punishment!
“—To reclaim for Him, the divine vessel stolen by the False God!”
(End of Chapter)
