Chapter 908: Return to the Material Realm
When the world completely collapsed, Eivass and the others fell out of the void.
They returned to the position where they had entered the ruins – inside the dense forest.
The feeling was akin to suddenly falling from a height of less than half a meter to the ground. Everyone maintained their relative positions, only feeling a slight impact and imbalance.
With the collision target gone, Eivass’s Paradise Lost unleashed its final wave of firepower towards the unoccupied dense forest. Even though the Unburning Butterfly had already withdrawn its power, the explosive aftermath caused by the yet-to-hit light blades spread out—
—Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!
The earth rumbled, and dust billowed into the air. The trees didn’t burn; they were simply blown to pieces.
Amidst the rolling smoke, the golden magic circle on Eivass’s back dimmed and dissipated.
He retracted the wings behind him, and the white feathers shattered into light powder.
The Unburning Butterfly transformed into the appearance of a Flame Butterfly and fluttered onto Eivass’s shoulder.
However, this time, the Flame Butterfly did not emit small sparks when it flapped its wings – this was an exceptionally special gray-white Flame Butterfly.
Clearly, the Unburning Butterfly could maintain this state for travel. It would remain so until the current summon was released, and she was once again summoned as the Butterfly.
As the dust settled, sunlight filled everyone’s vision. Those accustomed to darkness found it intensely blinding.
The feeling of solid ground beneath their feet, and an immense sense of safety, felt both utterly unfamiliar and overwhelmingly blissful.
“Waaah…”
Little Cat couldn’t help but cry out, “Mom, I’m alive…”
“You’ve overcome such a difficult trial, things will be easier from now on.”
This Fourth Tier trap master was very young. The Vagrant beside her seemed to see the shadow of his own daughter in her and subconsciously patted the girl’s head, comforting her in a low voice, “Believe me, Little Cat – we adventurers have a saying called ‘Life Tribulations.’ Those in this line of work must encounter a few life-threatening trials. But look, how many people are unlucky every day? Once you get past this hurdle, smooth sailing awaits.”
Only at times like these did this man, usually reeking of alcohol, constantly bragging, and lacking any proper bearing, become reliable.
“Indeed.”
Eivass, letting out a sigh of relief, walked over, “I usually call this ‘Karma Conservation.’”
“Is that a real saying, Your Majesty the Pope?”
Little Cat looked at Eivass with tear-filled eyes.
She no longer avoided the moniker “Pope” and directly addressed him by his title.
This young trap master clearly didn’t quite believe the Vagrant’s explanation. But since Eivass said so, it seemed a bit more plausible…
After all, this Eternal Pope was none other than the hero who fought the Fallen Heavenly Envoy head-on and saved them all!
—So the Eternal Pope is truly the strongest in the Material Realm, able to fight the Heavenly Envoy to a standstill!
“Just consider it true.”
Eivass smiled and walked over to Professor Bard, asking with concern, “Are you alright, Teacher? Your waist… does it still hurt?”
After all, Professor Bard was just an Ordinary Person.
His soul was weak, perhaps not even fully formed. After being cut in half by the Fallen Heavenly Envoy, even if he was resurrected and healed now, there might still be lingering issues…
“I’m excellent, better than ever! I feel like this old, broken-down wreck of mine has regained its youth!”
Professor Bard looked at Eivass and nodded with relief, “It’s wonderful… truly wonderful.”
He reached out and grasped Eivass’s hands. It was then that Eivass felt how burning hot and strong the old man’s hands were, not at all like an old teacher educating students in a city, but more like an aged adventurer who had conquered mountains and seas.
“I thought you would be helpful, but I never expected you to resurrect me from the dead; I thought you would become a remarkable figure, but I never imagined you would be remarkable enough to fight a Heavenly Envoy…”
Bard exclaimed, “It’s been less than a year… You’re truly amazing, truly.”
He gripped Eivass’s arm and stated with absolute certainty, “You will surely overcome all obstacles before you. Believe me… I understand history well enough. No one stronger than you has ever appeared in this world. Therefore, you can create miracles that surpass everything – so, do not fear any difficulties.
“You are the miracle, Eivass. Your name will become a synonym for miracles in the future.”
Hearing this, the others didn’t feel much, simply thinking that Professor Bard really liked Eivass.
They simply didn’t realize what “one year” implied.
Only the Dream Traveling Monk “Encyclopedia,” the dark-skinned man with the most knowledge and information, shivered and looked at Eivass in disbelief, “So…”
He immediately stopped himself.
—Is that rumor true? It’s really only been a year?
According to the information uploaded by other Dream Traveling Monks, this Eternal Pope had only come into contact with Extraordinary Power for a year.
This information, which seemed utterly preposterous, had sparked great debate among the Dream Traveling Monks – some believed the information must be flawed; a nineteen-year-old Eternal Pope only coming into contact with the extraordinary at eighteen seemed too heaven-defying; others thought the information might be correct, but then it meant this human Pope couldn’t be strong, likely Third Tier, at most Fourth Tier, and was elected Pope purely for political reasons…
Now Encyclopedia confirmed that the information was true, and the Eternal Pope’s Power was also true – after all, being able to directly confront a Heavenly Envoy, even a Fifth Tier couldn’t accomplish this.
Perhaps only the legendary Sixth Tier could achieve this!
It was terrifying; in less than a year… from contact with the extraordinary to Sixth Tier…
…Could he be the reincarnation of a Heavenly Envoy? It’s likely only a Heavenly Envoy reincarnation could achieve this, just like King Arthur when Avalon was founded.
Looking at the Fallen Heavenly Envoy’s hatred for him… this didn’t seem like an attitude directed at an ordinary mortal!
—Could Eivass be the Ring Heavenly Envoy?
Encyclopedia speculated in his heart.
“Professor Bard!”
At this moment, Zhu Tang, with closed eyes and carrying a bulging patched cloth bag, walked over with a chuckle, “Ah, I’m blind and can’t see – look what’s inside here?”
Inside it were fragments of the Sky-Piercing Tower that he had collected from the vicinity using ritual magic while Eivass and the Fallen Heavenly Envoy were just beginning their exchange.
He obviously didn’t know what the Lord of Scales and Feathers had said to Eivass – however, as a Ritualist, he knew that most “almost impossible miracles” came with a price and conditions. The descent of a Heavenly Envoy was too absurd; there had to be some reason.
His eyes were closed, but his mind’s eye was clear.
Eivass’s posture clearly indicated he wasn’t aiming for mutual destruction. He was a shrewd old man; he could tell, without even looking, that Eivass knew there was a way out and was trying to hold on and stall for time.
Thus, Zhu Tang chose to trust Eivass.
As long as Eivass could hold on, they would survive; but if they merely survived without sufficient gains, it would be quite regrettable.
So, while Eivass was blocking the Fallen Heavenly Envoy, Zhu Tang activated his ritual magic, frantically collecting everything that fell nearby.
This way, if they survived, they wouldn’t have lost out on this venture!
They might have even profited greatly!
When rounded up, it would be equivalent to defeating a Heavenly Envoy!
“Oh my, my stones!”
Professor Bard didn’t have time to look at Zhu Tang’s bag.
When Zhu Tang approached him with the bag to show him, he had just recovered from the joy of surviving not long ago and remembered something else.
He exclaimed, slapping his stomach in alarm, realizing that the bag containing the rune stones from the entrance and those precious photos had been lost!
Since everyone else had to fight, the only one not participating in combat, Professor Bard, was tasked with holding onto these items. This was also a consensus; the administrative staff in an adventuring party were responsible for supplies and logistics, at least keeping an eye on things during combat.
When Professor Bard was cut in half, these items were directly flung out. Now, looking at everyone’s tattered clothes, he finally realized this fact.
If these were lost, wouldn’t all that effort have been in vain?
“Oh, it’s alright, Teacher, just look at what’s in here first…”
Zhu Tang said cheerfully, still shoving the bag towards Professor Bard, “You’re lucky, Teacher. I haven’t opened this yet, so I don’t know what’s inside. Maybe I picked it up for you…”
“They’re really back!”
Professor Bard opened the large cloth bag, and his eyes lit up, “My photos… and the camera! The rune stones are here too…”
Sinus also crowded over, “This camera might be broken… Oh, this stone slab is good.
“Hey, isn’t this… Light Amber? Is this what Master Amber was looking for?”
Sinus unearthed two pieces of Light Amber from the cloth bag.
At this, everyone turned their gazes towards the silent, unassuming old man on the edge of the group.
Originally, they just thought he was an eccentric – but when the preservation technique he set up blocked the impact of the space-time fracture, and even blocked the aftermath of the Heavenly Envoy’s attack, they realized how powerful he truly was, and what an admirable figure he was!
Amber, however, simply waved his hands repeatedly, his attitude resolute, “I said one piece was enough, the rest you can share… I don’t want any of the other spoils.”
He kept his word.
After speaking, Amber remained on the periphery of the crowd, no longer speaking after saying this, merely gazing quietly at the sunset.
Sinus held the Light Amber, looking at Professor Bard and then Eivass – he wanted to buy one, but he didn’t quite dare to ask. After all, his mana was long depleted, and he was essentially brought back as a burden.
For a mage who was proud of himself, he now didn’t even dare to make any requests, nor did he have the face to do so.
“This, this is!”
Finally, Professor Bard became excited, his voice even trembling, “This is the core of that instrument – I noticed it when the Sky-Piercing Tower shattered, the machine fragment that fell from the fourth floor was it!”
He carefully held up a perfect sphere made of pure gold.
It resembled a Golden Apple, and none of the surrounding fragments were brought back.
“This is a technique for accumulating wealth. It was originally a forbidden technique because it would absorb things from others… But in the past space-time, it doesn’t matter. No one will come to trouble me.”
Zhu Tang said leisurely, “I don’t know what I’ve transported, but they should all be high-value items. With these, if you divide them up, it won’t have been a wasted trip.”
As a down-on-his-luck, poor middle-aged man who couldn’t return home, he was clearly not the type to fall for sentimental clichés like “adventuring experience is precious life wealth.” Nor was he like Encyclopedia, who believed, “The information I obtain is more important than my life.”
To him, a meaningful adventure was a profitable one.
He needed to make money, to earn enough as quickly as possible to return home… if he delayed any longer, his entire family might face disaster.
With Zhu Tang speaking up, it became easier for the others.
The group gathered around the bag, searching through the treasures he had absorbed.
“Then I want this one…”
“Can this be mine?”
“Let me see too…”
Eivass also joined in the fun, walking over. The others made way for him, even stopping their search. Little Cat even reluctantly put back the few pieces of exceptionally well-preserved rune stones she had found, indicating that Eivass should take them first.
“I’m just looking…”
Eivass comforted Little Cat and casually rummaged through things, when he suddenly let out a soft exclamation, “Huh?”
Eivass himself hadn’t expected it, but when he touched something, the system suddenly lit up.
Because it was a fleeting glimpse and not very clear, Eivass carefully felt it again.
Finally, upon touching a certain emerald-green octagonal jewel, the system lit up again:
[Stone of Eden]
It had no attributes, nor any other description. Just that single line of text.
“Then I’ll take this one.”
Eivass’s heart stirred, and he picked it up.
He smiled, “Then I’ll take this, you all can divide the rest.”
He walked over to Cardinal Galatea, who was also not interested in dividing the spoils, and said, “Take that fragment of the Geometric Heavenly Envoy back to the Church.”
“No problem,” Cardinal Galatea asked, “Then when will you be returning?”
“I’ll wander around a bit more.”
Eivass said casually.
“Then I’ll put this away and come back.”
Cardinal Galatea’s attitude was firm, “I’ll need to call on others – Cardinal Siegfried hasn’t seemed busy lately. The things that always happen around you are too dangerous; I might not be enough on my own.”
This Construct Miss was clearly still shaken by the sudden attack of the Fallen Heavenly Envoy.
Judging by the Fallen Heavenly Envoy’s demeanor, it didn’t seem like he would give up.
And now, Eivass was not just the Pope – he was also the Child of the Candlemaster.
They could never let Eivass be harmed.
—If necessary, the entire Church will be mobilized!
“By the way,” Eivass suddenly called out to Zhu Tang, “You all were planning to save money to go home, right?”
“That’s right…”
Zhu Tang had just replied when his eyes lit up, “Are you going to hire us? That’s great!”
If they were looking for an employer, who could be richer and more trustworthy than the Pope?
Before Eivass could speak, he had already guessed what Eivass intended.
Eivass raised an eyebrow, “Is it alright even if you encounter that kind of thing again?”
“Whatever amount of money you get, that’s how much work you do. It’s a fundamental principle.”
Zhu Tang said smilingly, rubbing his fingers like a merchant, “As long as you pay well…”
“The reward is negotiable.”
Eivass said lightly, “Besides, afterwards, I can dispatch a Paladin Legion to escort you back to Anxi. But you have to do me a favor… a favor that might be life-threatening.”
“If we die, you’ll revive us, right?”
“Of course,” Eivass nodded, “But just don’t die foolishly.”
“Then it’s a deal!”
Zhu Tang replied decisively, “The two of us will follow you – even if you ask us to fight that Fallen Heavenly Envoy again, we won’t hesitate.”
Heh, you guessed right.
It really is fighting the Fallen Heavenly Envoy again…
Eivass said silently in his heart.
And at this moment.
In the Star Antinomy not far away, Miss Sprenger, who was at home, suddenly found her pupils turned purple.
In a mirror in front of her, a purple shadow wearing a horned helmet appeared.
“My Lord.”
Miss Sprenger calmly bowed, “Your eternally loyal servant greets you.”
(End of this Chapter)
