Chapter 960
The Key of Disobedience
The instant he heard Eivass’s command, the Grand Guardian unhesitatingly swung his twin blades down!
Anna, having heard Eivass’s words earlier, was somewhat psychologically prepared, and thus managed to react.
Several wings suddenly sprouted from her back—identical to Viness’s, black wings like withered branches covered in gray down.
She flapped those wings forward, attempting to push the Grand Guardian away.
But the Grand Guardian’s movements were impossibly fast—at this distance, even though Anna had been prepared and reacted immediately, his twin blades had already reached her neck, just not yet severing her head.
She clutched her neck, her terrified gaze fixed on Eivass.
Yet, even so, there was no killing intent in her eyes, only confusion and bewilderment, as if asking, “Master, why?”
—Clearly, Eivass’s current decision completely surpassed her understanding.
And this was precisely the breakthrough Eivass had realized!
“Since you’ve come, don’t leave…”
Two cards floated on Eivass’s fingertips, then dispersed like ashes.
Anna continued to retreat but suddenly felt as if she had bumped into someone.
She quickly turned around and was stunned.
—Because it was another Eivass!
That “Eivass” quirked his lips upwards, revealing a smile filled with malice. The smile made her instantly think she was seeing a Ring Heavenly Envoy.
At this moment, “Eivass” reached out and placed a hand on Anna’s shoulder.
Symphony light-colored rainbow ice spread rapidly, encasing her within. The “Eivass” then shattered into Sin Thorns, burrowing into her forearm and piercing her heart!
In just an instant, this top-tier schemer, who had lived for at least several hundred years… even half a level higher than her foster father, was actually trapped in place by Eivass’s sneak attack!
“…Hmph.”
Eivass snorted coldly and looked at the ice-bound Anna: “Don’t thaw her. Kill her directly with High-Tier Divine Art.”
“Alright.”
Saint Joan nodded: “I will pray to Amber and directly seal her completely within the Amber Forest. There should be nothing more thorough than this kind of death… not entering any god’s kingdom, nor entering reincarnation.”
—It was a gamble that paid off.
Given Eivass’s personality, he would indeed never suddenly react in such a way.
In Eivass’s style, he would definitely agree first, then try to figure out if there was any danger, storing it as a backup plan. Then, he would proceed with his initial plan, only switching paths when he realized it was completely unworkable.
Eivass’s style was like this—diligently learning, stubbornly unchanging.
He would always be stubborn, even headstrong. He would stick to the path he decided on, but during this process, he would continuously absorb knowledge to prepare multiple “contingency plans.”
Only when he realized his original path was unworkable would he consider the contingency plans… just as he realized the Great Beast Lord profession might be unworkable, and he would need to rely on Lucifer’s gift to create a new profession entirely his own to break through, it did not prevent him from continuing to collect Great Beasts.
Conversely…
This also meant that Eivass usually did not go to extremes when doing things.
Just like the situation when he dealt with the Lloyd Society at the beginning. Eivass would usually observe first, so as not to act too recklessly, ultimately trapping himself.
In this regard, Eivass’s way of doing things was not decisive enough—this was a flaw in his personality.
The Ring Heavenly Envoy was the same.
His elaborate, multilayered plan was actually a subconscious distrust of his own adaptability.
But just like in Conan, the more complex the mechanism prepared by the criminal, the more likely evidence would be left behind.
Eivass also recognized the Ring Heavenly Envoy’s flaw.
The Fallen Heavenly Envoy had obtained “future information” from Anna, using it to set a trap for Eivass and block all his possible paths; the Ring Heavenly Envoy then presented him with his “only way out” before Eivass, whose paths were all blocked.
This was known as surrounding three sides and leaving one open.
Logically speaking, even knowing he was being used, even knowing this was drinking poison to quench thirst… according to Eivass’s style, he would definitely choose this.
—Because he had to protect this World.
It was better for Eivass himself to be targeted by the Ring Heavenly Envoy and forced to advance the Ring Heavenly Envoy’s conspiracy, rather than the Fallen Heavenly Envoy truly ruling over the entire Material Realm.
Eivass’s desire for devotion determined that when forced into a corner, he could only choose this.
But the question Eivass had just asked did not come from his own thoughts—it came from Eivass’s understanding of “himself influenced by the Fallen Heavenly Envoy.”
If Eivass had not spread his wings, he would have felt anger upon hearing Anna’s words due to being manipulated and might have even wanted to kill her directly.
That was not Eivass’s true nature at all—just as Eivass could not predict what he would think when mentally corrupted, the Ring Heavenly Envoy couldn’t either!
From this, Eivass confirmed another important detail.
—That is, the Fallen Heavenly Envoy was not without the ability to resist the Ring Heavenly Envoy!
Although the Ring Heavenly Envoy used Anna, whom he had planted, and even controlled the Fallen Heavenly Envoy’s intelligence sources… the Fallen Heavenly Envoy’s hypothetical enemy had never been Eivass, but “the Serpent”!
It was the Ring Heavenly Envoy!
By relying on the Fallen Heavenly Envoy’s interference and influence on Eivass’s thoughts, he could consequently break free from the Ring Heavenly Envoy’s predictions!
Throughout his many reincarnations, the Ring Heavenly Envoy had never awakened the adaptability of the Path of Wisdom, meaning he was definitely not very intelligent at his core. His performance should be the same as Eivass’s, at most having much more experience.
—Eivass would subconsciously choose the same strategy due to the “game plot.” Wouldn’t the Ring Heavenly Envoy?
The Ring Heavenly Envoy indeed understood Eivass perfectly… but what about Eivass influenced by the Fallen Heavenly Envoy?
In past reincarnations, he had never been influenced by the Fallen Heavenly Envoy! Thus, the current situation became clear.
The Ring Heavenly Envoy used Eivass to deal with the Fallen Heavenly Envoy, and used the Fallen Heavenly Envoy to force Eivass to borrow his power; at the same time, the Fallen Heavenly Envoy was likely aware of his predicament and wanted to use Eivass to fight against “the Serpent,” namely the Ring Heavenly Envoy.
Eivass simultaneously served as a “common pawn” for two Chess Players, and this scene was incredibly familiar to him.
—Weren’t James and Jacob the same in the past?
In the past, Eivass, as a pawn of his foster father and grandfather, was used by their respective plans. At that time, Eivass was like a lone boat in a storm, completely powerless against various schemes and arrangements.
Now, his foster father and grandfather dared not appear before Eivass casually.
Because Eivass now had the ability to overturn the table.
Now, Eivass, as a pawn of the two Heavenly Envoys… relying on past experience, he could clearly see their schemes and their loopholes.
Just like a small country caught between two great powers, although it might “disappear without a trace”… as long as they had plans that required Eivass’s existence alone, meaning they needed Eivass, he would have ample room to maneuver.
The Fallen Heavenly Envoy’s plan, which was to cause “everyone to lose control” and “everyone to become unlike themselves,” would dissolve the power opposing him through this method;
The Ring Heavenly Envoy’s plan, however, required “Eivass to be Eivass,” so that he could predict Eivass’s every choice.
—These two plans were inherently contradictory.
Then, was there a way to borrow strength to fight and simultaneously break both of their conspiracies?
There truly was!
Eivass had already found a way, an absolute method to break through—
Since even Eivass himself would forget his “true self,” making decisions he absolutely wouldn’t normally make, and even the Ring Heavenly Envoy couldn’t predict Eivass’s actions…
Since no matter who commanded, who coordinated, who led, they would be corrupted in spirit by the halo of the Fallen Heavenly Envoy…
Since the genuine article was bound to be of poor quality—
—Then why not use a counterfeit? Find someone to impersonate a “perfect Eivass”!
No matter how the actor deteriorated, the role the actor played would not degrade!
If there was such a person, who looked like Eivass, sounded like Eivass, acted like Eivass, possessed Eivass’s power… and no other Eivass stepped forward to point out that it was a fake.
To others, wouldn’t this be the “genuine article”?
Then, who would remember Eivass’s “true appearance”?
Whose Eivass was the most brilliant and flawless in their heart, capable of facing all difficulties, solving all problems, and saving everyone?
There was only one answer.
Eivass took a deep breath, marveling at this wondrous arrangement of fate.
It was precisely because he had obtained the Mask of Secrets Grimoire in the Church that Isabel could gain this new power, completely different from her past.
“Isabel…”
Eivass murmured, “The Mask of Secrets Grimoire.”
Let Isabel play the role of a “perfect Eivass” unaffected by the Fallen Heavenly Envoy, standing in the spotlight to use the Ring Heavenly Envoy’s plan to fight the Fallen Heavenly Envoy…
—Then, Eivass, who was not predicted by the Ring Heavenly Envoy, could sneak into the shadows and use the Fallen Heavenly Envoy’s plan to fight the Ring Heavenly Envoy!
“Which door doesn’t need a key?”
Eivass repeated the Ring Heavenly Envoy’s words and suddenly let out a sneer.
Because in that instant, he suddenly recalled James’s words:
[—Mr. Eivass Moriarty… my dear little key.]
[—You can open that Gate to the Past. We can change everything.]
He also recalled the Fallen Heavenly Envoy’s words:
[—Perhaps you are indeed innocent… little key of the Serpent.]
“Perhaps I truly am a key.”
Eivass closed his eyes.
“But not all keys are without price.”
Whether it was James or Jacob…
Whether it was human or god. Or even another me.
If you wish to use me…
Then pay the price.
Eivass then recalled what he had said to his foster father.
He muttered softly, repeating his past words. A purple glow ignited in his pupils.
As if repeating a sworn oath.
“—If I am a key, I will ultimately be a key that devours its master.”
(End of Chapter)
