Zedus erged from the eye of Cheek's face and quietly stood behind Lumian, expressionless and vacant-eyed.
After Lumian advanced to Red Priest, Zedus, along with the steel golems and undead soldiers forrly belonging to 0-01, was re-enlisted into the newly ford legion of the Red Priest. They were now stationed in a special mirror world that had beco Lumian's divine kingdom.
Seeing the Calamity of Crimson in Lumian's hand, The Sun Derrick hesitated no longer and nodded slightly. "Okay."
"I thought you might have so reluctance," Lumian said casually.
Derrick shook his head and replied honestly, "When you first made the request, I did feel a bit reluctant. But after returning to the New City of Silver, I increasingly felt it was the right decision.
"When the apocalypse arrives, Mr. Fool will undoubtedly be unable to continue protecting the New City of Silver. The Gift of the Land is the remains of Obella, the Great Mother's most cherished daughter. It could likely spark an anomaly, causing unforeseen consequences and breaking apart the protected zones from within.
"Moreover, Chief Chirmont has long since digested the Silver Knight potion but has yet to advance to an Angel as a Glory. That's because the Proof of Glory has to be used to seal the Gift of the Land. If it were turned into a Beyonder characteristic, anyone using it to advance would have to remain underground for extended periods, only leaving for short intervals during crises.
"Replacing the Gift of the Land with the Calamity of Crimson should free the Proof of Glory from its restraints."
Derrick, having only just beco an Angel, still lacked understanding of matters regarding the Above the Sequences.
Lumian produced a mirror and inserted the crystal tiara-shaped Calamity of Crimson into it.
He then gently ran his hand over the mirror's surface.
After completing the task, he handed the mirror to The Sun Derrick.
"Place it in an underground location that moonlight can never reach. No males may be within ten ters. When it needs to be used, a woman must retrieve it.
"I've sealed the area behind the mirror and fixed an entrance to the mirror world on its surface. Even ordinary people can extend their hand inside to retrieve the Calamity of Crimson."
This setup mirrored how Franca had once secured a mirror world entrance in the quarry beneath Trier by praying to the Primordial Demoness.
The Sun Derrick took the mirror and saw in its reflection the terrifying scene of a volcanic eruption.
"Ignore any disasters reflected in the mirror," Lumian cautioned. "If the mirror itself cracks, pray to or Mr. Fool imdiately so we can replace its seal. As for its usage, there are three taboos: First, no male should wield it. Second, the wielder must have godhood. Third, it must not be used for more than three minutes, or if exposed to moonlight, no more than thirty seconds.
"If the wielder experiences Pleasure or Charm cast by it, a new person must take over. Otherwise, the wielder will grow increasingly obsessed with it and try to set it free."
The Sun Derrick nodded solemnly. "I understand."
He then asked a question. "But I'm male. Is it safe for to handle the Calamity of Crimson?"
"For now, yes," Lumian explained. "It's still in a Conquered state and won't 'acknowledge' anyone else. After placing the mirror underground, avoid further contact with it."
The Sun Derrick let out a quiet sigh of relief.
"Alright. I'll head to the Twin Towers now to lift the Proof of Glory's suppression. You can retrieve the Gift of the Land yourself."
After Lumian agreed, the newly ascended Lightseeker turned into sunlight and flew out of the headquarters of the Church of The Fool.
Lumian remained in place, admiring the murals on the walls.
The face of Alista Tudor furrowed slightly, seemingly displeased with the religious undertones-unless, of course, the subject of the murals was Himself.
After so ti, Cheek's face on Lumian's left shoulder turned, revealing a stunning smile radiating maternal warmth and terrifying allure.
In the next mont, a massive, withered, ash-brown tree trunk appeared before Lumian.
It had been Chard-enthralled by Cheek's face, which shared a profound connection with
it.
Two crimson flowers on the trunk, serving as its eyes, blood fully, radiantly vibrant. Lumian smiled at the Gift of the Land. "Would you like to reside in my divine kingdom?"
The Gift of the Land moved closer without resistance.
Zedus ca forward, embracing the trunk and dragging it back into Lumian's divine kingdom -the destroyed then reford special mirror world.
Throughout the process, Zedus handled it roughly, yet the Gift of the Land offered no
opposition.
The estranged siblings reunite... Lumian chuckled softly and disappeared from the Church of The Fool's headquarters.
...
In the World of Ruins.
Enormous oak trees stood blanketed in white by a raging blizzard, frozen lifeless. In stark contrast, another oak grove burned fiercely, consud by invisible, colorless flas. Accompanying the destruction were bird-clawed infants, various animals, and strange familiars, all reduced to ash. Even the ground itself lted away.
At the boundary where blizzard t flas, the clash of cold and heat created a skyward- whirling hurricane and apocalyptic torrential rain.
In the hurricane's eye, a three-headed, six-ard Lumian wandered with frenzied, mindless
eyes.
At the edge of this fog-shrouded region, Franca sat atop a nearly 100-ter-tall gray-white stone pillar, her legs dangling idly.
Having beco a Demoness of Catastrophe, she could finally witness Lumian's bouts of uncontrollable madness firsthand.
This was the twenty-ninth ti she had observed it, yet it still left her feeling low and stifled.
My potion digested a little more... Franca mused, forcing herself to think of sothing aningful to distract from her emotions. Even though I didn't do anything as all these catastrophes were caused by
Lumian...
Is it because I brought him here?
As a Demoness of Catastrophe, I am a bringer of calamity. Does it not matter whether the calamities I
bring are self-made or external?
Right... A Demoness of Catastrophe likely serves catastrophe... Since Lumian is the source and embodint of catastrophes, does serving him equate to fulfilling that role...?
No wonder my potion is digesting so quickly. At this rate, I'll fully digest it in another year or two. Too
bad we don't have that much ti-the one-month deadline is nearly up...
Her thoughts wandered until the blizzard ceased, the formless and colorless flas
extinguished, and the hurricane disintegrated outward, bending distant oaks.
Lumian, now his normal human size, approached the base of the stone pillar, his expression weary yet faintly smiling. "Let's return to the protected zone."
Franca smiled back and leaped gracefully from the 100-ter-high pillar, landing as lightly
as a feather.
At that mont, Lumian's middle head turned sharply, gazing toward another oak grove untouched by the apocalyptic scene.
Franca imdiately sensed the crimson moonlight deepening and brightening.
From the depths of the grove erged a woman dressed in a finely tailored black corset dress
with matching shoulder drape. She wore sheer gloves that hinted at the skin beneath and a
tilted, playful hat.
Around her neck hung a diamond necklace set in gold. Her eyebrows were perfectly shaped, and her scarlet eyes shone like miniatures of the crimson moon.
Franca had never seen
woman so beautiful-not even Cheek's face could compare.
This beauty was pure, subli, and awe-inspiring, making one want to admire and protect
her but not dare to approach or desecrate. In contrast, Cheek's beauty radiated femininity and allure, stronger in seduction but less divine.
As Franca held her breath, Lumian spoke in a low voice. "Mada Pualis, why have you
appeared here?"
Mada Pualis looked just as she had when Lumian first saw her in Cordu Village.
Mada Pualis... The one who birthed Obella?! Franca snapped out of her daze, shaken by this
realization.
She lowered her gaze, avoiding direct eye contact, and prepared to assist Lumian with her
abilities.
Mada Pualis smiled faintly. "I've co to see you both and to bid farewell.
"I thought our last eting would be the final one, but it seems the Great Mother still needs
more ti."
"Farewell?" Lumian raised an eyebrow.
"Yes," Mada Pualis replied with a gentle smile. "I am returning to the embrace of the
Mother."
"Returning to the embrace of the Mother?" Lumian frowned. "You did all this just for such an
ending?"
In the context of the Great Mother, returning to Her embrace was synonymous with death. Mada Pualis spoke softly, her expression tender.
"It is what I desire. The Mother's embrace is where we ca from and where we are destined
to return. There, we find peace, warmth, slumber, and rebirth.
"Life is a journey. I have been, seen, and experienced. Naturally, it's ti to return to the
Mother's embrace and await the next journey."
That sounds utterly sinister... Franca murmured to herself.
Lumian suddenly asked, "Are you currently a Sequence 1 Beauty Goddess of the Moon
pathway?"
"Yes, it is a gift from the Great Mother, lent to temporarily," Mada Pualis said, her
tone full of emotion as she spoke to Lumian and Aurore. "The greatest regret of my journey is
missing you both in Cordu Village.
"Goodbye. We will et again because all life will eventually return to the Mother's
embrace."
Before her words had fully settled, Cheek's face on Lumian's left shoulder suddenly turned,
Her expression sweet and smiling.
Charm!
A charm from the Demoness true god!
But Lumian was a mont too slow. Mada Pualis's figure dissolved into crimson light,
rging with the omnipresent moonlight, leaving only a fading image of her waving hand.
"What just happened?" Franca asked warily.
Lumian's voice was low as he responded with a question,
"A Sequence 1 Beauty Goddess suddenly choosing to return to the Mother's embrace-what
does that signify?"
Franca was suddenly alard. "It ans the Mother Goddess of Depravity is about to fully rge with the Brood Hive and requires Sequence 1 Beyonder characteristics to support her!" As she finished speaking, the previously devastated region began to sprout a frenzy of vegetation. The scorched ground gave way to rapidly growing flora, all stretching skyward. On the western horizon, the crimson moon, blood-red and ominous, began to rise slowly, laboriously revealing its edge.
Reviews
All reviews (0)