With the True Creator's tacit approval, the radiant wings originating from Ouroboros replaced the lightning that occasionally tore through the night, and the previously sky-obscuring curtain of shadows also collapsed, transforming back into the inverted cross suspended between reality and illusion.
Hysterical or gloomy and deranged whispers emanated from Medici's body, but they quickly vanished into nothingness along with the rusty, bloody smell that permeated the mountaintop.
His eyes, flashing with silver arcs of electricity, suddenly opened. The Red Angel Evil Spirit, or more accurately, the former "War Angel" Medici, gazed distractedly at the mountain range and the continuous Giant King's Court in the distance.
After a long while, the corners of his mouth curved upwards. He drew a cross on his chest, bowed to the illusory figure burdened with sin, and then, without further delay, turned with firm steps towards the foot of the mountain, towards the cluster of buildings where the resplendent twilight was solidified.
He had already returned to the Angel rank, and with the True Creator's help, he had re-established balance by leveraging the mutual antagonism of several high-ranking corruption within his body.
To some extent, he was now a spiritual patchwork monster, a meld of numerous wills, and thanks to Adam's help, Medici's will held absolute dominance, even allowing him to use "0-01" to a limited extent.
Pausing slightly, Medici turned his head to glance at "Angel of Fate" Ouroboros, who was dressed in a simple linen robe with silver waist-length hair. He clicked his tongue and said in a flippant tone:
"Let me state this upfront, the Iron and Blood Cross Order has nothing to do with me. That was all Amon's doing."
"Tsk, that little raven insisted on snatching a 'Weather Warlock' Characteristic to give to me as payment for my past guidance. I couldn't very well refuse."
Ouroboros, on one side of the mountaintop, nodded with a slightly indifferent expression and calmly replied:
"This is a necessary sacrifice...."
Medici's mouth twitched violently. Although he knew that given this guy's personality, this statement wasn't directed at him, he still felt inexplicably offended and scoffed, losing the desire to continue the conversation.
Silently watching Medici leave the range of the cycle of fate, Ouroboros finally reminded him:
"The birth of a 'Red Priest' is bound to be accompanied by competition, chaos, and disaster. Only through multi-party contention can a 'Red Priest' emerge in the shortest time and in the best way. If only you walk this Pathway, it will not go smoothly."
"This is the consensus of the Lord and the Gods, but it doesn't mean the 'Primordial Demoness' will abide by this consensus!"
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West Balam, Star Plateau, a hidden city built against the mountains.
This was originally a secret base where the Highland Resistance Army buried the remains of successive pharaohs, but it has now become the headquarters of the Ascetic Order.
After an top-down "purge," the Highland Resistance Army was renamed the Restoration Army and placed under the governance of the Ascetic Order in a theocratic form, thoroughly solidifying its religious foundation.
The altars previously used for bloody sacrifices had disappeared, replaced by strange statues.
Their hands were tied behind their backs, or their bodies were wrapped in thorny roses, or they were shaped like mummies, directly conveying a sense of "restraint."
Above the city, with its peculiar style, a rift opened in a barrier formed by the distorted manifestation of curses, and several figures emerged from the void.
Bernadette observed the low-Sequence Beyonders of the "Ascetic Order" below, who were covered in black fur but had not been overwhelmed by their inherent murderous and bloodthirsty desires, striving to maintain their true selves. She mused for a few seconds before speaking:
"Our previously arranged isolation array is still effective. Even the influence from the recent Blood Moon anomaly didn't cause them to lose control. If it were just a normal full moon, the impact would be even smaller."
Astorfol nodded. After mending the rift behind him, he led several Angels into the depths of the city, into an ancient, simple stone palace.
Reinette Tinekerr, who had already fully repaired her body, was here teaching Sharron, who had just been appointed "Highland Kingdom Regent," to become familiar with the "Disciple of Silence" Beyonder abilities.
Looking at Sharron, who had replaced her small black soft cap with a more majestic pharaoh's crown, and Miss Messenger, who had returned to a normal human state, Aaron felt a sense of melancholy that things were no longer what they used to be.
But he said no more, motioning for Reinette Tinekerr to send Sharron away. Then he leaned back in the stone chair and looked at Astorfol, asking:
"After accommodating that 'Abomination' from Suah, your rank has reached that of a King of Angels. Can you now confirm the location of the 'Chained God'?"
The intertwining evil vines swayed gently. Astorfol's slightly ugly face's lips moved, and a hoarse, hollow voice echoed directly in everyone's spiritual bodies:
"The 'Chained God' and I share the same origin. Before the barrier completely collapses, even if there is a higher-ranked power obscuring it, I can confirm that he is within a forgotten historical fog."
Historical fog, ah.... Aaron nodded thoughtfully, recalling the fruitless search at the Rose School of Thought's headquarters last time. He estimated that the "King of Curses" Barranca, who had received a "boon" and forcibly advanced across Pathways to become the "Beauty Goddess," was likely also hidden there.
Considering that the "Mother Goddess of Depravity" might have already intervened in this matter, Aaron, though urgent, remained calm.
The opportunity to kill Suah before was thanks to Adam blocking the pressure from beyond the barrier at a crucial moment, coupled with a dismissive attitude, which prevented those who had secretly pledged allegiance to the Outer Deities from taking action in time.
After a moment of contemplation, a golden token appeared in Aaron's hand—Roselle's last gift to Bornova.
After stripping away the fragments of the Night Emperor's divine kingdom from it, he had kept it. Even though Roselle had fallen, the memory imbued with power was still the most special anchor, capable of awakening Bornova's humanity.
Regaining hold of the "Sage" Characteristic containing the residual information of the "Hidden Sage," which he had previously entrusted to Bernadette for safekeeping, Aaron smiled at Bernadette, whose expression shifted slightly, and said:
"Perhaps I can help your brother regain his freedom. An Angel-level Artisan, tsk, coupled with Roselle's favor, it's worth the risk."
Staring at the two items in Aaron's hands, Bernadette froze for a moment, vaguely guessing something. Her pupils constricted, and she urgently pressed:
"What do you need me to do?"
Tossing the token containing part of Bornova's humanity to Bernadette, Aaron couldn't help but smile, thinking of Roselle's possible reaction:
"Since I promised you I'd go see Roselle, naturally, the whole family will go together."
"What you need to do is find a way to get Bornova to temporarily leave the Church of the God of Steam and Machinery's headquarters. There, we won't have the capital to negotiate."
"As for what happens after that, Astorfol and I can handle it."