Extraordinary Voyage-Chapter 878 - 746: Before the Era

Clap! Clap!

Aiven clapped his hands in satisfaction, beckoning to Stephanie, who still seemed to be in a dreamlike state.

"Looks like we won't be exposed tonight, let's go. Back to the Grand Arena, and figure out a way to get Mr. Jelos and Ram out too."

Looking at the luxurious manor lit up brightly even in the deep of night, just separated by a wall, Stephanie touched her neck, now free from the restraining collar. She still felt a chill in her heart, unable to keep up with Aiven's miraculous methods.

She hesitated for a moment:

"Is there going to be a problem doing this?"

Aiven waved his hand, full of confidence in his craftsmanship:

"What problem could there be? As long as it stays unconscious, doesn't open its mouth to speak, no one will notice the swap. Didn't they say that His Majesty Ariane plays so extravagantly that female slaves couldn't possibly see the sunrise of the next day?

By then, with death and no evidence, you can vanish without a trace. Besides, if we're quick, we can slip away tonight and bid farewell to this place full of oddities."

Earlier, Aiven had indeed removed the restraining collar from Stephanie's neck, but the positioning function within it still needed to be properly managed.

And if Ariane found out his female slave had escaped, then gathered high-tier transcendents from the city, under such power that could turn the [Ancient Scroll] into pure black, they couldn't hope to escape silently.

So Aiven secretly captured the man-eating lioness Hsuermine, used [Creator's Blood] to "renovate" it, and left it in the bathroom.

Only the appearance, but no essence, just to be safe, any form of genetic information was to be kept from the Zongderilic people, their black tech left a deep impression on Aiven.

And with the same Tier 3 body strength, even if these "Aboriginals" had wild imaginations, they would have never thought of such an intrinsic overhaul technique.

A "Permanent Transformation Technique" that death couldn't undo.

It's hard to say if, once they learn the truth, they would have a larger psychological shadow than a beheaded Stephanie.

Uh, of course, they might also become pervertedly ecstatic, finding it even more thrilling, who knows.

...

The time quietly moved to the middle of the night.

Most of the slaves in the cells of the Grand Arena had already fallen into dreams, while those troubled about their fate and unable to sleep had also collapsed on the ground under the effect of Aiven's bottle of [Strong Sleep Potion].

Sneaking back here with Stephanie, laying a Barrier Wall outside the cell to block sound and vision, quietly listening to Jelos, who had just woken up, explain his situation inside.

The more he listened, the darker Aiven's face became:

"Hmm, so the Wizard not only has shackles to imprison the body but also a rune lock to trap the soul? And if taken into the [Witchcraft Garden], with a signal interruption in space, it would explode like a firework?

Soul and Rune Writing are not my field at all, if Hesi was here maybe she could have given it a try. So, you're out of luck this time, just be ready to die!"

Although he hadn't experienced it himself, back when their Magic Pocket was taken and the [Witchcraft Garden] sealed, those Prison Guards had clearly told them. This little thing, originally meant for Clerics, was just as effective on Wizards.

After delivering his death notice to Jelos, Aiven solemnly advised Stephanie beside him:

"Your Highness, as the host's Oyufemos, is likely to be indulging in revelry with his brothers at this time. Trying to get the key from him is no different than taking on ten Tier 4 head-on, I suggest finding a new husband is more realistic."

He swiftly yanked a strand of Jelos' hair, with red magic spiritual light already flickering at his fingertips.

"Considering our good relations, just one strand of hair is all it takes to custom-make you a brand new husband. 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

Tall ones, broad ones, round ones, flat ones, 18-year-old hunks, 20-year-old handsome lads, 30-year-old charismatic men, everything you wish, and they'll be utterly devoted to you.

So, do you have any special requests for this new husband?"

Stephanie seemed somewhat tempted, licking her red lips:

"How about... an 18-year-old?"

Beside them, the flame-red King Kong parrot Ram, who had already enjoyed the same operation as the Eldest Princess and regained freedom with its first mate hat on, chipped in:

"Madam, an 18-year-old is just right, you can slowly nurture him into a 20-year-old, a 30-year-old, basically getting several in one, gah, what a profit!"

Seeing his house, tickets, wife, cattle... and even a parrot about to be inherited by a single strand of hair, the only one still imprisoned, Jelos, clasped his hands together, pleading repeatedly:

"Hey, hey, enough, you guys cut it out. Facing life and death here, this is not the time for jokes!"

Aiven leaned back, sitting on a stone chair that had risen from the ground on its own, and touched his nose:

"Alright, jokes aside.

The pressing issue now is, if it drags on until August 1st, when 'Royal Front Arena' officially begins at 8 a.m., anything could happen in combat, and no one can guarantee Mr. Jelos can survive that bloody duel."

Moreover, based on my understanding of these Divine Sons' ways of doing things, the final victor might not necessarily fare better than the losers.

Therefore, we can't wait until the gathering is over and that King is left alone. Principally, we only have three days as the optimal rescue time. Let's exchange information to see what opportunities we can exploit."

"Previously, we obtained notes from a Crowned Wizard named Corisias from hundreds of years ago. He was one of the most adventurous settlers in Celebes and ventured the furthest into the 'Broken Star Sea.'

He briefly recorded part of his experiences and also had 'friendly' exchanges with the Zongderilic People, although all mentioned just scratched the surface. Yet, he referred to a mysterious metal known as 'mountain copper.'

I think this should allow the 'Theseus' to complete its final transformation, and the location is merely on the outskirts of the islands, just...

But there's something odd. This Crowned Wizard contacted these 'aboriginals' centuries ago, so why do they, from top to bottom, regard us as the first outsiders? Divine Sons should live longer than a Crowned Wizard, right?"

"Hmm?"

Upon hearing this, Aiven suddenly recalled the documents in the library. On the surface, there seemed to be no problem, but over the past five years, there hasn't been any trace of technological progress or administrative reform.

The entire society appears to be treading water, moving solely by inertia.

All records of the "flooding outside the island" are scant notes within documents from these past five years, much like how human literature wouldn't specifically describe the form of the sun.

As for documents from five years ago, there is no record of the "flooding."

This intelligence doesn't help Jelos's current predicament.

"Maybe apart from obtaining the key from Oyufemos, I need to find a way into the Engineering Institute to see if I can find technical details on the collar and key.

Having lock-making technology doesn't necessarily mean we can easily unlock them, but it's still a possible approach. If we reach an impasse, we might have to let the flower of 'art' bloom throughout this city, causing chaos and fish in troubled waters."

Aiven rubbed his temples and, helplessly, diffused his own mighty [Life Magnetic Field].

Avoiding the Ten Kings' banquet hall, under meticulous control, it enveloped nearly half of the city like a spring rain entering the night, with an overwhelming wave of oceanic information rushing into his brain.

Suddenly.

Bang—!

Aiven jumped up from his chair, his face changing dramatically as he shouted:

"Look at this quickly!"

Using [Universal Witchcraft: Projection Technique], he displayed a scene to the other three, showing a small temple within the uppermost architecture over their heads in the Arena, featuring a majestic giant holding a spear and hammer.

Stephanie read out the God name inscribed on the sculpture's pedestal, word by word:

"God of Engineering and the Arena... Aihote!!!"

As the name settled, the prison cell went silent, but a Category 12 storm erupted in everyone's heart.

Once a True God glorified for a time, yet fell from its metaphorical pedestal due to the Era Catastrophe, the Ancient God "Maze God" Aihote is actually one of the deities worshiped by the Zongderilic people!

Finally realizing that this vast empire deep in the "Broken Star Sea" is indeed a lost civilization from before this Era.

Over his time here, Aiven had discovered countless clues that could expose the essence of this civilization. It was just that the people here seemed too normal, entirely out of harmony with the bizarre style associated with Ancient Gods, which had kept Aiven doubtful.

But seeing that God name removed all doubts.

Taking the Upper-Rank Wizard's mark—[True Name]—as an example, a [True Name] mainly consists of two parts: [Private True Name] and [Rule True Name].

The [Rule True Name] might change due to path shifts, but the [Private True Name] remains unchanged, even in the face of bodily transformation or the casting of high-level Permanent Transformation Techniques.

For instance, within Aiven's [True Name], a part is derived from his Wizard's Name "red fir," symbolizing "luck, rebirth, strength, and righteous protection."

The core [Private True Name] is "Aiven Galliot, the Newborn Explorer (Adventurer)," marking his unique imprint in this world.

A deity's title is similar, a higher application of the same pattern, concerning its power, path, anchor point, divine position... everything demonstrating why this God is indeed that God, advancing beyond a wizard's true name.

Whether the prefix is "Maze God," "Order Angels," or "God of Engineering and the Arena," there's no problem, but the final "Aihote" True Name is eternally unchangeable.

This "Zongderilic Civilization" is connected with "Maze God" Aihote, Master of the Mist Sea Loygor, "Source of Nightmare" Hypnos, "God of Mysterious Cold Bones" Mordician, "Chaos Worm" Shude Mel... etc.

All originating from the same Era!

An eerie sensation of losing gravity, as if falling into the river of time, instantly enveloped the four. They realized a certain world truth seemed to be about to unfold before them.

Due to the influence of "Adventurer's Blood," Aiven and Jelos felt slightly trembling, and the collar issue was momentarily forgotten.

Aiven suddenly turned to look at those Ancient God's Followers across the prison cell.

"This gets interesting, huh? Let's ask these guys what's up with these Remnant Race folks? What are they doing here on the turf of the Era Survivors?"