When the plot-skips players into the game world-Chapter 458 - 359: The Ritual of Complete Annihilation

Merlin saw the flickering purple light in Aiwass’s eyes and, with some resignation, adjusted his hat to shield the upper half of his face.

"It seems you’ve grasped something, Aiwass,"

Merlin said softly, the corners of his mouth tilting slightly upward.

How very astute he was.

Just by observing Aiwass’s expression, watching him suddenly resonate with Transcendence Path, he could roughly guess what had transpired. There was no need for Aiwass to explain it to him personally.

——The intermediate steps, as well as "how it was done," these things didn’t need consideration at all.

Then what remained were but a few possibilities.

Aiwass was the chess piece needed by the Ring of Ouroboros ritual’s behind-the-scenes plan, Aiwass was the fallback prepared by the Serpent Celestial Marshal, Aiwass was a part of Jacob’s conspiracy... roughly, those were the kinds of possibilities.

In any case, it was either related to Jacob or the Serpent Celestial Marshal.

Merlin could quite relate to this feeling of being used. After all, he’d been in a similar state of mind when Vivian had once deceived him emotionally.

So Merlin affectionately placed his hand on Aiwass’s shoulder and softly persuaded, "While I don’t know exactly what you’ve thought of, I do have something to say to you."

Upon hearing this, Aiwass looked up at Merlin.

"You are the most talented person I’ve ever seen, without a parallel. You’re also a good kid, who has saved the futures of countless people.

"In those plans, you may be an eggshell, maybe fuel, maybe a wheel, maybe a chess piece."

Merlin spoke deliberately, word by word, "But regardless, I think... it’s a pity for you to be merely a ’fragment’. You deserve a brighter future, and all you need is to shed your own shackles."

"Will you support me?"

Aiwass asked in return.

There was none of the respect that should have been shown to an Angel Envoy in his words.

Merlin keenly sensed this subtle shift in attitude.

——Interesting.

It seemed that this matter was indeed related to the Serpent Celestial Marshal.

The Ring of Ouroboros ritual had the power to force other Celestial Marshals to descend to the Lower Realm... but what was the point? To drive the Celestial Marshals out of the Dream Realm and have them rule over the Material Realm?

Though still unclear about the process, Merlin had roughly guessed the ultimate goal.

——The Serpent Celestial Marshal was plotting to capture the Seat of the Pillar God.

This wasn’t a secret. The faith of the Dwarves was public, their purpose crystal clear.

As a Celestial Marshal of Transcendence Path, how could one not desire to transcend their own marshaling rank?

And to achieve this, mere strength was not enough. It required a grand feat that could completely change the world.

So, having realized all this so early... what was he to do? Was it time to take sides?

Stand with the Serpent Father, helping Him to prevent the widespread implementation of the Ring of Ouroboros ritual?

Or stand with the Ouroboros, aiding in advancing His plan?

"...Heh."

Merlin chuckled lightly.

——He didn’t want to stand with either side.

If he was to gamble using his informational advantage, why not wager big? Otherwise, how would he be any different from those who knew nothing?

Thus, Merlin raised an eyebrow and smiled at Aiwass, "Of course, I will support you. Why wouldn’t I?"

"You’re saying that."

"Yes, I am,"

Merlin replied readily, "If you need something, pray to me. Call for me with a ritual, and I’ll respond whenever I’m available."

He let go of Aiwass’s shoulder and glanced back at Prince Wolfram the Giant, whom he had bound.

"Why not give it a try, Aiwass? I’m also curious about how the ’Holy Entity’ operates... Can you show it to me?"

"Certainly."

Aiwass answered.

He closed the Book of Law in his hands and slowly walked over to Prince Wolfram the Giant, who was bound in place.

It was laughable—Aiwass had originally wanted to say so.

Follow current novels on freewebnσvel.cѳm.

According to the original timeline, Wolfram wouldn’t have died so soon. He had completely engineered his own demise.

According to the Punisher Demon, Wolfram came here in search of the Book of Law, believing in a certain prophecy—however, one needn’t take the demon’s word for it, as Wolfram’s intense gaze at Aiwass made everything clear.

"...How pitiful,"

sighed Aiwass: "You know nothing at all about any of this."

Bishop Mathers had mentioned to Aiwass a long time ago that Noble Red entered Glass Island to seek or approach the "Holy Entity." And if their goal was indeed to obtain the Book of Law... then one could say the prophecy was quite accurate.

The Book of Law indeed contained the power to change the world.

With it, one could gain access to the "Ring of Ouroboros" ceremony. Moreover, if fortune favored them, there might even be a chance to unearth the profession of the Great Sin Scholar and acquire other ceremonies.

Those ceremonies were bestowed upon him, the "Prophet" Jacob, by the Serpent Celestial Marshal. Ceremonies too weak were not worthy of being collected in this grimoire, which concealed the conditions for transforming into the "Master of Beasts."

"You had an opportunity,"

quipped Aiwass mockingly: "But you missed it."

"Giants" and "Humans" are not the same race. Giants are descendants of the Supreme Heaven, while humans are the offspring of the Eternal Self and the Serpent Father. This means that giants using humans as ceremonial material would not incur the sin of "heavenly retribution."

For they are not of the same species.

And the Giant’s Country, which is the Alktos Kingdom, fell too early. Even if they wished to use giants as ceremony material, they couldn’t find any—Wolfram had long since become a prisoner, and Kazim the Punisher Demon had been wandering the wilderness of Avalon as a giant commoner for over a century. Had he found other giants, Wolfram’s cause would not have been joined by him alone.

They naturally met the conditions for advancing to become Great Sin Scholars.

Just like players.

Perhaps due to an auditing reason, players were not allowed to use humans as material for ceremonies. Thus, players of the Demon Scholar were unable to ascend to become Demon Incarnations, but could only advance to become Great Sin Scholars. Stay updated via novelbuddy

As a student of Jacob’s, Wolfram had inherited the same profession. And he had fallen into the same pitfall.

A Curse Ritual Magician advancing to become a Grand Wizard couldn’t comprehend this book.

And Kazim, who initially could have certainly been recognized by the Book of Law... had advanced to become a Demon Incarnation.

To ascend as a Demon Incarnation, a Demon Scholar must commit the sin of "heavenly retribution." Without this "unforgivable great sin," it’s impossible to be acknowledged by a Fallen Celestial Marshal.

In other words, to accumulate his qualifications for advancement, Kazim had to specifically seek out a part of Wolfram’s body fragments as material for transformation.

—Thus, Kazim went through great difficulties to finally advance into a Demon Incarnation and coincidentally missed out on the Book of Law.

Now, Wolfram didn’t even understand what the Book of Law meant. He also had no idea how laughable a role he and his Noble Red played in this plan.

Reflecting on this, Aiwass felt a sense of disillusionment: "To possess such formidable power... yet still unable to escape the shackles of fate."

"Then let me set you free,"

he said, lifting up the Book of Law in his hand.

The pages of the book fluttered open on their own, stopping at the page of "The Hanged Man."

There was a ceremony recorded on that page, applicable only to a person bound and suspended upside down.

"Please turn him over,"

Aiwass requested of Merlin.

"Oh?"

Merlin asked with interest: "Like ’The Hanged Man’ on the Tarot Cards?"

Something piqued his interest, and he seemed eager.

"Exactly,"

Aiwass replied.

So Merlin waved his staff, and the Giant Prince was spun around, his chains suspending him upside down in the air.

He glared at Aiwass with venomous eyes, clearly already aware of what was to come.

But Aiwass only spoke calmly, "You wanted to possess the power of the Book of Law, didn’t you?

"Then I shall give it to you."

It was not easy to kill a Grand Wizard.

If killed, there was a chance they’d revive or reincarnate—even with Merlin present, it wasn’t guaranteed that he would be reliable.

Moreover, Aiwass was not certain whether Wolfram, as a being of the Giants, would be called to be an Angel Envoy after his death.

Wolfram likely sought the Book of Law to alleviate the plight faced by the Bear Celestial Marshal... and facing such a rare loyalist, perhaps the last of the Material Realm, the Bear Celestial Marshal might be willing to share a part of his power to preserve his soul.

That would be too dangerous.

He knew too much about Aiwass. And as an Angel Envoy, he would be too powerful—even the Guardian might die from his revenge.

—If he had to be killed, it had to be a complete annihilation of body and soul.