"The Deliens are not truly devout to the Mother Tree..."
"...A strange spirit that emerged from a box—high in rank, yet lacking Beyonder characteristics to sustain it."
After reciting these two fragments from Silvia's memories, Closfia's face twisted in pain. The "persona mask" she had just donned shattered violently, and Silvia's spirit itself was extinguished.
"The seal on these memories was stronger than I anticipated! Even disguised as herself, this was all I could retrieve..." Closfia massaged her temples before adding, "Also, I vaguely sensed these were remnants of a conversation she had with an angelic-level entity... from eleven years ago."
The Deliens aren't devout to the Mother Tree? Well, of course—with that family's complicated allegiances, how could they be? So does this "Delien" refer specifically to the Prime Minister? As a follower of the "Blood Sanctity Sect" and a lackey of the Nox family, is he also duplicitous?
And what about that "high-ranking entity from a box"... What box is this referring to? Closfia confirmed this was a dream involving the Delien family... Could this box be the hidden secret mentioned in Lilith's mission?
Also, eleven years ago... angelic level... Does the Delien family harbor an angel? No, Silvia said it lacked Beyonder characteristics...
The Delien family's waters run deeper than I thought!
As Ebner's thoughts raced, a gemstone coalesced from Silvia's corpse—a fist-sized crystal formed of condensed blood, radiating a crimson glow like a miniature crimson moon.
The "Shaman King's" Beyonder characteristic.
Just as Helen reached for it, Closfia snatched it up first. Smirking at Helen's empty grasp, she teased, "I did most of the work here. If you want this characteristic, shouldn't you offer something in return? After all, my Judy could also switch pathways and advance to 'Shaman King.'"
Helen, clearly familiar with Closfia's antics, rolled her eyes. "Out with it. What script do you want me to act out this time? What role am I playing?"
Closfia's lips curled as she leaned in to whisper into Helen's ear. The latter's expression visibly contorted.
"Closfia... your third-rate playwright skills are getting more outrageous by the day!" Helen groaned, pressing a hand to her forehead.
"Do you want it or not?" Closfia dangled the glowing gem.
"Fine! I agree!" Helen gritted her teeth.
Only then did Closfia hand over the crimson-hued crystal, adding cheerfully, "Don't act so put upon. You never held back when teasing me as a child!"
"Besides, this benefits you too, doesn't it?"
Helen stashed the characteristic, refusing to acknowledge Closfia's triumphant smirk. After disposing of Silvia's remains, she surveyed their surroundings and turned to Ebner. "Is this world nothing but ice and snow?"
Closfia perked up at the question. "Since this is a world created by the 'Dragon of Imagination,' could its vanished divine kingdom—the 'City of Miracles,' Liveseyd—be hidden here too?"
Ebner, who had been thoroughly enjoying the ladies' banter and was about to subtly probe for details about Closfia's script, froze at the question. Internally, he groaned: What, do you two also want to experience the "Hall of Truth" and die of embarrassment?
Of course, he had no intention of actually taking them there.
Both were Sequence 3 Saints—without "cheats," approaching the "Chaotic Sea" posed significant risks.
After a moment's thought, Ebner pointed at the frost dragon cowering motionlessly on the ground and carefully replied, "This is the territory of the 'King of the North,' Ulyssan, so naturally it's all ice and snow... But farther out, human cities and villages should exist."
—Giant Groselle and his companions had initially traveled through such settlements before their party grew and the "story" reached its climax on these snowy plains.
Closfia's eyes lit up. "Can we visit one of this world's cities then?"
Now in possession of the characteristic, Helen also gazed at Ebner with interest.
Having rushed through his last visit, Ebner hadn't explored the book's urban areas either. The idea appealed to him too, so he vaulted onto the now-recovered frost dragon's back and gestured to the ladies. "I don't know where the cities are... but it can guide us."
Groselle's Travels chronicled the giant Groselle's quest to slay the rampaging dragons, so this "King of the North" would surely know their locations.
The "King of the North" dared not resist, allowing the three to mount its back before carrying them toward distant city-states.
.....
Only after they had been gone for quite some time did a five-member team arrive at the scene. After carefully surveying the area, they finally reached the spot where Silvia had died.
—Despite Helen's disposal of the body, numerous traces remained due to their hasty cleanup.
"It seems our new companion was unlucky enough to encounter Ulyssan," remarked the giant leader, leaning on a greatsword wider than a human door panel with regret.
Similar incidents had occurred before, so he wasn't particularly surprised.
"Not so fast, Groselle... At least four people were here just now, including three demigod-level beings!" interjected a peculiarly dressed man in his thirties who radiated unease. "As a former 'Cryptologist,' you should trust my professional judgment."
"Demigods... Enemies beyond Ulyssan? Or new allies?" asked the Loenese soldier Ranzel, cradling his longsword.
"Unknown... But I suggest we return to camp immediately," said the unsettlingly attired man—Viscount Mobet Zoroast of the Solomon Empire—with unusual gravity.
"Why?" inquired the elf Siatas beside him.
"Groselle was right earlier... Our unfortunate new companion is already dead, which means we'll likely fall dormant again soon. I'd rather not sleep directly in the snow, though it won't kill us," Mobet explained wearily.
.....
Above the gray fog, a refreshed Klein reviewed the "images" transmitted by marine life and finally pinpointed the "Demoness Sect" vessel pursuing Tracy.
"That ship has numerous Beyonders. A frontal assault might not succeed, let alone achieve my goal of enslaving a witch...
"Better to use the 'Sea God Scepter' for a long-range strike based on those prayer images, make them think the Church of Storms attacked, then pick off isolated witches..."
After strategizing, Klein materialized a citrine pendant with pen and paper to divine his plan's viability. The results indicated manageable risk.
Returning to reality, he boarded a "giant fish" summoned by the "Sea God" to approach the Demoness Sect ship before re-entering the gray fog.
Exhaling slowly, Klein observed the vessel rocking in dark waves and raised the "Sea God Scepter."
The sapphires encircling its tip blazed to life.
Suddenly, a colossal lightning bolt illuminated the surrounding sea, striking the ship's upper deck!
BOOM!
As electrical serpents scattered and wooden structures burst into flames, the thunderclap finally reached the sailors' and witches' ears.
More jagged silver lightning followed, transforming the sizable sailboat into a forest of electricity.
Just then, a massive ice barrier materialized, blocking the converging bolts—but lasted mere seconds before shattering. Lightning ravaged the deck, charring unfortunate sailors black as burnt timber.
However, those critical seconds allowed several witches and other Beyonders to abandon ship in different directions.
—Exactly as Klein predicted: believing a Storm Church demigod had attacked, they fled separately, each praying not to be pursued.
Klein quickly locked onto a "Demoness of Pleasure."
His choice was deliberate: first, he'd battled her on Symeem Island and knew her capabilities; second, her sequence was higher than other witches but lower than the leading "Demoness of Affliction"—ideal since the latter would take too long to subdue, risking complications.
While strategizing, Klein returned to the "giant fish's" mouth to prepare a ritual. He then summoned his spirit—fused with the "Demoness Card"—and flew toward the target armed with "Burial Blade" and "Creeping Hunger."
—Using the "Demoness Card" maximized the "Convergence Effect" to prevent mishaps.
Yet just as Klein finally succeeded in enslaving the "Demoness of Pleasure" with "Creeping Hunger," an enormous black-hulled ship materialized in the distance.
Nearly 100 meters long with towering sails and rows of cannons, the vessel cast darkness over surrounding waters despite maintaining distance!
Recognizing it immediately, Klein terminated his summoning and retreated to the gray fog.
But confusion lingered: Why did using the "Demoness Card" attract Nast's "Black Emperor"? The fog should block the "Black Emperor Card's" convergence...
Unless... something high-sequence from the Black Emperor pathway was in those waters?
(End of Chapter)