In fact, when reviewing his past experiences after becoming a Cognizer, Ebner had already noticed that the memories he received last week from the Machine Emperor were also somewhat discontinuous, as if something had been omitted.
"This is most likely because someone doesn't want me to come into contact with certain things at this stage…
I just don't know whether this 'someone' is myself, or one of those gods."
Ebner narrowed his eyes slightly, set the matter aside for now, and looked again at the true body of the Baron of Conva inside the bronze coffin.
"Although judging from the end result, this experiment was largely meant to conceal that plan targeting the Mother Tree of Desire, allowing the Sealed Artifact '1-025' to logically bear the aura of the Sea of Chaos, the Mother Goddess of Depravity, and the Sefirah Castle, ensuring Tolzna could be rescued…
"But the experiment itself also possesses extremely high value!
"Back then, Danitte and the 'two-five dragon' had already completed several experimental projects and even obtained conclusions. But now, there remains one last goal that must be verified."
Thinking of this, Ebner first prayed to "The Fool." After receiving a response, he widened his sleeve and released the two Convas—the man and the ghost.
The moment they appeared, one used "Chaos," the other unleashed "Distortion," coordinating seamlessly to throw these abilities at Ebner, intending to make him misjudge his choice of abilities or cause those abilities to malfunction.
—These two abilities came from the armor they wore.
In short, neither of them believed they could defeat Ebner. They only hoped to create enough confusion to escape.
Unfortunately, such petty "tricks" were utterly useless before a Cognizer. In fact, even before they left the space of "Mystic Reappearance—Universe in the Sleeve," Ebner already knew every response they would make. With just a slight "touch" to the fulcrum of fate, he made them suffer the consequences of their own abilities.
Thus, the target of "Chaos" fell upon the other Conva, and the "Distortion" applied afterward caused the two of them to share the effects of Chaos evenly…
Watching the two—man and ghost—fall into confusion to the point they even forgot to run, Ebner clapped his hands lightly. Then he easily broke the weakened "Mental Island Barrier" caused by their chaotic state and "hypnotized" them.
After that, he turned toward the ghostly, youthful version of the Baron of Conva and said, "Come, recite with me…
'The Fool who does not belong to this era;
'The Mysterious Ruler above the gray fog;
'The yellow-black King who controls luck…'"
Upon hearing this, the Conva ghost's face showed signs of struggle, but in the end, he still followed and recited, "The… Fool who does not belong to this era…"
Because Ebner had communicated with Klein beforehand, a "Paper Angel" descended from the gray fog and landed upon the Conva ghost, instantly freeing him from hypnosis.
"Sefirah Castle…" the Baron of Conva murmured, his expression a mixture of joy and disbelief, as if the task etched deep into his spirit had finally been completed.
Ebner ignored him. Even though the paper angel had freed him from hypnotic influence, he was still unable to escape Ebner's control.
After fully "seeing" the changes in the Conva ghost, Ebner turned to the middle-aged Conva and said thoughtfully, "You, recite another honorific for me…
'The great Pure White Eye, Lord of Fate, Emperor of Knowledge and Machinery…'"
Since he had not yet designed a new honorific after reaching Sequence 3, he continued using the previous one.
After all, it had been proven effective and could successfully communicate with the Unknown Land.
And as the middle-aged Conva finished reciting the honorific in ancient Hermes, Ebner immediately used the "Cognitive Lever" to pry at the strength of the Unknown and polluted Conva along that connection.
Once that was done, Ebner walked to the six-pointed star altar and operated the ritual, continuing the experiment left incomplete more than six centuries ago.
The two Convas—one polluted by the Sefirah Castle, the other by the Unknown—turned into streams of light and flew into the six-pointed altar. They entered the bronze coffin and merged into the true body of the Baron of Conva.
At the same moment, the extraordinary chainmail glove "Hand of Wisdom," which Ebner had obtained back when he was Sequence 7 from the Conva castle, suddenly disappeared within its seal, leaving behind only a blank card.
"Mr. Azik said long ago that the states of these two Convas were the combined product of the Shepherd-pathway Sequence 3 'Trinity Templar' and the Spectator-pathway Sequence 3 'Dream Weaver.'
"But that actually isn't accurate!
"In truth, the simultaneous existence of the original body, youth, and elder selves is the feature of the Trinity Templar; the personality and hobbies are the 'Simulation' of the Dream Weaver; the extraordinary items they carry are the 'Creation' of the Cognizer—only that all these abilities reached the level of Sefirot…
"Their relentless pursuit of the Sefirah Castle and the Unknown is the 'Definition' of the Justice Mentor—because in their eyes, this goal is the sole 'justice,' superior to personal preferences or emotions.
"As for the traits of the 'Sea King,' they stayed unmanifested due to being far from the ocean… though one could glimpse traces from how easily Conva caused a landslide to bury his own castle.
"In summary, although the experiment on Conva was intended to simulate 'my' state, because his essence—his Sefirot—was different, his state naturally differed from my 'reincarnation' pattern and leaned more toward the characteristics unique to the Sea of Chaos.
"Hmm, for now Conva's true body contains the sealed 'entrance' of the Sea of Chaos and is being continuously polluted by that pillar-level Sefirot…
"And his two avatars—his two life stages, youth and elder—brought back the pollution of the other two Sefirot.
"Heh, even without recovering my memories, just from this alone, the purpose of the experiment is already obvious!
"No wonder Roselle became obsessed with balancing pollution after coming here. Unfortunately, the Mother Goddess was too strong and could influence his actions, making it impossible for him to finish his goal.
"Forget Roselle. Let's see if Conva can successfully find balance among these three types of pollution and escape madness… That is his only hope!
"Though the pollution of the Mother Goddess of Depravity would've been more suitable, the one on the moon will never cooperate, so the Unknown must be used… And based on the two-five dragon's judgment, the Unknown is not inferior to the Sea of Chaos in status…
"Moreover, both my Unknown and Klein's Sefirah Castle cannot exert much power, while the Sea of Chaos is only an 'entrance,' still sealed and incomplete.
"And this is just a simulation…
"If my greatest future enemy truly lies asleep within the Unknown Land, then I must enter with complete Sefirot!
"So this is the meaning of all my lives?
"But then why, in the fragment of Alvin's memories I saw in the Nation of the Evernight, would the Goddess support 'me' becoming the Lord of Mysteries, only for 'me' to refuse?
"And judging from Alvin's attitude, it wasn't because of Klein."
While pondering, Ebner observed the state of Conva inside the bronze coffin. He saw him continually adjust the balance of the three Sefirot-level forces through the ritual effects of the six-pointed altar. Black, gray, and white intertwined, fused, then separated again.
No one knew how long it took. When the outside sky had grown dim, the three colors finally reached equilibrium. The overflowing black viscous liquid retreated into Conva's eyes. His previously frenzied spirit calmed and sank back into slumber.
Meanwhile, within the underground ruins outside Conva Town, a "young" Baron of Conva sat up once again. But this time, the aura of the Sea of Chaos on him was extremely faint, nearly imperceptible.
Seeing this scene through distant Insight, Ebner nodded thoughtfully and murmured:
"The true body sleeps, and the new avatar can act relatively normally… Is this the best outcome?
"Perhaps this is also the outcome most desired by the gods and angels watching over me…
"So this is the price clearly marked on the gifts they have given me?"
(End of Chapter)