From the Spirit World Depths, several pairs of eyes, shining with cold, pure light, distorted and stretched out, overlapping the surrounding Spirit World area with reality, and the figures of the Prophet Clone and Glenn appeared there.
Glenn half-raised her right hand, and brilliant starlight flickered down from mid-air, spontaneously condensing into the shape of a carriage at their feet, which then carried them speeding towards the Spirit World Depths.
Only after completely moving away from the Spirit World area corresponding to the Rorsted Archipelago did Glenn thoroughly relax, leaning back against the carriage's seat, and said calmly:
"The silver longsword in the hands of "Sea King" Jahn Kottman is quite interesting; it seems to be able to strengthen the upper limit of the Lord of Storms' power that he can withstand."
"The bronze whistle thrown by the person next to you just now should be an item from a high-ranking member of the Numinous Episcopate's Artificial Death faction. It actually summoned something related to Death. It seems their plan wasn't entirely without gain."
"And why were you there? I remember you telling me two days ago that you were going to consult the Church of the God of Knowledge and Wisdom's material (data/information) to find an effective method for utilizing and transforming Beyonder power in the Sun domain."
"Hmph," exhaled the Prophet Clone, shrugging his shoulders. He pulled out a glowing blue crystal from his pocket and tossed it twice in his hand, saying:
"'Yellow Light' Venithan suggested I go find 'Orange Light' Hillarion's incarnation in the real world, Turani von Helmosuin, known as the 'Father of the Second Generation Difference Engine.' Then I was just casually caught up in this pursuit orchestrated by the Rose School of Thought."
"That mist-like Monster should be a Monster created by the Numinous Episcopate's Artificial Death faction's long-standing sacrifices, which caused a slight mutation in the Uniqueness hidden by Death."
Glenn leaned back in her seat, nodding slightly while muttering softly, "I don't know how many Night believers are hidden among those Artificial Death factions of the Numinous Episcopate."
After a pause, she continued:
"Helmosuin is actually 'Orange Light' Hillarion. However, their Seven Lights do often enter the real world, transforming into humans through various means to teach corresponding knowledge."
"This hobby is very suitable for your Church of the God of Knowledge and Wisdom. Lucca Brewster in Paz River Valley also likes to give lectures to people in various occasions and places."
"You should have noticed something from 'Yellow Light' Venithan's hint, but you still chose to go to the Rorsted Archipelago. Why?"
To the left of the starlight-condensed carriage, the Prophet Clone leaned back in his seat, in a posture of closing his eyes to rest, and said indifferently:
"To owe him a favor. There are still places where I need their help later."
"As for the Numinous Episcopate's Artificial Death faction, that 'Mother of Concealment' has better methods."
"What did you find?" Glenn tilted her head slightly, asking in a low voice, a bit curious.
As her words fell, as if feeling that such a topic was not suitable for such casual discussion, she raised her left hand and gently rubbed her thumb and middle finger together twice.
Star after star emerged around them, their light appearing somewhat dim, constantly moving around the carriage, outlining one mysterious symbol and magical mark after another, symbolizing Concealment.
The Prophet Clone opened his eyes to look around, then closed them again, speaking without much fluctuation in his tone:
"That Death Consul from the Fourth Epoch's Pale Disaster era has fallen into a state similar to the Undying, repeatedly dying and resurrecting. His most recent appearance was in Tingen city, Loen, where he served as a history teacher at a university."
"That place is a bit special; it's always under the gaze of Evernight."
Glenn nodded thoughtfully, sighing:
"It sounds like a long-planned scheme. Perhaps before long, the honorific names invoked by Night believers in their prayers will include descriptions similar to 'the final resting place of all living beings.'"
Rorsted Archipelago, on the flat ground not far outside Bayam city, "Sea King" Jahn Kottman descended to the ground, controlling the strong winds.
The ethereal, profound aura on his body had disappeared, and his deep blue eyes appeared quite indifferent, mixed with an extremely restrained madness. A few silver-white strands appeared in his sea-grass-like green hair, as if he had suddenly aged greatly.
The ground in front of him was scorched black, plants withered and decayed, and even the soil and stones showed varying degrees of weathering. Originally, there should have been two small mountain peaks here, but now they had all vanished without a trace, as if the area had been repeatedly ploughed countless times by a giant Robot, leaving only a flat depression.
Everything around carried a sense of decay and decline, as if rushing endlessly down the path of Death, almost reaching the end.
Jahn Kottman gazed intently at the fish-belly white appearing on the distant sea, quietly reciting the names of the people who had been there earlier:
"Al Tines"
"Rose School of Thought... Suah... Gehrman Sparrow!"
"One of the Ten Pillars of the Moses Ascetic Order, Glenn Palace, and that strange Spirit World creature."
After a moment of silence, he suddenly waved his hand, summoning a gust of strong wind. The howling wind condensed into a materialized giant hand, which retrieved two items shimmering with Beyonder light from the scorched ground in the distance:
One was a gem that seemed to be condensed from rich blood. It was fist-sized and emitted a crimson light, like a miniature Crimson Moon.
The other was a circular glass lens with some scorched and broken marks.
"Shaman King, and a Mystical Item evolved from the characteristics of a Robot."
He murmured in a low voice, and the strong wind swirled again, lifting Jahn Kottman's body away from the area.
Above Gray Fog, with the help of Miss Messenger and Azik, who arrived later, Klein, who had completely shaken off the Abomination Suah, found a safe place and entered the mysterious space above Gray Fog.
He surveyed the empty palace, his gaze finally settling on the deep red star symbolizing Leyton. He extended his Beyonder power to it, telling him what had happened in Bayam and asking him to retrieve the Mystical Item through the ritual of requesting a bestowal.
After doing all this, he slumped lazily into the high-backed chair, muttering to himself:
"I lost a Marionettist, several charms, and paper figures, but fortunately, I'm safe now. And Creeping Hunger has grazed two new souls, a Wraith and a Desire Apostle, so it's not too much of a loss."
"Currently, the most important thing is to return to Backlund. In such a metropolis, the Rose School of Thought's power is very limited, and perhaps I can even try to find a circus to attempt to act as a Marionettist."
"Later, if I have the chance, I'll have to find a new Marionettist. Using a Marionettist to employ those Mystical Items with powerful positive and negative effects is a good choice."
Inside the grand and ancient palace, a wailing gust of wind suddenly rose, and the calm Gray Fog also began to surge rapidly.
The deep red star representing Leyton continuously expanded and contracted, sending out wave after wave of deep red ripples, interspersed with Leyton's prayers:
"The Fool who does not belong to this era, the Lord of Mysteries above Gray Fog, the King of Yellow and Black Who Holds Good Luck."
"Your loyal servant prays to you..."
"You're ready for the ritual so quickly?"
Muttering to himself, Klein quickly rose from the high-backed chair and went to the back of the hall, extending his Beyonder power to push open the illusory Door. Then he raised his right hand again, and the items he had placed on the table spontaneously flew up and into the illusory double Door.
As the illusory Door of sacrifice and bestowal closed, the space above Gray Fog returned to calm.
Klein sat back in the Fool's high-backed chair. After a moment of thought, he once again extended his Beyonder power to the deep red star representing Leyton, pulling the other party into this Gray Fog.
In the Forsaken Land of the Gods, just after putting away the Mystical Items retrieved from above Gray Fog, Leyton saw the dense Gray Fog and deep Red Light pouring into his vision.
His mind blurred slightly, and when he came to, he found himself in the ancient and grand palace above Gray Fog, sitting in the high-backed chair belonging to the Mr. Tower.
Klein leaned back in the high-backed chair, looking somewhat relaxed, and looked at Leyton, who was looking back at him, curling his lips as he said:
"You know, what do you think if I turn around and go to the Southern Continent now?"
Leyton's mouth twitched, and he spoke somewhat speechlessly:
"Are you planning to throw yourself into danger? Or do you want the Rose School of Thought to launch an all-out attack on Paz River Valley tomorrow?"
"Just kidding." Klein waved his hand, paused for two seconds, then spoke again: "Help me keep an eye out for Bizarro Bane and Spirit World Plunderer. Since there's a Dark Demonic Wolf in the Forsaken Land of the Gods, it's highly likely that Pathway Beyonder materials exist there."
Leyton nodded lightly and said:
"Alright, but if you hide back in Backlund, it might not be so easy to act. Do you want to go take a look behind the Chanis Gate under Saint Samuel Cathedral?"
Klein looked at him with some surprise, but his tone was very calm as he said:
"How did you know I planned to return to Backlund?"
"Since I know the Bizzaro Sorcerer's formula, why would I risk going behind the Chanis Gate? If I'm not careful, I'll become one of the items sealed away there."
Leyton shrugged, speaking in a tone that suggested he understood him well:
"That's not hard to guess. Only places like Backlund, Trier, or Pasu Island, Amantha Mountains, can minimize the danger from the Rose School of Thought and be safe enough for you. Among these places, you don't have many choices, and Backlund is the place you are most familiar with, and Benson and Melissa are there too."