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Looking at the somewhat restless Frank, Aaron chuckled, "I believe your experimental ideas are, on some level, very meaningful. Many experimental failures might simply be due to your insufficient strength."
Frank, who was currently only a Sequence 7 Harvest Priest, immediately brightened, and the apprehension in his heart was instantly thrown to the winds. He hadn't expected this previously unheard-of hidden existence to actually agree with his ideas.
Aaron watched Frank's expression and nodded inwardly, then continued, "There are some people similar to you here. I've established a regular gathering for them, and I am the witness."
Frank then noticed the other empty seats and, without hesitation, excitedly asked, "Can I join that gathering?"
"Yes, but you cannot disclose it to others without my permission."
"Okay!" Frank responded without hesitation.
Aaron nodded with satisfaction, extended his hand, and with great self-control, cut off the connection. Then, he watched the dark golden light recede, and Frank on the other side dissolved into a phantom, disappearing bit by bit.
"Phew, I finally managed to trick this dangerous guy into joining. In the future, I need to use my identity as a Blessed more often to properly guide this guy's thoughts. I absolutely cannot let him go astray..."
As the prayer light points completely dissipated, Aaron withdrew his attention and retrieved the three bundles of spoils that had just been sacrificed from the pile of sundries.
Aaron's mind stirred slightly, and the Black Emperor card instantly merged into his body. He held the "Sun-Chasing Scepter" in his right hand to guard against any accidents.
Dark golden mist surged, and invisible forces integrated into the three golden spheres of varying sizes. As the golden outer shells receded, the items within were revealed.
What attracted Aaron's attention the most was the scepter with a surface covered in dark patterns and a deep blue, almost black, tip. Even though it had been severely damaged, the scepter still exuded a tyrannical and evil aura. It was precisely the Rose School of Thought's Grade 1 Sealed Artifact, the "Scepter of Disaster."
With the divination pendulum hanging from his hand, Aaron slowly closed his eyes, already prepared for the backlash.
Accompanied by a hazy illusion, a moment later, Aaron suddenly opened his eyes. Black patterns appeared on his face, and as the dark golden mist churned, black smoke rose, and the patterns dissipated.
"Scepter of Disaster"
Ability 1: Tornado: Violent wind collides with the air, producing an explosive sound, summoning a terrifying hurricane visible to the naked eye, destroying all items in its path.
It can be combined with other lightning abilities of the Sailor Pathway, simultaneously accompanied by dark black waves approaching 10 meters.
Ability 2: Lightning Storm: Summons streaks of silvery-white electric snakes, carrying an intensely violent and destructive aura that feels almost tangible, striking densely all around. It can cover an area of several hundred meters in a forest of thunder, causing enveloped creatures to shatter, evaporate, and disappear.
The disadvantage is that it's an area attack and doesn't distinguish between friend and foe, which is why Mahmosi didn't choose this ability at the time.
Negative Effect: Each use of the ability is accompanied by strong pollution, an extreme craving for blood and slaughter. Long-term possession will lead to an uncontrollable belief in a great existence.
Casually clearing the invading pollution, Aaron frowned, recalling the enlightenment he had just received from the divination.
Although it was expected, Aaron was still a bit disappointed. As expected, it was a Sealed Artifact corrupted by an Outer God, and in the end, it would still need to be crushed and restored to a Beyonder characteristic before it could be used.
However, gaining a demigod Beyonder characteristic from the Sailor Pathway was already more than worth it. Aaron turned his gaze to the remaining two defective items.
After divination, Aaron learned of their functions. Mahmosi' left arm also contained some Beyonder characteristic, roughly equivalent to Sequence 5 level, and even if the Beyonder characteristic was extracted, the left arm itself could serve as a carrier for certain ritual materials.
The Puppet's right hand, however, was more special. Even when separated, it maintained a certain connection with the main body, though this connection was currently blocked by the dark golden mist.
Outside, Aaron could use this to pinpoint the Puppet's location, and of course, the other party could also reverse-locate Aaron's position.
At the same time, it greatly enhances the user's spirituality, allowing for the use of a weakened version of "Summoning Door." The effect doubles during a full moon, but it will lead to a period of bloodlust.
Aaron nodded with satisfaction, immediately feeling that the previous backlash was not so unbearable. He secretly mused:
"Hmm, this is essentially a spirituality amplifier that can currently only be used above the dark golden mist. It can temporarily alleviate my problem of insufficient spirituality."
"However, I still need to find another Mystical Item that can magnify spirituality in reality. I wonder if Louise has found anything recently..."
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Loen, Enmat Harbor, a warehouse in the port area.
Shattered corpses lay scattered throughout the warehouse. Some small, malnourished, and scarred children trembled in the corners, some having already fainted from the bloody scene.
Damian Thale, the head of the largest local gang, stared with bloodshot eyes, but no sound could escape his hoarse throat.
A woman in a black tight-fitting suit held a snow-white sharp knife, her lips crimson as if smeared with fresh blood. She repeatedly cut Damian Thale, slicing open his skin to take flesh but leaving the skeleton.
The woman stood up, looked at the imperfect artwork at her feet, and pouted, somewhat dissatisfied.
She then looked around at the malnourished, scarred children, a smile curving on her lips.
The few remaining children who hadn't fainted were startled and quickly lowered their heads.
Only one boy with a round face, a gentle and slightly shy demeanor, and no more than sixteen or seventeen years old, raised his head. He stared at the tormented corpse on the ground, his eyes revealing a deep hatred.
The woman walked over with the knife, pinched the boy's face, and stared into his eyes, asking, "What's your name?"
Feeling the sharp knife so close and seeing the corpse not far away, the boy swallowed hard and quietly replied, "Tris."
The woman chuckled, threw the dagger at Tris's feet, and recited in the tone of a preacher:
"Spirit is the essence of man; the body is merely a cage that binds the spirit."
"The reason why humans commit evil is due to the influence of the body. One must gain knowledge through spirituality, allowing the spirit to gradually free itself from the body and see one's true self."
"After undergoing layers of trials from the astral bodies, one can finally break free from the material world and return to the purest, truest self, thus achieving eternal salvation..."
Amidst these chants, which seemed to carry some mysterious meaning, Tris's gaze gradually focused. He slowly picked up the dagger from the ground and walked towards Damian Thale....
The chanting in his ears gradually faded, and Tris seemed to finally come to his senses. He looked at the hacked-open skeleton, gradually recalling the memories of children who, like him, had been controlled by the gang, tricked, defrauded, and stolen from, dying by his own knife.
Tris trembled and dropped the blood-soaked dagger. The woman's figure slowly emerged, smiling as she extended her hand and said, "Tris, welcome to Theosophy Order..."
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