Chapter 341: Divine Blessing

Chapter 341: Divine Blessing

As Luke took out the monocle from his pocket, Leonard's expression froze.

A voice of terror that made him tremble echoed in his mind, belonging to an elder who was powerful and enigmatic, in a less-than-ideal state but still capable of providing significant assistance, and who was both a mentor and a friend.

"Run!"

Leonard's body trembled, and he found himself losing control. A surge of spiritual energy filled him, and he involuntarily reached out, as if grasping something, and then his vision blurred.

The scene before him had changed; orderly rows of wooden chairs led to a narrow path that ended at the pulpit where the bishop stood. Small windows, adorned with intricate blue and red patterns, allowed colored light to filter in, casting an eerie darkness around the room.

In an instant, Leonard vanished from the Black Thorn Security Company and appeared at St. Seraphina Church on Red Moon Street, as if the distance between them had been stolen.

"This..."

Leonard stood there, stunned and at a loss for words.

At that moment, the elder, known as Palles Sororyasder, seemed to be calmed by the peaceful atmosphere of the church, and he breathed a sigh of relief.

"I must have made a mistake."

If it were truly Amon, the second son of an ancient sun god, the only one who had achieved spiritual refinement, and who could even briefly steal the authority of the divine, the 'Blasphemer' in a poor state would never be able to escape. The suppression of higher Sequences over lower ones was incredibly powerful.

Moreover, Amon had always favored parasitic infection, and wherever he went, all humans, animals, insects, and even microorganisms would become his extensions. If it were him, everyone in the Black Thorn Security Company should have been infected.

If it weren't for the person with the monocle suddenly saying, "I've found you," and if the Esoteric Studies member who died a few days ago hadn't been killed by a method that only an angelic being could use, he wouldn't have been deceived!

As Elder Palles was pondering and reflecting, a sullen voice spoke up.

"I don't know what you got wrong, but have you considered my feelings?"

Leonard slowly opened his mouth, his eyes filled with resentment and gloom.

How could he, a Sequence 8 'Midnight Poet' of the 'Insomnia' Path, explain to his companions that he had just teleported from Zoltran Street to St. Seraphina Church on Red Moon Street?

...

Black Thorn Security Company.

The sudden disappearance of a person left those present in a state of shock. Roxana looked around in a daze, not knowing what to do. Kline and Koenlie were in the same state, the latter's face growing serious.

Could it be the work of an Extraordinary or a sealed object?

At the same time, Luke's eyes became deeper, and his aura became more gentle and pure, making others subconsciously perceive him as harmless and trustworthy.

Successfully scamming a 'Worm of Time' of Sequence 1, a 'Thief' Path, had caused a significant emotional disturbance in his opponent. His 'Paths of Thieves' Extraordinary Trait was almost completely digested in less than a day.

The incomplete digestion was likely due to Palles' poor condition and the fact that, although scared, he hadn't lost anything, which didn't entirely fit the concept of 'Fraud,' which involves obtaining something from others through deception.

However, it was just a step away from complete digestion, and a few more small lies would have finished the job, allowing him to fully digest the Extraordinary Trait of Sequence 7.

In fact, due to his rapid promotion, Luke hadn't even prepared an Extraordinary Trait for Sequence 6. In a small town like Tinggen, finding a Sequence 6 to feed on was quite challenging. Perhaps a trip to Barkeland might be necessary...

Luke temporarily suppressed his thoughts, pinching the monocle on his left eye and feigning confusion.

"How did that gentleman suddenly disappear?"

At that moment, an invisible force began to erode Luke's consciousness, making him feel tired and sleepy. His eyes slowly closed, and he fell into a dream.

A deep, magnetic male voice resonated.

"Koenlie, you take over the watch at Chanice Gate."

Dunn Smith, with his deep-set gray eyes and high hairline, emerged from the stairs leading to Chanice Gate. He rubbed his forehead and calmly gave instructions.

Leonard had some secrets that Dunn was aware of, but bringing them to light might prompt inquiries and investigations from the church. He didn't want his team to face such trouble, and as long as no major issues arose, he would turn a blind eye.

"Kline, go find Old Neill and use divination to locate Leonard's position."

Dunn sighed and turned his attention to Luke, whose eyes were closed, his expression serene and peaceful. His gaze grew sharp as he considered the fact that Kline's friend had just experienced an unusual event, making him a suspect who needed to be questioned.

"Captain, Mr. Genoa is Kline's friend."

Roxana, standing nearby, noticed the tense atmosphere and whispered a reminder.

"I know, don't worry. I won't harm him; I just need to ask a few simple questions. It's a necessary procedure.

Dunn tried to reassure Roxanne, who seemed a little worried, and spoke softly.

"Whether you have a secret or not, the you in the dream is always honest."

As an Insomnia path, a 'Nightmare' of Sequence 7, Dunn could forcefully or subtly guide others into dreams, and enter their dream realms, influencing and weaving their dreams to some extent.

He closed his eyes and entered Luke's dream.

...

Click!

The dream shattered in an instant, and the second hand on the wall didn't even complete a full circle.

In less than a minute, Dunn reopened his eyes, looking as if he had seen a ghost, backing away from Luke with embarrassment and awkwardness written all over his face.

It might have been an illusion, but Dunn felt that the curve of the young man's lips seemed a little deeper.

Recalling the scene he had just witnessed in the dream, Dunn's expression was complex, containing disdain for the vulgar, pity for the fallen youth, and a hint of envy that he desperately wanted to deny but couldn't help but acknowledge.

Having been a Nightmare for nine years, Dunn had entered countless dreams, but this was the first time he had seen such a... risque dream.

From a distance, the scene was filled with white and pink, and amidst the sea of flowers, only the majestic evil part appeared and disappeared at a rapid frequency in the waves of flesh.

How could a reserved and modest Rune person have such a dream? Even in reality, this kind of fantasy would probably be considered bold and unrestrained in places like Tiriestelle.

Due to the absurdity of the dream, Dunn took it as the young man's long-repressed fantasy. He endured the awkwardness and asked a few questions, confirming that the other party truly knew nothing, thus ruling out any suspicions.

Afterwards, he wove a new dream, replacing himself with Leonard, and had 'Leonard' greet the young man in front of him. The two exchanged a few words about Klein's recent situation, then discussed some polite and meaningless small talk about the weather before returning to their respective duties at the company, as there was work to be done.

Everything seemed normal.

Nightmares don't have the ability to alter memories, but they can create a memory that blurs the line between dream and reality, causing confusion in the memories of ordinary people.

After doing all this, Dunn reminded Roxanne, "Now he will think he chatted with Leonard, and Leonard had to leave due to some matters. Don't get it wrong."

Roxanne nodded, "Is there any problem with Mr. Genoa?"

"No, he's just an ordinary person. You can send him away."

Dunn hesitated for a few seconds before speaking up, "But it's best not to get too close to him."

"Why?"

Roxanne was very puzzled. She still had a good impression of Luke, who was handsome and had a sweet smile.

Dunn opened his mouth but couldn't find the right words. He couldn't question someone's character just because of a sensual dream. He sighed and turned to leave.

"Forget it, as if I never said anything."

A few minutes later, Luke slowly opened his eyes, and the confusion and bewilderment in them had faded.

He looked around and politely asked, "Are Klein and the others busy?"

"Yes."

Roxanne, sitting next to him, smiled slightly, "Klein's other colleagues are not here, and you've already met Coenlie and Leonard who are in the company."

Luke looked disappointed, "It seems it's time to say goodbye."

"You can stay a little longer. Do you want me to get you a cup of coffee or tea while they finish their work?"

Luke shook his head with a smile, "Since Klein isn't here, it's a bit awkward for me to stay. Never mind."

When hanging out with friends, the most awkward part is when you have to face your friend's friends after they leave.

He added, half-flattering and half-sincerely, "Besides, spending too much time with a beautiful lady like you is bad for my heart."

Simple and direct flirting with a touch of teasing would be suitable for places like Tiriestelle or Fenneport, but in Rune, this subtle yet exaggerated way of showing interest was considered a compliment to ladies.

Roxanne covered her mouth and giggled, her cheeks slightly flushed, her eyes sparkling, "Genoa, have many girls told you such things?"

The newest, smallest, and most popular book is now available!

Luke shook his head solemnly, "How could that be? You're the first one in this world."

Roxanne didn't want to believe such words, as someone like Luke, with his appearance and dress, should be quite popular among the opposite sex.

But seeing his sincere expression and feeling the trustworthy aura he exuded, she couldn't help but believe him.

So, she returned to her seat, holding up a newspaper to hide her blushing cheeks. This was a lady's modesty, not wanting to reveal her heart's flutter to a man too easily.

After all, they had just met and didn't know each other well enough. She needed more time to get to know him, waiting for the man to confess before agreeing to be his girlfriend.

Luke observed Roxanne's reaction with a thoughtful expression.

The truth in a lie is the best "fraud."

Just as this thought popped into his mind, his eyes once again sparkled with starlight, and he heard the sound of bubbles bursting around him.

After successfully scamming Dunn and Roxanna, and summarizing the role of the "Fraudster," the last trace of the "Fraudster's" Extraordinary Trait was completely digested.

Now, he could consume the "Magician" of Sequence 7. His Spiritual Energy would significantly improve, allowing him to perform more rituals and borrow the true "Divine Blessing" from his original body.

This didn't refer to the cooking skills of his servant, Parrot, which were merely knowledge. Instead, it was the true "Divine Blessing" of Luke, a collection of Lukes from various worlds, and the "Divine Blessing" that belonged to Luke.

Thinking of this, Luke's mood brightened. He felt like a small horn was gradually taking shape.

He stood up and bid farewell to the shy Roxanna, then boarded the carriage and headed back to the apartment as the sky gradually darkened.

...

After having the dinner prepared by Parrot and finishing his evening routine, Luke meditated to adjust his state.

Once everything was ready, Luke lit the three candles for the ritual. As the dim candlelight gradually brightened, he took a step back and recited in Hermes:

"O Entropic Expander, O Alien God beyond the stars, O Splitter and Aggregator of all Extraordinary Traits."

As the divine name was spoken, a gentle breeze began to blow around them, and an invisible force caused the candle flames to flicker. With a serious expression, Luke solemnly took out a floating, unidentified substance and continued his recitation.

"I seek your aid."

"I beseech you to grant me the ability to devour the Extraordinary Traits of Sequence 7."

As if drawn by an invisible force, the floating substance slowly approached Luke's mouth, and he swallowed it like a piece of jelly.

It was as if a firework had exploded in his mind, and an incomprehensible murmur sounded in Luke's ear.

"Horanichs... Freglar... Horanichs... Freglar... Horanichs... Freglar..."

Luke's body began to twitch slightly, and the flesh beneath his skin seemed to writhe with life, especially his arms. These strange phenomena quickly calmed down under the pressure of the invisible force.

In the blink of an eye, Luke successfully passed through the dangerous period of consuming the magic potion and became a true Sequence 7 "Magician"! He opened his eyes, and his overflowing Spiritual Energy made his gaze particularly piercing. Without waiting for the ritual to end, he immediately began a second prayer.

This time, he used a new prayer.

"O Return to Unity, O Paradox of Energy Conservation, O Unnamable Unknown!"

This new three-part prayer directly pointed to the collection of Luke's original body's power, originating from the shared space of the gold finger. This power was something even the Original Maker couldn't understand or control.

"I beseech you."

"I beseech your Divine Blessing."

"I beseech you to grant me the power of the 'Xenoman'."

As he recited the prayer, the air around him became oppressive and viscous. A gray-robed figure, out of place in the current world, slowly materialized from the air.

The figure was a young man with a youthful aura, handsome features, and a lively spirit. He was frozen in a pose with his right hand pulling up the left sleeve of his robe.

The young man slowly approached Luke and began to merge with his body. Luke's body, which had just calmed down, immediately started to boil. His veins bulged, and his entire body began to expand and contract, terrifyingly abnormal.

It was as if the intense pain from the depths of his soul overwhelmed Luke, and even he couldn't help but let out a muffled grunt. He clenched his teeth and endured wave after wave of continuous tearing.

The room fell silent, and the only sound was the faint noise of something like insects gnawing on flesh. Blood flowed from various parts of his body, staining the floor red.

Soon, this robust and sturdy body reached its limit and began to crack inch by inch, like a fragile container unable to withstand such powerful forces. In an instant, it became a bloody mess.

Sensing that Luke couldn't bear it any longer, the figure stopped merging and dissipated into the air. A gust of wind blew out the candles, and the ritual ended on its own.

Luke, overwhelmed by the pain, lay on the floor covered in blood. After a long silence, he finally uttered the first word after the ritual.

"Damn!"

Damn it, it hurt like hell! Unlike the other Outer Gods with their Sequence levels, Luke's power, originating from another world, had no precise standard.

He had forgotten to specify in his prayer that the "Divine Blessing" should match the strength of the current Sequence. As a result, his original body kept pouring power into him until his physical limit was reached.

Luke struggled to suppress the urge to curse himself. After resting for a moment, he closed his eyes, and a red light emanated from his body. The cracks in his body began to heal at an astonishing speed.

In the blink of an eye, Luke's body was restored, and his physical condition even improved.

"But the harvest is still good."

He felt the power within him and nodded.

It was roughly at the level of Sequence 6, with diverse abilities, a solid foundation, and all-around development. Dealing with a typical Sequence 5 wouldn't be too difficult.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end