Chapter 396: The Eldest Brother as Father

Chapter 396: The Eldest Brother as Father

A few seconds later, the sound of vomiting echoed through the room.

Kline, his face pale, leaned against the wall, hunched over and retching as if he were trying to expel his very bile.

Everything had happened so quickly that he hadn’t had time to react. All he remembered was Koenlie shouting about an enemy, and then the traitorous Archbishop, whom the captain had shown him in a wanted poster, appeared right in front of them.

The Archbishop had a deranged look in his eyes, his gaze vacant. He used some abilities that didn’t work, and then Senior Luo Yao used a Sealed Artifact to control him. After that, everyone opened fire.

For someone who had only been in this world for less than a month and had always lived in a law-abiding society, killing was a significant hurdle.

Kline couldn’t help but glance at Ince Zangwill’s body, which only made him vomit again.

The rookies' reactions eased the tense expressions of the other three, who rushed over to comfort their new teammate, who had only been on the job for less than a month.

Fray, unusually gentle in tone, comforted him, "It’s always like this the first time. You’ll get used to it. As an enforcer in the Beyonder world, Nocturne will eventually have to face these situations."

"I know."

Kline wiped the corners of his mouth. He had always been prepared, but the events had unfolded too suddenly.

Koenlie, curious, asked, "But why did you shoot with us?"

Kline, feeling the bitter taste in his mouth, twitched the corners of his lips.

"Just... instinct?"

He wasn’t sure himself. It just felt natural, and he couldn’t help but think about all the practice he had been putting in recently, which made him pull the trigger.

Well, to be fair, he shot pretty accurately!

"You should have that mindset when facing an enemy. Otherwise, you or your teammates might be the ones in trouble."

Luo Yao seemed to approve of this, patting Kline on the shoulder. "You did well!"

Encouraged, Kline gradually calmed down and spoke thoughtfully:

"When the captain introduced the traitorous Archbishop to me, he said we should run if we ever saw him. Why was it so easy to take him down this time?"

The process had been surprisingly smooth, almost unbelievable.

"Maybe it’s because we all had Sealed Artifacts?"

Fray had just finished speaking when his face suddenly changed, causing the others to pause in confusion.

"What’s wrong?"

Fray pressed his lips together and held out his palm. The "Vein Thief" lay quietly in his hand, but something was missing.

"0-08" was gone.

...

The isolation of the Godforsaken Land meant that the disasters breaking out around the world were not severe, mostly occurring in deserted deserts, abandoned streets, and undeveloped areas.

However, the sudden outbreaks still brought panic and chaos, turning quiet streets into scenes of crying and screaming. The brief but real confusion blurred the boundaries of the crowd.

Chaos was the friend of the gray masses.

Young children snatched food from vendors, emaciated teenagers deftly stole wallets, rough men shouted curses, and women vented long-suppressed grievances and anger.

A priest, dressed in a simple white robe with a light golden beard, moved through the crowd, his eyes clear and innocent like a child’s.

In his hand, he held a classical feather pen—clearly "0-08."

"I’ve discovered something."

A young man with a monocle over his right eye appeared beside the priest, walking alongside him.

The priest’s voice was calm and rich:

"What is it?"

"In the Godforsaken Land, the True Creator and I participated in a battle."

The young man casually observed the chaotic street, his tone ambiguous.

"Although it’s a malevolent spirit, it was mostly in a state of madness, severely restrained by the Sun’s influence. Even with serious injuries, it didn’t flee. From a Psychologist’s perspective, do you think that’s reasonable?"

The priest looked deeply at the young man, his voice calm. "No, it’s not reasonable."

"Yes, it’s not reasonable. So, it must have been consciously helping that person. But how did the True Creator, who has been trapped in the Godforsaken Land, establish a connection with that person?"

The young man raised his hand to adjust his monocle. "I know nothing is strange about the Unknown, but isn’t there a more reasonable explanation?"

"For example..."

"You invested in that person and subtly hinted at your help, forming a conspiracy without ever meeting. The True Creator’s assistance was part of your investment."

The priest stopped walking and remained silent.

"Then there’s another question: you’re not yet a Dreamer, so how could you directly influence a Deity’s mind and actions?"

"..."

"Unless you and the True Creator are one and the same. He inherited the human side of your father, and you inherited the divine side."

The young man’s gaze was deep. "Should I call you brother, or father?"

"I can be your brother."

The priest’s voice drifted slowly, devoid of emotion.

"I can also be your father."

The young man was silent for a moment, then looked at the "0-08" in the priest’s hand. After a few attempts, he smiled again.

"You’ve gathered the materials for godhood, and so have I."

"Be careful. Don’t become my target, brother."

The priest had no objection to the title, his gaze calm.

"God and the Heavenly Lord have both been reborn once. Achieving godhood at this current node is very dangerous."

The young man adjusted his monocle and walked away, his voice calm and distant:

"Doom is approaching. Missing this opportunity might mean never getting another chance."

The priest remained silent, watching as the young man’s figure disappeared into the crowd.

...

"Truly the power of the Primordial Sun."

After his advancement, Luke twirled his bright, blood-red hair and looked down, marveling at the changes in his body reflected in the giant full-length mirror.

The young man in the mirror was strikingly handsome, exuding pure masculine charm. His height had surpassed three meters, and his muscles were like cast bronze, powerful and explosive, with smooth, elegant lines that resembled the work of a master sculptor.

Unlike the allure of the "Demonic Woman" Path, which evokes desire and a protective instinct, the charm of the "Hunter" Path, besides enhancing physical appearance, most notably imbues him with a commanding presence.

This presence makes people around him more inclined to feel attached, to follow, serve, and submit to him. For women, this includes additional admiration and infatuation.

At the "Conqueror" stage, he can now command awe with a single glance, making thousands bow and worship as his gaze sweeps over them.

The core ability of a "Conqueror" is the power of "Conquest", which can forcibly subdue nearby beings, turning them into absolutely loyal subordinates. The time required for "Conquest" depends on the strength of the target.

In the short term, he can conquer beings one Sequence level below his own. If he defeats or severely injures a being of the same Sequence, rendering them powerless and unable to resist, he can also complete the "Conquest."

Whether the target retains their free will and to what extent depends on the "Conqueror's" will.

Given a large enough battle and the right opportunities, a "Conqueror" can form an invincible army, much like the "War Corps" that Medici once created.

Additionally, the "Hunter" Path abilities that the "Conqueror" inherits are now complete.

Luke can now alter the climate, creating extreme weather phenomena such as thunderstorms, hurricanes, heavy rains, hail, and dense fog. In his mythic form, he combines the attributes of an information being, a flood of knowledge, and a "Fire Giant."

He can form a tightly connected mystical team with his teammates, subordinates, and all those he commands, sharing mental connections, vision, and abilities.

As the leader, Luke can use battle cries and war songs to boost the strength of all team members, or he can channel their combined power into himself, or distribute any damage he receives among the team.

He also has the ability to create a "War Fog", which blurs all information within it, affecting only those outside his team.

The "Hunter's" "Weakness Detection" ability has been enhanced to see through illusions, treating all avatars, manifestations, and clones as a single entity. This poses a significant threat to supernaturals who rely on various survival techniques.

During the battle with Chick, the white-armored "Tudor" could "lock onto" the high-dimensional Luke thanks to this ability.

For Luke, this ability is even more powerful.

Using "Oneness of All Things" on top of "Weakness Detection", he can treat all mystically connected beings as a single entity.

Any being Luke has killed, including deities, no matter how deeply hidden or protected, will have any resurrection attempts rendered completely ineffective.

In simple terms, it's a true damage ability that ensures death is absolute.

If Chick were still alive, even without stripping him of his "Ruler of the Mirror World" status, Luke could still ensure his complete and utter demise, which would also destroy the entire Mirror World.

In a world where various means can evade death, this ability is truly terrifying.

Most crucially, as a Sequence One Archangel who has fully digested his Extraordinary Trait, Luke has evolved from a "Sturdy Divine Descent Vessel" to a "Perfect Divine Descent Vessel."

He can now maintain "Divine Descent" for extended periods, making him one of the most formidable forces among true deities.

After reviewing his gains, Luke stretched lazily, his body crackling with a satisfying sound. He looked at the gray fog barrier ahead and then at his reflection in the mirror, shaking his head slightly.

The physical changes brought by the "Conqueror" stage were not bad, but since he was heading to the Western Continent, he needed to make some adjustments.

Luke closed his eyes, and his flamboyant red hair turned back to pure black. He retained his muscular, masculine physique but scaled it down to a more human-like size.

Around one meter and ninety centimeters should be about right. Any taller would be problematic, as one of his girlfriends was already troubled by her height. Meeting her in this form might upset her.

Hmm... He needed to adjust other aspects as well. With the added "masculine energy", his already exaggerated features would be truly dangerous.

Thinking about it, a wave of heat spread from his core, making him feel tingly and itchy.

The "Conqueror's" desires were much stronger than when he was a "Joyful Witch." After a grueling battle, he couldn't resist the urge to find a way to vent.

Luke took a deep breath, recited a calming mantra in his mind, and gradually calmed his agitated spirit.

A Taoist robe with a front-opening design, made of silk and flowing like a celestial garment, appeared on his body. His aura became peaceful and serene.

Among his options, Luke only sought the Divine Blessing of a "Supernatural Being", considering the numerous abilities of a "Supernatural Being" that could protect and defend him in the early and middle stages.

More importantly, the identity of a "Supernatural Being" was perfectly compatible with the Western Continent.

Dressed in his Taoist robe, with a transcendent and ethereal aura, Luke took a deep breath and walked toward the endless gray fog barrier.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end