My setting is above yours!

Chapter 3 An Angel

Another corpse?!

Ron frowned and quickly dismissed his idea.

The husk can't speak... It seems he just made himself less human for "some reason".

—Like the old magician in Ideal City, but much more "alienated" than the old magician.

So, is he a prisoner in this jail?

Ron scrutinized his cheap cellmate, who at first glance looked like a zombie—

He was pale and emaciated, with a stained name tag sewn onto his prison uniform that read "Kurt Mendes".

He had an obvious scholarly air about him, and around his neck hung a dull cross pendant with open book pages as its background.

Beneath Kurt's skin, one character after another seemed to be writhing, revealing a clear sense of danger and madness...

But at this moment, he looked at Ron warily, crossed his arms, and unconsciously clenched his knuckles until they turned white.

Why is this person acting like this... Is he afraid of me?

Although this person seems somewhat dangerous, if handled properly, it might not be a bad opportunity to gather intelligence...

Ron pondered for a moment, then deliberately adopted a cold expression and lowered his voice:

I have no obligation to inform you.

The cold words echoed in Kurt's ears, confirming his suspicions.

Cold, arrogant... Is he really a high-sequence superhuman?

Kurt couldn't understand why such a person would appear in the prison of the Scorched Earth Sanctuary.

You should know that when this person was thrown into the prison by the Fire Chasers that morning, he was as silent as a corpse, without the slightest resistance...

But now, a corpse—a monster that a Sequence Nine Transcendent could never handle—was easily smashed into ashes by a single punch!

Could it be... that these are people from other orthodox churches?
The Church of the Lost, or the Sanctuary of Order?
Or perhaps... other clandestine gatherings?

Kurt cautiously observed the boy in the opposite cage, his eyes filled with vigilance, and probed subtly:

"Oh, of course, that's your prerogative, I have no intention of probing further..."

After all, someone like you who can freely appear here must have many secrets, right?

A clear test.

Because I had just removed my shackles and punched the corpse to pieces, he saw me as someone who needed to be tested carefully.

But he wasn't afraid of me because of that; he was just wary...

Ron glanced at the manual subconsciously; [Illusion Dissolve] had 71% durability remaining.

enough.

He made his decision with a mere glance at Kurt before casually pushing open the rusty cell door.

The seemingly cold iron fence actually feels soft and warm to the touch, and can be easily pushed open.

But the moment Ron touched the bars, he felt dizzy, and the rusty cell door before him turned crimson, reverting to its original form as a cage for limbs—

The cage of limbs touched by Ron writhed grotesquely as if branded with a red-hot iron, only to crack in an instant...

Then, it was easily torn to shreds.

[The "Setting: Fantasy Dissolution" is being eroded by excessive "occult influences."]

[Performance impairment: 97%]

It directly increased the damage level by 68%?!
Although it was expected, these limb cages were still far superior to the corpse shells. Fortunately, the durability of [Illusion Dissolve] could hold out...

That should be enough to establish your authority, right?
With that thought in mind, Ron walked to Kurt's cell door and calmly looked at him.

Now, compared to his previous wariness, Kurt's eyes were filled with fear.

Why would such a being grace this place with its presence?

He was able to leave the limb prison so easily and without any apparent trouble—

"The Prison of Limbs"!

Constructed by transcendents of Sequence 7 or higher in the War series, the Death Prison is, in comparison to the monsters roaming within, the prison itself, the most reliable guardian of the Scorched Earth Sanctuary.

But he, it... or perhaps Him?
It was as easy as casually parting a curtain, tearing open the prison of limbs!
He didn't even have a trace of magic; he was just an ordinary person who hadn't been touched by anything extraordinary!

Could it be that……

"You...you're an angel?! Oh my god, what am I doing..."

Kurt muttered to himself, looking at the boy who didn't emit a single glimmer of magic, cold sweat instantly soaked his back, and he stammered:
"Please forgive my overstepping my bounds; I had no intention of offending your dignity!"

"It is only because the pollution I have been subjected to stems from my thirst for knowledge of the truth that I dare to ask you such a rude question..."

Well, listen to this sophisticated use of language.

It seems this guy is genuinely scared.

But... an angel?
Seeing Kurt's expression change in an instant, Ron couldn't help but raise an eyebrow:
"Why do you think so?"

If Kurt hadn't been a Sequence Nine "Apprentice" of the [Truth] pathway, he might not have recognized him.

But as a transcendent being in the [Truth] sequence, even though he is only sequence nine, he knows more secrets than other transcendent beings in other sequences that are difficult for ordinary people to know.

Those who possess extraordinary characteristics are destined to be corrupted. The higher the sequence, the heavier the corruption, and the distortions brought about by the extraordinary will make them increasingly unlike ordinary people.

However, at the top of the extraordinary sequence, there are extraordinary individuals who no longer exhibit the characteristics of corruption, like the boy in front of us, who have a simple appearance but are incredibly powerful.

It is said that they have concealed all their extraordinary qualities, completely transcending the limitations of humanity, and are thus called—

【Angel】!
Thinking of this, Kurt trembled like a leaf and hurriedly explained:

"Because only an existence like you, who has concealed all that is extraordinary and has completely transcended the shackles of humanity, deserves to be called an angel!"

So it was because [Illusion Dissolve] eliminated all the magic power...

In his view, this is the kind of extraordinary thing that only an "angel" is worthy of.

We should definitely make good use of that...

Ron seemed to be deep in thought. He clicked on the manual to switch to [Embers of the Age of Gods], and suddenly asked:

"Do I still look like an angel now?"

The next moment, Kurt was astonished to find that a faint magical glow was emanating from the boy's body...

Right now, he's just like an ordinary, extremely weak mortal, completely without any trace of extraordinary ability.

Could it be that... this person is intentionally disguising themselves as an ordinary person?

"Your disguise is flawless!" Realizing this, Kurt quickly flattered, "Now you seem no different from an ordinary person who failed to become a superhuman!"

"Ah, thank you for reminding me. I think I should find a way to repay you."

Ron smiled gently and subtly switched back to [Illusion Dissolved], the faint magical glow on his body instantly disappearing.

He reverted to his previous state, concealing all his extraordinary abilities and appearing devoid of any magical radiance.

"Out of gratitude, within my permission, I may listen to your request—you can think of this as a deal."

Although they say that, phrases like "I can listen to your request" are just manipulative rhetoric.

Ron, of course, didn't know if Kurt had anything he needed to ask of him, nor did he feel he could do anything for him. He only knew one thing—

This only conscious prisoner was his first stepping stone to understanding the world.

Ron is now an "angel" who is absolutely worthy of awe, and his gifts are enough to make Kurt greedy and open his heart to them!

Thinking of this, Ron spoke gently and chuckled softly:
"I think you have some things you need to do and you need my help... right?"

The boy's words were gentle, but to Kurt they sounded particularly condescending and clearly brooked no refusal.

This is not a deal.

This is an order.

Kurt's face stiffened, and he subconsciously reached for the letter hidden in his pocket.

The necessary task... was it finally discovered?

The secret mission that he had been hiding since he was imprisoned, which he had been preparing to complete when the opportunity arose, was so easily exposed.

He closed his eyes, feeling the stinging pain in his ankle, trying to calm himself down. Calm down, Kurt, calm down, this isn't a bad thing.

For a sacrifice locked in a prison, this deal given to you by the adults is your last chance!
You should seize this opportunity!

He took a deep breath, suppressing his heart pounding in his throat, and said in a slightly trembling voice:

"Yes, sir, I do need your help..."

As he spoke, he swallowed hard.

"But... what will be the price?"

"cost?"

I want a lot, but what can a prisoner like you give me?
Ron thought to himself, but glanced at Kurt casually and said, "A cross, huh? Hmm, that's pretty good."

He chuckled softly as he spoke, "After all... this represents your 'faith,' doesn't it?"

cross?
Kurt was somewhat taken aback, never expecting that he would actually receive a reward that an angel cared about...

But seeing the boy's nonchalant attitude, Kurt realized something was wrong.

He understood the boy's implication.

What this gentleman wanted was not this little trinket at all...

Rather, it's the faith it represents!
The only thing He cared about in Himself was His own faith!

Thinking of this, Kurt couldn't help but break out in a cold sweat.

Using faith as a bargaining chip is blasphemy!
Abandoning the church and believing in an unknown angel... is this danger or opportunity?

Kurt couldn't explain it.

However, he knew one thing—

If he doesn't accept the deal with the angel, then he will truly have no chance to escape this cold prison...

As long as he can survive, Kurt will not hesitate to share his faith, no matter who he is!
With that thought in mind, Kurt took a deep breath and made up his mind.

“I am Kurt Mendes, a member of the Society of Truth, and a messenger.”

He dared not look at the boy's face, and said with his head down:

"The Academy has given me a task: to deliver this letter to the Scorched Earth Sanctuary and give it to the nun in the church, Miss Idrila, who is known as the 'Evening Bell Saint'."

"But, before I arrived, she had already been placed under house arrest and imprisoned at the top of the tower..."

I found her trail and was about to deliver this letter when I was severely wounded by a war puppet guarding the tower, a being comparable to a Sequence Eight transcendent. I ultimately fell to the Fire Knight.

War puppet?
Ron astutely grasped the key point in Kurt's words.

A superhuman being comparable to a Sequence Eight transcendent...

If we could kill it, what kind of settings would we get?
Kurt, oblivious to Ron's thoughts, tore off the cross of pages tied around his neck, then pulled a crumpled, bloodstained letter from his pocket and respectfully handed it over:

"So, my request is that you deliver this letter to Idrila and tell her..."

He paused for a moment, then his tone became somewhat solemn:
"Learning is where you can truly accept her."

It seems my performance really did resemble that of an angel.

Ron blinked and calmly accepted the cross and the bloodstained letter.

What a successful performance of acting and deception...

He couldn't help but curl the corners of his mouth into a smile, but when he thought that he was still in front of Kurt, he restrained himself and maintained his calm and composed demeanor.

But the next moment, Ron suddenly felt the magic book in his arms radiate heat again.

Scorching hot? Wait, could it be...?

He seemingly casually opened the magic book, tucked the letter and cross inside, and put it away, but he inadvertently glanced at the words inside—

Sure enough, he saw another line of text on the recipe light up.

It was the very material that Ron couldn't find in Ideal City: a consecrated item!
Could it be this cross?
He did a quick check and found that this was not the case.

The spellbook didn't react to the approach of the cross; instead, the crumpled letter made the potion recipe shine...

To be precise, it wasn't the letter itself, but a piece of sealing wax with a page-like pattern stuck to the envelope that triggered the spellbook's reaction!

Even the sealing wax used to seal this letter is a consecrated item...?

Looking at the crumpled, bloodstained letter in his hand, Ron couldn't help but be a little surprised.

Unexpectedly, his cheap cellmate actually had some big secrets hidden.

He had only intended to extract information about the prison from Kurt and gain a basic understanding of the world, but he never expected to obtain this clearly unusual secret letter...

If Ron was playing a game, wouldn't that be equivalent to receiving a secret side quest?
Unfortunately, there won't be a chance to meet the "Evening Bell Saintess" this time.

The damage to the [Fantasy Dissolve] ability had been gradually decreasing during his conversation with Kurt, and it has now reached 99%.

With only 1% durability remaining, the situation was already precarious. Ron suspected that even the current durability of [Illusion Dissolve] was insufficient for him to open the secret letter, let alone explore the prison and reach the top of the tower to defeat the war puppet.

Now, Ron can only return to Ideal City and wait for the settings to be fixed before trying to explore this era again.

He put the magic book back in his pocket and nodded to Kote:

"I'll tell her."

Then, he turned around and prepared to leave.

At that moment, a distinctly frightened voice came from behind:

“My lord, a small ornament is far from enough to thank you for your kindness; I still have something to offer you—”

The instant Ron pulled out the spellbook, Kurt's spirituality stirred wildly, giving rise to an insatiable desire and greed for it.

This is a desire that transcends the ordinary, stemming from the very path itself!
Books…knowledge…could this be a high-level, transcendent item on the path to [Truth]?!

A storm raged within Kurt's heart. He had considered many things, but he had never imagined that Ron might be an "angel" on the path to "Truth"—

This means that a single glance of pity from the other party might allow him to access areas he never dared to imagine before!

Sequence 8? Sequence 7? Even...

He struggled to suppress his restlessness and desire, looking at Ron with extreme nervousness, a hint of expectation in his eyes:

"May I offer you my humble faith? If so, please bestow upon me your honorable name..."

To witness an angel perform a miracle is already a great honor. If one can also learn His name and offer Him worship and prayers on a daily basis, there is an even greater chance of receiving the angel's blessing.

This event is also recorded in the history of the society.

Kurt also wanted to be one of those lucky ones, to receive the blessing of angels.

But Ron paused in his tracks.

Your honorable name?

Where am I supposed to find someone to write something like this?
He paused for a moment, then spoke slowly in a low voice:
"It's not the right time yet. You... still need to wait."

Having said that, Ron ignored Kurt's terrified reaction to his riddle and immediately clicked on the manual's screen, selecting "Enter World Save".

The current world save files are: The Era of Superpowers and The Era of Potions (already loaded)

[World save file "Superpower Era" selected, joining the world...]

Kurt's terrified expression froze, as if he were a statue standing still in time.

Obviously... after choosing to load another world save file, time in that world will stop, and Ron can return at any time to continue exploring that world.

His vision went dark for a moment, then the soft light of the setting sun shone down, and what lay before him was no longer a cold prison, but a narrow alleyway amidst the steel jungle of Ideal City.

Not far away, the old magician, clad in a long robe and with a sinister and menacing appearance, was hunched over, staring at Ron with eyes as cold as a venomous snake.

The emaciated corpse, with its bluish-purple skin and festering limbs, was shrieking in a hoarse voice, and the cold green light in its throat was gradually fading.

This was the perilous situation that had just occurred: the mysterious old magician used a powerful spell recorded in a forbidden book to summon a corpse, and was only one step away from reducing Ron to ashes—

But now, Ron only felt a deep sense of nostalgia and relief.

After all... compared to the corpses and cages in the prison, the extraordinary creature that the old magician summoned with what forbidden magic and at great personal risk was rather "petite and cute".

Such a great thing, I had to try it out.

Ron smirked, looking at the bewildered old magician, and opened the manual to load the [Ignorant Servant], chuckling as if he were meeting a long-lost friend:
"It's been a long time..."

(End of this chapter)