Mystery: The Undead Don't Die from Linking the Fire

Chapter 213 Son of the Emperor

The world of paintings in the Steam Church.

Just like the other cities Ember had encountered before, this city, which contained the core of the entire world, was also entirely forged from steel. Ember and Karula walked side by side through the city streets, relying on their connection to the flame to advance towards the core area.

Ember's gaze swept over the surrounding buildings, and he frowned slightly as he said:

"This world is quite well-developed and has a population of millions. The Steam Church clearly intends to operate in this world long-term, but why is it so desolate?"

Although the city's infrastructure was quite sophisticated, even surpassing the capitals of various countries in the Northern Continent in some aspects, all they saw outside the city was a desolate wasteland, as if beyond the steel city lay nothing but barren land.

This alone is clearly insufficient to support the survival of millions of people in the world of painting; even the most basic food and water cannot be guaranteed. This obviously contradicts the Steam Church's long-term operating philosophy, yet it is a real phenomenon, making it hard not to be puzzled.

It's important to know that even the painted world owned by the Aurora Club, although most of its surface is covered by fleshy fungus, still has a habitable area above the mountainside, enough to support tens of thousands of people.

In response to Ember's question, Carla explained softly:

"The Steam Church possesses the extraordinary pathway of Sequence 0, which is the 'Perfect One,' and the Sequence 4 pathway of the 'Perfect One' is the 'Alchemist,' who has the extraordinary ability of life transmutation, which allows them to infuse the objects they create with souls and give them a certain degree of life."

"The only problem is that the ritual required to become an alchemist requires extracting all the life force from a certain area. The soil will turn to sand, the lakes will dry up... Although the areas where life force has been extracted can recover, it takes a very long time, which inevitably leads to the desolation of this world."

"Of course, in this situation, one could ask the demigods or angels of the Church of the Earth Mother to intervene and infuse the land with life. However, the relationship between the Steam Church and the Church of the Earth Mother is not so harmonious. The Church of the Earth Mother will not easily lend a hand, and the Steam Church will not easily allow the angels or demigods of the Church of the Earth Mother to enter the world of painting."

"Moreover, the people of the Steam Church don't really care whether the world is desolate or not."

Although Yu Jin was somewhat surprised, the answer seemed quite reasonable:

The Steam Church worships steam and machinery; as for "green and environmentally friendly" things, that's not something they should be concerned with. What does it matter if the world of paintings is a little desolate? It doesn't affect their praise of the god of steam and machinery anyway.

However, Carula seems to know quite a bit about the Steam Church and the world of paintings they possess...

Ember asked softly:

"Kalura, which route did you take?"

Karula's lips curled up slightly:

"If we only consider the extraordinary path, I am merely a Saint of Sequence 3 of the 'Spectator' path."

However, she is also a forbidden Dark Child, and in terms of true strength, even a Sequence 1 angel is helpless against her. In fact, she could have been promoted to a Sequence 2 angel long ago, as she possesses the extraordinary characteristic of "Insight," but for certain reasons, she has had to keep it hidden.

only……

The Dark Children are born from fragments of humanity of Manus, the Father of the Abyss, making Manus essentially their 'mother'.

Yu Jin's expression suddenly became somewhat subtle. Although most of his memories were missing, his memories of certain people were quite clear, as if he had been deliberately split in two.

For example, he clearly remembers that he personally shattered Manus. This also means that he indirectly created the Dark Child. If Manus is the 'mother' of the Dark Child, then wouldn't he be...?

Carula seemed to have read his mind and said with a smile:

"My mother is the true Dark Child born from the fragments; I am only half a Dark Child. Manus is my mother's 'mother,' and can also be considered my 'grandmother.' So…"

"We've arrived."

Before she could speak, Yu Jin suddenly stopped and stared calmly ahead.

"Tsk~"

Karula clicked her tongue in disappointment and followed Ember's gaze to look ahead, where there was a church.

The church is not very large, about 20 meters long and wide, and its exterior is painted with red and gold metal, making it look quite "magnificent".

The church has a standard symmetrical structure, with a tower on each of its left and right sides, and a tower in the very center that is more than twice as tall as the towers on the left and right sides.

However, the tops of these towers are not 'spires', but rather circular turrets shaped like pot lids, with several thick cannon barrels that can rotate!

This church was armed to the teeth, which looked rather strange. But considering that it was a steam-powered church with cannons, everything seemed perfectly normal.

The location of the embers that Yu Jin sensed was beneath this church.

But before they could take a step forward, the church in front of them suddenly 'stood up'!

With the grinding and roar of gears and machinery, the church, originally situated on the ground, rose higher and higher. The sunlight was blocked, casting vast shadows. What appeared before them was no longer just a church, but a colossal humanoid titan nearly sixty meters tall!

What Ember and his companions initially perceived as a "church" was actually just the "hat" of this colossal Titan; its "head" lay beneath the church. What was that church at all? It was clearly a fortified fortress with a sturdy castle-like structure!

Its numerous towers, stained glass windows, and church decorations all showcase the Titan's magnificence and majesty, giving one a direct and immediate sense that this is an absolutely terrifying war machine!

Even its "hands" are two thick weapons; the right arm is a Gatling gun composed of eleven barrels. Although the left arm only has one barrel, its large caliber leaves no doubt about its power. On its back, there are two vertical pipes pointing to the sky, spewing white mist—that is its "power unit."

Such a terrifying war machine is almost invincible when dealing with extraordinary beings below the Saint level!

Even saints of Sequence 4 and above could be seriously injured if they were accidentally hit by its cannons filled with spiritual energy.

"Zzzzzzzzz—"

With a piercing crackle of electricity, the Titan stared at the two figures below, its mouth agape without a trace of emotion:

"I am Ymir, the Fist of the Empire, and I am ordered to guard the Terra Palace."

"Heretics, what brings you here?"

Ember's expression grew increasingly subtle:

"Emperor? Terra?"

Karula explained softly:

"That's Roselle's title. He proclaimed himself emperor and renamed the world of painting Holy Terra. Every city in Holy Terra was forged by saints and angels of the Steam Church, and Roselle called the city he forged the Terra Palace. As for this one, it should be a product of Roselle's life-forging during his saintly period."

Ember nodded slightly, but inexplicably thought of Roselle's death—

In his later years, Rosell was betrayed and abandoned by everyone, even his family. In the end, Rosell was betrayed in his own palace and assassinated.

To be fair, Rosell's self-proclaimed emperorship was a fitting outcome, at least the ending is quite historically accurate.

Yu Jin snapped out of his thoughts, took a badge from his pocket, and calmly said:

"I'm going to the heart of this world, make way."

From the moment Titan appeared, Ember understood—

The core is not the cathedral on the Titan, but the "deep pit" from which the Titan crawled out of the ground.

The colossal Titan, who called himself the Fist of the Empire, lowered his head and stared at the triangular holy symbol in Ember's hand, remaining silent for a long time before slowly speaking:

"As you wish."

boom!boom!

With heavy steps, Titan slowly walked to the side and made way for him.

This also brought the giant crater into the Embers' field of vision.

With the help of the sunlight streaming in from the sky, Ember could see the entirety of the giant crater—

It's just an ordinary pit, nothing special except that it's surrounded by steel on all sides.

It seemed as if it really was just a place prepared for the Titans to live.

The core that Ember is looking for lies deeper within.

boom!boom!

Just then, a loud, heavy knocking sound came from beside my ear.

Ember looked up in confusion and saw the Titan who had just left, extending its thick cannon barrel to frantically pound on a tall spire.

"What is it doing?" Yu Jin asked, somewhat surprised.

Carla hesitated for a moment, her expression uncertain, and she said with a hint of doubt:

"To appease the machine's spirit?"

click!

The words had barely left his lips when a sound suddenly reached his ears—the strained grinding of rusty gears that hadn't been used for years. Then, the grinding intensified, and white steam billowed from the city's chimneys. The whirring of turbines and the roar of steam engines filled the air, and even the earth began to tremble.

At the same time, piercing alarms blared throughout the city!

Amidst the violent shaking and tremors of the earth, the 'city' slowly rose to its feet.

Karula looked slightly surprised when she saw this, but quickly understood what it meant.

She remained in human form, but a pair of pure black, skin-covered wings grew from her back, and some black scales appeared on her body.

She gently embraced Yu Jin from behind and carried him into the sky.

From above, they saw the city's original appearance clearly from mid-air—

The entire city seemed to come alive, transforming into a giant steel tortoise, slowly moving into the distance while spewing steam.

On the turtle's back, the giant Titan stands at the highest point, directing the 'giant turtle's' advance.

The colossal Titan, standing a full sixty meters tall, was inconspicuous on the back of this "giant tortoise," appearing instead as insignificant as an ant.

Even without Karula's explanation, Ember could understand the current situation.

Just like that giant Titan, this city was also transmuted by Emperor Roselle, and it is a unique life form in itself!

Ember asked thoughtfully:

"Is this the case in all cities?"

Karula gently shook her head:

"This is not something an ordinary saint could accomplish; only angels can perform life transmutation on this scale. The vast majority of cities in the painted world are ordinary, immovable cities, and only a very few possess 'life' like this 'Terra Palace'."

As Yu Jin silently watched the city slowly moving below, he suddenly felt a sense of amusement.

The Steam Church worships the god of steam and machinery, yet under Roselle's "modification," it has been completely transformed into his form, and Roselle's original shadow can be seen almost everywhere in the Steam Church.

Rosell had already transformed the Steam Church into his own form, perhaps even harboring the idea that he could replace it. But unfortunately, given the existence of a Sequence 0 true god in this sequence, Rosell could only reach Sequence 2 at most.

Sequence 2 might be able to put up a fight against Sequence 1, but it is completely powerless against Sequence 0.

Finally, the city slowly moved away from its original location, revealing the barren land below amidst the swirling dust.

On that desolate land, however, stands a magnificent church with spires and bell towers.

Karula returned to the ground with the embers, and the wings on her back disappeared as well, along with the scales that had covered her body.

Karula blinked:

"I don't think I'll need to lead the way anymore, right? You should know this place better than I do."

Yu Jin nodded silently and slowly walked towards the church.

click!

Amidst the scraping and grinding sounds of the doors against the ground, the two heavy doors were slowly pushed open, leaving only a gap large enough for one person to pass through.

Carla, who was following behind, rolled her eyes. Why is it always like this? Would it kill you to open the door wider?

Unaware of what Carla was thinking, Ember slowly walked into the church.

The interior of the church is not large, in fact, it is quite small; you can see the whole thing at a glance.

Inside the church, there are several two-meter-tall candlesticks, and in the very center of the inner side of the church, there is a statue of a headless woman embracing a little girl, which makes people curious about their identities.

To the left of the statue, behind the wall, there is a straight ladder that runs vertically upwards.

Seeing this scene, Yu Jin already knew what he had to do:

He needs to take a detour to the basement to activate the mechanism, and then use a shortcut back to the church to enter the hidden passage beneath the statue.

A hint of reminiscence flashed in Yu Jin's eyes. He then slowly walked to the statue, causing swirling ripples to spread across its surface before he submerged himself within them.

If it can pass through walls, only a fool would take the long way to activate the mechanism.

Following the downward staircase, Ember arrived at a spacious, hidden chamber, which appeared to be a chapel.

But there were neither nuns nor priests inside.

Only the flickering fireplace was placed quietly at the far end of the chapel.

That place is the core of the entire world, and also the key to its destruction!

(End of this chapter)