Fool's Library

"In other words, each master of the Holy Sword can create a completely new 'Royal Power' sequence beyond their original sequence."

"That Princess Hiltina has been able to advance her strength by leaps and bounds in the past two years, reaching a level close to that of an angel... because she now stands simultaneously on the two high-level sequences of 'Chariot' and 'Royal Authority,' giving her a unique advantage over other extraordinary beings, and making her far closer to the Origin than we are."

Hiltina now possesses both the "Chariot" and "Royalty" sequence ranks, which is somewhat similar to my current situation.

Last listened with great interest.

As the owner of the "Library of Fools," he was well aware of the immense benefits that simultaneously traversing multiple sequence levels could bring him.

If one day I could unlock all twenty-two staircases in the Fool's Library, and then completely traverse all nine steps of each staircase—

It's no exaggeration to say that I'm not far from being omniscient and omnipotent like God.

Of course, simply starting a new sequence is not difficult; it's just a matter of flirting with other extraordinary individuals who have different sequences and establishing initial bonds.

But that didn't really make much sense.

However, raising the bond level of each sequence to the maximum value and completing the entire sequence is extremely difficult.

Even now, in the Fool's Library, the only two graduation sequences with a bond level of "MAX" are "The Tower" which symbolizes himself and "Judgment" which symbolizes Amys.

Even the bond levels with Hiltina's "Chariot," Gray's "Fate," and Dean Silver's "Moon" are quite high, but they are still a bit short of reaching the final max level.

"Currently, the Holy Sword wielder, Hiltina, is merely the First Princess, yet the Holy Sword and the 'Royal Power' sequence have already provided her with such a tremendous boost."

"And if she completes the coronation ceremony and truly becomes the Empress of the Empire from her original status as 'Princess' and 'Future Heir,' then the bonuses from both the Holy Sword and the 'Royal Power' sequence will increase dramatically once again."

"After she truly ascends to the throne, it goes without saying that Hiltina will be promoted to an angel, and she is also very likely to become one of the oldest among the angels."

"A dual-sequence angel who is only in his early twenties, has just completed his ascension, wields a holy sword, has abundant lifespan, and possesses infinite possibilities."

"At that time, the future of the entire world, the trajectory and direction of human history will be completely out of our control."

As the leader of the tomb guardians spoke solemnly, the participants at the bronze table began to discuss amongst themselves.

There was no other way; as leaders of their respective cults, the past two years had indeed been extremely difficult for them.

Under the increasingly oppressive pressure of the empire, they could only hide from each other day and night, with no peace at all... Countless strongholds were destroyed, and countless loyal believers were imprisoned for labor reform.

If Hiltina were to ascend the throne and go even further, given her assertive personality, it's unimaginable what might happen next.

"Therefore, this hunting plan will be carried out during Hiltina's coronation ceremony."

"As the wielder of the Holy Sword, her whereabouts are unpredictable, and she can even use the Holy Sword to disappear into the river of history when necessary, making her extremely difficult to capture."

"But on that one day, Hiltina had to complete her coronation under the watchful eyes of millions of the empire's citizens. She had nowhere to escape and nowhere to avoid it."

"However, neither Hiltina nor Aaron are ignorant, and the Empire cannot possibly fail to take precautions against this..."

"That day will surely be a fierce battle."

"We, the guardians of the tomb, have an irreconcilable feud with the shorekeeper whom Hiltina publicly protects, so we will naturally fight with all our might. However, we have been asleep in the river of history for a long time and have only gradually recovered in the last two years. Many of our strong members have not yet returned to their peak condition."

Therefore, we also need your assistance—

The leader of the tomb guardians glanced around before his gaze settled on the representatives of the cults attending the meeting.

“We need you to hold a ceremony in the capital on that day to allow the deities you each worship to be born.”

"To participate in the war as if descending from the heavens, and to join the hunt for the Holy Sword Wielder, Hiltina."

This is the real reason why the gravediggers would invite these cultists to their secret gatherings—in order to incite the evil god they represent to descend.

Otherwise, these cultists, who don't even have a single legend, would be no different from ants that the tomb guardians could crush at will, so how could they possibly discuss plans with them?

Cultists themselves lack the ability to communicate on equal footing with the tomb guardians, but the evil gods hidden behind the cultists on the Throne of the Blazing Sky are qualified to stand on equal footing with the tomb guardians.

"To hold a birth ceremony in the capital, to bring down the incarnation of the Lord, to kill the Holy Sword Wielder Hiltina, and to spread the Lord's glory... This is indeed our idea, and the will bestowed by the Lord's divine decree."

A cult leader slowly spoke.

"However, regarding the specific order of this divine descent..."

"Our sect will never be the first to be targeted."

This clandestine gathering, led by the gravediggers, had been going on for a long time before Ophelia and Rusty joined in.

However, this problem had been troubling them for a long time and was the culprit that prevented the meeting from proceeding.

It is indeed the long-cherished wish of cultists to have their respective evil gods descend upon the world.

However, the Empire was not stupid and could not possibly be unaware that the reason those cultists had recently quieted down was because they wanted to make a big splash at the coronation ceremony.

At that time, security and alert levels in all aspects will definitely be raised to the highest level.

The sect that takes the lead and causes chaos first will inevitably be suppressed with thunder...

Although other sects could take advantage of the chaos in the capital, the first one to stick his neck out will probably die without even knowing how.

In addition, to bring down the gods of the Sky-Clad Throne, the power of ritual is needed to break the barrier between the Sky-Clad Throne and the mortal world, creating a passage connecting the two realms.

For those evil gods whose power had already waned after the decline of the Age of Gods and who were barely clinging to life on the Throne of the Blazing Sky, such a drain was far too great, and they were completely unwilling to bear it.

However, if we can wait until other deities have made their way through the passage first, and the barrier between the Blazing Sky and the world wall of the mortal realm has loosened before we descend as gods, the energy consumption will be much less.

Therefore, despite having the same intentions, none of these cult leaders wanted to be the one destined to be shot.

However, at that moment, the expression on the face of the Iron Cross Patriarch on the bronze table changed slightly.

Immediately afterwards, he stood up abruptly.

"Follow the will of the Lord."

“Let our Iron Cross sect perform the first divine descent in the capital during the coronation ceremony.”

Chapter 263 Traitor: You're here to cause trouble, aren't you?

Upon hearing this, gazes from all around the bronze table turned toward the Patriarch of the Iron Cross, filled with a hint of surprise.

After all, everyone understands the saying "the nail that sticks out gets hammered down."

Although the various religious orders and secret forces are temporarily united because of Hiltina, it is clear to everyone that this is only a temporary alliance formed for common interests and is destined to be short-lived.

Even if the plan to hunt down Hiltina during the coronation ceremony succeeds and the Granville Empire falls apart, then... while harvesting faith and seizing believers within the chaotic empire, these sects will also become rivals to each other.

In this situation, how could there be any hotheads who would willingly step forward and sacrifice themselves to benefit others?

The Patriarch of the Iron Cross could only pretend not to see the puzzled looks, or even the looks of disbelief, directed at him.

He was naturally prepared to play it safe and not be reckless... but his master suddenly issued a divine decree, specifically requesting the first divine intervention, leaving him no choice but to speak up.

"Very good, it seems that the Lord of Twilight has also realized how terrifying that newly born Holy Sword Wielder is."

"Even at a great cost, we must kill her before she grows up."

The angel from the tomb guardian's side spoke slowly.

Lord of Twilight, that is the name of the evil god of Deep Blue Harbor.

Although the connection between the Crimson Throne and the present world has been almost severed, as a secret organization passed down from the Age of Gods, the Guardians naturally know the details of the Deep Blue Harbor Evil God.

In the earliest age of gods, the true form of the Deep Blue Harbor Evil God was a Devouring Serpent, a creature with the ability to devour sub-dimensions.

Due to its racial characteristics, its power is greatly enhanced during the brief intervals between night and day, hence the name "Serpent of Dawn and Dusk".

The reason why the descent of that evil god always occurred at 6:30 pm in every time loop when Rast was trapped in Deep Blue Harbor was for the same reason.

"However, our sect's stronghold in the capital has been completely eradicated, and there are no remaining informants left."

"During the enthronement ceremony, the capital city will inevitably be under martial law. It would be extremely difficult to allow a large number of believers to enter and then hold the birth ceremony of the Lord..."

The Iron Cross Patriarch had barely finished speaking.

"I can handle the issue of martial law in the capital."

"However, the specific birth ceremony and the token containing the power of faith need to be carried out by me."

A hoarse, aged voice spoke from the bronze table.

"in addition--"

The owner of that aged voice looked toward the head of the bronze table.

"After this incident, I will have no place to stand in the Order faction of the Empire and even the entire Western Continent."

"When the time comes, don't forget what you promised..."

"of course."

The angel from the gravedigger's side seemed to have been in private contact with the other party before, and answered exceptionally readily at this moment.

"This is your final test before joining the Tomb Keepers."

"Once it is done, you will be one of us tomb guardians, and you will be qualified to have your soul imprinted on the Eternal Night Stele."

"At that time, even if one's lifespan is exhausted, even if one dies and one's soul is extinguished... as long as a trace of the mark remains on the stone tablet, one can return from the long river of history."

"That will be a gift called 'eternity,' a chasm between us and those short-lived, lowly lives."

The words of the gravedigger angel carried a hint of sneer.

"Whether they are the guardians of the shore or those powerful figures who rose to prominence in various eras but refused to compromise for some illusory dreams... in the face of eternity, they are all nothing more than the struggle of ants, both pathetic and laughable."

"For thousands of years, and even into the next era... everything will return to dust, and the past will be buried in the dust of history."

"In the next era, no one will remember their past struggles, or their heroic deeds of throwing themselves into the flame."

"But we, the guardians of the tombs, still reign supreme over the river of time, watching civilizations rise and fall, dynasties flourish and decline."

"Although we recently lost a companion who was about to ascend to angelhood... you should also know that, as a price, the 'Library of Fools' was destroyed—"

"The shore guards have truly become history and no longer exist."

The gravedigger angel paused slightly in his speech.

"And the Granville Empire, and that newly born Holy Swordswoman, Hiltina..."

"Since she refuses our good intentions, then destruction is the only thing that awaits her."

"Just like the countless strong people in past eras who tried to defy the laws of nature and fate, only to be ruthlessly crushed by the wheels of history."

Upon hearing this, the aged voice fell silent for a moment.

“I understand these principles, of course.”

"Otherwise, I wouldn't be here, wanting to join the gravediggers."

He turned his attention back to the Patriarch of the Iron Cross:

"After this gathering, the specific ritual requirements, materials, and tokens for the divine descent will be conveyed to me through the tomb keeper's channels."

……

The various discussions continued for a long time before finally subsiding on the long bronze table.

Meanwhile, Rust inhabited a wisp of his spirit within the sculpture of the evil god of Deep Blue Harbor, eavesdropping on every single word without missing a single detail.

Only after this secret gathering led by the tomb keeper ended did Rast withdraw his main consciousness from the faint connection between the night world and the present world, leaving only a wisp of spiritual energy remaining in the evil god sculpture, acting as a listening device.

He walked out of the bathroom and sat down on the sofa in his living room in the newly established Canaan town.

Then, he skillfully took out tea leaves from the cabinet and expertly brewed himself a cup of tea.

"It seems there's still a traitor within the Granville Empire."

Last recalled the aged voice that spoke last at the end of that meeting.

"Being able to ignore the martial law in the capital and the royal family, and even orchestrate the process of a ritual for the birth of an evil god... even within the empire, his status must be quite high; he must be a very high-ranking traitor."

"Moreover, the other party seems to have passed the test of the Tomb Keepers and is preparing to betray the Empire and officially join the Tomb Keepers organization after the deed is done."

Last recalled the echoes of the Sixth Age long ago, when he was also playing the double agent, and the information that the legendary Noah of Abundance had described when he invited him.

"To be able to become a formal member of the Tomb Keeper organization directly and leave one's soul imprint on the Eternal Night Stone... in terms of rank alone, one must at least be a true legendary powerhouse."

"Only those who truly forge their own legendary path are worthy of being looked at differently by the tomb guardians, and may even receive an invitation from them."

"Although legendary powerhouses have extremely long lifespans, given the Granville Empire's resources, it's not surprising that there are still legendary figures from decades or even centuries ago still alive... But a traitor of legendary rank must hold a high position and great power within the empire."

"If this matter is not handled properly, it could cause considerable turmoil."

"Of course, I don't really need to worry about this."

Last raised his ceramic cup, took a small sip of tea, and savored the taste of the brewed tea leaves on his tongue, which had a slightly bitter flavor.

Although he was engaged to Hiltina, the wedding two years ago could not be completed, and they were not officially married. Strictly speaking, Rust is still a student of Star University, not a member of the Granville Empire.