TN: Add it to your library so we can get into the Collection Rankings.
-------------x----------------
"The Death God not only didn't die but took the Red Priest Uniqueness from Tudor, possibly including one or two Conqueror Characteristics. Using the River of Eternal Darkness, the Death God contained the Red Priest Uniqueness and tried to forcibly become the Fourth Pillar."
"Then the Death God, together with the Primordial Demoness, instigated the Pale Disaster..." Lynn's expression grew increasingly complicated. "And now, the Tudor are openly sending an embassy to the Balam Empire."
"Could it be that the Death God is eyeing the Red Priest Uniqueness from now? Maybe outwardly cooperating with the Tudor to deal with the Primordial Witch while secretly planning to team up with the Primordial Demoness against the Tudor?" Lynn mused. "Scary, that's classic double-dealing."
Lynn had just taken a deep breath when he shook his head, rejecting the thought,
"No, no one would aim for half-madness right from the start. Perhaps the Death God truly intended to cooperate with the Tudor at first, to deal with the Primordial Demoness. But then, seeing the situation turning unfavorable, joined forces with the Primordial Demoness after being persuaded..."
"And then, at the crucial moment, the Death God backstabbed their ally. Otherwise, how did they obtain the Red Priest Uniqueness? The Death God isn't on the Witch Pathway, which has a natural attraction to the Hunter Pathway..."
Although it was just a wild guess, Lynn felt that this theory was quite reasonable.
"But it doesn't have much to do with me. If the Tudor gets unlucky, so be it..." Lynn smiled maliciously, then remembered another matter. "Rather than the intrigues between the Four Emperors, I should be more concerned about where the God of Craftsman is now."
"A partially digested Sequence 1 Angel suddenly advancing to Sequence 0? That's not just luck. There must have been allies assisting the God of Craftsman." Lynn squinted, holding his chin with one hand as he pondered:
"Considering the situation in the Fifth Epoch, those likely to have a good relationship with the God of Craftsman are mainly the Evernight Goddess, the Lord of Storms, and the Eternal Blazing Sun. The God of Steam managed to perfectly hide their identity until their position was solidified..."
"Concealment?"
Lynn thought of Lilith, whose identity was perfectly concealed by the Evernight Goddess, and became more speculative. "However, at the end of the Fifth Epoch, the God of Craftsman's actions clearly backstabbed the Evernight Goddess, yet they didn't fall out..."
"Perhaps the God of Craftsman could ascend thanks to the Evernight Goddess' help, but aside from the Evernight Goddess, the Eternal Blazing Sun's involvement cannot be ruled out. It might even have been multiple Sequence 0s pushing the God of Craftsman's advancement, as they all needed allies."
"Well, in a way, that's also a form of luck. It's a pity the God of Craftsman isn't on the Wheel of Fortune Pathway..." Lynn muttered inwardly, forming a plan.
After this trip to the Balam Empire, he might quietly seek an audience with the Evernight Goddess.
If she only wanted a Sequence 0 ally, he could fulfill that role!
Moreover, if he could truly secure the Evernight Goddess' support, her concealment Authority would make many things much easier for him.
"What are you thinking about?"
As Lynn pondered over the kind of offer that might persuade the Evernight Goddess, a voice suddenly spoke behind him. Lynn's brow twitched as he turned to face a bothersome figure with monocle, smiling as he replied, "What I'm thinking shouldn't concern Mr. Amon, right? Or perhaps..."
"Would Mr. Amon like to try stealing my thoughts to see for himself?"
Though his tone sounded provocative, it also seemed a bit insincere, as if he was bluffing.
Of course, this was part of his act. Lynn wanted to lead Amon into stealing his thoughts, knowing that if Amon dared to do so, he would encounter the illusory image of his True Self.
Even though he had no clear memory regarding this, Lynn was certain that even a mere dream image of his true form would be something beyond Amon's capacity to handle without severe consequences. As an estranged tiny glowing ball, he could look at it freely.
But for Amon, an outsider looking directly without any filter would likely experience brain-bursting agony, losing a batch of Time Worms, akin to the amplified version of Klein's Spirit Body Threads being snapped in the original story.
Of course, if Amon saw through his acting, it wouldn't matter. Lynn was just testing, knowing that Amon, with his childlike curiosity, might still try it despite suspecting a trick.
Kids just can't resist temptation.
"I wouldn't do something so rude." Amon adjusted his monocle with a smile.
"I was just joking, Mr. Amon." Lynn spoke, his expression showing a barely perceptible relief. He then looked around for Bethel's whereabouts. Spotting something, his eyes brightened. "If Mr. Amon has nothing else, I need to find Mr. Bethel. Goodbye."
"Goodbye." Amon smiled.
Lynn then walked towards Bethel's location. As he passed Amon, he glanced back.
Amon's previously smiling face had frozen, and in the next moment, he collapsed, screaming in agony. His form struggled to maintain a human shape, revealing hints of his mythological creature state.
It was hard to say what exactly Amon had seen in that split second—True self or something else—but the excruciating pain indicated he had witnessed something unspeakable.
Amidst his extreme pain, Amon vaguely heard Lynn's amused voice.
"So, Mr. Amon, don't do such rude things next time. It's dangerous!"
...
When Bethel Abraham rushed over, what he saw made his scalp tingle, Amon lay on the ground, showing his mythological form composed of Worm of Time, evidently in great pain, with many exploded or dead Worm of Time scattered around.
Meanwhile, Lynn was humming a tune Bethel didn't recognize, crouching beside Amon, busy with something in his hands.
"What... happened?" Bethel Abraham asked with difficulty, knowing this journey wouldn't be peaceful but not expecting such a beginning.
"In short, Amon courted death and ended up like this. Don't worry, he won't die. He'll be fine soon, just lost some Worms of Time."
Lynn explained briefly, omitting specific details, and solemnly placed the crafted item beside Amon.
It was a wreath he had specially made for Amon.
TN: Alternative Title: Amon Courted Death and Death Courted Back.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
(Chapter End)