Chương 222: Chapter Two-Hundred-and-Twenty-Two

< < Player Leaderboard > > < Twilight (MVP) — 44850 Points > < Natalia Hidalgo — 39950 Points > < Seo-Yoon Hwan — 39450 Points > < Chien-hung Li — Deceased > < Diwa Magnaye — Deceased > < Heiner Krause — Deceased > Adam looked at the black and gold MVP chest near the altar at the centre of Interim Island. He didn't feel like the MVP. That honour should've gone to Chien, since he was directly responsible for most of the forlorn knight kills. Adam let out a deep sigh. His death was pointless.

He should've fled with us. In the end, he can't have bought us more than a few seconds. I'm glad that Seo-Yoon survived at least. He looked to the Godstone that floated above the altar. It glowed with splendid energy, but the last thing he wanted to do was touch the altar and send himself to the Flayed Lady's domain. She was bound to be very angry with him. [As per your prior instruction, I have obtained this item from your Player House.] Adam looked over at the cube. I forgot about that.

A golden beam struck his left hand, which was once again back to normal, since his raiment was gone. When Adam uncurled his fingers, a folded piece of fabric greeted him. His own crude handwriting on the top, written in soot, warned him not to open it until after stage nine. Adam unfurled his letter to himself. His memory of writing it was entirely missing from his mind, but the moment he read what was written within, it was like lightning struck him, reminding him of what had been lost.

He allowed himself a victorious grin. Before he did as the note advised, he unequipped the crown that the Flayed Lady had gifted him after Moonport. He looked to the sigil on his left arm, below the intertwined sigils of the Red King Class. < < Unique Relic Obtained > > < Sigil of the Prince's Gambit (Common) — Drains 50% of Adam's Mana to double his manipulation capacity with Red Prince invocations >"Can I unequip this sigil tattoo?" he asked the cube.

[Sigils imprinted on the skin cannot be removed without the permission of the creator.]"What about my Red King weapon? Can I unequip it?" [Blood Mage and Bone Mage sigils, as well as the Red King Fused Class, cannot be unequipped, due to the nature of their power, without the permission of the creator.] Adam suddenly realised why those who picked Blood Mage at the start of the Trials often seemed to die out. He had assumed the blood sigils could be unequipped whenever.

"And the Mandate of Blood?" [It is not possible to unequip the Mandate of Blood, since it has been fused with your Red King sigils, without the permission of the creator.] Adam frowned. This might kill me, seeing as I've got the Flayed Lady's power tied to both of my arms. He steeled himself. Even if it killed him, this was important. He wanted to defy her, to betray her.

Adam filled his body with mana, wrapping his magical control around his insides, shielding his heart and organs from the Flayed Lady's gift in his core, while cutting off the connection to his hands. This is going to suck. Adam swallowed hard and then said, "I wish to utilise the power of the Godstone to relinquish my worship in favour of another Absolute." [Understood.] With a loud crack, the orb, the one he had placed there at the end of the Forbidden Altar, rolled off the plinth and hit the ground, producing unnatural ripples in the stone below Adam's feet. Above, the Godstone rose into the air, releasing its bright sun-golden glow to fulfil his request, before evaporating into particles of sunlight. The surroundings plunged into darkness, and the centre of Interim Island became all that there was to Adam's sight. Then other plinths appeared in a ring around it.

Only one of them was lit up with potential energy, and the plinth the orb had fallen from, the one belonging to the Flayed Lady, had a big crack down it, making it impossible for Adam to put the stone back, even if he changed his mind. He looked at the lit-up plinth.

< < The Tome Keeper > > < Lord of Knowledge and Curiosity > < Primogenitor of Greed > < Boon: Erudition Barter > Unlike when he had to place the orb after the Altar stage, Adam wasn't cut off from his System-granted powers this time, which was fortunate, since he was sure he would otherwise have been completely defenceless against the Flayed Lady's scorn. Not that I think my odds are that great, since my only plan is to use her own powers to defend myself against her.

Adam kept a tight grip on his body with his magic as he picked up the orb and walked over to the Tome Keeper's plinth. It was easy to carry this time. Part of him had worried this wouldn't work, but it was surprising how willingly the System had allowed him to do this, though it clearly came at the cost of the Godstone. The All-Seeing System likely assumed that most Absolutes would be uninterested in someone that willingly broke their worship, unless, as in the case of the Tome Keeper, they had made a deal.

Adam had his doubts about that, since many of the Absolutes sought power and would have rivalries with other Absolutes, rivalries in which players were like pawns on a board. Taking such a pawn was a display of dominance, but since the Tome Keeper had claimed Adam this time, the others kept their distance, indicated by their unlit plinths. The moment Adam placed the orb on top of the plinth, he readied himself, tightening the magical grip on his body, especially around his organs.

He was suddenly back in the centre of Interim Island, and the central altar was still there, but its energy felt different now. Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit. < < New Worship Chosen > > < The Tome Keeper > A tome appeared in the air between Adam and the altar. It was made of floating mercury or silver and hung impossibly in the air while ripples floated across it. Then Adam felt rage seething inside him. Inside the core that the Flayed Lady had planted.

[You have been afflicted with the Flayed Lady's Scorn. All beneficial effects of her Worship are forcibly removed.] It happened in an instant. The core, the Flayed Lady's gift, shot itself out from within Adam. It burst out through his mouth, his nostrils, out through his head via the ear canals and tear ducts, and even out through the pores in his skin. It pulled and pulled on Adam's own blood and flesh to follow, but he kept his grip tight.

He realised he could put up a fight, because none of his sigils had fallen under her control, and it was only the Flayed Lady's gift that fought back, not her true form, allowing him to deny her, because of his upgrades and experience with the power of blood, flesh, and bone. He was stronger than the failsafe she'd planted within him.

The gift was not so easily denied however, because as it flew away from him like an expelled parasite, it took on the visage of the flayed woman that Diwa had transformed into, except with a body formed entirely of blood. As the last of her was expelled from within him, he prepared to fight. But that was when the needles in his skin and bones made themselves known. Adam gasped, his control faltering as dark spots formed in his vision.

The pain had returned, because as twisted and wicked as the Flayed Lady had been, her gift had ensured he felt none of the damage he inflicted upon himself. Damage that never went away, no matter how much his body healed. It was a phantom pain, except the pain was total, like a ghost of who he had been was possessing his body, screaming at him for all the things he'd done to his own body, all the ways he'd killed himself or died to his own stupidity.

Adam started to collapse as the flayed woman surged forward, seeking to make good on the Flayed Lady's promise that she would not be denied. That she could not be betrayed. At least I gave it a try, Adam thought in the briefest of moments before her clawed hand struck. Adam's knees hit the stone ground, and the moment stretched, the killing strike never landing. He looked up to see the personified gift of the Flayed Lady locked within a cube made of six barrier panels, each a distinct colour.

Red, green, blue, yellow, white, black. The tome of liquid metal glowed with the same six colours, surrounding it like a rainbow aura." Well done, Adam," the Tome Keeper's voice said from within. Adam did his best to not pass out, but the needles were constant, every tiny movement of his heart sending ripples of agonising pain through him." I am aware of your condition, but you must be the one to lay your hand on the altar. I am not allowed to aid you in this."

Adam knew crawling would be impossible, so instead he focused his magical control on his body. I just need to… touch the altar. His mana was already wrapped around his entire body, and after equipping the crown the Flayed Lady had given him, and which she was, apparently, unable to take away again, he prepared himself. With a single pull, Adam dragged on his blood, his flesh, and his bones, all to move himself the four metres from where he'd collapsed and over to the altar.

He passed out from the first instant of pain before he knew if he'd succeeded. < < Now Entering > > < The Fleshcrafter's Abode > Adam's eyes opened to find himself atop a surgery slab in one of the Tome Keeper's disturbing laboratoriums. The distant ceiling he looked up at was like a glimpse into outer space, red entities bursting against the protective membrane that sheltered this part of the Tome Keeper's domain from the Void.

The liquid porcelain boy stood above him on one side and his masked servant on the other.

"That should do it," the Absolute said, satisfied.

"The pain is gone," Adam muttered in relief and confusion." Not gone," the brute said.

"Now, now, Heskel. It was no easy thing, so be kind. The result is effectively the same."" Not the same," he insisted.

"What are you talking about?" Adam asked.

"The Flayed Lady's power is like a deep-seated root. Those sigils on your hands, well, they've wormed their way all through your body and spirit. Sigils have quite a lot of fascinating uses and powers, after all." Heskel sighed." No more sigil magic or pain return," he said, cutting to the chase before the Absolute could get there.

"The context is important, Heskel," the Tome Keeper remarked, though there was no irritation or annoyance in his tone. He simply spoke as though everything was a matter of fact.

"You mean I can't use my sigil weapons or the pain comes back?" Adam asked.

"Well," the Tome Keeper started, clearly about to go on a long explanation." Yes," Heskel said, immediately cutting him off.

"Heskel, please," the Tome Keeper remarked." Talk too much. Too much work to do, no time for talk with mortal." The Tome Keeper laughed, then he looked back down at Adam.

"He is not exactly wrong. As we speak, the Flayed Lady is launching a rather aggressive revenge attack on my domain. For someone as cunning as her, she sure does love to just charge right at the front door, does she not? Anyway, as my dear friend has reminded me, time is of the essence, so I will make myself brief." He waved a porcelain hand over Adam's body, and the slab he was on transformed itself into an upright seat, folding Adam along with it.

He clenched his teeth in anticipation of the pain, but it never came.

"Since you so valiantly sacrificed your own body and mind on my behalf, it was only fitting I made good on my promise to you, Adam," the Absolute said. Then he touched a hand to something sprouting from Adam's heart. The obsidian shard that reflected unseen galaxies.

"I made a tiny alteration to your ' loop shard', as its creator has taken to calling it. If you ask me, he is terrible with names."

"The Realm Traveller?" Adam asked.

"Indeed, although in the Trials of Defiance he goes by a different name. Chaotic Convergence. Quite fitting, I should think." Adam gave him a confused look.

"You will understand when you meet him. Or it. Or them. It is hard to say what form he will take," the Absolute said, not making himself much clearer.

"What alteration did you make?" Adam asked.

"A simple one, really. Naturally, a dimensional core has control inherent to it. Hard to control a universe and its dimension without such levers, after all. I have restored a function that you were lacking and which, if I understand your motivations correctly, you have been seeking." Adam swallowed. Heskel sighed.

"Yes, yes, I will get on with it," the Tome Keeper said.

"In short, you will now be able to decide whether you wish to loop to a new universe or loop within the same one. I must warn you that it has not been tested, and I cannot say what will happen if you have it switched on and are sacrificed to an Absolute. It may be quite unpleasant." Adam could actually feel what the Tome Keeper was talking about, because there was a sense of fullness in his heart, as though a missing piece had been returned. As he brushed his mind up against it, he felt its power respond.

< < Loop Shard (Universal Lock) > > < Deactivated > Adam instinctively understood that if he activated it, he would return to the start of this universe when he looped, possibly the next 'layer', just like any time-looper using the Self-Devouring Eye.

"Can I use it to travel to any universe I'd like?" Adam asked." No," Heskel said, before the Tome Keeper could even get started on a reply.

"How about you go deal with the defence for now," the Absolute told Heskel. The brute grunted in relief, but before he left, he clapped Adam on the head, as though he was a kid.

"That was… odd," the Tome Keeper remarked, watching his manservant leave.

"I think he may be proud of you. You betrayed the Betrayer. That is surely a first of its kind. Although, maybe he was just checking if I reattached your head correctly." Adam stiffened.

"I am joking. I did not remove your head. I am not an amateur. Though I did take copious samples. You are the first universe-traveller I have had on my operating table, so I could not help myself." Despite it all, Adam laughed. He knew he was likely no more than a Guinea pig and useful pawn to the Tome Keeper, but at least it was transparent and obvious.

"Thank you," Adam told the Absolute sincerely.

"I'm glad I got something useful out of helping you. To be honest, I assumed you would leave me to the Flayed Lady's punishment."

"There is no need for that, I have already gathered information about such experiences," the Absolute replied, clearly missing Adam's point.

"But of course, I promised a worthwhile reward, and it would be shameful to renege on such a promise. The second half of your reward, the other thing you are seeking, can only be found by worshipping the Chaotic Convergence. I believed I had already given you all the clues you would need, but Heskel thought it was important I mentioned the necessity of being scorned. He apparently thought you would not get that. Maybe he thinks you are quite simple."

Adam did his best not to show the fact that he had missed that important part of unlocking the Realm Traveller for worship. I'll have to get the 'Queen's Pendant' on top of the Fool Class and a lot of luck.

"One last thing," the Absolute said.

"I did my best to protect you from the Flayed Lady's scorn, but part of your mind was permanently damaged. I repaired what I could, but for the foreseeable future, I would recommend you avoid mana-based weapons, especially your blood and bone sigils, since they can aggravate your mental injuries and potentially destroy your more prominent memories, the things that are foundational to your being." Adam sagged in his seat.

"Shit."

"I suppose this is not what you wished to hear, but the alternative is of course much worse."

"How am I supposed to beat stage ten?" Adam wondered out loud.

"Nothing is set in stone for you," the Absolute remarked vaguely.

"Of course, there is a second boon in store for you if you beat the tenth stage."

"Are my injuries permanent?"

"It is hard to say with mortals. However, I suggest you first speak to Chaotic Convergence, and next with Ciana. They will both be able to help."

"Ciana?" Adam asked.

"Apologies, I mean the ' All-Mother'. I knew her before our ascension, but it has been too long since we last spoke, so if you do see her, please pass on my regards." Adam had more questions, but with a blink he was suddenly back in front of the altar on Interim Island. He took a deep breath. I actually did it. I betrayed the Flayed Lady and broke free. He unequipped the crown she had given him.

"Shitbox, destroy this for me." [Understood.] With a beam, the crown was immediately obliterated. As it vanished, Adam realised that he'd lost the connection to the Mandate of Blood, since he could no longer sense any melodies around him. This will be hard to get used to. And I need to make a different build. Although.

"Am I still a bloodfiend?" he asked the cube. [You have never been a bloodfiend.]"I mean, do I still look like one and am I still susceptible to holy magic?" [No. Your bodily transformation was part of the Flayed Lady's gift, which was removed when she scorned you.] Adam nodded. Okay, I have some idea for how to go from here then. He made to leave the centre of the island, when, suddenly, the altar started to tremble. The middle of the island rose quickly, forcing him to back away.

It lifted into the air, pulling a tower of reflective glass out from within the ground. The tower rose higher and higher with every passing moment, until eventually the top vanished into the clouds above. About a minute after that, it finally came to a stop, shaking the entire island. It was the tenth stage, Tower of Mirrors, and where Adam would undoubtedly perish in this loop.