When the plot-skips players into the game world

Ascension Sorcerers, like Great Sin Scholars, belong to the legacy left by Celestial Marshals.

The fall of Celestial Marshals brought new powers to humanity, and by further developing along these powers, they discovered those occupations that had always existed in the world but remained hidden because no one had discovered them.

"To change one's class to an Ascension Sorcerer, one must learn 'Shedding Skin.'"

"Shedding Skin?"
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David hesitated upon hearing this terrifying term, "Does it mean to peel off one's skin and grow it back?"

"...Not exactly."

Aiwass couldn't help but chuckle, "That refers to the 'Skin-Shedding Ritual,' akin to an insect transforming into a chrysalis and metamorphosing into a butterfly. It's about casting off one's old body to acquire a more beautiful form.

"This is the power of the Butterfly Celestial Marshal from the Path of Beauty... It can transform the ugly and allow them to reshape their exterior. There's a ritual that borrows the power of Butterfly Celestial Marshal, which enables people to change their appearance."

In terms used by players, it means "facial reconstruction"—the idea of reshaping one's face.

Whether it's race, gender, age, stature, facial features... everything except the selected "origin" at character creation can be changed.

This is also probably the ritual that players encounter the most.

David eagerly asked, "So, should I perform the Skin-Shedding Ritual?"

"No," Aiwass denied, "You should train your body.

"Ascension Sorcerers sound like jobs such as 'Mage,' 'Legal Mage,' 'Demon Scholar,' but in fact, it's a close-combat profession."

"...Huh? Why?"

David was confused, "Isn't it a 'sorcerer' profession?"

"Because Ascension Sorcerers have made a pact with Serpent Celestial Marshals, they are, more accurately, 'Pact Sorcerers.'"

Aiwass explained.

"Serpent Celestial Marshal" is the codename for the Son of the Serpent Father, Ouroboros, and is also the source of power for the 'Ring of Ouroboros' ritual.

In the game's lore, this profession was created after the fall of Butterfly Celestial Marshal, when Serpent Celestial Marshal desired some fragments of Butterfly Celestial Marshal and traded with humans who had obtained these fragments.

Serpent Celestial Marshal made a pact with them, teaching humans how to shed their skin like a serpent.

The person who received these fragments became the first "Ascension Sorcerer."

He was originally a Transcendent from the Path of Dusk, who decisively abandoned his former body, entered into the shell left by Butterfly Celestial Marshal's arrival, and then used this shell to shed skin once again. He directly became a Superior Phantom in one step and later became the envoy of Serpent Celestial Marshal—a process people refer to as ascension to godhood.

"Ascension Sorcerers will continuously undergo 'Skin-Shedding Rituals' to gradually perfect their bodily forms. However, this kind of 'ascension' is not about shedding skin in private... but during combat with formidable enemies.

"Just as a thinking brain becomes more intelligent and broken muscles rebuild to become stronger—if Ascension Sorcerers are injured in intense battles, they become stronger; if they suffer grave injuries, they undergo greater changes; if they die in battle, eventually they break the cocoon into a butterfly and obtain a new body.

"Overall, the evolution is uncontrollable. Because if one truly reaches the dreamed-of realm, it's not about Transcendence; it's about perfection—the domain of Dusk. The evolution of an Ascension Sorcerer will never cease, for they are always changing... Generally speaking, at least some part of them will become like the enemies that defeated them. Through this method, they can steal a portion of the foe's innate abilities.

"So there is a risk for Ascension Sorcerers; they might lose their human bodies... for example, growing four arms, or three eyes. They could also become Giants four to five meters tall, or revert to the form of children and Dwarves. But in general, each evolution increases the sum of their abilities over what they were before."

"...It sounds somewhat terrifying."

David shrunk back a little, "This is not even human anymore..."

But Aiwass shook his head, "This is already the mildest and safest profession on the Path of Transcendence."

Demon Incarnations transcend their own demon-controlled mind and fate, Curse Ritual Magicians use powerful rituals and curse abilities to surpass their own bodies weakened by disease and curses.

Demon Incarnations transcend the limits of human lifespan and physical bodies; Great Sin Scholars transcend the existential dominance that Superior Phantoms have over mundane beings.

What Ascension Sorcerers transcend is merely "their past selves." There is no other will to control the mind, no curse poison harming the body. There's no taboo calamity damaging the soul, nor is there the need to bear the Mark of Sin. Other than making a pact with Serpent Celestial Marshal that "they will not stop shedding skin," there is no influence from any external will.

In other words, as long as they don't stop their own evolution, they'll never lose control.

——The old insect race, one might say.

"You should diligently train your body. If your soul is still intact when you reach the fourth energy level, I'll teach you how to become an Ascension Sorcerer."

Aiwass made up her mind, planning to start helping others "cheat" in their advancement.

Although the Butterfly Celestial Marshal hadn't fallen yet, the transformation ritual could still be completed.

It just meant that each transformation required praying for power to both the Butterfly Celestial Marshal and the Serpent Celestial Marshal, rather than signing a contract once and having it all set to automatic.

Therefore, Aiwass wasn't worried about David leveling up too quickly and what to do if the Butterfly Celestial Marshal wasn't dead yet.

Just as the Fallen Celestial Marshal hadn't been brought down, Aiwass was still able to make the Sin Cards — it just meant that what had been a buffet now required a report every time. These professions were discovered after they became buffets, but that didn't mean they couldn't be achieved before.

It was precisely because of David that Aiwass came to realize something.

She didn't need to hide too much of the future she knew.

If previously she couldn't explain where she had acquired such knowledge... now with "Aleister," she could justify anything she said. It could all be said to have been told to her by other friends of hers.

If you don't believe it, go confront Aleister yourself.

——She will definitely say, "Indeed, that's correct."

So, the other secrets spanning beyond the current version of knowledge that Aiwass was aware of, could actually all be attempted as well.

For example, securing a better advanced profession for Sherlock... a mere Mage is too weak.

For example, convincing Old Lady Meg... to take on a part-time job.

Aiwass remembered that Meg died because her life was nearing its end and she attempted to extend it through ascension. Somehow the news leaked, and she was killed on the spot in the actors' bureau. This was one of the anchors leading to Avalon's downfall.

Generally speaking, the simplest way to extend one's life is to take on the Path of Dusk.

Simply stepping onto the Path of Dusk would directly increase one's lifespan, and there's no need to bother about the attributes of the path.

But Meg had a natural aversion to the Path of Dusk, so she ruled out this possibility from the beginning.

...But looking back on it, the profession of "Ascension Sorcerer" might suit her even better.

The prerequisite for the transformation ritual cannot be suicide or seeking death on purpose. It must involve dying while challenging a formidable enemy — and the post-death transformation ritual cannot be interrupted, or the person would truly die. From this perspective, mutual destruction is the safest. And since the current transformation ritual isn't automated, it requires booking in advance every time, so it won't work in emergencies...

However, death from natural aging can be anticipated and also meets the criteria.

This is, of course, also a form of "challenging a formidable enemy" — time is one of the strongest enemies.

According to the principles of the transformation ritual, should the elderly Meg be resurrected, she could return to a youthful state and gain anti-aging abilities. Even if she doesn't continue to ascend but merely adds on a second energy level Ascension Sorcerer, she could live for dozens more years.

If Meg hadn't died, perhaps Avalon might not have been invaded by Star Antimony... or at least, they wouldn't have been defeated so miserably.

Even with her protection, Her Majesty the Queen might have survived and not been assassinated.

——From this perspective, helping Meg extend her life might be a more effective delaying tactic than purging internal spies.

Preventing her from advancing is basically impossible, as the old lady is far too stubborn. She would never just die of old age in her bed. However, if she were to move onto the Path of Transcendence, perhaps she would agree — her personality resembles Hayna's quite a bit. Since Hayna is adaptable to the Path of Transcendence, perhaps she is as well.

This is quite a good idea.

Aiwass thought to herself.

On the other hand...

The sculptor Lars Graham looked at Aiwass on the newspaper and fell into deep thought.

"...Aleister, could it be Croix?"

Has Croix defected?