When the plot-skips players into the game world

When the Pure White Saint reached the twenty-second ring, she had no idea what she would see.

Grey, of course, knew that this was the day of Aiwass's ascension ceremony.

In fact, Grey had already breathed a sigh of relief upon receiving the news.

——At least our Holiness survived, right?

In a world where the five-to-six ascension ceremony is merely a legend, the four-to-five ceremony is essentially the most advanced ascension ceremony there is. The New Moon Ritual further increased its difficulty and also became disadvantageous to the Path of Devotion.

Grey had even mentally prepared herself for the emergency succession of the Holy Crown.

After all, she herself is a candidate for the Eternal Pope and has the ability to wear the Holy Crown.

The reason she wasn't chosen as the Pope was merely due to political reasons.

An amberfied Elf succeeding as the Eternal Pope—that would be too sensitive in the current Holy Nation.

——It's akin to the Crown Prince of Avalon rebuilding the Lohar Society; Star Antimony denying their founding declaration of "ability over all"; the mages of Daffodil Territory, who guard the imprisoned Son of the Moon, becoming the Son of the Moon themselves; the Iris Flower, symbolizing freedom, beginning to rebuild the noble system and secret police; Black Hawk's mercenary corps openly betraying their employer; and the slaves of Parthian Ancient Country launching a large-scale uprising for the fourth time...

What, all these things happened?

Ah, then never mind.

As expected, the Holy Nation is still too traditional, unlike other countries that boldly accept challenges to their traditions...

But in any case...Even though Grey could have become the Pope, she handed the Holy Crown to Aiwass, merely to prevent internal strife and even division within the Holy Nation.

If Aiwass were to meet with misfortune, she would certainly risk the division of the Holy Nation by directly wearing the Holy Crown to continue maintaining its existence.

——Even if accused, it wouldn't detract from her resolve. This is, after all, one aspect of the principle of Dedication.

But it was good that Aiwass survived. So when Grey received communication from Aiwass, her first reaction was a strong demand for Aiwass to report his safety to the other Cardinal Archbishops.

But...

"...Solving the amberfication issue? Is there really such a thing?"

Grey was quite worried about Aiwass.

This child, did he choose a Path trait in the ascension ceremony that would help solve the amberfication disease?

If that's really the case, it would indeed be a debt too great to repay...

And these thoughts, upon Grey actually seeing Aiwass, completely vanished.

She looked at the current Aiwass, her eyes suddenly widening.

Being the most outstanding candidate for the Eternal Saintess, Grey, of course, had studied a vast amount of historical knowledge.

She certainly knew that the First Pope of the Eternal Theocracy was not a woman, but a man...Not only that, he was somewhat different from all subsequent Eternal Popes.

——The First Pope "An Eternal" himself was the Son of Candle Master!

His relationship with the Pillar God was closer than any other Pope!

Although he was an Elf, he had antlers on his head; after entering the Dream Realm, he first became the Angel Envoy of Candle Master...And soon after that, he emerged independently as the Celestial Marshal. By then, he had become half man, half deer, making anyone see him as very similar to Candle Master. Even in some remote areas untouched by the Nine Pillars Divine Church, people would confuse Candle Master with the Candle Celestial Marshal, thinking Candle Celestial Marshal was one of Candle Master's embodiments.

This was undoubtedly the sin of blasphemy.

As "Candle Celestial Marshal," all of His abilities basically came from Candle Master.

But Candle Master bore no hostility toward him... It's known that Candle Master was never a gentle, kind individual. Candle Master's Angel Envoy, the "Eternal Vanguard" Castening, was always leading Candle Master's army of Angel Envoys in battles everywhere.

——True dedication happens when one possesses strength, otherwise it's merely an excuse for the defeated to comfort themselves, as victims of plunder.

Yet Candle Master never waged war against Candle Celestial Marshal.

Moreover, Candle Master's other Angel Envoys were quite cordial and friendly with Candle Celestial Marshal.

Not even the secret knowledge within advanced divine arts mentioned the truth of this situation. It can only be understood that Candle Celestial Marshal's independence from Candle Master's subordinates was by Candle Master's own will.

Who then could say Candle Celestial Marshal was unrelated to Candle Master?

However...by the basic rule of the Source River of "Creation," gods and mortals must not bear offspring. Otherwise, it constitutes an "unforgivable great sin."

Candle Master, who exists from ancient times and established the Nine Great Origin Rivers, how could He have mortal offspring? Who exactly could have borne the Candle Celestial Marshal with Candle Master? Or could it be that Candle Celestial Marshal's mother was another god or Angel Envoy?

To this day, even within the Holy Nation, this remains an unsolved mystery.

And now...

Grey clearly saw a small protrusion appearing on Aiwass's head.

It seemed only two to three centimeters. It had a texture somewhat akin to jade or emerald... The lower part was milky white, while the upper part was a transparent crystalline red. Because Aiwass's skin was already fair, if one's eyesight wasn't good enough, they might think from a distance that he had two lumps on his head from being struck.

But Grey immediately realized...

Those were antlers!

——The same kind as An's antlers on his head!

"Your Holiness!"

In an instant, the astute Saint Grey realized the truth: "Have you… become the Son of Candle Master?"

It turns out that being the Son of Candle Master was not about bloodline, but a special, bestowable identity!

"Yes."

Aiwass nodded with joy, admitting: "I have received the force bestowed by Candle Master… With this power, I can heal almost all pains. This, of course, includes amberfication disease."

"...But haven't we confirmed that amberfication isn't a disease, but an uncontrolled Blessing?"

"Then let it become controllable again."

Aiwass declared resolutely: "There is no such thing as 'uncontrollability' that must exist in this world."

Grey closed her mouth, refraining from further speech.

But in her heart, there was a strange sense of familiarity—

Compared to Aiwass the Pope, who seemed to have become a saint, desireless and detached, the Aiwass today made her feel like she was once again seeing the human boy she first met.

Optimistic, passionate, cheerful, indomitable… as dazzling as the sun.

Since he arrived in the Eternal Theocracy, he made this once silent and dull land lively.

"How goes the research on Sin Thorn Fruit?"

Aiwass asked.

Grey calmed her mind, raised her head, and said: "There's good news… but in some sense, it's also not so good news."

"Oh?"

Aiwass asked intrigued: "Tell me specifically?"

"Based on Freya's analysis, the force contained in the Sin Thorn Fruit is similar to that of Sin Thorn. Sin Thorn possesses a force almost capable of inflicting damage unimpeded by any power, similar to the Force of Equilibrium, yet completely distinct. Whereas the force in Sin Thorn Fruit is closer to a 'digestible form of Sin Thorn's force.

"It's milder but its aggression weakens significantly, allowing for the mitigation of the Blessing's loss of control within the body. For Elves who have developed amberfication, Sin Thorn Fruit can at most alleviate their amberfication symptoms. But it cannot fundamentally dispel them… In other words, it can only suppress, but not cure."

Saying this, Grey glanced at Aiwass: "However, we've already begun advancing more Priests to Illuminators, and the production of Sin Thorn Fruit we acquire for research has thus increased greatly. So there's no need to trouble you further.

"But it still cannot be mass-produced or universally applied. Currently, there are two main research directions, one being to analyze more Sin Thorn Fruit to find a formula to alchemically transform Sin Thorn into Sin Thorn Fruit, drastically reducing costs; the other, which I proposed.

"Since Sin Thorn Fruit can weaken the Blessing within the body, might it serve as a weaker preventive concoction?"

"...Using Sin Thorn Fruit extracts to synthesize a vaccine for 'amberfication disease'?"

Aiwass contemplated seriously, finding Grey to be a genius: "That might just work."

Compared to overmedicating to rudely eradicate the power of Spirit Amber Celestial Marshal… turning amberfication Elves into short-lived humans, these approaches are far more gentle. Whether it's suppressing the late-stage pain of amberfication disease or preemptively preventing its onset, their significance clearly surpasses "completely curing amberfication disease while dispelling the longevity Blessing along with it."

"So…"

Grey said while looking at Aiwass, somewhat hesitant: "Your Majesty…Do you still wish to heal my amberfication disease ahead of time?

"But if you've already become the Son of Candle Master… then what stance do I have to become the Eternal Pope?"

She hadn't forgotten that the Eternal Pope's first was the "Candle Celestial Marshal's" successor; and Candle Celestial Marshal was a spokesperson for Candle Master.

Now that a new "Son of Candle Master" has emerged, how could her legitimacy surpass that of Aiwass?

"So it need not be made public."

Aiwass nodded: "After I heal you, the Holy Crown will initially be given to you.

"At that time… you will be the Vicar Pope. How about safeguarding the Holy Crown for me?"

Aiwass spoke gently.

He then took off the Holy Crown from his head and gently placed it on Grey's head.

Afterward, he removed his Eternal Pope's robes and draped them over Grey as well.

Before Grey, Aiwass's body suddenly oozed with fresh blood—

His body seemed to fracture, with streams of fresh blood seeping out.

Soon after, the small antlers on Aiwass's head gathered light. They extended, forming a pair of radiant white antlers, and Aiwass's body gradually transformed into a half-human, half-deer form.

His upper body remained human, with much smaller antlers compared to Candle Master and Candle Celestial Marshal. They appeared about twenty centimeters long, considerably more noticeable than his previous little protrusions. Each antler's tip also burned with a small flame of pure white.

Meanwhile, from his waist below, he transformed into a sleek and nimble white deer form.

On his abdomen, or the humanoid front chest, appeared a black pattern resembling a solar wheel. The regions on his body that had previously cracked and bled also solidified into mysterious yet ominous black patterns. These patterns linked the human and deer bodies, resembling some form of stitching, or perhaps like the tattoos depicted on one's skin.

Aiwass's pupils transformed into a strange divine radiance.

It resembled nearly translucent, light purple crystals burning with a gold and crimson flame.

That flame formed a vertical pupil, so beautiful it was mesmerizing.

The once somewhat shorter Aiwass compared to Grey had now become about her height. Including the antlers, he was even taller.

This is…

"Like Candle Celestial Marshal…"

Grey murmured: "Is this...the mythical stance of legend?"

Indeed…it's as if he took a step out of an ancient myth, sacred and untouchable.