Truman concluded the Dream Parliament and returned to the real world, eagerly pulling out the treasury key to open a spatial door.
Perhaps… another Apprentice fell victim.
Of course, this time, the Apprentice might be the Phoenix.
Truman casually extracted the treasury's two most precious uniquenesses.
The Scroll of Civilization and a crown seemingly carved from obsidian.
The crown was exquisitely ornate, adorned with various gems, though its design was overly peculiar.
"Distortion?" Truman discerned multiple carving styles—giant, elf, dragon aesthetics—twisted together, forming a crown of bizarre, haunting beauty.
Likewise, "Distortion" was its negative effect.
Without suppression or sealing, the crown would distort all worldly rules, claiming the world as its domain, all life its subjects, bound by twisted rules.
This effect was global and irreversible.
"A living characteristic?" Truman raised an eyebrow, sensing a rebellious intent within.
As an emperor, it would never bow—a core rule.
This meant it would never submit or compromise, rendering it nearly unusable.
"Unusable?" Truman chuckled. "Unwilling to submit doesn't mean untaintable. I should cool off this in the dream ocean for a couple days!"
He tossed the Scroll of Civilization and Black Emperor Crown into the ocean beneath Dream Heaven.
To Truman, no matter how potent a uniqueness, Sefirot could corrupt it. Once "seasoned," he could indirectly wield both via his mastery of dreamlight.
"Reshaping and distorting rules, and steering civilization's tides."
Both abilities were formidable, enriching Truman's combat prowess.
"It'll take some time." Truman nodded, satisfied, watching the uniquenesses bob in the dream ocean.
Next, he drew the Pen of Alesouhod.
This quill, formed from the Nightmare Dragon's characteristics, was finally his.
The pen trembled in his hand, likely aware two "predecessors" were just tossed into the dream ocean for a soak.
"Let's test it." Truman flipped to the third page of the Book of Dreams—"Cause and Effect."
Their abilities overlapped to an extent, meaning combined use could yield a massive boost.
"…" Truman scratched his head, then wrote on the Book of Dreams, "Devil Monarch Farbauti's mental state is poor, swayed by destructive urges, preparing a plan to make the world feel the Abyss's terror again, and has begun acting."
Sss!
The text on the "Cause and Effect" page shattered, unable to forcibly alter an ancient god's fate.
"Not enough power at my disposal?" Truman sensed, nodding slightly.
His current command of the Book of Dreams was at the Angel King level, akin to Sasrir's baseline, far from manipulating deities.
Deities were a qualitative leap, embodying an authority's concept itself.
"Due to the Elf King's massive seawater mobilization for the divine war, the Abyss's demons surge out en masse, raiding various races' territories."
Truman pondered, then wrote this line.
Like centuries ago, when Devil Monarch Farbauti and the Destruction Demonic Wolf faced similar plights, their demons wreaked havoc worldwide, bent on destruction and defilement.
Buzz!
Truman watched the text slowly fade, looking beyond the divine kingdom. He sensed a faint force ripple outward, history's wheels beginning to turn.
With only the Pen of Alesouhod's power, Farbauti might notice.
After all, demons gained crisis perception at Sequence 6, and at the Devil Monarch's level, any threat would be detected.
In the war that killed three ancient gods, Farbauti fled faster than the Phoenix, who held part of the "Door" pathway.
But now, combining "Cause and Effect" with the Alhusod Pen elevated it a tier, shielding this fate manipulation within the Book of Dreams.
Farbauti likely wouldn't notice.
"This will unfold over a long period."
Demons would harass and invade supernatural races until the races, pushed to their limit, waged war in fury.
Such events were plausible, having occurred countless times over millennia.
Once war began, it wouldn't stop easily.
…
In a corner of the city-state that narrowly escaped disaster, the boy received a freshly brewed potion from the towering priest.
"I have three formulas: Warrior, Hunter, and Assassin," the priest said.
"'Giant' pathway covers Sequence 7 and below, 'Hunter' and 'Assassin' are Sequence 9 and 8."
"I lack materials now, so I can only brew an Assassin potion." The priest held up a stone jar, its contents swirling like shadows.
"My final warning: potions help us resist demons, but they also turn us into demons."
The Sequence 7 "Weapons Master" priest eyed the boy's boundless longing, issuing one last caution.
"I just want to live, and… to follow Lord Angel!" The boy roughly snatched the potion.
"The Lord absolved you; no one will harm you!" The priest shook his head. "Those who exiled you will be punished."
"I don't trust you!" The boy defiantly stood against the world. "Never will!"
"Child…" The priest tried to salvage. "Failing to save you was my fault…"
Before he finished, the boy gulped the potion from the stone jar.
The potion slid down, merging into his body. The jar slipped from his hand, his eyes turned pitch-black, shadows seeming to writhe beneath his skin.
"Meditate now!" The priest's face grew stern, shouting to rouse the boy.
He'd taught the boy occult basics during brewing, but the boy, post-potion, seemed to lose all thought.
For a child, retaining sanity under a potion's influence was even harder.
But then, the sun mark on his forehead glowed, its "Purification" stabilizing his will, enabling meditation.
The boy showed talent in mysticism, swiftly harnessing his spirituality, completing the advancement.
"…You're lucky." The priest's tone was complex as he looked at the boy.
"Tell me your name. I need to register you."
"Cheek!" The boy gave his name.
(End of Chapter)
Translator's note: I KNEW IT!!! PRAISE THE PRIMORDIAL DEMONESS !!!
"The Source of All Catastrophes;
The Symbol of Destruction and the Apocalypse;
The Demoness who controls Chaos."
and the one who pounce the Crazy Blood Emperor !!!