The ritual began.

Light spread from the flaming altar, flowing in expanding circles along the patterns and symbols on the ground to connect with the ghouls standing at each node.

Rays of light reached toward the Dream Realm, the origin of all power, the destination of all spirits, and the kingdom where the divine beings dwelled.

Suero stood at the center of the ritual, while Akmanmon stood at the altar’s edge.

Invisible pressure surged from all directions, creating a sensation like gusts of wind blowing from nowhere and colliding.

Suero’s cloak shook violently, and Akmanmon swayed several times before finally steadying himself beside the ritual array.

“Spirit.”

“Seal Imprint.”

A massive black shadow flowed out from Suero’s body, finally merging with the gray Plague Blood Curse.

“Mythical Blood.”

Following the method of the Art of God’s Grace, his divine blood was also extracted from his body. The method was even more precise than the curse-powered surgery Suero had previously used.

Silver light slowly overflowed. The intense pressure from the spirit realm compressed the enormously vast shadow into a unit of divine blood invisible to the naked eye. The gray Plague Blood Curse then merged completely with the divine blood.

Thus, the three elements of Wisdom Authority: seal imprint, divine blood, and spirit united as one, forming a God’s Grace Stone.

The instant it manifested, it drained the massive divine blood within Suero’s body and transformed into a silver stone.

Immediately after, the stone began merging with Suero’s body.

However, after Suero used the Abyss Art of God’s Grace, the organ deified by the God’s Grace Stone was not his brain but another organ.

His stomach, which had fused with the Seed of Gluttony, now radiated light, merging completely with the God’s Grace Stone.

The Seed of Gluttony began taking form, transforming into the Gluttony Stomach.

A mythological organ.

Ah!

Suero suddenly threw back his head and roared. A terrifying devouring force emanated from his belly.

His abdomen seemed to contain a black hole, whipping up a violent storm that swept up everything around.

It engulfed the entire underground cavern.

More than a dozen nearby ghouls, failing to stand firm, were swept up. They dissolved into black shadows in midair before being swallowed into Suero’s belly.

Throughout the massive cavern, hundreds and thousands of human and inhuman monsters were pulled directly from the ground, as if caught in a tornado.

Everyone was utterly horrified.

Only when Suero closed his mouth did they finally fall back to the ground.

Akmanmon clung to the altar’s pillars, his usually expressionless face showing a hint of alarm as he looked at Suero.

Just a single breath possessed such overwhelming might.

The worlds of Third-Rank and Fourth-Rank were truly like heaven and earth.

Suero’s appearance had also changed slightly. The Plague Blood Curse, after all, differed from ordinary seal imprints. Originating from curses and the malevolent thoughts of countless people, it seemed to possess characteristics originating from spirituality.

It could use the fundamental connection between divine blood and flesh to alter and distort certain physical features of wisdom species.

Suero’s complexion had turned deathly pale, without a trace of blood. The blood in his body had likely transformed into a thick, nearly black plasma.

At the same time, all the ghouls in Mooneclipse City seemed to sense a stirring in the air.

Whether they were in the cavern or not, they all simultaneously turned in Suero’s direction.

They felt that an existence towering above them had appeared in this world.

The King of Ghouls had been born.

Suero stood in the center of the altar, feeling his own power, a power beyond mortal limits, a power touching the boundary of mythology.

Though he had merely touched the lowest boundary, it already created an illusion of omnipotence.

“Such powerful strength.”

“The proxy of the divine in the mortal realm. The power of an Apostle.”

Suero waved his hand.

The power of the Plague Blood Curse emanated from his mythological organ, spreading outward as an invisible force.

His Mental Domain immediately extended from his body, connecting to every ghoul present.

His domain merged with the ghouls, transforming the entire underground cavern into his territory.

Ghoul after ghoul suddenly unleashed immense power. Under the influence of Suero’s power enhancement, each one ascended to the level of a Third-Rank ghoul.

Suero stood at the center of it all, radiating an aura within the ritual array and domain that made him appear like a divine being.

Akmanmon watched all of Suero’s transformations.

“So, you can become an Apostle without becoming a follower of any divine being.”

“So-called Apostles are merely a title for those who reach a certain stage of power.”

Suero restrained his power and appeared beside Akmanmon in an instant.

“Second Seat, that’s an excellent way to think. You are becoming more and more like an unbound one.”

“That’s right. This is how it should be.”

Suero laughed heartily.

“Just like this,” Suero said with a grin. “Keep moving forward. Keep advancing.”

“No taboos, nothing untried. Unleash your talents, unbridled and unrestrained.”

Akmanmon looked at this crazed cannibal, this being who constantly pursued power and seemed never satisfied.

Akmanmon asked Suero, “First Seat, you already possess the power of an Apostle.”

“This is already the pinnacle of mortal power.”

“Are you still unsatisfied?”

At this moment, Suero felt the incomparably powerful strength he possessed. He could also sense something in the distant depths calling to him.

He could hold a ritual right now and attempt to step into the Abyss to welcome the trial of his King of the Abyss.

Passing the trial would grant him Abyss Law and make him a true King of the Abyss.

But this was not enough.

An ordinary King of the Abyss could not satisfy him. He wanted to become stronger, even the strongest in the Abyss.

Though he did not know that above Apostle was another stage called Reincarnator, a stage far surpassing ordinary Apostles.

It was an Apostle’s true departure from human existence, a step toward mythology.

But he knew that Apostles were not the pinnacle of power. In the eyes of true divine beings, they were insignificant. Those who had already ascended to become Kings of the Abyss wielded power far beyond that of ordinary Apostles.

He wanted to become more powerful. He wanted to devour this city.

He would devour more divine blood. He would create a large number of powerful ghouls and bring them into the Abyss with him.

Suero stood on the altar, looking at the ghouls prostrating on the ground. “This is nowhere near enough. I have not reached my limit.”

Akmanmon stared at Suero. “Where is your limit?”

“First Seat, I have wanted to ask you something for a long time. Why do you pursue power so frantically?”

Suero looked back at Akmanmon. “For what?”

Suero spread his arms as if shouting at the world.

“So that no one can look down on me anymore. To prove my talent.”

“To declare to all who dare despise me that I, Suero, am not a mortal. I can transcend all others.”

Akmanmon raised an eyebrow. “Just for that?”

Suero smirked. “Just for that? Are you mocking me, Second Seat?”

Akmanmon shook his head. “I am not mocking you. I am just trying to understand.”

Akmanmon did not understand why one needed to prove anything. Being powerful was being powerful. No proof was needed.

If one could control one’s own destiny and obtain complete freedom, why care about the thoughts and wills of other beings? One’s self was the only truth.

Suero asked, “And you? Why do you seek power?”

Akmanmon replied, “To take control of my fate.”

Suero chuckled. “Is that all?”

Suero also found Akmanmon’s idea absurd. It was a false proposition, an unrealistic thing.

People’s joys and sorrows do not connect. What you hold as dear as life itself might be worthless in another’s eyes.

What you regard as truth, willing to sacrifice everything to pursue, might seem utterly ridiculous to others.

Akmanmon said, “But at least you and I are both willing to sacrifice everything to pursue what we want. We are willing to descend into madness for it.”

“In this respect, we are somewhat similar.”

Suero laughed heartily. Akmanmon was particularly talkative today, and for the first time, the two truly revealed their innermost thoughts.

Though they seemed to clash verbally, they came to understand what kind of person the other truly was.

Suero turned to Akmanmon, his tone sharp yet curious. “You’ve been preparing for so long, experimenting with all those cannibal rituals and formulas. Isn’t it time you stepped into the Third Rank?”

He paused, narrowing his eyes. “What’s holding you back? Are you afraid of losing yourself to the madness?”

Suero’s voice carried a hint of disbelief. “You? Doubting your own will? Doubting that your madness surpasses that of those fools and weaklings?”

Akmanmon met his gaze calmly. “I prefer methods that are more… reliable.”

Suero would never consider anything stable. He was a genius walking on a tightrope, a gambling adventurer, which was why he shot toward the heavens like a flaming meteor.

But Akmanmon was different. He liked to grasp everything in his own hands, build his odds of success to the maximum, and even arrange escape routes for himself.

However, Suero heard another meaning in Akmanmon’s words.

“You still haven’t decided to join me in the Abyss?”

Suero turned his head. “You don’t still think you have a choice, do you?”

“Between becoming a madman, a tool, or supernatural material.”

“Or choosing to enter the Abyss.”

“Or remaining in the mortal world, to eventually be dragged out by those Apostles and burned to death, becoming a clown recorded in the history books.”

Akmanmon said nothing.

Suero continued, “You will choose in the end, Akmanmon.”

“As I said, this world often offers no choices. We must forge a path through these choiceless choices.”

“Do not fear the enemies ahead.”

“Do not fear the abyss beneath your feet.”

“No matter which direction we walk, we will encounter enemies.”

“Even if we fall, even if we plunge into the Abyss, we will kill our way out and forge a path that belongs to us.”

Suero truly seemed to want to bring Akmanmon into the Abyss with him, for them to become companions on the same journey.

The mad are lonely. They find it difficult to find companions in this world.

And Akmanmon was the first person Suero had encountered who possessed an unrestrained spirit and could propose one unconventional, crazy idea after another.

Though this fellow appeared quite normal, Suero understood exactly what kind of being he was from the first time he met him. He had seen him choose his own lover as his cannibalism target and laugh madly during the night feast.

However, Akmanmon changed the subject, asking about the next plan.

“You have obtained the power of an Apostle, and the cannibal plan has been initiated. When do you plan to begin the final step?”

Suero had already decided. “Set it for the last day of this month.”

Akmanmon calculated the days. “That is only a few days away.”

This peaceful city. These sleeping civilians.

They did not know disaster was approaching. What awaited them might not be death, but something far more terrible.

Akmanmon felt no emotion. He had no feelings for anything in this city. To him, this place was just a cage.

If this city were erased, no matter how many people died, he would feel nothing.

He was the King of Ten Thousand Serpents.

A King of Ten Thousand Serpents abandoned by all people.

Suero planned to hold a massive ritual in Mooneclipse City. He would transform all suitable individuals in the city into ghouls, then devour all the remaining people.

Finally, they would all descend into the Abyss together, becoming powerful Kings of the Abyss, ranked at the forefront.

Suero was incomparably excited.

“I have already decided. I will do it before everyone’s eyes, before the eyes of those Apostles, before the eyes of the Lord of Purgatory.”

“I will announce my descent into the Abyss, and they will be powerless to stop me.”

His eyes were filled with anticipation as he whispered at the end.

“I yearn so much to devour this city, to erase it completely from this world.”

Akmanmon asked, “You mean to swear an oath to the Abyss?”

Akmanmon had also heard such legends. It was said that Kings of the Abyss swore oaths when descending into the Abyss.

But what this meant exactly, what purpose the oath served, he did not know.

He did not know.

The Royal Palace of Ten Thousand Serpents

Akmanmon returned to his palace. His wife came to greet him, still with her false pretense of concern, as if caring about where he had gone.

“The Executive Officer’s wife invited me to a ball today and asked me to send you her regards. She also sent you a set of ancient texts.”

Akmanmon replied casually that he had visited another noble’s home.

This was not false. He always had a reasonable explanation for his movements and showed no obvious problems.

Then he continued, “I do not like balls. Next time, take a gift for the Executive Officer’s wife to express our thanks.”

But just as Akmanmon lay down, a message arrived through secret channels.

It was delivered using divine techniques. When opened, it read:

『Apostle Sukob has returned, secretly meeting with the High Executive Officer.』

Akmanmon immediately sat up, all drowsiness gone.

“Sukob from the God of Knowledge and Truth returns at this time? Did he just happen to return, or has he sensed something?”

“His return will definitely affect our plans.”

“Besides,” Akmanmon muttered, “why is he meeting the High Executive Officer in secret? He comes back quietly, heads straight to the Royal Palace, and keeps everything under wraps. What is he up to?”

Akmanmon keenly felt something was wrong, but he could not be certain.

He ordered his people to investigate further but received no additional news.

Having his information channels reach into the High Executive Officer’s home was already his limit.

Obtaining more information was not something he could easily accomplish.

However, his reaction was swift.

He sent out a Second-Rank ghoul. “Check if there is any activity at the Snake Deity Temple.”

Near dawn, he received another message.

『Abnormal activity at the Snake Deity Temple.』

『Suspected to be the Earth Witch’s orders, possibly even divine will.』

This divine being was naturally the Ruhe Great God behind the Earth Witch.

Based on this information, Akmanmon immediately became certain.

“They have definitely discovered the situation.”

“At the very least, they sense we are preparing major actions in Mooneclipse City.”

“Otherwise, there could not be such major movements, with Apostle Sukob secretly meeting the High Executive Officer and the Earth Witch sending orders to the Snake Deity Temple.”

“Besides us, who else would warrant such major action?”

If not for Akmanmon being the King of Ten Thousand Serpents, if not for him controlling the Cannibal Cult’s intelligence network that penetrated every corner, he would have reacted too late.

Though Akmanmon’s expression was grave, he was not surprised.

From the beginning, he felt that Suero’s desire to completely deceive everyone before the plan began was an extremely difficult task.

Expecting them not to react, to catch everyone off guard, inherently required a certain amount of luck.

And Akmanmon did not much care for luck.

“I must notify Suero at once. He must terminate the plan to avoid a direct confrontation.”

Akmanmon waited no longer. While it was still dark, he immediately departed through a secret passage.

He would personally meet Suero and persuade him.

In the luxurious mansion

As Suero became an Apostle and fused with the Seed of Gluttony, he once again received the summons from the Abyss.

Once more, he saw the being in the bronze mirror and the mythological door standing in the Abyss’s deepest depths.

Since the last time the mirror reflected that being’s existence, Suero had put away or destroyed all mirrors in the mansion.

But this time, the other being did not rely on mirrors at all.

As Suero walked through the mansion’s long corridor, his shadow swayed in the lamplight. It stretched continuously backward at an angle, seeming to exceed the boundaries of the building itself.

But soon, the shadows of people and objects began shaking violently, as if dancing.

That being in God’s Form appeared before Suero in the form of shadows.

Rumble!

Suero heard the sound of a door opening. In an instant, his consciousness was pulled inside.

The Original Sin God’s messenger, the ceramic figurine, sat beneath the mythological door. It clapped its hands together, the sound echoing faintly in the dark expanse.

It seemed to be congratulating Suero for becoming an Apostle. This was the first step on his journey to becoming a King of the Abyss.

“Excellent. You have become an Apostle so quickly.”

“It seems you are very eager!”

“So impatient to become the King of the Abyss?”

Suero looked at the Original Sin God’s messenger and asked, “What message do you bring me this time?”

Compared to before, his performance this time was much better.

At least, beneath that mythological door, he was not frightened speechless.

The Original Sin God’s messenger looked down on him from above, as before.

“The Abyss has opened its gates to you, prepared the trial for you.”

“Have you thought of your oath, mortal?”

Suero stared at the Original Sin God’s messenger. “Is it an oath sworn to the Abyss?”

“I have already thought it through.”

The ceramic figurine laughed wildly. “Do you think this is your victory declaration?” it said to Suero.

“No.”

“You must represent the ghoul race and swear an eternal oath to the being of the Crown of Wisdom before you can succeed.”

Suero looked confused. “The Crown of Wisdom?”

“What is that?”

The ceramic figurine said, “It is the divine artifact that witnesses the oaths of wisdom species. Only when it bears witness is the covenant valid.”

“Only then will you be granted the authority of a King of the Abyss and power beyond mortals.”

This made it sound as if the Crown of Wisdom was merely something for forming contracts.

Suero asked another question. “Why must I represent the ghoul race?”

The ceramic figurine replied, “The King of Lust, Melde, is the Eagle Demon King. The King of Pride is the Bone Demon King. The King of Wrath is the Fire Corpse King.”

“You must naturally bring the ghoul race into the eternal Abyss and become their eternal king.”

“Is that not so?”

“Or do you, mortal, not understand the meaning of ‘king’? Can an existence without even servants beneath its throne be called a king?”

This explanation seemed quite reasonable.

In a few words, the ceramic figurine established the format of the oath Suero would swear.

To enable Suero to swear the oath, the ceramic figurine even set aside its former malicious amusement, for once refraining from tormenting and toying with Suero, this Son of Gluttony.

It was uncertain whether this was a blessing or a tragedy.

Because this meant he had moved from the ceramic figurine’s palm onto the Original Sin God’s table.

That terrible and evil deity had now noticed this mad fellow.

Suero did not know what the Abyss oath procedure actually entailed. He had never heard of the secrets involving the Crown of Wisdom, nor of wisdom species oaths that touched upon fundamental mysteries.

He only thought this was a completely normal process, a fixed procedure for becoming a King of the Abyss.

Furthermore, the Art of God’s Grace provided by the ceramic figurine proved to be accurate, and the Seed of Gluttony functioned without any issues.

At least, it seemed the ceramic figurine truly was selecting him to become the King of Gluttony.

After giving guidance once more, the ceramic figurine’s shadow and voice stretched out continuously.

“Gather seven Kings of the Abyss. Make the Abyss more powerful, and make the Original Sin God more magnificent.”

“Mortal, you should feel honored to become part of the divine glory.”

Suero felt no glory in this whatsoever. He held no reverence for the Original Sin God or any other divine beings.

Right now, he only wanted to obtain power, to constantly obtain stronger power and accomplish miracles exceeding the past, step by step.

As the sound of the Original Sin Door closing echoed through the void, the dark world faded away. Suero’s consciousness slowly returned, and he found himself back in his body once more.

He still stood before that wall, facing the darkness cast by the lamplight.

Suero faced his own shadow, his thoughts unclear.

After a long while, he let out a soft laugh.

He walked toward his room. He did not rest but stood beneath his Plague Blood Curse ritual diagram.

That diagram was drawn on a map.

A map of Mooneclipse City.

The entire city of Mooneclipse was covered by the ritual, and the core of everything was the cavern beneath it.

The underground passages and waterways spreading throughout would also become the ritual’s activation points.

No one could imagine what kind of things existed beneath this bright and glamorous city’s surface.

Behind the Door of Original Sin, on the Flesh and Blood Star

The ceramic figurine came before the table, bowing in a somewhat comical posture and speaking to the Evil God seated on the divine throne in an obsequious voice.

“Great God of Original Sin, are you satisfied with the King of the Abyss I selected for you this time?”

The being who moments ago had stood high above, addressing Suero as if it were a divine being, was now reduced to a tiny figurine on the table. It tried every method to attract the Original Sin God’s attention, resembling a circus monkey performing a dance.

Xiao nodded approvingly. “You have done well this time.”

“The ghouls he has created are intriguing. It seems he has carved out a unique path.”

In the Original Sin God Xiao’s view, Suero’s most important identity was not that he was a Son of Gluttony or some original sin.

These were merely supplements for the Original Sin God.

What he truly cared about was that Suero had actually created beings called ghouls.

What he wanted was to personally witness another person swear the Crown of Wisdom Covenant. He wanted this oath-swearer to descend into the Abyss, allowing him to personally witness the essence of the Crown of Wisdom Covenant.

He even hoped it would allow him to personally witness the Source of Wisdom.

But even he was unsure if it would work. This raised a question.

What constituted a race?

Can ghouls be considered a race?

How does the Crown of Wisdom define race?

Xiao did not know how the Crown of Wisdom defined race.

According to Xiao’s thinking, beings like ghouls could hardly be called a race.

They were more like advanced professions such as Witch Spirits, Alchemists, and Sky Messengers, rather than a race. They depended on snake people and winged people and could not reproduce on their own.

At a minimum, beings like demons that could self-propagate independently of other races, or like the Abyss Race that could self-reproduce in the Abyss, could be called a race.

However, even if he failed, he could still gather valuable data and insights. Regardless of the outcome, it would still be worthwhile.

Having such a suitable opportunity and materials to conduct an appropriate experiment was already quite rare.

The ceramic figurine, thrilled by Xiao’s approval, clapped its hands together in delight.

“Thank you, God. I promise, the next act will be even more impressive.”

“Just wait and see the masterpiece I’ve prepared for you.”

Meanwhile, after visiting the King of Ten Thousand Serpents, Sukob appeared beneath the Door of Truth.

The God of Knowledge and Truth, Asai, took the form of a young man gripping his staff, gazing at the world beneath the sea of clouds.

At this time, the Door of Truth seemed to be floating near Ruhe Beast Island, though it was at the outer perimeter.

The Black Storm that separated the great sea could be seen stretching for millions of miles, connecting heaven and ocean.

As Sukob arrived, the God of Knowledge and Truth spoke, his tone calm yet deliberate.

“Do you notice it?”

Sukob hesitated before asking, “Notice what, God Asai?”

“The mythological storm surrounding Ruhe Beast Island,” Asai replied, his gaze fixed on the horizon. “It has begun to weaken.”

Sukob was stunned. He did not know what this meant.

Even Asai only vaguely guessed at something, but he did not speak it directly.

Perhaps because it was not fully confirmed. Perhaps because it could not yet be spoken.

Sukob came to see the divine being because he had extremely important matters.

“God, I may have discovered the Abyss’s evil plan.”

“They must be preparing to do something in Mooneclipse City. It is very likely they are selecting a new King of the Abyss.”

Apostles were still very rare in this world. Any force capable of producing Apostles had to be connected to divine beings.

The Art of God’s Grace was controlled by the various divine beings and was not something easily accessible to others.

This sudden appearance of signs of an evil force was deeply unsettling.

It was most likely related to the Abyss.

Sukob usually had his own matters and would not actively seek out the Abyss Cult. The God of Knowledge and Truth had not assigned him this mission either.

But Sukob knew very clearly that the Original Sin Evil God in the Abyss was the mortal enemy of the God of Knowledge and Truth.

Since he had directly encountered this, he naturally would not fail to report it.

Asai held his staff, looking at the distant storm.

He seemed completely absorbed in some problem, deep in thought. Only after Sukob finished speaking did he emerge from his state.

“Xiao?”

“Recently, I have been too busy with the Wisdom Fruit matter to bother with him after he fell into the Abyss.”

“It seems he is doing quite well, quite accustomed to that filth and mire.”

Sukob knew Xiao and Xia were the names of the Abyss Evil God, but he had not yet become a god and dared not speak mythological names directly.

God Asai said to Sukob, “Since he dares to make a move, you should be the one to respond.”

“I will support you.”

“If you can defeat the Abyss’s conspiracy, what you want to do next in the Royal Court of Ten Thousand Serpents will become easier. The Temple of Knowledge might also appear in the Royal Court of Ten Thousand Serpents.”

“Your steps toward the divine throne can proceed more smoothly.”

Sukob, having received the god’s support, was overjoyed.

“God Asai, I will not allow the Original Sin Evil God’s plan to succeed.”

Asai smiled. “If he truly laid this plan himself, then it is beyond your ability to handle. In that case, you should immediately open the Door of Truth to preserve your life.”

God Asai turned, still gazing at the black storm.

“Go.”

“Report to me immediately if anything happens.”

The God of Knowledge and Truth, Asai, waved his hand, sending Sukob’s shadow back until it disappeared into a mirage illusion.

This problem about to erupt in Mooneclipse City seemed on the surface to be a confrontation between Suero and Akmanmon on one side and Sukob on the other.

However, it was also a clash between the powers of the Original Sin Evil God and the God of Knowledge and Truth in the mortal realm.

It was possible that this conflict could even draw in other deities.

This was a vast world where everything was intertwined. The entire world was bound by cause and effect, connecting countless people and even divine beings in an intricate web.

Behind a seemingly ordinary appearance might lie countless interconnected threads.

Every small breeze might form into a massive storm.

In the Kingdom of God, surrounded by clouds and mists, the Ghost Polik stepped out from the City of Knowledge. He approached the Door of Truth with a sense of urgency.

“God Asai!”

The Ghost Polik’s voice echoed through the ethereal expanse.

“What is it?” Asai replied.

He had once witnessed the Avel people leaving Ruhe Beast Island and had personally guided them, all while the God of Knowledge and Truth was still in slumber.

God Asai, looking at the continuously weakening storm, asked the Ghost Polik.

“I remember You once recorded that the last time the Black Storm weakened, there were signs of the Life Sovereign descending upon the Royal Court of Ten Thousand Serpents.”

“And this time, not only has the Black Storm begun to weaken, but the God’s Moon has also appeared in the sky.”

As God Asai spoke, he stood still.

For a moment, his voice wavered.

His tone softened, becoming almost a whisper.

“What do you think?”

“Has the Life Sovereign descended to the mortal realm once more?”

“And does the God’s Moon remaining in the mortal realm mean…”

The God of Knowledge and Truth stopped there abruptly, not continuing further.

Even the Ghost Polik was stunned speechless.

Asai, who usually received responses or analysis, received no answer.

This was already beyond what the Ghost Polik could speculate or deduce.

This already exceeded the scope of what he could understand and know, because it concerned the supreme deity who ruled over all and created everything.