Volcano Forest

In the Lizard People’s village, life unfolded as it always had. They worked in the forest, cutting trees and caring for their potion plants, isolated from the bustling world of Suinhor. Their days were spent protecting the deity they trusted to guide their destiny.

Without warning, dark clouds rolled in, covering the sky and dimming the sunlight.

Pitter-patter!

Rumble!

In the potion plant fields, several Lizard People looked up at the sky. Thunder flashed above, and rain began to fall as the cold wind swept through the fields.

“The rain’s starting!”

“We should head back!”

“Grab your things!”

The Lizard People rushed back to the village, their feet splashing through the muddy ground as rain soaked their hemp trousers. They pushed open the wooden doors of their stone houses and hurried inside.

Once inside, they shut the doors firmly. Fires crackled in the hearths, and pairs of Lizard People gathered around the warmth, drying themselves by the flames.

“It’s freezing out there!”

“It feels like the temperature has been dropping every day.”

“Yeah. Even the wild beasts will probably stay hidden soon.”

The wind grew stronger, and the rain poured relentlessly.

Inside their houses, the Lizard People huddled together, seeking refuge from the storm. The icy rain outside and the comforting warmth within felt like two entirely separate worlds.

No one noticed a cloaked figure moving silently through the rain. The figure walked along the village’s main path, heading toward the pyramid.

The cloak masked his presence, and the rain erased his trail.

He stood before the altar, gazing at the pyramid through the curtain of rain.

Akmanmon lifted his gaze, a thoughtful expression on his face.

The sense of danger lingered, yet the one within showed no sign of acknowledging his presence.

Something about this felt off.

With the power of a Fourth-Rank apostle, the other should have sensed him the moment he entered the Lizard People’s village.

Even though he wore a cloak artifact that could mask his presence, it should not have worked against such power. Akmanmon understood the immense difference between an apostle’s rank and that of a superior Ability User.

However, since Kurmis had not emerged, Akmanmon began to form new speculations.

There had to be something unusual about his condition.

“Has he fallen into a slumber?”

“Or is it possible that the process of becoming a god has bound him to this pyramid?”

In truth, Akmanmon thought it would have been wiser to come here after gaining the power of an apostle himself. However, the divine technique he possessed was the Abyss Art of God’s Grace. Using this method to become an apostle would only turn him into another Suero.

For this reason, Kurmis’s method of becoming an apostle was worth studying. He needed to find a new solution before taking that step.

Akmanmon paused to consider his next move.

He decided to summon his Seal Puppet, sending it forward to explore the pyramid’s interior.

Meanwhile, his true body stayed concealed in the heavy rain, carefully watching for any sign of activity.

The traps and rituals set by the Lizard People were only effective against Ability Users below Third-Rank. For a Third-Rank Ability User like Akmanmon, they had little impact.

In addition, Akmanmon had recently watched the Lizard People enter, giving him some insight into the process.

He moved further in, carefully navigating the area. He avoided certain troublesome spots but triggered a few lesser traps along the way, gradually uncovering the true path forward.

Akmanmon was astonished to find that the pyramid’s interior held gates, houses, and corridors.

It appeared that the pyramid had been constructed afterward, solely to enclose and seal these structures within.

“This must be the place where Kurmis once lived. But why would he seal it off?”

“It doesn’t seem like something went wrong. Rather, it feels as if Kurmis did this intentionally.”

“Could it be that the pyramid itself is a necessary step on the path to godhood?”

Akmanmon began to form his own theories. The unique appearance of the pyramid stirred his imagination, sending his thoughts in various directions.

Finally, Akmanmon’s Seal Puppet entered the structure and stood in a spacious hall.

He lifted his hand, and a dark red glow appeared in his palm. It resembled a ball of flame, casting light that revealed faint outlines in the darkness.

Akmanmon observed murals in the hall that illustrated the life of the Feathered Serpent.

These murals were meant to inform the Lizard People about their origins and the dwelling place of their divine being.

However, Kurmis likely never anticipated that a heretic from the Cannibal Cult would be the one to uncover them.

The former Second Seat.

Akmanmon was immediately captivated by these paintings.

The murals depicted the once-prosperous and elegant Maya City. Lord Shana and his wife were shown arriving as a young guard greeted them. This guard was Kurmis.

However, the peaceful times were short-lived. Disaster struck without warning.

A Door of Mythology descended from the heavens, and a deity stood upon it.

The painting also illustrated a sea of blood spreading across the land, with the ancient Door of Truth looming at the horizon’s edge.

“God of Original Sin, Scarlet Goddess, and the God of Knowledge and Truth.”

According to legend, Akmanmon quickly recognized the three deities, but a question formed in his mind just as swiftly.

“But why is the God of Original Sin’s door painted white instead of its usual appearance?”

Akmanmon remembered that the Door of Original Sin appeared as a massive gate covered with what seemed to be blood vessels and flowing blood. It was adorned with the corpses and skulls of various Abyss Monsters, creating an evil, filthy, and horrifyingly indescribable image.

Yet, in this painting, the Door of Original Sin looked sacred.

As he looked further, Akmanmon finally pieced together what had occurred.

The white Door of Mythology had been tainted by an unknown power and was ultimately cast down into the Abyss by the Scarlet Goddess.

“So, during that divine war, the God of Original Sin was defeated.”

“He was defeated by the God of Knowledge and Truth and the Scarlet Goddess. That must be why the Door of Original Sin appears this way now.”

He did not realize that this was more than just a change in color.

During that divine war, Xiao lost the Authority of Spirituality and was reduced from a Wisdom Demigod to a Mythical Artifact.

Originally, the Gate of Spirituality was simply the manifestation of Xiao’s power, and he was the master of the door. Now, the Door of Original Sin had turned into a Mythical Artifact and a part of the Abyss, while Xiao had become something reliant on the Mythical Artifact. He was now a prisoner within the door.

At this point, Akmanmon could not even comprehend the distinction between a Wisdom Demigod and a Mythical Artifact.

There was no way he could understand such things.

But Akmanmon still moved closer to study the images carefully, as if trying to uncover something hidden within them. However, the secrets of the deities remained far beyond his reach, or perhaps he simply lacked enough information to understand them.

In the end, he had no choice but to abandon his efforts.

Next, he saw the scene of Kurmis becoming an apostle.

There was a single painting that showed all of Kurmis’s power transforming into a stone. Most people would not be able to discern anything from this painting alone.

This time, Akmanmon was different because he possessed the Abyss Art of God’s Grace and had sufficient related knowledge.

“A crystal stone?”

Akmanmon understood from the mural that this was Kurmis’s mythological organ.

He recalled that Suero’s final deified organ had been the stomach.

“Why was Kurmis’s final mythological organ a stone instead?”

The method of condensing divine grace through the Authority of Spirituality was the closest to the original divine technique. It was even more rudimentary, or perhaps simpler, because it completely bypassed the step of deifying the brain.

“So, the essence of the Abyss Art of God’s Grace lies in the method of condensing the three elements. The final mythological organ is something that can be altered.”

“It could be the brain, the stomach, or even the heart.”

“It might even be any other part of the body.”

Ordinary people who obtained a divine technique would naturally view the later step of the mythological organ as the most critical source of power. This had been Akmanmon’s perspective in the past as well.

However, this mural introduced Akmanmon to entirely new possibilities.

“No, wait. Perhaps it does not need to be an internal organ at all.”

This thought immediately made Akmanmon think of Witch Spirits and Alchemists. Although he had not directly witnessed the power of their apostles, his expanded thinking allowed him to see the Alchemist’s lamp and the Witch Spirit’s book in a new light.

The Lamp of Covenant and the Book of the Witch Spirit were not just extensions of their power. They were likely their mythological organs after becoming apostles.

The mural continued onward.

Akmanmon finally found what he had been searching for. It revealed the process of creating an entirely new species.

Even more significant, it described the creation of a new intelligent race.

The latter part of the mural depicted Kurmis creating the Brown Ball Vine and the Lizard People. He guided a group of Snake People Ability Users through a ritual that summoned a massive eye.

As the massive eye cast its light, life began to evolve. The Brown Ball Vine emerged, taking shape exactly as Kurmis had envisioned.

However, Kurmis and the Snake People Ability Users had not foreseen the result. Their own forms collapsed entirely as their bloodline origins were altered, transforming them into a completely different type of life form.

Akmanmon stepped forward with excitement, his gaze fixed on the massive eye above.

“Through ritual, Kurmis connected with the power of a Sovereign Deity?”

Akmanmon stared intently at the giant eye in the mural, trying to comprehend its nature. He struggled to imagine what kind of eye it could be.

“The authority and power to create all living things, to create intelligent races… it all resides within that eye.”

“Kurmis…”

“You, a mere mortal, not only seek to become a deity but also dare to claim the Creator’s power as your own.”

“You are the true madman.”

“A lunatic who walks further down the path of madness than I ever could.”

Akmanmon needed exactly this. He also needed to create an entirely new race to achieve his vision.

He did not just want to become a god. He wanted to become the kind of god he imagined.

Only then, he believed, could he attain the freedom he longed for.

The mural ended there, but Akmanmon was left unsatisfied. He examined it over and over, searching every detail carefully.

Despite his efforts, Kurmis had not included the ritual steps in the mural or revealed what the medium of communication was.

Most importantly, the name of that great existence Kurmis had connected with was nowhere to be found.

“Was it not written down anywhere?”

“Or could it be concealed in another place?”

Finally, he turned his gaze toward the deeper sections of the pyramid.

Akmanmon pressed forward, determined to uncover more of what Kurmis had left behind. He hoped to find experimental notes or other remnants of his work.

He knew that going further would only increase the chances of disturbing the apostle, who was likely in slumber or sealed.

It was a risky move, but there would never be a better opportunity than this.

No one else, like Kurmis, could offer Akmanmon the knowledge he sought about the path to godhood.

Finally, in a passageway, he saw a golden jar.

The jar emitted a faint glow, and a delicate plant fragrance wafted from it. The scent carried the unmistakable aroma of potion plant seeds.

Akmanmon had been moving directly toward the innermost area, intent on locating Kurmis’s laboratory or study.

He had been walking quickly and paid no attention to the jar at first. However, as he drew closer, the jar began to glow, drawing his attention and making him stop in his tracks.

“This jar…?”

“No, this isn’t just a jar.” His expression shifted as realization dawned.

“Could this be Kurmis?” He paused, his thoughts racing. “Why would he turn himself into a jar? Why would he become an artifact?”

Akmanmon felt a deep power resonating from the jar.

This was a force far greater than that of a superior Ability User, the unmistakable power of an apostle.

Though no figure appeared before him, Akmanmon could sense that this jar embodied Apostle Kurmis.

In that moment, the golden jar began to tremble violently.

The lid opened, releasing countless seeds that scattered in all directions. Along with the extraordinary seeds, a tall, ethereal figure emerged.

It was Kurmis’s shadow.

At first, it appeared to be nothing more than a shadow, a faint phantom that seemed to react passively.

Then, in the blink of an eye, the phantom solidified into a tangible form.

Kurmis turned his gaze toward Akmanmon.

“A heretic from the Cannibal Cult!”

“You have not been completely annihilated yet?”

Kurmis immediately recognized the power and origins of Akmanmon. The Plague Blood Curse had left a lasting impression on him.

Yet, he could not connect Akmanmon to the former King of Ten Thousand Serpents. His instincts refused to associate such a noble king with the vile and corrupt cannibals.

When Akmanmon laid eyes on Kurmis, his gaze also fell upon the seeds within the jar.

At that moment, he finally realized the origin of the Lizard People’s seeds.

In an instant, countless thoughts raced through Akmanmon’s mind.

“All of these special potion plants… they came from this jar.”

“This jar is Kurmis. It is the key to his path to becoming a god.”

“He merged with the jar, created potion plants and mutated beasts, and had the Lizard People offer them as sacrifices to him. Through this process, he plans to ascend to divinity.”

In that moment, Akmanmon saw the connection.

Kurmis, the golden jar, the seeds, the potion plants, and the mutated beasts all formed a continuous cycle.

It was like a chain reaction, steadily amplifying his power until he could finally ascend to the throne of divinity.

Akmanmon lifted his gaze, staring at Kurmis.

“Kurmis,” Akmanmon said, his voice steady and deliberate. “Do you truly believe you can ascend to godhood?”

Kurmis did not respond. Before Akmanmon could finish speaking, he had already launched a deadly attack against him.

Though Kurmis carried the remnants of an ordinary person’s attachments and compassion, he was not naive.

When confronted by a heretic from the Cannibal Cult like Akmanmon, a man stained with the blood of countless lives, he had no intention of engaging in unnecessary conversation.

Hiss, hiss, hiss, hiss!

Countless extraordinary vines extended from all directions, moving like long serpents.

The overwhelming force surged forward.

In an instant, it engulfed Akmanmon’s Seal Puppet and crushed it to pieces.

The difference in power between Third-Rank and Fourth-Rank was vast, almost like the gap between the earth and the heavens.

However, the Seal Puppet was merely a puppet. While Akmanmon sustained severe damage, his true body remained unharmed, ensuring his survival.

Without hesitation, dense vines began to spread outward. Kurmis was determined to locate Akmanmon’s true body.

The vines spread and intertwined, eventually forming a massive plant Feathered Serpent that coiled around the pyramid.

Meanwhile, Akmanmon, who had been observing from the outside, had begun his retreat the moment his puppet laid eyes on the seed jar.

He fled into the distance, driven by his sharp instinct for sensing danger, just as he had once escaped from Mooneclipse City.

Kurmis could only withdraw his power. “A cunning heretic,” he muttered.

Kurmis had no way to pursue him, as he no longer had a body. His Spirituality Origin had transformed, taking on the characteristics of the seed jar.

He was bound to seal himself here. If he left, he would completely dissipate into nothingness.

Meanwhile, the commotion inside had already alerted the Lizard People outside.

The Lizard People’s Village

The heavy rain poured down as thunder rumbled in the distance.

Despite the storm, the disturbance near the pyramid was impossible to ignore.

Dozens of Lizard People hurried out of their houses and saw thick vines spreading from all directions of the pyramid, coming together to form a massive Feathered Serpent coiled tightly around it.

“Look! The pyramid!”

“Is that the Feathered Serpent God?”

“Lord Kurmis? What is happening?”

Anu immediately felt that something was amiss. The Feathered Serpent would not appear this way without cause.

He shouted, “An intruder!”

At that moment, a shadow darted low over the Lizard People’s village. It was unmistakably a Snake Person, gliding on a flying carpet.

The Lizard People wasted no time and began chasing through the heavy rain, determined to catch the figure on the flying carpet.

“Don’t let him get away!”

“Stop him!”

Anu shouted and quickly led his people toward the pyramid. He needed to ensure that nothing had gone wrong inside, as that was his top priority.

Anu hurried into the pyramid, paying no attention to anything else along the way, and headed straight for the location of the seed jar.

When he saw that Kurmis’s seed jar remained intact, he let out a deep sigh of relief.

Kurmis’s shadow rested upon the seed jar, silently observing Anu.

“Anu, did you send your people to chase him?”

“Call them back immediately. That individual is powerful and cunning. You won’t be able to handle him alone.”

Anu’s expression immediately changed as he prepared to chase after them outside.

Kurmis stopped him and pressed a seed into his chest.

“Be careful, and look after your companions.”

In the jungle, a group of Lizard People pursued the flying carpet. Some of them summoned Wing Demons to ride, trying to keep pace with the flying carpet.

Akmanmon lay curled on the flying carpet, his entire body swaying unsteadily.

He appeared gravely injured, his consciousness drifting in and out of focus.

Although the destruction of a Seal Puppet would not result in immediate death, a Third-Rank superior Ability User would still suffer significant consequences and endure lasting effects.

For Akmanmon, the impact seemed even greater.

His mind was already burdened with a curse and the weight of madness, making his condition far worse.

At that moment, a Lizard Person riding a Wing Demon surged ahead with determination.

Akmanmon turned sharply, the red shadow surrounding him expanding outward and forming a vortex several meters wide that swallowed his opponent whole.

Despite his severe injuries, which left him unable to form a Seal Puppet, the strongest of these Lizard People were only Second-Rank. They stood no chance against him.

The Lizard Person and Wing Demon reacted swiftly, using divine techniques to disrupt Akmanmon while attempting to change their course.

However, the flying carpet moved with greater agility than the Wing Demon and closed the distance almost instantly.

Together, the Lizard Person and Wing Demon were consumed by Akmanmon’s power.

“What… what is this?”

“My blood… it’s burning!”

The Lizard Person screamed in agony, and the Wing Demon cried out sharply.

Their voices were soon swallowed by the rain and thunder.

As the blood-colored shadow merged back into Akmanmon’s body, he absorbed the power of the Lizard Person and Wing Demon. His strength began to return, and the confusion and emptiness in his eyes slowly faded.

However, what emerged in their place was not clarity.

It was madness.

On the flying carpet, Akmanmon gripped his head tightly.

“Blood!”

“The power of blood!”

Immediately after, he let out wild, arrogant laughter.

“Eat them!”

“Eat them and restore my strength!”

“Devour them and become a god!”

“Eat… eat…”

Akmanmon glanced down at the Lizard People riding Land Dragons or running on foot in pursuit below.

He turned into a blood-red shadow that descended toward them, determined to consume the Lizard People who dared to follow him.

When the Lizard People witnessed the Wing Demon and their companion being consumed, their faces filled with fear.

“This is bad!”

“He’s a superior Ability User!”

“That’s Third-Rank power!”

The Lizard People witnessed Akmanmon’s overwhelming power and quickly scattered in fear, each trying to escape.

However, Akmanmon was faster, consumed by madness and an insatiable hunger to devour every one of them.

At this critical moment, Anu finally arrived.

A seed attached to Anu’s body began to glow with intense light.

Countless roots and vines extended outward from Anu’s body. Even his own form started to show signs of lignification, as if he were merging with the vines.

Anu transformed into something resembling a Seal Puppet and engaged Akmanmon in battle.

Brown vines surged from all directions, and Anu, standing at the center of the overwhelming mass of vines in his lignified form, pressed forward against Akmanmon.

He managed to force the maddened Akmanmon to retreat.

Anu was still struggling to adapt to this new power. He managed to force Akmanmon to retreat, but he lacked the means to pursue him. Akmanmon fled swiftly, leaving Anu unable to give chase.

Anu’s focus remained on protecting his Lizard People companions. He had no intention of chasing after Akmanmon.

He let the seed’s power fade and turned his attention to the others.

“Are you all right?”

The group of Lizard People huddled together in the pouring rain, their faces heavy with grief.

Anu’s face darkened as a sense of foreboding washed over him.

“Who’s hurt?”

“They didn’t make it back,” one of them said quietly. “Lek and his Wing Demon… they’re gone.”

Anu clenched his hands as anger and self-reproach flashed across his face.

He took a deep breath and quickly regained his composure.

“His body?”

“Did you find him? Maybe he’s just injured.”

A Lizard Person on the ground looked up, crying. “There’s no body. Nothing at all.”

“Lek tried to stop that monster. He was… devoured.”

Anu’s expression shifted, and his lips quivered slightly.

“Devoured?”

“Eaten?”

Only now did Anu realize the kind of madman he had encountered, a man completely unrestrained in his actions.

“Damn it!”

“That guy… what exactly is he?”

Anu felt a surge of anger and the urge to chase after him to avenge his companion.

However, Akmanmon had already fled far into the distance, making it impossible to catch up.

With no other choice, Anu led his companions back to the village and returned to the pyramid’s interior to meet with Kurmis.

“Lord Kurmis!”

“Who exactly was that person?”

Kurmis looked at Anu and said, “A heretic from the Cannibal Cult.”

Anu had heard of the Cannibal Cult. It was a significant event that occurred in Mooneclipse City and sent shockwaves across Ruhe Beast Island.

He quickly asked, “The Cannibal Cult?”

“I thought Apostle Sukob and the Earth Witch wiped out those Cannibal Cult heretics. How are they still around?”

Kurmis replied, “Since he appeared here, it means some of them managed to escape.”

“No, it is not just one or two who slipped through the net.”

“I fear they have already grown into a new group by now.”

Kurmis had seen the disaster in Mooneclipse City with his own eyes. He understood how quickly the heretics from the Cannibal Cult could spread.

After a brief pause, Kurmis spoke to Anu.

“You must go and inform King Osis immediately.”

“The Ghoul Cult has established itself in Suinhor, and they are steadily growing.”

“Their last leader used mortal power to oppose Sukob, who wielded the Door of Truth. He consumed the Lord of Purgatory and nearly destroyed Mooneclipse City.”

“Now that they have appeared here, they must be plotting something new.”

Kurmis urged, “We must take action to stop them.”

After saying these words, Kurmis’s shadow slowly faded away, turning into specks of light that drifted back into the seed jar.

He returned to his slumber and seal. The power he had just expended had left him utterly exhausted.

Only when the seed jar transformed into a Mythical Artifact would he be able to fully awaken and regain his strength.

Limestone Town

Akmanmon stumbled back in a hurry, soaked to the bone and looking completely miserable.

His face was ashen, and his steps were unsteady.

A group of ghouls knelt on the ground, bowing to welcome him.

“Master, you’ve returned.”

Akmanmon ignored the servants entirely and walked straight into his temporary dwelling without a second glance.

“Get out of the way.”

“Scram!”

“No one is allowed to disturb me.”

But he stopped, regaining a sliver of composure, and turned back to speak.

“Go prepare a ghoul reserve servant for me.”

The ghouls quickly moved to fulfill his command.

Akmanmon stepped inside and collapsed onto a stone chair. His body shook uncontrollably as he activated the ritual array.

Ah!

Akmanmon let out a roar, sounding like a crazed and starving beast.

The ritual array connected to his power, pulling the Plague Blood Curse from his body. The curse’s energy separated into a swirling mass of blood mist, while the array also drew out a portion of his Divine Blood.

The ritual’s light twisted and shifted, channeling the extracted power toward the other end, where a ghoul reserve servant knelt.

The energy surged into the servant’s body, transforming it into a new ghoul. Yet, despite the ritual’s completion, Akmanmon’s condition showed little improvement.

His current method was like adding dye to clear water. Each time it neared overflowing, he would pour some out.

With every repetition, the water grew darker and more polluted.

It was like drinking poison to quench thirst, steadily descending into madness.

Akmanmon was fully aware of his condition. He gripped the chair’s armrest so tightly it seemed as though he might crush it.

His eyes burned with a crimson glow. Hunger consumed him, an insatiable desire to devour anyone who carried the Blood of Wisdom.

“Hold on, Akmanmon!”

“Madness will not control you. No one will control you. Nothing will control you. You will obey only your own command.”

At this moment, with just one thought, he could unleash a disaster in this small town.

But Akmanmon restrained himself.

The more he consumed, the closer he came to death and madness.

He had already absorbed an excessive amount of Divine Blood, pushing himself dangerously close to the point of collapse.

The Divine Blood from the Lizard Person and Wing Demon he had just consumed in the moment of madness had only worsened his already fragile condition.

The backlash on his body grew more severe with each passing moment. If the curse or madness did not claim him, he would eventually transform into an artifact.

This looming fate drove his desperation and willingness to take risks.

In the dim interior, seated on the cold chair, Akmanmon’s mood shifted wildly. He would burst into mad laughter one moment, then fall into a chilling silence the next, his voice an icy, detached whisper when he spoke.

“It won’t be long now.”

“I have discovered the way.”

“I will not merely escape death, nor will I succumb to madness. I will ascend. I will become a god.”

In his madness, Akmanmon seemed to see Suero’s shadow.

“Suero!”

“You did not succeed, but I will.”

“This time, nothing will obstruct or bind us. I will take our unrestrained and forbidden wild fantasies and unleash our power completely, wielding divine power to summon the wind and the rain.”

“To feel the absolute freedom and power of a god, to rise above this world that feels like a prison.”