The Glorious One's abilities were barely mentioned in the original work. The only reference came from Silver City's Grade 0, or god-level Sealed Artifact—Proof of Glory, also known as the Crown of Glory. It was said to have once been worn by the Giant King, Olmir.
That artifact could emit divine and glorious radiance, forming a cage that separated its interior from the outside world, providing formidable defensive power. It was precisely because of this ability that Silver City had been able to withstand wave after wave of monsters in the depths of the Dark Era.
In the original work, Silver City's Chief, Colin Iliad, even believed it capable of resisting the Fool's wrath and malice.
The amber-like space formed by the orange-red light before Ebner didn't completely match the Proof of Glory's description, but it should still be a kind of cage—only this one wasn't for defense, but for imprisonment.
That meant this Inquisitor-General of the Church of the God of Combat's Tribunal, whatever reason he had for entering Grossel's Travels, certainly harbored no goodwill toward Ebner.
Looking up at the mountain-like giant, Ebner rapidly calculated countermeasures in his mind.
At that moment, Glorious One Boris Vasika tossed aside the apparently dead King of the North, Ulyssan, fixed his single vertical eye on Ebner, and chuckled.
"It's been a long time since I've gone hunting. I rather miss those days when I'd go out now and then to hunt a dragon or slay a few demon wolves. So when I saw this thing, I caught it on a whim."
Seeing that the other party wasn't attacking immediately, Ebner kept his Pure White Eye open in full vigilance, but he still ventured to ask tentatively, "Your Excellency Boris Vasika, why are you here?"
He had wanted to ask how the other man entered, but that sounded too much like interrogation, so he changed the phrasing at the last second.
"Of course, I came for you." Boris Vasika scratched the back of his head with a seemingly honest smile.
"For me?" Ebner's heart tightened. He pinched a card painted with a crimson moon between his fingers, ready to slide it into the slot on his belt at any moment.
"You know, I'm already a Glorious One. To move further, I must switch pathways—and whether it's Conqueror or Pale Emperor, you should know the clues. Or rather…" His voice deepened with amusement. "They're in your hands, aren't they? You won't be stingy, will you, Mr. Viscount Miranda?"
The Conqueror characteristic… that's the Calamity Seal—it's indeed in my hands, but I can't bring it out or even use its power. And the Pale Emperor characteristic was originally buried with the Lord of Spirits, but later Roselle took it. Now it's likely in Bernadette's possession—as the 'Pale Death.'
But that's not the key point. What matters is—how does he know I'm Viscount Miranda? Hmm… judging by how he speaks, he doesn't know about Liu Bo; otherwise, he wouldn't have stopped at calling me 'Vicente.'
As his thoughts raced, Ebner noticed that the Glorious One seemed in a talkative mood, so instead of reacting rashly, he asked, "How did you know I'm Vicente?" while secretly praying to the Evernight Goddess, Lilith, and the God of Knowledge and Wisdom all at once.
"How did I know?" The four-meter-tall giant, Boris Vasika, laughed again. "Back then, the reason the Grand Cardinal Andre hunted you in Indor was that I told Badheil you might hold the key to opening the Death God's ruins.
"I knew the Grand Cardinal wouldn't be your match, so I was ready to intercept you and take your characteristics. Who could've expected you to vanish entirely afterward?
"For over a century, I heard nothing—until the Calamity Seal appeared in my dreams, telling me it, too, was in your possession, and that you would reappear in this era with a certain 'Book of Fantasies.'
"Funny thing—you might not believe this, but I was only doing a favor for a member of my organization, helping him hide a sea monster from another's supervision…
"And what do you know? I just happened to stumble across you. Maybe it's destiny that you've fallen into my hands."
As he said this, the Glorious One once again scrutinized Ebner and said firmly, "I don't know how you managed to switch pathways and become a Reader demigod, but as an angel-level Demon Hunter, I won't mistake your aura—and neither will the Calamity Seal's presence."
So you were the one who caused Vicente's death… And judging by your tone, you don't seem to hold the God of Combat in much reverence either, daring to call Him by name.
More importantly, though, it seems you didn't plan this ambush meticulously—it was a coincidence…
Heh, coincidence, is it? So this is where Adam's scheming comes in? What a delightful surprise. All those bouts of 'bad luck' earlier must have been his doing—meant to strip away my angel-level helpers without raising my guard.
Hmm… the accident with Drake during the Trident seizure was to impose a time limit, leaving Klein and me no room to refine the plan.
The sea monster's feeding frenzy that exposed us was meant to provoke a clash between the Demoness of Catastrophe and our angelic allies—making Yarolan's clone's destruction seem natural.
Then, the Einhorn family's angel who was drawn here by the Calamity Seal's resonance took away my last safeguard—the Spirit Angel.
Each incident seemed logical at the time… but in hindsight—they were all traps!
Still, what is Adam aiming for with such effort? He must know that even if I die, I'll eventually emerge again from the Unknown Land.
And the Evernight Goddess and Lilith didn't sense his manipulation beforehand?
Also, why would the Calamity Seal itself set me up? Has it developed a taste for betraying its own wielder?
Hmm… if I were pushed to desperation, I might seek strength from the Liu Bo deep within the Unknown Land… Could that be what "I" want?
And the Calamity Seal might have met Adam while following Roselle—could they have made some kind of deal?
As Ebner's thoughts spiraled, the giant Boris Vasika spoke again:
"I know you're praying to someone right now—perhaps the Evernight Goddess?
"Unfortunately, while my Twilight Domain can't sever your connection with Her, it can freeze the flow of time within this cage. Who knows how long it'll take before She hears your voice!"
Pausing for a moment, he drew out a scepter and laughed boisterously. "Don't worry—I don't toy with prey for fun.
"The reason I've talked so much isn't some peculiar fetish—it's because transforming the power of Decay into Life takes time.
"You can feel it, can't you, Vicente? The power of Life is filling this cage bit by bit… Even if you revert to the Death Consul, you won't be able to fight me in an environment brimming with vitality!"
Hearing this, Ebner gave him a strange look, thinking, The power of Life? Then yes, the Death Consul would indeed be restrained here.
But who said that's my only form?
Sensing that the Authority of Life was saturating the cage and that the Glorious One might strike at any moment, Ebner quickly issued an oracle through the Unknown Land to Flora, ordering her to visit the Church of Earth Mother. Simultaneously, he slid the crimson-marked card into the slot on his transformation belt.
"Wake up!"
"He who has traversed countless times—what does he see in his eyes?
"Pathway Selection—the Moon!
"The Moon, Rhine Carendia!
"Henshin!"
(End of Chapter)