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The sound of hurried footsteps reached Klein's ears from far to near, allowing his tense spirit to relax slightly, and the door to the duty room was then opened.
Klein, whose face was solemn and even a little gloomy, saw the Nighthawks team members whose faces were even worse than his own, and his heart tightened abruptly. He quickly scanned the team members and only breathed a sigh of relief when he found that no one was missing.
Looking at the captain's inquiring gaze, Klein lightly coughed and pointed to the Chanis Gate, saying:
"Before, there was a violent knocking sound coming from inside, then it turned into slapping, and then, the Door was pushed open a little."
Dunn's gray eyes narrowed slightly, and he asked in a low voice:
"The Chanis Gate was pushed open from the inside?"
"Yes, a gap was pushed open." Klein was about to continue describing the fabricated process when he noticed that the captain and the others were no longer approaching the duty room, stopping a few steps away and spreading out in an arc, seemingly guarding against him.
Looking at the somewhat astonished Klein, Dunn explained:
"This is a normal handling procedure for the Chanis Gate, and it will be over soon."
Leonard's forehead was slightly sweating. He handed the item in his hand over, his expression much more relaxed, and he added in a less serious tone:
"In other dioceses, there have been cases like this where a Beyonder guarding the Chanis Gate lost control, rang the bell, and then took advantage of the helping teammates' inattention to kill two people."
After this "Midnight Poet" finished chanting the holy and compassionate prayer, seeing that Klein had no abnormal reaction, Leonard stopped reciting and smiled, saying:
"There's no problem. You are still our trustworthy companion."
Breaking free from that kind of quietness that brought liberation to his body, mind, and spirit, Klein directly said:
"I saw the Misfortune Cloth Puppet, the one in the black classical court gown, 3-0625."
Feigning the panic and lingering fear that a normal newcomer should have, Klein quickly added:
"But it was pulled back by an invisible force in less than three seconds, and the Chanis Gate closed again. What exactly is going on?"
Leonard, Kenley, and Royale exchanged glances, then looked at Captain Dunn, who was frowning.
"Sealed Artifact '3-0625' itself does not possess the characteristics of being alive. This has been confirmed by the Church's Archbishop."
"Therefore, its behavior today must be due to the influence of other factors, and these factors must have appeared recently, otherwise it would have shown us this side of it long ago."
"Recently, only one thing has been different from before, and that is the Antigonus family's notebook which stayed behind the Chanis Gate for one night."
Looking at Klein, Dunn paused and continued:
"The protective measures behind the Chanis Gate are not just magic arrays. The power inside reaches its peak at night and is no longer suitable for living things. It only weakens when the Sun rises."
"Since the Chanis Gate has closed again and there are no longer any anomalies, we should not enter at this time. We must wait until dawn."
Klein nodded slightly, looking at the Sun being passed among the Nighthawks, he had some guesses in his heart but still asked:
"Captain, did you catch the Instigator, Trissy, this time?"
Dunn pinched his temple and shook his head, looking a little tired:
"No, the Church of the Lord of Storms's Sealed Artifact even injured her, but unfortunately, someone blocked us in the end."
"Although he didn't show his face, he was at least a Bishop of a diocese, or even an Archbishop-level powerhouse."
As he spoke, he pointed to the badge, which was dark gold in color and engraved with the symbol of the Sun, that had been passed from Royale's hand. Klein instinctively caught it, feeling a warm current pour into his body.
However, this warm current quickly became scorching, as if flames were burning inside his body. Cold sweat gradually appeared on Klein's forehead, and he became like the other Nighthawks. At this moment, he finally understood his teammates' pain.
Dunn, who had walked into the duty room with the other Nighthawks, took the Sealed Artifact "3-0782," the Mutated Sun Sacred Emblem, from Klein's hand and explained:
"This Sealed Artifact was slightly stimulated and became a bit agitated. Although the Sacred Emblem's purifying power helped us escape the trap, its negative effects also became unbearable."
"A Sequence 9 like you will feel pain if you hold it for more than three minutes, and if you hold it for more than 10 minutes, you will become an idiot who only knows how to 'Praise the Sun'."
"The sealing power behind the Chanis Gate should be able to calm this Sacred Emblem down, but this also needs to wait until tomorrow. Tonight, we will take turns holding this Sealed Artifact."
"Don't overexert yourselves, this may affect your mental state."
Feeling a little surprised, Klein pondered for a moment, then pointed at the Mutated Sun Sacred Emblem in Dunn's hand and asked:
"Its number is only 3-0782. Can a Sealed Artifact of this level contend against a Bishop or even stronger powerhouses?"
Dunn slowly shook his head and patiently explained:
"No, it's for breaking out of a siege, not for contention. The person who secretly attacked only wanted to save Trissy and had no intention of killing us."
"In addition, the numbering of Sealed Artifacts is evaluated based on factors such as danger level and sealing difficulty. It doesn't mean that Sealed Artifacts with later numbers contain less power than those with earlier numbers."
"Of course, the power unleashed by this Sun Sacred Emblem after being stimulated was indeed a bit beyond my expectation. I will explain the situation to the Church later...."
-----------------
In the Forsaken Land of the Gods, on the high platform of Moon City, there were currently various Monster leathers and Beyonder characteristics of varying quantities and states, with the lowest being at least Mid-sequence.
This was also the accumulation of Moon City over thousands of years. Besides a small number of Demigod Beyonder characteristics that could temporarily be used as '1' class Sealed Artifacts, Moon City possessed five '1' class Sealed Artifacts and a large number of potion formulas.
Cavendish stood aside, watching the High Priest Nim devoutly arrange the sacrificial and bestowal ceremony, praying to the great Lord of Order to purify the Sealed Artifacts.
Those Monster leathers and Mid-sequence level Sealed Artifacts, which were extremely precious in the outside world, were Worships from Moon City to this god who saved them.
After the Council of Entropy, Aaron did not leave the Nation of Disorder. He watched a certain brightest star among the many stars on the palace dome suddenly expand.
Manipulating his spirituality, he opened the Door of Sacrifice and Bestowal, and a smile appeared on Aaron's face as he watched the sudden appearance of numerous materials.
The number of Beyonders required to conquer territory and the number of Beyonders required to stabilize the rule of an area are completely on different levels. To establish his own official Beyonder force, these materials are the foundation for future endeavors.
As an equivalent exchange, Aaron would help Moon City crush the corresponding Beyonder characteristics and Sealed Artifacts, helping several Moon City Sequence 5s who were in good condition and free of corruption to advance to Demigod as soon as possible.
The "Scepter of Sun Chasing" in his hand was slightly raised, and surging dark golden mist, wrapped in brilliant light, poured into the open Door of Sacrifice.
Watching the three clusters of Demigod Beyonder characteristics, emitting rich spirituality, quietly float, High Priest Nim respectfully ended the ritual and distributed them to the three elders of the Elder Council. Perhaps it wouldn't be long before "Demon Hunter" and "Iron-Blooded Knight" would appear in Moon City.
Cavendish withdrew his gaze from Nim, who looked a little excited, and looked at the gray-white barrier outside Moon City that connected heaven and earth, saying calmly:
"During this period, Moon City does not need to explore outwards. Just wait patiently and practice the Lord's teachings, and the Lord will lead you out of this cursed land."
"For the next period, I will leave Moon City. You can briefly contact me through this item, but there may be some range limitations."
"If you cannot contact me and the matter is urgent, you can directly pray to the great Lord of Order for help."
A token with ancient and complex patterns condensed in his hand. This was made by Cavendish using a Worm of Spirit, relying on his Sequence 3 ability to respond to prayers within a certain range.
High Priest Nim devoutly accepted it. With those mushrooms, Moon City's food problem had been resolved. After truly receiving the blessing of a god, Moon City no longer needed to risk further exploration outwards.
Having arranged Moon City's affairs, Cavendish carried his lantern and walked into the deep Darkness outside.
What he was going to do next was actually very clear, which was:
Find the Sanguine Holy City "Kamia," inquire about the situation, and then complete the task assigned by the "Lord of Order" as soon as possible.
As for the gray-white barrier that might hide the Western Continent, he had temporarily given up. In the past few days, he had exhausted all methods but failed to obtain effective information.
He even risked letting his historical projection enter the mist, but it was like a clay ox entering the sea. The moment he touched the gray-white mist, he lost all sensation of the projection.
Seeing that he had escaped the gaze of Moon City residents, Cavendish pulled out another version of himself from the historical mist.
His main body then entered the void, transferring his consciousness to the projection, and then used "Flame Jump" to head north. Clusters of flames ignited and then extinguished on the plain covered by night.
-----------------
Klein, whose face was slightly pale, walked out of the Blackthorn Security Company. He felt the warm sunlight but was very tired. His energy simply couldn't keep up with those "Sleepless" ones. After a night of torment, even a Seer couldn't hold on.
Fortunately, the captain approved a day off.... Klein thought, still resisting the urge to take a carriage. After all, he wouldn't be reimbursed this time.
When Klein returned home, Benson and Melissa, who were in workday mode, had already left. The living room was peaceful and dim, completely silent.
Klein looked at the note Melissa had left on the table, smiled, and finished the still-warm breakfast, then picked up his coat, hat, and cane and walked towards the stairs.
Entering his bedroom, Klein locked the door behind him. Immediately after, he forced himself to cheer up, took out his ritual silver dagger, and created a sealed Wall of Spirituality.
Then, he walked four steps counter-clockwise, chanted the incantation, resisting the chaotic shouts, and entered above the gray fog.
In this illusory and boundless world, he was the only living being, seated at the head of the ancient, mottled bronze long table.
After a few tens of seconds of calm, Klein materialized parchment and wrote down a divination incantation:
"The pattern displayed by the Misfortune Cloth Puppet."
At that moment last night, although Klein had clearly seen the mysterious pattern on the paper, due to nervousness and haste, he only remembered the general idea and could not recall the specific details.
But this was not a problem. For a Seer, as long as they had seen it and remembered that it happened, they could reproduce it!
After silently chanting the divination incantation, Klein leaned back and entered sleep through meditation.
In the hazy, distorted, and fragmented world, he once again saw the Chanis Gate opening with a creak and heard the heavy friction sound.
The puppet wearing the black classical court gown was pressed tightly against the half-open door, unfolding the paper it held in its hand.
On the paper, numerous mysterious symbols were depicted, together forming a vertical eye.
Klein gazed deeply at the pattern, then voluntarily exited the dream. Then, using the special nature of the gray fog, he expressed the memory that had not yet faded:
On the brown parchment, the vertical eye "looked up," eerie and mysterious.
Klein thought for a moment and wrote below this eye:
"This is the key to the treasure left by the Antigonus family."
Putting down the pen, he unfastened the silver chain wrapped inside his cuff and held it in his left hand until the citrine pendant hung steadily above the divination statement and the mysterious vertical eye, no longer swaying significantly.
Klein closed his eyes and silently chanted the words with an ethereal and peaceful mind.
After seven repetitions, he opened his eyes and saw the citrine pendant, with its silver chain, rotating slightly clockwise.
And this, in pendulum divination, indicated affirmation.
"The vertical eye pattern really is the key to the treasure left by the Antigonus family..." Klein nodded slightly as if in thought.
He tapped his finger on the edge of the bronze long table, muttering to himself:
"Because of the death of Ray Bieber, the descendants of the Antigonus family were cut off, so that notebook regarded me, a Seer who had contact with it and is still alive, as the inheritor?"
"It influenced 3-0625, leaving the key to the treasure, and had it show it to me when I was on duty at the Chanis Gate?"
Recalling the information about that Grade 0 Sealed Artifact learned at the Council of Entropy, Klein could not determine whether his guess was inevitable or a story written by the renegade Archbishop.
Sighing, Klein rubbed his temples, feeling a headache, and decided to return to the real world to rest first, then set off in the afternoon to find those problematic houses.
Although he was also worried about encountering the renegade Archbishop when searching the houses, if he had a clue but suddenly stopped investigating, such an unusual plot might be noticed.
Just as Klein was about to return to the real world, he inexplicably recalled the captain's words and the gains from his previous divination with the lucky gold coin. He hesitated for a moment, and the "Mutated Sun Sacred Emblem" still appeared in his hand.
Klein, somewhat curious about the special origin of this Sealed Artifact, confirmed through dream divination that the purifying ability came from that golden liquid.
Having had the experience of divining the lucky gold coin before, Klein quickly separated the golden liquid. Feeling that he might have stumbled upon a treasure this time, Klein excitedly wrote down a new divination statement:
"The source of this golden liquid."
In the illusory and hazy dream, in that gray and fragmented world, a golden, dazzling Sun suddenly leaped out!
A low hum came through countless voids. Pure and bright light instantly ignited everything, and golden, scorching flames swept out wildly.
Boom!
Klein suddenly exited the dream, trembling and falling sideways, his body already a torch, burning fiercely.
Why? This is just a Grade 3 Sealed Artifact!
At this moment, his thoughts were completely chaotic, with only this one sentence echoing in his mind.
Rumble!
The mysterious space above the gray fog shook violently. The majestic palace collapsed inch by inch, and the ancient and mottled bronze long table was even smashed with pits and broken into several pieces.
This terrifying change only lasted for three seconds, and then the gray fog returned to silence, as if nothing had happened.
The golden flames on Klein's body also gradually extinguished. He rolled around, scorched black, screaming, until his ability to think gradually returned.
He propped himself up on the armrest of the high-backed chair, struggling to stand, both terrified and bewildered by what had just happened.
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