The tense atmosphere immediately relaxed. Chief Colin's right hand, gripping the "Proof of Glory," was no longer taut, but the expression beneath his silver mask remained solemn.
It wasn't due to the unfamiliar angel's demonstrative actions, but rather because his Hunter of Demons intuition, sublimated after his advancement, told him just how vast the gap was between wielding a divine Sealed Artifact and a true mythical creature.
Especially the figure clearly at the head, although its state wasn't entirely real, the fact that an angel treated him with such deference already spoke volumes.
Sighing inwardly, Colin no longer insisted. He only hoped that The Fool's promise carried enough weight.
Glancing at Derrick, who was introducing the City of Silver members to each other, Aaron's gaze swept past chief Colin and finally settled on Lovia at the edge.
That figure, appearing somewhat frail against her half-giant companions, was shrouded in a layer of gloom in Aaron's true vision.
In the shadow reflected on the ground, a thick, dark mass of shadow seemed to sense something, slowly splitting open a gap, revealing the pair of indifferent eyes behind it.
The moment their gazes met, Aaron saw a blurry figure hanging crucified deep within those eyes, black ink-like blood dripping, and an unimaginable aura of defilement transmitted through the medium.
"One cannot directly gaze upon a deity. Tsk, quite tsundere..."
Aaron clicked his tongue inwardly, subtly drawing upon the power of the Nation of Disorder to isolate this more warning-like corruption in another space, without any leakage.
Although he didn't speak, through the brief contact, Aaron could confirm that the True Creator had at least formed a tacit understanding with Adam regarding the opening of the Giant King's Court, where Sasrir slept.
Collecting his thoughts, Aaron no longer paid attention to Lovia, who was secretly scrutinizing him. He slightly raised his hand, and a black iron key detached from Cavendish's seal, going straight to the point amidst the somewhat complex gazes of the City of Silver members:
"Some of you should already know that the Door to leave the Forsaken Land of the Gods is hidden deep within the Giant King's Court, and this is the key to open that Door!"
"However, dangers lurk there, especially for those of higher Sequence, so it requires a specific person to open it."
Above the gray fog, Klein, who was secretly "peeking" by using "Sun" Derrick's prayer to the stars, felt his heart skip a beat. His Seer intuition, enhanced by Sefirah Castle, gave him a strange sense of déjà vu regarding this sentence.
The members of the Six-Person Council exchanged glances, seeing the spark of hope deep within each other's eyes.
Chief Colin said no more and directly led Aaron and the two others outside the City of Silver, where a black mausoleum was inverted and embedded in the ground, like a flipped pyramid.
Similar structures also appeared deep within the Abyss of Ferrying, now the capital of the Balam Empire. Aaron, who understood the Death Pathway extremely well, instantly guessed that this should be the mausoleum built by the former chief of the City of Silver for his advancement to Ferryman.
Audrey raised her hand to stop Colin, who intended to lead everyone into the mausoleum, and explained in a gentle tone:
"This mausoleum is the premise for that former chief's successful return. From now on, we will be responsible. You may accompany and observe, but we hope there will be no unnecessary incidents."
As she spoke, Audrey glanced at the True Creator's believer, then withdrew her gaze.
Cavendish, standing quietly behind Aaron, raised both hands at this moment, simultaneously grasping at the void in front of him, and a brilliant starlight instantly illuminated the area.
Once the starlight settled, this Miracle Invoker's hands each held a crown made of gemstones and an ancient-style ring resembling obsidian.
These were the historical projections of the "Crown of Stars" and the "Ring of Mysteries"!
Including Aaron, who had descended into the Forsaken Land of the Gods as a projection, Cavendish had already reached the limit of summoning historical projections. The terrifying spiritual consumption prompted him to act immediately.
A faint blue starlight appeared on the heavy door at the entrance of the mausoleum. After the starlight portal opened, what appeared in everyone's vision was not a downward-extending passage, but an illusory and dark river.
"This is the deepest part of the mausoleum..."
He casually explained, not caring about the City of Silver members' reactions. Cavendish went straight in, instantly reaching the end of the river, an altar piled with Monster skulls, where a dark, silent iron coffin stood.
Sensing the intruders, the black iron coffin shook violently, and a voice with the sound of bones rubbing together emerged:
"Who are you?"
The hysterical voice contained unconcealed malice, instantly sinking the hearts of the City of Silver members, who had originally held some hope, to rock bottom.
Although it had lost control, it hadn't continued to deteriorate. The Evernight Goddess seizing the Death Pathway's Uniqueness had indeed curbed the corruption left by the Artificial Death.... Aaron, whose true vision revealed everything, nodded slightly and snapped his fingers, and the shaking coffin instantly quieted.
Having anticipated this situation, Cavendish didn't hesitate at all, pressing the "Ring of Mysteries" onto the coffin in front of him.
The surrounding surging darkness seemed to come alive at this moment, converging like a tide.
Under the illumination of pale flames, the illusory black thin tubes extending from the coffin occasionally contracted, and the corruption left by the Artificial Death within this former chief's body was being expelled in an unimaginable way, disappearing into the dense darkness.
Lovia watched everything quietly. After sensing chief Colin's slightly warning gaze, she instead showed a faint smile.
The surging darkness gradually subsided. From the thoroughly dark coffin, a tired, aged voice, barely concealing its exhaustion, emerged again. Although somewhat weak, it was no longer filled with malice:
"Thank you for your help..."
Having found his past self from the cracks of history to borrow spirituality to replenish his consumption, Cavendish immediately stopped maintaining the "Ring of Mysteries" and spoke in a deep voice:
"It's a bit too early to thank me. Although the corruption has been removed, your spirit has long been on the verge of collapse due to the prolonged erosion. Now, I'm merely using my Miracle Invoker authority to help you maintain balance."
Audrey walked slowly, adding in a gentle tone:
"If you don't want all your efforts to be in vain, open your mind and embrace the treatment. Only then will you have a chance to truly advance to Ferryman..."
Audrey used "Pacify" a few more times. Only when the former chief's mental state had completely stabilized and he was capable of cooperating did she open this demigod's "Body of Mind and Heart Door."
After a not-so-long wait, Cavendish teleported everyone out of the mausoleum, only then dispelling the historical projection of the "Crown of Stars."
Glancing at Lovia, who had been extremely silent throughout, Aaron looked at chief Colin and spoke in a deep voice:
"In at most a month, this former chief will successfully complete his final advancement and emerge from the mausoleum. Now, shouldn't the City of Silver fulfill its promise? I'm quite looking forward to that divine Sealed Artifact!"