Three Divine Staircases

Chapter 42: Three Divine Staircases

"Because of the graveyard's influence, ordinary people's bodies weakened, causing them to suffer Mind Influence from the Higher Lifeforms beyond the city walls while dreaming at night, fall into corruption, and turn into ghouls... This!

Even separated by an enormous city wall, they could still corrupt people through dreams.

What exactly are these newly born Higher Lifeforms!?"

Han Dong had assumed ghouls originated from some kind of spreading plague. He had never expected them to be connected to the things outside the city.

"Furthermore, this also means...

The essence of ghouls is connected in some way to the things beyond the city walls... That is why goggles are needed to reduce Visual Pollution.

Why am I unaffected?

Is it because the Faceless Head itself is immune?"

Han Dong recorded all his speculations in a notebook, intending to slowly verify them in the future.

He also recorded the characteristics of ghouls, including immense strength, swift movement, fungal traits, and a degree of regeneration.

A ghoul arm, as elastic as rubber, lay on the tabletop.

The next second, Han Dong took the arm directly into the Portable Prison.

Before entering the Sterile Laboratory, he used a sterile bag in the buffer room to isolate the arm separately, preventing the fungus from spreading and contaminating the sterile room.

What Han Dong needed to consider now was the arm itself.

His frail body had to be dealt with somehow... The best solution Han Dong could think of was making use of his "Weight Limit."

'Cellular Essence fully injected. "Weight Limit" increased by 2 points (ghoul sample).'

He first injected the ghoul's Cellular Essence into the Cell Cluster. The increase was far lower than expected... As a result, Han Dong currently had 27 points of additional Load Value at his disposal.

"How do I check this arm's attributes? Before, I did it through contact with the Cell Cluster... So what about now?"

Just as Han Dong questioned himself, a voice from the head echoed through the sterile room.

'Please place the body part you wish to use on the examination platform.'

"Examination platform?"

When Han Dong turned around, a pristine counter had appeared before him at his side. Other than a slender tubular scanner, there were no other instruments.

An external object has been detected on the platform.

The scanner began operating. In less than a minute, a paper report was produced from the side.

Mature Ghoul Arm (name displayed in green text)

Quality: Fine

≮Quality rankings from low to high:

Gray (Crude) → White (Common) → Green (Fine) → Blue (Rare) → Purple (Unique) → Pink (Epic) → Gold (Legend) → Dark Gold (Imperial)≯

Weight requirement: 22 points.

Base: Slightly stronger than an ordinary person.

Traits:

1. "Claws" — Can cut through hardwood and certain structurally loose types of stone.

2. "Graveyard Fungus" — When it damages a target, it will simultaneously infect the target.

Note: The arm can undergo homogenization upgrades. Modification, virus injection, occult reinforcement, and other methods can improve the arm's quality and grant additional attributes.

"Basically, all its traits have been inherited, and the Weight Limit requirement matches as well... Once I accept it, will my arm become like this too?"

As Han Dong worried about changes to his appearance, the system voice sounded again:

"Assimilated limbs can be 'disguised' according to the host's requirements. This function is provided by the Faceless Head."

With that, Han Dong no longer had any reservations. His weak body could finally undergo some changes.

'Arm integration in progress. Weight limit: 122/127.'

Over the next two days.

Nicholas's family underwent earth-shaking changes.

Their school district home had been assigned a day early.

It was a detached Victorian-style building with two floors and a basement, a river-view home located across the road from the Royal Knights Academy, with interior decorations combining metal art and marble.

When the entire family left the Samael Slums with their luggage... Nicholas's mother and Nina both burst into tears in the carriage.

Han Dong looked utterly bewildered, merely gazing at the scenery along the riverbank.

"Thank you, Brother."

"Mm."

Fewer than ten Copper Coins from one bag were enough to purchase a full set of furniture.

In addition, at Han Dong's suggestion, they spent another twenty-five Copper Coins on a slightly modified steam-powered horse. Its stability and handling were superior to ordinary horses, making it convenient for Nina to travel to the Mechanical Workshop every day.

After all, the river-view home came with its own stable. Metal horses were a form of transport that even middle-class families typically owned at least one of, making travel more convenient.

Considering that his upcoming knight training would be completely closed off and that he would only be able to return home during breaks, Han Dong wondered whether he should hire a maid for Nicholas's mother.

However, his mother insisted there was no need. She said she could not adapt to a life of being waited on, so Han Dong did not force the matter.

Besides, Nina would return from the Mechanical Workshop before nightfall to keep her mother company.

Once everything had been arranged.

The scheduled registration day arrived on the third day.

At 07:00 in the morning, Han Dong received a "call" through the Clockwork Device worn on his wrist.

"Valen Nicholas, please follow the device's guidance and arrive at the Knight-Errant registration office within the academy before 08:30. Activate your Knight Card and collect your freshman handbook."

When the call ended, after Han Dong's research over the past few days, the Clockwork Device changed into a "pointer" form.

Han Dong hired a carriage and traveled along the academy's outer wall, which stretched almost beyond sight. It took roughly half an hour before he finally saw the gates of the Royal Knights Academy.

This showed just how immense the academy truly was.

A bronze gate incorporating advanced mechanical craftsmanship stood before him. At its center was a massive knight's emblem—"two crossed swords above a white horse's head."

Han Dong swiftly inserted his golden Knight-Errant card into the slot beside the gate.

Clack clack~ Rumble rumble!

Steam Power drove the gears within the gate, and the massive doors slowly opened.

It was not the campus scene of green lawns and flowerbeds he had imagined.

Before him stood a pure white staircase a hundred meters tall. Walls enclosed both sides of the staircase, leaving only one path upward.

This staircase was none other than Ares' Stair.

Speaking of staircases, it was necessary to explain the basic structure of the Holy City—Neunter.

A nation-sized city-state, the Holy City covered half of Italos.

Its national system was a constitutional monarchy under a council system.

The apocalyptic environment, Destiny Space's special talent-selection mechanism, and the Council Monarchy's governance had resulted in a clear class divide within the Holy City.

The differences between classes were not merely economic; they also concerned "ability."

Thus, during the early establishment of the Holy City—Neunter, the council decided to comprehensively renovate the inner city.

The plan was called the "Three Divine Staircases."

The first staircase—three in total: Ares' Stair, Hermes' Stair, and Artemis' Stair.

The second staircase—two in total: Poseidon's Stair and Apollo's Stair.

The third staircase—only one: Zeus' Stair.

(Rumor had it that there was also a fourth staircase hidden beneath the ground, concealed in The Depths—Hades' Stair.)

The construction of the Three Divine Staircases divided the Holy City into four major urban districts.

The elevation difference between each district was at least fifty meters.

Once the outermost city wall was breached, only the outer Slums would fall.

At the same time, a second metal city wall one hundred meters tall would rise from the bottom of the Moslaby River, ensuring the safety of everything above the first staircase.

The Ares' Stair directly before Han Dong was one of the first staircases!

It was also the most special one.

Because this staircase permitted passage only to "knights" of Knight-Errant rank and above.

It led directly to the Royal Knights Academy on the Holy City's second level.