"Mr. Azik!"
Angel greeted with some surprise.
The bronze-skinned middle-aged man nodded gently, stretched out his hand like a Gentlemen, let Angel hold it, and then pulled her, quickly walking through the Spirit World.
The clouds and blue sky around the two people were rich in color and quickly retreated. The Midway Island below disappeared instantly and turned into an endless sea. From time to time, ships with sails or ships puffing out smoke flashed past and disappeared at the end of the sea level.
This kind of Spirit World Shuttle was completely different from what Angel had imagined. She originally thought that fast flying would stir up strong winds, just like traveling quickly in the sky. She didn't expect that it would be as poetic and picturesque. They didn't even simply fly in one direction, but changed directions and heights from time to time, like walking in an invisible maze.
"In about an hour, we will arrive at Bayam."
Mr. Azik seemed to be talking to himself, but also seemed to be explaining to Angel.
"So, it was Klein who asked you for help?"
"Yes, he blew Copper Whistle, summoned my messenger, and asked me for help, saying that you might be in danger," Azik winked, then his face turned serious and he looked forward, "Be careful, it will be a bit bumpy."
Angel looked along his gaze, and saw a violent wind visible to the naked eye blowing towards them, quickly crossing the indistinguishable distance between Spirit World, and passing by Angel. The dress on her body made a sound, and her face twitched involuntarily. She could only hold on to Azik beside her to avoid being blown away by the wind.
When she narrowed her eyes to resist the oncoming wind, she was surprised to find that the person whipping up the strong wind turned out to be a familiar figure.
It was the thumb-sized Spirit World bird she encountered when she tried to summon the messenger two weeks ago!
At this time, the bird had swelled to be taller than a human. Its wings flapped randomly, making the originally silent oil painting-like scenes sway constantly. It flew around Angel like a show off, and then changed direction and left.
It seems a little resentful...
Angel watched the bird go away with eyes that were either disappointed or happy.
"It is actually an adult Banshee Bird. The wind of illusion blown by its wings can directly blow away the Spirit Body of Low Sequence Beyonder. If I remembered these memories when you summoned the messenger last time, I might persuade you to make a contract with it."
Mr. Azik on the side said with some regret, pulling Angel to continue flying forward.
"The current Ms. Wensa is pretty good, and such a powerful Spirit World Creature shouldn't easily become my messenger..."
Angel I'm more thankful that a messenger that is too powerful may not be a good thing.
"It is hovering near the Berserk Sea. Perhaps it is interested in the aura of death here. They shuttle through Spirit World, chasing death and destruction. The characteristics of you may attract it."
Death, destruction?
Angel suddenly remembered Pierce Turner who died under "Calamity" Charm, and what he said before his remaining consciousness in the dream drifted away.
After briefly telling Azik everything that happened to Para Island, Angel asked:
"Are the runes found in Bansy Island and the power possessed by 'Calamity' Charm the unique power contained in the Berserk Sea?"
"No, they are not the same," Azik answered decisively, "I haven't figured out where the power of 'Calamity' comes from yet, but it is the same as 'Death Z' in the Berserk Sea Z' power is completely different. I recently conducted related investigations on the Rhoside Islands and the outskirts of the Berserk Sea, and recovered some memories, including the fall of 'Death' at the end of Fourth Epoch..."
"Berserk Sea, is the burial place of 'Death'?"
Angel was a little stunned. She didn't expect that there was such a secret in Azik's memory.
Immediately, she felt sorry for the senior deacon Pierce who chose to be promoted to Para Island near the Berserk Sea. The latter was Corpse Collector, that is, Sequence 5 of "Death" Pathway, although trying to Switching Pathways to "Sleepless", he was still influenced by the fallen Death, and performed a ritual that was bound to fail amidst the storm that Berserk Sea suddenly became more violent, causing everything that happened to Para Island in the past six months.
He also mentioned Ince Zangwill, who had failed in promotion before, and Archbishop, who defected, was also a "Gatekeeper". He also failed in promotion, which directly led to the subsequent theft of "0-08" and his defection.
Are there any similarities between the two failures?
"This is not only the influence of the Berserk Sea. Even in the North Continent far away from here, the failure rate of Death pathway's recent promotion to Demigod is also very high. Perhaps it is the 'contamination' from the high-ranking Sequence, or it may be some kind of recent change."
Azik's words confirmed Angel's guess.
But, pollution...
He raised his right hand with some white fluff that could not be removed even if it was burned and cleaned with Black Flame, and showed it to Azik beside him. Angel continued to ask:
"Mr. Azik, is this the kind of pollution you are talking about? Is there any way to remove it?"
If they hadn't grown Regeneration after I sacrificed the mutated dark holy symbol, maybe I would have gone to Church of Storms's church to seek help. It would be better to be locked up than to be completely contaminated... She thought with some fear.
"This pollution..."
Under the brim of the silk top hat, Azik's brown eyes became deep, and his gaze focused on the back of Angel's hand, as if he was lost in thought.
The illusory and colorful environment around them stopped changing, and the two stopped somewhere in Spirit World.
"Ha, it's very similar to 'Death', but not exactly the same. It's strange..." He murmured, his eyes returned to normal with a soft look, "I recalled something, do you mind if we take a little detour?"
Seeing Angel gently shaking his head, Azik took her hand and continued to set off. He did not change direction, and the surrounding Spirit World weird scenery also moved irregularly. After a while, their figures appeared in a valley.
There are clear streams flowing in the valley, with fertile farmland and Loen-style manors in the distance.
Angel is in the cemetery on the other side of the stream. There are many tombstones here. Some of them seem to have just been erected. The cracks between the stones are clear and the weeds are not growing. Some are buried by the weeds and only the ruins are exposed.
Azik looked around, and his eyes quickly locked on a tombstone in the weeds. It had been broken from the middle, and only half of it was left. The edges had been worn away by wind and rain over a long period of time, like half a stubborn tree root, standing in the dark cemetery.
Slowly walking forward, Azik squatted down, put his hand on half of the tombstone, and lowered his head. Standing next to him, Angel could see the face of "Undying" who was immersed in memories, full of sadness and confusion.
"After I felt that power, I remembered a lot of things. Here, my daughter from a certain life is buried. She has the same black hair and brown eyes as me. She likes to act like a baby to me and likes the swing I made. She... she has been dead for nine hundred and twenty-six years..."
His hands were stroking the tombstone that was a little smooth and the writing on it had completely disappeared, as if he was trying to press his palms into it, Mr. Azik's voice was trembling.
"But in another life, when I lost my memory, I once led soldiers and almost bulldozed this remote town. That place, that place, and those were all caused by me... I was still young at that time and had no memory of my identity. I didn't even know if there were any descendants of her among those who resisted bravely..."
He stood up and pointed to the other side of the cemetery, where there were neat but dense rows of tombstones, similar in style and age.
Angel took two steps closer with some worry.
"This is why I am eager to find my past self." Azik took off his top hat with one hand and scratched his finely styled black hair with the other hand, tucking them into a mess. "I am worried that I will do something irreversible if I forget the memories of my previous life."
"In this life, you still have us. Klein and I will try our best to help."
Taking the initiative to reach out and grab Azik's trembling palm, Angel comforted him softly.
Although she knew that "Persuasion" and "High Sequence Beyonder" were like fantasy, she still used her verbal ability.
Fortunately, this effort seemed to have some effect. Mr. Azik's bronze-colored cheeks quickly recovered from the confusion, and his eyes stared at Angel.
"... Yes, I can recall my previous experiences so quickly this time, thanks to Klein and your help."
He shook his head, as if to get rid of these memories from hundreds of years ago.
"Sorry, I was a little too emotional just now. The purpose of my leaving Spirit World Shuttle is to drive away the pollution from 'Death' for you."
As she said that, Mr. Azik raised her right hand and grabbed the down on the back of Angel's hand. All the down like micro-feathers left her body, rolled up into a ball, and fell into Azik's palm.
"What I said is not quite accurate. This is not the power of 'Death', but some kind of inferior imitation. What on earth do they... want to do?"
He closed his palms and these fluff disappeared instantly, Azik murmured.
"Inferior imitation?" Angel repeated, his eyes brightening, "Then if Beyonder Characteristic or Sealed Artifact is contaminated by this power, can the same method be used to solve it?"
She thought of being seriously polluted and didn't even dare to take it with her. She could only sacrifice Night Emblem to Mr. Fool. If the pollution problem could be solved, she could directly return it to Church of Evernight. Before that, she could even make limited use of Beyonder Characteristic from High Sequence!
"The contaminated Beyonder Characteristic can be directly made into Mystical Item with greater negative effects, or Sealed Artifact, to achieve the purpose of utilizing its power. If it is to configure Potion, which can smash the contaminated characteristics and let them gather together on their own, and the dissipated pollution will not return to the characteristics. That requires at least a full blow of the Angel level. Unfortunately, with my current strength, I cannot do this yet."
Angel's attack... Mr. Azik can't do it "temporarily". Sure enough, he used to be Sequence 2's strong man... Angel was sighing at first, and then disappointed.
"However, if the power comes from the same source as the pollution on the back of your hand, I may be able to peel it off, at least most of it, so that the remaining pollution does not pose a threat. Of course, if the Potion is configured, it is still not 'clean' enough."
Azik's next words made Angel's eyes widen.
It's a pity that the contaminated Holy Emblem is currently in the hands of Mr. Fool, otherwise you can give it a try now... No, Angel, are you thinking of taking Beyonder Characteristic of Pierce as your own? This is to be returned to the church, this is his last wish!
Forcibly resisting the temptation of High Sequence Beyonder Characteristic, she forced a smile and replied:
"Thank you, Mr. Azik, I understand."
"Then I'll send you back to Bayam first."
Taking one last look at the weathered tombstone, Azik stretched out his hand and let Angel grasp it gently, and then the two entered Spirit World again, roaming among the illusive and gorgeous colors, and soon emerged from between the bright red of the carpet and the beige of the wall.
The fantasy color faded, and the familiar living room of a hotel luxury suite appeared in front of Angel. Klein, who was sitting on the sofa with a coin dancing back and forth in his fingers, jumped up suddenly, and a smile appeared on the indifferent face of Gehrman Sparrow.
"Welcome back!"