Sensing Angel's divine presence drawing near, Salinger's Blood Banner reacted instinctively despite being sealed.
Its scorched fabric, covered in countless spots of blood, began to flutter, suppressing the pitch-black, velvet-like aura that had been suppressing it. An overwhelming drive to conquer and destroy everything instantly filled the entire space.
The steel soldier puppets surrounding Corpse Mountain abruptly raised their heads. Deep crimson light shone from the hollow eye sockets of their helmets as they swiftly formed ranks and converged on the summit. Their numbers were no longer the hundred or so Angel had previously seen through Helene's eyes, but thousands, tens of thousands—an entire army!
Even Angel felt a tangled mixture of fear, panic, and reverence well up deep within her. The burning ceiling pressed down like a mountain, and an invisible force bore down on her shoulders, making her knees tremble and her back bend. All she wanted was to abandon her dignity, kneel, and beg for mercy, instinctively submitting to the Sealed Artifact before her.
And once she did, it would signify complete submission in body, consciousness, and spirit. Like the steel soldier puppets below, she would become a puppet of Salinger's Blood Banner, a member of the legion guarding it.
This was the true reason Molora, the City of Exile, forbade Beyonders at the Demigod level or above from entering:
The Sealed Artifact designated "0-01," the Red Priest's Uniqueness, grew stronger against stronger opponents. It permitted no one to retain their dignity before it. Submission was the only way out.
And apart from a True God, who could hold their head high before the Uniqueness that commanded the authorities of war and conquest?
Only Angel could.
Her neck bones creaked like rusted gears as she slowly raised her head against the invisible pressure. She stared straight at