I Will Always Believe in Big Brother

Lily lay on the sofa, watching Iver tidy up for a while, but she couldn't help but get down and help him tidy up as well.

"What Path Trait did you choose?"

"Iver asked casually."

Generally speaking, he doesn't like to get involved in these things. This was just something he was curious about.

Because the Path Trait are basically chosen based on instinct.

Those are the entries given by the Nine Pillar Gods; they can't be wrong. Instinctive choices are usually correct... or rather, all three entries are suitable for me, so I can choose whichever I like.

The same principle applies to giving the Path Trait action based on the behavior in the ritual—if you are not aware of this, as long as you are forced to bring out your potential by the ritual and act in accordance with your heart, the given words will definitely be the most suitable for you.

Unless someone like the Iris Assassin Miss or Iver himself has special requirements for professional inheritance and must acquire certain Path Trait to complete the job... then there is a need to control the attribute.

However, Lily embarked on her extraordinary path entirely through the Grimoire. In other words, she didn't actually have any inherited or restricted professional system. It was essentially a completely new profession that Iver didn't understand either... So Iver's interference might actually lead Lily to choose Path Trait unsuitable for her.

This is a valuable lesson from Iver: if you haven't played this class before, don't give advice based on your intuition when others ask you for help. Instead, frankly say, "I really don't know."

"Both times it was Shadow Affinity."

Lily answered softly.

"Huh?"

Iver paused for a moment. "You want to learn Shadow Stealth?"

Upon hearing this, a sneer came from Iver's shadow, loud enough for Lily to hear clearly.

Lily glanced at Iver's shadow and answered earnestly, "Yes. Didn't you say that the assassin was able to enter the shadows Shadow Affinity three times? I want that ability too."

"You also want to steal the power of the shadows... Miss Spider?"

The Shadow Fiend emitted a deep, lion-like voice.

"It's not about stealing, it's about teaching."

Lily said politely but earnestly, "I remember the young master saying that those assassins never actually came into contact with the Shadow Fiend. Their skills weren't based on imitation, but rather on their imagination... So if the Shadow Fiend personally taught me how to infiltrate the shadows, would I be stronger than them?"

"Of course."

The Shadow Fiend answered without hesitation, "They haven't even grasped the basics of shadow; they're so clumsy it makes me want to laugh. The problem is... why should I teach you, a follower of the god of stealing scales and feathers?"

For some reason, Lily sensed a hint of hostility in the Shadow Fiend's voice.

Iver crouched down and touched his shadow, gently reassuring him, "So that means it's not a problem after all, right, Shadow Fiend?"

Lily's words actually struck a chord with him.

Iver had considered this before—if Shadow Fiend was sealed into Blank Card and became his beast, it would be like it was trapped in a Poké Ball. It would need to be actively released by Iver to remain permanently in the outside world.

This means he can perfectly control the Shadow Affinity. But it also means that Iver will lose the ability to constantly monitor the Shadow Fiend.

By then, he no longer needed a wheelchair, Lily had no reason to constantly push it and follow behind. Her ability to divert attention and keep a close eye on others was also difficult to trigger. Furthermore, if Lily were attacked, Iver would have a hard time reacting immediately.

If Lily could learn Shadow Stealth, Lily could take the place of Shadow Fiend and slip into her own shadow to keep watch for Iver in an absolutely safe place when Iver enters dangerous areas!

In that case, even when Iver goes on archaeological expeditions or goes abroad, he can take Lily with him.

He prepared such good equipment for Lily; it would be a waste to only let Lily play in low-level matches.

"It's not that I don't want to teach, but my respected master..."

The Shadow Fiend murmured, his voice noticeably softer and more submissive to Iver's, even with a hint of grievance. "This spider lady doesn't have the seed of shadow within her. Just like a person without gills, even if she can mimic a fish swimming in water, she can't breathe for long."

"The seed of shadow..."

Iver seemed to be deep in thought.

... Speaking of which, he has never used the other half of his Shepherding Method.

That is the [Shepherding) ] technique belonging to the "Path of Transcendence," which is the ability of the shepherded phantom to grant power to others.

Iver thought for a moment and said to Shadow Fiend, "How about... we make a deal? I'll give you my flesh and blood, and you give her your power. Of course, don't rush to refuse—it's not today anyway."

"Although I promised you that I would give you my flesh and blood to taste after I came out... I'll have to make you wait for half a day, since I still have a place where I need to use a lot of magic power."

"Are you going to fight someone else, my master?"

The Shadow Demon perked up. "In that case, perhaps we won't need your magic. I can already wield some of my power through your body."

"Of course not. I'm making an extraordinary item—an item that requires a full fifty units of Fire Attribute power to create."

"... Are you making a bomb?"

Shadow Fiend hesitated for a moment.

"Hmph."

Iver smiled smugly, "Let me show you the power of your master."

Seeing that the Ritual Site was almost ready, Iver said to Lily, "Go and bring Yulia over. Keep your voice down and don't wake up the others."

"Now?" Lily glanced at the time.

It's only a little past four in the morning, the sun hasn't even risen yet.

"Yes, we need to be prepared before Rising Sun. Today is the new moon, the darkest night. It's also the day when the power of the sun is weakest."

Iver explained simply.

"Okay, we'll be right back."

Lily nodded and disappeared into the shadows.

After Lily left, Shadow Fiend was somewhat uneasy. "What exactly are you making... that requires so much mana?"

Have you heard of the Phantom Demon Card?

Iver asked in return.

"What is that?" Shadow Fiend had never heard of it before.

"Oh, or rather," Iver chuckled, "Do you know about 'Great Sin Arts'?"

"... You mean the ritual used when you extracted my power before?"

Shadow Fiend was deeply impressed by [The Ritual of Sin].

To date, it has never seen anyone so easily extract the power of Greater Demon.

"You know that Yulia is the Phantom Demon Egg."

"That's obvious."

The Shadow Demon replied, "I was also reborn from the Phantom Demon Egg decades ago, so I'm quite familiar with it."

Any phantom that hatches from Phantom Demon Egg is not a newly born phantom, but a phantom that has died and been reborn.

"I know the secret of your immortality as phantom demons."

Iver nodded and said, "After you Phantom Demons die, your remnants can slowly regenerate and recover by drawing Path Power as long as you return to the Dream Realm. However, if the death is too complete, or if you are destroyed again during rebirth, your concept will descend into the Material Realm."

"Those babies who are born before they have learned to speak or know their own names, if they are born with a resonance with a certain path, can sense the illusion of the young life."

The "Phantom Demon Egg" are mostly child prodigies. Yulia is only fifteen years old, yet she is already very familiar with university-level knowledge.

But rather than saying becoming Phantom Demon Egg increases talent, it's more accurate to say that only true geniuses have the potential to become Phantom Demon Egg.

"What I need to do is extract the phantom demon from Yulia's body."

Iver replied, "That way, Yulia won't have to worry about losing control."

"... Let me remind you first, Master. Extracting the Phantom Demon from the Phantom Demon Egg will cause the Phantom Demon Egg to die immediately."

"That is human skill."

Iver affirmed, "But what I will use is Celestial Arts."

Just then, Lily gently pushed the door open and entered.

She explained softly, "We ran into Oswald when we came out, which delayed us for a little while."

At that moment, Lily draped her coat over Yulia, who was wearing pajamas. Yulia was clearly still half asleep, standing there groggily.

But she was very well-behaved, never making a fuss or causing any trouble.

Yulia rubbed her eyes, looking somewhat sleepy as she surveyed the remaining ritual traces in the room.

Iver chuckled, "Oswald must have heard the commotion to come and check on the situation."

"Oswald is really amazing."

Lily exclaimed, "He saw me even when I was still in stealth mode."

That's normal. Iver nodded.

His Elf Butler might be at the Fifth Level. The reason for saying "might" is that Oswald didn't enter the instance, so Iver doesn't know any more information about him.

These guardian spirits serve and protect the Founding Family, which is very likely a deal between the Theocracy or the Candlelight and the Silver Crowned Dragon.

After all, the ancestors of these Founding Family were related to the Silver Crowned Dragon's ascension to the position of Pillar God, and many of them should have been elevated to become apostles of the Silver Crowned Dragon —just like "Gawain" whom he had just met.

It's quite normal for the Theocracy to send people to take care of the bloodlines of these apostles remaining in the Material Realm, at least to prevent them from dying out...

Even if the apostles no longer have any connection to or attachment to the Material Realm, it is still a proper and reasonable form of respect for the people of the Material Realm. And this is very likely what the candle keeper meant.

—Although no one knows the Silver Crowned Dragon's name when he was human, Iver speculates that he was most likely called "Arthur".

After all, Avalon's founding monarch was Lancelot, and the Founding Family were the original Round Table Knights. With characters like Merlin, Vivian, and Mordred also present, the King Arthur legend is practically complete, only lacking a protagonist King Arthur.

The human warrior with Path of Transcendence adaptability, previously played by Iver, was called "Arthur" by the Giant Chieftain —the Titan clearly did not recognize the knight played by Barton, but he did recognize "Arthur".

So Iver wondered... Could this be the story before Arthur killed the white dragon and became the Crowned Angel of the Path of Strength?

At that time, Arthur possessed the adaptability to Path of Strength and the Path of Transcendence.

The elves worshipped the Candlelight Priests. They were the only clear allies of the Avalon at the time, participating in the war against the giants... Could this mean that this was actually a divine war between the Candlelight Priests and the Supreme Heaven?

Or at least, this was the Candlelight's revenge for the murder of his "Eternal Vanguard" by the apostles of the Supreme Heaven using despicable means.

From this perspective, it is highly likely that the Silver Crowned Dragon was placed in power by the Candle Master, which is also the reason why the Church and the Elves hold a high position in Avalon, and why the Theocracy and Avalon will become "eternal allies".

Iver suppressed his curiosity about Oswald.

"Come here, Yuli."

He reached out and patted Yulia, then smiled and opened his arms, indicating that he wanted to hug her.

Yulia, who was slowly regaining consciousness, suddenly realized that Iver was not in a wheelchair.

She was stunned for a moment, then rushed over. "Brother, your leg is completely healed?"

Iver laughed happily, picked her up and lifted her above his head before holding her in his arms. "Does your brother look like something's wrong?"

He kissed Yulia's cheek and said gently, "Are you still wearing the amulet, Yuli?"

"I always carry it with me except when I'm taking a shower."

Yulia whispered in Iver's ear.

The girl smiled happily, affectionately rubbing her cheek against the amulet, her eyes curving into crescents. "I haven't had a headache or heartache all week... This amulet really works!"

—That was actually the effect of the seal, and both of them knew it perfectly well.

But Yulia preferred to believe it was the amulet's effect. Because if that were the case, she wouldn't feel any pain afterward.

"Great. It will stop bothering you soon."

Iver smiled, his forehead gently touching Yulia's burning forehead. "Do you trust your brother?"

"I will always believe in my brother."

The white-haired girl, who seemed almost translucent, reached out and hugged Iver's neck, speaking earnestly.

A 7,000-word update! Please vote for me at the end of the month!