Anchor Point That Changed the Future

Like the Great Sin Scholar, the Moulting Warlock are both legacies of the Celestials.

The fallen Celestials brought people new powers, and by further developing these powers, they discovered professions that already existed in this world but were hidden because no one had discovered them.

"To become a Moulting Warlock, you must learn 'Shedding Skin'."

"Molt?"

David hesitated upon hearing this terrifying word. "Does it mean peeling off your own skin and having it grow back?"

"... No, that's not the case."

Iver couldn't help but laugh out loud, "That's a ' Moulting Ritual,' just like an insect transforming into a cocoon and then into a butterfly. Shedding one's old body to obtain a more beautiful one."

"This is the power of the Butterfly Angel, the master of the Path of Beauty... He can transform ugly things and reshape their bodies. There is a ritual that uses the power of the Butterfly Angel to change one's appearance."

In the players' words, it means "washing your face" – which means re-creating your character's appearance.

Whether it's race, gender, age, body type, appearance... apart from the "origin" selected when creating a character, all other parts can be changed.

This is probably the ritual that players encounter most often.

David asked eagerly, "So, should I undergo the Moulting Ritual?"

"No," Iver denied, "You should exercise."

"The Moulting Warlock sounds like a class such as 'mage,' ' Law Mage,' or ' Demon Scholar,' but it is actually a melee combat class."

"... Huh? Why?"

David was somewhat confused. "Isn't it 'sorcerer'?"

"Because the Moulting Warlock has signed a contract with the Ring Angel, it is more accurate to say that he is a 'Contract Sorcerer'."

Iver explained.

"The Ring Angel" is the code name for Ouroboros Son of the Serpent Father, and also the source of the power of the "Ouroboros Ring" ritual.

In the game's lore, this profession arose after the fall of the Butterfly Angel. The Ring Angel hoped to obtain some fragments of the Butterfly Angel and made a deal with the humans who obtained the fragments.

The Ring Angel made a contract with him, teaching him how humans shed their skin like snakes.

The person who obtained this fragment became the first "Moulting Warlock".

Originally a transcendent being on the Path of Twilight, he decisively discarded his original body and entered the body of the Butterfly Angel, undergoing a molt. He instantly became Greater Phantom Demon, and later became an apostle of the Ring Angel —what people call ascending to godhood.

"Moulting Warlock constantly perform ' Moulting Ritual ' to gradually bring their bodies closer to a perfect form. However, this 'molting' is not about finding a secluded place to molt for fun... but about fighting powerful enemies."

"Just as a thinking brain gradually becomes smarter, and broken muscles become stronger as they heal— Moulting Warlock become stronger when they are injured in fierce battles; and if they suffer severe injuries, there will be even greater changes; and if they die in battle, they will eventually Breaking the Cocoon into a Butterfly and obtain new bodies."

"Generally speaking, evolution is uncontrollable. Because if one truly reaches the realm they've always dreamed of, it's no longer about surpassing, but about achieving perfection—that's the realm of twilight. The evolution of Moulting Warlock never stops, because they are constantly changing... Usually, at least a part of them will become like the enemy who defeated them. Through this means, they can steal a portion of the opponent's innate abilities."

"Therefore, there is a danger in Moulting Warlock, which is that you may lose your human body... for example, you may grow four arms or three eyes. You may also become a giant four or five meters tall, or a child or a dwarf. But in general, each evolution will always make you stronger than before in terms of total ability."

"... That sounds a bit scary."

David shrank back slightly. "This isn't human at all..."

But Iver shook his head. "This is already the gentlest and safest profession on the Path of Transcendence."

The demon transcends his own mind and destiny controlled by demons, Ritual Mage uses powerful rituals and curses to transcend his fragile body entangled in disease and curses.

The Demon Avatar transcends the limitations of human lifespan and physical body; the Great Sin Scholar transcends the suppression of mortals by Greater Phantom Demon.

The Moulting Warlock transcends only their "past self." There are no other wills manipulating their spirit, no Curse Poison their body. There is no taboo against the damage to the soul caused by Heavenly Sin, nor the need to bear the Great Sin Imprint. Aside from the "unending molting" pact signed with the Ring Angel, there is no influence from any external will.

In other words, as long as it doesn't stop evolving, it will never get out of control.

—It can be said that this is an old insectoid race.

"You should focus on training your body. If your soul remains intact when you reach the Fourth Level, I will teach you how to become an Moulting Warlock."

Iver made up his mind to start helping people cheat.

Although the Butterfly Angel has not yet perished, the transformation ritual can still be completed.

However, each transformation requires praying for power from both the Butterfly Angel and the Ring Angel simultaneously, and cannot be fully automatic after signing a contract once.

Therefore, Iver was not worried about David leveling up too quickly or what would happen if Butterfly Angel was still alive.

Just as the Fallen Angel weren't brought down, Iver could also create Great Sin Card —it's just that the buffet now requires a report each time. These professions were discovered after the buffet system was implemented, but that doesn't mean they couldn't achieve them before.

It was because of David that Iver finally understood something.

He doesn't need to hide much about the future he knows.

If before he couldn't explain where he got this knowledge... now that he has "Aleister," whatever he says makes sense. He could even say it was his other friends who told him.

If you don't believe me, then go and confront Aleister face to face.

She would definitely say, "That's right, that's exactly it."

Then, all those other secrets that Iver knew that transcended version cognition could also be tried.

For example, give Sherlock a better advanced class... a simple mage is too weak.

For example, try to persuade Mrs. Meg... to get a part-time job.

Iver remembered that Meg's death was because she was nearing the end of her life and tried to extend it through a promotion. However, the information was leaked for some reason, and she was killed in the Actor Bureau. This was one of the anchor points that led to Avalon's destruction.

Generally speaking, the simplest way to prolong life is to take part-time jobs on the Path of Twilight.

As long as you step into the Path of Twilight, your lifespan will increase directly; you don't need to care about any Path Trait at all.

However, Meg had a natural aversion to Path of Twilight, so she ruled out that possibility from the very beginning.

... But looking back, the profession of "Moulting Warlock" might be more suitable for her.

The transformation ritual cannot be performed through suicide or intentional suicide. It must involve dying while challenging a powerful enemy—and the transformation ritual after death cannot be interrupted, otherwise the person will truly die. From this perspective, mutual destruction is the safest option. However, because the current transformation ritual is not fully automatic and requires advance booking each time, it cannot be effective in unforeseen circumstances...

However, dying of old age is predictable and meets certain criteria.

This is certainly a kind of "challenge to a formidable foe"—time is one of the most powerful enemies.

According to the principles of the metamorphosis ritual, Meg, who died of old age, can return to her youthful state and gain anti-aging abilities after being resurrected. Even if she doesn't continue to advance, simply having a Second Level Moulting Warlock as a substitute would allow her to live for several more decades.

If Meg hadn't died, Avalon might not have been invaded by Star Antimony... or even if it had been invaded, at least it wouldn't have suffered such a crushing defeat.

With her protection, Her Majesty the Queen might even have survived and avoided assassination.

From this perspective, helping Meg live longer might be a more effective delaying tactic than purging internal spies.

Preventing her from advancing is practically impossible; that old woman is far too stubborn, and she'll never die in bed. But if it were about Path of Transcendence, perhaps she'd agree—she and Hai Na are quite similar in personality. Since Hai Na has the adaptability to Path of Transcendence, perhaps she does too.

That's a good idea.

Iver thought to himself.

On the other side...

Sculptor Lars Graham looked at Iver in the newspaper and fell into deep thought.

"... Aleister, could it be Chloe?"

Chloe betrayed us?

Update complete!