Mark of Three
That night, Iver pondered for a long time before going to bed, but still did not drink.
Iver was bothered by what Bram had said earlier—that he had been marked by Bear Angel.
Iver didn't know if what he said was true, or if Bram, that Social Darwinist Giant Baby, was just bragging... although most people wouldn't brag about something like this.
But since he believes in Bear Angel, it's really hard to say.
Bram was even an Avalon, and his father was considered Half-Step Round Table Hall Great Perfection —before Bram committed his crimes, his father could have potentially advanced and joined the Round Table Hall by gaining more experience.
They can at least be considered to be in the upper-middle class.
Bram, despite his privileged background, chose to seek refuge with the God of Giants Bear Angel, who harbored a deep-seated grudge against Avalon. It's worth noting that Bear Angel's people, centuries ago, treated humans like him as mere snacks. This hatred was even greater than the conquest between the Narcissus Principality and the Stibium Kingdom —it was a hatred on a recipe level.
But that's what he chose.
Then Iver had to consider the possibility that he was a lunatic or an idiot.
He didn't know what would happen if he went to see Isabel while he was marked by Bear Angel.
Will Bear Angel's attention be drawn to Isabel, or will the location of "Morgan's Funhouse" be exposed? Or will Isabel be dragged over, or will nothing happen...?
Iver didn't dare to gamble.
Even considering the worst-case scenario, he should probably keep his distance from Isabel for now.
Trade with the Southern Continent can be discussed at any time, but Isabel is his darling.
The thought of spending the entire day running around the Theocracy because of some inexplicable major event, and knowing he would likely be busy with this matter for some time to come, only to find himself unable to see Isabel that evening, further fueled Iver's annoyance with Bear Angel.
"What an annoying family..."
Iver murmured to himself, then drifted off to sleep with a feeling of disgust.
When he woke up again, he could hear the crackling of the campfire in his ears.
After a brief adjustment to the intense flames around him, Iver felt a sudden chill run down his spine as he realized he had been dragged back into the Dream Realm.
"You're awake."
A deep and calm male voice suddenly rang in my ear. "Or should I say you're asleep?"
Iver felt someone lift the skin of his neck, and then he was lifted up—and then he immediately realized that he was not human.
He was still that thin, scorched-over four-legged little beast. As he was lifted up, pain finally began to emanate from all over his body. Immediately afterward, the soft laughter of women could be heard around him.
"This little Fox doesn't understand what's going on yet."
"This is no ordinary Fox."
The man's deep voice replied, "Look. On his forehead, there is a golden-red line, around his right eye there are black markings, and there is a white mark on his claw. These unusual features are all sacred marks."
Swaying violently, Iver finally managed to make out his surroundings with great difficulty.
There sat an enormous, crimson giant before the campfire.
Behind him lay a massive White Lion. The lion possessed an extremely sacred golden radiance, while the giant was clad in crimson armor.
Upon closer inspection, Iver discovered that the giant had no skin at all; the muscle fibers were clearly visible. His armor was scorching red, burning with flames, embedded in his body like a branding iron, hissing white smoke. Yet, despite enduring such agony, the giant did not utter a sound.
Because he had no skin, the giant looked extremely ugly and frightening. But beside him, two extremely beautiful ethereal beauties served him. They were pure white and translucent, looking like ghosts; but they were not frightening at all, but rather glowed like warm candlelight.
The person who picked up Iver was one of the ghost girls.
She looked at Iver curiously, then gently touched Iver chest. "Little guy, how did you offend Bear Angel this time?"
A series of cool sensations gradually lessened the pain in Iver's body.
He raised his head, somewhat bewildered.
—After confirming several times, it was indeed a giant.
Moreover, it is the most ferocious and ace breed among the giants— the Skinless One.
This is an ancient legacy from the giants, considered an advanced version of the berserker. Today, it is likely only practiced by a very few remaining Inheritors in the Parthian Ancient Kingdom.
The Inheritors must peel off their own skin while still alive, without any anesthesia or even alcohol. The only lubricant is minced meat from a powerful enemy.
By enduring immense pain and surviving the ritual, one can gain terrifying power from endless rage—rage is a special ability of the Bear Angel lineage in modern times, while in ancient times it was a professional gauge for the Path of Strength. Those Skinless One are permanently at full rage.
If we say that the White Feather Griffin paired with Sky Knight is Avalon's ace unit.
Therefore, the Skinless One are the ace unit of the Giant Kingdom.
Iver was deeply impressed, even to the point of developing PTSD—in some of the later high-difficulty dungeons, as long as you had any connection with Bear Angel, you would definitely encounter elite monsters like the Skinless One, who were all fanatical followers of Bear Angel, powerful and dangerous.
A single nameless, Skinless One can be considered a small group of mobs; a named, Skinless One is guaranteed to be the first boss in a dungeon.
The mechanics of the Skinless One can be summarized in one sentence: if a monster can only drive, then it is invincible.
The term "vehicle" refers to a charging mechanism where monsters crash into you at high speed with ferocious force, causing either death or serious injury upon impact; the only option is to quickly dodge to the sides. While not invincible during the charge, you are immune to most crowd control effects; and due to the high speed, skills are difficult to land.
The general mechanic of the Skinless One is that it's like a car that keeps ramming people back and forth. You have to have several layers of damage reduction, shields, or invulnerability to ram it head-on once or several times to stop it. Otherwise, it will just keep crashing around like an out-of-control dump truck, and if melee teammates mess up, it can even wipe out the entire party during the elite monster phase.
but...
Iver gradually came to his senses.
Although Iver's reactions are somewhat slow and naive in the Dream Realm, he still instinctively sensed that something was wrong.
Isn't this Skinless One a little too rational?
Logically, all the Skinless One should have been completely consumed by endless rage—the intense pain they endured every moment filled them with destructive urges and self-destructive intentions. Yet this Skinless One before them sat cross-legged on the ground quietly... even with a touch of Zen.
"Looking at Lord Heaven Rakshasa with such fear... You know the Skinless One? That's quite rare."
A ghostly girl standing nearby said with some surprise.
Heaven Rakshasa...? Iver suddenly realized the true identity of this great being.
"It seems you may have heard of my name, that's good."
The Skinless One giant known as "Heaven Rakshasa" slowly replied, "I was once a 'Rakshasa,' one of the ' Four Great Destructions ' who followed the Supreme Heaven. But now I am a follower of the Candle Heaven Holder, constantly atoning for my past sins."
"This armor I wear is a gift from the Candle Heaven Holder. The tormented souls I killed and imprisoned within me are now attached to this armor. As long as even one of them still hates me, that hatred will transform into hellfire that scorches me; only when they all let go of their hatred and are reincarnated can I be freed from this armor."
The White Lion behind the man squinted, its overflowing golden light possessing a magnificent divinity. Its tone was rational and calm. "Now I am the guardian of the Disciple of Dedication. Devotees are those who bear and torment themselves, and often choose silence when faced with suffering."
"But not all evildoers will repent because of forgiveness; some forgiveness is also indulgence. What the good cannot do, should be done by the ' Heaven Rakshasa '."
It really is Heaven Rakshasa!
Iver's eyes widened, revealing a look of joy.
The scope of the Heaven Rakshasa's functions is extremely narrow, but any priest must learn the prayer technique to summon the Heaven Rakshasa.
—Because "Heaven Rakshasa" is the legendary god who punishes those who cause trouble at medical facilities! If a devotee saves others but is then slandered, attacked, or framed by the saved, and suffers harm without being able to retaliate, they can seek divine revenge from Heaven Rakshasa.
He wanted to say something, but he couldn't speak and could only make weak cries.
"Perhaps it's because you haven't attained enlightenment yet and are unable to speak in the Dream Realm. That's why you're in beast form."
The giant shook his head slightly. "But I know what you want to say."
"You have already been branded by Bear Angel —I am powerless to stop it, so I can only bring you here to prevent him from harming your soul in your dreams."
"—However, little Fox."
The hideous giant, devoid of skin, leaned forward slightly and answered slowly, word by word. "If one day, Bear Angel will fight you to the death in the Dream Realm; if on that day, you can truly fight him in the Dream Realm, instead of just a giant bear hunting its cubs..."
"Then call upon my name. I will become your ally—"
"As my confession."
The voice echoed so clearly in Iver's mind.
So much so that when Iver awoke, it still echoed endlessly in Iver heart.
A deeper bear claw wound was branded on Iver's chest, but it had healed... or rather, it had been scorched by fire, turning into a scar.
[You have acquired the trait: Authority - Mark of Three]
[Authority - Mark of Three: Bear Angel swung his claw of the future, declaring that this strike would end your life. This is the third mark, and its number cannot be seven—]