Azik's Suggestion

As Azik drew out the aura of the True Creator within Luther, a strange illusion gradually engulfed him.

Feathered Serpents soared, and the Bronze Gate stood wide open... He had seen all of those before. But as the illusion deepened, more scenes he had never witnessed began to emerge.

Countless bizarre creatures, rotting corpses, Wraiths, skeletons... a mausoleum built downward like an inverted pyramid hollowed out from within; ancient Southern Continent people with ghostly flames burning over their bodies, praying to tombs in unbearable agony...

Then, the illusion suddenly expanded. He saw a battlefield straight out of the Mythological Era. Beneath a lead-gray sky, dragons wheeled through the air, colossal beasts roared, and ordinary humans, tiny as ants, slaughtered one another upon earth burning with hellish flames. Among them were occasionally powerful individuals who, despite their small size, could casually kill mountain-sized giants with a wave of their hands!

At the far end of that battlefield stood a towering black throne. The Black Emperor, as majestic as a mountain, sat upon it and looked down on everything below. He seemed to sense Luther's gaze. His eyes shifted, turning toward Luther with crushing pressure...

"Whoosh—"

The sound of the Tide rose at just the right moment. The illusion before him vanished in an instant, like mist scattered by a gale.

Bang!

The translucent tentacle resting on Luther's forehead exploded. The undead creature, resembling both an octopus and a jellyfish, let out a mournful cry and dragged its broken body back through the gate. The Bronze Gate creaked shut behind it and disappeared.

Luther opened his eyes and found that everything around him had returned to normal. Only Azik sat on the sofa with his eyes closed, his brows tightly furrowed and beads of sweat seeping from his temples, as though he had fallen into a deep and ancient nightmare.

Should I wake him...?

While Luther was still hesitating, Azik slowly opened his eyes. There was now a trace of emptiness in those weathered eyes that were usually as still as an ancient well.

"Something's wrong. It's still not enough..."

He muttered to himself, repeatedly rubbing his brow as though trying to forcibly squeeze out memories buried deep within. After roughly half a minute, Azik gradually recovered. He gave a bitter smile, raised his head to look at Luther, and said, "Sorry for making you wait so long."

"It's all right. Mr. Azik, are you okay? I wonder whether I helped you recover any of your memories."

Luther said.

Azik shook his head.

"I remembered many scenes from the past, but... I still can't make sense of them..." Noticing Luther's hesitant expression, he smiled. "Still, achieving this much has already exceeded my expectations. I will pay you as promised."

"So, what do you need? Or is there any question you need my help with?"

He's just asking me directly what I lack?

Amazing. As expected of a High Sequence powerhouse—even his words are so grand!

Luther drew in a breath and marveled.

But then again, what did he lack right now?

Luther lowered his head and pondered.

Rather than what he lacked, it was more accurate to say that he needed to figure out what problems he had to solve.

Ever since he had transmigrated, he had never lacked trouble. Setting aside the issues already resolved, the urgent ones could roughly be divided into short-term and long-term problems.

He had two short-term troubles. One was that the human trafficking case had not been resolved, and the hidden enemies might act against him. The other was what Azik had once told him: both he and Klein had an odd sense that their Fate was out of sync, seemingly connected to a house with a red chimney.

He also had two long-term troubles. The first was his inability to advance along his pathway. That damned True Creator had too great an influence on Low Sequence Beyonders—once he became a Listener, he would turn into a Lunatic who fanatically believed in Him. The second was Lanevus. That guy had been badly ruined by Luther and would surely hate him to the bone. Until he was eliminated, he would remain a hidden danger.

Of those, Lanevus and the human trafficking case could be set aside for now. Both were already on the Nighthawks' investigation list, and the Goddess Church would naturally dispatch people to handle them. There was no need for an ordinary Nighthawk like Luther to worry about them.

As for the remaining two matters, they concerned his own well-being. Klein was already investigating the red-chimney matter. His relationship with Azik was better, so it would be more convenient and appropriate for him to ask Azik about it.

Having analyzed it that far, the answer was simple—ask Azik how to advance to Sequence 8 while avoiding the True Creator's influence.

After sorting out his problem, Luther looked toward Azik, who was waiting calmly.

"Mr. Azik, do you know anything about my Sequence?"

"Secrets Suppliant? I suppose I know a little."

"The lower levels of my pathway are easily influenced by the top of the Sequence. Once I advance to Sequence 8..." Luther explained his situation. After giving Azik a moment to digest it, he continued, "Mr. Azik, do you have any way to prevent the True Creator from mentally controlling me?"

Azik held his cigar and fell silent in thought for a while before slowly nodding.

"There is one, but it is very risky."

There really is?

Delighted, Luther hurriedly asked, "What is it?"

"Skip Sequence 8 directly and forcibly advance to Sequence 7. You would need to consume both the Sequence 8 and Sequence 7 Potions at the same time."

"...Huh?"

Luther froze.

Mr. Azik's method was unexpectedly aggressive.

"Th-then, can that really be done?"

"Though it is dangerous, it is not impossible if a High Sequence Beyonder assists you from the side. However, my condition is still not very good. You will need to wait for me to recover further... And you do not have the corresponding Potion formulas or materials yet, do you?"

"That's right."

Luther nodded.

He only had the idea for now, but the Potion formula corresponding to Listener was still unknown. Obtaining the formula and confirming its authenticity, not to mention spending money to buy the materials, would be extremely difficult. Looking at it that way, even if he ignored the True Creator's influence and advanced directly, it would not be easy.

"Oh, right, Mr. Azik. I have another idea. Could you see whether it might work?"

He explained his theory to Azik—the method of changing whom he listened to, replacing the True Creator with the Evernight Goddess.

To his delight, Azik slowly nodded after hearing him out.

"In theory, it could work, but..."

But. Again, but. How many good things in the world had been ruined by that word?

Azik said, "Only the True Creator actively spreads whispers, causing His followers to listen. If you want to change whom you listen to and make it the Goddess, then the Goddess must first actively deliver Her gospel to your ears—such special treatment from a deity is far too extravagant. I am afraid only the upper ranks of the church or the Goddess's blessed could have such an opportunity."

One of Her blessed? I'm definitely not one. I can't even be considered a believer.

Luther gave an awkward smile after hearing that. Indeed, why would a dignified True God cooperate for no reason with a minor Sequence 8 Beyonder just to help him digest a Potion?

But that meant his advancement problem had no solution for the time being.

Then what should he ask Azik for?