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The moment Death saw that "self" with half-closed eyes, he grew alert.
Without a doubt, this was the power of the "Half-Fool"! With the Mother of Heaven controlling Antigonus's dreams, there was nothing strange about projecting his power and influence here.
Antigonus could not truly awaken-the other candidates of the three Lord of Mysteries pathways still had a chance to compete for the position, but Antigonus had advanced too early and had already meshed too extensively with the Celestial Worthy's will. He must not awaken: this was the consensus of every god on Earth. Even the Demon of Knowledge from the Western Continent and the two Outer Deities had tacitly observed this unwritten rule.
What Death wanted to test was simply how much of Antigonus's power the Mother of Heaven could use.
As that false self approached, Death discovered that its profile was actually paper-thin-clearly not a Historical Projection. It did not even bother maintaining a Marionette's appearance; it was merely a moving sheet of paper.
"It seems her influence over Antigonus is limited..."
Was this a smokescreen meant to draw his attention? Salinger surveyed his surroundings, wary of another attack from the Evernight Goddess, but nothing happened. It was as though she had dissolved completely into the darkness.
Come to think of it, the pinnacle of this pathway was "Darkness," not Evernight.
His false self approached step by step. Naturally, Death would not let this thing come near. He retreated slightly and tentatively sent Pale Flames drifting toward it. He had taken every precaution, only for the sheet of flesh and blood to burst into fierce flames the instant it touched the fire. It became a white torch illuminating the darkness, then turned to ash. Still, nothing happened.
Faced with the drifting ashes, Death fell into confusion.
*"...There's