When the plot-skips players into the game world-Chapter 1045 - 383: Double New Moon Ritual

Chapter 1045 -383: Double New Moon Ritual

Eternal Theocracy, the twenty-second Ring.

Aiwass long missed eyes were finally opened, returning to the Material Realm.

The blend of gold and red light flowed within his pupils, the divine radiance made his calm face appear compassionate.

“Matilda…”

Aiwass softly began to speak.

At this moment, the blue-haired Cardinal from the thirteenth level immediately responded, “I am here, Your Majesty. The ritual is all prepared for you. You just need to change your clothes and lie down on the bed.

“…But are you sure, that you don’t need company? We could provide at least three or more promotants to ensure a successful promotion…”

“Having Aleister with me is enough.”

Aiwass’s voice was gentle and calm.

His gaze, cast downward, brimmed with radiance that could not be concealed, even with closed eyes.

The Pope, dressed in a black and red robe, earnestly replied, “This is the New Moon Ritual, and strictly speaking, there are no so-called ‘teammates.’ Even if we enter the promotion ceremony together, we might receive conflicting tasks, or have to be in opposition to each other.

“At that time, how should I face these assistants? This is a Fourth Level to Fifth Level promotion ceremony. If I fail that’s okay, but if I die… it could very well lead to actual death. Can I just stand by and watch them die?”

“…Your Majesty,” Cardinal Matilda spoke with a serious expression, “you must understand, it is their mission to be so. To dedicate themselves for something greater, that is what we devote our lives to. If their death can facilitate your ascension to a higher position, they would surely be willing to witness this event.

“The position of the Pope must not be lost, Your Majesty. No matter what happens, we cannot afford an incident here, otherwise, the entire Holy Nation would be troubled—if only you would consider this. For the sake of everyone in the Holy Nation, isn’t it permissible to let those people make their dedication towards their holy mission?”

To sacrifice others as an offering is also a choice on the Path of Devotion.

The core of the Path of Devotion is “to benefit others,” but it doesn’t necessarily require “self-harm.” This is why the Path of Devotion has many zealots.

“If we resort to such tactics even for the New Moon Ritual, it could be deemed cheating.”

Aiwass laughed nonchalantly, “Moreover, you said it yourself. To dedicate oneself to others is the pursuit of a Contributor… If you were to send people to be promoted with me, how can you be so sure that I would not sacrifice myself to let them advance? On the Path of Devotion, I have walked much further than they have.”

Cardinal Matilda massaged her forehead with some annoyance, “Then why not just wait for next month’s Full Moon Ritual? Wouldn’t that be better? Even if we consider the mandatory victor Aleister, we can still provide you with four elites. Even I can go personally…”

“Hmm, I’ve considered that too.”

Aiwass answered, “I’ve calculated, and indeed, the success rate would be significantly higher then.”

Cardinal Matilda’s spirits lifted immediately, “So—”

“—That’s exactly why I refuse.”

Aiwass declared without hesitation, “Because that would equate to us depriving the other three of the possibility of victory. That is neither fair nor just.”

“You are the very embodiment of justice in this world, Your Majesty.”

“But what if among those people, there’s one with more talent and a brighter future than I? Even if we remove one person, what if we encounter two? Do we just erase their future—and even their lives—before the ritual even starts?

“According to the Contributor’s rules, I should sacrifice those close to me for the sake of others, meaning letting you step aside for someone else… but I don’t want to do that, as cutting ties with friends would cause me heartache too. I don’t want to lose anyone.”

As Aiwass spoke, he reopened his eyes, and two beams of light illuminated the entire space the moment his eyes opened: “Before I parted ways with Aleister, I might have agreed with such an idea. For the ‘greatest good’, sacrifice is necessary. Back then, I even specifically sought out teammates to increase my chances of victory at such times…”

“But now, I reject such actions. I am promoting with Aleister because I am accompanying her, not because she is helping me. If a sacrifice is required, then it should be me alone.

“So I will only promote with Aleister and have chosen the New Moon Ritual… at least that way we won’t encounter too many people clustered together in the ritual. And if a situation arises where one must be sacrificed, I can give up myself to let Aleister ascend to a higher realm.

“—Don’t worry, Matilda. At the very least, I will come back alive.

“Or rather, even if I should perish… it will not affect the Holy Nation. I’ve made all the necessary preparations…”

Having said this, Aiwass took off his papal robes and changed into a red Archbishop’s robe.

A Fourth Level promotion… even if dressed in priestly robes, no one would believe it, so it might as well be an Archbishop’s garment that could make people believe in one’s serenity.

He slowly lay down on the soft bed, which was already covered by the Ritual Array. From this vantage, not a trace of impurity could be seen, as all the necessities for the ritual had been completed by Cardinal Cyril from below, while the Ritual Array here served only as a link.

This is not merely a matter of etiquette, it is also for the protection of the Eternal Pope and the entirety of the Eternal Theocracy—any item may, by chance, constitute a ritual, and ritual items are even more likely to do so. Hence, other than what is absolutely necessary, nothing extraneous will be sent to the Twenty-Second Ring.

After all, the Eternal Pope is essentially always in a state of sleep… there is no need to eat, drink, or eliminate.

The Pope is a tower, a bond, a symbol, a scepter, an energy nexus… as well as a clothes rack draped with The Holy Crown. But he could never be a mortal with an independent personality.

“All nine are complete…”

Lying on the bed, Aiwass murmured with eyes closed: “I am among them.”

At this very moment, Cardinal Cyril is solemnly conducting the simplest and most common of rituals.

In the distant Leipzig, Aleister also reclines on a soft sofa, leaning her head on one hand. Beneath her is a Ritual Magic Circle made of fresh blood, and scattered around are the offerings of the ritual—

Dead sea birds, shattered mirrors, deer hearts pierced by nails.

Melted wax figures of philosophers, bitterly black salt soaked in blood, bats nailed to crosses.

Horse genitals tied into an “8” and pierced by nails, as well as an oyster forced with a black pearl not its own.

And a venomous snake coiled at the feet of Aleister.

This content is taken from freёnovelkiss.com.

A red cloth veils both window and light, casting a dark red glow throughout the room.

With a strong sense of drowsiness, she murmurs as if sleep-talking: “Apart from me…

“—All eight are dead.”

As eight swirls of black-red flames ignite with a whoosh, the Ritual Magic Circle beneath her feet suddenly lights up with a strange glow.

After that, she is dragged deeper into the Dream Realm.

Aleister opens her eyes to find not a single soul sitting upon the nine chairs.

The dark red sky above is overshadowed by a pitch-black crescent moon.

Beneath her rolls a black sea of blood, frothing with copious white foam.

Yet the source of light here is neither the dark red sky nor the crescent moon…

In the very center of the nine chairs, a bright and warm glow shines. It illuminates the blood sea at His feet, otherwise darkened by dim light, casting it into its true color of red.

That is a divine Ruby deer made entirely of pristine rubies.

Shimmering with a pure and dazzling red, it is entwined with black thorns. The thorns pierce its skin, allowing blood to continuously flow down, falling into the sea of blood below.

Its huge crystal-red antlers resemble a candle holder, burning with white and pure flames.

—That is the Candle Master.

“Great Candle Master… is this an apotheosis ceremony you’re conducting?”

Aleister promptly greets politely.

“I’m just here to see you, Aleister.”

A warm and calm voice like that of a benevolent father echoes through the space: “Perform well… this ceremony may be crucial for you.”

As the voice of the Candle Master falls, the glowing Red deer vanishes without a trace.

What remains in its place, a stone statue of a fawn shorter than a person.

It has slender legs, and its adorable two-head-tall figure. With a small sharp horn atop its head, its body is slender and agile, its pupils clear as toy bear’s, and behind it a pair of large flame butterfly wings, the flames now solidified, capturing a magnificent and dynamic pose.

Aleister immediately recognizes it… this is the Wings of Life Fire. It likes to rescue those lost and in dire straits, like those who lose their way in the snow mountains or get stranded on islands due to shipwrecks, like an invisible “V” shaped flame, lifting them and taking them to safety.

It is also a Candle Saint that Aiwass frequently summoned while in the Holy Nation, helping to deliver items to Isabel whenever Aiwass had something to send.

—Indeed, this has been proven to be a New Moon Ritual presided over by the Candle Master.