Chapter 240
by post_apiChapter 240: The Scourge of War
Bai Yan pondered for a moment.
Ultimately, he decided to bestow the newly acquired mystical power, “The Scourge of War,” upon the Queen of the Scarlet Moon.
Although the mission had been a joint effort between the Queen of the Scarlet Moon and Nightsaber, it was clear that Mu Ling no longer needed to cultivate favor or loyalty on her own. Thus, Bai Yan chose to grant the reward to the Scarlet Moon, hoping to reverse her long-held unfavorable impression of the Savior.
Additionally, Bai Yan intended to introduce the Scarlet Moon to the experience of the Recovery Spring and, as a finishing touch, grant her a special Entertainment Card.
This card, designed specifically for the Scarlet Moon, had proven highly effective in improving her favor and loyalty in Bai Yan’s prior experiences. Although it wouldn’t transform her hostility into friendship outright, it would, at the very least, prevent her from loathing the Babel Tower entirely.
Having made his decision, Bai Yan proceeded.
“Ah, so all the rewards went to the Scarlet Moon. I really am biased…” Bai Yan mused aloud.
“But I know, Mu Ling, you won’t be unhappy. After all, you’re the most obedient. The Sacred Rune will remain on your abdomen temporarily and won’t be taken back.”
Mu Ling had never been jealous. To her, collective honor held far greater importance than personal achievements. She was, in many ways, the antithesis of Maryse.
Though they shared a strong bond, their ideologies were worlds apart. Bai Yan deeply understood the personalities of every Core Operator and trusted that Mu Ling would understand his choices.
Meanwhile, Bai Yan’s incarnation was not in the villa. It resided in one of Tatsumi City’s three secret realms belonging to Transcendent beings.
Within the Azure Waters Realm, Bai Yan was engaged in a transaction with the prominent figure of the Shadow Association—Undead Bird.
“Pleasure doing business with you,” Bai Yan said, completing the deal.
He had purchased all the ceremonial materials necessary for the Crown Ceremony, Fictional Enactment.
Bai Yan had always been meticulous in preparation, relying not on a single path to success but on multiple contingencies.
Just as in the Black Catastrophe event, where the Queen of the Scarlet Moon provided crucial support, Bai Yan prepared extensively. Perhaps his presence wasn’t even necessary at Babel Tower to ensure victory, yet he went anyway.
For this Crown Ceremony, Bai Yan’s preparations extended far beyond the Puppet Dance. If that ritual failed to materialize, Bai Yan was ready to ascend the Crown through Fictional Enactment, his third viable ceremony.
The Fictional Enactment
This ceremony was predicated on creating numerous self-constructed details and making the masses believe in the existence of entirely fictional individuals. The more detailed and diverse the perceived individuals, the higher the ritual’s success rate.
At midnight, with the support of the Essence of the Void, the Carta ritual would complete the ascent to the Crown.
The Essence of the Void was
an invaluable material,
embodying pure nothingness.
It resembled a transparent
pearl, hollow inside, devoid of
time or space—a true
manifestation of
“nothingness.”
Acquiring it had come at great
cost; Bai Yan offered two high-
level relics to the Undead Bird
in exchange. However, since
the relics had been gifted to
Bai Yan by Maryse’s brother,
there was no real expense to
him.
Bai Yan glanced at the
character card of the Queen of
the Scarlet Moon. Her affinity
and loyalty had shifted.
Within the Black Mist
The Scarlet Moon returned to
her room, regaining control of
her body.
She lifted her hand, gazing at
her fingertips. The sensation
of being utterly powerless
moments ago lingered—a
dreadful, unimaginable
experience.
She had arrived in Heart City, a
renowned independent city of
the Air Alliance. Known for its
factions, Candlelight and
Luminescent, Heart City was
globally famous.
“In such a short time, the
Savior can traverse the entire
country. Truly unfathomable,”
she muttered.
“Still, what does it matter? No
matter how powerful the
Savior is, it has nothing to do
with me. I am just a ‘slave.’”
Dominated beneath the Babel
Tower, the Scarlet Moon
dismissed the Savior’s
influence over her.
Suddenly, a cold, merciless
voice echoed in her mind:
[Queen of the Scarlet Moon,
you will now enter Babel Tower
to heal your worn-out body
and mind in the Recovery
Spring.]
Before she could react, the
world around her
disintegrated.
The Recovery Spring
The Scarlet Moon found
herself in a world unlike
Noah’s.
Three golden orbs shone in the
sky, representing this world’s
suns, while white mist
enveloped her surroundings.
Beneath her feet lay golden
sands, and the scent of the
sea filled her nostrils.
“This is… Babel Tower?” she
wondered.
For all her skepticism, the
sheer majesty of the scene
shook her resolve. “Perhaps
the Savior is truly divine.”
She hesitated before stepping
forward, the intoxicating scent
of the sea drawing her in.
Soon, she stood at the water’s
edge, the waves lapping at her
feet.
The Scarlet Moon felt
something profound—a joy and
solace that she had not
known for centuries.
Negative emotions—pain,
anger, confusion—washed
away. Her soul felt comforted,
as though embraced by a
loving family member.
“This is… so comfortable…”
she whispered.
When she opened her eyes,
she was back on the golden
beach, her body rested, her
soul rejuvenated.
Even as she returned to Noah,
the Scarlet Moon couldn’t
shake the experience. She sat
in silence, savoring the
memory.
Still, she thought, This must be
another ploy by the Savior to
win me over.
But the voice returned.
[This is the reward bestowed
upon you.]
The narrative continued, with
each moment unraveling the
Scarlet Moon’s journey of
transformation, her struggle
against submission, and the
sheer magnitude of the
Savior’s intentions.
Would she yield to such
overwhelming power, or resist
against all odds?