Chapter 880: The Sinner (Thanks to raise_lovell for supporting Aurora

Hearing Amun's question, Lu Mi'an felt as if he had just woken from a long nightmare, but reality was a deeper abyss than any dream.

His body trembled slightly, and with all his strength, he forced out a whisper from his throat:

"Doesn't He fear that I might truly seize the power at the apex of Disaster and seek revenge against Him?"

Amun smiled:

"His choice means He is willing to face every possible future, to accept the worst outcome.

"Whether you or Medichie submit, surrender, rage, or hate—it makes no difference to Him. If either of you seizes the apex power of the Disaster Path, seeks revenge, disrupts His other plans, or even drags Him down from His throne, He will not regret it, and will accept such a result."

Here, Amun paused before continuing:

"Because He was born to bear all these sins."

Lu Mi'an fell silent, fists clenched tightly, thin threads of crimson blood seeping from between his fingers.

Amun glanced again at the transparent yet dark sky:

"Time is running out. You must make your choice."

Lu Mi'an's lips moved several times, then he suddenly laughed—angry, self-mocking.

His voice, hoarse and low, said:

"I will go to Morola. I will try every possible way to resurrect Aurora, including the one He mentioned as the only one. But I will not accept His predetermined ending!"

Amun chuckled, adjusting his monocle with his fingers:

"You don't need to tell me those last words. My job is only to deliver you to Morola and make you the 'Despair Witch.' Whether you accept that ending, find your own chance to face Him, and tell Him—that's your business."

With that, Amun raised his right hand and grasped lightly—the "Black Tear" brooch mysteriously detached from the independent space within the "Traveler's Satchel" and appeared in his palm.

Instantly, the black-tear-like seal shattered soundlessly, dissolving into specks of You light, which then rapidly reformed into a shrunken, dried, blackened, semi-transparent heart.

Amun reached out again toward Vazan Sansong, and two objects appeared in his hand.

One was a small glass vial containing dark green liquid; the other, three silver fragments.

After making his decision, Lu Mi'an's emotions finally settled slightly; he no longer felt as if his body and mind were slipping out of control—no longer trembling uncontrollably, no longer pulling his thoughts toward total destruction.

Seeing the two new objects in Amun's hand, Lu Mi'an suddenly froze:

"Does Vazan Sansong have the auxiliary materials for the 'Despair Witch'?"

"He was the one who suggested removing the seal earlier…"

"Amun just said that in the Lodge Plan, some participants, under the unique conditions of Fourth Era Trill, received covert guidance without being detected by the Xie gods… was that person Vazan Sansong?"

"Vazan Sansong himself doesn't remember being guided—he thinks he escaped Fourth Era Trill purely through the 'Mirror Man's' help, and unknowingly performed seemingly insignificant odd actions afterward?"

"Amun couldn't have escaped the 'Fool's' seal by his own power—he needed someone to remove the seal without killing me, the experiment… Vazan Sansong's surface motives made him the perfect candidate to do this without suspicion…"

"The one who permitted the Lodge Plan to unfold, who didn't interfere or obstruct much, who didn't ruin the 'Red Angel's' plan—was preparing for this moment?"

Thinking of this, Lu Mi'an let out a spontaneous scoff, to ease the turmoil inside him:

"He can't accept just any ending, either."

He went to such lengths to ensure his desired outcome!

Amun smiled:

"Willing to accept the worst outcome doesn't mean refusing to strive for the best.

"And now—will you refuse to go to Morola? Will you refuse to become the 'Despair Witch'?"

Lu Mi'an fell silent again.

Amun sent the "Despair Witch's" supernatural trait and the two auxiliary materials flying toward Lu Mi'an, adding casually:

"This supernatural trait also continuously spreads plague—both physical and mystical. You yourself will be infected."

Once Lu Mi'an caught the items, Amun smiled again:

"Do you know what the Rank 2 of the Fate Path is?"

"'The Sinner.'" Lu Mi'an was the kind of man who, once he made a decision, would carry it out no matter how painful or unwilling—he now only wanted to reach Morola.

"And Rank 1?" Amun continued calmly, testing him.

Lu Mi'an shook his head.

He truly didn't know.

Only then did Amun, smiling, offer his own explanation:

"Rank 1 is 'The Redeeming Angel.' But to me, it's less useful than 'The Sinner.'

"The past 'Sinner,' the present 'Sufferer,' the future 'Redeeming Angel'—together, they form the trinity of the Fate Path."

Amun adjusted his monocle, his smile widening:

"And 'The Sinner' has a power: to return his state to any moment in the past, with duration depending on circumstances."

Return to any moment in the past… Lu Mi'an suddenly recalled the "Magician" lady mentioning that Amun, the ancient Angel-King, had briefly ascended to godhood!

Amun turned his body slightly, smiling:

"Of course, involving the Singularity and divine power requires the current holder's consent. The Celestial Sovereign has already diverted most of His spirit to influence the Vortex Plan—he won't interfere with the 'Fool' here. And your 'Fool' should have no objection."

As he spoke, Amun opened his arms, as if embracing returning power.

His right monocle blazed with brilliant light.

Before Lu Mi'an could react, he found all barriers and obstructions blocking passage from the Special Mirror World to Morola had vanished—he could now enter the "City of Exile" freely and unimpeded.

High above the Special Mirror World, the figure wearing a golden crown and black dress nodded once to Amun, making no attempt to interfere with Lu Mi'an.

She was the Mirror's Rosser. On this matter, she had bet on both sides, ensuring the true Rosser would not perish utterly. Whether the true Rosser became a puppet of the "Indeterminate Mist" or died, awaiting his next resurrection, would not affect her existence—and would gradually make her the original.

The next instant, Amun's figure vanished from Lu Mi'an's sight.

The paper he had recited earlier floated silently downward, its surface blank—a white sheet.

…………

Before the bloody altar in the ancient castle.

The "Hermit" lady suddenly spoke:

"The voice from the oil painting has weakened."

The "Magician" lady gazed upward, her voice tinged with confusion and unease:

"The barrier's sealing power has strengthened.

"The true god of the 'Door' Path has returned…

"No—not the 'Fool.' More like… more like Amun!"

Using her angelic intuition for her own path, the "Magician" lady swiftly reached her conclusion.

"How could Amun become the true god of the 'Door' Path again?" The "Justice" girl's heart jolted. "Did the 'Fool' or the Celestial Sovereign lend Him power?"

If it was the former, it would be a great boon to disrupting the Vortex Ritual. If the latter, the problem was severe.

"Judging from current developments, it must be the 'Fool.'" The "Magician" lady carefully said.

At that moment, the "Hermit" lady, having heard the "Justice" girl's report, flickered her eyes:

"If the influence of the mysterious voice has lessened, then the influence of Fate power must have lessened too.

"Now, we may have a chance to destroy the oil painting!"

As she spoke, the holder of the Major Arcana extended her hand toward the "Magician" lady, reaching for the iron cigarette case.

…………

In the sea near Sangtagang, the seal's power—previously crumbling under internal gray mist and external gnawing—suddenly became as solid as ever.

All Topsey of the "Gourmet School"'s long efforts had been in vain.

Deep within the Primitive Island, before the "Black Emperor's" tomb:

The thick, dense white mist suddenly contracted inward, as if crushed by invisible force.

Within Rosser's midair form, the mark left by the "Fool" strengthened; the corruption from the "Indeterminate Mist" eased slightly.

Rosser's twisted, pained expression improved a little.

Perle's scattered eyes, embedded in different parts of the mist, saw a new figure suddenly appear in midair—clad in a classical magician's black robe, wearing a matching pointed soft hat, with a monocle on his right eye.

He was… wasn't it said that forces outside the Vortex Ritual participants couldn't interfere with the Vortex's operation? Perle, barely alive, had just formed this doubt when he saw the figure in midair look down at him, smiling broadly as he introduced himself:

"We've never met before, have we? I'm Thelmiopolis."

"…" Perle instantly felt as if his intelligence had been stolen.

How could it be Thelmiopolis?

But my spiritual intuition tells me—he truly is Thelmiopolis…

…………

Inside the Special Mirror World:

Seeing Amun's figure shoot upward and vanish from sight, Lu Mi'an finally understood why the man had said earlier that the Vortex Ritual or any other plan was less important than devouring Thelmiopolis and becoming the Fate Path's angel.

It meant a high-ranking being capable of temporarily wielding divine power would remain hidden in the shadows, waiting for the critical moment to strike!

Lu Mi'an glanced at the white sheet on the ground, then at Fleurca, Jianna, and others struggling against Higton with the "Pride Armor" and the "Witch's" black flame, noticing Vazan Sansong had vanished mysteriously—he swiftly secured the "Sword of Courage," gripped the "Despair Witch's" supernatural trait and auxiliary materials, and activated the black mark on his right shoulder.

He passed through the Special Mirror World and returned to the "City of Exile," Morola.

He immediately reestablished contact with "0—01," letting the "0"-class seal help him bear the damage and effects of the "Witch's" plague.

Then, Lu Mi'an stood on the steps before the Cathedral of Knowledge, gazing at the vast, empty square, and began using "0—01" to summon the exiles most deeply affected by it, gathering them quickly.

It was to save time.

ps: Thank you raise_lovell for supporting Aurora's Silver Alliance~

(End of Chapter)