Lord of Mysteries 2: Circle of Inevitability

Chapter 1141: Divine Kingdom

The sky of the special mirror world was split in two: one half dyed crimson, the other divided by a chaotic vortex and formless, colorless flames. The three forces clashed violently. Suddenly, all light vanished, as if something was voraciously absorbing everything around it.

Franca and the others in the World of Ruins had just recovered from their ailments and stabilized their genders. Then, they watched as the burning flames above, meteors streaking across the sky, and mountains spewing smoke and magma all disappeared from view.

They were plunged into darkness-a darkness so profound that nothing seemed capable of existing within it.

After what felt like an eternity, the darkness receded. Crimson moonlight once again illuminated the Northern and Southern Continents and the five oceans. Bright stars of various hues returned to their natural states.

The World of Ruins was restored to its former appearance.

In the special mirror world, Lumianʼs eyes no longer reflected the crimson full moon. Everything seemed normal.

He let out a chuckle and lowered his four newly grown arms.

Then, he grasped a handful of flames, compressing them into a metallic mirror.

Lumian gazed into the mirror and saw two figures standing back to back-one was Aurore, and the other Jenna. Both had become even more beautiful, their eyes now open. However, their gazes were vacant and hollow, devoid of spirituality. They remained under Lumianʼs conscious control.

Lumian stared at them blankly for a few seconds. A smile gradually curved his lips, and the Aurore and Jenna in the mirror returned his smile.

Behind them was another indistinct figure-Cheek.

On Lumianʼs left shoulder, the face of Cheek also smiled sweetly and seemed about to speak.

Suddenly, Lumian summoned the dark-gold, peculiar mask and forcefully pressed it onto the slowly spinning chaotic vortex face.

Starlight descended, illuminating the entire mask.

Cheekʼs mouth opened, but no words came out. Her reflection in the mirror disappeared along with the attempt.

Her face on Lumianʼs shoulder showed clear dissatisfaction.

Lumian cast his gaze around and found that the Travelerʼs Bag he had exchanged with Franca was completely shattered in the previous destruction. Only two items remained intact on the ground: the dark-gold peculiar mask he had just used and the Demoness card-Lumian didnʼt keep any items in this Travelerʼs Bag because only the puppet soldier puppets, mask, and Card of Blasphemy could be of use in the previous battle.

Lumian summoned the Demoness card to his hand and discovered that the previously obscured advancement ritual for becoming a god in the Demoness pathway was now revealed: ”Descend into the depths of the earth, find the Chaos Sea, endure a degree of its corruption while maintaining oneself-neither falling nor transforming.”

Quite considerate. The mention of the sefirah must have been ”hidden” in advance. Who would have thought that the advancement ritual for the Demoness pathway would involve another sefirah entirely... Lumian mused, suddenly suspecting there was something off about this ritual. The first Blasphemy Slate was formed from the corpse of the Primordial God Almighty. Perhaps before dying, He altered the corresponding knowledge to make the Demoness advancement ritual involve contact with the Chaos Sea. This would facilitate His unique revival through the pathways of calamity and allow Him to control and utilize the Chaos Sea effectively post-resurrection.

As for the second Blasphemy Slate, though it was created from the Ancient Sun Godʼs corpse, who could say it wasnʼt influenced by the Primordial God Almighty?

Still, it makes sense for a Demoness, who governs chaos, to need prior contact with the Chaos Sea... Lumian shook his head, dismissing the truth of the matter as irrelevant.

To him, this ritual was unnecessary to perform yet essentially already fulfilled.

The face sealed by the dark-gold peculiar mask came from the Primordial God Almighty, bearing a deep, special connection to the Chaos Sea. Its power surpassed mere corruption from the Chaos Sea.

”So, you went mad during your advancement ritual?” Lumian tilted his head, mocking the Cheek face.

Cheekʼs face widened Her eyes, as if to say: ”When did I ever go mad? My mental state has always been impeccable.”

At this moment, the special mirror world fully stabilized, reflecting shades of gray and white, formless and colorless flames, an ambiguous and enchanting atmosphere, and a chaotic vortex encompassing all possibilities.

It was evolving into Lumianʼs divine kingdom.

For the Red Priest, a divine kingdom emerged from a deeper conceptualization of the authority of Conquest. By completely ”conquering” a land, battlefield, or special area, it could be transformed into the Red Priestʼs divine kingdom. Any living being entering the kingdom, without corresponding protection or sufficient rank, would immediately become a soldier of the Red Priest.

For the Demoness, the divine kingdom was closely tied to the mirror world. The Primordial Demoness had previously established Her divine kingdom in a hidden corner of the mirror world. There, only females could exist-even other true gods would acquire distinct female characteristics upon entry. There, gazing upon what should not be seen would immediately turn one into stone. There, without protection, one would frequently encounter disasters tied to oneself. There, extreme pleasure would sporadically manifest, making one reluctant to leave...

Lumian could now ”conquer” the special mirror world, transforming it into a divine kingdom that satisfied the needs of both the Red Priest and Chaos Demoness.

Lumian surveyed his surroundings and allowed the scenes reflected in the special mirror world to change. They became Cordu Village, surrounded by blue skies, white clouds, and lush green grasslands. At the villageʼs edge stood the Rue Anarchie, with Auroreʼs house built beside Auberge du Coq Doré...

After gazing at it for a moment, Lumian let the scene gradually fade away.

He smiled faintly and entered the astral world composed of concepts and symbols before returning to reality.

His three-headed, six-armed form nodded toward Franca and Madam Magician, who were looking at him, and said, ”Thank you all. The operation is successfully concluded.

”Letʼs head back to the protected zone.”

”Alright,” Mr. Sun and the others responded one after another.

-

Trier, inside the luxurious villa.

Franca studied the clean, refreshed faces of Aurore and Jenna with undisguised anticipation.

”It really seems like revival is possible if we take it a step further,” she said.

Hearing this, Anthony cast a subtle glance at Franca.

Lumian nodded lightly, smiling self-deprecatingly.

”Sometimes, it feels meaningless. Other times, I canʼt help but hope and yearn for it.”

”Hope is good. Hope is very good,” Franca replied, smiling at Lumian. ”Iʼm now a Demoness of Catastrophe, an Angel. Surely I can know certain things now?”

Lumian couldnʼt help but chuckle. ”Do you have to be so impatient? Stabilize yourself first.

”Anyway, I need to report to Mr. Fool about this. Itʼs related to future actions. When I return,

Iʼll explain briefly.”

”Alright.” Franca didnʼt hide her anticipation and felt that Lumian seemed in a much better state, having exacted revenge by defeating Primordial Demoness Cheek.

Once Lumian ascended to his room to prepare for entering the gray fog, Franca turned to Anthony and asked curiously, ”Why did you give me the look earlier?”

It couldnʼt be because my allure, still somewhat uncontrollable after becoming a Demoness

of Catastrophe, affected him, right?

When it came to beauty and charm, Lumianʼs Cheek face clearly surpassed hers!

Anthony smiled slightly and said, ”I was just reflecting on how your mental state is much better than I imagined and how your resilience exceeds my expectations.”

Franca froze for a moment, then sighed softly after a few seconds. ”I have to force myself to

stay calm and optimistic.

”He can be gloomy, he can lose control in madness, but I canʼt. Although I sometimes fall into gloom, most of the time, I must remain cheerful and optimistic. Otherwise, thereʼs truly no

hope...”

”Thatʼs your humanity,” Anthony remarked emotionally. ”Iʼm glad Lumian and Jenna met you, and Iʼm glad to have you as a teammate.”

Franca let out a somewhat smug laugh, then warily asked, ”Why do I feel like youʼre trying to

give me therapy?”

”Iʼve never hidden that,” Anthony replied with a smile as he turned toward the kitchen area.

”Itʼs free, after all.”

...

Above the gray fog, within the majestic palace.

After recounting the highlights of the battle and the Primordial Demonessʼs performance,

Lumian said, ”This time, Iʼve initiated the convergence. With the awareness and spirit of both Cheek and Tudor present, I donʼt need much time to adapt before mastering the authorities of the Demoness and Red Priest pathways. If things are critical with the Mother Goddess of Depravity, I can conduct a deep secret deed and astral travel to the City of Calamity now. ”But if thereʼs no immediate urgency, Iʼd prefer about a month to stabilize myself and strengthen the newly formed balance.”

Shrouded in gray fog, Mr. Fool nodded and spoke with a faintly ethereal tone, ”There is at least one month.”

Before Lumian could respond, his voice softened.

”Your three-headed, six-armed form stems from a fundamental transformation. Even I cannot restore you to a normal appearance, only conceal it with illusions. However, once you stabilize your balance and the apocalypse passes, I can use Wish and Fooling to grant you a

second form.

”This form will allow you to switch freely, turning your spatial three-heads-six-arms into a temporal one. Your three heads and corresponding bodies will each occupy different time segments of the day, living their own lives but still under your main consciousnessʼs control. ”The biggest drawback of this form is that you, Aurore, and Jenna will never be able to appear together or meet each other...”

Hearing Mr. Foolʼs unhurried words about post-apocalypse possibilities, Lumian suddenly felt a fleeting daze-as if the apocalypse could indeed end and he might truly survive.

Lumian didnʼt say anything pessimistic. He simply listened quietly.

Gradually, he understood that Mr. Fool wasnʼt making a promise or offering comfort but expressing his own hope, giving heartfelt blessings.

He genuinely wished for the apocalypse to end, for Lumian to survive, and for him to live a

better life.

”... At that point, your rank will no longer suit being a Major Arcana card holder of the Tarot Club. This isnʼt the Rose Redemption after all. But you can have Franca take your place as a Major Arcana card holder. Just draw a new card. Every Major Arcana card holder in the Tarot

Club already has dual identities, many representing other factions...” By the end, Mr. Foolʼs voice carried a hint of amusement.

At some unknown moment, Lumian found himself at peace. He chuckled along and said,

”Alright, Mr. Fool.”

Mr. Fool gently nodded and replied, ”Then I shall convene an impromptu gathering now.”