When the plot-skips players into the game world-Chapter 1299 - 23 Scáthach’s Request_2

This trip to the Shadow Nation wasn’t in vain—didn’t do much else, just received gifts.

Seeing Aiwass accept it, Fergus laughed heartily.

"Come, drink!"

The robust man said, raising the bowl of wine high in his hand: "This is underworld wine, it’s rare for you living to come to the Dream Realm, drink as much as you can!"

...Actually, coming to the Dream Realm isn’t that much effort for me.

Aiwass internally retorted and finally took a sip.

The liquid appeared pitch black, reminiscent of oil. As it neared his lips, the distinct sweet fragrance of strawberries could be smelled.

Oh, it looks like strawberry wine, similar to the shadow-brewed wine shared by the warriors before...

But that first sip made Aiwass widen his eyes.

It wasn’t that it tasted great—it was too spicy!

"...What proof is this stuff?!"

He asked in astonishment: "Isn’t this strawberry wine?!"

He had been shared some shadow-brewed wine outside by the warriors before, but it was only at the level of fruit wine.

But this wine, even reminded Aiwass of vodka.

"Proof?"

The robust man was somewhat confused, not quite understanding the meaning.

He just laughed heartily: "This is strong liquor! Not those dilute drinks, but pure essence! Look—"

As he spoke, he snapped his fingers directly over the wine bowl.

Just with the friction of his fingers, he easily sparked a flame.

The spark fell into the bowl, and instantly the fire ignited.

"See, lad, this one is particularly warming—but you living folks should pass, don’t imitate!"

Saying this, Fergus swallowed the flaming wine directly into his stomach.

After finishing a bowl, he even opened his mouth wide, displaying his throat.

—The flame was still burning deep within his throat.

He suddenly exhaled a puff of flame, and the emitted stream of air blew it out.

"Cool, huh!"

Fergus laughed heartily.

"If you can’t handle strong liquor, then don’t drink," said the Shadowy Celestial Marshal with concern, "don’t you still have business?"

Aiwass originally would have agreed.

But after a slight delay, Aiwass began to feel a slight warmth rising from his chest.

It wasn’t Path Power, but purely life force—

He exchanged a glance with Arsene and got a nod of confirmation from the other.

—It wasn’t an illusion.

The strong liquor brewed from the fruits born in this land of withered life unexpectedly could permanently enhance the life force of the living!

"It’s alright, I have the Fire Rite Skill, I won’t get drunk..."

Aiwass realized it was something good, so he couldn’t help but ask: "Can this wine be taken to the Material Realm?"

"Theoretically possible, but not too convenient."

The one who spoke was Fergus: "I tried to help Lancelot take some back before, but it didn’t work. Any light from the Material Realm that touches it... even a tiny bit, will make it vanish completely. Only the firelight here is an exception—this fire burns from shadow-drenched wood, though it’s flame, it’s shadow."

"...What about the ones outside? The wine that can be drunk under the thunderous light?"

"That stuff? At most that’s just water."

Fergus was rather dismissive.

"The water in the Shadow Nation can’t be drunk, it’s transformed from the ’vengeful resentment’ of the Material Realm, even the Phantom Demons find it poisonous."

The Shadowy Celestial Marshal explained: "So a small amount of shadow-brewed wine has to be added to neutralize its toxicity... these are wines without dilution."

"If you want to take some for your friends to drink, I’ll study it. When you come to the Shadow Nation next time, I’ll see if I can let you take some away."

"Thanks to the Queen then."

Aiwass expressed gratitude.

"No problem," the Shadowy Celestial Marshal also smiled, "I have something to ask of you too."

"What is it?"

"The Ouroboros Ritual, you should know it. It’s the ritual that pulled down the Fallen Celestial Marshal. You were able to deal with the Fallen Celestial Marshal... plus your origins, I think you might know something about this ritual."

The Shadowy Celestial Marshal finally spoke, stating her position and clarifying her request: "I have a premonition, I feel the Serpent Celestial Marshal might want to make a move against me—can you save me, Aiwass? If you need to ascend to a higher realm in the future, I will stand by your side."

And this was the real reason she was so warm to Aiwass.

—A God, sincerely asking a mortal for help?

Seeing this spectacle, Arsene widened his eyes.

He finally realized clearly, this trip to the Dream Realm wasn’t just about saving Sherlock.

He’d likely hear secrets no mortal should hear, witness miracles no mortal could ever witness—

And upon hearing this, Aiwass’s expression turned serious.

"Alright."

He agreed readily without much thought: "I’ll help with this, Scáthach."

Aiwass unhesitatingly called her by her divine name. This signified that their status was nearly equal at this moment.

However, the Shadowy Celestial Marshal, Scáthach, was not angry but rather humbly and earnestly asked: "What do you plan to do?"

After all, this matter concerned her life and death, as well as the continuity of the Shadow Nation, she couldn’t take it lightly.

"Very simple," Aiwass said slowly, "Just preemptively bring down the Blood Celestial Marshal. That way, this round of the Path of Love won’t have a new Celestial Marshal being brought down."

"...What about the next round?"

The Shadowy Celestial Marshal was a bit worried: "The Serpent Celestial Marshal is trying to ascend to Pillar God... it’s probably not just one round."

"I’ll try to keep it to one round."

At this point, Aiwass narrowed his eyes slightly, his tone calm: "At most two rounds. With two rounds... there should also be newborn Celestial Marshals of the Path of Love, don’t be afraid. It’s best not to touch the Banquet Celestial and Fog Sky Department, I’m also relatively familiar with them."

If it drags on too long, the Serpent Celestial Marshal’s strength will grow stronger.

The Ouroboros Ritual is essentially the Serpent Celestial Marshal gradually injecting the lower-level code of the ’Evolution’ Path into the Material Realm through the grand ceremony.

The more cycles, the more chaotic the Material Realm becomes, and the stronger the Serpent Celestial Marshal becomes.

After eight cycles, it will reach its peak, with the walls between the Material and Dream Realms almost completely collapsing... that’s the late-game version.

At that time, Foster Father James of the Material Realm would even be able to resist the divine prowess of a Pillar God’s artifact. Some weak new Celestial Marshals likely couldn’t withstand the schemers of the Material Realm. Humans would begin to seize the power of gods and even imprison deities, and the Celestial Marshals pulled down could no longer be called version bosses, instead, mortals using Celestial Marshal powers became earthly tyrants, their destructive power exceeded those of descending gods.

—This is the transformation the ’Evolution’ Path brings to the Material Realm.

It isn’t an ascent, nor a descent. It is continuous chaos, endless changes... the world increasingly trending toward chaos, with the rate of entropy increasing gradually. Through this method, it provides the Serpent Celestial Marshal with endless Path Power. The whole world becomes his ritual field.

Therefore, Aiwass couldn’t accept for the Ouroboros Ritual to proceed through too many rounds. Maybe he didn’t have the power to change things in the first round, but at most by the second round, he had to stop it.

Pulling down the Blood Celestial Marshal could at least ensure the Shadowy Celestial Marshal’s safety in the first round.

"—Just as well, I’ve long been displeased with the Blood Celestial Marshal."

Aiwass said softly.

The source of this c𝓸ntent is fr(e)𝒆novelkiss