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The underwater ruins became silent again, and the countless Zombies and vengeful spirits circling around disappeared after being enveloped by the Darkness.
Putting Groselle's Travels away, Aaron looked at Astolfo, who was standing silently to the side, lost in thought, and recalling the confrontation with the feathered snake just now, he asked with some concern:
"What exactly was that thing just now? Are you seriously injured?"
Breaking free from his thoughts, Astolfo gently shook his head and calmly replied:
"That should be considered a part of Salinger's Death mark. After Salinger truly fell during the Pale Disaster, this mark, sealed within the Sea of Ruins, seemed to have undergone some mutation."
"The corruption I suffered has been cleared by that being, but I also suffered a backlash. The rest of the journey might require you to complete it yourself."
As Astolfo spoke, a stream of light emerged and merged into the "Traveler's Badge" that Aaron had always worn, adding:
"The core area of the Sea of Ruins will only be more dangerous. Rashly performing Spirit World Travel there might lead to some unpredictable situations."
"Something I don't understand seems to have happened in that area of Tolzna; it should no longer be safe."
"I just modified your 'Traveler's Badge' for the next teleportation. Using its negative effects and the coordinates I placed in the boundary before, it can send you to a hidden location deep within the Spirit World, allowing you to escape here safely."
Aaron listened attentively, couldn't help but raise an eyebrow, and chuckled dryly:
"Deep within the Spirit World? Hmm, that must be very dangerous, right?"
Astolfo nodded and then shook his head:
"It is indeed very dangerous there, but as long as you don't actively explore and stay on the periphery, you'll be fine. I will immediately go and take you away when I sense your teleportation."
Saying that, he paused, glanced at the underwater ruins beneath his feet, and the temple where the Death sculpture should have stood, adding with a strange tone:
"That is Calderon, the 'City of the Dead'…"
Aaron immediately gasped. That was the divine kingdom of Gregrace, the Ancient Death Phoenix Ancestor.
Later, Gregrace opened up the Underworld in the Spirit World and transferred her divine kingdom there. Before she was severely wounded by the Ancient Sun God, he threw Calderon deep into the Spirit World.
And deep within Calderon, there was also a branch of the River of Eternal Darkness, which was also something the Evernight Goddess wanted to obtain.
Seeing Aaron's astonished expression, and guessing that he already knew the secrets within, he explained slowly, his tone calm but tinged with helplessness:
"The depths of Calderon contain immense terror. Although it is very dangerous, it can also help me avoid some troubles, such as that angel constantly wandering in the Spirit World."
Putting away the expression on his face, Aaron strongly agreed. As the surrounding scenery blurred, he was already back on the ghost ship. Astolfo withdrew the hand resting on Aaron's shoulder, and his body slowly became transparent, disappearing into the vivid oil painting world.
Looking at the sky, which was still like midday, Aaron breathed a sigh of relief. Without further hesitation, he held Groselle's Travels, the Ring of Mysteries, and the token that could open the Specter Empire in his hand, waiting for the arrival of Darkness.
The Darkness Mark suddenly glowed, and at the same time, the sky was rapidly invaded by Darkness. The scorching light was quickly swallowed. Before Aaron could close his eyes, more profound symbols, symbolizing Concealment and terror, emerged from his wrist.
The surroundings turned into pure Darkness. Aaron felt as if he was in a black ocean, able to feel himself moving, but unable to control his body.
Enveloped by the pure, tranquil Darkness, Aaron's consciousness gradually blurred. Suddenly, a sharp pain awakened him. The dark golden token tightly clutched in his hand burst forth with dazzling light, becoming the only light in this dark world.
The skin on his palm cracked, and blood continuously seeped out, absorbed by the token. Waves of faint golden light spread through the black ocean.
Thump! Thump!
His heart beat faster and faster, and a sense of calling from the depths of his soul suddenly emerged in Aaron's mind, causing him to instinctively reach out his hand.
The sound of something shattering clearly entered Aaron's ears. He looked at his hand in a daze; the blood-soaked golden token shattered with a crash, turning into various symbolic patterns that enveloped Aaron's body and disappeared into the distance.
Roars, wails, and various strange whispers echoed in his ears. Aaron abruptly opened his eyes, his body swaying, feeling as if he had been torn apart.
Enduring the discomfort in his body, Aaron quickly scanned his surroundings and prayed to himself in his mind.
The worst had not happened. The prayer still received a response, but the true vision obtained by the Sefirah's sub-consciousness was somewhat distorted and blurry, seemingly interfered with by some force. Aaron found himself on a strange metal base.
This was a world ruled by Darkness, with faint light coming from the soul fires in the eyes of the undead creatures floating in mid-air.
With their illumination, even Beyonders without Dark vision could grasp the overall appearance of this vast ruin:
At the end of his vision were dark golden walls of unknown material, stretching upwards, endlessly, forming the hull of the entire incredibly massive ghost ship.
It was less a ship and more a city built within a ship. In the center of the entire city was a colossal mausoleum that covered the sky, and a stone-paved road stretched out, connecting various halls and buildings.
From time to time, neatly arranged spirits came and went, quiet and silent. Guarding this mausoleum seemed to be the only remaining obsession in their soul forms.
Even with just a glance, a surging shock filled his heart. The largest ghost ship Aaron knew was the Black Emperor of Nast, the King of the Five Seas. In front of the Specter Empire, it was simply not worth mentioning.
Even the ironclad battleship, which Aaron remembered was about to be completed, was nothing more than that. It truly lived up to its reputation as a ghost ship built with the strength of an entire nation.
And the platform Aaron was currently on was located in the middle of the huge mausoleum. The spirits of the chosen ones passed by him from time to time, and after sensing the aura emanating from him, they all actively avoided him.
There was no time to ponder the anomalies he felt. After merely regaining consciousness and glancing at his surroundings, Aaron continued to be enveloped by the dark golden light and rushed towards the depths of the mausoleum.
The black giant Door, inscribed with complex patterns and emitting spiritual fluctuations, opened inwards, and the dark golden light suddenly entered.
Sensing the opening of the Door, the spectral souls constantly wandering in the vast, city-like ruins simultaneously looked towards the black mausoleum and simultaneously bowed in worship to the mausoleum.
The light passed through the hallway adorned with murals, through magnificent palaces, and arrived at the deepest part of the mausoleum. It was a grand hall filled with symbols, patterns, and designs. There were 13 sarcophagi arranged in the hall.
With Aaron's arrival, the dark golden sarcophagus in the very center, surrounded by the other 12 sarcophagi, immediately emanated terrifying fluctuations, sweeping towards Aaron and carrying him towards the sarcophagus.
To Aaron's horror, the sarcophagus automatically opened. It was somewhat empty inside, without the expected remains, only a resplendent Chaos Crown where order and chaos coexisted, with a crimson-gold eye embedded at its top.
The source of the distorted order and majesty permeating the entire Specter Empire was this Chaos Crown. The moment their gazes met, his mental defenses were instantly shattered.
His Mind Island was instantly covered mostly in crimson-gold. A man with bronze-colored hair and golden eyes stood quietly on the Mind Island, which was mostly dyed.
The speed of the golden spread suddenly paused. From the infinite heights of the mental world, endless dark golden mist permeated, protecting the remaining parts of the Mind Island that had not been completely invaded.
The golden-eyed man, whose face was indistinct, slowly opened his mouth indifferently, and a majestic voice echoed:
"Nation of Disorder!"
As soon as he finished speaking, the Chaos Crown from the sarcophagus instantly appeared on his head. An indescribable great power descended. If not for the reinforcement of the dark golden mist, the Mind Island might have collapsed instantly.
Even so, Aaron, whose consciousness was already somewhat blurred, only had time to manipulate the Sefirah to launch a counterattack and withdraw all remaining consciousness into the Sefirah.
He lightly raised his arm, and the sweeping dark golden mist seemed to be divided by an invisible barrier, forcibly confined to a certain place. Sensing the change in the rules of order, the slightly illusory figure immediately looked up towards the infinite heights of the Mind Island.
The figure shattered with a roar, transforming into an indescribable spiritual imprint that, along with the Chaos Crown, rushed into the boundless dark golden mist.
With difficulty, Aaron returned to the Sefirah. After merging with his sub-consciousness, his eyes regained clarity. The entire magnificent palace trembled slightly, and the boundless dark golden mist was stirred by some force.
He cursed inwardly. Without the slightest hesitation or regard for the consequences, he directly activated his incomplete mythical creature form, gripping the Sun Chaser Scepter with hands completely condensed from dark golden weapons.
One after another, dazzling light arrows inscribed with dark golden patterns instantly flew out of the palace, shooting towards the sky. A crimson-gold light appeared in the perpetually mist-shrouded sky.
The illusory figure wearing the Chaos Crown endured the "Sun Chasing Arrows" without regard for loss. The ripples emanating from the Chaos Crown, containing unknown power, eroded the boundless dark golden mist.
As the master of the Sefirah, Aaron clearly felt the intrusion of a high-level power of the same origin. If not for the blessing in disguise from last time, obtaining an incomplete mythical creature form and deeply mastering the Sefirah, Aaron would have been successfully invaded without even a chance to resist.
His eyes, formed of pure mist, looked at the crimson-gold light in the sky, always feeling a sense of déjà vu.
Watching the increasingly illusory figure in the crimson-gold light, Aaron had just relaxed when he saw the figure shatter again, as if all its power had erupted, breaking through some barrier. The dim Chaos Crown, attached with a spiritual imprint, finally entered this space.
Two different whispers sounded, as if evil gods were murmuring in his ear. The dark golden mist, which should have resisted, was simultaneously stirred by these two voices.
Looking at the extremely dim Chaos Crown, Aaron steeled his heart and directly manipulated the eye on the Chaos Crown to meet the gaze of the "Chaos Eye" at the top of the throne.
The whispers from different existences erupted like a volcanic eruption, raging throughout the entire space. Even Aaron, who had a strong resistance to whispers, began to be unable to bear it and directly expanded into a dark golden vortex.
In the last moments of his consciousness, Aaron heard a sigh he had never heard before, and his mind seemed to gain some chaotic memories.
Along with the sigh, the Chaos Crown fell to the ground. The crimson-gold eye embedded at its top had become extremely dim, and a certain imprint deep within its pupil slowly shattered.
-----------------
In the Spirit World, dense and vibrant color blocks overlapped, with a faint mist lingering in some areas, and obscure eyes opening in various deep places.
The thin mist reflected a magnificent city that could only appear in mythical legends.
This city was different from normal ones; it did not develop upwards but extended circle after circle into the depths of a deep pit, giving an overall impression of an inverted mausoleum.
Its buildings had various styles, but all were equally strange: some were towering pale stone pillars with huge single houses polished at their tops, some were built underground with a tombstone at the entrance, and some were constructed from bones, messy and fragmented.
And the closer to the bottom of the deep pit, the better preserved the buildings were, while the closer to the top, the more collapsed areas there were, filled with the sense of decay and dilapidation brought by time.
Aaron's figure suddenly appeared outside the city, surveying Calderon, known as the "City of the Dead." The Darkness Mark's Concealment spread throughout his body, concealing his aura, as he quietly awaited Astolfo's arrival.
After entering the Specter Empire, he encountered terrifying erosion, and he never expected that the "Chaos Eye," which had tormented him for several epochs, would become his final reliance.
This remnant from an Outer God shattered the Night Emperor's spiritual imprint, which was already at the end of its tether. And after Aaron awakened, many pieces of information suddenly appeared in his mind.
This included the beginning and end of the entire affair, and he also learned the identity of that terrifying figure: the source of his current body's glory—the Night Emperor's spiritual imprint remaining in the Grade 0 Sealed Artifact from the Fourth Epoch.
He wondered if it was because the aura of the Nation of Disorder he carried completely activated some obsession within the spiritual imprint, or if it was a contingency left by the Night Emperor, that the subsequent events occurred.
Aaron, who had mastered the incomplete mythical creature form, could already initially control this Sefirah. Merely carrying a spiritual imprint should not have been able to break through the Sefirah's isolation.
It wasn't until Aaron reviewed the memories that suddenly flooded his mind that his doubts were answered, and he couldn't help but feel shocked.
The crimson-gold eye embedded at the top of that item was actually the long-lost Sequence 1 Beyonder characteristic of "Hand of Order." The Night Emperor's spiritual imprint originated from this.
And Solomon's remains, which the Night Emperor obtained during the War of Four Emperors, were secretly made by him into the rest of the Chaos Crown.
By simultaneously connecting to "Justiciar" and "Black Emperor," and creating a certain degree of resonance with the Nation of Disorder, this terrifying Grade 0 Sealed Artifact was barely able to pass through the barrier.
And after defeating that spiritual imprint, Aaron, who had been unconscious within the Sefirah for nearly two months before awakening, found that he had a deeper connection with the Specter Empire.
As long as he entered the Sea of Ruins, even if it wasn't Darkness, he could instantly return to the Specter Empire.
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