abnabooks Chapter 22 Monster
Chapter 22 Monster
It was still on the highest floor of the city, still an empty room without any decoration, still windows emitting different shades of black and red light.
This time, however, Evan was prepared. Unlike the first time he drank the potion, he was no longer confused and instead became fully awake.
Evan got up first and went to the black window he had peeked out from last time, wanting to see more closely what he had seen before. But to his surprise, he could only see his own black reflection in the windowpane and could not see what was happening outside.
Evan understood that only by advancing to the level of 'Instigator' could he see what was happening outside again.
Evan didn't dwell on it. He knew time was limited and he couldn't stay there for too long. So, seeing nothing of value through the black window, he immediately turned and went to the red window, looking out.
Looking out the red window, Evan saw only countless mutilated figures fighting aimlessly, relentlessly and cruelly, a scene straight out of an animal kingdom.
Everyone was venting the most primal savagery suppressed in their hearts. The entire city seemed to have turned into a naked jungle, and people seemed to have become wild beasts, with only animalistic desires and no humanity.
If the scene I saw through the black window before made me feel scared, then the scene I see now makes me feel terrified and physically uncomfortable.
The scene here seemed to illustrate that the absence of order is the greatest order, and even Evan felt his own desire to destroy everything growing unchecked.
Just as Evan was becoming so engrossed in what he was seeing that he was about to lose himself in it.
The scene before his eyes suddenly vanished, while Evan seemed to suddenly gain a higher perspective, slowly rising away from the room and continuing to ascend.
This allowed Evan to see the entire city clearly. The view from the two windows was different, which he had previously thought was the result of the city being divided in two.
Now he could see the city clearly. The city was not clearly divided, but rather two completely different worlds merged into one, without interfering with each other. Even from the window, Evan could only see one side of the city.
Just then, all the figures stopped and looked towards Evan, who was flying up from the highest point. Evan, at the same time, also sensed something and looked at himself, discovering that his body was still in the room, but he had lost his head, leaving a large hole in his neck that seemed bottomless from above. Evan's head, along with his long spine, slowly flew up.
When Evan regained consciousness, he felt that he had established a deeper connection with the mysterious city in the dark. He also "saw" the shadow of the mysterious city that Klein had mentioned shrouding him, and even saw it more clearly.
The mysterious city that was connected to him, like the smoke of a battlefield, kept other forces from corrupting him.
In Evan's senses alone, he perceived the gray mist above the spirit realm, a river within the spirit realm that seemed to be rushing, and the influence of various forces on the world, with everyone living in a balance of extraordinary powers.
However, apart from the gray fog and a certain place in the astral plane that had established a deeper connection with Evan, the other extraordinary forces that had influenced Evan had their connections severed by the Mysterious City. Some of them were even targeted by the Mysterious City, which wanted to corrupt them.
For example, the pen that wasn't actually that far from Evan.
The shadow of the mysterious city even tried to use 008's interference with Evan to infiltrate him from the opposite direction, but it failed.
However, it is conceivable that the more 008 interferes with Evan, the greater the possibility that he will be corrupted by the mysterious city.
"No wonder 008 has been trying to get me out of Tingen. It wasn't because Ince Zangwill couldn't stand the unexpected factors that were beyond his control, but because 008 himself sensed the danger and was eager to get me away, just as Ince Zangwill had been thinking."
This discovery greatly excited Evan, and he even considered staying in Tingen. However, the thought of the formidable Adam and the mysterious Goddess of Night keeping an eye on him quickly dispelled the idea.
"At most, I'll provide Klein with some more information and let him cause trouble. Anyway, he can be resurrected. With my weak arms and legs, I'd better stay away from Tingen."
When Evan opened his eyes, he found that Mr. Z and Heinz Vancent were far away from him, some even pointing guns at him and watching his situation warily.
Evan looked around and then noticed that the living room of Heinz Vansent's house was covered in fire damage, and even the large coffee table where Mr. Z's suitcase had just been placed had turned to ashes.
It turns out that after Evan drank the potion, he suddenly burst into flames, burning everything around him. Although it only lasted for a moment, it caused considerable damage.
Evan scratched his head, unsure how to explain.
On the contrary, after confirming that Evan had not lost control, Mr. Z believed that this must be a blessing from the true creator to Evan, and let Evan feel how different he was.
"Mr. Z is so kind. I hadn't even thought of this reason before he did. But it's good, because this way I can show off my newly acquired fire abilities, and maybe I'll even gain more favor from the Aurora Society."
Evan pretended to examine himself and said happily:
"I feel like I can use the power of fire."
As he spoke, Evan conjured a small fireball in his hand. The fireball seemed to have a life of its own, dancing in Evan's hand, making Heinz Vancent, who was standing to the side, extremely envious.
He took the "Mystic" potion, which makes him skilled in various ritual magics and possesses a wide range of abilities, but he cannot control the corresponding extraordinary powers on his own. Fortunately, he has developed a high-quality believer named Evan for the true creator and has accumulated enough merit, so he will soon become a "Listener" and be able to hear the Lord's divine pronouncements. At that time, he will be able to obtain all kinds of strange powers.
"This is the Lord's favor upon you, allowing you to acquire the power that only a Sequence 7 'arsonist' can possess ahead of time. You must strive to spread the Lord's faith."
Mr. Z stared at the fireball in Evan's hand and said with fervor.
In his mind, the true Creator is omnipotent, and it is possible for God to bestow any gift upon believers, as there have been many examples of this in the history of the Aurora Society.
Evan, in turn, followed suit with a reverse cross-shaped move (down, up, right, left), excitedly shouting:
"I will spare no effort to spread the Lord's glory."
Then Mr. Z, like Mrs. Sharon, inquired about the political situation in Tingen, and even more subtly about the political situation in Backlund.
Evan didn't hide anything. Since he had already told Mrs. Sharon, he didn't mind telling Mr. Z as well. Moreover, Evan could clearly sense that this information might not be what Mr. Z needed, but rather what the higher-ups in the Aurora Society needed.
"Could he be a saint from the Aurora Society?"
After reporting the information Mr. Z needed, Evan also mentioned that his brother had sent a telegram asking him to go to Backlund.
Mr. Z, upon hearing this, was not as disappointed as Mrs. Sharon. Instead, he said:
"Your identity is very important. Staying in Tingen would be a waste. Going to Backlund is a good option, but I won't be able to directly lead you anymore. Mr. A is mainly in charge of the Backlund region. I will report your situation to my superiors. After you arrive in Backlund, make sure someone contacts you."
Okay, one of our colleagues had an accident yesterday, things are getting tense, so you should leave now!
Evan nodded, put on his coat, and as he was about to leave, he remembered something and said to Mr. Z:
"When I received the Lord's gift, I saw a scene: a ship that had been involved in a bloody incident arrived at the port. I thought the port looked familiar before, and now I suddenly remembered that it was the port of Enmat. This may be a revelation from the Lord. Please pay attention."
After hearing what Evan said, Mr. Z also made a reverse cross on his chest and said:
"I'll keep that in mind!"
Watching Evan leave, Mr. Z turned back to Heinz Vancent and said:
"You've developed a high-quality follower like Evan, and with the potion recipe for the 'Diviner' path that you submitted last time, you've accumulated enough merit. Now I'll help you concoct the 'Listener' potion."
Heinz Vancent, equally excited, made a reverse cross on his chest, praising the true Creator.
After leaving Heiner Vancent's house, Evan hailed another carriage and headed straight for the eastern part of Tingen. He had a lot to do today and didn't have time to waste.
Sitting in the carriage, Evan recalled the scene he had witnessed in the mysterious city, and couldn't help but touch his head.
Now he understood why 008 couldn't grasp his psychology at all.
Because his connection with the mysterious city was beyond imagination, it could almost be said that they were one, at least much stronger than Klein's connection with the gray fog.
As can be seen from Lord of Mysteries, Klein's control over the gray fog gradually increases with the advancement of his sequence.
The mysterious city is clearly of a very high status, which explains why 008 was helpless against Evan.
"I left a part of myself forever in the mysterious city; it turns out I was already a monster all along..."
"That's true. Aren't all transmigrators who possess other people's bodies monsters?"
Although he knew that he would encounter all sorts of bizarre and wonderful things after transmigrating to this world, what he saw and heard today still exceeded Evan's imagination, making him depressed.
However, Evan quickly shifted his attention to his newly acquired, truly powerful skill.
Fire control is the core ability of the Hunter Path Sequence 7 'Pyromaniac'. Even though Evan has a cheat that allows him to use it in advance, he cannot fully master it and can only choose the two most useful fire spells.
One is the ability to compress flames and kill enemies in the form of fireballs; the longer the compression time, the greater the power.
One ability is to allow a layer of flame to burn on the body surface, resisting damage from ice-type abilities and poisonous gases.
Evan chose the latter because he anticipated that if he went to Backlund, he might encounter opponents skilled in these abilities.