NOVPUBThe Divine Arts wielded by the Priest rank not only saw minor correlations with "Spirit" and "Magic Power" attributes but also had a significant correlation with the unique "Faith" attribute of the priesthood.
Engaging in Church and clergy duties presented opportunities to enhance one’s Faith attribute.
Additionally, if one believed in the Goddess of Destiny, the Faith attribute would apply universally across all chapters of Divine Arts; but if the belief was in a specific deity, the Faith attribute would apply only to a single chapter, granting exceptionally superb support to the Divine Arts’ effect within that chapter.
Lanci and Huebelle, whom they had met in the sixth sub-level of Herram Underground Prison, were Priests who worshipped the gods of storm and freedom. They had fully specialized in Wind-attribute Divine Arts. They were capable of using their Wind-attribute Magic to mitigate and resist many Spell damages while also using control-type Divine Arts to hinder the prisoners’ activity within the prison, even pushing the prisoners back. They were almost invincible in the Great Demon Clan’s trial named The Suspended Road of Reincarnation.
"No wonder you have the [Inverted Mark]."
Talia sighed.
The sixth sub-level of Herram Prison was reconstructed from the remnant of their Demon World artifact, The Suspended Road of Reincarnation.
The Inverted Mark was considered the most basic mark, whose effect was to slightly boost the fundamental Spirit attribute.
Back then, everyone in the Demon Race wanted it.
After all, the basic Spirit attribute was always useful.
"Inverted Lord Tiberius, could he really be stronger than Fallen Lord Calila and Sathya of Despair?"
Lanci, who rarely talked to Talia about stories related to the Northern Continent and the Old Demon World, couldn’t help but ask out of curiosity upon sensing Talia’s deep emotions about the Inverted Mark.
Next time in the Shadow World, he planned to bring Talia back to the Demon World’s historical projection from tens of thousands of years ago, so he found he had many topics to discuss with Talia, a genuine member of the Demon Race.
"Of course, Ninth-order Great Demons also varied in strength. Think about who is imprisoned on each of those three levels."
Talia confirmed.
As a teacher, she was always willing to answer Lanci’s questions,
as long as he didn’t ask some damned annoying questions.
Noticing that Lanci’s thoughts had suddenly become lively, she added another comment.
"So that’s how it is."
Lanci stroked his chin, pondering.
It was actually evident from the internal arrangement of Herram Prison.
The trial of Fallen Queen Calila, [Fallen Wonderland], could only be placed on the fourth sub-level, imprisoning the weakest Antanas.
While Sathya of Despair’s [Hopeless Extinction War] on the fifth level had imprisoned Sinola, the strongest in direct combat.
The one that truly resided in the deepest layer, the sixth sub-level of Herram Prison, sealing Pranay, was [The Suspended Road of Reincarnation], the Ultimate Magic left by Inverted Tiberius.
"According to the remaining historical records of the Demon Race, Inverted Lord was a Ninth-order Great Demon from several eras before that of Fallen Queen, and it’s one of the oldest extant Great Demon Clan trials. He excelled in ’Spirit’ and ’Divination’ attributes and probably left numerous treasures in the Demon World; it’s just a pity they’ve vanished in the long stretches of history."
Talia continued to explain.
Often those who become Great Demon Clan trials after their death are Great Demons willing to sacrifice themselves, leaving their final worth to the future generations of Demon Race without reservation.
Perhaps tens of thousands of years ago, or even over a hundred thousand, it’s a time so remote it’s almost entirely vanished. The creatures of the present could no longer calculate how long it has been since the Divine Era or how many ten thousand years have cycled since then.
"In the era of Fallen Queen Calila, maybe you could still find items left by Tiberius."
Talia, in fact, envied Lanci for having the [Inverted Mark].
Only those who truly passed the test of life and death could gain this mark after enduring the harsh trials of The Suspended Road of Reincarnation.
However, now that mark was hers, she felt simply making a wish in her heart was more convenient.
"No, did you confiscate my Great Love Poet? I thought we had to part ways eventually, right?"
Lanci asked, puzzled.
"Actually, if I really wanted to, I feel I could completely devour Lan Fu, since she essentially originates from the same source as me. After merging, there’s essentially no distinction between us."
Talia lifted the corner of her mouth proudly, as if threatening Lanci that she might just confiscate his Epic Card.
But doing so could permanently consume the Magic Cards [Demon Fusion] and [Great Love Poet].
Still, Talia was reluctant to do so.
She found Lan Fu quite adorable.
"In the world line shown by the Goddess of Destiny, you’re the one who obtained the Poem of Pity and then embarked on an invincible path."
Lanci was relieved to hear Talia think that way.
It was not until around six o’clock when the room gradually darkened that he realized, reached out, and turned on the study’s light.
Warm yellow light poured down, and Lanci rubbed his somewhat sore eyes, stretched lazily, and decided to take a short break.
He got up, walked to the window, and pushed it open, letting in the autumn air.
Taking a deep breath, Lanci soaked in the unique beauty of dusk in autumn.
But in the world line predicted by the Goddess of Destiny, he would be beaten by Talia into a white zongzi wrapped in bandages, and Hyperion would meet an early demise in Ichrite. Knowing the truth about her niece, all Talia could do was stare at Hyperion’s tombstone, and following the trail would lead to the discovery that her sister had been harmed by the Blood Clan. The Northern Continent would face another upheaval, and the Protoss Empire would fall, with the fates of old friends in prison likely faring no better.
Thus, "The Rise of Talia" began.
At its core, it was a tragic story of revenge.
When she realized she had lost everything, she was no longer the same Talia.
It just so happened that the Poem of Pity provided her with the power to seek revenge.
"..."
Talia also walked to the study window, joining Lanci in admiring the distant autumn colors.
"Thinking about it, I guess I should thank you."
Talia’s gaze softened a bit as she gently lifted her hand to touch Lanci’s hair.
"..."
Lanci turned his head in bewilderment, looking at Talia.
The warm light seemed to veil her in a headscarf, her golden demon eyes warmer than ever before.
This version of Talia seemed almost unreal, like an impostor.
"Wait, why would I beat you up like that?"
Suddenly recalling something, Talia regained her usual expression, asking as she locked eyes with Lanci.
Logically speaking, even if Lanci was the spiteful type, her temperament wasn’t that great when she first met him, but after being cautious in the realm of humans for a hundred years, surely she wouldn’t lose her composure to the point of beating him up in a fit of rage, right?
"Cough!"
Lanci coughed heavily.
He felt Talia’s hand on his head becoming dangerous, and he quickly thought about escaping.
"Speak up, what did you do to make me angry?"
Talia, with a dread beyond that of death itself, grabbed the back of his collar, yanked him back, and prevented him from escaping.
"It’s nothing, really nothing!"
Lanci struggled to take off his coat, desperate to flee.
"Hmph, trying to run?"
Talia grabbed hold of Lanci’s arm, pinned him against the wall, and asked as she stared at him,
"Confess honestly now, you have no chance to resist anymore."
Talia’s strength far surpassed Lanci’s sixth-order, and Lanci, no matter how frantically he tried, couldn’t best her.
Sweat poured down his forehead.
He regretted ever sending the cat away.
With Cat Boss there, Talia would at least have been somewhat restrained.
Now, alone in the house, she did whatever she pleased.
And his task was to suppress his thoughts while also coming up with a way to avoid Talia’s mental connection and persuade her.
It was like playing in hell mode.
As Lanci was racking his brain for a survival plan,
Suddenly, the Communication Magic Card in Talia’s possession emitted a series of vibrations, disrupting their train of thought.
Talia, puzzled, released Lanci and took out the purple Communication Magic Card.
"Why is it Cat Boss?"
Talia murmured to herself, quickly handing the Magic Card to Lanci.
Unbeknownst to them, the remaining light of the sunset was gradually hidden beyond the horizon, replaced by the rise of the night sky.
With the red moon enveloped in a layer of light gray mist, even the curtains of the study were tinged with a faint red.
Lanci reached out to answer the call.
"Meow... Lanc... quick... danger..."
The communicator emitted Cat Boss’s intermittent voice, accompanied by bursts of magic power static and severe spatial interference in the signal.
