"Master, we will take our leave now." Ulorious led Hermes away, leaving only Truman and the Ancient Sun God inside the church.
It was a gathering of old acquaintances.
Just like when Truman first realized the identity of the Goddess, he felt a sense of familiarity. However, due to the nature of this world, there was an invisible barrier between them.
"Would you like a drink?" Truman suddenly asked. "Vodka! Authentic and pure!"
He flipped open the Book of Illusions and pulled out two bottles of liquor.
A wish fulfilled—fantasy had descended upon the world.
"This is a gift for you," Truman said, handing over the bottles.
"…Thank you." The Ancient Sun God stared at Truman for a while before accepting the gift, his expression tinged with both nostalgia and regret.
"Such distant memories."
He twisted the cap off and took a hearty swig, downing half the bottle in one go. "A familiar taste!"
"In the traditions of the Eastern Kingdoms, I believe a gift should be reciprocated." The Ancient Sun God set the bottle down, his gaze falling upon the divine emblem on Truman's chest.
"I have an idea!"
He reached out and gently compressed the air, as if forging a miniature sun in his palm. The radiant energy coalesced into a solar emblem, nearly identical to Truman's divine badge.
Truman's eyes gleamed as he sensed its power—Eternal Daylight.
Its primary functions were exorcism and purification, but it also had the ability to awaken slumbering beings.
"Much appreciated!" Truman accepted the emblem, placing it beside his Sleepless Night insignia. Dreamlike phosphorescence flared as the two merged into one.
Now, the divine badge had two faces, each embodying a different power. The forces of the sun and the stars intertwined, sustaining Truman's state.
"Sleepless and bathed in eternal daylight… I might never sleep again." Not that it was a bad thing for Truman.
He chuckled—an unexpected boon.
"You and that lady came looking for me for a reason, I assume?" The Ancient Sun God had clearly already met with the Goddess.
"Naturally, to collaborate." Truman's expression grew serious as the power of the Chaotic Sea and the dreamlike phosphorescence shrouded the church.
"And what kind of collaboration?" The Ancient Sun God grasped his cross with one hand, his voice calm and composed.
In this moment, he appeared more like a deity than a man.
"The alliance of the Ancient Gods, Lilith, and the Destruction Wolf." Truman presented these key names.
The Ancient Sun God remained impassive, his gaze clear and unwavering. Yet Truman knew that something called Omniscience Authority had begun stirring within the Chaotic Sea.
Though the Ancient Sun God had yet to reclaim the pathways of the Audience and the White Tower, he could still wield omniscience through the Chaotic Sea.
He was deciphering the era's threads—using boundless knowledge to trace the course of history.
He lacked the authority of Fate, but as a Writer, his abilities in this domain were not inferior.
"Lilith…" The Ancient Sun God's gaze settled on Truman, contemplative. "You have persuaded her?"
"No one desires to lose themselves." Truman did not answer directly, but his words carried a deeper meaning.
"Very well." The Ancient Sun God nodded slightly, choosing to follow the tide of the era. "For the details, seek out Saslier."
With that, the Ancient Sun God moved beneath the towering cross, closed his eyes, and began praying to himself.
He really seems to be slacking off…
Truman blinked but obediently left the church, where he met Ulorious and Hermes.
"Ulorious, my apologies for what happened before." Truman turned to him.
Previously, when the Chaotic Sea erupted, it had nearly engulfed Ulorious.
"Hmm?" Ulorious finally tore his gaze from the stone tablet and looked at Truman. He hesitated briefly before replying, "It does not matter. You did not harm me, and you are the Master's friend."
His eyes fell upon the emblem on Truman's chest, recognizing its familiar power.
"The Master's divine will instructs me to take you to Saslier." A thought seemed to occur to Ulorious as he extended his hand in invitation.
"Alright, let's go."
Truman, along with his little companion Hermes, followed Ulorious through the divine kingdom of the Sun God.
"The people here…" Hermes was in awe. They witnessed a grand sacrificial procession, majestic hymns resounding through the land, praising the deity who bestowed sunlight upon them.
Such scenes were not unheard of in other human cities, but what truly shocked Hermes was something else.
Some of these humans radiated mystical power.
More importantly, they displayed no signs of mutation. Their spirituality was stable, their spirit bodies exhibiting a harmony Hermes had never seen before.
"O Sun, you grant us light and rain, food and holy water…"
The hymns soared, led by several priests, stirring true divine power.
"What is happening here?!" Hermes asked, overwhelmed.
"They are the Chanting Ones," Ulorious replied, still offering his praise to the Sun. Noticing Hermes' confusion, he turned to explain.
"Chanting Ones?" Hermes was filled with intense bewilderment. It was as if an invisible barrier prevented him from understanding what he was witnessing.
"Sequence 9: Chanting One." Truman reminded him at the right moment.
"Sequence 9?!" Hermes' eyes lit up—everything made sense.
"You know about Sequences?" A voice approached, and a figure materialized before them.
The newcomer wore a deep black robe. His shoulder-length dark hair and features bore a striking resemblance to the Ancient Sun God, but he was more youthful and strikingly handsome. His black eyes held heavy shadows.
His attire was impeccably tailored, with silver embroidery and intricate patterns, adorned with ornate accessories.
"Saslier? What brings you here?" Ulorious blinked in confusion. "Has the Master's divine city been completed?"
Saslier's face darkened slightly. He coughed. "I came to receive our guests."
"Oh." Ulorious nodded lightly. "Then I'll take my leave. My mural isn't finished yet."
With that, he returned his focus to the stone tablet in his hands, tracing its surface, fully immersed in his own world.
"Ahem, my friend, could you spare me two bottles of vodka?" Dark Angel Saslier stepped forward and whispered.
"…" Truman flipped open the Book of Illusions and retrieved a bottle of vodka.
This Saslier gave him a peculiar impression.
The Ancient Sun God was a being where divinity completely overpowered humanity, only showing brief emotions when reminiscing about distant memories. He was akin to Truman's impression of Adam.
Yet Saslier, the King of Angels, radiated an overwhelming humanity, even more so than Ulorious.
Perhaps this was the purpose of his creation…
Truman found it far easier to interact with this version of Saslier.
"Ahh! Fantastic!" Saslier downed the bottle in one go. "Bāyèhālì!"
Truman simply reached into the Book of Illusions, grabbed a handful of dreamlike phosphorescence, and tossed it into Saslier's bottle. The glow rippled, refilling the liquor.
"What a convenient ability!" Saslier marveled. As long as the phosphorescence lasted, the vodka would never be fully consumed.
"This can't fall into his hands," Saslier muttered, taking another hearty gulp before stowing the bottle away with great care.
The Sun God might be able to procure vintage liquor, but none of those could neutralize madness.
Truman was proving his worth.
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