Chapter 104: Chapter 108: The Illusory Scorching Sun
Duncan was beginning to understand why the world so deeply feared and despised Homeloss, viewing its captain as though he were a plague.
For in a certain sense, this “moving disaster” truly was like a plague.
In a space of darkness and chaos, Duncan gazed quietly at the flames dancing between his hands, feeling the power contained within this flame which was extremely docile towards him.
Fire was the most special existence in this world—it was not only the medium of light and warmth but also the safeguard that allowed mortal civilization to develop amidst crises. It maintained the balance of order between the transcendent realm and the real world and symbolized the gods’ blessings and protection for the mortal world.
In the vast majority of fields involving transcendents, “fire” occupied a special position and played a significant role.
Yet, his flame seemed to carry inherent dangers with its… traits, even within the transcendent realm, it was more fearsome than all other flames.
It possessed the ultimate contamination, secrecy, usurpation, and blasphemous power.
Based on the information known so far, the Spiritual Body’s fire had the trait of contaminating and distorting transcendent items, could be used to possess the corpses of the dead, and could even hide within the living souls. Not even the power of saints could completely eradicate it—as long as the right moment came, the flames would ignite within the soul, establishing a secret channel to Homeloss.
This was akin to an almost unnoticeable and incurable plague, and at least for now, the so-called “saints’” powers seemed to have no effect on this kind of flame.
Duncan sighed softly.
Currently, he had no idea what use the faint connection he had established with Fenna might serve, but at least for now, it seemed that all he needed was the right “medium” along with a certain “opportunity,” and he would be able to directly see and hear what was happening near that saint. Based on what he had perceived next to the “mirror,” he should also be able to project his power to some extent near the saint—the most effective method would probably be to contaminate the “fire” near the saint.
When the channel was establishing, he distinctly perceived the presence of “fire” near Fenna, which responded to his scrutiny. Coupled with his past experience in controlling the Spiritual Body’s fire, he was certain that “fire” must be a condition for establishing the connection.
As for the specific what the appropriate “medium” and “opportunity” were… the former could tentatively be confirmed as the “mirror” and “fire” acting as carriers for the projection channel (or in the transcendent realm’s “professional terms,” called “ceremonial props”), as for the latter…
Duncan recalled the sentence he had heard when the connection was suddenly established:
“… might actually link them with Homeloss …”
He had sensed the channel’s establishment immediately after hearing this sentence, so the opportunity was likely tied to this phrase.
“The word ‘Homeloss,’ then…”
Duncan’s understanding of the transcendent realm was limited, but even with that little understanding, he knew the special role “names” played in the transcendent realm.
The name “Duncan Ebnomal,” the name “Homeloss,” both held power.
He had a tentative answer in his mind:
When Fenna, the “Carrier,” uttered the name “Homeloss” near the flame and mirror, her connection with Homeloss would be instantaneously strengthened. If at that moment, Duncan on this end actively responded to this “call,” the channel would be established.
With his thoughts gradually calming, Duncan retracted his gaze from the distant “stars.”
He had no disagreement with the Deep Sea Church, and he bore no ill will toward the young Judge miss, naturally not intending to use this connection to harm her. However, if this connection could occasionally provide him with valuable information… it wouldn’t be a bad thing.
The space of darkness and chaos and the glimmers of light receded like flowing water, and Duncan opened his eyes to find himself back in his own bedroom.
The golden sun mask, modeled after the Sun God, lay quietly by his hand, while the dove, Ai Yi, perched nearby on a desk, dozing off.
This bird had been sent to chat with the goat-headed one, but for some reason, the latter did not want to talk and thus sent the bird back.
After a moment’s hesitation, Duncan reached out and picked up the sun mask.
Although some minor episodes had occurred and he had unexpectedly bumped into plenty of unexpected information, things were finally back on track—he had time to study the “Sun Sacred Relic.”
He first flipped the mask back and forth several times to confirm the details of its design and the specifics of its material. However, during his examination, he suddenly noticed a small chip in one corner of the mask.
A dim hue was faintly visible through the chipped location.
Duncan furrowed his brow, and the next second, the pigeon that had been dozing on the table suddenly opened its eyes, flapping its wings and hopping around as it squawked, “It’s iron with copper plating! Iron with copper plating!”
Hearing the bird’s words, Duncan felt even more that the damaged part of the mask was sore to the eyes. He hurriedly scratched at the blemished spot with his fingernail and studied it carefully for a moment before finally concluding with an expressionless face—
It really was iron with copper plating, not even gilded.
Because some corners of the mask were even starting to turn green…
“This is a swindle!” The psychological gap made Duncan finally unable to resist muttering to himself. He looked dejectedly at the weighty lump of iron in his hand, recalling his initial “resale” plan when he was about to study the mask, feeling a chill in his heart, “I was still hoping to fleece those heretics a bit more… Even mass-produced relics shouldn’t be faked like this, right?!”
Pigeon Ai Yi, listening to Duncan’s grumbles, rolled its eyes and flapped its wings as it cried out, “Is your fruit even ripe?”
It took a moment for Duncan to understand what the pigeon meant—was it saying, “Is everything in your shop genuine?”
He recalled the stack of modern industrial rejects in his shop and looked at Ai Yi expressionlessly: “Shut up.”
Having said that, he no longer paid any attention to the bird next to him and instead focused his attention on the golden mask.
After confirming that this gadget was indeed a worthless mass-produced item, his “test” was free of worries.
A cluster of faint green flame rose at his fingertips and flowed over the surface of the golden mask like water, then under Duncan’s control, it gradually infiltrated the interior of the “Sacred Relic.”
A mass-produced relic was still a relic, and even if its true material was iron plated with copper, the runes engraved inside it and the sun-shaped design on its surface were certainly capable of exerting transcendent powers. Since that Sun Priest could use this thing to communicate with his “deity,” it meant that this sun mask could be analyzed and researched according to the laws of transcendent items.
Duncan had considerable experience in the field of transcendent item research, and his main approach was to set fire without hesitation—the last practical instance was when he set Ai Yi’s coffin box ablaze with green fire, which proved to be a very effective research method.
Feeling the flame gradually penetrating inside the mask, Duncan also concentrated his spirit, beginning to perceive the information that might be contained within the transcendent item.
This was a mass-produced thing, and its “Presence” definitely couldn’t compare to Eli’s puppet sarcophagus. Duncan believed he should be able to quickly understand the functionality and operations of this object and subvert it to become his own.
With that thought, he peered into the depths of the mask for the truth—however, the next second, the development of events exceeded his expectations!
A boom like thunder suddenly exploded in his mind, as if he had “blasted” open a passage deep within the ordinary mask. As he delved into the mask’s interior, his spirit violently encountered a massive and searing power that overflowed from all sides. Then, he felt as if he had “passed through” a channel, or opened a door, and a grandiose, magnificent illusion flooded into his brain!
It might have been just one second, maybe even shorter. It was just a few fleeting images—in these images, he saw a solitary, fiery burning fireball hanging in the dark void of space.
The sun, a true, burning, gravity-emitting… star.
Amidst the incredible heat and the tearing force of gravity, Duncan faced the scorching sun, yet he did not turn to ashes within it—the star seemed to be nothing more than a phantom from ancient times. It retained the majesty and might that it once truly possessed but couldn’t actually affect the real world in the slightest degree.
Stunned, Duncan watched as this blazing sun in the illusory realm gradually turned an angle within his view.
Behind the sun was a pale, dark flesh and billions of coiled, withered tentacles stretching over countless kilometers. These detestable limbs together encircled a gigantic eyeball that was half-open, half-closed, already decaying for who knows how many eons.
The fierce solar corona was burning fiercely atop a false shell woven and supported by blood and tentacles—releasing the might of something trying desperately to mimic the “sun,” yet in the end, a mere counterfeit.
A faint, ethereal voice, almost like an illusion, began whispering beside Duncan’s ear:
“Usurper of Flame… extinguish me… please…”