The Last King Of Darkness

The Book of Knowledge once told him that to discern if a soul is the Ancient Evil Thought, there's only one way: dissect the soul in Freezing State.

Of course, this will also lead to complete soul death.

Unless it's absolutely certain he's the reincarnation of Ancient Evil Thought, it cannot be used.

Large-scale mutual suspicion among humans leading to internal friction is also one of the means by which Doomsday believers weaken the Fire Spark forces.

But Rod has a trump card — [Divine Sense]. By consuming 10 points of Divinity, he can use its ability [Spirit Mechanism], briefly gaining God-like wisdom.

As long as he has a suspect, a single use of [Spirit Mechanism] instantly grants him the reasoning ability of an elementary school student, making it instantly clear if they are a Doomsday believer.

Even if he's wrong, it doesn't matter. Rod has decided to invest 200 points of Divinity for this, which equals the effect of 20 uses of [Spirit Mechanism], to play trial and error.

Spending 200 points of Divinity to dig out Amon, Rod feels it's totally worth it.

Even if Amon ultimately isn't worth 200 points of Divinity, he thinks it's fine; it's worth it. This guy's existence is not only a huge hazard but also messes with people's mindset.

Not killing him would be a disservice to his identity as the Master of Dreams and the provocative text left in Starry Sky City.

Therefore, to verify his identity, Rod brought Mephit along.

Lucian actually isn't very willing for this sensitive figure to enter the team. Her controversies have not concluded, involving too many people in the Stone Street case, with many hating her deeply and being extremely reluctant to be on the same team with her.

And Sagus Ancient City is in a very distant Ancient Land, over eight thousand miles from Trolian. If not for the Royal City discovering a special route, they would never reach such a remote area.

The traveling team does not allow any unstable factors. If not for the fact that this trip is extremely important, the Royal City had considered canceling this action.

In tolerating the Doomsday believer as an unstable element and also Mephit, not just Lucian, many were unwilling.

If not for Rod's insistence, Mephit wouldn't be allowed into the team at all.

Even if forced to agree, she was asked to conceal her identity and not be allowed to make a public appearance.

Though targeted everywhere, Mephit has little complaint. She donned a wig, hid her face under a hood, and followed Rod as she mixed into the crowd.

The strongest for this trip is the Moon Knight, Olivia. Such an action requires Special Level Combatants.

Main combatants are Rod, Lucian, Ye Feng, Riegel, and Vito.

Along with thirty High Rank combatants, twelve High Rank Judgers, plus three Bishops of the Holy Church and seven High Rank Priests, this constitutes the entire combat force of the team.

All other members are non-combatants.

Including sixty scholars from various academies in the Royal City, fifteen researchers from the Mechanical Research Institute, and recorders from the Great Book Library, five Prophets from the White Tower.

Led by Professors Bins and Barrett.

They had just achieved outstanding results from studying the Starry Sky City's ruins and are renowned in the Royal City's academic circles.

Lucian's efficiency is very high, and the team of more than a hundred people assembled within two days.

If not for the somewhat cumbersome deployment of Special Level combat power, he could have been faster.

The third day.

Early in the morning, the vast team arrived at the large square in front of the Silver Oath.

Silver Oath is deep underground in the Royal City; the large square above ground is merely a gathering place.

Olivia stood at the forefront of the team, looking extremely grim. She did not want to participate in this mission, but all Special Level combatants were unable to detach, leaving only her to come.

She glanced at the hooded figure in the distance, her gaze full of disgust.

Ye Feng, Riegel, and Vito were, on the other hand, very happy, pulling Rod to ask questions continuously. They had cooperated with Rod on the Starry Sky City battlefield and forged a deep friendship.

Lucian, leading High Rank Judgers, patrolled and watched over the team, his soul trait "Eye of the Heart" already activated, his eyes shining with eerie Spiritual Light, examining every restless soul.

Scholars gathered together, intensely discussing something.

Professor Bins and Professor Barrett were in the eye of the storm but had no interest in participating.

Soon, people of Silver Oath ascended from underground using Spiritual Energy disks.

The controlled monster "Black Swan" was among them.

Lucian immediately stepped forward, deeply bowed: "Thank you, two Oath Bearers."

The two hurriedly returned the gesture, waving: "Lord Lucian, this is not a big deal. The forbidden object is already set to be abolished; this Black Swan is handed over to you, lest we handle it ourselves... this is the Control Rune."

Lucian received the Control Rune, input the Spiritual Energy, and Black Swan raised its head and walked toward them.

This was a large monster, entirely covered with black feathers, like a mutated crow.

As it approached, the crowd immediately fell silent.

Olivia said in a deep voice: "Get on." With a light leap, she jumped onto the bird's head.

The group followed closely and climbed onto the bird's back.

The back of the "Black Swan" is very broad, easily accommodating a hundred people.

Once everyone was on board, Lucian raised his voice and shouted, "Hold onto the feathers, we are about to depart."

A member of the Oath asked, "What about your supplies and provisions?"

Lucian flashed a slight smile, glanced at Rod beside him, and briefly answered, "Don't you know who he is?"

Rod was extremely annoyed and urged, "Hurry up and depart."

Lucian grasped the control rune, and with a flap of its wings, the Black Swan took off into the sky, disappearing in the blink of an eye, leaving only a startled exclamation.

"In the black trough!"

——

——

The speed of the Black Swan was swift, flying out of the Royal City in a moment and diving into the black fog.

After leaving the range of the firelight, its speed significantly increased, but the difficulty of control also increased. Lucian occasionally felt something moving, tearing, and resisting his spirit within the control rune.

"The controlled demon is being affected by the black fog," Ye Feng said in a deep voice.

Lucian glanced at him, "Eye of the Heart" activated invisibly, recognizing lies, one of its basic abilities.

"Don't worry, Ye Feng, I'll exhaust its power with all my might, sending us to the Ancient Land as fast as possible."

Ye Feng furrowed his brows, "You mean it only provides a one-way trip?"

Lucian nodded, while glancing at him a second time. The current Judgment Chief suspected everyone except Rod, even Olivia was no exception.

"Then how do we return?"

"With Lord Rod here," Lucian said calmly, "he has a Fire Spark that can open the teleportation gate back to the Royal City."

Ye Feng exclaimed in awe, "No wonder you are an angel of the Fire Will; I've never possessed such a functional Fire Spark."

Rod didn't correct Lucian's words. The specific function of the [Spirit Boat] is to open a portal to a place it's been before, usable only once a month.

But he didn't want to tell Ye Feng that the official name of the [Spirit Boat] is White Turbidity.

Revelle laughed, "Brother, as part of the Starfire Series, why are you so useless?"

"Indeed," Vito sighed, "Rod's Fire Spark seems to be much more powerful than yours."

Ye Feng's face flushed red, blue veins bulging from his forehead, "He is the Fire Son! Of course, it's different!"

The group burst into laughter, a joyful atmosphere filled the air, entirely unlike a dangerous journey.

Behind them, scholars were still fiercely discussing, debating every detail of Starry Sky City's destruction and what could be learned from it.

The three bishops simultaneously lifted their lamps, the faint light dispelled the black fog, protecting the souls filled with endless knowledge and wisdom.

The judgers closely watched everyone on the bird's back, tensely searching for traces of doomsday believers.

Thus, the group, on the back of the Black Swan, soared across mountain ridges at an unimaginable speed, shuttling through towering mountains.

The farther they were from the Royal City, the thicker the black fog became, and the lamplight's range gradually shrank, forcing the high-rank priests to also raise their lamps.

For a time, white light illuminated the entire small area.

But the good times didn't last long, soon, the Black Swan flew out of the Trolian range, the black fog's concentration instantly increased several magnitudes, and the fire was compressed into a very small area.

Lucian didn't mind. Instead, he increased the speed.

The Black Swan burst through the sky at an unimaginable speed, plunging headlong into the depths of darkness.

About four to five clock hours later, perhaps due to reaching its limit, the Black Swan suddenly exploded in mid-air, black feathers flying everywhere, leaving only the bare flesh crashing to the ground, reeking of rot.

No casualties occurred; Olivia unfolded the Moonlight Domain, protecting everyone well.

Except for Mephit.

She was alone, excluded from the Moonlight Domain, appearing solitary.

Rod couldn't help it, ever since he knew Olivia's son also died in the Stone Street incident, he knew there could be no reconciliation. If there was a choice, he really didn't want Olivia and Mephit to meet.

But as things were, Rod could only pretend not to see, and asked Lucian, "Are we there yet?"

Lucian nodded slightly:

"We have arrived!"

"There, that's the Sagus Ancient City!"