Chapter 1586: Chapter 277: Just as Expected
That is the sound of the Hourglass.
All Transcendents worldwide simultaneously heard the new announcement in their hearts—
[The promotion ceremony for breaking through the seventh energy level of the Path of Devotion will be conducted separately as the Lunar Eclipse Ceremony]
[The Power of Devotion boils completely, the nine rivers of Path become increasingly turbulent—]
[From today, all Paths will gain a universal healing ability, the mana required to heal any injury is halved, and the healing effect is doubled]
[The barrier between the Dream Realm and the Material Realm becomes weak, significantly lowering the difficulty of prayers, spirit communication, summoning, and divine descent related to Dream Realm exists]
[—Balance Law has been updated, a new balance point has been established]
In the past years, the Hourglass has only proclaimed new laws twice. Originally, there was not a single announcement for thousands of years, but within a few months, it rang out three times.
At this moment, even the most obtuse Transcendent should unmistakably understand...a new era has arrived.
"...It’s really good."
Even Aiwass breathed a sigh of relief.
He couldn’t care less about what words the Water Crow Guard of the Benevolent Lords had to convey to him.
Once he roughly understood he was to attend a meeting tomorrow morning, he hurriedly dismissed them—Aiwass was already impatient to contact Grey, to see how things were going on her side.
If Grey successfully convinces the Flame Celestial Marshal, it would definitely be a tremendous achievement.
After all, the strength of the Flame Celestial Marshal, among the Celestial Marshals dismissed by the Ring of Ouroboros in this round, could be considered one of the best. Moreover, the Flame Celestial Marshal’s abilities were not quite suited for combat.
According to intelligence mentioned in Grey’s letter, the Flame Celestial Marshal possesses the power to transform "civilization."
All those technologies and war preparations accumulated by the dwarves over thousands of years were transformed by her into Fire Spirits.
Activated Magic Energy Cannons, activated heavy-armored mechas, activated mechanical fortresses, activated Steel Cities...not only were these things gathered together, even the dwarves themselves were consumed by that devastating flame, becoming one mechanical dwarf after another.
All organic matter turned into inorganic, and all inorganic matter gained life and reason.
This ability is quite similar to that of a Flame Demon—Aiwass had once seen a Flame Demon use a similar ability during the promotion ceremony, to demonize the Hall of Silver and Tin.
But back then, the ones transformed into Flame Demon Derivatives were just a group of palace guards, butlers, and maids...they were wielding either cold weapons or were unarmed. There were even those holding candlesticks and mops, things that didn’t resemble normal weapons at all.
Their cores were the flowing living flames. These weapons, even when enchanted, couldn’t withstand the flame’s temperature, and would quickly disintegrate after combat.
However, the Flame Celestial Marshal is different—as a god governing flame, steel, and forging, the "weapons" demonized by her become not weaker but stronger after gaining life; whereas the organic life mechanized by her gains the advantages of inorganic matter.
Actually, Aiwass believes that this is the core understanding of the Flame Celestial Marshal regarding the Path of Devotion and Civilization Source River: civilization does not necessarily require humans.
This might not be entirely wrong.
If the Void completely permeates this world, this could be a way to continue "civilization."
For the essence of the Void is "meaninglessness," but to artificial intelligence, to steel and machinery, this is a pseudo-problem—they inherently exist without meaning. This is precisely why this tool race born from the Void may not be destroyed by it...if anything, they might turn into tools of the Void, thereby surviving.
—Just as cows, horses, cats, and dogs are domesticated by humans and continue to exist.
How could this not be considered a type of "civilization"? Only the least desirable kind.
Just like the Star Spirit, which inherited the Atlantis civilization of the past scale bearers...if living beings one day reach their end, perhaps the machinery hatched from their shells could become a new civilization.
Whether it is His Holiness, or the Flame Celestial Marshal herself, both find this concept somewhat blurry, not having a clear understanding of their own Path...instead, Aiwass seems better at understanding the thoughts of the Flame Celestial Marshal.
Unfortunately, the current era is still somewhat lagging behind.
In another hundred or two hundred years, when the era of automation and artificial intelligence arrives, the Flame Celestial Marshal might be able to figure it out.
Now, the Flame Celestial Marshal is caught between the paradox of "civilization continuing to develop no longer needing humans" and "can a civilization without humans be considered civilization," feeling confused.
Her ideas are advanced and extreme, yet her understanding is antiquated, and her morals are traditional—that’s why the Flame Celestial Marshal feels pain.
As the world’s top artisan, the Flame Celestial Marshal fixes and optimizes any problems she encounters when assimilating these metals. Although Aiwass is confident he could easily defeat a few hundred Flame Celestial Marshals...however, facing the accumulated military might of the dwarf civilization, Aiwass truly feels reluctant.
—The known military technology of the dwarf civilization matches the elves with the strongest martial virtue thousands of years ago, while the elves have laid down their arms, transforming swords into plowshares, and any of their ancient cruisers could already surpass modern technology...wouldn’t fighting against all the military technology accumulated by the dwarves mean Aiwass has to struggle to the death with an entire civilization?
Even binding the entire human civilization together might—not, it certainly would be harder than defeating the Flame Celestial Marshal!
Not to mention, those mechanical dwarves, at their core, are indeed the dwarf race. If Aiwass were to crush them, it would be equivalent to personally exterminating a race, destroying an ancient civilization that has lasted thousands of years.
Even if Aiwass manages to survive this, the war would inevitably plunge the world into chaos.
Not to mention how many innocents this would affect...the ambition of discovering dwarves have hidden taboo technologies for thousands of years would lead to a series of troublesome repercussions.
Fortunately, Grey is reliable enough.
With persuasive rhetoric, she convinced the stubborn-headed Flame Celestial Marshal.
—According to Grey’s previous letter, she probably let the Flame Celestial Marshal release her own power, becoming a Celestial Marshal walking on earth. Just like past Crown Lords, searching for new possibilities for her Path through such an ascetic practice.
And as Aiwass was preparing the ritual, intending to contact Grey...
The Benevolent Lords suddenly convened a small meeting.
Among them were Mahid Fran and Ismael, who had just left not long ago—naturally, Aiwass was not among them.
"Brothers and sisters," a voice faintly rose, "our decision was correct.
"—The immensely powerful Flame Celestial Marshal was indeed solo defeated by this young Pope!
"The Great Abyss cannot compare to the flames, since that’s the case...do you admit to being worse than the newly appointed Pope?"