Chapter 1149: Acting
?
As Franca watched the crimson moon rise inch by inch, a chill ran down her spine. She felt as if her darkening xen-colored hair was growing along with it.
"What now?" She couldn''t help but nce at Lumian.
After bing a Demoness of Catastrophe, she had a vague understanding of Lumian''s intended actions-essentially, the n was this:
With the help of various forces on the Western Continent, Lumian would attempt to be the Origins of Disaster, Cmity of Destruction, before the Mother Goddess of Depravity fully amodated the Brood Hive. Then, leveraging the symbolic connection between Earth Mother Lilith and Omebe, he would y this true god to destroy the newly reborn Omebe, thereby provoking the Brood Hive into rebelling against the Mother Goddess of Depravity. Finally, he would seize the opportunity during Their confrontation to heavily wound the Mother Goddess of Depravity, heavily damage the Pir, and drive Her out of the astral barrier.
Once this nmenced, every second would count. Earth Mother Lilith''s voluntary death would rapidly lead to the fragmentation of the astral barrier. Lumian would have only a fleeting window to wound and banish the Mother Goddess of Depravity before returning to the astral barrier himself to take Earth Mother''s ce. Failing this, the entire situation would copse, and the apocalypse would arrive prematurely.
If the n seeded, Lumian-now having transcended the Sequences-could sustain the barrier and buy two or three more years. By then, Mr. Fool would fully awaken, lift the seals around the Western Continent, and allow more Great Old One to emerge.
Franca had two major concerns about the n. First, from Earth Mother Lilith''s fall to the shattering of the astral barrier, the time window might be mere seconds. Could Lumian truly injure the Mother Goddess of Depravity, a Pir? Second, even if Lumian somehow managed this extraordinary feat, could he already precarious in bnce and prone to "asional" bouts of lucidity—remain stable after forcibly amodating the City of Cmity long enough to maintain the barrier?
Now Franca realized she didn''t need to worry anymore.
Because their n was doomed before it even began!
The Mother Goddess of Depravity was about to fully amodate the Brood Hive, leaving nothing capable of restraining Her!
At this moment, they could kill Earth Mother Lilith and reignite the Brood Hive''s rebellious instincts to buy more time for Lumian to amodate the City of Cmity. But who would then reinforce the astral barrier and halt the other Outer Deities'' invasion?
It was death either way!
Yet Lumian smiled, the corners of his mouth curling upward, as he said to Franca, "There''s still a chance. Still a way."
As he spoke, the scenery around them shifted from wildly growing trees and weeds to the vi in the protected zone.
Still a way? Franca, affected by Lumian''s calm and resolute demeanor, felt her panic subside.
Lumian nodded at her. "Take Anthony and Ludwig and go to Madam Magician''s ce immediately. Follow her instructions. I''ll meet Mr. Fool above the gray fog."
"Alright." Franca did not hesitate or let her emotions cloud her judgment.
She stepped forward, embracing Lumian''s asymmetrical body for two seconds in silence. Straightening, she extended her right hand and offered a bright smile. "May we stay safe, and may you seed."
Lumian smiled back, raising his right hand for a high-five.
With a crisp p, he stared deeply at Franca for a few seconds, then turned and ascended the staircase. Grayish-white fog began to swirl around him as he disappeared.
Only when Lumian''s figure fadedpletely did Franca wipe her eyes, her expression calm as she turned to face Anthony and Ludwig, who had already received notifications via the mental channel.
"We need to relocate," Franca said lightly, with a hint of a smile.
At the same time, many high-level figures in the protected zone sensed an ominous premonition.
Queen Mystic Bernadette swiftly produced Her Magic Wishing Lamp.
Even before she could stroke themp''s surface, golden light burst from its spout, forming a faint, blue-tinged figure.
Genie''s majestic voice reverberated.
"I warned Them that my sister''s amodation of the Brood Hive would be faster than expected. Why didn''t They act sooner?
"Fate is only a baseline. Blind faith in its revtions invites bacsh!"
As a former irvoyant, Bernadette immediately understood Genie''s meaning: Fate''s guidance was undoubtedly correct but only provided a baseline. For instance, in this case, fate might have hinted that there would be no major problems within a month. However, it wouldn''t reveal that the apocalypse would strike immediately after that time frame. Simrly, fate might suggest there was still hope and opportunity a month from now but wouldn''t warn that acting earlier could yield better chances and greater hope.
After a few seconds of silence, Queen Mystic Bernadette replied solemnly, "Perhaps it''s precisely because fate is so enigmatic that we still have a chance and hope."
Genie fell silent at Her words.
...
Above the gray fog, in the majestic pce.
Lumian''s figure appeared and immediately addressed Mr. Fool at the head of the bronze
table.
"The Mother Goddess of Depravity will fully amodate the Brood Hive in at most half an hour. We didn''t notice any signs until now."
Shrouded in gray-white fog, Mr. Fool nodded gently.
"Don''t panic.
"This was already ounted for in our contingency ns. If we can''t wait for the optimal moment, even a moderate or slightly worse opportunity is still an opportunity."
"I agree." Lumian smiled, his expression rxed.
The time had finallye.
For him, it felt like a journey filled with pain and torment was finally reaching its conclusion.
The sense of relief outweighed all else.
In the next second, Lumian stood, cing his hand over his chest, and solemnly bowed to Mr.
Fool.
"Honorable Mr. Fool, let us begin."
"May all go smoothly, and may we meet again." Mr. Fool also stood, removing his silk top hat and cing it over his chest in a return bow.
Momentster, a figure pierced the gray fog and entered the pce.
It was the voluptuous and beautiful Earth Mother Lilith holding an invisible infant. Radiant with maternal grace, She arrived through a dream tied to the divine kingdom affiliated with
Sefirah Castle.
"Is it time?" This ancestor of the Sanguine asked Mr. Fool with a rxed smile.
Her demeanor mirrored Lumian''s, her smile much the same.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om
Before Mr. Fool could respond, Lilith looked at Lumian, who stood beside the bronze table,
and understood instantly.
"So it''s him who will kill me.
"I see. That''s how it should be."
Earth Mother Lilith visibly rxed, Her beautiful features softening further with a
benevolent glow.
She even offered Lumian Her thanks. "Thank you."
Then She urged, "Let''s begin. Time is of the essence."
Lumian nced at Mr. Fool, who nodded. He then moved to the bottom of the bronze table,
turning the chair representing The World to face Earth Mother Lilith.
On the chair sat a card, depicting Empress Roselle in a maternity gown, her belly swollen with
maternal radiance.
Card of sphemy, Mother card!
Lumian picked up the Mother card and sat down in The World''s seat.
To his sides, the wless Zedus and the withered tree remains of Omebe appeared with Mr.
Fool''s assistance.
In the next second, Zedus, under Lumian''smand, opened His mouth and called out in a
low voice, "Mother."
Hearing this title, Lumian smiled.
Yes, the role he would act next was that of the Mother Goddess of Depravity!
This wasn''t a fabricated symbolism, but something the Mother Goddess of Depravity Herself had acknowledged and permitted-one She had personally forged!
From containing fragments of Zedus''s soul in Cordu Vige to fusing Omebe''s bloodline in Trier, Lumian had be the motherly vessel for these two divine offspring, a counterpart to
Madame Pualis in secret.
Subsequent events had reinforced this symbolic role. Thus, when drawing for a Major Arcana card, the first card he drew was The World. Thus, in the mirror world, his encounter with the cmity-representing Primordial Demoness and the mirrored Original Creator would allow Omebe to truly manifest in reality!
In all these urrences, he had acted the role of the Mother, the Mother Goddess of
Depravity.
This was a sanctioned act-a symbolic connection recognized by the original! Since, during the descent of the crimson moon, the Mother Goddess of Depravity had been
Fooled, failing to kill Lumian immediately to sever this connection, he could now exploit it in
reverse!
To strengthen this role, Lumian had deliberately incorporated Zedus into his legion and exchanged for Omebe''s remains, ensuring Their acknowledgment of him as Their mother. The Mother card, provided by Mr. Fool, further solidified the connection. ncing at the Gift of the Land, which nestled close to him, Lumian closed his eyes briefly and recalled the whispered words of the Primordial Demoness, Cheek:
"Who you are is not important...
"What you want to do is not important either...
"What''s important is the role you''re ying..."
Lumian smiled, signaling Omebe''s remains to merge with Earth Mother Lilith, ovepping
the two together. Sitting in The World''s seat, Lumian''s smile grew brighter. His left hand conjured formless,
colorless mes, while his right wielded a sinister ck fire that froze everything it touched.
"Yes, who I am does not matter.
"What matters is the role I y. "But what I want to do matters just as much!"
With this thought, Lumian suddenly rose, unleashing the two opposing mes. They
intertwined and struck Lilith and Omebe''s remains.
Now, I am acting as the Mother Goddess of Depravity! And what I want is to kill my daughter, Omebe!