“Travelers enjoy scenery that stands out from the rest, so I hope to know what this second option entails.”
【Living beings listen to the memories within holy memories, imitating divine authority to alienate their own souls, but those are merely pseudo-authorities that mortals can comprehend. Mortals cannot understand true divine authority. Even with your extraordinary willpower and inspiration, you cannot cross the boundary between mortal and deity, so I can only accompany you to the end of this journey of awakening.】
Lynch nodded; this aligned with what he already understood.
【However, an unexpected harvest has opened a new path for your journey. The usurped divine authority has returned, reactivating this memory of the red moon and manifesting as a new holy memory. What can be grasped from within is no longer an imitated pseudo-authority, but a true fragment of divine authority.】
“Hiss... can anyone do it?”
【No, a mortal soul is insufficient to bear the supreme will. Once you attempt to comprehend it, you will inevitably be completely assimilated by the information it carries. But with me as a bridge, you can comprehend true divine authority while remaining in a mortal body.】
“Does that mean I can control divine authority?”
【Comprehending divine authority and controlling it are different. For now, you are merely comprehending and imitating it, not controlling it. Moreover, the extent to which you can comprehend it is limited by the strength of your soul; you will need to rely on continuous promotion to deepen your understanding of authority. However, every authority and subordinate ability you master in the future will be more powerful than those of other Soul Severers.】
“Wait, did you just say ‘for now’?”
【Yes, Lynch. Divine authority comes from deities and naturally carries their supreme will, helping you bear the authority of a deity with a mortal soul. When the lost authority of the red moon is fully activated, these supreme wills will merge into one, helping you ignite the divine fire. You will take over the divine authority of the red moon, step into the realm of immortality, and become the thirteenth supreme existence.】
“Whew...” Lynch held his breath, suppressing the intense thrumming in his heart. Stepping into immortality and ascending to the supreme—few could refuse such temptation. Yet, he took a few deep breaths, trying his best to ask calmly: “The other twelve, were they actually resurrected in this same way?”
【No, they are completely different. You are a coincidence, an unexpected harvest brought about by ideas that transcend reason. Others cannot replicate this.】
“Then, a most critical question: what about you? If I take over the red moon’s divine authority, what happens to you? Don’t brush me off; this is very important to me.”
The gentle female voice was silent for a long time before answering softly:
【You are still too immature right now; it is not suitable for you to know too much. You will have opportunities to learn gradually in the future. As for this question, I have other paths; you do not need to worry about me. I would not lie about such matters.】
“Fine. But I don’t trust luck that just falls into my lap. To get something, one must inevitably pay a corresponding price. For such a good thing, what price must I pay?”
【Promotion will be exceptionally difficult. You will not only need to find the holy memories of the red moon, but also constantly seek out the lost authority of the red moon. Once you find an unlocked lost authority, you can unlock new divine authority and complete your next alienation.】
“Are you trying to tell me that from now on, I not only need to scour the world for the memories of the red moon but also actively seek out trouble with evil gods everywhere?”
Lynch’s expression twisted slightly. One Flicker and one Weaver had already put him through hell; he had exhausted his wits and relied on clever tricks just to survive the crisis. Now this was to become the norm? He could already foresee how spectacular his future would be.
The female voice choked, becoming somewhat peculiar.
【There are also lost divine authorities hidden within a few rare mysteries; you do not necessarily have to keep your eyes on evil gods. Although that is indeed the easiest and most direct method, it is not the only one. During our journey, I will slowly show you.】
“Besides that, are there any other costs?”
【Due to the spontaneous attraction of divine authority, you will possess a strong allure to mysteries in the future. Your surroundings will often be surrounded by mysterious events. Most will be quite dangerous for you, though this is actually a good thing for finding lost authority.】
“Hiss... a natural taunt. Anything else?”
【Nothing else. In other aspects of soul alienation, you are no different from any ordinary Soul Severer. You must decide for yourself how to choose.】
Lynch exhaled gently, as if seeing two paths diverging before him.
One was already well-arranged: to become a Soul Severer step by step, slowly collecting other holy memories, and moving forward one stage at a time until the day he eventually fell. This path had been walked by countless predecessors and was relatively stable, with plenty of experience to draw upon, allowing him the chance to live out a brand-new life in peace.
The other path was one where he would live in danger every single day. Not only would he need to frequently battle mysteries and evil gods, but he would also be the only traveler on this road. Everything was an unknown, filled with hardships. The so-called witnessing of immortality was merely a carrot on a stick—or rather, a bad check. Before he could ever obtain it, he would almost certainly have fallen by the wayside.
Give up a stable, arranged path to choose a perilous one full of thorns? Only a fool would be hot-headed enough to do that.
Yet, Lynch felt a strong urge to say, but I refuse.
While the first option was stable and safe—and Lynch was currently striving for it—he had only been a transmigrator for three days, yet he had already experienced many stories. He constantly felt as if he were being pushed forward by an invisible tide, like a small, drifting boat, helpless and unable to control where fate might push him.
Five hours left until being torn apart by terror claws, a one-month time limit...
Lynch hated this situation of having no choice, always being denied the chance to make his own decisions.
But now, the opportunity had come, and...
“Neighbor, I have a question for you.”
【Hmm?】
“I am not asking the Witness who only observes my choices, nor the Travel Companion who refuses to pay me any mind even while hitching a ride. I want to ask the neighbor who has been with me for who knows how many ten-thousands of years: how does she want me to choose?”
After a long silence, the female voice suddenly said softly: 【The first one.】
“I see. I understand.” Lynch paused, then suddenly laughed. “Actually, the second one is more helpful to you, right?”
This time, the female voice remained truly silent.
“For three days, you helped me borrow a body to be reborn, helped me understand this world inside my head, and even helped me open this new path. There is no such thing as groundless help in this world. I think you gave me these things because there must be something you need me to do, and the second path opening up so suddenly is clearly more helpful to you. It is just that the first choice would allow me to live a more comfortable and happy life, which is perhaps better for me, so you suggested the first one. So, can you tell me what you need me to do?”
【Continue your journey, Lynch. These matters are also not suitable for you to know right now. When you grow slowly, you will know. However, my initial advice was not a pretense or a lie. I am merely a Witness; everything is for you to choose yourself. That is also a very important point.】
“Haha, making choices, is it? Neighbor, you should know, before I died, I was just a completely ordinary corporate drone and shut-in. Aside from binge-watching shows and playing games, I was mediocre and good for nothing.”
【Hmm.】
“A mediocre birth, a mediocre job, a mediocre death—I was mediocre my whole life. Now that I have transmigrated and been reborn, given a second chance, what would be the point of changing worlds if I just continue to be mediocre?”
“In this life, I refuse to be mediocre. I want to fight for it with everything I have. If I win, I ascend to the supreme; if I lose, I accept the outcome.”
“I choose the second path. Neighbor, Travel Companion, Witness—let us witness my journey toward immortality together. What should I do now?”
【Call my name, Lynch.】
Neighbor? Travel Companion? Witness?
Lynch felt a stir in his heart, and having understood, he shouted aloud.
“In the name of Luna.”
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