Toward Immortality

‘As a transmigrator, I love distinct scenery, so I want to know what the second choice entails.’

【Living beings listen to the memories within a holy memory and imitate Divine Authority to alienate their souls, but those are merely pseudo-authorities that mortals can comprehend. Mortals cannot comprehend true Divine Authority. Even if you possess extraordinary willpower and inspiration, you cannot cross the boundary between mortals and deities. That was why I could only accompany you to the end of this journey of awakening.】

Lynch nodded. This matched what he understood of the situation.

【However, this unexpected gain has opened a new path for our journey. The usurped Divine Authority has returned, reactivating this memory of the red moon and bringing forth a new holy memory into the mortal world. What can be comprehended from it is no longer an imitated pseudo-authority, but a true Divine Authority fragment.】

‘Hiss... Can anyone do this?’

【No. A mortal's soul is insufficient to bear a supreme will; attempting to comprehend it would inevitably result in being completely assimilated by the information it carries. But with me acting as a buffer, you can comprehend true Divine Authority with a mortal body.】

‘Meaning I can control Divine Authority?’

【Comprehending Divine Authority is different from controlling Divine Authority. For now, you are merely comprehending and imitating Divine Authority, not controlling it. Moreover, the extent to which you can comprehend it is still limited by the strength of your soul, requiring you to continuously advance in order to deepen your understanding of authority. Even so, every authority and subordinate ability you grasp in the future will be far more powerful than those of other Soul Severers.】

‘Wait, you said "for now" just now?’

【Yes, Lynch. Divine Authority originates from deities and is naturally imbued with a deity's supreme will, aiding you in bearing divine authority with a mortal soul. When all of the red moon's lost authorities are activated, these supreme wills will merge into one to help you ignite the divine fire. You will inherit the Divine Authority of the red moon, step into the domain of immortality, and become the thirteenth supreme existence.】

‘Phew...’ Lynch held his breath, suppressing the wild thumping of his heart. Stepping into immortality, ascending to the supreme—hardly anyone could resist such temptation. Even so, he took several deep breaths, asking as calmly as possible, ‘Those other twelve... was that how they were resurrected too?’

【No, they are entirely different. Your case is an anomaly, an unexpected windfall brought about by thinking outside the realm of reason. No one else can replicate it.】

‘Then here is the most crucial question: what about you? If I inherit the Divine Authority of the red moon, what happens to you? Don't brush me off—this is very important to me.’

The gentle female voice fell silent for a long moment before answering softly:

【You are still far too young and unrefined right now; it is not suitable for you to know too much. You will have opportunities to learn in time. As for this question, I have other ways forward. There is no need to worry about me. I would not lie to you about such a matter.】

‘Alright. But I don't believe in windfall luck without strings attached. If you want something, you must pay an equivalent price. For something this good, what price do I have to pay?’

【Your advancement will be extraordinarily difficult. Not only will you need to find holy memories of the red moon, but you will also have to continuously seek out the lost authorities of the red moon. Only by locating an unlocked lost authority can you unlock a new Divine Authority and complete your next alienation.】

‘Are you telling me that from now on, not only do I have to scour the world for the red moon's memories, but I also have to actively go around the world picking fights with evil gods?’

Lynch's expression contorted slightly. Just dealing with one Flicker and one Weaver had already brought him to the brink of death. He had racked his brains and relied on opportunistic tricks just to survive the crisis, and now this was supposed to become routine? He could already foresee just how "thrilling" his future would be.

The female voice hitched, turning slightly strange.

【There are also a rare few special mysteries that harbor lost Divine Authority. You do not necessarily have to keep your eyes fixed solely on evil gods. While that is indeed the easiest and most direct method, it is not the only one. Throughout our journey, I will slowly show you.】

‘Besides that, is there any other price?’

【Due to the spontaneous attraction of Divine Authority, you will exert a strong pull on mysteries from now on. You will often find yourself surrounded by mysterious events, most of which will be quite dangerous for you. However, when it comes to locating lost authorities, that is actually a good thing.】

‘Hiss... A natural aggro magnet. Anything else?’

【Nothing else. In all other aspects of soul alienation, you will be no different from ordinary Soul Severers. The choice is yours to make.】

Lynch let out a soft breath, as if watching two paths branch out before him.

One path had already been laid out: becoming a Soul Severer step by step, slowly gathering other holy memories, and advancing one foot after another until the day he finally fell. Countless predecessors had walked this road before him; it was relatively safe, offering experiences he could always draw from, giving him a chance to live out this brand-new life in peace and safety.

The other path meant living in danger every single day, having to battle mysteries and evil gods on a regular basis. Moreover, he would be the sole traveler on this road; everything was an unknown, fraught with hardship. The so-called witnessing of immortality was merely a carrot on a stick—or an empty promise—and before attaining it, he would almost certainly drop dead along the way.

Abandon a well-arranged, safe road to choose a perilous path overgrown with thorns? Only an impulsive fool would do that.

And yet, Lynch felt an overwhelming urge to say: I refuse.

While the first option was safe and stable—and something Lynch had been working toward—in the three days since his transmigration, through all the events he had experienced, he always felt as though an invisible tide were pushing him forward. Like a tossing skiff drifting with the waves, helpless against the current, he had no idea where destiny would sweep him.

A five-hour countdown, waiting to be torn apart by terror claws, a final one-month time limit...

Lynch despised being trapped in situations where he had no choice, yet he had never been given the opportunity to choose for himself.

But now, that opportunity had arrived. And what was more...

‘Neighbor, I have a question for you.’

【Hm?】

‘I'm not asking the Witness who only looks on at my choices, nor the Travel Companion who hitched a ride without even acknowledging me. I want to ask the neighbor who stayed by my side for countless millennia: what does she hope I choose?’

After a long silence, the female voice spoke softly: 【The first.】

‘I see. I understand.’ Lynch blinked in surprise, then chuckled softly. ‘The second one is actually more beneficial to you, isn't it?’

This time, the female voice fell completely silent.

‘Over these three days, you helped me reincarnate into this body, constantly helped me understand this world in my mind, and even helped me open this new path. In this world, no help comes without reason. If you gave me all this, there must be something you need me to do. The sudden emergence of this second path is clearly of greater help to you. It's just that the first choice would let me live out a more peaceful, comfortable life, which might be better for me—and that's why you recommended the first. So, can you tell me what you need me to do?’

【Continue your journey, Lynch. These matters are likewise not suitable for you to know right now. As you slowly grow, you will come to understand. However, what I said at the very beginning was neither a brush-off nor a deception. I am merely a witness; everything is for you to choose on your own. That, too, is of vital importance.】

‘Heh, a choice? Neighbor, you should know that before I died, I was nothing more than an ordinary corporate drone and a homebody otaku. Aside from binge-watching shows, following anime, and playing video games, I was mediocre to a fault.’

【Mm.】

‘A mediocre birth, a mediocre job, a mediocre death—I spent an entire lifetime being mediocre. Now that I have transmigrated and been reborn with a second chance, if I choose to go on living in mediocrity, what was the point of coming to a new world?’

‘In this life, I refuse mediocrity. I'm going to bet it all on a blaze of glory! If I win the gamble, I ascend to the supreme; if I lose, I'll accept my defeat without regrets.’

‘I choose the second path. Neighbor, Travel Companion, Witness—let us witness my journey to immortality together. Now, what should I do?’

【Call my name, Lynch.】

Neighbor? Travel Companion? Witness?

Lynch's heart stirred as understanding struck him, and he called out loudly:

‘In the name of Luna.’