Chapter 1079: Chapter 415: Devouring My Remains

The frozen time before Aleister’s eyes gradually resumed its flow.

The Defiant Flame Butterfly was about to launch a fiery charge to annihilate everything–and if grievously injured, she would not hesitate to detonate herself, obliterating everything around her.

Meanwhile, the Wild Hunt King raised his blade mercilessly against his own comrade… His loyalty to Aleister was no less absolute.

Yet as Aleister watched the fearless charge of the Defiant Flame Butterfly… in that instant, he once again felt a surge of intense jealousy.

The Defiant Flame Butterfly, Lia.

The most unique of the Great Sin Beasts, Yulia’s other half…

She could always be by Aiwass’ side. Among all the Great Sin Beasts and even all Phantom Cards, only she could be used on the Path of Devotion and manifest without hesitation, without thought–able to fight for Aiwass with all her heart and soul.

“…How envious, truly.”

This time, Aleister no longer restrained his jealousy.

He took a deep breath, releasing himself entirely from his suppression of the desires inherent to the Path of Love.

Instead of unscrewing the glass bottle and drinking the soul within, Aleister refrained–for he doubted it would take effect immediately.

To be sure–

He directly pierced his own chest with the index finger of his right hand, tearing open a wound!

Then he shoved the glass bottle containing the liquid soul into the wound in his heart and crushed it with his fingers!

“Make me… whole again!”

Aleister stared at the angel, screaming hysterically.

As he felt his shriveled soul rapidly filling up, Aleister’s heart remained uncertain.

He had no idea if his gamble would succeed.

But if he wanted to **transcend** fate, to **transcend** this current predicament–he had only one chance.

Even if just for an instant–

Help me, Candle Master…

Grant me your blessing!

It must succeed!

“For this…”

Alongside the howling wind, an ancient, chilling long-handled scythe abruptly appeared in Aleister’s right hand.

It was–Deathbound Silence.

A scythe with specialized abilities against undead beings like the Son of the Moon.

This was Aleister’s first time wielding it.

…Though Aiwass now was clearly not a Son of the Moon.

The reason he took it out was simple–

Aleister reversed the blade of the scythe, gently resting its blunt edge against his own neck.

[—-My Holy Number is 11, the number that belongs to us]

The voice of the Serpent Celestial Marshal echoed from within Aleister’s mind.

The prophecy that had long since been clear was now even more vivid:

Devotion is three, transcendence is eight. The sum of these numbers is eleven.

Love is one, void is ten. The sum of these numbers… is also eleven.

The phrase “belongs to us” referred directly to Aiwass and Aleister!

[—-To the Fool, I am 9; to the Upright Aevus, I am 8, and also the one within the 8]

For the Fool, forever trapped in the cycle of reincarnation, the endlessly looping Ring of Ouroboros represents eternity; but for the Upright Aevus, their existence signifies nothing but the need to be transcended–a Holy Number marked by the utmost **desire** on the Path of Transcendence!

[—-The hidden name I bear contains radiance, just as the Midnight Son is, in essence, The Sun]

The Son of the Eternal Self is the Dawn Celestial Marshal, who is also the fragmented former self.

And the “radiance” split from the Serpent Celestial Marshal was none other than Aiwass!

[—-Unfurl your wings, awaken all the brilliance within you–come to me!]

The voice of the Serpent Celestial Marshal rumbled and roared.

Thundering like a storm, rumbling like heaven’s voice.

–From the very beginning, the Serpent Celestial Marshal had never hidden its intentions.

Since the presider had not interrupted the ceremony thus far, it meant everything remained under control. In other words, this ascension ritual was orchestrated by the Candle Master to expose the true face of the Serpent Celestial Marshal…

That’s why the Candle Master appeared and said those words to Aleister.

[—-I just came to observe you, Aleister.]

[—-Do your best… This ritual may be of utmost importance to you.]

…Indeed, it was crucial.

Aleister realized something.

–Aiwass’ essence of devotion was, in fact, “void.”

Before the separation, Aiwass had no awareness of this. For this void was intrinsically a part of his persona.

But after dividing into the pairs of love and transcendence, devotion and void, the flaws in their respective personalities became glaringly apparent…

When Aiwass suppressed his inner “desire for love,” all he was truly doing was amplifying the desire for void within him.

The increasingly selfless divinity he embodied was, in essence, self-annihilation!

If this incompleteness could not be faced head-on–if devotion continued driven by “void” and transcendence continued driven by “desire,” then neither devotion nor transcendence could ever be truly whole!

How, then, could he take another step forward? How could he break free of this fate?

Holy Number 11.

It was the nonexistent Source River, as well as the nonexistent Holy Number.

Holy Numbers inherently carried power, for they corresponded to specific Source Rivers. Holy Number 11 thus symbolized power “beyond the Source River”–power unbound by the Source River.

Holy Number 11 signified freedom.

Freedom from all restraint, from all bonds… This was the power the Winged Celestial Marshal once sought, and that the Serpent Celestial Marshal still seeks today.

A power untethered to the Pillar Gods or the Source River’s system–a power completely one’s own!

“Only… devotion driven by a transcendent soul is the true Holy Number 11.”

Aleister murmured softly, “I… seem to have had such a day.”

–It was at the very beginning…

When he had not yet tamed the Shadow Demon, feeding demons with pain.

When he slit his throat during his first ascension ritual, offering his life as a sacrifice.

…When had it begun, that I forgot the original intent of using the Nurturing Skill?

When did the Nurturing Skill devolve into merely training summoned beasts, raising subordinates, enhancing their strength?

This version of me…

How am I any different from the Shepherd or the Serpent Celestial Marshal?

“Feast in silence, my lambs…”

Aleister’s voice was trembling and low.

Two streams of tears slid unbidden down his face.

He did not want to be forgotten.

He did not want to disappear like this.

He wanted to become a Phantom Demon.

He wanted to become a Great Sin Beast…

Aleister was so genuine, so greedy, as he drew breaths of “life’s” air. From his heart, he desperately wanted to live; he deeply envied all living beings, who could exist so naturally…

–And it was because of this.

The more agonizing the nurturing, the stronger its effect became.

Since he had only one chance, to ensure he completely overpowered the Serpent Celestial Marshal’s Nurturing Skill… Aleister unhesitatingly staked everything he had.

As the charging Defiant Flame Butterfly collided with the Wild Hunt King, Aleister unflinchingly brought down the scythe.

This would be Deathbound Silence’s first claimed life.

“Feast upon the remnants of me… Then, become one with me.

“Be whole once again, Aiwass–

“–I am the sacrament, and this is grace.”

It was at this very moment that Aleister truly understood…

What “grace” meant.

His gaze softened with compassion, though tears continued to stream endlessly.

“Consume all of me… Drink deeply, as if it were sweet wine–!”

With Aleister’s trembling chant.

The next moment, Aleister turned entirely into a blood-soaked ice sculpture.

Then, he shattered abruptly!

Yet the blood-soaked fragments of ice did not scatter upon breaking as one might expect.

Instead, they defied the natural laws of physics, hovering in the air and coalescing into dazzling crimson pearls.

These pearls, brimming with life, flew toward the angelic Aiwass and merged once more with him!