Apocalyptic Era: Starting from picking up a Bishoujo
Chapter 277 - 259 The Girl in Prayer2

Chapter 277: 259 The Girl in Prayer2

All The Chosen Ones possess an invisible connection with the Void Realm, and as the Master of Divine Seal, who lords over this realm, he has the power to decide the life and death of all Chosen Ones at will.

However, there is an exception.

That would be me.

"At the end of the last gathering in the Void Realm, it seemed that I was the only one unaffected by the power of the Master of Divine Seal..."

I recall that moment. Strictly speaking, there was one more person who appeared unaffected, and that was No. 7. Even though most of the Chosen Ones in the Void Realm consciously concealed their true identities, No. 7 was the most mysterious among them. Her stance—or, should I say, her stance towards the Master of Divine Seal and the competition for fragments he proposed, has always been ambiguous, and I’ve never been able to glean the slightest details about her.

Even No. 4 Xuanming, who is Impermanence, and No. 6 showed a slight reaction to the death illusions cast by the Master of Divine Seal, but she was as still as stagnant water at that time. I couldn’t tell if she was completely unaffected like me, or if she was just really good at feigning indifference.

"Yes, I noticed that too," No. 2 Little Bowl continued where I left off, "It must be because the connection between you and the Void Realm is weak, so the Master of Divine Seal cannot manipulate you as he pleases. However, if this connection deepens, things would be a different matter."

"Every time I enter the Void Realm, my connection to it deepens. Perhaps after a few more visits, I will also become vulnerable to his manipulation," I naturally came to this conclusion.

"It’s not just that. If, on top of this, you strike a deal with the Master of Divine Seal, it’s very likely... no, it’s certain to further deepen this connection," No. 2 Little Bowl said solemnly, "Mr. No. 3, have you already collected the second... or even more Divine Seal Fragments?"

"I have collected the second one," I said.

Eating the food of the Netherworld, you will become a resident of the Netherworld.

Similarly, proposing a trade with the Master of Divine Seal in the Void Realm to obtain desired information will also bridge the gap between oneself and the Void Realm. "Exchange of information" has the ritualistic nature of acknowledging another’s existence, and some local superstitions mention that when walking at night, encountering ghosts requires one to act as if they are unseen, otherwise you could be cursed and killed.

And "trade" is a ceremony that goes a step further. In this process, my existential nature is inevitably drawn closer to the realm of the other party. This is something I could foresee to some extent based on my knowledge of Mysticism.

"So, do you plan to propose a trade to the Master of Divine Seal?" she asked further.

"Yes," I said.

"...Mr. No. 3, none of us knows what exactly the Master of Divine Seal wants to use us for. And once he wishes to do something in the end, not even beings that are divine and Evil like No. 4 and No. 6 might stand a chance against him. Only you are in a position free from his control, perhaps only you have the capital to confront him," she said, "I don’t know what information you want to exchange with the Master of Divine Seal, but, can you really not give up?"

Unfortunately, I have no intention of giving up. Impermanence’s true identity as the one who attempted to kill Mazao, or the whereabouts of Changan’s soul—I must take at least one with me back to the real world. Perhaps this action will put me at an irremediable disadvantage when I must stand against the Master of Divine Seal in the future, and I will pay the price, but I am prepared to accept this cost.

Furthermore, even if I do not go through with the trade now, the connection with the Void Realm is destined to deepen until my life and death fall entirely within the control of the Master of Divine Seal.

It’s not that I plan to resign myself to fate. I don’t believe that reaching that point necessarily equates to a dead end. No. 4 Xuanming and No. 6 are probably already aware of their situations, yet they show no signs of despondence. In the end, it’s merely about standing at the same "level of difficulty" as they are and confronting the enormous entity that is the Master of Divine Seal.

Having seen their confidence and courage, should I be afraid to fall into the same position as them?

These thoughts, perhaps through the connection of telepathy, reached the heart of No. 2 Little Bowl, or maybe she discerned them with her ability to read expressions and moods. She said in a low voice, "...Indeed, even if you don’t propose a trade, your connection with the Void Realm will continue to deepen... but I may have a way to curb this trend."

"You have a way?" I was surprised.

"My prayers, strengthened by the Power of Divine Seal Fragments, managed to send Sister Mazao back to the past, so of course, they could also help you," she said.

If the source of the Master of Divine Seal’s power lies in the divine seal, and the connection between The Chosen One and the Void Realm shares the same nature, then Little Bowl’s current Prayer Power might truly be effective against it.

"Since you can exert such power, why not use it on yourself?" I wondered.

"Because I am not so averse to dying, Mr. No. 3," her voice revealed resignation, "The possibility of my prayers invoking miracles depends on the intensity of my desire. And I’ve grown somewhat weary of living on in such a world.

"But I don’t want Sister Mazao to die, and I don’t want you, who might bring happiness to Sister Mazao, to die either. I hope you both can live on happily forever.

"As long as I hold this prayer in my heart, I believe, I can certainly summon a miracle."

Speaking thus, she gently enclosed my left hand in both of hers, as if in a gesture of prayer.

"However, since Mr. Number Three and I have not truly met or gotten to know each other, even I am unable to reconnect you with the Void Realm under such circumstances. Still, at the very least, I can help prevent the deepening of that connection..." she said, "Even so, do you still refuse to give up?"

"I refuse." I replied.

She let out a small sigh, and then asked, "Well then, can you tell me specifically what deal you intend to propose? Perhaps I can offer you some advice."

"Thank you."

I began to explain the problems I was facing, while also continuing to keep an eye on the changes unfolding in the distance.

While I was communicating with Number Two Little Bowl, another figure entered the rocky seating area—a tall female silhouette, undoubtedly Number Seven Evil. As always, she walked past everyone with indifference and seated herself on the far-right rock chair as if it were her rightful place. The others, who saw her, didn’t bother to engage in futile conversation.

From Number One to Number Seven, everyone had arrived.

This seemed to be the signal to begin; Number Four Xuanming turned his head towards the Master of Divine Seal and said unapologetically, "How long do you intend to put on airs over there, Master of Divine Seal? It’s time you stated your purpose for calling us here."

"..."

As if awakened by these words, the Master of the Divine Seal slowly lowered the arm that was supporting his head and scanned the people present.

He did not appear to mind Xuanming’s tone and issued a voice majestic as if it were a chorus of countless people resonating together, stating, "—This assembly is merely a routine meeting.

"Here you can exchange intelligence on the Divine Seal Fragments held by each other, or you may propose a deal to me, exchanging Divine Seal Fragments for the information you desire."

Number Four Xuanming reaffirmed, "As long as we give you Divine Seal Fragments, you can answer any question, right?"

"I have said that I am aware of most occurrences in this world. Conversely, even as I am now, there are a few matters I cannot perceive."

The Master of the Divine Seal openly admitted there were things beyond his power, responding calmly, "Such as—the thoughts you are contemplating now."

"Oh, then tell me, what exactly am I thinking about right now?" asked Xuanming.

"The complete method to kill me, the way to find where my true body lies, or why Doomsday is descending, how to resolve it..." said the Master of the Divine Seal, "These questions, even I must muster my Spirit to answer, and cannot handle in a state of slumber."

Xuanming wasn’t surprised and continued to ask, "Then what about these questions?"

He rattled off other queries, not demanding answers from the Master of the Divine Seal but just to verify "whether they could be answered." The Master of the Divine Seal was nonchalant and actually performed the confirmation.

The questions that Xuanming wanted to confirm were puzzles I too had considered whether to solve with the help of the Master of the Divine Seal. They seemed numerous but in reality, all revolved around the causes, essence, and solutions to Doomsday from various angles. As expected, the Master of the Divine Seal affirmed none of them.

Even those issues that seemed unrelated to Doomsday at first hearing hit a wall, as most were mere wordplay, merely changing language and logic but the core remained unchanged. The concept of "Doomsday" seemed to possess some kind of taboo magic, conspiring that when it was the goal, even the Master of Divine Seal could do nothing temporarily.

Was the Master of the Divine Seal truly unable to answer, or was he unwilling to answer? Once I considered that he might be the culprit of Doomsday, I couldn’t help but ponder the latter possibility.

The questions posed by Xuanming seemed to have publically blunted the Master of the Divine Seal’s sharpness, though this was clearly not his original intention. He shifted the direction of his questioning; it seemed that he no longer wanted to know what the Master of the Divine Seal couldn’t answer, but was probing what he could answer.

This time, the Master of the Divine Seal generally gave affirmative responses. The knowledge to resurrect the dead, alter the past, become the most powerful being in the world, upgrade human civilization to an interstellar one... Among them were bits of knowledge sounding far more grandiose than "Doomsday", seemingly all within his grasp.

Xuanming remained unfazed and finally posed such a question: "—So, what exactly is soul loss disease?"

"As it is related to Doomsday, I cannot answer as I am now," the Master of the Divine Seal replied.