At the end of the "Ryudou Temple" passage, on the first floor of the "Dream Labyrinth Tower."
Lilith, confident in her charm, knew Ebner was using "thought" to divert his attention, so she didn't disturb him. Instead, she summoned the shattered "Silent Winter" into her hand.
Immediately after, crimson "Alchemy" runes appeared in the void, and "Silent Winter" gradually restored itself, only tinged with a silver-red hue.
As Ebner emerged from his contemplation, he saw Lilith grasping a fragmented spirit from the void and inserting it into the reassembled oil lamp.
"This lamp has been repaired. I stitched together the shattered soul of the previous 'Profane Presbyter' and numerous remnant souls that died in this tower, and put them all into the lamp.
"Now it not only possesses its original abilities, but when the oil lamp is lit, it can also summon the phantom of a 'Heroic Spirit' that was previously gathered inside to fight... Of course, their strength will at most be that of an ordinary Demigod, and they can only fight for half a minute at most per day."
Saying this, Lilith handed the oil lamp to Ebner, then continued, "Give this to that little girl named 'Edwina.' Consider it your 'mission' reward."
So not only the "Primordial Moon," but also that 'Heroic Spirit' who received the remnant soul of the 'Profane Presbyter' in the "Dream Labyrinth Tower" was also dealt with by Lilith... She's truly powerful!
However, Edwina is a member of the Church of Knowledge; shouldn't her reward come from the God of Knowledge? Although Lilith gained the most, this event was a joint scheme by three... well, at least three deities, right?
As if seeing through Ebner's thoughts, Lilith revealed a smile that made it impossible to look away. She parted her lips and said:
"They are they, and I am I... Knowledge and Evernight might give rewards, or they might not, but neither prevents me from giving you rewards." Saying this, she extended her fair hand and condensed a reddish aura, then gently squeezed it. When she opened her five fingers, a thumb-sized, translucent ruby appeared.
The ruby suddenly transformed into a vampire girl no more than seven or eight centimeters tall. She elegantly curtsied to Lilith and Ebner, then transformed back into a ruby.
"I created this using the 'Creation' authority, combining the aura of the 'Primordial Moon' and that 'High Summoner' who guided its descent, as well as a 'Shaman King' characteristic... Hmm, perhaps it can be called a 'Vampire Fairy' or 'Blood Elf'?
"She can display the 'vampire' demigod form. Although she can't maintain it for too long, it should be helpful for that 'Prophet's' future rituals...
"This is my thank-you gift to him... Tell him to take good care of this little one, and in a year, he must return her freedom."
Did she just create a species on the spot? And even used the 'Moon' authority to adjust the dangers of its "demigod form" specifically?
Also, the 'Prophet's' future rituals... is it the ritual required for advancing to 'Cognizer'?
Just as Ebner was lost in thought after receiving the gem, Lilith handed him the parasol she had been holding:
"This parasol was originally just a 'projection,' but I have used 'alchemical' methods to turn it into a 'physical entity'... Although it is still just an ordinary parasol, it now has some special functions. Hand it over to Miss 'Wraith'; she will know how to use it once she has it."
Ebner examined the parasol with his Pure White Eye and found that it indeed had no abilities, yet it was inextricably linked to a certain existence.
The "Chained God"... No, it should be called "Spirit Angel" Tolzna... The main function of this parasol should be to "invite" this Angel over when "necessary," similar to the puppet finger He gave me before.
It's just that Miss "Temperance" had better not run into Emlyn when she goes out with this parasol...
Having recognized the parasol's origin, Ebner couldn't help but inwardly complain.
"As for 'Mystery'... give him this card. I believe he can make better use of it." Lilith subtly glanced behind Ebner, as if observing someone through him. Then she displayed a playing card; on its face was a crimson moon, and beneath the crimson moon was a beautiful "woman" with slightly curly chestnut hair.
The woman's appearance was somewhat similar to the one on the "Demoness" card, but her temperament was completely different. One was demonically beautiful, the other full of temptation... Undoubtedly, this was another of Roselle's "cross-dressing" paintings.
"I have purified the 'contamination' on this card, but holding it may still cause one to encounter dependents of the 'Mother Goddess of Depravity' and the 'Mother Tree of Desire.' You'd best remind him," Lilith thought for a moment, then added.
A powerful item, a "miniature" vampire, a parasol that can summon an Angel, a "Blasphemy" card...
Lilith's rewards are generous... This means the Goddess and the God of Knowledge will probably have to spend too, right? They can't let themselves be outdone, can they?
But I can't guess the minds of deities; perhaps They don't care at all... After all, there's probably no other deity with as much humanity as Lilith, right?
Just when Ebner thought Lilith's rewards were finished, he heard her melodious voice say, "Finally, there's a reward just for you."
"For me? Wasn't it already given?" Ebner touched his forehead between his eyebrows, his mind wandering again as he asked in confusion.
"That was just the reward for my previous private commission, not the reward for the successful completion of the first step of the 'Silver Moon Project,'" Lilith said with a smile, shaking her head. She then asked, "Do you still have the soul of the former Pope of the 'Eternal Blazing Sun,' Aurbach, in your possession?"
Former Pope Aurbach had participated in the battle as a "Heroic Spirit." After his "body" was killed by the "Profane Presbyter," Ebner had taken his soul into the Quiz Maze.
Upon being asked, Ebner nodded, then spiritually communicated with the gold-rimmed glasses on his nose. After paying a 200-pound "storage" fee, he brought the slumbering Aurbach into the scene.
"This split soul of Roselle had another arrangement in Tosk for his resurrection... Although he no longer needs it, I can use his arrangement to complete your reward..." As her voice fell, Lilith's pupils suddenly became vacant, then she seemed to communicate with the "Dream Labyrinth Tower," and a water mirror appeared before them.
This water mirror was "split-screened" into two images.
The top screen showed the ritual altar with "Groselle's Travels," the "Book of Stars," and the "Book of Concealment."
The bottom screen showed the "Kaspersky" base that Ebner had visited before... There was also an altar arranged with a handsome middle-aged man bound to a cross, a thin man wearing a monocle, and a Beyonder characteristic placed triangularly at different positions on the altar.
"Chessia," who was guarding the first split screen, seemed completely unaware of the water mirror's gaze, but the monocled man in the second split screen suddenly looked over, a slow smile spreading across his lips.
Amon's clone? I've seen photos of the other handsome man; he's the "Black Knight" of the Delian family who injured Edwina.
I understand now. Roselle's original plan must have been to have this "Black Knight" bear the "contamination" for him, given that the "Hanged Man" pathway's symbolism is "sacrifice."
As for Amon's clone? He's just a tool for transferring "contamination."
However, Roselle's terrible plan also tried to leverage the power of Sefirah Castle; that must be why Amon willingly took the bait and refused to commit suicide to leave, right? He must have glimpsed something.
But unfortunately, I came early... Roselle's plan is destined to fail.
Ebner nodded thoughtfully, then saw Lilith cast the soul of former Pope Aurbach into the "water mirror."
Immediately after, as the "Book of Stars" on the upper screen lit up, Amon in the lower screen gradually "withered," while the "Black Knight" on the other cross suddenly opened his eyes.
But the "water mirror" shattered and disappeared at this moment.
Lilith clapped her hands and chuckled, "Now that the former Pope has taken over the body of a direct descendant of the Delian family, I imagine it will be of considerable help to your trip to Trier."
Ebner instinctively squeezed the Magic Mirror in his hand, thinking: How come the Popes of the "Eternal Blazing Sun" are so connected to "Black Knights"? My "Magic Mirror" is like that, and now Aurbach is too... Is there some deeper mystical symbolism to this?
.....
Above the gray fog, since the "live stream" resumed when Lilith was distributing rewards, Klein already knew he was about to receive a Blasphemy card, and even rewards bestowed by the other two deities.
He curled his lips, beginning to imagine what items the Evernight Goddess and the God of Knowledge would bestow...
But suddenly, his smile froze.
Because he thought of something... something he had previously overlooked!
"If the Goddess and the God of Knowledge really give rewards... should I, 'The Fool,' who successfully tagged along for the group photo, give something too?!
"If I don't... will 'Tower' be suspicious?!
"After all, they are all resurrected ancient gods, and Lilith gave so much..."
Klein tapped the edge of the ancient bronze long table with his fingers, then after a long while, he muttered helplessly:
"Let's see what the Goddess and the God of Knowledge will bestow first... Then I'll consider what to do...
"Sigh! These days, even deities are starting to engage in internal competition?"