When the plot-skips players into the game world

Blood Celestial Marshal is undoubtedly intelligent.

He inherited a part of the "Self" that the Eternal Self had cut off, so from the very beginning, he clearly realized there were two paths —

The best way is to successfully complete the "perfect being" ceremony, thereby leaving the hopeless Path of Love, reaching the Path of Dusk with a "perfect and flawless body" and serving as a Pillar God candidate.

This was also the hope of the Eternal Self for him.

Since the Path of Love is doomed to be hopeless, hoping that his child can escape from it is naturally a kind of love.

And Blood Celestial Marshal is also smart enough.

He realized what would happen if he couldn't become a "perfect being".

—Use the chasm of "hatred" to store his existence. Ensure that in the future, he won't be forgotten.

Just like a tyrant who has been hated throughout history, his presence would far surpass that of a mediocre ruler who left no memories behind. Future people would even talk about him, study him, whitewash him, create stories about him... imagine how history might change without him, then realize they can no longer envision it — because in every detail of the future, there are traces and shadows he left behind.

That's how the Son of the Moon was born.

"At the moment the Son of the Moon was born... you should have already realized it."

Aiwass said softly, "You have become an existence like the Eternal Self."

The Eternal Self created Cain in the hope that he could become a perfect human; failing that, the Eternal Self hoped that the "loveless" Cain could at least use his resistance against the void to counteract the void.

Cain created the Sons of the Moon, similarly hoping that among them a perfect being could be born. If they could not achieve that, they were destined to be hated by others, thus solidifying Cain's existence, providing him with enough anchors to counteract the "meaningless" voidification.

Thus, Blood Celestial Marshal was unwilling to accept the Sons of the Moon as Angel Envoys.

—In other words, the moment Cain created the Son of the Moon, he had already done what the Eternal Self had done. By then, he had already realized... he could never gain the true love of the Eternal Self. Just as the Sons of the Moon could never gain his love.

There was really no difference.

Trapped by love, driven mad by the lack of love, recklessly acting because no one loves.

He was like his creations, and also like the Eternal Self.

In this respect — he even had no meaning of existence. From birth, he had already stepped into the realm of the void.

"...My mind understands this truth, but my heart cannot accept it."

Cain said softly, "When love is unattainable... the excess love turns into hatred.

"Perhaps it was initially to resist the void, but later it was simply going mad."

She responded to Aiwass in an unusually serious and formal manner.

"Madness?"

Aiwass shook his head, "I think your will is very clear. You always know what you want to do, as determined as a seeker. That's why the void can't taint you at all.

"Precisely because your existence itself has no meaning, all that you strive to create from meaninglessness is astonishing and miraculous, like a fire burning from the bottom of a lake."

Even by using void to offset hatred, Blood Celestial Marshal has reached half a step towards being a perfect being — she just needs to push that door open, and she can completely fulfill her long-cherished wish.

It is precisely because Blood Celestial Marshal unhesitatingly refused that millennia-old wish that Aiwass now regards him with respect.

One might even say admiration.

If their positions were reversed, Aiwass might indeed hesitate. His character isn't that resolute.

"... Heh, perhaps so."

Blood Celestial Marshal slightly tilted her head, but the corners of her mouth slightly curled up.

She said softly, "The only thing that makes me feel a bit regretful is this child who served as my incarnation. She truly has a bitter fate... Her entire family died when she was very young, and she became a tool, a symbol, alone without love or protection... Even in such circumstances, she maintained a clean soul and a pure heart.

"In the end, because of me... she was used as a sacrifice by those rebels."

Rebels.

This is Blood Celestial Marshal's view of the Sons of the Moon.

They obviously did not meet Blood Celestial Marshal's expectations and even chose to betray at the most critical moment — yet even so, Cain still regarded them as his children.

"Do you think you're similar to them? After all, both are sacrifices to 'family missions.'

Like two friends, Aiwass and Blood Celestial Marshal chatted casually, "You're unwilling to resist... isn't it also because you don't want to tear apart her body?"

"Part of the reason, perhaps."

Blood Celestial Marshal admitted frankly, "If I were to be reborn from the Blood Pool... the body that rises would truly be mine, not this frail mortal shell."

"When the Fallen Celestial Marshal descended, he directly tore apart his incarnation to manifest his true form."

"Heh... he is he, and I am I. Such a beautiful, life-filled body... to be destroyed for such a foolish reason would be too much of a pity."

Cain felt no shame in being summoned into the body of a little girl.

In fact, he even gave high praise to Lucia Caipes's appearance.

"Or maybe..."

Blood Celestial Marshal was silent for a while, "I just don't really like my original body."

"After all, you have always hated yourself, right?"

Aiwass said casually.

"...? Me?"

Blood Celestial Marshal was astonished.

Evidently, Cain had never considered this possibility.

The little girl's expressions shifted unpredictably, but ultimately showed a look of relief, "So that's how it is..."

She looked at Aiwass, uttering a soft, clear voice, giving a slight bow to Aiwass, "Talking to you is truly enjoyable. How should I address you... Snake? Or Snake Tail? Or as in this body's memory, should I call you... Fox Brother?"

"Aiwass. Just call me Aiwass."

Aiwass smiled slightly, "Of course, calling me Fox is fine too. Nowadays, those who know this name are usually my closest ones."

"Then, Fox—"

Cain lifted her head.

Even until the end, her face remained confident and proud, "If you believe there is some 'meaning' in the Wedge of Hatred I have set up...

"Then please, recite the prayer for the blind and foolish me one last time."

Aiwass nodded slightly.

His low voice rumbled beneath the ground, and the antlers atop his head glowed bright as the sun.

"I beseech the Blood Celestial Marshal, the Eternal Banquet Heavenly Department, the Celestial Marshal of Endless Desire..."

As his words fell, the body of Blood Celestial Marshal shattered completely in front of him!

Red runes, marked by the Sons of the Moon, appeared all over Iris Flowers, then they turned into dust and dissipated into the air.

The sky, like being veiled by writhing innards, fully restored to its original appearance.

A wave of red ripples spread from the center of Blood Celestial Marshal to the entire world.

When it came in contact with the Sons of the Moon, a miracle occurred —

—All the Sons of the Moon completely lost their immortality.

They lost the strength they gained from the Path of Love as Sons of the Moon, their mana was temporarily suppressed and lost its vitality. They lost the desire for lifedrain, and equally lost their immortality.

But from another perspective... they attained a true miracle.

Weak and tenuous souls began to germinate from within their shells.

These beings, once "monsters reborn from blood" who had already died once, all temporarily became human!

Of course, this change was reversible. The mana within them only stagnated, not disappeared... they still had the possibility to transform back into Fog Demons.

But Blood Celestial Marshal gave them a chance.

A chance to become human again.

This was probably the last heritage he left for his "children".

Aiwass composed himself, preparing to retrieve the Celestial Marshal Shard left by Blood Celestial Marshal.

But just then...

"...Sigh."

A slightly sorrowful, hollow voice came from the void, "Even until the end, did he not mention me? This child..."

The shattered Cain — or rather, the fragments of Lucia Caipes, reassembled in front of them.

She transformed into a misty white fog, faint traces of the original Lucia Caipes still discernible.

"This is...?"

Aiwass recognized the voice belonging to the Fog Overseer.

He slightly widened his eyes, "You're not planning to—"

"I think... they are good children. If there was only one, they could accomplish nothing; but with two, their residual souls mixed together might form half a Fog Demon."

The gentle voice of the Fog Overseer sounded, "They'll likely forget many things and lose much power too. Just like a real little girl... but being alive is always good. This is his reward for resisting the void...

"And also... his punishment."