When the plot-skips players into the game world

"—Flame Celestial Marshal?"

Sherlock reacted.

Aiwass didn't mention the Dwarves, and he almost forgot about them. Although there are scattered Dwarves in places like Avalon and Iris Flower, most Dwarves are still in the Northern Mountains, retreating from the world while the frost giants accompany them in mining.

The Dwarves have cut themselves off from the world for hundreds of years, and now nobody knows what they are concocting.

Sherlock just heard from Aiwass… that they seem to be undertaking an "Artificial Pillar God" project. They're trying to elevate the Flame Celestial Marshal to the Seat of the Pillar God.

"—In such circumstances, would they pull down the Flame Celestial Marshal?"

Sherlock frowned tightly: "It doesn't make sense. The abnormal large-scale fall of the Celestial Marshal evidently implies the occurrence of a major event… World chaos is most likely to trigger a change in the Pillar God position. If I were the Dwarves, I would try even harder to protect the Flame Celestial Marshal in such situations."

"Provided, the Dwarves were as smart as you."

Aiwass shook his head: "Flame Celestial Marshal, as one of the very few—or rather, the only celestial who doesn't live with the Candle Master, actually doesn't agree with the path of Devotion…"

He narrated the secrets of the celestial marshal and the Pillar God to Sherlock.

Of course, this isn't really a secret… Flame Celestial Marshal herself highly respects the Candle Master, it's just a difference in understanding the Source River.

The invocation words for Flame Celestial Marshal are "Celestial Marshal of Scorching Iron and Burning Steel, Celestial Marshal of Crucibles and Furnaces," not a hint of "for others." Flame Celestial Marshal gradually shifts towards becoming a Mechanical Celestial Marshal, if she completes, there's no doubt she would be most likely to succeed the Candle Master as the Heavenly Department Director.

Because fields like "factory," "mechanical," "production," "warfare" are arguably closer to the civilization demands of the Source River than "dedication" — mutual assistance is a form of civilization, and technological iteration is also a form of civilization. And with the world's development, technological progression is unstoppable.

Yet, Flame Celestial Marshal's theoretical system within the Path of Devotion itself hinders the evolution of civilization.

Because the Path of Devotion only involves help without elimination.

Flame Celestial Marshal's theory is very comprehensive.

It simultaneously approaches the paths of Authority and Adaptation, while also touching upon the River of Creation—emphasizing survival of the fittest, while stressing the ways to become "the fittest." Warfare too is an aspect of civilization; it is an inevitable part of civilization's self-consumption and self-renewal, just like animals need to excrete. And with technological progress and productivity enhancement, the proportion of weaker individuals within the concept of "civilization" naturally diminishes.

—It's like factory automation eliminating the position of craftsmen within civilization. The stronger the machinery, the more it diminishes the value and significance of "dedication," "collective," and "others." With further automation and unmanning, even the "human" might no longer be needed.

Precisely because of this point, Flame Celestial Marshal got stuck at the realm of Heavenly Department and couldn't reach the Seat of the Pillar God.

She was incredibly close to the Seat of the Pillar God… However, upon proceeding further, it seemed to distance her from the Source River. The core of civilization is production and technology, yet when this concept gets overemphasized to a certain degree, the power of "civilization" reversely declines rapidly.

Thus, Flame Celestial Marshal paused at this step, halting forward movement, and began to ponder what went wrong.

"But the Dwarves no longer want to wait."

Aiwass mockingly said: "The world is in chaos now, and they can't hold back.

"—Because there's another scenario here. Among the Dwarves, there are many 'blacksmith' type professions. If the Flame Celestial Marshal, like the Fallen Celestial Marshal and Blood Celestial Marshal, gets crusaded, leading to an energy level elevation of the Path of Devotion, it would mean their own energy level can get elevated.

"And if the Flame Celestial Marshal can communicate kindly, it can greatly enhance their technology; and the most crucial secret…"

Aiwass glanced at the Celestial Marshal shard in his hand: "That is the Celestial Marshal shard.

"These things are basically impossible to obtain from the Material Realm outside of the Ring of Ouroboros. Only an unparalleled genius might resonate with a shred of the law in the Source River of the Dream Realm to gain the favor of the Celestial Marshal shard… Of course, we all know this 'genius' is merely a compliment. The real way to get the Celestial Marshal shard actually only lies with one thing."

"—Luck."

Sherlock also knew the answer: "Other means are merely trying to maximize the element of luck. No matter how powerful the soul, there's still a chance not to receive favor from the Celestial Marshal shard … just like the Bear Celestial Marshal needed to plunder Celestial Marshal shards himself back then. If talents alone were enough to obtain shards, then Bear Celestial Marshal, as the reincarnation of Supreme Heaven, should have become a Celestial Marshal upon entering the Dream Realm."

"Yes, plundering…"

Aiwass squinted his eyes: "Exactly. And to the Dwarves, if the Flame Celestial Marshal truly remains unyielding…

"... they could easily replace her, using this Celestial Marshal shard to create a genuine celestial belonging to the Dwarves and thereby fulfill their racial mission.

"After all… even if they don't summon the Flame Celestial Marshal, others will. Once the Flame Celestial Marshal dies elsewhere, their entire plan would be thoroughly shattered."

In the original world timeline, the Shadowy Celestial Marshal ravaged Avalon, leading the Holy Nation to urgently bring down the Candle Celestial Marshal. Whereas, in this current world, it's evidently not happening.

The manifestations of the Geometric Celestial Marshal and Flame Celestial Marshal have become inevitable; only the timing is uncertain.

"It's the same with Parthia."

Aiwass recalled the letter he received, a slight smile appeared at the corners of his mouth: "Benevolent Lords were the ones who signed the contract with the Abyssal Celestial Envoy. Although part of it is also the Path of Balance, Transcendence Path, or Path of Love and so on… but among them, the percentage for the Path of Dusk is one hundred percent.

"Now that the upper limits for the Path of Transcendence and Path of Love have been lifted… chaos is imminent. Some cities possess their Sixth Power Level, while others do not. So guess when they'll pull down the Abyssal Celestial Envoy?"

"When cities lacking the Sixth Power Level can't hold out anymore."

Sherlock replied nonchalantly: "Which is why I say… the world's going to become chaotic."

This level of reasoning doesn't even require him to engage his mind.

"Then do we still go to Parthia?"

Isabel looked a bit worried.

"Of course we go, why wouldn't we?"

Aiwass laughed: "I have Vinesse, and also Aleister…"

With that, Aiwass touched the Sin Card harboring Aleister to the Celestial Marshal shard.

"—What should I be afraid of?"

At the moment of contact, both burst forth with dazzling crimson brilliance.

That card, transparent like a pink diamond, originally outlined the head of a fox using a blood-like vivid red… now it turned into a painting, depicting Aleister.

Shortly after, Aleister emerged.

Unlike Vinesse becoming more mature, Aleister became more juvenile.

Meanwhile, new text slowly embossed onto the system like arc welding—it's not appearing but creating.

[Sin: Desire of Aleister (Priestess, Cosmos)]

[Level: 51]

[Path of Love, Attribute Water]

[Upright Summon·Holy Blood Baptism]

[Requirement: Water 5]

[Instant, Self, Continuous Effect]

[Effect: Manipulate any amount of self-blood to leave the body and transform it into Holy Blood. If descended upon any matter, can briefly or permanently endow it with life; if attached to any life, can briefly or permanently endow it with strength]

[Reversed Summoning·Aleister]

[Requirement: Dark 5]

[Maintain: Dark 5*per day]

[Action, Summoning]

[Effect: Summon Beast of Lust·Aleister to fight for you, Aleister is considered a summoned creature; in non-combat state, Beast of Lust·Aleister can transform into Perfect Human, enter follow state; only one Great Sin Beast can exist at a time]

[Authority: Creation·Blood Clan, Desire·Mind Reshaping]