Returning from the abyss

Chapter 1531 The Frontline of the Holy War
Veronica looked outside in a daze, still unable to understand the fight between the two.

Perhaps the two people fighting saw things differently, but Veronica could only see dark golden cracks covering the open ground outside the church. These cracks stretched across the space, and in some of the larger ones, she could vaguely see some figures, but they were still not clear.

On the other side, separated by so many cracks, another person was also observing carefully.

Rosemaryda.

Although Veronica had never met her, she knew what she looked like from descriptions by Vanessa and others. When Veronica finally saw her, she was still quite surprised.

Rosemerada gave her a sense of peace; she showed neither concern for the serpent dragon in battle nor any desire for Veronica.

It was as if everything had already settled down.

Veronica didn't want to talk to her. Both the pharmacist and Vanessa had warned her not to talk to Rosemerada casually, as she could be very dangerous if she wanted to incite someone.

The two stood there quietly, waiting for the outcome.

As the dark golden cracks in the space continued to increase, they finally reached the limit that this area could contain. Finally, light burst out from the cracks, and amidst the obvious metallic scraping sound, Bavotley, whose palm was covered by that layer of light, pushed the serpent dragon out and slammed it hard onto the ground.

"cough!"

The serpent dragon spat out a mouthful of blood, but a smile still lingered on its face.

"Have you finally chosen the winning timeline from all the different timelines?"

Bavotley didn't answer, but immediately followed up with a kick, but this time he stepped on the snake dragon's long staff.

He still gripped the stick tightly. Most of the power of "The Emperor's Judgment" had been dismantled by Bavotley. The other party had clearly conducted a lot of analysis on him, and even the temporary acquisition of Veronica's divine power was just a piece of false history that he had not even noticed.

The fact that he used "Unraveling the Universe" proves that he did not fully comprehend Bavotley's abilities, so his defeat was inevitable. Time is not the most accurate description of a watchmaker's abilities.

"Release the soil."

So, we should start the second round seriously, otherwise he really will die.

The serpent dragon sank completely underground, the earth becoming unable to impede his body, yet it firmly blocked Bavotley's heavy stomp. Even though his foot created a crater, it couldn't stop the serpent dragon.

"That's quite troublesome."

Bavotley hadn't lost track of the Serpent Dragon's location—the mark Rosalyn left was still there, visible even through the ground. However, in that short time, the Serpent Dragon had burrowed deep underground. Although Bavotley could blow up the ground, that would make it difficult to control precisely and risk injuring someone, especially since the people from the Minute Church were also hiding underground.

So he looked up at Rosemerada.

"Rosmerada, you've basically achieved your goal, what are you doing here?"

“Achievement? I haven’t seen any results yet. Lord Bavotley, now that you’ve arrived here, why not wait a little longer to witness the birth of a god?” Rosemerada asked with a smile.

"I don't want to see it."

"Lies are easily exposed, Your Excellency Bavotley. I have a deep and open relationship with the Serpent Dragon, and in your eyes that transcend time and era, perhaps there is still a lingering reverence for the gods?"

It cannot be denied.

"The most pious hymn will descend upon everyone who needs it, and I can see such a fitting effect upon you, Lord Bavotley. You know what will happen, and you should help us, shouldn't you?"

Plague? Bavotley frowned.

Even without being explicitly stated, Bavotte knew what Rosemerada was referring to.

The Holy War... Even after experiencing memory erosion during the healing of his soul's damage at the gathering place, Bavotley still couldn't forget a single detail.

His father killed his mother in front of him. The reason given was that angels in holy war needed sacrifices to maintain their fighting strength.

Bavotley asked him why he didn't sacrifice himself, but his father replied matter-of-factly that he didn't want to die, so he chose his mother, who was also a believer, who was standing next to him.

Then, perhaps it was some kind of "comforting" feeling? The father turned over the mother's body and found the dagger she had hidden behind her back, saying that the mother had also planned to kill him, and that their intentions were the same. At the same time, since they were sacrificing themselves for the gods, neither of them would blame the other; it was just that he was the one who survived in the end.

Bavotley wanted to accuse someone, but he couldn't utter a single word.

The father's calmness and sense of entitlement were completely unlike that of a human being, as were his brothers and sisters.

And then there are those "relatives" who are not related by blood, yet bound together by an even stronger bond. They will charge into battle fearlessly for unknown purposes, and they will also raise knives against each other at the command of an angel. They believe in the same god with incomprehensible fanaticism, yet their humanity leads them, in the heat of their fanaticism, to make choices that best serve their own interests.

There was no resentment, no joy, no sorrow, no doubt.

When he was ten, his father told him that he needed to join their faith.

That night, followers of another god raided his home. His father was hung at the door and half of his body was burned off by the intruders. He was not discovered because he did not yet have faith.

Bavotley found it strange. Even without performing any rituals, he had developed various habits of praying to and believing in the gods since childhood, yet he wasn't considered to have faith. But soon, another discovery made him forget about this—he felt nothing about his father's death, just as his father had felt about his mother's death.

It is not hatred, not pleasure, not relief, not understanding.

He looked at the half-body hanging at the doorway, and as usual, pushed it aside and walked out, never to return.

The holy war has corrupted everyone. He once thought that his expression of anger would be different, but now he realizes that it's not much different.

"Holy War itself is a mistake." Bavotley once again gathered ripples of time in his hand. "Rosmerada, no matter how eloquent you are, you cannot change the fact that you yourself cannot even guarantee what the gods will be like. Do you think that by using Veronica as a model, I will simply set this aside and join your great mission?"

“Ah…of course not, Lord Bavotley,” Rosemerada said with a smile. “To confirm the connection between the birth of a god and the original body, I have conducted numerous observations and research with many colleagues. The characteristics they exhibited when approaching that location in various ways can all be used as a reference. I am not static; I have been constantly refining my work.”

"arrogant."

“I don’t deny that this is probably the underlying nature of my personality.” Rosemerada opened her arms. “Your Excellency, you are an exception among my plague-infected, and I am willing to spend a little more time here. Perhaps, I can remind the Serpent Dragon of something… the source of the Clockmaker’s power is 'memory'?” The ground suddenly trembled, and the Serpent Dragon burst forth from the ground, his long staff now imbued with the power of dispelling attacks, thrusting towards Bavotley at the shortest distance. Bavotley raised an eyebrow, raised his hand and pressed down directly, numerous threads reappearing from his palm, even his magnificent robes began to disintegrate, like a giant net enveloping him.

The "stitches" wove a protective barrier around him, and this momentary restraint was the key to victory or defeat in their fight.

The snake dragon was trapped on the ground in the net, and Bavotley threw out his utility knife.

"To say that he could kill me is an exaggeration."

The sharp blade pierced the serpent dragon's brow. This time, he had no chance to dodge. Even though the time power attached to the serpent dragon was dispelled the moment he touched it, the blade's sharpness was still enough to pierce his skull.

But... it wasn't fatal.

After all, it was just a nail driven into his head rather than a blow to the head. Bavotley realized immediately after his success that his attack had not really affected his life.

After all, the basic pivot is really rigid.

The serpent tore through the web of stitches, then reached up and pulled out the dagger from its head. Sure enough, no blood flowed out.

Mechanization magic is something that everyone in the Primal Pivot studies. A simpler version involves exchanging one's body with a prepared mechanical device, while a more advanced version can transform oneself into a mechanized state out of thin air. The Serpent Dragon has clearly studied this magic in great depth.

However, even though the stitches were torn, they were still stuck to the serpent dragon's body. His expression was not good. Bavotley only glanced at him and continued to stare at Rosemerada. He no longer regarded the serpent dragon as a threat.

Rosemerada also smiled.

"Your victory, Your Excellency Bavotley. Now, would you like to see it?"

"I have no intention of watching it. To believe anything you say would be disloyal to my stance."

Bavotley waved his hand, and another utility knife appeared in his hand: "Stop me with all your might, and at least make your deaths more dignified."

“This is the confidence you’re talking about… excellent.” The serpent dragon nodded. “Then, the miracle is enough.”

"what?"

“The Ark has only just begun to assemble; it hasn’t been chosen yet,” Rosemerada said. “I don’t mind who we choose. Compared to Rosemerada, who needs us to construct a lie to elevate her to the position of Miracle, you, who have overcome your inevitable death, are more deserving of the title of Miracle, aren’t you? After all, in many parts of history, you know very well that it was the Serpent Dragon who killed you in your battle.”

"However, you have broken this fate. I must congratulate you. This is the real miracle. I have indeed tried my best. Apart from not being killed by you, I have not gained any advantage over you in any move." The serpent dragon sang softly. "Did you hear the voices? The voices of those who praise you, those who extol you, those who regard you as a savior?"

Bavotte turned sharply, looking into the church. Veronica was still standing there, her expression full of worry. He didn't want Veronica to step into Rosemerada's design and take that position, but he knew even more clearly that he couldn't.

While researching esoteric arts, practitioners of mystic arts will inevitably form connections with the corresponding "deities." This fact is almost unknown to outsiders, except among those within the mystic arts community.

However, once one becomes involved with a deity, once that boundary is truly crossed, the deity that the secret technique can create is completely fixed. He cannot become any deity other than "the watchmaker." No matter what method he uses, he will only become "the watchmaker." This is the core connection of the first type of secret technique.

The watchmaker was definitely not the god he had hoped for, the one who could end the holy war.

"Do not……"

“Why refuse? You have already proven the fruit of miracles and have been praised by everyone through your actions. I believe that the six gods will also recognize your abilities. If you don’t trust Veronica, I will entrust this to you. Don’t you trust your own abilities too?” Rosemerada asked with a smile.

"I cannot become a god! Stop! Rosemerada, your plan is fatally flawed!"

“She won’t listen,” the snake dragon replied.

Yes, Rosemaryda had to witness it firsthand; she had died many times in the cycle of reincarnation because of it.

The ripples of sublimation had already enveloped Bavotley, and he struggled to resist the force. But Rose Merada's idea was correct; her research could indeed elevate people. Bavotley had met the conditions, and he could not stop it.

Even if he wanted to lose to Snake Dragon now, he wouldn't have the chance. Snake Dragon has already admitted defeat, and he won't make a move.

Bavotley turned and ran toward Veronica.

“Oh… he’s resisting, I don’t understand, but I respect his choice. Serpent Dragon, let’s see.” Rosemerada did not stop him.

Bavotley rushed into the Minute Church, and the radiance surrounding him already filled Veronica with awe—a manifestation of divine power about to materialize. But Bavotley felt only fear; the shadow of the Holy War still lingered in his heart. He was absolutely certain that the Clockmaker was a god who would participate in the Holy War, and that it would end it, but only as the sole victor.

"Veronica!"

"Yes, Lord Bavertley, what's wrong? What should I do?"

“You must find a way to tell the pharmacist and Vanessa that I did indeed overcome fate, but I still chose to fail, and I must give it to the pharmacist. I’m so sorry, it was my mistake, but I can’t bear the consequences of any more mistakes.”

Veronica didn't ask; she simply remembered every word Bavotley said.

"Furthermore, I'm sorry, child, this is not a responsibility you should have borne."

Bavotley suddenly knelt down before Veronica, extended a hand with a divine glow, and gently touched her cheek.

"But I bless you, and I pray that you will be the merciful and wise deity in my memory."

The light enveloped Veronica's body, and she immediately felt something sealing off the entire Minute Church.

Bavotley was no longer in front of him; instead, he stood at the church entrance, holding a utility knife high.

"Documentary: Forged Classics Become Reality!"

The ever-expanding light suddenly exploded, and the originally suitable vessel vanished abruptly. This brought not only the disorder of divine power but also a great calamity. The serpent dragon immediately protected Rosemerada, and Rosemerada was indeed somewhat puzzled.

"He'd rather give up his life than become a god? What kind of strange person is he?"