Shepherd Tantra

Chapter 1323 Hey? What's wrong with you?

"...Butterflies and cicadas?"

After saying goodbye to Morgan for a long time, Evans felt somewhat dazed.

Perhaps because of the fusion of the shepherd's part, Winter's experience resonated with Aiwass—those snake tails that were destined not to have the chance to become "Aiwass" and were thus consumed to maintain the rationality of the Celestials, were also a kind of "metamorphosis".
But Aiwass couldn't be like those hot-blooded protagonists who could shout without any restraint, "I will never let her die no matter what."

Because Aiwass knew that if he had to do it, he would sacrifice himself without hesitation.

Just like the "taboo" of the past, he turned his students and lovers into "amber".

Besides the Winter God, how many other people, gods, and beings are like this "fuse"?
In another timeline, Isabelle becomes the "Queen of Flowers," Sherlock "disappears" while investigating, and Agnes loses control while trying to contain the Spirit Amber Celestial. Besides these, there's Bishop Mathers, who becomes a fallen paladin; Edward's brother, who merges with the Heart of the Demon Dragon; and Haina, who becomes "Nameless"...

...Even "Aivas" himself was like that.

Their existence is for sacrifice; everything they do is to provide a safety net for the savior's failure.

Aiwass was able to change their fate simply because he won.

He took their place in their sacrifice, completing what they should have done. And so they survived.

"……I see."

Aiwass let out a soft breath.

—In that case, victory is all that matters.

The truth about Winter's Curse filled Aiwass with determination.

He took Isabel with him as they bid farewell to Morgan and headed to the Sea of ​​Sorrow.

After leaving the cabin, the distorted sun's presence became immediately more intense—the sunlight was nauseating.

There is a psychedelic feeling, almost like a dream core, where the surrounding world is distorted into an unusually vibrant and bizarre form:
The forests, tanned to a soft, pliable state like chewing gum, and the giant rocks that had grown faces and could sing; the few phantom demons encountered whose original skin had turned a deep blue like an Avatar, and who, upon turning around, had five eyes on their faces; the sun in the sky seemed to have learned the art of afterimages, leaving behind a clone of a different color at intervals, until soon there were ten suns in the sky; the road sometimes became extremely narrow, and sometimes undulated and twisted like a battle rope...

For the first time, the Dream Realm displayed a "dreamlike" feeling in front of Aiwass.

It's like eating too many mushrooms.

No wonder even those phantom demons were frightened.

Even Aiwas dared not walk to his destination anymore.

He summoned the Moon Deer, a common mode of transportation in the dream world, and after giving each of them a secret, he quickly arrived at the Sea of ​​Sorrow.

The dream world, a sea of ​​sorrow.

This place was once the domain of the Yuantian Division. In the even more ancient past, this was a "forbidden" domain.

When Yuan Tiansi was still alive, this place was a pitch-black sea. Even under the illumination of Lihentian, it remained colorless and undisturbed. The pure black sea connected to the Shadow Kingdom, which was occasionally spawned by strange sea monsters, was part of the Guanchou Sea. And the water summoned by the benevolent rulers was the Guanchou Sea water, purified through "cruelty."

—This sea is bitter, just like tears.

Some say it is the impression formed from the tears of all those who are filled with regret in the dream world, while others say it is the tears shed by Yuan Tiansi and all the sea beasts.

Only elements like anger, cruelty, hope, and time—elements that can dilute regret—can purify the Sea of ​​Sorrow. Drinking it directly without purification will lead to death from grief.

Even just touching it can cause one to lose consciousness and utterly sink into endless melancholy.

Even after dilution, it can be used to seal the Sin Thorn, paralyzing it and rendering it inactive... It is even more dangerous to the Illusion Demon, but a living person can be saved if they drink it.

This seabed is connected to the material world. It is precisely for this reason that the seabed of the material world is so forbidden; even a sixth-level being who falls into it will surely die.

According to Aiwass's calculations, the reason why "Encyclopedia" saw Cardinal Galatea here was probably because Cardinal Galatea accidentally wandered into this place.

After leaving the Tower of Babel ruins, Cardinal Galatea said he wanted to resign and go in search of the ruins of the Atlanteans.

The ruins of the Atlanteans are located on the seabed.

It's very dangerous there; one wrong move and you could end up in the Sea of ​​Sorrow.

When Eywass got married, he saw Galatea and thought she had given up on the idea. It turned out that Cardinal Galatea wanted to witness Eywass's wedding before she left.

...She probably foresaw the danger of this matter even before that time.

Now that Yuan Tiansi has left, Guanchou Sea is much clearer, and one can even hear the sound of the tide rising and falling.

It is no longer a pure, melancholic black, but has become a serene deep blue, especially the foam, which shows a hint of blue light. If it was originally like black ink, then it is now a bluish-black ink.

This sea is not boundless—the so-called "sea and sky at the same line"—the edge of the Sorrowful Sea actually curls up, connecting with the Heaven of Separation and Hatred above, like a closed bronze gong. Blood-red swirles in the sky, looking like the sunset glow at dusk.

Sunset, evening glow, coastline.

As Aiwas strolled along the beach, he saw a figure standing in front of him.

Her temperament was as white as snow, with long, pure white hair and ice-blue eyes.

His body looked extremely thin, so frail that he resembled a shadow.

That was Cardinal Galatea.

...But she didn't seem to be Cardinal Galatea. Because at this moment, she wasn't in the form of an upright-walking astral being—but rather in the form of a mermaid.

She wasn't wearing her cardinal's robes; instead, she had transformed into a mermaid. Only her most vulnerable areas were covered by a few icy-white scales. Her posture, rising from the sea, resembled that of a fish standing upright in the water.

This is not surprising.

After all, the essence of the Star Crystal People is a construct invented by the Atlanteans who did not want their souls to perish. It is the prototype of the lich ritual, and can be said to be the most ancient lich.

If Galatea dies, she will naturally enter the dream world as the original Atlantean soul.

"...Is this how you act as an Atlantean?"

Stopping in a spot where it wouldn't be washed away by the sea, Aiwass looked at Galatea from afar, his feelings a mix of emotions: "How did you die?"

"I was exploring the ruins of Atlantis when Yuan Tiansi was pulled into the material world by the Ring of the Tail, and I was sucked into the dream world. A mortal body cannot exist in the dream world, so I shed my outer shell. And that is why I entered the Sea of ​​Sorrow, the former domain of Tiansi, before even entering the Source River."

Galatea's voice was soft and cool, as if she were singing a melancholy song: "Just as I deduced before... the essence of those sea monsters is that of my own kind."

"Are the sea monsters the Atlanteans...?"

Isabel said in surprise.

She simply couldn't reconcile those hideous, terrifying, tentacle-covered sea monsters with the beautiful Galatea before her.

"—Not just the Atlanteans, but also the Star Crystal People."

Perhaps because she was immersed in the Sea of ​​Sorrow, Galatea looked somewhat melancholy, but her pupils shone so brightly, as if she had regained the hope of life: "I finally understand why there are sea monsters in both the Dream World and the Material World, and why I can't find even one of my kind—because the other Star Crystal People have all become sea monsters in the Material World under the distortion of the 'King'; the souls of those Atlanteans who entered the Dream World have also become sea monsters in the Dream World."

"I was able to escape the transformation of the Great Abyss because of the protection of the Twin Mirrors. I am indeed the last Star Crystal person... and even the last Atlantean."

"Because when I entered the Dream Realm, Yuan Tiansi had just left. So I became the only soul that wasn't transformed..."

As Galatea spoke these words, many tentacles rose up around her.

—Beneath that dark and tranquil sea surface, who knows how many sea monsters are lurking!
They huddled around Galatea, these mindless, forbidden beings seemingly regarding her as their new king.

She stretched out her fair and slender hand and gently touched the tentacles, just as she would touch a pet dog.

Her eyes were filled with sorrow, yet also with joy.

Because these sea monsters might have once been her teachers, her friends… even her parents. She just couldn't recognize them at all. Those were the very people she had longed for so desperately when she lived alone in this world.

"So after I died, I had a goal to 'live on'—I wanted to become the new king of the scaled creatures."

Galatea said firmly, "If I can become the new Celestial Lord and take over the Sea of ​​Sorrow... perhaps I can give them bodies like mine again."

"...Become a mermaid?"

Aiwass chuckled encouragingly, "That's not bad—did you need my authorization to call me here?"

"Part of the reason is..."

Galatea answered decisively, “I have regained many memories… You are the King of the Scaled. No new king can be established until the old king is dead. Only by obtaining your token can I become the new King of the Scaled.”

"...That's it."

Upon hearing this, Aiwass did not hesitate to toss the token of friendship hanging around his neck to Galatea.

Galatea instinctively reached out and grabbed it, but sensing the power within, she was immediately taken aback: "Wait, it's a bit... I don't need something so precious and powerful! A token will suffice—"

“I didn’t need it anyway. It won’t help me fight that guy; it will only leave me with more openings… It’s perfect to give it to you.”

Aiwas looked at the jeweled shoulder strap with a touch of nostalgia: "This is proof of the friendship between the former Winged King and the Scaled King. Now that I have become the new Winged King... it is most appropriate to give this to you."

“I intend to create a new race of winged beings, while you intend to create a new race of scaled beings. History is a loop that ends and begins again. Isn’t that a kind of mirror-like beauty?”

"……Thanks you."

Upon hearing this, Galatea stopped refusing and accepted the gift, expressing her sincere gratitude.

“We’re friends, no need to be so polite,” Aiwass smiled. “Besides, I also hope that the Scaled Ones will be reborn…”

Just then, Galatea interrupted Aiwass: "Besides that, there is one more thing, my king."

“There is another reason why I summoned you here… that is to tell you something.”

"—For your next promotion ceremony, do not participate in the Full Moon Ceremony. That being has already noticed you… The foundation for the promotion ceremony is located at the bottom of the Sea of ​​Sorrow. I discovered that it has been modified at some point, and it will likely interfere with the next promotion ceremony. In this case… if it is a promotion ceremony that emphasizes teamwork, it will probably be more difficult."

"...Do you know how it will interfere with me?"

Upon hearing this, Aiwass became serious.

Galatea gently shook her head: "It could be controlling someone who enters the advancement ceremony with you, or it could be changing the rules... or it could even be personally embodying itself in it. Although 'that thing' has no physical form, the advancement ceremony is a 'dream within a dream,' and it can enter it without a physical form... From this perspective, I think it would be better to advance at the end of the month."

"I understand. This is indeed very crucial intelligence."

Aiwass sincerely thanked her: "Thank you, Galatea."

(End of this chapter)