Ninth Research - The Sacred Covenant (2)
The term Chosen refers to a mortal selected as the direct representative of a deity. Ordinarily, this role falls to a blood descendant of the god or the highest leader of their religious order.
But this case was different.
“Hasn’t your order already fallen into ruin?”
“It is the duty of the Chosen to raise it once more.”
“Hmm.”
Tellorian calculated the costs and gains.
“Then am I permitted to study your true form?”
“I don’t particularly like the idea, but I shall allow it.”
“And I may also hear the ancient legends?”
“As many as you wish.”
The knowledge he had acquired during his days as a modern gamer was, after all, limited to setting guides. His understanding of history that had never been implemented in the game remained shallow. He knew the major lore points, but that was all.
“A fair trade.”
“A trade, you say.”
“Indeed, a trade.”
Silver Serpent
Research Reward 1
Compulsory Contract with the Basilisk
Research Reward 2
Voluntary Accompaniment with the Basilisk
Research Reward 3
Mutual Covenant with an Ancient Deity
He chose the third.
The mutual covenant with the ancient deity.
“I shall postpone the appointment of a Chosen.”
Shhh…
The silver serpent’s hiss carried a note of disappointment.
“Because you currently lack the divine essence to bestow upon another.”
“I understand. There is no need to rush.”
A mortal chosen as the avatar of a deity would receive a portion of that deity’s divine essence. In modern terms, it was like a professional CEO receiving equity upon appointment. However, the silver serpent’s current essence was barely enough to sustain her own existence. Bestowing the power of a Chosen would have to wait.
All divinity grows stronger the more followers it possesses. Therefore, even a Chosen who has received a fragment of divine essence will see their holy power increase as the faith expands.
Theology Lore Acquired!
Experience +10
Lore Points +1
80/100 until Level 23
Lore Points: 34
In any case, he prepared the ritual magic circle.
He would tame her as his familiar.
“…”
The moment the silver serpent saw the magic circle meant to bind her, a fierce competitive spirit surged within her. Did this mortal before her truly possess the qualification to tame her?
This deity was the oldest basilisk, an existence worshipped by the ancients. My history stretches far beyond anything this boy could possibly know.
The silver serpent recalled her long, ancient life from the very beginning. In the distant past, a sand serpent with unusually pure white scales had broken free of its egg. When it first gained awareness, it found itself beneath a salt rock.
Many siblings had hatched alongside me, yet there were no parents. We basilisks are born from eggs and live alone from the moment we emerge.
One of her sisters, driven by hunger, had tried to attack her. She struck first and devoured the corpse. When the rest of her siblings approached demanding a share, she killed and ate every last one of the fools who dared reach for her prey.
How dare they bare their fangs at what is mine!
From birth, the silver serpent had been a powerful and ferocious basilisk. After rapidly evolving by consuming countless desert creatures, she had even developed the intelligence to understand human speech and anticipate their actions.
Ordinary basilisks were nothing more than giant monsters that spat acidic breath and turned those who met their gaze to stone. But the silver serpent was a spiritual beast—beautiful and clever enough to be called a sacred creature.
“I-it’s the silver serpent…”
“We’re all going to die…”
And so the humans abandoned resistance.
“Offer the slaves and run!”
“Aaaaaaaaah!”
Instead, they chose to offer sacrifices.
“O Tyrant of the Desert!”
“Accept our offering!”
“Please accept this and quell your wrath!”
Kyaaaaak!
Graaaaaaaaah!
It was pointless. At the time she had possessed high intelligence but no true intellect. She had simply read their intentions and exploited them.
“The Tyrant says the sacrifice is not to her liking!”
“Virgins! Offer pure and beautiful virgins!”
“Yes! The flesh of maidens is so tender!”
Yet the terrified ancients continued to offer young females in an attempt to soothe her rage. Their bodies were so small they provided almost no sustenance…
“Kyaaaaaaaah!”
“S-she says it’s not enough! Offer more!”
“Kyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!”
“Kyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!”
Once the supply of girls had run dry and the humans were on the verge of abandoning their homeland—
“I will go.”
“Pythia…?”
The oracle chosen by the stars offered herself as the sacrifice.
“If we abandon the floodplains now, the deaths of all those who sacrificed themselves to settle here will have been in vain. If my life can carry on their will…”
That is enough.
Devour me.
Strongest of serpents.
“Kyaaaaah!”
“…”
The final meal was slightly strange.
“Kyak?”
Even after she roared, the girl showed no fear.
“O shining stars.”
She simply knelt and prayed toward the heavens.
“I am ready to face you.”
Crunch!
The girl’s upper body was torn away.
Chew. Chew.
A human being turned into chunks of meat.
Gulp!
She swallowed the pieces.
Slurp!
She devoured the lower half as well.
It was delicious.
Truly delicious. Almost like a delicacy.
…But from that day onward, something changed.
A heart had been born within her.
“I-it’s the silver serpent!”
“The great tyrant of the desert! We’re all dead!”
“O stars! Why have you abandoned us!”
“…”
For some reason, she no longer felt the urge to hunt the screaming humans. When she imagined devouring the people before her, she could picture their families wailing in grief. Normally that sight should have simply meant more prey—something to look forward to.
“Offer.”
“…Eh?”
“Did… did it just speak?”
“A basilisk… talking…?”
Offer.
Bring me meat more delicious than yourselves.
Do so, and I shall spare your lives.
“…Yes!”
From then on, she lived by accepting the offerings humans brought. Since humans tasted unpleasant, she refused them as sacrifices. Desert birds, herds of camels, and hyenas offered far better texture and rich, savory juices.
“There are no offerings this month.”
“O Ruler of the Desert, that is because…”
“Are you offering yourselves instead?”
“F-forgive us! Foreigners have taken the tributes…”
She pursued the thieves who had stolen the offerings beyond the great desert. They had not only taken the tributes but the very gatherers who procured them. This would force her to hunt for herself—an annoyance.
“It’s the legendary silver serpent!”
“So that’s the tyrant of the desert!”
“Don’t worry! We have the strongest fortress—”
Kwaaaaaaaa!
The humans’ pathetic stone structures melted away.
“Huh…?”
“R-run awaaaaay—!”
“Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!”
She devoured every last thief and freed the chained gatherers. In return, the gatherers hailed her as the King of the Desert and began bringing offerings with even greater zeal.
Then one day—
“O Goddess.”
The title had changed.
“I offer everything I am to you.”
People even began to offer themselves in worship.
“I recognize your sincerity and grant you this honor.”
Gulp!
She consumed the sacrificial offerings and absorbed even their souls. She took in not only their bodies but their memories, emotions, and thoughts, making them part of herself.
…Delicious.
From that point she changed her policy and encouraged human sacrifice. However, her standards were extremely strict. Only the noblest and most radiant souls were qualified to become part of her. As time passed, her own soul grew larger and brighter.
“O Silver Serpent! I seek your wisdom!”
“What wisdom do you desire?”
“Rain does not fall!”
“Then I shall grant you rain.”
At some point she had gained mysterious powers that allowed her to answer human prayers. The humans sought wise solutions, and she provided answers befitting the offerings they brought.
Then one day, it suddenly appeared.
“O beautiful Silver Serpent, guardian deity of our people!”
“Descend to the earth and rule over us!”
A human personality had formed.
“I sense the sincerity of your longing.”
And furthermore—
She could hear their prayers.
“Since this deity finds your plea pleasing, I shall take pity on you pitiful creatures. However, your feeble forms cannot endure the radiance of my sacred true body, therefore…”
Offer sincere prayers for one hundred years and craft a holy vessel capable of containing divinity. Shape the vessel in a form familiar to you, yet one that manifests my sanctity and is worthy of worship by all. When this preparation is complete, this deity shall dwell within the vessel and bestow upon you the grace of my rule.
“We shall engrave this in our hearts! O Ruler of the Desert!”
“Praise be! Praise be! Praise be!”
“We are overwhelmed with gratitude that the divine has taken pity on us lowly creatures! We shall bang our heads upon the ground ninety-nine times! Praise be! Praise be!”
All the sages and artisans of the age gathered and wracked their brains. They had to imagine a vessel capable of containing divinity using the meager imagination of mortals.
“Let us sculpt the most beautiful woman everyone would worship!”
“““Blasphemy!”””
The divine is our protector, not one who requires protection. Therefore the vessel must take a form worthy of awe and reverence!
The greatest beauty.
The greatest warrior.
The greatest sovereign.
The sages debated for fifty years over which concept best represented the silver serpent. When they still could not reach consensus, the artisans decided to incorporate every concept into a single statue.
And so the vessel was completed.
When divinity descended—
“…”
Everyone instinctively fell to their knees.
Trembling before the sacred majesty.
“O Divine One.”
They spoke, filled with reverence, fear, and awe of beauty.
“By what name should we praise you?”
The name “silver serpent” was no longer sufficient.
If she was to watch over these pitiful humans—
Aeltanar.
The divine tongue declared it.
The name of the God-King.
Praise her as Starlight Aeltanar.
It was the name of the girl.
The girl who had sacrificed herself.
History Lore Acquired!
Mythology Lore Acquired!
Divinity Lore Acquired!
Experience +20
Lore Points +2
Level Up!
0/100 until Level 24
Lore Points: 36
The consciousness of Tellorian, who had activated the magic circle, was swept away by the flood of memories. The sheer volume was almost too vast for even his mind to process.
The silver serpent was Starlight Aeltanar?!
This was knowledge even he had not possessed. It had never been recorded in any setting guide, and no clues had appeared during the silver serpent raid.
So that’s why!
The reason the corrupted silver serpent had evolved into the Beast of the Apocalypse that opposed the Sun God during the War of the End!
Starlight Aeltanar was the chief deity who ruled the Karamsan pantheon!
Mythology Lore Acquired!
Experience +10
Lore Points +1
10/100 until Level 24
Lore Points: 37
The gods worshipped by Karamsan civilization were collectively known as the Karamsan pantheon. Considering that Karamsan civilization had been a human empire comparable in power to the current Empire…
Even though the silver serpent has now fallen to demigod status, during her prime she was an existence that could rival even the current Sun God!
Karamsan Lore Acquired!
Experience +10
Lore Points +1
20/100 until Level 24
Lore Points: 38
“Starlight Aeltanar!”
“Do not casually utter this deity’s sacred name.”
“You were hiding your true identity!”
“You said you would tame this deity?”
Familiar.
In other words, a summoned beast.
A magical creature controlled by a mage.
“Then prove your worth.”
Shhhhhhhhh!
The silver serpent’s body began to expand, radiating brilliant starlight. The anaconda transformed into a colossal basilisk, revealing her sacred true form.
Witnessed the Manifestation of a Mythical Monster!
Confronted the Wrath of a Forgotten Ancient Deity!
Experience +30
Lore Points +3
50/100 until Level 24
Lore Points: 41
Having awakened to her own name, the silver serpent had become a truly powerful being. A sacred halo now floated above her head, and starlight gleamed from the horn on her forehead.
Interesting.
For the first time in a long while, genuine interest stirred within him.
If I can tame an existence this powerful, it will be an achievement counted among the greatest feats of archmages throughout history.
◈ Research Reward: Starlight Aeltanar
A sandstorm covering the entire desert appeared, shredding even the sturdy tents of the desert orcs like sheets of paper.
“Spirits of the air! Protect us!”
Had the Shaman King Belkan not deployed his storm barrier with all his strength, the gathered desert orcs would have suffered catastrophic casualties.
“What is this…!”
“Everyone step back. The God-King is angry.”
The sandstorm was so fierce that even Olgoldugolro felt fear. This was divine wrath. Beings with finite lives had no means to oppose it.
“Beautiful.”
He had witnessed true divinity.
“Even though the foundation stones of her temple have vanished and her sacred name has been forgotten, she still possesses a dignity worthy of being called a god!”
“However, her condition is not good.”
Using his Insight Eye that could see through all things, Tellorian analyzed the silver serpent’s condition in detail. The Goddess of Starlight was far more powerful than his current self. Her pure physical body alone exceeded Level 70, and she possessed the Mythic trait that could rival his own magical talent.
Trait — Mythic
This being is the chief deity once worshipped by a fallen ancient civilization. Her name has been forgotten and her authority has withered, reducing her to a pitiful shadow of her former glory. Nevertheless, she still possesses power sufficient to be called a true god.
Effects
Conditional use of Authority possible.
Immune to all attacks from those below Hero rank.
Grants the Immortal trait.
Upon recovery of Divine Rank, existing traits will be restored.
The most difficult aspect was the use of Authority. A deity’s Authority was not something a Lore Master at Level 20 could easily handle.
To oppose Authority as a mortal, one must be at least Level 50. One would need to freely use Ninth Circle spells or borrow power from a divine entity.
Authority was a force that could cause headaches even if used by a Level 0 human. Facing it directly meant there was no chance of victory. That was the gap between humans and gods.
However.
If the opponent was not in perfect condition—
Just as my level is low, her limits are also clear.
The Post-Hibernation Aftereffects that halved all stats.
The Forgotten condition that reduced the effectiveness of Authority by half.
If I can dispel the sandstorm, victory is mine!
When a pitch-black sandstorm raged and the earth shook like this, it became difficult to cast high-circle spells that required concentration.
Then let’s secure my concentration first.
First, he would clear away the sandstorm.
My Lore Master level is 23.
Mages learn one First Circle spell at Level 1, and from Level 5 onward the highest circle they can cast increases by one every five levels. Therefore, as a Level 23 Lore Master, the highest circle he could cast alone was Fifth Circle.
“O wind!”
4th Circle — Lore of Air
Sphere of Wind
O atmosphere! Envelop and protect me!
He connected his mind to the Lore and imagined a sphere surrounding him. The magic staff emitted a sky-blue light, turning imagination into reality.
Whoosh!
A solid curtain of wind formed, blocking the sandstorm’s approach. Now his spells would not be affected by the storm.
4th Circle — Lore of Earth
Stone Shaper
O earth! Lift me and move!
The rock beneath his feet tore free from the ground like a tree being uprooted. No matter how violently the earth shook, he would remain unaffected.
3rd Circle — Lore of Mystery
Telekinesis
O power of mystery! Obey my command!
He then cast telekinesis to move the rock. Now he was protected by a sphere of wind, riding the floating stone through the air. Neither sandstorm nor earthquake could interfere with his spellcasting any longer.
O Mortal Sage!
From within the sandstorm came the forgotten goddess’s decree. It was a declaration infused with Authority—the proclamation of a Holy Word.
Be buried and die within the sand!
9th Circle — Lore of Divinity
Holy Word
Let it be done as spoken!
“!”
That was Authority.
It was divine power.
Kwaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa—!
The sandstorm covering the entire area converged on a single point. Even the previously calm sand dunes rose into the sky targeting Tellorian. The world itself was changing to make the divine words reality.
Witnessed the Exercise of Authority!
Experience +10
Lore Points +1
60/100 until Level 24
Lore Points: 42
Ordinary magic cannot oppose this!
The enraged desert sought to bury him. Even with his vast mana reserves, dealing with such overwhelming mass was impossible.
I’ll have to use my lore knowledge.
He consumed points to activate Simplified Magic Circle and the Meta-Magic abilities of Enhancement and Super Enhancement.
Simplified Magic Circle Summoned
Meta-Magic: Enhancement
Meta-Magic: Super Enhancement
Lore Points consumed: 20
Remaining Lore Points: 22
A simplified magic circle was a formation that could be summoned instantly. By consuming two lore points, it raised the circle of a spell by one rank.
A blue mana light crossed beneath his feet, forming a pentagram. Thanks to it, he felt his connection to his soul and the lores grow even stronger.
Next is Meta-Magic.
Meta-Magic.
Quite literally, magic enhancement.
It was the flower of magecraft.
Meta-Magic allowed the caster to add designated effects to ordinary spells. The more powerful the added effect, the greater the mana consumption and casting time.
To beginners it was a double-edged sword.
To veterans, it was an exploit.
Meta-Magic is one of the three main reasons mages are considered the class with the highest ceiling. A single spell can be used in an incredibly wide variety of ways.
Normally a Level 23 Lore Master could only cast up to Fifth Circle magic. However, with the simplified magic circle, Sixth Circle became possible.
“O Lore! Strengthen the magic!”
By reinforcing his connection to the Lore through new knowledge, he modified existing spells into far more powerful versions.
Spell Power +200%
Mana Consumption +200%
Casting Time +200%
Remaining Lore Points: 18
An endless sandstorm raged in the heart of the desert. But what if he used magic that harnessed natural phenomena in response?
“O atmosphere. The Lore Master calls upon you.”
Lore of Air — Control Weather
O wind! Exhale your breath upon the earth!
The moment he finished the incantation and slammed his staff into the ground, a blue pillar of light pierced through the sandstorm and shot into the sky. The clear blue heavens were overtaken by mana, forming dark storm clouds.
Be buried and die within the sand!
At that moment, the mass of the sandstorm shattered his sphere of wind. The mage quickly chanted Blink and fled into the open sky.
You cannot escape the desert’s fury with petty tricks!
But it had already begun.
“O wind!”
Rumble!
Kwaaaaang!
“Pour out your breath!”
Lightning struck.
Gale winds howled.
Swoosh swoosh swoosh!
The sky filled with dark clouds unleashed thick, heavy raindrops. The raging momentum of the sandstorm faltered. Even so, the oncoming sandstorm was avoided again and again through repeated blinks. As time passed, the sandstorm gradually lost strength and began to dissipate. No matter how much sand there was… it could not withstand a torrential downpour.
A Mortal Has Opposed a Deity’s Authority!
Experience +20
Lore Points +2
80/100 until Level 24
Lore Points: 20
The storm that Lore Master Tellorian had summoned by pouring out all his mana had calmed the sandstorm and even cooled the blazing heat of the great desert.
You have quelled the desert’s fury.
The goddess’s horn still radiated powerful starlight. This meant she was still exercising the Authority to summon sandstorms, yet no trace of any storm could be seen no matter where one looked. Only the heavy rain continued to soak the desert.
Equal Qualification with a Deity Acknowledged!
Experience +20
Lore Points +2
Level Up!
0/100 until Level 25
Lore Points: 22
“To the God-King who once ruled Karamsan, I request a covenant that shall bind our souls together.”