Demon Bible

Chapter 104: Taking Over

However, the moment he stepped into the historical epoch of the Cherubim, Nemus felt his meager reserves of Fey Potion rapidly depleting.

[...#&] After a few strings of garbled characters flashed by, Nemus's vision returned to normal.

The Book of Ages reverted to its previous appearance. The text became extremely bizarre—similar, yet distinctly different.

Now, Nemus finally understood why. These characters could perhaps be called the secret texts of time or historical runes. However, this was merely a semi-finished product that still required an appropriate observer.

'It's just that the Fey power drains far too quickly. A single potion barely holds any energy to begin with. Coupled with the fact that the history I'm tapping into involves the existence of a god, maintaining it for even a single sentence is impossible,' Nemus noted with absolute clarity.

Because of this limitation, Nemus had yet to fully experience the true functions of the Book of Ages.

The only feature he had tested so far was reviewing his own personal history. By using his own past as an anchor, he could observe the historical shifts of this world and harvest a wealth of information.

For instance, if Nemus could rapidly master his own power, he might be able to examine the detailed history of Tail Fin Town right now, thereby uncovering exactly who was pulling the strings behind the Floating World Society.

Extracting information was just one function. Furthermore, Nemus had a faint premonition that personal history and world history would gradually intersect, forming a highly unique path.

'It seems this is what Westbin meant by glimpsing the historical trajectory.'Currently, glimpsing history merely meant reviewing events that had already occurred. The stronger the Fey power, the more one could see.

But the historical trajectory did not just map out the past; it reached into the future.

'By continuously observing the world's history through the lens of my own, I can slowly grasp a sliver of the historical trajectory.'

'If I actively participate in this world through tangible actions, I can align myself with the flow of history bit by bit.'

'Ultimately, securing the backing of history itself.'

This actually carried a faint resemblance to seizing the winds of change of an era.

Every age had its own prevailing winds, and these currents naturally held a driving force capable of propelling a person to rapid heights.

The prerequisite, of course, was the ability to grasp this power and possess the necessary strength to shoulder the weight of historical responsibility.

Otherwise, failing to bear that weight would only result in being torn apart by those very winds.

'My progress is quite decent.' Nemus set down the Book of Ages and closed his eyes, savoring the subtle sensing brought about by observing history.

Bolstered by three traits, Nemus's progress far exceeded the norm.

After all, Westbin had walked this path of historical trajectory for over two decades, yet had only traversed a fraction of it.

Nemus, on the other hand, had caught a glimpse of its beginnings after just a single observation.

'This is likely tied to my personal identity.' Westbin was merely a branch family member with a Fey bloodline, whereas Nemus was genuinely participating in major events capable of altering world history.

At the very least, the God of Precepts losing contact for the past three years had already triggered shifts in the social environments across the backs of hundreds of Floating Whales.

The indirect consequences were even more profound; one could even argue that it had altered the geopolitical landscape of this world to a certain degree.

Westbin could likely only track the minor drafts of history, whereas Nemus had the potential to pinpoint the major gales.

Standing at the heart of such a massive tempest, he probably wouldn't need to expend much effort to acquire a Historical Number and thus evolve into a Legend Rank.

'However, the corresponding risks will also be terrifyingly high.' Thinking of the sheer danger, Nemus felt no fear, only an intoxicating thrill.

After Nemus finished organizing his revelations, evening had crept up on him without his noticing.

He stood up and headed out to eat at the Cathedral's dining hall. The dining hall was always bustling with numerous clerics, providing an excellent opportunity to get to know them better.

And this time, Nemus even spotted Rhine.

This man, the nominal leader of Tail Fin Town, frequently acted like a ruthless, unfeeling machine.

He would process his tasks with extreme precision and speed, clocking in and out with absolute regularity. He engaged in practically zero recreational activities in his daily life.

Whenever he spoke, he used a completely emotionless tone. More often than not, it was impossible to tell whether he was being sarcastic, subtly mocking, or genuinely offering earnest advice.

For this exact reason, even his own family members frequently kept their distance.

After all, Rhine never played favorites.

He had no friends and was perpetually strictly business.

In this regard, aside from occasionally speaking in riddles, most of his traits were remarkably similar to the "rigidly orthodox" individuals Nemus had encountered in Sky Spring City.

Nemus greeted him and was subsequently treated to a mildly surprising sight.

After taking only a few bites of his meal, Rhine hurriedly stood up and left, instructing his assistant to pack away his food.

'What is this?' Nemus narrowed his eyes.

Something that could make Rhine break his strict daily routine had to be a matter of massive importance.

But if it concerned the Church, Nemus would have most likely received the intelligence as well.

'A personal matter?' Nemus mused as he ate. This was an exceedingly rare occurrence.

The Oath Rope twitched slightly, and his soul began to resonate.

Nemus's field of vision suddenly shifted.

"Wait, wait, Boss! It's almost my turn to show off, don't hijack my body now!!!!"

Ignoring Angel A's complaints, Nemus assumed direct control of Angel A's current body.

He then assessed the current situation.

At present, Angel A was located on the outskirts of the North District, his eyes closed as he basked in the darkness. Meanwhile, several individuals with concealed identities were stealthily closing in on the spot where he stood.

The leader of the group was a robust, curly-haired man in the prime of his life.

He wore a black robe and made practically no effort to disguise his face. However, as Nemus cross-referenced the intelligence he possessed, he realized there was no record of this man in Tail Fin Town.

'To use absolutely no disguise... has he simply been keeping his head down and hiding his name this entire time?' Nemus could clearly see the man using Angel A's unique perception abilities. Previously, Angel A had only managed to uncover the man's identity by latching onto his trail and tracking him all the way here.

After the Floating World Society departed, this individual had swiftly slipped into the city's sewers, hastily relocating his base of operations without ever returning to his actual residence.

Instead, he had ventured into an Underground Tavern in the South District. Establishments of this sort traded in contraband and frequently hosted illegal bare-knuckle boxing matches.

He had holed up there for several days, practically blending seamlessly into the tavern's gritty atmosphere.

Had Angel A's perception not surpassed the absolute limits of the Iron Rank, and had he not mastered a few spells dedicated to tracking targets, finding this man would have been immensely difficult.

"So, have you chosen to submit?" Nemus asked aloud.

"You are a powerful figure. And a powerful figure rightly deserves status, authority, wealth, exquisite food, beautiful women, and every worldly luxury that brings pleasure."

"Seeking pleasure is a fundamental instinct of life, yet you have endured being subjected to all sorts of wretched environments." Nemus "looked" at the robust man, speaking slowly while tracing the fluctuations of his emotions to grasp the crux of the matter.

"Either your personal fetishes have twisted after enduring harsh conditions for so long, or you are tolerating all of this for the sake of a much higher pursuit."

"Submission is the only shortcut to realizing that pursuit!"