Master the Abyss, starting from an apprentice priest.

Chapter 702 The Mark of Authoritarianism
"Wake up, Count Hayek..."

Gazing at the long, amber vessel containing Count Hayek before him, Luo Xiu's deep voice softly called out to him—

Crack!

Snap, snap, crackle...

Fine cracks have appeared on the surface of the amber, gradually spreading outwards and deeper into the stone.

Until the last crisp sound, the amber shattered, the broken pieces emitting a clear golden light, and then dissipated into intangible spirituality, "releasing" Count Hayek back into existence.

This illusory incarnation, condensed from amber, the "creator of all things," thus returned to its original divine form.

Hayek, having lost his support, fell to the ground with a thud, raising a cloud of dust.

He lay there in the soft dust, still on his back, with his eyes tightly closed.

But from his mouth came indistinct, dreamlike murmurs—

"I saw it...I saw it..."

"That great...that truly sublime...is far more sublime than the highest..."

"The place I've been waiting for... Uncle..."

"..."

"Count Hayek".

Luo Xiu called his name once again.

He saw Count Hayek lying on the ground, seemingly still unresponsive, his brows furrowed even more and his expression contorted in a grimace.

He seemed to be in some pain—the pain came from within his body, which was still somewhat unaccustomed to being released from the amber cage, and Luo Xiu squatted down at the same time.

At the same time, Luo Xiu extended his right hand, opened his palm, and gently pressed it on Hayek's forehead.

He turned his spirituality into his hands, and then, through his right hand, infused it into Hayek's body—which first warmed him, then plunged him into a bone-chilling cold, and then soared him to a scorching heat.

He was given such a strong stimulus that he did indeed react—

"—Ugh!!"

After experiencing these sensations, Hayek's eyes suddenly widened, his mouth opened wide, and he let out a hoarse shout.

"Heh, heh, heh..."

Then he began to gasp for breath, as if he were releasing all the heavy, pent-up frustration in his chest, until Hayek's breathing gradually calmed down and his eyes gradually became clear.

In those refocused, dark red eyes, Luo Xiu's complete and clear outline was finally reflected again.

What first caught Hayek's eye was that mask.

The Black-Patterned Puppet Mask, belonging to the "Lord of the Holy Abyss" and the "Asura"—

"..."

"Your...master..."

Count Hayek looked at Rosius and uttered such a weak, trembling murmur.

Quesanx's authoritarian transformation of him had been completed and stabilized several days prior. Meanwhile, his previous transformation of Count Hayek into "mad piety" had also stabilized under Quesanx's authoritarian transformation.

Looking at Count Hayek now, Luo Xiu thought to himself.

This has been confirmed—during the panel detection of Count Hayek, Luo Xiu saw that in Hayek's "Status" section, the entry that was originally [Mad Believer (Unstable, Permanent)] has now changed to [Mad Believer (Stable, Permanent)]!
This means that Count Hayek, like all the Apostles of the Holy Abyss who completed their transformation through "mad piety," has, deep in his subconscious, converted to himself and has acquired the only piety he is directed toward!
"Lord..."

"Lord...Lord!"

Before Luo Xiu, the newly awakened Count Hayek was still murmuring, but those murmurings had gradually transformed into low-pitched praises and prayers, and his eyes were trembling with a strange excitement and fervor.

That mask, that [Black Pattern Puppet Mask], was implanted into Count Hayek's subconscious as a symbol of the "Lord of the Holy Abyss"!

Luo Xiu was very satisfied with the changes Hayek had exhibited when he first awoke from the amber. He nodded slightly and said to Hayek:

“I sense your piety, Count Hayek.”

"Now, stand up, squat down, and then stand up again."

"..."

"As you wish, Your Majesty."

Count Hayek, following Roth's instructions, trembled as he struggled to his feet, then crouched down deeply before rising again, albeit unsteadily.

His robes were tattered and he looked utterly disheveled. A considerable portion of them had even been peeled off during his repeated movements, revealing a somewhat dirty or torn lining.

Count Hayek, who was usually quite conscious of his image, now clearly had all his attention elsewhere, focused entirely on himself and on his sovereign.

Luo Xiu thought to himself.

This is true for the "Apostles of the Holy Abyss".

But that's still not enough—piety alone is not enough for Hayek to complete the task he would entrust to him.

“Turn around, Count Hayek,” Rosh gave Count Hayek a new command.

"...I will obey your will, Your Majesty."

Count Hayek responded humbly once again, turning away as his "Lord" had commanded.

Then, what appeared before him was an ancient dragon so enormous it blotted out the sky—

"Quisanx".

Luo Xiu raised his head and looked at Quesanx. His voice bypassed Count Hayek and went directly to the [authoritarian] demon god, to his dearest friend, the great ancient dragon Quesanx:

“Send down the miracle of [authoritarianism] to Count Hayek, and leave the mark of [authoritarianism] upon him, Quesanx.”

“—Roar.” Quesanx responded with a deep roar.

Then, the light above the "high sky" suddenly dimmed, and a gradually intensifying tremor began to emanate from beneath the earth. A heavy rumble, "boom boom boom—", came not only from above but also from below, violently shaking and accompanied by an increasingly intense surge of spiritual energy, descending upon Count Hayek.

Between Rosh and Quesanx, around Count Hayek, a huge, deep red pillar of light suddenly poured down when the intense spiritual energy reached its peak!

--boom!!!!!

Buzzing! Buzzing!
A tremendous roar and a ceaseless buzzing sound instantly echoed throughout the entire Authoritative Dragon Domain!
Countless crimson lights, carrying an aura of absolute heat, surged amidst the roar and buzzing, from which burst forth scorching thunder and unleashed gusts of destructive and ferocious storms. All these destructive and terrifying scenes erupted and appeared simultaneously around Count Hayek!

Even Luo Xiu felt that the air was filled with a kind of extremely high and heavy spiritual surge. The terrifying spiritual pressure made it difficult for Luo Xiu to breathe. In Luo Xiu's ears, he could also hear the roars of the ancient dragon, which sounded like even more violent thunder!
--boom!!!!!

Another deafening explosion, like the earth's mournful cry, followed. The crimson pillar of light, rising from both above and below, grew even more vibrant and bright, like burning scarlet—

Hayek was right in the center of that deep red pillar of light, enduring that terrifying spirituality and power, and also bearing the mark given by the power of Quesanx [authoritarianism]!
"—Aaaaaaaahh ...

But there was also excitement in that voice, as if both his physical eyes and his true consciousness deep within his soul had witnessed a scene that he could not resist, a scene that haunted his dreams—

The "demon" of [authoritarianism] is also the end of this destiny. Quesanx showed him—showed him what "divinity" is!
Boom! !

Buzz! !

The roaring and buzzing continued, as did the deep red light and the awe-inspiring images it gave rise to.

It wasn't until a certain moment that they gradually weakened, and the [authoritarian] demon god—Quisanx—regained his spirituality, allowing Luo Xiu to see Count Hayek again in the surging crimson light.

at this time.

On Count Hayek's body, all his already tattered clothes had been reduced to ashes under the baptism of the blazing dragon flames.

On his body—now Hayek—his entire skin was bright red, like red-hot iron just taken out of the furnace. As Quesanx's spirituality receded, the bright red color gradually cooled down, revealing one, ten, hundreds, thousands of scarlet burn marks that were still spreading.

Count Hayek was unharmed, but Quesanx had indeed left the mark of [authoritarianism] on him—those spreading scarlet burn marks were flowing regularly across Hayek's body, quickly forming totem-like patterns before disappearing deep into Hayek's body.

—The mark of authoritarianism.

A new status entry has appeared in Count Hayek's "Status" section.
——【The Mark of Authoritarianism (Stable, 29 days 23 hours): The dragon law mark personally bestowed upon the apostles of the destiny of “authoritarianism” by the “demon god” Quesanx.

受烙印的威权使徒“生命值”属性降低22％、“法力值”属性降低22％，“物理攻击”属性提升44％、“法术攻击”属性提升44％，“防御减免”属性提升44％。

Only once—an authoritative apostle branded by Quesanx may use the power granted by Him.

During the duration of the "Mark of Authority," the marked Authoritarian Apostles are protected by the Demon God of Authority, Quesanx, and are immune to most negative effects. Any spying or detection of an Authoritarian Apostle is considered an direct confrontation with the source of "Authority" and will be judged based on the attribute values ​​of the Demon God, Quesanx.

【…】

This is the [Mark of Authoritarianism] that appears in Count Hayek's panel, and its description is as follows:

This was exactly the effect Luo Xiu wanted.

it's OK now.

Now Count Hayek can go and complete the task entrusted to him.

“Turn around, Count Hayek.”

Luo Xiu spoke to Count Hayek in a low voice.

Count Hayek turned around somewhat stiffly—

Ash-white and dark red smoke was still rising from his body, like unburnt firewood. Count Hayek's face was contorted with pain, but also radiated the fervor and excitement of gaining new power.

His dark red pupils gradually opened, looking at Luo Xiu, and then he knelt down on the ground before Luo Xiu—

"Thank you, Lord, for allowing me to personally experience such fervor and witness such great power..."

Count Hayek's voice trembled slightly as he spoke to Rosius with humility, piety, and fervor:
"Give me revelation and guide me on my path! Tell me where I should go, Lord!"

"..."

“You should go back, Hayek.”

Luo Xiu spoke to Hayek in a slightly gentler, but still deep voice:

"You can go back now, Hayek."

“I will have the other ‘Apostles of the Holy Abyss’ escort you back to the capital, back to your uncle, Duke Hakkas.”

“Listen, Hayek, you don’t need to do anything else. Just stay by Duke Harkas’ side as before, and tell him everything you have witnessed and obtained in the [authoritarian] regime.”

"This is your only task now. Do you understand, Count Hayek?"

"..."

"I see."

Count Hayek lowered his head and prostrated himself before Rothschild.

“I will carry out your arrangements and obey your will in everything, Lord.”

“Very good, Count Hayek.” Rosh nodded.

A calm smile finally appeared on his face behind the mask, and his voice softened again as he said:

"Then go, Hayek."

“Intis, open the door for the Earl. Send him away from the Holy Abyss, and then give him his instructions on what he must do as an ‘Apostle of the Holy Abyss’.”

Indis had been waiting not far behind Luo Xiu until he called her again. She nodded in response, then took out the "key" and opened the vortex door once more.

……

After watching Indis and Count Hayek leave the Authoritative Dragon Domain, Luo Xiu's gaze turned to the other six sealed amber pieces.

"Crimson Warrior" Hatulaga was disassembled into six pieces and sealed in amber. When he awakened Hayek and gave him his mark and a new arrangement, Luo Xiu's spirituality had already examined Hatulaga's six remaining body pieces.

He confirmed the faint spiritual response of Haturag, the "Crimson Warlord." Reassured, Roshchu instructed Quesanx to rebury the six amber stones back into the earth.

Another tremor and roar followed as Haturag was buried back into the "earth" by Quesanx. Then, the master of the Dragon Realm lowered his dragon neck, his three-colored dragon eyes fixed on Luo Xiu, and let out a deep roar:

"……Roar."

[...Luo Xiu.]

What are your plans for staying here after that?

"..."

"Wait, Quesanx."

Luo Xiu removed the black-patterned puppet mask, and a calm smile appeared on his face under Quesanx's gaze.

His gaze was fixed on the cocoons not far away, on the cocoons radiating two completely different lights, pure white and pitch black, on the cocoons of the "angel" and the "devil".

"Join me and wait to witness the moment when they emerge from their cocoons and 'ascend'."

Luo Xiu smiled and said:

"It should be soon."

……

(End of this chapter)