Chapter 411: Nothing To Fear!
Chapter 411: Nothing To Fear!
Fitch breathed a sigh of relief when he saw Michael nod.
Since Ji Zhixiu's birthday banquet, at the time Haniel was severely injured by Boss Lin and the Chronos Butterfly imploded, Fitch, due to the modifications that Raziel had previously done to him, became the most suitable vessel. It was also these serious injuries inflicted by Boss Lin onto Haniel that allowed Fitch to assess Haniel's memories.
And Fitch, who had gained Haniel's memories, naturally assumed Haniel's aura and identity as well.
Just gaining that identity alone wasn't enough. Those Clockwheel Worms that roamed countless timelines sensed Haniel's aura in the absence of a leader and thus submitted to Fitch. Now, Fitch had completely become 'Haniel.'
Fitch had seen a large amount of Haniel's memories, including her memories as a Clockwheel Worm, the memory of joining the Path of the Flaming Sword, and the memories of slaughtering humans and manipulating time.
Fitch, who had assimilated everything, was now at a loss, for he had previously just been a nameless experimental subject of the Path of the Flaming Sword. He was someone that could be discarded at any time, yet overnight, he had gained fearsome transcendent abilities that could surpass the current dimensions.
Fitch recalled the book Lin Jie had previously given him—Nest of Malevolent Chaos.
Why had Boss Lin given him a book to such an insignificant person like himself? It was known that people with great repute like Ji Bonong, Wilde, and Joseph... paid a high price to obtain a book, so Fitch wondered why he had gotten one for himself that easily.
What can I give in return?! Fitch was deep in thought.
However, he had already assumed Haniel's identity and had begun trying to manipulate time. When he browsed through the past, he was shocked.
Perhaps this is Boss Lin's intention!
On the one hand, he got Joseph and Wilde to fight, yet nonchalantly brought the Clockwheel Worm to Ji Zhixiu's banquet for two reasons. First, was to manipulate time and decide the outcome of the battle between Joseph and Wilde from afar. Second, was to draw Haniel over.
On the other hand, despite Haniel being so blatantly disrespectful to him, Boss Lin didn't kill her but left her hanging on for dear life. There are two objectives for this as well. The first was to have Haniel affect the battle between Joseph and Wilde after the reversal of time to tilt the outcome.
And the second objective was... me!
Speaking to such an ordinary and insignificant person like me at the beginning, giving me a book, and providing guidance... All of this was done preemptively, because he had seen that I could serve as Haniel's vessel and infiltrate into the Path of the Flaming Sword's inner circle! It's all to lay the groundwork for destroying the Path of the Flaming Sword!
No wonder the book he gave me is titled Nest of Malevolent Chaos. It's for the sake of provoking evil thoughts and stirring up strife to lead the Path of the Flaming Sword that just aligned together toward its death!
The battle between Joseph and Wilde wasn't just a frivolous whim of a divine entity—it was a threat to deter the Path of the Flaming Sword and the central administration!
It is to tell everyone that the true god has returned!
Boss Lin's scheme is simply a series of intertwined plans within plans, lacking any loopholes. If he hadn't already seen the past and future as an omniscient master, how could he have made the whole of Norzin dance in the palm of his hand?
Fitch, who reckoned he had figured it all out, was sweating profusely. His legs were trembling, on the verge of buckling. He couldn't help being in awe and admiration at Boss's Lin's might.
Moreover, Boss Lin wouldn't take the initiative to act since he was so benevolent. Therefore, Fitch's task right now was to instigate the Path of the Flaming Sword to anger Boss Lin so that 'He' could eliminate all these cancerous tumors.
Fitch was confident that his conjecture was correct, and as expected, Zaphkiel, who replaced Sandalphon as the new liaison of the Path of the Flaming Sword, found him and invited him to this first united gathering of the founding members of the Path of the Flaming Sword.
——
Far away, in the void space constructed by Zaphkiel that made it impossible to distinguish reality from fantasy, the sea breeze blowing on Michael's face made him sober up a little. He had gotten a little hotheaded after hearing the urging from 'Haniel,' but he quickly calmed himself down.
Michael said in earnest, "Haniel, if your information is indeed accurate, then we should unite and take action. What do you think our chances of winning are?" Michael had a thorough understanding of human aesthetics, but unfortunately, his beautiful face was striking beyond the ordinary thresholds of human aesthetics that it appeared somewhat oppressive.
Fitch, who had gained Haniel's memories, easily assumed Haniel's arrogant personality. Moreover, he had been the only one to survive after clashing with the bookstore owner, so he had great credibility.
"A hundred percent!" he affirmed. "Boss Lin is nothing to be feared!"
Michael fell silent.
"But," Fitch continued when he noticed Michael was still indecisive, "do you all know about Raziel's situation?"
"Yes," Metatron, who was like a huge mass of cotton floating in the air, spoke up. "From my observations, Raziel has completely severed all connections with the Path of the Flaming Sword. I wasn't able to clearly see what the bookstore owner did to Raziel, but Raziel's logical thought has already ceased."
"He can be regarded as dead, but he is still working at the Truth Union," said Metatron doubtfully. "It's hard to imagine why the strongest mind in this world would stop thinking."
"So, the bookstore owner has a way to control people. Since he's able to manipulate Raziel, we can naturally assume that he has the ability to manipulate anyone that has come in contact with him. Perhaps there might be a mole among us!"
Michael's eyes narrowed. "Are you suggesting that you might be one?"
Fitch didn't flinch and instead revealed a provocative expression. "Of course, all of you can suspect me, but I reckon that, now that the enemy is at the gate, those who are still hesitating are more likely to be the traitors."
"Michael, it's unlike you to be so indecisive. Perhaps you've already been altered by the bookstore owner?" said the tall, lanky Zadkiel.
"Nonsense!" Michael glared at him, but Zadkiel didn't get mad and instead let out a throaty laugh.
Fitch didn't say anything more. Nest of Malevolent Chaos had been given to him by Boss Lin because it granted him the ability to incite evil and strife. Conflicts would automatically arise when everyone had doubts.
"Now, Michael, will you give the order? We won't succeed in our goal if we don't get rid of the bookstore owner," said Zaphkiel.
"My line of thought is that it is impossible for the Central District not to know about Joseph and Wilde's battle. We first wait for those old things in the Central District's central administration to make their move so we can see Lin Jie's true power.
"Even we can beat those bunch of old things in the Central District. They are just an arrogant bunch that lean on the achievements of their forebears. They wouldn't even be a match for this Boss Lin, and it would just be giving that bookstore owner a chance for more preparation."
"We cannot afford to wait," said Fitch.
The seeds of "Nest of Malevolent Chaos" had been completely sown. Now they were beginning to take root and sprout.
"Or should I say," Fitch tilted his head and continued, "you don't care how many of my kind I sacrifice just to escape and merely see us as tools."
"What are you trying to say, Haniel!" Michael raised the red cross in his hand and pointed it at Fitch, exclaiming, "I see you all as compatriots, and we have a common ideal, don't we?"
But in truth, Fitch hadn't been wrong. Michael didn't care whether his fellow angels lived or died, like Raziel or Sandalphon. All he wanted was to reach the dream realm.
But when Fitch said it so bluntly, he had no choice but to deny it with all his might.
"Then go and avenge me and seek redress for everyone!" Once Fitch finished saying that, the other silent compatriots nodded in agreement.
This time, it seemed as if Michael was walking on a thin tightrope.
Each of these members of the Path of the Flaming Sword was incredibly powerful, and it wasn't easy to unite them. That was why the Path of the Flaming Sword's founding members had always operated on their own.
Also, Haniel's personality had always been vile and arrogant, so Michael didn't suspect anything was off from 'Haniel's' instigations.
Michael was no ordinary existence, for he was able to lead the whole Path of the Flaming Sword, and he knew that even if he refused this time, everyone would still probably agree, although the seed of rebellion would probably have been sown.
Although he was still hesitant and doubtful, Michael clenched his fist and sighed inwardly. He made a decision, gazed at his compatriots, and said, "In that case, let's find an opportunity to strike the bookstore together."