Chapter 771: Fate Siphon
What item would a Snake of Fate be interested in? Klein slowly
sat up and leaned against a pillow.
He thought for some time and decided to consider it at a later date.
After all, he was still at least a month away from Will Auceptin's
birth. He could also leave the question for The Hermit Cattleya and
Queen Mystic Bernadette, who was backing her, to rack their brains over.
Of course, Klein didn't eliminate the possibility of Will Auceptin's
sudden choice of having an early birth.
He slowly turned his attention into creating a Worm of Time charm.
According to Will Auceptin's explanation, he had most of the conditions
required, but he was just short of the corresponding symbol.
*Pray to The Fool and use the powers of the mysterious space above the
gray fog... I wonder if a symbol corresponding to the Marauder pathway
would work... Even if it does, I don't know what it is. Unless I pull a
Marauder above the gray fog and let the high-back chair produce the
corresponding pattern...* As Klein thought about the details, he
suddenly had an idea.
In that case, perhaps he could try the symbol behind The Fool's chair!
It was the Pupil-less Eye, a symbol representing concealment, and the
Contorted Lines that represented change!
*I wonder if it will work... Divination won't be able to rule it out by
elimination, but I can predict if the attempt will be successful.
Besides, even if it fails, it shouldn't be too big a problem. After all,
I'm praying to myself. Even if the material were to be wasted in the
experiment, it would enter above the gray fog and not be
lost...* With this in mind, Klein felt pumped. He couldn't help
but get out of bed to try out the experiment that very night!
A material like the Worm of Time that's left behind by a Marauder
demigod at Amon's level still has its essence and level even if it's
dead. When using it for a charm, it might not reach the level of an
angel for various reasons, but it wouldn't be too far off. It'll be
about the peak strength of a Saint. If Klein succeeded, it would be
equivalent to having an additional trump card. At critical points in
time, it might give him an additional life. So how could he not be
excited and expectant!?
*I can only stir some of the powers of the mysterious space above the
gray fog. The level of the Worm of Time charm will likely drop a little
more. But regardless, it will definitely be like the Ninth Law given to
me by Admiral Amyrius... If I used the Blatherer's aura to create a
high-level charm in the Devil domain, it will likely be at the level of
the Ninth Law. Unfortunately, I wouldn't dare to pray to the Dark Side
of the Universe...* Klein wore his pajamas as he stood
barefooted. He walked took four steps counterclockwise on a thick carpet
as he chanted the incantation before entering above the gray fog.
Sitting at The Fool's seat at the end of the long bronze table, he
conjured a dark red fountain pen and yellowish-brown goatskin. He wrote
down the corresponding divination statement:
"The charm I'm about to begin making will be successful."
Unwinding the spirit pendulum from his wrist, Klein held it with his
left hand and entered the state of Cogitation.
After repeating the divination statement seven times, he opened his eyes
and saw the topaz spinning counterclockwise at a rather slow speed and
ordinary amplitude.
*This means that it will succeed... But that begs the question, will it
successfully verify that the symbol I use is effective, or successfully
verify that it doesn't work?* As an experienced Seer, Klein
attempted to interpret the revelation, but he failed to obtain any
confirmation.
With regards to that, he could only decide to experiment. There was no
way for him to eliminate the mistakes if he didn't do so.
Right on the heels of that, Klein wrote a new divination statement:
"The assassination of Mr. X this Friday will be dangerous."
This time, the topaz pendant continued spinning clockwise at a faster
frequency and greater amplitude.
*There's significant danger, but it doesn't reach the level of a
demigod's participation, much less that of a King of Angels... If it
involves an existence of that level, "He" will definitely sense my
divination and resist it... From the looks of it, Angel of Fate
Ouroboros will soon be led out of Backlund... This means that the danger
itself is a result of Mr. X and his subordinates. It's within the limits
of what I can handle... As long as I don't make a mistake, the chances
of success are pretty high...* Klein made a judgment, put down
the pen and paper, and returned to the real world.
As a mysticism expert who often created charms, he had no lack of common
materials. He immediately got out some candles and lit them on the
table. Following that, he set up a simple altar against the glow of
dusk. He then used a piece of silver to draw out the combined symbol
that represented The Fool.
As Klein didn't know what Path Number The Fool represented or what magic
labels there were, he could only ensure that both sides remained equal.
According to the books of charms he had read, these would similarly
satisfy the rules of mysticism, but the corresponding might would be
reduced. The chances of failure would rise because the existence that
one was praying to could consider it as being irreverent and not pious
enough. Of course, it wasn't a problem for Klein since he wouldn't
reject himself.
After completing the act of carving the symbol, Klein found a metal
bottle and used his spirituality together with a container, and he then
poured the mercury out and filled the carved out pattern.
This time, he decided to complete only the front side for now. He would
then summon himself and respond to himself. He would then bring the worm
with the twelve translucent rings back to the room and then place it on
a silver sheet.
After doing all of this, Klein adjusted the altar and took two steps
back. He then said in ancient Hermes, "The Fool that doesn't belong to
this era."
Following the process, he completed the necessary steps before taking
four steps counterclockwise and entered the space above the gray fog.
After imbuing himself with the Black Emperor card, he used his
spirituality to stir a tiny amount of the powers above the gray fog to
respond to his prayers.
While the surging energy poured into the circle of light, Klein didn't
hesitate to return to the real world. He saw the altar had turned dark
and gloomy, as though there were countless secrets hidden here. And the
silver sheet had already floated up, fusing with the Worm of Time's
corpse.
Klein took two steps forward, flipped the silver sheet around, and he
filled the carved symbol on the back with mercury.
As the lines lit up, they effused a hazy luster.
Klein rapidly retracted his arms and saw the luster grow richer. He then
enveloped the silver sheet and the Worm of Time's corpse inside.
Suddenly, the darkness around the altar distorted as the entire space
seemed to turn abnormal.
This change disappeared as fast as it came. The charms filled with
strange patterns slowly landed on the desk. It was entirely translucent
in color and was dark black. It was like a miniature card made out of a
special crystal. It also resembled the eyes of a particular existence
that was watching this world.
It succeeded! It really works! Klein was delighted as he
hurriedly picked up the charm. He found it cold to the touch as if he
was touching snow.
Regardless of the resulting effects of the charm, just its formation had
meant a success!
Klein had once again obtained a high-level charm at the demigod level!
He busied himself again, bringing the completed item above the gray fog.
He then used dream divination to figure out how to use it.
The charm which was in the shape of a black crystal card had only one
effect, but it was highly potent. It was to siphon off the luck of
others. And to be precise, it was to graft fate---a period of the
target's fate would be grafted onto the user!
*The simplest situation would be when an enemy is about to kill me, I'll
use this charm, siphoning off his fate of surviving, as well as grafting
the fate of impending death onto thim. Then, the situation would be
developed into him clearly succeeding, only for him to die... It does
match the Marauder pathway's usual traits, but it's more sinister and
terrifying... It's going from stealing wealth to stealing fate... If the
Worm of Time were alive, and I was able to fully employ the power of the
mysterious space above the gray fog, this charm might even point towards
the domain of time...* As Klein thought, he felt a sense of
fear.
If it wasn't for the assistance that this mysterious space had given him
by obstructing and purging things, he had no way to deal with a Worm of
Time!
*Phew, now it's mine... I can't call it a Worm of Time anymore. I'll
just call it Fate Siphon...* Klein once again got busy as he
brought back the Fate Siphon charm to the real world.
After dealing with the traces of the ritual, he gravely placed the
high-level charm into the iron cigar case, putting it together with
Azik's copper whistle and the Senor gold coin. He then sealed and
isolated the case with a wall of spirituality.
Being in a good mood, Klein didn't feel sleepy. He drew the curtains a
little and allowed the crimson moonlight to shine in, illuminating his
room with tranquility and silence.
While he was enjoying the scenery, he suddenly saw a figure sneak out
from Member of Parliament Macht's house as it approached amidst the
shadows.
It was none other than Hazel Macht. She once again headed for the
sewers, removed the manhole cover, climbed down, and didn't forget to
close the cover.
*Why is she always heading into the sewers? It's not likely for her to
be heading to other areas from here to act like a superhero in the
mysterious world. After all, each trip doesn't take her more than an
hour. Unless she has very reliable intelligence, it's difficult to
achieve anything. Besides, this will make it easy for her to be caught
by the official Beyonders... Together with the scene provided to me by
Arrodes, she's likely finding something... Hmm, it's very easy for her
to encounter danger if she keeps heading into the sewers...*
Klein stood behind the curtain gap as he observed what was happening
under the serene night.
He didn't attempt to warn Hazel or let the Wraith possess her to let her
understand the dangers of the Beyonder world. Firstly, this was because
he had quite a subjective view that Hazel's sense of superiority was due
to a result of her lacking knowledge in mysticism, so he couldn't be
sure. Secondly, he wasn't sure how she had obtained Beyonder powers and
a mystical item. Warning her out of gratitude for her kind deed earlier
would easily attract unwanted attention or even trouble.
After enjoying an evening of peace, Klein returned to bed and slept till
daybreak.
Before Richardson entered, he turned into Gehrman Sparrow and prayed to
The Fool:
"...I can accept the mission, but regardless of the outcome, I want a
stone from that bracelet of yours, as well as the ability to use that
spellbook of yours for some time.
"If it succeeds, all spoils of war will be mine. You can only take the
target's head.
"If required, you will need to provide assistance."