Chapter 177

177: Take Off That Mask!

"Magical ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍dirty bomb! No good!"

Evelia ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍instantly realized what this somewhat deranged Descent Faction member before her intended to do. He had magically transformed some of his own organs into a magical bomb and planned to self-destruct using this method.

When ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍facing powerful enemies they couldn't defeat, many mages with stubborn tempers would choose to detonate their own magic power and go out with a bang. But this method had a drawback: if the opponent's strength utterly overwhelmed yours, you might not even be able to self-destruct in their presence.

But ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍later, some genius invented this nasty thing called a magical dirty bomb. Once activated, the magic flow inside would enter an irreversible state, fundamentally solving the problem of not being able to explode when you wanted to take your enemy down with you.

To ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍this day, this magic has maintained a perfect user rating. Basically every mage who has used it has given it a positive review by default.

However, ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍the process of transforming one's own internal organs into a magical dirty bomb was extremely painful. One could say only madmen would use this method to attack enemies.

But unfortunately, what Evelia was facing right now was exactly that kind of madman.

"Let... go!"

Evelia wanted to retreat with An An, but that Descent Faction man was tightly gripping her ankle. No matter how much she kicked, he refused to let go.

The situation was getting bad...

With Evelia's physical constitution, she absolutely couldn't withstand a magical dirty bomb explosion at such close range. The same went for An An, who was an ordinary child!

But the problem was that the magical dirty bomb was about to explode, and the distance was too close. She couldn't even pull out her shotgun, and using the magic grenades she carried would actually stimulate the magical dirty bomb and accelerate the explosion process.

"Damn Demon Princess! You cannot escape... the range of my magical dirty bomb! Hohoho aaah! Cult Leader! This is my final dirty bomb..."

Before he could finish speaking, a pitch-black sword light suddenly flashed through the air. The head of the Descent Faction member, who had been shouting maniacally, flew high into the air. His body, which had been tightly gripping Evelia's ankle, also went limp and collapsed into the blood pool.

"The enemy of my enemy is my friend. Is that acceptable reasoning?"

A familiar, somewhat hoarse voice came from not far away. Evelia looked up and saw that cloaked figure from yesterday, standing atop a pile of corpses with a pitch-black sword in hand.

It was that mysterious figure who could use Death Magic and had fought to a draw with Noren!

"You..."

Evelia was still in shock. This person had saved her twice now, but their identity remained a complete mystery.

"Long time no see, former Executor."

The cloaked figure shifted her gaze to Lina, who had already pulled out several Black Keys, and spoke in a calm tone.

"And the angel too. I didn't expect to see you here."

"You know me?"

Amya frowned slightly. She didn't remember ever meeting this person before.

"The Church keeps records of all the angels who have descended to the mortal realm. You're quite famous, you know."

The cloaked figure didn't explain much, simply stating this fact. Then she turned her attention back to Evelia.

"You should leave this place. That man's death has already been detected. More enemies will arrive soon."

"Wait! At least tell me who you are!"

Evelia wanted to stand up and question her, but her legs, soaked in the blood pool, were too weak to support her body. The earlier healing magic had already drained most of her energy, and now she didn't even have the strength to stand.

"Don't come any closer!"

Amya, seeing the cloaked figure seemed to be approaching, immediately became alert. She stepped forward, tightly gripping the golden bow in her hand, carefully positioning herself between Evelia and the figure.

"We... are not enemies."

The cloaked figure spoke slowly. Her voice was still as low and hoarse as last night, revealing no indication of gender.

Amya was about to respond, but to her surprise, Lina, who had been behind her, suddenly walked out without a word and went straight up to the cloaked figure.

Then she heard Lina's voice, filled with anger.

"Stop with this mysterious act! Jasmine! Take off that mask right now!!!"

"???" ×3

That one sentence not only left Evelia and Amya dumbfounded, but even the cloaked figure standing before Lina was stunned.

After a long silence, she finally spoke again.

But this time, her tone was clearly much weaker.

"You've mistaken me for someone else. I'm not..."

"Do you believe that if you keep up this mysterious act, I'll immediately cut off all sisterly ties with you!?"

Lina's voice was filled with anger and certainty. She stared intently at the crimson eyes behind the cloaked figure's mask, as if trying to see straight through her.

"..."

Finally, the cloaked figure sighed and ultimately gave in. She slowly removed the silver-white mask from her face.

A face that Evelia and Amya found incredibly familiar immediately appeared before everyone's eyes.

"Miss Jasmine! Is it really you?"

Evelia was so shocked by the scene before her that her jaw dropped. Apart from her hair color and eye color being different from Jasmine's normal state, that face was exactly the same!

"What... what's going on?"

Amya was also dumbfounded. She looked at Jasmine, whose expression was clearly somewhat dejected, then at Lina, whose face was full of anger. She instantly felt that the scene before her had truly exceeded her brain's capacity to process.

"Wait, could it be that dual-attribute magic..."

Evelia suddenly remembered that when she had observed Jasmine using Soul Gaze before, she had detected a black magic power within her that was different from ordinary people. But no matter how she thought about it, she never imagined that black magic power would be the mark of Death Magic!

And what was with her hair and eye color changes? It wasn't as if dual-attribute mages had never existed before, but she had never heard of switching magic attributes also changing one's physical appearance!

"Jasmine! No matter what, you must explain everything to me today!"

"What's with the Death Magic? What's with Father? And what's going on with your body?"

"Lina..."

"And! What is the truth about what happened back then!?"

Facing Lina's angry interrogation, Jasmine's presence clearly weakened several degrees. She responded somewhat timidly:

"I... I did it to protect you..."

"Even now, you're still using this excuse to..."

"I can prove it!"

Hearing Jasmine's answer, Lina was about to erupt, but just then, a voice that no one expected interrupted her words.

"I can prove that Jasmine did indeed do those things to protect you."

Sauron's figure slowly emerged from behind the pile of corpses. The moment they saw him, whether it was Evelia or Lina, or even Jasmine herself, everyone's expressions changed.

"Saint, this appearance of yours is quite rare!"

As soon as he appeared, Sauron smiled and stroked his beard, speaking to Jasmine with a hint of teasing.

"Lord? Heh, I wouldn't dare accept that..."

Jasmine looked at Sauron with a complex expression, then asked in return.

"What should I call you? Mr. Sauron? Cardinal Zophi? Or... Father?"