For extraordinary beings at the demigod level, whose souls have grown strong and undergone a qualitative transformation, consciousness can linger for a period even after death—unless deliberately disrupted by enemies. If the deceased high-ranking being harbors strong yearnings or unresolved emotions toward certain matters, his enduring will persists longer, gradually blending the surrounding area with the spiritual and even the underworld realms, eventually transforming him into a malevolent spirit. Thus, although Colin Iliath's presence has already faded, he—wearing a tattered silver armor, seated at the very highest tier of the ancient god's steps—still hears Deric's low cry, turns his head, and gazes at the young demigod, smiling and saying, "To die here, alongside Loviya, is a fortune compared to the past elders." Upon hearing this, Deric opens his mouth to speak, yet feels something pressing upon his chest, blocking the flow of words. Not far away, Caine raised the "Staff of Stars," attempting to recreate Will. Aonsedt's "Restart" to save Colin. Iliad, but after several failed attempts, the ability he finally succeeded in using failed to reverse the situation—its effect seemed notably weaker than the original, and it involved an element of "uniqueness": Amun was the original embodiment, having descended. Now, he is dead, unable even to undergo the process of becoming a spectral duplicate, and can only be considered a potential spirit of malice. Yet, spirit of malice that retains human qualities is exceedingly rare—Sasiriel, the "Dark Angel," himself has not managed it. The only exception is the "Red Angels," Medici, and the three of them, but even that occurred only after they left their territory and visited the port of Banxi. It seems this chief is reluctant to embrace this path. For the people of Silver City, becoming a spirit of malice is an unquestionable curse. Caine sighed quietly, shifting his gaze to other areas, observing the palace of the Giant King now free from shadow. Colin Iliad studied Deric's face and sighed, beginning, "This time, you are officially a member of the Six-Body Council. I know that, relative to your age, this is a significant responsibility. But every citizen of Silver City is always ready to shoulder the fate of the community." "With that, Colin Iliad looked up at Gelmann Sparo and gave a gentle nod. "From today on, all citizens of Silver City may freely convert to the 'Fool'." Dariq remained calm, simply nodding to indicate he understood. Colin Iliad then turned his gaze away, his face now bearing a clear sense of weariness, infused with solemnity and a touch of bitterness. "This secret is connected to Silver City's second divine seal. It is called 'The Gift of the Earth.'" Dariq wiped his eyes with his arm, listening intently to the chief's account. Colin Iliad sighed and continued: "Thanks to this, black-faced grass has flourished around Silver City, allowing us not to completely succumb during the Age of Deep Darkness..." Dariq's pupils slightly widened, and a sense of relief settled in his heart. He remembered clearly that the general education textbook regarded the discovery of the black-faced grass as a pivotal turning point in the history of Silver City, asserting that without this safe, nourishing staple food, Silver City might have become a paradise for monsters long ago. At that moment, Darien recalled many things and finally understood why the mushrooms in Silver City had undergone such a dramatic enlargement—something that differed from the original description. Colin Iliad's gaze swept over his face, and his voice suddenly deepened: "It is precisely because of this that we have inherited the curse—only those killed by direct relatives escape becoming dreadful spirits. 'Abundance,' comes at a cost." Darien's expression froze instantly. The murder of his parents remained a wound in his heart that would never heal. He had always attributed the corresponding curse to this land, forsaken by the gods. But now, the Chief tells him the truth is different—the curse stems from the very food they depend on! Colin Iliad, his hair white and his demeanor weary, blinked slightly, as though remembering the parents, siblings, sons, and daughters he had himself killed—his father, mother, brother, sister, eldest son, youngest son, daughter, and grandson. His voice grew hazy: "Lovyra once said that after leaving the Silver City, a warrior who died did not transform into a malevolent spirit. At the time, I did not tell her this was the truth, because the 'gift of the land' extended widely, and most people who were dying could not leave the affected regions in time. This is the secret known only to each Chief. I have tirelessly explored and fought, hoping that those who come after will never have to endure such suffering." The senior official of Silver City, clearly showing signs of age, slowly exhaled, not giving Dariq a chance to make a promise, and then, as though remembering something, said: "Also, the records of the 'Salvation Rose' within the palace cannot be entirely trusted." Hm? Caine paused his inspection of the surroundings, while Dariq looked slightly puzzled. Colin Iliad added solemnly: "The 'Mother Goddess of the Earth' cannot be the giant queen Omibeira. Omibeira has already passed away; her remains are preserved right here in Silver City—she is the very 'Gift of the Earth'..." That... Caine's eyes widened in astonishment, a cold chill rising behind his back. The true queen of the giants had already died in Silver City, becoming a sealed entity. Then, who is the current 'Mother Goddess of the Earth'? ... Within that dark 'realm' dotted with moons and night-scented jasmine, the long sword of the黄昏 giant struck against the heavy, dark great sickle, halting mid-air. In the darkness, half-destroyed by the fierce divine battle, time seemed to have stalled. Whether the giants clad in decaying armor, bathed in the golden hues of dusk, or the humanoid wolf-mages dressed in starry gowns with six arms, stood still as if part of an oil painting, frozen in their previous poses. Yet, at the back of the dusk giant, a deep-brown staff had been inserted, violently drawing life from the gods, dragging the other toward the earth, toward the embrace of their mother. This deep-brown staff was held by the lady of ample, giantess form, forming a picture of autumn with the withering flowers, grasses, and mushrooms constantly fading from her body. The dusk giant slowly turned her head toward the lady who cradled a phantom infant in one hand, and with a voice strained by pain, she spoke: "Ly, Ly, Sil?" At that moment, the "Majestic Wolf," wearing a gown adorned with stars and possessing a human female head, chuckled softly, allowing her golden bird-shaped ornament to fly out of her hands and precisely insert itself into the crevices of the黄昏 giant's facial mask. Then, she tossed the "Crimson Moon" she was holding in her other hands to the plump lady. The very next second, part of the黄昏 giant's body collapsed, and clumps of warm, orange-hued twilight poured through the serene darkness, settling back into the real world. Some fell upon the battlefield, killing countless soldiers outright; others crushed mountains, creating lakes that caused all living beings to age; some fused with fortunate creatures, transforming them into wild and powerful monsters; others enveloped the Twilight Hall outside the holy city of Saint-Milon, extinguishing its once-still, vibrant orange glow. At the tranquil church outside the Ammandar Mountains, where Father Vessak, along with the angels Indis and others, were besieging the mythical beings known as the "Divine Evils" Seara, a sudden sense of awareness seemed to ripple through the scene, causing all combat to pause. On the towering black trees, each bearing arms like limbs, the numerous black-and-white eyes, veined with blood, blinked once—immediately, the "Divine Evil" Seara stepped into the void and vanished into the realm of spirits. In a small, unremarked church outside Becland. A humble priest, dressed in a simple white robe and sporting a light golden beard, opened his eyes, revealing a childlike clarity and simplicity. He calmly took from his chest a bottle of golden-hued potion, opened the cap, and poured the liquid into his mouth. ... The war thus came to an end. If Audrey had not witnessed it firsthand and felt it personally, she would never have believed the war ended so simply. After the deep night swallowed up the orange-hued evening and then gradually receded, the "Silver Knight" before her seemed to suffer a profound psychological blow, even though he had recovered his strength—hesitant, bewildered, and somewhat embarrassed, he withdrew without further attack. Likewise, the angels and saints within the allied forces of Foscar and Intis began to flee one after another, and the army, composed mainly of the extraordinary beings, could not hold together and began to collapse. Yet on the Roon side, the half-gods, mid- and lower-tier extraordinary beings, and ordinary soldiers did not attempt to pursue, for they too were filled with the same confusion, bewilderment, and disbelief. Audrey walked back into the city and saw survivors from Beckett one after another stepping out of their homes, shelters, and other places of refuge, gazing at the scene as if at a primordial forest. They did not cheer, shout, or vent their frustrations. Their expressions were blank, their eyes wide with confusion—unable to comprehend why the disaster had suddenly ended. Among them were many who had once received aid from the charitable fund, and several faces she recognized, yet their condition remained much the same as when they had previously lined up to receive food. Audrey silently observed this scene, walking all the way to the Queen's District and back to her own villa. She saw her father, mother, eldest brother, butler, male servant, and female housemaid all gazing out the windows with the same bewilderment as the citizens on the streets. For no reason at all, a single phrase suddenly flashed through her mind: "Unknown who caused the death, unknown why life resumed." ……… A warm orange dusk calmed the storm of frequent lightning, sinking into the deep blue ocean without a bottom, nearly concealing the "Dawn" vessel. The Queen of Mysteries, Bernadette, promptly activated her other "0"-level seal, saving the ship from a terrible disaster. Her brow slightly furrowed, as though sensing something imminent, she soon relaxed, urging the "Dawn" to press on through the unsafe waters, battling against gales, towering waves, lightning, sea monsters, and all manner of perils. In the dark, Bernadette's gaze seemed to pierce through every obstacle, seeing the light she longed to pursue. No matter how many obstacles arose, she would not cease drawing closer. ……… On the steps glowing with orange light within the palace of the Giant King. After sharing her secret with Dric, Bernadette said: "Go open that door—I'd like to see what the outside sunlight looks like..." "Ah, yes!" Derek's eyes glistened once more, his lips pressed tightly together as he stood up. He set down the great hammer in his hands, then, under Klein's encouraging gaze, moved steadily past the dark iron throne and reached the gray-blue gate depicting a sunset. Derek gazed at it for a moment, bent low, and placed his hands on either side of the doorframe. Then, drawing strength from his muscles, he pushed with firm resolve. In that instant, he seemed to see his father and mother, his fallen comrades Joshua and Antilena, and Lovira in her purple-and-black robe, and Colin Iliad with his white hair—all standing beside him, placing their hands on the door and pushing it together with him. Droplets of water slipped down Derek's face, and a steady, heavy sound of creaking filled his ears. A narrow crack appeared, allowing golden sunlight to stream through. The gap grew wider, and a vast sea shimmering with golden light gradually came into view for Deric, and also for Colin Iliat. Witnessing this scene, bathed in warm sunlight, with his body slowly "evaporating," Colin Iliat's lips gently curled, revealing a smile free of any cloud of gloom, and a quiet yearning. Light is everything. (End of Book Six) (End of this chapter) 1276. Summary of Book Six, also a leave request and a plea for a monthly pass Summary of Book Six, also a leave request and a plea for a monthly pass The hundred and sixteenth chapter of Book Six, for me, has met my expected standard in overall completion. When I spoke about the narrative peak occurring in Book Six, I emphasized "peak" rather than "crescendo"—and I laughed, because at that time I was clearly aware that both momentum and intensity would fall short. Most fundamentally, I felt the need for a strong sense of impact, and I could clearly sense this joy in my writing when Amun mentioned Chernobyl and when the Chief revealed that Ombela had already passed away. Concurrently, the number of pre-orders surpassed sixty thousand, reaching its highest point in the entire series—particularly in the Amun section, which peaked at sixty-three thousand. As for the Ombela chapter, since the summary was completed just under twenty-four hours before the upload, I couldn’t provide a final figure; however, I did know that within one hour of uploading, pre-orders had already reached thirty-two thousand.