When the plot-skips players into the game world-Chapter 462 - 363: Return to Glass Island

Aiwass did not engage in deep Shepherd’s Nurturing with the Shadow Demon on the train.

It wasn’t for safety considerations — in most areas of Avalon, even if Aiwass were unconscious, Lily and the Shadow Demon alone would be sufficient to protect him.

The main reason was that the train was a public place, and it was inconvenient to do many things there.

When one is in pain and fear yet has only compassion and good intentions in their heart, they can strengthen the element of "Dedication" and thus enhance the effects of the Nurturing Skill.

But if the room, which was so nice, would be covered in blood everywhere, that would be truly inconvenient for others.

Besides, if there was too much commotion, it might even call the waiting attendant into the room. By that point, it could give them quite a scare, or possibly even expose the existence of the Nurturing Skill.

Taking into account the need to maintain silence, Aiwass tried for the first time to discard the Ritual Dagger — and bit directly through his wrist with his own teeth, nearly severing it. Since Aiwass could make the blood flow unceasingly from his wrist, it meant he had bitten through the artery.

This growing sense of fear as one approaches death, biting oneself resolutely despite the heart’s resistance, was in sheer pain alone, far less than gripping the Ritual Dagger tightly and carving the blade into bone. After all, the phrase "pain etched into one’s bones" was not just an empty saying.

However, biting through one’s own wrist with teeth, which were much blunter than the Ritual Dagger, undoubtedly required a stronger will.

— So, which effect would be better if the Nurturing Skill was stimulated with the same degree of compassion and good intentions?

By observing the Shadow Demon’s reaction, Aiwass got confirmation.

This way was better.

Compared to "pain," using good intentions to suppress "fear" and "resistance" is the key that is closer to the core.

Aiwass gradually understood.

— That doesn’t mean the Ritual Dagger can’t be used.

It just needs to be a blunter knife! Initially, he had chosen a too-sharp Ritual Dagger to ensure that he could pierce into the bones by gripping tightly, but this actually went against the essence of the Nurturing Skill because, in his subconscious, he was still choosing a "more convenient, more comfortable" tool.

What if I directly pierce my hands through my abdomen or heart; would the effects be better?

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... The only problem is that my fingers don’t seem to be that strong.

Also, because this time it was only feeding on some snacks, Aiwass’s mental state was still quite good. Not even one third of a candle had burned down, and Aiwass had ended the nurturing and then used the Fire Rite Skill to heal his wounds.

"Is it my imagination?"

Aiwass, back in his original form, lay on the bed and held the Shadow Demon, now a black cat, on his legs.

He asked with some skepticism, "Why do I feel like you’ve gotten stronger?"

"That’s because of master’s kindness~"

The pitch-black little cat, like a hole with eyes, made a sweet, cloying sound resembling Assassin Miss Croix’s voice.

"To be honest," Aiwass interrupted without mercy.

"Tch."

The Shadow Demon clicked her tongue and stopped speaking in that pinched voice.

She switched to Miss Beyard’s mature and cold voice, completely different from Croix’s: "It began with the promotion ceremony."

Aiwass immediately guessed something: "Is it because you consumed your past selves?"

Miss Beyard, in her last promotion ceremony, devoured herself as the vampire Beyard and also consumed herself as the newly born Shadow Demon, who still bore the Mark of Sin as the embodiment of wrath.

The other two Beyards willingly sacrificed themselves, perhaps inadvertently fulfilling the conditions of some ritual.

After all, three is a sacred number, which belongs to the domain of the Candle Master. And the Candle Master is the God of Thorns Bound, the God Who Burns Body and Pursues Darkness, inherently bearing the holy concept of taking on sins and self-sacrifice for others.

Thinking of this, Aiwass suddenly became interested: "Did you regain the Brand of Jealousy then?"

The Mark of Sin is the embodiment of the core strength of a Fallen Celestial Marshal.

It could transform humans or elves of the Material Realm into demons that can freely enter and leave the Dream Realm. This was undoubtedly a power very close to the source. Additionally, demons granted with a Mark of Sin only need to continue cultivating their own sins to constantly become stronger, evolving upwards along the same sin brand — and based on their own race, their power level cap could fluctuate all the way from fifty to seventy.

But on the other hand, if a demon became "aware" and was no longer entangled by its Mark of Sin... Just like Miss Beyard, who had completely ceased to rage, it would also lose the potential to become stronger.

A demon, without the Mark of Sin, cannot evolve.

The Shadow Demon from hundreds of years ago and the one summoned by Aiwass showed no difference in power, except for the obvious gap in combat experience.

However, after a brief Silence, the Shadow Demon finally gave an answer, "Yes, I have reacquired the Mark of Sin."

"...But it’s not [Rage]."

"What is it?" Aiwass asked.

"—It’s [Jealousy]."

Even though the Shadow Demon’s expression couldn’t be seen, it seemed that its current expression must also be quite subtle, "I have received the Brand of Jealousy... If nothing unexpected happens, I might be the only Shadow Demon to have ever done so."

"No wonder."

Aiwass nodded thoughtfully.

He had felt that the Shadow Demon’s rise in strength was much faster than before.

With the same amount of mana, the growth rate of the Shadow Demon was significantly slower than that of the Little Butterfly.

The Shadow Demon, at the Sixth Power Level and with the Mark of Sin regained, had restored its full strength as an Upper-Level Demon and unlocked its potential for growth, now capable of evolving into a Superior Phantom.

Although the subsequent growth path might differ subtly from the previous one, and even after evolution, it could become an entirely new demon. After all, "Rage" and "Jealousy" are definitely not the same, and a Shadow Demon bearing the sin of jealousy... This may well be the only one in the world. Discover more stories at novelbuddy

"How far do you feel you are from the Sixth Power Level?"

Aiwass asked the Shadow Demon carefully, "If you were to receive Shepherd’s Nurturing of this scale every day, how long would you need to reach the Sixth Power Level?"

"I am already not far from the Sixth Power Level, my Master."

The Shadow Demon quickly responded, "I think, at most, it would take two weeks."

"Good, I understand."

Aiwass nodded slightly and decided to allocate more resources to the Shadow Demon this month.

—Then, it was almost time to start preparing the Shadow Demon’s seal.

The most powerful Shepherd’s Nurturing would be used to help the Shadow Demon break through its racial limits.

Once the Shadow Demon evolved, it should obediently go into the card.

As Aiwass thought this, he hugged the black cat and slowly drifted off to sleep.

When he woke up again, the train had already arrived at Glass Island.

Because Aiwass’s return this time was a spur-of-the-moment decision, he hadn’t informed anyone, so there was no one to greet them.

Noble Red was dead, and the school was on holiday. So Aiwass returned to his true home after a long absence.

It was not 14 Roning Street, but Moriarty Manor in the White Queen District.

Aiwass had not been back for a long time.

Lily pulled out the keys and unlocked the gate; they strolled along the gravel path leading from the front gate to the main entrance. The gardens on both sides were well-maintained, flourishing even in winter.

Snowdrops, white narcissus, pink month roses, red roses. They were carefully arranged, giving off a warm and comfortable feeling.

"Good afternoon, Professor Sorensen. It’s been a long time."

Aiwass greeted the elderly gardener with a smile.

And the old man nodded back at the future head of the Moriarty Family with a smile in return.