Chapter 288: Chapter 253: Human Refinement, Manual Guidance
The [Shaman Mask] symbolizes Death God Apuche of the Aztec civilization.
It was a Cursed Object born at the same time as the Bone Gnawing God during the destruction of Tarascan City, which Byron and his companions had once passed by.
Both carried the hatred of tens of thousands of city-state inhabitants against the invaders; one was a Curse Spirit, and the other was a Cursed Object.
As long as the recognized user chanted the last history of the city-state, full of blood and tears, they could utilize the mask’s four abilities: Divine Emblem, Spirit Medium, Hidden Barrier, and Soul Armor (Chapter 139).
Without this treasure, Bruh would not have so easily disguised himself as Pirate General Bill and, by a twist of fate, won the beauty for himself, subjugating that enchantingly seductive top Dancer, [Fairy] Rigel.
Among its abilities, the first, [Divine Emblem], allowed one to commune with Death God Apuche and borrow a portion of His Authority.
Once activated, thick black miasma burst forth from the mask, swiftly morphing into black feathers, a crown, and a feathered cloak, adding an additional layer of a shamanistic Wizard’s regalia to Byron’s Wild Hunt Knight figure.
But unlike Pirate General [Hook], who was killed by this Cursed Object and whose body grew full of sores and rotted flesh upon wearing the mask, this Authority belonging to the Aztec Death God was exceptionally Tame before Byron, like a loyal hound.
Obviously, the political structure of the Aztec Empire is entirely different from that of the Old Continent. The Emperor is not only the ruler of the people but also the Divine Son and the Great Shaman who communicates with the Gods. After successfully forging the [Golden Code] and nominally establishing the Sacred Golden Empire, his rule was explicitly confirmed to have threefold dominion over Heaven, Earth, and Man. He was the Emperor of both the living and the dead, and theoretically, the king of The Pantheon. Even if the entire Aztec Pantheon, starting from the [Skin Flayer], the god of tyranny, and all below him, has already been sacrificed to the [Thousand-Faced Serpent·Hydra], it doesn’t make me feel much like a Divine King. But my Rank in Mysticism still stands, and that is enough.
Byron’s Class had already reached the Third Order. Combined with the dignity of Emperor Aztec, he easily connected with that slumbering will.
The Authority of the Death God descended thunderously.
In his hands, the Knight’s Spear quietly emanated an ominous black glow.
In an instant, Velazquez, who was charging from across the field, no longer bore his former fearlessness. He felt his scalp tingle and his heartbeat slow by half a beat.
Even without knowing what ability Byron had used, an intense and real premonition of Death made the hairs on his body stand on end.
However, the charge from both sides was incredibly fast. The skeletal warhorse, unlike Byron, could not disregard inertia. How could Velazquez easily change his attack?
"AH!" With a shout, Velazquez leaped off his horse and plunged toward the ground, where a shadowy doorway simultaneously opened.
If he dashed into it, he would be instantly transported to Quasi-Sword Saint Herman’s side, allowing him to narrowly escape disaster.
In the next moment, his body indeed lunged into the shadowy door, but he did not make it completely through.
Byron swept by at high speed. His Knight’s Spear, wrapped in a fierce wind, sliced off both of Velazquez’s legs at the thigh, and they fell to the ground with a THUD.
Arterial blood sprayed wildly. Clearly, his Undying Body had not taken effect this time.
Even the card with the Bone Gnawing God painted on it shattered on the spot, returning the ability of the Undying Body to the Curse Spirit in the void—a spirit that bore a deadly grudge against the People of Castilia.
A moment later, a horrifying scream rose from another corner of the battlefield. Velazquez’s face turned deathly pale as he desperately clutched his severed legs, having fallen out of the shadowy door.
"Governor!"
"Defend, defend!"
Quasi-Sword Saint Herman and Velazquez’s Governor’s Guard immediately regrouped, disregarding the attacks from Byron’s side at their rear, and encircled Velazquez protectively.
Another golden card flew out, activating [Life Stimulus], a healing spell he had acquired through Deceit from a [Raven Doctor]. This barely managed to stem the arterial bleeding.
The Battle once again returned to a standoff.
After such a long fight, even with the protection of cursed Gold Coins, the Governor’s Guard had still shrunk by a third.
They owed this to the cleverness of the soldiers, who had stuffed the Gold Coins directly into their mouths or even swallowed them outright.
Although each man’s body grew increasingly mangled, to the point where they no longer needed makeup to play a ghost, this ultimately did not further increase their casualties.
Their personnel losses were mainly from attacks by enchanted weapons like the [Sun Holy Sword].
With a larger number of pirate officers and fresh reinforcements recently conscripted from the Barbary Pirates, Byron’s [Wings of Death] fared much better.
As for Octopus Man Little Eight, who was eager to prove himself despite his incompetence, he sought to sharpen his multi-style swordsmanship in live combat and ended up losing several tentacles in the process.
"My legs—! Damn you, Mad Hunt, don’t get cocky! I haven’t lost yet."
Just as Velazquez, sweat beading on his forehead and his composure shattered, prepared to reveal his final trump card without holding back.
Seemingly sensing its master’s desire for bodily integrity and Victory, the "Faustian Contract," with its black background and red letters, automatically floated to his side.
A small, pure black figure with horns on its head and thin, cicada-like wings on its back, but no facial features, emerged from it and began to flit around him.
This was the [Evil Spirit·Contract Devil], born from Flint’s dark, Fallen side.