The eccentric doctor never makes a misdiagnosis!

Page 236

While it's true that this funeral maid must have some extraordinary abilities to accompany the Hermit Lady, expecting a mortal to contend with the non-human beings of the Sixth Step is simply too far-fetched a hope.

"Sister Haida, let me do it."

Just then, a clear and gentle female voice quietly rang out.

Siodia had appeared beside Haida at some point, standing between her and the gardener. This greatly reduced the pressure on Haida and slightly eased the previously tense atmosphere.

“Karmien, we have a history. It may not be a feud, but it’s time to settle it now.”

Facing the Flower Apostle so close at hand, her expression remained as calm as ever.

However, the emotions of the Heil descendants have always been deep and reserved, like the turbulent undercurrents beneath the calm blue waves of the deep sea. But as Xitia said, she did not truly hate Kassou∞￠:揂〔'8」※｝→"潵‰3棱吴尔米恩.

While the death of King Hezmut of Heil was related to her, the conflict was merely a battle fought between opposing factions, and there was nothing inherently wrong with that. What is truly repulsive are the traitors within the Star Abyss Society who, having benefited from the schemes, still crave even more…

"It's you?"

The Gardener's expression became extremely complex the moment he saw Shitia. It was as if some of the humanity he had lost due to his ascension had been restored.

"No, that's not right. You are not him. Hezmut's death is undeniable; he is definitely dead."

"I've seen his remains with my own eyes, there's no mistake..."

A moment later, the glandular gardener shook his head, denying the judgment he had made hastily.

“I never expected that there would still be living members of the Heir nobles in the world. I thought you had gone extinct centuries ago... But you do have his aura on you... How strange.”

“Your guess is correct. His remains are indeed in my possession.”

Without any hesitation, Shitia acknowledged this, then took out the piece of Hezmut's finger bone. Then, she gently pursed her lips... and placed it in her mouth.

Although Seodia possesses the characteristics of a mythical creature, her power is only equivalent to that of a high-ranking priest of the fifth tier. Furthermore, it has been weakened due to her imprisonment since the Lost Age.

Therefore, she also needs some external help to compete with the gardener in front of her.

Seeing Xidia's actions, Professor Utus's expression turned serious. Initially, he had only suspected her identity, after all, it was all just unfounded speculation. But now, he was certain…

This lady is likely a pure-blooded noblewoman of the Heir clan, who only appeared in the legends of the Abyss.

They were the darlings of the ancient abyss, and also mythical creatures born of nature.

Compared to most races, they cannot reproduce in the most primitive way... nor can they give birth to new members of their kind through "embrace" like the Moonkin.

The newly born Heir was a creation of the nobility; strictly speaking, he wasn't even a true "offspring."

The inability to reproduce means that the life of the Heir nobles is almost solely about "existence." The concepts of inheritance and continuation are meaningless to them, because each individual carries the history of the entire species.

How cruel and lonely it is, yet it possesses an otherworldly beauty that is difficult for ordinary people to understand...

Therefore, the Heir nobles possessed a unique understanding and culture regarding death. Utus had seen in fragments of the Abyssal Scriptures that they would devour the remains of their deceased kin... using their own bodies as the final tomb and resting place for the dead.

"call."

Utus exhaled a long breath, gradually calming his chaotic emotions.

Unexpectedly, one of Dr. Fran's companions was a nobleman—a "creator" whom all ordinary Hailes would call their forefathers.

No wonder I felt an overwhelming sense of familiarity when I saw her...

Just as Professor Utus was marveling, a visible change appeared on Sydia, who had swallowed Hezmut's finger bone, and her aura became increasingly deep and profound.

The pale blue gills on her slender neck shimmered with a deep blue light, flickering with the rhythm of her breath. Transparent tassels spread out at her tail, like a flowing gown.

Hezmut's finger bone alone couldn't elevate Shiodia to the rank of Apostle; otherwise, Heil would have had far more than one nobleman who had reached the Apostle level. However, the remnants of spirit within the remains of the former king were enough to grant her certain Apostle-like qualities for a short period…

"Finger bone...was it you who burned down the Sleeping Sand Bell Tower?"

Even though she used a question, the gardener's tone suggested that she was certain it was true.

After speaking, her eyes flickered for a moment, and her expression became increasingly solemn.

"It was you who took away the ancient banyan sapling I obtained from the ruins of the library?"

Shitia did not respond, but her silence was tantamount to acquiescence. The gardener herself had never expected the person before her to give a truthful affirmation. Often, silence itself is an answer, requiring no further explanation.

The scene was eerily quiet; you could hear a pin drop. Even the evil creatures of the Abyss, which should have come alive with the arrival of daylight, lay dormant and hidden, as if trapped in some inescapable fear.

The next moment, as if by unspoken agreement, the two sides began their formal confrontation.

Xitia's second-class superior secret technique, [Mercury String], spread and intertwined with tassels as its carrier, and a cold and obscure gray-silver light instantly filled every corner of the ruins and alleys within sight.

The fibers, invisible to the naked eye, resembled harp strings, instantly blocking all possible escape routes for the gardener.

However, the gardener seemed to ignore it.

She initially showed frustration and anxiety about not being able to get out of the situation quickly, but she quickly suppressed it.

She gently plucked her fingers, and an unnamed secret technique gradually manifested without the chanting of prayers. On the mercury strings that swirled with a pale, luminous light, ashen golden tulips silently bloomed, exuding a rich, fragrant aroma.

The silken threads, powerful enough to cleave steel, began to fade at a visible speed, as if some inner substance was being absorbed by the flowers as nourishment.

"Bang!"—A gunshot rang out.

Heda pulled the trigger of her composite studded crossbow, "Black Rose."

It was less the sound of a firearm and more like the deafening roar of a cannon. The explosive arrow, imbued with the primordial essence of the sun, shot out of the barrel and, with a secondary rocket exhaust, struck the gardener directly.

Explosion, smoke, incandescence, and an invisible shockwave spread in layers.

Since there were only five explosive bolts, and they were unnecessary in most situations, this was the first time Heda had used this weapon. Therefore, even she herself was somewhat surprised by its terrifying destructive power.

With such high temperatures and a burning range, if someone were to fire a shot within ten meters... they might even be affected.

This seems to be a special habit of Sigrid's crafting process; as long as stability is acceptable, this craftswoman will do everything she can to enhance the power and lethality of the crafted object.

Whether it's her own power sword "Nirvana," Bartley's chainsaw sword "Sharktooth," or the crossbow she's currently using... they all possess this characteristic. It seems that when developing and casting artifacts, Miss Sigrid displays a violent tendency that is completely different from her usual gentle and warm personality.

"Scorching, warm, bright."

"I am burning... as if embracing the crimson aurora of the past. A magnificent color I have never seen before, its beauty is beyond words."

In the blazing firelight, the gardener's figure gradually emerged.

Her floral dress, struck by the exploding arrow, was now mostly reduced to a blackened charred shell, revealing her smooth, delicate skin covered in gruesome burn marks, emitting a distinctive aroma reminiscent of roasted meat.

However, as the spiritual energy contained in the exploding arrow completely burned out, the flames and incandescence extinguished. Subsequently, the burn marks on the gardener's skin peeled away, revealing a gleaming white complexion. Her damaged body was also restored to its flawless state by the surrounding flowers filling in the gaps.

Seeing the scene before her, Vivian pursed her lips, a hint of worry appearing in her eyes.

She approached Fran rather cautiously and asked her a question.

"Dr. Fran, can Sister Haida and Lady Shitia really handle a Flower Apostle on their own?"

If she had just arrived in Gormouth, she probably wouldn't have asked this question. At that time, she had no real understanding of the concept of the Sixth Step, only having glimpsed the "Servants of the Cup" that had previously descended in Norrington, and thus had a vague impression of it.

But now, through the lost history she experienced via the ascension ceremony [Remembering the Shadow of Raven], she has truly known and personally experienced what a true "Apostle" is.

那是8超越常人思维5极限的力7量，足以短6暂歪曲6并覆写世界原3有的准4则。眼下4海妲与汐2蒂亚虽然表面对园丁形成了压制，但只要后者认真起来，这微不足道的优势便会即刻发生扭转……

“Oh, dear Vivian… I understand your concerns.”

Upon hearing this, Fran merely pursed his lips slightly, his eyes curving like crescent moons, revealing a faint smile.

In the history etched in Raven's memory, Vivian witnessed the Chief Hunter beheading Crown Prince Murphy. It was because of this that she knew… the Gardener had not yet used any power truly belonging to an Apostle.

"However, your assumption may contain some errors. The sixth step symbolizes the transformation of the old form. Those who step into this hidden rank will be completely transformed into non-human beings. Therefore, its advancement process is rigorous and bizarre, and it is not easy to achieve."

“Even at the height of the Lost Age, there were only a handful of Apostles. If a single sacrifice or a grand feast were enough to make someone a true Apostle, then those things would be as common as chewing gum wrappers on Sandrank Street now.”

At this point, Fran shook his index finger with a slight sigh.

If Karmion hadn't been killed by Hazmute at the beginning of the millennium, he might have been able to ascend to become a full-fledged Flower Apostle. After all, he was already a high-ranking priest, and in his final moments, he received the favor of the Flower of Creation.

The long years of wasted time, the lingering existence under hardship, the torment of long-cherished wishes and ambitions, and the persistence that could turn into obsession... As a disciple of Tantric Buddhism, he undoubtedly achieved the ultimate and deserved this promotion.

But the current "Gardener" is merely a fake, a thief who has stolen the body of the Marauder "Lyons Horton," and has only recently entered the fourth tier. Even with the rituals and gifts left behind by her former self, she can at most only achieve a somewhat incomplete state.

Similar to "servant in the cup".

Even so, this unfinished apostle is quite troublesome. At the very least, Fran's current conventional methods are insufficient to eliminate her cleanly and efficiently.

As for those unconventional methods that are not convenient to display, they may frighten others and have an immeasurable negative impact on the doctor's valuable reputation.

Therefore, she tends to act as a smiling observer, offering all support except for assistance. Of course, all of this is done while ensuring the situation remains under control.

Moreover, Fran believed that Haida and Shitia had the ability to control the situation.

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soup!

Chapter 130 Returning to the Tide

Although the specially made explosive arrow containing Sigrid's power seemed to have no effect on the Gardener, it actually effectively weakened her spirituality.

That was, after all, the radiance of the primordial sun; even a fragment of it, though only a tiny fraction, contained unparalleled power. If the Flower of Creation hadn't had some hidden connection with the supreme deity symbolizing uniqueness, the gardener probably wouldn't have paid such a price.

"The craftsmen of the Sunforge only possess the skills of furnaces and casting. Sister, I'm very curious, where does the power in your crossbow bolts come from..."

The various flowers surrounding the gardener grew more and more abundant, and at this moment she was practically a human-shaped flower garden.

Once she became wary of this, it's unlikely she could launch another surprise attack using the same method.

Thinking of this, Haida slowly reached her hand into her waist.

As the nun secured the composite crossbow, she gripped the hilt of the "False Sun" sword. It's easy to guess that this was a safety measure Fran had given her…

With the power Haida currently possesses, even if the apostle form she faces is not complete, she would need to wield both swords to pose a real threat. Furthermore, she cannot be the main force in the fight; at most, she can only assist Shidia with feint attacks.

Eshitia seemed to have no intention of engaging in further conversation with the gardener. She simply and methodically used the Mercury String to precisely and efficiently prune the flowers and branches around the gardener.

The silvery-gray silk threads were so fine and indistinct that their shape was difficult to discern with the naked eye. Yet they possessed a terrifying sharpness, effortlessly slicing through even steel... as if it were merely a block of freshly solidified butter.

The numerous flower buds surrounding the gardener were chopped down, turning into countless fluttering petals that fell like rain. So much so that most of the tulips that had been covering her body were also reduced to fragments, leaving her temporarily barely clothed.

But this is only the immediate threat...

Sensing the sudden whooshing sound of wind behind her, she raised her arm and caught Haida's power sword "Nirvana" with remarkable ease. But the nun seemed to have anticipated this, and without pausing for a moment, she swung out the "False Sun" formed by Sigrid with her other hand with exceptional fluidity.

The sword struck the gardener squarely, leaving a dark burn mark on her slender waist.

Despite her successful attack, Haida did not continue her usual relentless pressure. Instead, she leaped back, widening the distance between them with astonishing speed. It seemed she intended to use her physical prowess and battlefield mobility to harass and disrupt the enemy from a distance.

But the truth is... not so.

Haida retreated because she felt an unusual throbbing sensation in her throat and chest.

"Cough, cough! Cough!"

She coughed a few times, unable to contain herself, and a delicate, almost fragile flower bud sprouted from between her thin lips. It was a newly formed tulip bud.

"Um……"

The gardener gazed into the nun's chestnut-colored eyes, his expression subtle, as if deep in thought.

Even using standards beyond the realm of humanity to speculate, the resilience of this funeral maid's body still far exceeded his expectations. If she were an ordinary third-tier hunter, those flower buds should have sprouted instantly, piercing and tearing through her chest, abdomen, and lungs.

“Even if you’ve practiced asceticism in silence since birth, the Winter Spirit within you shouldn’t be able to resist the [Touch of the Flower]. Besides, you’re not one of those violent mute ‘Silent Walkers’…”

As she spoke, a hint of confusion appeared on her face.

"A nobleman of Heir with mythical qualities, a young wolf named Meredith who may one day become the chief hunter, and..."

As time went by, the Glandular Gardener seemed to become increasingly proficient in using the Apostle's Ritual. From initial awkwardness and slowness to now using it with ease, only a few breaths had passed.

While suppressing Xitia's mercury strings with her dark gold flowers, she even had the energy to glance at Fran, who looked relaxed in the distance.

If one were to ask who among those present would most likely arouse the gardener's apprehension, it would probably be this doctor. Even though she displayed no spirituality whatsoever, and seemed to have no intention of intervening...

But it gave her an inexplicable and eerie premonition.

Indescribable, beyond description, the unsettling feeling stemmed from instinct, psychic awareness, or the subconscious. Neither King Hazmut of Heil nor the nascent archmage Gloria had instilled in her this level of unease.

I never imagined that even after stepping onto the sixth step, I would still feel such a profound sense of dread regarding the "unknown." Is it because the fulfillment of my long-cherished wish has made me anxious and uncertain, or... is her danger truly genuine?

As for the funeral attendant... even if the [Flower Touch] failed to take her life directly as intended, it was enough to disable almost all of her mobility. No matter how resilient a mortal body is, it is difficult to resist the deep erosion within its own body.

While the gardener was slightly distracted, a thin, almost invisible thread of silk grazed her neck, instantly severing her head.

But she remained composed, her eyes still bright, as if it were a trivial matter. She then caught the severed head and casually put it back in place.

The cold, fragmented lunar ethereal energy somewhat interfered with the healing process, but the pale glow remaining on the wound was instantly extinguished by the surging tulips. The wound on the gardener's fair neck then closed up perfectly, eventually becoming completely healed.

However, the process was not as easy and effortless as she portrayed it to be.

Since the apostle form is incomplete, the gardener still needs to expend a considerable amount of spiritual energy to complete the fusion of the head and body. However, the first type of ritual, [Floral Banquet Garden], provides a massive amount of life and soul essence, which makes her unafraid of a protracted battle of attrition.