From Secret Clan to the Divine Dynasty

"Chris, do you see that dice? That's the thing restraining the monster 'Black Ash'!"

Byrne was quick to act, and as soon as he spoke, he rushed forward, bent down, and picked up the dice that was continuously emitting light from the ground, then without hesitation, he threw it to Chris.

"Take it back!"

Chris suddenly reached out and grabbed the dice. Black fog appeared around him once more, almost instantaneously transporting both him and the dice away, vanishing from sight.

Karl, who had been silently observing everything, also understood that they could not let the domineering Marquis Vlad see the dice, the forbidden rare artifact that had appeared. He would undoubtedly not give it up and would likely snatch it on the spot, even possibly going as far as killing everyone present.

Shortly after Chris had taken the dice away, Byrne suddenly noticed on the ground something palm-sized that resembled a cover, its presence previously unnoticed.

It looked ordinary and inconspicuous.

Only, for some reason, it looked familiar...

Before he had time to ponder it further, the strange space completely collapsed. His vision blurred as everything around him seemed to change.

"..."

When Byrne came to his senses, he found himself back at the site he had been transported from before, the place of the fierce dragon battle. The ocean-like bright flames were still blazing vigorously, lighting up and seemingly igniting the sky!

That's right, the cover!

He reached out abruptly to grab the cover on the ground, but his movements halted suddenly.

Marquis Vlad was already standing beside him, his foot gently pressing down on it.

Byrne had a very clear feeling inside that if he dared to continue reaching for it, he would undoubtedly be burned to death on the spot.

"Heh, let me see what exactly it is that's restraining it."

The look in Marquis Vlad's eyes as he gazed upon Byrne was still full of contempt and disdain.

"No trouble at all, Marquis Vlad. You're the truly industrious one here, brimming with zeal..."

Byrne felt the heat of the flames surrounding him and deep down he had already recognized what the object was, but he knew he could only let go, or he would die on the spot.

It was an ancient lamp cover.

In fact, the Fischer family owned its lamp base, and now that lamp base was no longer in the bank of Fein City. Byrne had moved it to an island overseas.

If the lamp cover was here, this meant that the lamp base must still be in the hands of the Meyer family, he pondered silently.

Marquis Vlad picked up the lamp cover that had fallen to the ground and examined it closely, his eyes gradually widening in disbelief.

"Why?"

He mumbled to himself, unable to comprehend.

"How can I not feel any power in it?"

"Strange, that's completely impossible."

Byrne just stood by without saying a word, but inside he was sneering repeatedly. Indeed, there was no power whatsoever in the lamp cover.

It was nothing more than a component part, otherwise, the Fischer family would have offered it to the great Lord of the Lost long ago, and many things might not have happened.

"Could it be that the real forbidden rare artifact is on you?"

After a moment of silence, Marquis Vlad suddenly reached out and grabbed Byrne's neck, his grip tight enough to make it difficult for Byrne to breathe!

"I haven't hidden anything..."

Byrne tried his best to explain while feeling exceedingly relieved that Chris had already taken the forbidden rare artifact away; otherwise, all would indeed have been lost!

After a few harassments, he harbored deep dissatisfaction and anger towards Marquis Vlad in his heart.

Regrettably, he was no match.

The next moment, what Marquis Vlad did infuriated Byrne even more!

"Hmph, I don't believe you!"

Suddenly, wild flames engulfed Byrne's clothes, hair, and eyebrows, burning almost everything he had on him, leaving next to nothing. Marquis Vlad looked at him incredulously from head to toe, examining the Byrne he held in his hands.

"You really have nothing? And you don't even have a single mysterious rare artifact on you?"

"Hmm... maybe you've swallowed it into your stomach?"

Thinking of this, Marquis Vlad raised his hand with the intention of piercing Byrne's abdomen. At that moment, Byrne was filled with immense anger, yet he was completely unable to resist.

Without power, people can't do anything; no matter how angry they are, they dare not show it.

"Let him go, Marquis Vlad!"

The sudden appearance of a female voice made Marquis Vlad halt his actions and then release the person he was holding.

"Ah, it's you."

Byrne breathed a sigh of relief and gratefully looked towards Ariel, who had approached from not far away.

How unpredictable life is; the 'Stars Mortal' Ariel, who had once threatened his life, now saved him.

"Romann family's lot, although I knew you had come here, I did not expect you to show up at this moment."

Marquis Vlad looked at Ariel with a somewhat emotional gaze, and finally snorted coldly.

"Humph, forget it, since this Byrne Fischer is indeed your Romann family's dog, I won't question it further."

He paused for a moment, looking towards the disheveled Byrne with calm disdain.

"Get lost."

Byrne silently stood behind Ariel without saying a word, very aware that for a Transmutation Extraordinary Exponent, saying anything at this point would be an act of self-degradation without any significance.

With composure, Ariel said, "Marquis, our party is in a hurry so we will not pay a visit. Sorry!"

Marquis Vlad took off and quickly left; he didn't even put out the surrounding fires.

Once Marquis Vlad had left, Byrne took a deep breath and genuinely thanked Ariel.

"I am very grateful for your rescue, Madam Ariel. The Fischer family will remember the protection of the Romann family."

"Heh."

However, Ariel's gaze towards Byrne was not so kind, as she calmly said, "That being said, have you made up your mind to support Aldrich?"

Byrne fell silent. Indeed, Ariel had saved him, but compared to the years of companionship, it felt somewhat less significant. In reality, his emotional connection with Aldrich was still deeper.

Moreover, for the Fischer family, placing their bets on Aldrich, the Dragon Taming Lord, was clearly a smarter choice than betting on Ariel, the Stars Mortal.

As a Monarch powerful expert, she was already exceptional, but she was still comprehensively behind Aldrich.

"Well, I won't make it difficult for you. No need to say more, let's go."

It was clear that Ariel was still not pleased, but she did not get directly angry this time. It seemed that now she truly regarded Byrne as an intimate ally of the Romann family, rather than "an attachment of lesser importance."

She didn't offer Byrne any clothes and simply left the scene.

Byrne first went to a nearby village to get clothes, leaving behind a few charred Gold Coins, then met Chris again at the inn, both visibly relaxed.

"Don't worry, I'm fine."

Byrne immediately showed a brilliant smile, knowing how much the Fischer family had gained.

From now on, along the East Coast, they would call the shots—there wasn't likely to be any other family ambitious enough to dare to challenge them.

And the Fischer family would truly step onto the biggest stage of the Ouden Continent!

Ariel remained calmly beside him, saying nothing. Byrne smiled and nodded.

"Let's go, Chris, let's go home."

——

The night deepened.

Nasir Town.

At the moment, in the manor of the Fischer family, most of the key members of the entire family, as well as many Daybreakers and Proselytes, were all gathered here.

They looked at Chris with expectation and anticipation, aware that an important moment was about to arrive.

"Finally, that man is going to ascend to the 5th Rank." Yeager muttered to himself, his expression filled with longing, hoping that he too might have the chance to reach the 5th Rank someday.

"This is great! Fantastic! Hahahaha!" Archibald was extremely excited.

Vanessa's face was full of smiles, genuinely happy for her husband.

The faces of the others were filled with anticipation, excitement, and envy.

Byrne, standing beside Chris, looked around at everyone gathered and then said with calm authority:

"The great sacrifice is about to begin; all of you, come with us."

Dozens of people moved together to the Fischer family's underground sacrificial site, where Lilian led everyone to kneel in front of the sacred object.

Each person showed utmost devotion, fully aware that the Dawn Church's journey to this day had not been easy. For decades they had struggled to survive until this moment.

The number of sacrifices, both open and hidden, was mounting.

And those still alive could only pick up the torch left by their predecessors and continue onward!

The time had come.

"Great Lord of the Lost!"

Lilian began praying earnestly, intending to offer the Forbidden rare artifact to the great Lord of the Lost before asking Him to grant new power.

"We have acquired another Forbidden rare artifact, fit to be an offering; we hope it pleases You!"

"Please save us and grant us more potent power so that we may establish Your earthly God's Kingdom amongst humanity!"

"We will eventually dedicate everything in this world to You, so that all things may bask in Your radiance!"

Lilian, kneeling on the ground, became increasingly emotional, her tears flowing uncontrollably as she clenched her fists.

Her greatest dream in life was to establish a grand God's Kingdom led by the Dawn Church, where countless people would bask in the Lord's glory!

Then, they saw the great Lord of the Lost respond!

In the transparent bottle of the sacred object, a black luminance gradually emerged, instantly causing everything around to fade away, leaving only the purest black and white.

Lilian, trembling, presented the Forbidden rare artifact that Chris and Byrne had recently acquired.

It was a six-sided die constantly emitting various changing lights!

Forbidden rare artifact number ninety-nine.

The Soul Dice!