178. What is a spirit?
The ferocious Bright Moon Night leaped up from the ground and grabbed Amon's arm. His sharp claws tore open his clothes and tore several holes in the snake scale armor inside. Amon punched him in the shoulder. The transformed Bright Moon Night was able to take the punch head-on. He let out a roar of pain and lowered his head to bite Amon's hand.
Amon swung his arm to evade the attack, and flicked his finger against the opponent's chin. The strength of this flick was enough to shatter a tough boulder. Even an ordinary beast would have its head smashed to a pulp. With a crack, Bright Moon Night's chin was dislocated. He was still able to use his incredibly fast reflexes to fall back and roll into the water.
The water surged up, but as if it was suddenly flattened by a giant hand, it strangely returned to calm. His breath had disappeared in the mud at the bottom of the water. Amon did not chase into the water where the strange trees grew. He stood at the edge of the water, and a series of crisp sounds came from all the joints of his body, and the pervasive manic breath also slowly disappeared.
Amon could also use a similar berserk power, which he had learned from John's experience, but he had never used it before. Although that berserk state could increase speed and explosive power, it also had an obvious flaw, which was that it could make people ferocious and even lose their minds. Since Amon could control it, it naturally wouldn't cause him to lose his mind. However, it would also affect the subtle senses of detection divine arts, and limit the usage of magic in a wide range. Thus, he could only use astonishing amounts of energy to fight, and could easily injure his own allies in battle.
When he faced Enkidu on the battlefield, he was not as strong as he was today, and he did not understand how to master and control this state. Today, he encountered such a difficult opponent, so he decided to fight back with a tooth for a tooth. Bright Moon Night clearly understood the characteristics of this berserk state, and knew that Amon's state would affect the senses of detection magic, so he dived into the water to hide his tracks when he escaped.
With Bright Moon Night's speed, he might have escaped far away and hidden in such a short time. Amon sighed inwardly. It was very difficult to ferret out this assassin in this Charcoal Marsh. If only El Mar was here. With the Ironback King on the side, Ming Yue Ye would not have been able to escape just now. Just as he was thinking about this, Amon's eyebrows suddenly twitched as if he had sensed something. He raised his head and shouted, "Who's there?!"
The low voice traveled far in the night sky, and a person replied in mid-air, "God, it's me."
Amon frowned, "John, didn't I tell you to wait with Link at the edge of the swamp? How did you get in? "
John landed on the hillside, put away the shuttle and saluted: "Link and I built a fortress checkpoint on the edge of the Charcoal Forest according to your instructions. You should have arrived by now, but I didn't see you coming out of the swamp, so I came to meet you. Just now, he had heard the sounds of battle from afar, and had hurried over. … Eh, what's going on here, is there an army battle? "
The hillside was a mess, the trees and lun stones had all been flattened. Who could have caused such a big commotion? Amon shook his head and said, "I said within a month. Three days later, it's only a month. I rested for three days on the road, so I'm a little slower than expected. As for this place, of course, it's impossible for an army to have been here. It's just an assassin. "
John was taken aback. He drew his sword and looked around, "Where's the assassin? How dare they try to assassinate you! "
Amon waved his hand and said, "There's no need to look for him, he's already escaped with his injuries. This man is indeed courageous, claiming to be the King of Assassins in the continent. You've come just in time, I was just about to talk to you about the situation with this assassin. "
Amon then narrated the assassination to John. After listening, John sucked in a breath of cold air and said, "This man is very powerful. It's a pity that he met you, Amon. This time, he suffered a great loss. I reckon he won't be able to see his face for at least a few months."
Amon replied with an "Oh" and said, "He tried to ambush me twice but failed. Afterwards, he fought me with all his might. The feeling of that berserk state was very familiar. The first thing I thought of was you."
John blinked and said, "Are you trying to say … … that if I didn't receive your guidance back then, I wouldn't be able to control that berserk power. If I continued to train, I would become like him?"
Amon lightly shook his head, "No, if you can't control it, you'll eventually lose your mind. It's hard to say if you can even survive, let alone continue to train to such a high level. I think this man is similar to you back then. His berserk power was also awakened, but he received another kind of guidance. "
John furrowed his brows, "What kind of guidance?"
Amon solemnly said, "It's to teach him how to control and utilize this power, making it stronger and stronger, while maintaining a calm and clear-headed state. This man's path is different from yours. He specializes in pursuing this power. When he reaches a certain level, he can even change his form. "
John's brows furrowed tightly, "Who could guide him to train in such a way?"
Amon thought for a moment, and suddenly sneered, "I've learned something from your experience. I can also enter that berserk state, restricting other abilities, and greatly increase my speed and explosive power for a short period of time. This is something I can only do after attaining the ninth level of Eternal Vitality. But this man specializes in training in such a way. The person who can guide him to do so will certainly not be inferior to the current me. That assassin claimed to be an emissary of God. I'm guessing that he was most likely sent by Enril, and the one who guided him should also be Enril. "
John asked in puzzlement, "Why would Enril guide him to train in this kind of power that will eventually turn him into a monster?"
Amon retorted, "What do you think?"
John suddenly slapped his thigh and said, "I understand now. Enril guided Bright Moon Night not so that he could one day become a true god, but to train a terrible killer."
Amon nodded and said: "Back then, Tiamat of the Anunnaki divine clan guided nine powerful monsters, and her purpose might be the same. But I know the Scorpion King and the Lion King, and they still train in the true power of origin. Tiamat taught them this, but only let them train on their own, and did not give them any hint to truly transcend eternal life. But in the end, this path still leads to the right end.
But what Enril did was even more extreme. He only guided Bright Moon Night on how to control and train that violent power, and trained him into a terrifying monster killer. In fact, I can also do this now, but since I'm guiding my disciples, no matter how talented they are, I have to point out where the path leads to, and not an unknown path. "
John sighed, "Amon, it's fortunate that I met you. Even thinking about it now, I'm still afraid. Based on my personal experience, I can infer that Bright Moon Night might have even enjoyed this guidance."
Amon also sighed, "Yes, perhaps he didn't think of it as a path, because there was indeed an unexpected gain. You just said that he won't be seen for at least a few months, how can you be so sure of that? "
John smiled, "I've experienced it myself, so of course I know. Although I'm not sure why he transformed, but excessive use of that violent power will make him very weak afterwards. He fought with you for so long, and tormented this mountain to this extent, but was still defeated in the end. Furthermore, his shoulder and jaw were dislocated by you. Once he recovers from his berserk state, he will feel double the pain and weakness. If it were me, I would need at least half a year to fully recover. He was already very lucky to be able to escape with his life. "
Amon heaved a sigh of relief, "It seems like he can't attack without limits, or else it would be too terrifying. Actually, I feel that the most dangerous aspect of him isn't that violent transformation, but the sudden assassination when he's calm.
Hardedef laughed out loud, as he looked up at the full moon in the sky. "Oh God, this place is far away from human habitation. That's why he could unleash his berserk strength without fear. Otherwise, how could an assassin create such a huge ruckus, and transform into a monster in public? And today, he's at his strongest, yet he's still no match for you, so he's revealed his secret method. You can also use that power, but after all, you can't just awaken it and cultivate it. I have more experience in this. It's a kind of uncontrollable restlessness, like a strong lust that changes with the environment. It's strongest when the moon is at its fullest. "
Amon narrowed his eyes, "It seems that he'll be hiding for a long time. This Charcoal Marsh isn't a good place to recuperate."
At this moment, a cloud drifted across the sky, blocking the moonlight. Darkness enveloped the marsh, and the wind picked up. Rustling sounds came from all directions, as if there were countless unseen dangers lurking, and the jungle appeared very gloomy.
John said, "Where's El Mar? If the assassin hasn't escaped far, El Mar might be able to find him. Now is when he's at his weakest. "
Amon said, "Speaking of El Mar, I'm a little worried. I don't know how badly the assassin's injuries are. Looking at his speed when he escaped, he might be able to hold on. This person's sneak attacks are impossible to guard against, and when he's at his strongest, none of you are a match for him. El Mar has exhausted his strength and is resting to recover, with only Raphael by his side to protect him. Since you're here, go do one thing, drive the shuttle to El Mar immediately and remind Raphael to be more careful. When El Mar recovers, the three of you will walk out of this road together, and make sure no one is left alone. If El Mar can find traces of Bright Moon Night on the road, work together to take him down. "
… …
The young supreme mage Raphael stayed on a hill in the forest of the marsh to rest, protecting the exhausted Ironback King El Mar. When El Mar meditated, he always bent his tail and lay on his stomach. There were only the two of them in the boundless marsh, and they chatted when they had nothing to do.
El Mar had never been to places outside the Euphrate Valley and the Plains of Duc, and like Link back then, he was very curious about all kinds of things in the prosperous world outside. Raphael was born of a great noble family, had received the best education on the continent, and had experienced many things under the tutelage of Goliath. El Mar was very interested in everything he said, and whenever he was free, he would pester Raphael to tell him stories.
When he was with Amon, El Mar did not dare to do this, because he was in awe of Amon like a god, and naturally it was not good for him to pry, but in front of Raphael, he was much more casual. Raphael was very well-mannered and patient, and no matter what childish and ridiculous questions El Mar asked him, he would answer them in detail, sometimes like coaxing a child. The conversation between the two was not through words, but through the use of a method similar to message magic to communicate in the soul.
After Amon left, it rained in the marsh for two days, and on the third night it finally cleared up. The soft moonlight sprinkled on the hillside, and there were still drops of water hanging between the grass and leaves. El Mar lay on the edge of the tent and sighed: "What a beautiful moonlight, dimly illuminating. It's strange, I've seen the moon so many times in the mountains before, but I've never had this feeling, never found its beauty. "
Raphael sat in the tent and laughed: "I didn't expect an Ironback to admire the moon. Is this because you've gained intelligence? I'm very curious about your situation, can you tell me what it feels like to gain intelligence? How is it different from the Ironback in the past? "
El Mar replied with some embarrassment: "If I tell you, don't laugh at me."
Raphael narrowed his eyes and put on a straight face: "Okay, I won't laugh."
El Mar looked at the moon and replied in a trance: "At first, I was an Ironback, but later I became different from other Ironbacks. I don't know how it happened, but in short, I became stronger, more powerful, and had magical instincts. Now that I think about it, what people call gaining intelligence, for me, was probably – fantasy. "
Raphael asked puzzledly: "Fantasy?"
El Mar replied shyly: "Yes, I learned to fantasize. An Ironback can fantasize for no reason, isn't it ridiculous? I don't know when, but I became aware of my own existence, and understood what I had, and how I was different from other Ironbacks. "
Raphael said: "The soul has self-awareness? Is this the awakening of intelligence? "
El Mar shook her head gently: "You can't say that. Other creatures in the world, including the Ironbacks, have self-awareness, but the awakening of intelligence is more special. From then on, I would fantasize about things that I couldn't get, things that I couldn't have as an Ironback. For instance, I see birds flying by in a pool, and I wonder, will I be able to fly some day? What would it feel like if I could fly like a bird? "
Raphael: "You learned to think?"
El Mar: "At the time, it couldn't be called thinking. There were just some simple thoughts in my mind, and I couldn't think of the meaning of words to organize these thoughts like now. It was just a fantasy beyond my actual existence. How to describe it? It's like they say--daydreaming. '
Raphael: "How did it feel to learn to fantasize?"
El Mar blinked and said: "It felt very good, it was a joy I had never experienced before. For example, I fantasized about flying like a bird, not because I could really fly, but because I imagined myself flying."
Raphael asked with interest: "At that time, did you find yourself changing?"
El Mar: "I didn't realize it at the time, but looking back now, I was indeed changing. The Ironbacks inhabit the bed by the water. As long as they can live comfortably and have enough to eat every day, they won't do anything else. But I'm different. I make my bed more and more spacious, to the point where it's not necessary to rest. I also like to collect some things to decorate my bed. This is something that other Ironback Beasts wouldn't do at all.
There are also some habits that have changed. I found pleasure in instinctive behavior and separated it from instinct. For example, after an Ironback is full, it won't look for food again, and an Ironback as big as me will sometimes hunt some animals in the forest. With my ability, I don't have to worry about not having enough to eat in the forest, but sometimes I find it more fun to chase prey than to catch it. So when I'm bored, I'll also chase prey, beyond the need for pure eating, I just think it's fun. I heard you say that the nobles in the human world also hunt, but they don't do it because they lack food. This is similar to my situation, isn't it? "
Raphael sighed: "You mean the hunting of the nobles, they are indeed not hunters for a living, it's just a kind of fun. If this is the case with intelligence, it's actually a double-edged sword, it's unknown whether it's a blessing or a curse. You didn't know the meaning of hunting at that time, you just experienced the fun of chasing. If you indulge yourself unrestricted and even run to the human world, you will be regarded as a terrible monster or demon. I was ordered to destroy such monsters, they attacked villages in the Hittite Kingdom. "
El Mar shivered in fright: "Fortunately, I only met you now."
Raphael said slightly apologetically: "I won't interrupt you, please continue."
El Mar lowered her head and said: "I have nothing to say, I want to hear it from you."
Raphael turned his head and said: "What do you want to hear me say?"
El Mar whispered: "It's the situation I just mentioned, what do you think? People are more imaginative than Ironbacks, and they are born to do the same behavior as monsters or demons. What do you think? Among the people I know, apart from Amon, you are the most knowledgeable, please tell me, okay? "
Raphael also looked up at the moon and said: "Scholars in the human world often discuss this issue. Some people think that fantasy is one of the origins of human beings, because it always transcends the reality of one's own situation. Just like an Ironback, it wishes it could fly like a bird. Its meaning and pleasure is not in flying itself, but in the hope of flying. So people need gods in their hearts, and it is precisely the existence of this kind of god that the glory of the gods can shine into people's hearts. "
El Mar blinked and asked, "Where did you learn all this?"
Raphael smiled slightly: "Of course it's the Hittite Academy of Magic. I received all kinds of training there since I was a child, and my teacher Goliath is now the Chief Honorary Elder there."
El Mar said in an admiring tone: "I won't interrupt you, please continue."
Raphael continued, "Someone once said that fantasies always surpass reality. It's not that you fantasize because you can get it, but because you know you can't get it, so you have expectations. Just like how you know you can't fly, but you hope you can. An Ironback will not imagine that he can crawl in a swamp, because you can.
Some people are immersed in daydreams to experience the joy of dreams, and some people are constantly approaching their dreams. This is the change in the human world since ancient times. Many people think that – having whatever they want is the greatest joy in the world, but if they can really get what they want, they don't care about happiness. "
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