“So how is that even possible to achieve?” Mulock asked.
“It needs completion. More precisely, it needs half of the soul of the author who created it.” Shelley hesitated.
Hearing that, Mulock’s smile vanished. What kind of joke was that? Rowing had long died without a trace. Her body had probably become nourishment in the belly of some fish by now. How was he supposed to obtain half of her soul? Killing intent once again flooded the space. Mulock grew furious and moved to bind Shelley, intending to return to Thug Island once more.
“Wait. Even though she is dead, half of her soul is still kept at the headquarters of The Writter.” Shelley screamed as the mana threads tightened around her body. She truly did not want to return to that savage place ever again.
“Speak clearly.” Mulock grew impatient. He did not have much time to waste. He needed to assemble enough forces quickly to search for the Enestone according to Jacor’s intelligence.
“All Witters who want their Shadow to reach a higher level must fuse it with half of their own soul. This allows the Shadow to be acknowledged by The Abstract Ones. As a high ranking member of the Writter, Rowling’s Shadow was incredibly strong. Half of her soul had long been separated and stored at the main headquarters. What you need to do is go there, take Rowling’s Soul Vial, and fuse it with Volder.”
“As simple as that? Why did she not do it from the beginning? If Volder had reached a higher level, perhaps she would still be alive.” Mulock asked, confused.
“Fusion only makes the Shadow alive. It must complete itself to reach a higher level. Take Ti for example. The reason it was so powerful was because it consumed too much fear. War is a tool that spreads fear and death. No one will care if suddenly a village or a town disappears in the midst of war.”
“Oh? So that is how it is.” Mulock suddenly realized something.
It explained everything. No wonder that when he marched through Golden he encountered several deserted villages and towns. He thought Golden’s intelligence was good and that they had evacuated the civilians elsewhere. But now it seemed they had long become prey for that creature. Terrifying, how many people had it eaten? Even more terrifying was that everything happened in silence, and not even the Alliance detected it.
“So where is the main headquarters of the Witter?”
“It is on Fallen Island.”
“Fallen Island?” How convenient. Was that not the very place where the Enestone had been lost according to Jacor’s intelligence?
Thane carried a travel pack on his back and of course his heavy long sword. He had received a training mission assigned by Xevia, who told him that he should visit the Howl plains because that place could optimize the strengthening of his own power. However, there was one problem. Thane was not traveling alone. He stared in confusion at the two reluctant companions beside him. One was the lively Mira. She was permitted by Xevia to accompany him in order to broaden her knowledge. Look at how cheerful she was. Did she think this was a vacation? The second figure was even stranger, Vogar. The nobleman gazed at Mira with infatuated eyes, smiling like a fool. Somehow he had found out that Mira was leaving and had pleaded with Renes to accompany her. Naturally, the drunkard was defeated by the crates of fine Meli wine that Vogar offered him.
“What are you staring at? Do you really think I will let my girlfriend travel alone with you through deserted forests? Keep dreaming.” Vogar laughed aloud, slapping Thane heartily on the shoulder. Vogar was a straightforward man, clear in love and hate, and perhaps inheriting it from his grandfather, Vogar did not possess much scheming. He preferred to use his fists to handle matters and respected those who were strong.
Ever since his father Noman died, Vogar was no longer the troublemaking boy he once had been. Witnessing his grandfather staying awake through countless nights in the office, once a proud warrior who charged into battle but now frail and thin, tearing his hair out before piles of documents, Vogar knew he was the one who must bear the future of the entire family.
Their domain had been severely fractured, their authority diminished. The once arrogant young noble now had to bow his head before the younger generation of the three merchant families. Vogar understood that gaining one more friend meant having one fewer enemy. He had sources indicating that Thane was a highly promising figure. He had never troubled Thane and had even helped him more than once in financial matters. However, investment was investment. Matters of the heart were different. Thane had saved Mira before. The risk was too great. Vogar had to supervise things personally for safety.
Thane sighed, accepting the truth that this journey would be lively and chaotic.
The place they intended to reach was Howl, the plains located in the former territory of BloodClaw, on the northwest side of the Emerald River, where the first bloody battle between Golden and Hesmor had taken place. BloodClaw still maintained its rule but no longer with absolute authority as before. After Nash died, no successor for the chieftain’s position had appeared. Simply because the chief badge had not reacted to any member of his direct line. The clan was currently led by Ramos, the deputy chieftain of BloodClaw. He believed his clan was too outdated and barbaric. Under his leadership and with cooperation from The Triangle Order, Ramos transformed this land into a fertile agricultural region suitable for farming and livestock.
Before reaching that place, they would have to pass through the town of Rumi, the birthplace of the scholar Horta. A town of literature and art, once Voga’s domain but now under the management of the Este family after the civil conflict. The town was originally called Horta Town, but after the crimes he carried, it was renamed after his student.
Stolen novel; please report.
Night slowly descended. The three of them reached Rumi. From afar, the place consisted of tall ancient buildings constructed from solid marble. The rows of libraries in the distance shimmered with the glow of mystical magical stones. At the center of the town was a vast square with a statue of a scholar holding a book in one hand and a quill in the other, though its head had been broken off.
The three of them quickly stopped by an Adventurer Guild, an area established and protected by the Alliance, a resting place for warriors or mercenaries, a place that provided missions and information for adventurers in need. The Adventurer Guild had many branches scattered everywhere, and when Hesmor annexed Golden, it became an expanded great power, forcing the Alliance to set up numerous branches throughout this country. Vogar had originally wanted to stay at a high class inn, but Mira insisted on experiencing the feeling of adventure, so he had no choice but to give in to her wishes.
The Adventurer Guild was actually designed with full amenities just like an inn. It had a drink counter, a dining hall, a mission reception area, and a weapon trading hall. Contrary to its quiet exterior, the place appeared far more noisy and lively.
Small adventurer teams chatted cheerfully, the scent of Meli wine filled the air, and the glow of magical stones illuminated the entire hall. A crippled old soldier, dead drunk, sat passionately telling stories to a group of young warriors whose eyes gleamed with excitement.
“I saw that beast with my own eyes rising from nothingness. It suddenly appeared and crushed every soldier around it. Its steps were like earthquakes, its roars resounded like magical explosions, its body pitch black like iron, towering over one hundred meters. It was a Behemorth, a monster of Epic rank. That battle held too many mysteries. No one knew where that creature came from, and in the end it vanished as if it had never existed.”
The soldier’s tale captivated Thane and his companions. It did not take long before they joined the group of youngsters sitting around him. The soldier continued his story. What he told was vividly terrifying, and his eyes revealed genuine fear. No one doubted the authenticity of the tale. It was simply a good story.
Suddenly, Thane was drawn to the images posted in the wanted area. Countless portraits of dangerous criminals were displayed there, with bounty amounts and crimes listed. The wanted level affected the bounty value.
Rank E was the lowest rank, usually petty crimes. Rank D was a low rank, usually for inflicting injury or damaging property. Rank C was a mid rank, for murder or destruction of valuable property. Rank B was a high rank, for mass murder or destruction of large areas. Rank A was a dangerous rank, usually involving international criminals who threatened the safety of an entire kingdom. Rank S was extremely dangerous, wanted across races, threatening the safety of an entire species. Rank SS was catastrophic, threatening multiple species. Rank SSS was the annihilation rank, the highest level that forced the entire world to unite in order to eliminate the target.
“Ret and Not”
“Status: Former deserters of Golden”
“Strength: Unknown”
“Crimes: Theft of a barrel of Meli wine from Weter Inn”
“Wanted Rank: E”
“Reward: 2 silver coins”
“Mulock”
“Status: Captain of the Mulock crew”
“Strength: Battle King ?”
“Crimes: Massacre of villagers on the Harne coast, massacre of villagers on the Morna coast, massacre of villagers on the Hesmir coast, assassination of King Rumi”
“Wanted Rank: A”
“Reward: 1999 gold coins”
“Exitus”
“Status: Citizen of Hesmor from the Emerald River region near DarkCry”
“Strength: Emperor ?”
“Crimes: Remnant of Madenes”
“Wanted Rank: S”
“Reward: 9999 gold coins”
“Wow, my Teacher is that strong. He is an Emperor.” Thane’s eyes lit up.
He did not pay much attention to the lines beneath. Perhaps due to Exitus’s influence, Thane viewed killing as something normal and necessary. In his nightly nightmares, Thane had died countless times. Those nightmares were like his mentor, teaching him the fundamental knowledge needed to survive in this dark world.
Thane had once wanted to become a Hero, to protect the weak from evil forces, to bring justice and fairness to kind citizens. But what would happen if the very people he wanted to protect were the ones who harmed him, what if those so called kind citizens were the real monsters. In his nightmares, Thane had faced such situations countless times. He was deceived and betrayed by the very people he had tried to save. Thane once lost his way and direction until Exitus said something to him.
“You are thinking too much. You are merely a grain of sand in the desert, a drop of water beneath the ocean. You are a small and feeble existence. Become stronger. Only when you are stronger will you have the right to choose, and only when you choose will you know what is right and what is wrong.”
Thane clenched his fists. He believed that one day they would meet again.
Inside Felicitas Palace, in his private chamber, Aster sat cross-legged while before him a seven-colored sheet of paper floated in the air. The paper released streams of pitch-black energy that slowly merged into Aster’s body. The energy ravaged his flesh and then rebuilt it stronger, weaving solid cords of muscle filled with power.
Aster could feel the overflowing strength within himself. He had already broken through Fighter and now stood as a formidable Warlord. Aster quietly marveled at how quickly he was transforming. Although he was still very weak, at the very least he had faith in his future. The energy from the page felt like an endless resource. All he needed to do was comprehend and train. As long as he could create an Ultimate Skill, the page could easily upgrade his body to the next level.
“Do not be too arrogant. The page can help you absorb energy but it cannot help you comprehend what belongs to you. If your aptitude is lacking, you might be stuck at this level for the rest of your life.”
The cold voice passed through him like a ribbon of icy mist. Aster startled and looked around, knowing the one who had arrived was the person Exitus had mentioned.
“Where are you? Sir!” the boy asked respectfully.
“Very good attitude. You are exactly as clever as the master described.” A hooded figure appeared suddenly in front of Aster. He slowly pulled back the hood, revealing a bony face with two strange black flames burning in his eye sockets.
“Allow me to introduce myself. I am Valen. A Lich serving under Master Exitus.”
Aster grew excited. He had not expected the visitor to be a Lich, and from Valen’s words it seemed Exitus commanded more than just him. Aster felt increasingly certain that his choice was correct. Exitus’s faction was far more powerful than he had imagined.
“Greetings, Sir Valen. Your presence here, I wonder…”
“Do not worry. I have ensured this place is secure. What I used was Will, so there is no need for alarm.”
Valen was now far stronger than before. Serving once again under the true master of nightmares, he had gained permission to enter the Abyss, an excellent environment for absorbing nightmare energy. He had long since broken past his former rank and reached a new pinnacle, a Soceror Emperor.
“I am here to help you. Naturally I cannot appear in this form. I will appear in another form inside a vessel. Listen carefully. It will be a female psychic mage.”
“What? You are female?” Aster was startled.
“A Lich has no gender. Gender only matters when we were still human. A vessel that aligns with traits I had when I lived will allow me to function more effectively.”
“I cannot help you right now. I cannot move freely with secrets at this moment. Jacor is monitoring me very closely. I cannot suddenly have a woman appear at my side.”
“I am aware of that. Which is exactly why you need a marriage.” Valen spoke calmly.
“What? Sir… Are you f*king serious?"
“Do not worry. It will be a vessel with a beautiful appearance.” Valen smiled and said.
“I am not worried about that.” Aster rubbed his temples. His first wife in name being a Lich was something truly difficult to imagine.