Advent of the Archmage - Chapter 295

Chapter 295: All for a Good Cause

Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

High Elf Grave

Crack! Another rumbling sound could be heard. Derrac seemed to be catching up with them. He was only one corner away.

There were a couple of protruding pillars at the corridor after the turn. Link and company then hid behind these pillars.

“Link, he is coming!” Felina was extremely soft, though one could clearly tell how anxious she was.

Morrigan was hiding behind another pillar. He kept his eyes on the trap on the ground and said, “Master, can this trap really defeat him? This is something that he himself planned!”

Link squinted his eyes as he carefully felt the magic fluctuations from his Spatial Shackle spell. He then said, “In fact, Derrac is no longer an opponent we have to fear.”

“Why do you say so?” Felina asked with a confused expression.

Link then explained, “I placed a total of 35 Spatial Shackles balls along the way. Derrac was able to break through the first one in a hundredth of a second; it did not affect his progress a single bit. However, he took at least a full second to break through the most recent one.”

When Derrac encountered the first spatial shackle ball, he was a lot more powerful. He could then break through it easily. If the three of them had tried to fight him at that moment, they would be thoroughly defeated. Even if Nana were to assist them, she would also be turned into molten metal by the powerful lightning attacks.

However, now that Derrac needed a full second to break through the spatial shackle ball, it meant that he had grown weak. From the magic fluctuations that Link received from his spells, he could clearly determine the strength of his opponent.

Derrac’s strength had dropped from a Level-9 to a Level-7. Although he was still strong, he was no longer an opponent they would fear.

Felina then reacted to this situation and said, “You are saying that…”

“Yes, you are right. We can retaliate.” Link nodded to confirm her suspicions. He then turned to order Nana, “Nana, prepare to attack the moment our opponent steps onto the magic trap!”

“I understand!” Nana would never object to Link’s orders.

At that moment, Derrac appeared from the corner. He did not feel his power weakening at all, his voice still filled with condescension and disdain. He said, “Ah, little creatures, I can sense your presence. Stop hiding; come out.”

Naturally, the four of them would not come out of their hiding place. Instead, they hid even deeper into the corners.

Derrac then continued walking forward. He slowly approached then magic trap—30 feet…15 feet…three feet. He was just about to step on the magic trap when he stopped in his tracks.

“Hmm, something seems to be wrong.” Derrac looked around. His memory seemed to be telling him that there was imminent danger.

It was an unexpected turn of events. Link thought for a moment, and he was just about to order Nana to lure him forward when Morrigan stuck out half his body from their hiding place and released an illumination spell. He then waved his wand brazenly and shouted, “Hey, old guy, this way, your grandfather is right here.

“Hmm? You arrogant creature! My family is long dead!” Derrac shouted back in rage and stepped into the magic trap without hesitation.

Upon seeing the magic runes on the surrounding walls light up, Morrigan retreated back into his hiding spot.

Half a second later, dense crackling explosion sounds appeared along the corridor. There was also the sound of burning flames. Accompanying these sounds was the show stealer—a smell of spice and barbecued meat.

The smell of spice should understandably be the smell of lightning after it had passed through the area. However, barbecued meat…This should be how roasting a corpse more than a few thousand years old smelled like. One would rather cut off their own nose than to experience such an odor.

“So this is how a barbecued corpse smells like…” Morrigan muttered and took a deep breath. He had to remember this smell. It would be beneficial for his future adventures.

Felina rolled her eyes as she stared at Morrigan. This human seemed to have strange habits. He tasted urine and seemed to find interest in the smell of burning corpses. She was getting more disgusted by the moment!

The fire and lightning attacks continued for five seconds. Derrac was surprisingly still alive after the attack. His raspy voice echoed through the corridor once again, “Hmm, not too bad! But it is not enough!”

Link took a look at Derrac using a mirror spell. He saw a charred figure with a few burned pieces of cloth stuck to its body. The jeweled crown on his head was also destroyed by the lightning. His skin seemed to have been completely destroyed by the assault, and a faint green smoke emitted from his body.

Clearly, a large scale Level-7 spell was not easy to deal with.

This attack had dealt great damage to Derrac. The chilling blue glow in his eyes became extremely dim. One could hardly see the glow in his eyes anymore. The majestic magic presence that once surrounded him also became extremely weak, making him no different from a true corpse.

At that moment, Derrac was no longer threatening. An ordinary person could probably defeat him with physical attacks. However, Derrac seemed to not notice his dwindling strength and still felt confident about his abilities. He moved forward while limping as he shouted, “Come out you tiny creatures, I already know where you people are hiding!”

Link then appeared from his hiding spot.

The moment Derrac saw him, he pointed his staff at Link and said, “Despicable people, die!”

His staff glowed slightly, and a tiny bolt of lightning appeared in the air. This lightning traveled for around 1.5 feet before disappearing.

Derrac had used up all his energy.

“Hm, what is going on?”

Link waved his hands at Nana. Upon receiving the signal, Nana charged forward and severed Derrac’s head before he got the chance to say another word.

“And, a Level-9 Magician was defeated just like that?” Morrigan walked out as well. What happened today was truly baffling to him.

Link shook his head and said, “He cannot be considered a Level-9 Magician. This is only a small consciousness of the past Derrac. He merely had the raw power of a Level-9 Magician, but alas, he was an empty vessel.”

It would be easy for such an undead to deal with a bunch of grave robbers. However, if they could get past his terrifying presence and not be intimidated, they could simply chip off his power and prolong the battle to easily obtain a victory.

If a true Level-9 Magician were to appear, they would have died at least ten times along the way.

Link then walked forward to pick up Derrac’s staff. He then observed it carefully and realized that this staff was truly a product made using the Talisman Enchanting technique.

It was around 5’9” in length, and its body was made from high-quality purple sandalwood. It was carved into the shape of an extremely lifelike giant serpent. However, there were not many magic runes carved into the body of the staff. Almost all of the magic runes were concentrated in the talismans attached to the back and eyes of the serpent.

There were a total of nine indents on this staff, each of the indents for a talisman gem. On closer inspection, one would realize that the talisman gems were filled with countless magic runes. They were the true pillars of the staff, the nucleus of its strength.

After a moment, the information for the talisman gems appeared in Link’s eyes.

Condensed Talisman

Quality: Epic

Effect: Strength of spells +40%

Wisdom Talisman

Quality: Epic

Effect: Mana Recovery Speed +40%

Lightning Talisman

Quality: Epic

Effect: Increases strength of lightning elemental spells by 50%.

There were a total of nine such talisman gems. If one were to combine all their attributes together. It would look as such.

Roaring Lightning Staff

Quality: Epic

Effect 1: Strength of spells +160% (Three Condensed Talisman)

Effect 2: Mana Recovery Speed +170% (Three Wisdom Talisman)

Effect 3: Strength of lightning elemental spells +180% (Three Lightning Talisman)

(Note: The masterpiece was created with Talisman Enchanting techniques!)

It was truly a perfect piece of work. The runes on the body of the staff were merely there to hold the power of these talismans together while giving the user a few additional buffs.

If one wanted a different weapon, they could simply take down these talismans and engrave the ones that suited their battle style. They would then obtain a completely new magic weapon with starkly different attributes.

If one of the talisman gems was damaged, the user could simply replace them. It was a lot simpler and more cost-efficient than the enchanting techniques used currently in the World of Firuman.

A Magician’s Apprentice could even craft an epic quality wand if they were taught the most basic engraving techniques and given an epic quality talisman gem!

It was highly flexible, reliable, cost-efficient and even skill-efficient. The bar for enchanting would be lowered, and many people could even manufacture their own equipment without problems. There were simply too many advantages to this technique!

Link was extremely excited. He wanted to rush to the huge underground chamber and claim all the books for himself, bringing Talisman Enchanting technique back to the world.

Just as he was feeling hyped up, Felina’s voice rang, “Link, let’s think of how to get out.”

“Oh, alright.” Link then quietly placed the staff into his dimensional pendant.

Felina felt a little uncomfortable after seeing it. She was just about to stop Link when she realized that there was no reason to do so. They finally defeated Derrac after putting in so much effort. It seemed reasonable to take a few things with them.

However, this would mean that they were grave robbers as well…Felina was troubled.

The moment Link saw Felina’s expression, he knew that she was anxious. He then took out the Roaring Lightning Staff again and explained seriously, “Felina, this staff is extremely peculiar. There is a lost enchanting technique used on this staff. If we leave it here, it will definitely land into Isendilan’s hands. This will then greatly increase the power of his forces. If we are the ones who get a hold of this knowledge, we can research into its wisdom and bring the glory of the ancestors back to life. At the same time, our powers will increase as well. What do you think we should do?”

Felina was startled by Link’s words. Link was right. If they do not claim these treasures, Isendilan would also do it. This way, Isendilan would become even more difficult to deal with. She then nodded as she said, “You are right, we have to take them.”

Link then waved his hands as he said righteously, “Let’s go, we will take a look around the underground chamber. There is a large volume of magic books which contains a huge amount of wisdom. We cannot let it land into the hands of Isendilan.”

“Yes!” Felina was suddenly all for taking the magic books.

Morrigan stared at the scene with his mouth agape. He was speechless. Wasn’t this exactly the same as robbing graves?

How then, could it sound so righteous and majestic when Link was saying it? Even he felt that it was his duty to rob this grave after listening to those words. Not doing so would mean he was helping the enemy!

This young man is truly something else. He is so much more persuasive. Heck, he even made grave robbing seem like a righteous thing! Morrigan sighed as he followed both of them forward.

 

Chapter 296: Stopped by Nothing

Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

High Elf Tomb.

Since Felina didn’t object anymore, things became easier. The group ran straight to the room Derrac was in. Along the way, Morrigan wanted to pick up the High Elf swords and shields all over the ground, but someone was faster than him. With a whoosh, all the equipment was gone.

Morrigan looked up and saw Felina.

She scoffed, looking down on Morrigan. “I can’t let a grave robber have these things!”

“Didn’t you say you look down on grave robbers? Why are you taking it?” Morrigan asked sadly. He had come to mooch, but he didn’t plan on taking everything. He would be satisfied with just one piece.

Seeing through him, Felina scoffed coldly. “Don’t even think about one! As for me, I’m taking it for Master Link. They all have ancient enchantments. I’m giving it to him to research.”

Morrigan finally understood everything. This dragon was just biased! He couldn’t do anything about it though. He wasn’t as talented as Link, so he could only swallow it.

When they reached the room, Felina still kept her eyes on Morrigan, not letting him take a single thing. Link pretended he didn’t see anything. If Felina wanted to be the evil person, he wouldn’t complain.

Of course, Morrigan was the guide, so he deserved a portion of the loot. However, Morrigan would just sell these things so Link could give him gold in compensation.

At the moment, Link was attracted by the bookshelves at either side of the room. He walked over and carefully checked it. Confirming that there were no dangerous magic traps, he began flipping through the ancient books.

They were all written in the ancient High Elf language. Link couldn’t read it, but thankfully, the game system would translate for him. When he looked, the common language would appear in his vision so he could understand it all.

There were many books here—around 2,000. Link looked through them one-by-one and discovered that many were already damaged. Only around ten percent were in good condition. Overlooking the poem collections and other random books, there were only around 20 truly valuable magic books. A large majority were damaged too.

Finally, he found a case made of eternium ore on the shelf with an Eternal Magic Seal engraved on it. He guessed there was something good in it.

After opening the case, he saw a hardcover magic spell book. It looked heavy, and the title was straightforward—Talisman Enchanting.

Link was overjoyed. He took it out and flipped through, discovering a complete set of talisman enchanting spells. It had everything from basic to advanced spells.

This is a book worth a few cities. No wonder it was kept in such a beautiful eternium ore case! he thought.

Just as he was about to put in the case and away, he realized that there was another book in the bottom. This one was thinner, and the title was handwritten. It was translated to Undefeated, and the author was Derrac himself.

Link flipped through. He started scanning, but after one minute, he began reading more closely. Then, he stood there and stopped moving. The book was very advanced and explored the Sea of Void. It mainly discussed the existence of singularities.

What was a singularity?

According to the book, a singularity was a point in the Sea of Void where the natural laws gathered. There was an infinite amount of singularities, and each one contained unbelievable power.

Derrac didn’t only suggest the concept of singularities in the book. He also discussed in detail a type of dagger called “Breakpoint.” The book said:

“Singularities exist, but they cannot be felt or controlled. However, nothing is impossible in the world.

“Through a certain method, a special type of crystallized metalphoto grade alchemy product can capture this type of singularity. Of course, the Sea of Void is boundless with very few singularities. The chance of capturing one is very, very small, practically impossible. However, I was blessed by God and was lucky to capture one, solidifying it in a metalphoto dagger.

“I call this dagger ‘Breakpoint,’ meaning ‘to execute.’

“The metalphoto is too hard and difficult to shape. Thus, I was forced to go against the aesthetic requirements of my race and create a very plain dagger. This dagger is steel gray without any strength waves. If you find it on the streets, I bet you will think it is a steel dagger…In actuality, the Breakpoint dagger is the sharpest dagger in the world. It can slice every existence in the Firuman World. Note, I mean every existence!”

Reading this, Link’s heart began pounding. He picked up the case and saw a small indent at the bottom. In it was a crude dagger, less than 20 centimeters, and steel gray, lying there quietly.

There were four High Elf words scrawled onto the body of the dagger. It read, “The Breakpoint dagger, stopped by nothing.”

Link carefully grasped the dagger and used it to scrape the extremely hard eternium case. With a soft sound, some of the metal flaked off of the case. The entire process was as easy as cutting tofu.

Link looked back at the Storm Lord sword that he’d always used, and the sword spirit instantly started yelling in his mind. If you want to try it on me, I’ll make you die with me!

Can it really cut through everything? Link thought in shock. He had been a little doubtful when he first took the dagger and thought that Derrac was bragging. Seeing the reaction from the Storm Lord sword’s spirit, he totally believed it.

It has a singularity on it, and it’s really, really terrifying, the Storm Lord explained. I think it can even slice through a Divine Weapon from the Sea of Void, let alone any existence in Firuman.

Hearing this, Link was shocked. He studied the dagger carefully. Still in disbelief, he took out an arcanite bar. This was even harder than eternium and was probably the strongest metal.

With a light cut, the arcanite broke into two pieces. With another cut, there was a curled layer of metallic shreds while the Breakpoint dagger was still unharmed.

I can’t believe that it’ll cut through all solid objects. What about virtual objects?

Link tossed out a Space-Time Orb and maintained it around ten millimeters in diameter. Then, he picked up the dagger and stabbed lightly. When the dagger touched the Space-Time Orb, there was a little resistance. Link applied some pressure and the dagger sliced through the orb.

There was a soft scrape, and the orb soundlessly turned into two halves. It happened so quickly that Link could barely process it.

It…can even cut through virtual objects? So when Derrac said all existences, he really meant all existences? Link knew that he had found the most valuable treasure in the world!

This treasure had never appeared in the game; Link didn’t even know it existed.

Without a word, he put the dagger back in the eternium case, as well as the book. He prepared to put it in his dimensional pendant.

But then he realized it had failed. The eternium case couldn’t go in the dimensional storage gear… He thought it was the dagger’s reason, so he took it out and tied it around his leg. Then he put the eternium case away.

Finally, he started checking the other books as if nothing had happened. This time, he was much faster. Ten minutes later, he had put away all the useful books.

He had finally calmed down now. It really is a treasure, but it isn’t unbeatable because it’s just a dagger. It can cut through everything, but it has to reach the thing first. Even so, it can provide me with a terrifying method!

Thinking of this, Link knew that he must create a spell that could match the dagger’s power!

I’ll start thinking when I have time! Link was so excited.

During this time, Felina had collected all the magic equipment in the room. Morrigan was naturally fruitless and just stood by the side.

Link tried to hide his excitement, but he failed. Finally, he eagerly said to Felina, “Guess what? I found some magic spell books and magical items. Give me some time for me to recreate the talisman enchantment. At that time, I’ll definitely be able to lower all magic equipment costs to one-fifth of what it is now…Don’t worry, Felina. I’ll share the talisman enchantment with the dragons.”

Actually, his greatest joy came from the Breakpoint dagger dagger, but Link knew that if he revealed news of that treasure, it would cause a huge fight. Thus, he kept it hidden.

Felina didn’t know that. Seeing how Link was almost crazy with happiness, she was rest assured and grew happy too.

In her mind, Link was different from Morrigan. Link didn’t need money, so if he said he would take it back to research, he definitely would. This was blasphemous, but he would also recover the wisdom of the past. It was hundreds of times better than that grave robber selling them for money.

She smiled, her eyes crinkling. “I’m sure the queen will be very happy when she learns of this news. Don’t worry, Link. The queen won’t let you work for free.”

Only Morrigan sighed helplessly. He had really worked for nothing this time. But unexpectedly, Link took out another scroll. He started writing a letter before Morrigan. When he finished, he showed it to Morrigan. After he saw the contents, Link stamped it with his magic seal and gave it to Morrigan.

“Mr. Morrigan, you were very important in helping me find such great treasures this time. Take this envelope to my territory and give it to Director Lucy. She will give you 8,000 gold coins in compensation. If you find any more sites with treasures, you can come find me at any time.”

Morrigan was already excited when he read the letter. He knew Link wouldn’t lie to him because he had seen with his own eyes the words, “My friend Morrigan gave me great help. I reward Mr. Morrigan 8,000 gold coins with my status as the lord. There mustn’t be any delay.”

As a Level-4 Magician, this money was a fortune. Because of his abilities, Morrigan had only earned 6,000 gold coins from all these years of grave robbing. Now, Link suddenly gave him 8,000. This was much, much higher than what he had expected.

He wasn’t a difficult person, so he instantly grinned after accepting the letter. “Master Link, you are so benevolent. Please don’t worry. I, Morrigan, wander the mainland just for adventures. If I discover any more ancient sites in the future, I’ll definitely notify you.”

It was perfect.

After that, they started looking for the hidden door.

It actually wasn’t difficult. Half an hour later, Link found a hidden magic mark on the wall behind the throne. After activating it, a narrow passageway appeared. The group walked down it carefully. After around 650 feet, a light appeared in the front. After a few more minutes, they exited from the tunnel.

They were still in the Colorado Mountain Range, but it was no longer a forest before them. Instead, they were at the peak of a thousand-foot-high cliff. The view was very wide here, and they could see everything within a few dozen miles.

There was no way to leave the cliff, but this was nothing for Magicians and Felina, the Red Dragon.

“Then I’ll go now.” Morrigan couldn’t wait to exchange for the money at Link’s territory. He cast a Levitation spell for himself and jumped off the cliff.

Looking at his back, Felina pursed her lips. “Hmph, that grave robber!”

Link smiled and shook his head. “Mr. Morrigan is very smart and talented. He can count as a natural scientist.”

“Fine.” Felina shrugged. She had experienced Morrigan’s tracking and attentiveness. She’d also experienced natural science before, and she couldn’t refute Link’s words.

“Let’s go,” Link said.

Felina nodded. She transformed into a dragon and took Link and Nana toward the Dragon Valley.

After flying for more than one hour, Link saw a barrier of white fog. Felina flew into it without hesitation and traveled for ten minutes before the fog disappeared. He could suddenly see clearly, and a vast valley appeared.

He couldn’t see where the valley ended. “Vast” was not enough to describe it. There were countless dragons flying in the sky, and a boundless forest below them. Before them was a ring-shaped mountain. It was very tall, more than two miles high, and rings of snow covered the peak.

The Dragon Valley was many times larger than the one Link had seen before!

“That is the Holy Mountain of the Dragon Valley up ahead,” Felina explained with some pride. “Do you see that cluster of buildings? That’s the Dragon Temple. We’re going there.”

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Chapter 297: Sinister Dragon Valley

Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

After a long time, Felina and Link finally stopped at a plaza right outside a small town at the foot of the Holy Mountain.

“This is Creekwood Village. Link, please rest here for the moment. I have to report to the queen before I can bring you into the Dragon Temple,” Felina said apologetically.

Link did not mind this at all. He nodded as he said, “Not a problem.”

The other party was the Red Dragon Queen. There was naturally a procedure one needed to follow before they could have a presence with this dignified being. Every player had to go through this waiting process in the game as well.

“When you reach the inn, tell them that you are a guest of the queen. All your living expenses here will be covered by my race,” Felina explained to Link.

The Dragon Valley was extremely huge and housed many races, though the Dragon race was the dominating one in the area.

There were still many other races under the rule of the dragon race, such as humans, the elves, and a few Yabbas. Most of these people had some dragon blood in their veins, making them a mixed descendent of the dragon race. They were mainly in charge of providing services to the pure-blooded dragons and in return, the pure-blooded dragons would ensure their safety.

This was somewhat similar to how kingdoms worked in the human race.

“How long would it take?” Link asked.

“Around two days,” Felina replied.

“I understand.”

After Felina settled Link’s lodging issues, she turned into her human form and called for a carriage in Creekwood Town. She then boarded the carriage and took the winding road up the mountains towards the Dragon Temple.

Link then headed towards the Inn.

As most of the residents here had dragon blood flowing in their veins, they were generally tall and well-built. The guys were all more than six feet in height while the females were at least 5’5”. They looked well-groomed and revitalized as they strolled down the streets in their high-quality clothing. The situation here was a lot better than the human kingdoms.

As Link walked on the streets, many people greeted him warmly. Link smiled and returned the pleasantries in kind.

The Inn in Creekwood Town was called the Night of the Dragon Inn. It had a distinctive architecture. The entire Inn was shaped like a dragon in slumber, with the door being the mouth of the dragon. The moment Link walked into the Inn and mentioned that he was the queen’s guest, he was immediately treated with great respect and hospitality.

The servant then led Link to his room as he said, “My lord, this way, please. We have prepared the best room for both you and your friends.”

Link followed behind this servant and quickly reached the third floor of the Inn. The decorations here were clearly more exquisite than the previous two floors. The ground was made from polished, smooth oak as the faint fragrance of wood lingered in the air. The right amount of sunlight also graced the area, giving it the appropriate illumination without it being too glaring or warm. It was indeed a comfortable place.

As the two of them passed a door, this door suddenly sprung open. A small figure not taller than 3’6″ emerged from the room as a servant followed behind.

The servant’s voice could be heard, “Ma’am, I really want to help you, but this is out of my league.”

“No, don’t get me wrong. I am not blaming the Inn, but the entire Dragon Valley! You are simply wasting my time. I have to meet the Red Dragon Queen now! You must know that I have been here for more than a week!” The voice was crisp though clearly filled with anger and impatience. The small figure jumped around as she spoke, obviously infuriated.

Link walked over and saw a familiar face. He said in a surprised tone, “Elin, why are you here?”

This infuriated little figure was none other than Lady Fortuna Elin.

She shouted in rage before she saw Link, unleashing all the pent-up frustration within her, “Why can’t I be here! Oh…Link, why are you here?”

She was just about to get into an argument with this unruly stranger when she was Link. She immediately swallowed her anger and words.

“I received an invitation from the Red Dragon Queen; I believe you are here for the same reason?” Link smiled as he explained. This small figure was truly amusing, especially when she was enraged. Her round cheeks would be bloated and flushed as her pair of huge eyes sparkled menacingly. One could not help but want to pinch her cheeks upon seeing this adorable expression.

The moment Link mentioned this issue, Elin erupted once again. She said, “Yes, that is totally true. I was invited as well. However, they simply left me here after I got to the Dragon Valley. Let’s not talk about the queen; I have not even seen a single high-ranking dragon race the entire time. They did not even send a messenger down to relay any information! What kind of treatment is this?”

Link was startled by this news as he turned to the servant and asked, “Which is my room?”

“It’s just beside this lady.” The servant was clearly afraid of Elin as he kept his distance away from her.

“You can leave after giving me the key.”

“No problem.” The servant handed the key over to Link before he scurried off hastily.

Elin then stared at the submissive servant beside her and said, “You may leave as well. I cannot contain my anger seeing the likes of you!”

The servant felt as though he was released from the chains of hell and quickly made his escape.

Elin took a few deep breaths to calm herself down before saying, “Link, please come in.”

Elin’s room was spacious and kept extremely tidy. There was a living room filled with all the basic necessities.

Elin closed the door and handed a glass of water over to Link. She then threw herself onto a couch. Her anger had pretty much subsided as she explained, “I arrived around a week ago. The young dragon race who escorted me said that I would be able to see the queen in less than two days. However, a whole week has passed, and nothing has happened! How infuriating, I still have many things to do back in my hometown.”

Link asked with a worried expression, “Do you think something might have happened

“I suspected that as well, though I have never pried into the matter…This is so troubling! Hm? The girl beside you don’t seem like a human?”

Elin’s brain was truly a wonder. She was still worried about the issue of the Dragon Valley just a moment ago, and in mere seconds, her attention was now completely on Nana.

Link stared at Nana and smiled as he said, “She is my magic puppet. Her name is Nana, and she doubles up as my bodyguard.”

“Nana? Magic puppet? She looked exquisitely crafted. I did not realize she was man-made at first glance. However, she shouldn’t be too strong with such adorable looks,” Elin circled Nana as she said.

Link the smiled as he said, “Well, that might not be the case. Look at you; my little fellow is already a Level-7 Magician.”

“Don’t call me a little fellow!” Elin attempted to cast a ferocious glance at Link though she failed terribly at it. She then quickly got back to the main topic as she said, “I need to see the Red Dragon Queen urgently. I have a feeling that something terrible is going to happen in the Dragon Temple.”

Link was startled upon hearing Elin’s words. Elin was the Lady Fortuna, and she was known to possess extremely sharp intuition. This was a gift and something unattainable by anyone else. If she had a bad premonition about the Dragon Temple, something bad must have happened.

“We are not that far away from the Dragon Temple; did you make a trip down to ask?” Link asked.

“Of course, I did. But the entrance was heavily guarded by the Dragon Warriors. They did not allow me to enter the Dragon Temple. Oh, how troubling. I want to return to Lariel right now, but without a dragon escort, I won’t be able to leave!” Elin braided her hair as she spoke. She then tugged at her braids as her short legs flailed around. She was clearly distressed.

Link was troubled as well.

Felina brought him across a thick layer of mist before they reached the Dragon Valley. Felina took a full ten minutes even with her breakneck speed. This could only mean that the mist was extremely thick.

As Link had played the game, he also knew that the Dragon Valley was protected by a layer of Spatial Maze. The mist was not an ordinary one; there were many folded dimensions compressed within that could confound even a Legendary Magician.

Therefore, Link was trapped as well.

“Felina would not leave me alone, right?” Link could only hope that Felina would not go back on her words.

After some thought, he asked, “I’ve heard that the dragon race had invited all the prodigies from the different races. Is there anyone else apart from the both of us?”

“All the prodigies? Did they? Perhaps, but not everyone is as easy-going as me and arriving upon their request. I was the only one before you arrived. Maybe the rest have not reached the Dragon Valley.”

That was possible.

Link had no other ideas after some thought, though he did bring many magic books along which could probably relieve his boredom. He then returned to his room after a short conversation with Elin, leaving Nana to accompany her upon her request.

Following which, he returned to his room and took a short rest before he continued to read his three magic books of fire.

No matter what happened within the Dragon Temple, he had to first gain more power.

The moment Link started delving into the world of magic, he would completely neglect his surroundings. Time passed quickly, and it did not take long for him to lose track of time.

Elin seemed to be in a better mood after having Nana beside her. She appeared to have called for Link a few times and gave up after several futile attempts. In essence, he was freed from distractions for a few days.

One evening, after simulating the spell through the in-game system, Link had successfully mastered a Demon Slayer spell.

This was a Level-8 spell and was extremely strong. It was also not affected by the Elemental Rejection status. However, the duration of the spell was short-lived as it was only the most basic and weakest version. It was still not enhanced by any Supreme Magic Skills.

Link was still confused over the theories within the Essence of the Flame, though he had made some progress with the book. While engrossed in his magic research, he had already spent ten days in the Dragon Valley.

Felina indeed went back on her words and cut off all contact. This was weird.

After washing up and enjoying a meal the servant brought him, Link went to find Elin. He knocked on her door, and before long, the door opened.

Link was horrified upon seeing her complexion. Elin was a far cry from her usual cheerful and hyperactive state. She was extremely disheveled, and two huge dark circles could be seen on her face. The moment she saw Link, she feebly said, “You remembered me at long last—let me tell you, the Dragon Temple is in a crisis.”

“Crisis? But I felt nothing, Creekwood Town feels perfectly normal,” Link said as he laid his hands out helplessly.

Even with Isendilan’s betrayal, the Dragon Temple had never fallen into darkness in the game. Would something change in this timeline?

Elin smiled bitterly as she said, “Link, come in. I will bring you to the Soul Realm, and you can see for yourself.”

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Chapter 298: Tipped Balance, Equilibrium Gone

Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

Night of the Dragon Inn.

Elin closed the room’s curtains and took out a black candle. She lit it and strangely enough, the flame was an eerie blue. There were also runes circling the flame like stars.

“This is the soul-guiding candle I created. It can stop souls from being lost in Soul Realm,” Elin explained.

Link was confused. “Won’t the flesh body enter the Soul Realm?” He hadn’t gone into the Soul Realm with just his soul yet, not even in the past game.

Elin shook her head. “No, doing that is too crude. There can be many side effects if the flesh body goes into the Soul Realm and can greatly restrict the performance of the soul’s power. More importantly, it’s easy to become completely lost in the Soul Realm and be unable to return.”

As she spoke, Elin walked to Link and grasped his hand. “Okay,” she said softly. “Now look at the candle. Yes, just like that. Don’t think about anything. We are safe now, and Nana will protect us…Go!”

At that word, Link felt himself become dazed. His vision blurred too, and when it sharpened again, he realized the soul-guiding candle was gone. It was replaced by a hazy yet warm glow.

The scene inside the glow was very strange. Link actually saw himself.

He saw himself sitting quietly in the chair before the table, staring unblinkingly at something. Elin stood beside him, her face also frozen. She stared unblinkingly in the same direction as Link.

A crisp voice sounded beside him—Elin. “Those are our bodies. The space under the light of the soul-guiding candle creates a bi-dimensional overlapping state. This is also the anchor of our exploration in the Soul Realm. No matter how we travel in the Soul Realm, if anything happens, we can return to the anchor instantly to go back to the Physical Realm.”

“This sounds like dreaming.” Link looked down at himself. His body was still there, but it felt blurry. His limbs were a bit transparent too and looked unreal. Glancing at Elin, he saw that she was semi-transparent too and even more transparent than him. He could barely see her features clearly.

This was probably an out-of-body experience in the other world.

Elin studied Link carefully and praised, “Link, your soul is very strong. It’s practically the strongest soul I’ve ever seen. You’re right. This is like dreaming. It’s the safest way to enter the Soul Realm. Okay, follow me.”

She started walking to the door, and Link followed.

In the Soul Realm, they were also at the Night of the Dragon Inn, but everything had become black and white. It was quiet too, to the point of being frightening.

At the door, Elin went straight through it instead of opening it. Link copied her. Ignoring the door, he walked over, and there was a small poof. Then it felt like something went over his body. Looking back, he was already outside the door.

“This is a basic spell for going through walls. Souls can easily move through any dead objects. Of course, only do it when you’re clear about the situation behind the barrier.” Elin waved to Link from the front. “Follow me closely and don’t hesitate. The soul-guiding candle will only burn for one hour. We must complete the exploration of the Dragon Temple within an hour.”

“Okay.” Link followed close behind Elin.

The two quickly exited the inn. Outside, Link looked up and discovered that the sky was pure gray. Fog obstructed his view in the close distance. Occasionally, a blurry gray-white figure would walk over. They were practically like plumes of fog, wandering aimlessly in Creekwood.

“These are the souls of the atheists of Creekwood,” Elin explained. “They didn’t have any beliefs in life, so after death, they won’t be guided by any gods. They would just follow their instincts and return to where they had lived and wandered. They’ll usually wither away after a year or so.”

Souls were not undying. Like a ball of fire, they would extinguish someday. When you were firewood, the flame would extinguish in the blink of an eye. If you lit the Sacred Fire, you would be like the sun. Compared to the temporary life of mortals, you would exist for eternity.

Link was well-read, so he had a basic understanding of this. He wasn’t too shocked.

Elin continued down a road to the Dragon Temple. She was very fast, almost flying, and would travel 30 feet in a blink. Link was just as fast though and could easily catch up.

Elin sighed. “There’s fog everywhere, and it’s hard to see. Otherwise, we’d be able to teleport to the Dragon Temple with a thought.” Simple souls had no weight, and their bodies would be wherever their thought was. However, they didn’t know what was hidden in the fog, so they didn’t dare take any risks.

As they spoke, they’d already arrived at the mountain path outside Creekwood Village. “What’s with the fog?” Link asked curiously. “I entered the Soul Realm in the North before. It was on the ice field, and the view was great, but once I entered the forest, the fog came. It was even thicker there than it is here.”

Elin didn’t hold any knowledge back. “The fog is made up of scattered souls. Rather than souls of intelligent beings, these are the souls of plants and beasts after they die. They’re very weak and break down soon after death. There are countless lives in forests. More and more souls gather together, forming the fog.”

There were forests on either side of the mountain path. As the two traveled away from Creekwood, the fog became heavier. Elin’s progress slowed down too.

“In the Soul Realm, the forest is the most dangerous. No one knows what is hidden under the white fog…Stop! Follow me!” Her voice suddenly turned nervous.

Her small body flashed and hid behind a tree at the side of the road. Link followed over and found that the tree was solid. It was probably because it was alive and had a soul.

After hiding for less than a minute, a giant figure radiating with fiery red light walked from the corner up ahead. It was hard to see through the fog, but when it got closer, Link saw that it was the soul of a dragon.

The Dragon Soul was 22 feet tall and 50 feet long. It was completely translucent like a crystal and firelight three feet long shot out from it. It was shockingly intimidating.

He came down the mountain path slowly as if he were patrolling. When he went into the distance, Elin whispered, “That’s a Dragon Soul Guard to make sure the Soul Realm isn’t trespassed. He’s very powerful, and unless you have special training, not even a Holy Spirit is his match. There are three of these guards on this path. We must avoid them.”

“Understood.” Link nodded. From the earlier close interaction, Link could feel that his soul had more substance but was weaker.

To use a metaphor, his soul was a two-pound block of crude metal while the other was a finely processed granite combat machine that weighed a ton. He was no match.

When the guard turned the corner, Elin walked out from behind the tree and continued down the path. The Dragon Valley was honestly too high, and the paths were winding. Elin and Link walked for more than ten minutes and hid from two more Dragon Soul guards before the Dragon Temple finally appeared.

From the angle of the soul, the Dragon Temple was even more radiant.

The fog around the temple was scattered. The continuous Wei’e Palace buildings were enshrouded in a layer of heavy red light. At the heart of the palace, a beam of fiery red light shot into the sky. From afar, it made one feel the tremendous power.

This sight was like a godly kingdom.

There was also a ring of Dragon Guards around the palace. They weren’t as powerful as the Dragon Soul Guards from before, but they could not be overlooked. There were a lot of them as well.

Elin didn’t dare get too close. She hid in a corner and spied on them. Link was looking too, but he was confused. “Everything looks normal.”

Here, he could only sense the endless power and terrifying strength of the Red Dragon race. He couldn’t feel anything out of sort.

Elin shook her head. “That’s only the surface. Follow me.”

She led the way, staying far away from the majestic palaces and kept going. During this, there were more steep and difficult paths, but it was no problem for souls. After walking a large semi-circle, they were at the back of the Dragon Temple.

Here, something changed. The majestic light at the front of the Dragon Temple was gone. Instead, there was a large square. It was surrounded by the same fiery red light, but there was a heavy ball of darkness over the square.

The ball of darkness was more than 30 feet wide. More frighteningly, there was an impossibly large Red Dragon under it. It should also be a soul, but her body was almost solid, even more condensed than Link’s. It was practically the same as in the Physical Realm.

The dragon was sprawled on the square. With this pose, she was 50 feet tall and 200 feet long. The red flames that she spat out were ten feet long.

Compared to her, the Dragon Soul Guards from before were nothing. However, the power of the ball of darkness seemed to be terrible. Under the pressure of the light, the dragon’s soul could only lay there, unmoving. Fire was burning wildly on her, but the dark aura still pressed down, slowly tainting her body.

“Who is this?” Link was shocked. “Is this…?”

“You guessed correctly. This is the Red Dragon Queen Gretel. That ball of darkness should be the Legendary Dragon Sacred Gear—Worthdamk. Translated, it means ‘equal balance.’”

“Equal Balance?” Link exclaimed. “Isn’t it the balance of light and darkness? But it’s already pure black now.”

The Dragon Sacred Gear Worthdamk was a very special magic tool. It reflected the balance in the world that the Red Dragon strove to protect. Using the Worthdamk, the dragons could easily find the places in the Firuman World that were in discord and fix it. From this perspective, the Sacred Gear had unbelievable power.

But now, the equal balance was no longer equal. It had tipped completely towards darkness, and this was bad news.

Elin sighed. “Indeed, it is the balance between light and darkness, but now, someone has manipulated it so that it is no longer balanced. It has become the balance of darkness.”

This was truly bad news.

Link could see that several similarly powerful dragons stood beside the Red Dragon Queen, giving her strength at all costs. However, this could only delay the speed that she was polluted by darkness.

Faced with the Sacred Gear’s power, even the Legendary Red Dragon Queen was powerless.

Here came the problem. They were only at the beginning stages of Level-8 and Level-7. What could they do when faced with this awful power?

“I don’t think we can do anything,” Link said quietly.

Elin was frustrated too. “Yeah, but if we don’t think of a solution, this Dragon Valley will be over once the Red Dragon Queen falls. We’ll be over too.”

The problem now was not whether they should get involved but how they should save themselves! Link was also out of ideas. But just as he was getting frustrated, a sound rang inside him.

Detected large increase in the surrounding thickness. Quickening strength absorption…Saved Omni Points are ready. Starting to pay past rewards.

Epic Mission Activated: Red Dragon Valley

Mission Step One: Culprit

Mission Content: Find the culprit who damaged the Sacred Gear Worthdamk

Mission Reward: 100 Omni Points

Link immediately accepted it. Then a warm current kept flowing into him; it was a large amount of Omni Points. He checked and saw that he had 560 points now.

The rewards from the Black Forest mission and the day-to-day discoveries of the supreme magic skills were all given. It was honestly a lifesaver!

==========================================================================================================================================

 

Chapter 299: The “Small Rodents” Strikes!

Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

Rear mountain of the Dragon Temple.

Link and Elin were hiding behind a huge tree and discussing strategies to deal with their predicament.

“Perhaps, we should try to escape from the Dragon Valley,” Elin said as she nodded, convinced that this was the most reliable way.

The Red Dragon Queen contained all the abnormalities within the Soul Realm to keep it out of sight from the ordinary residents of the Dragon Valley. However, this action also revealed her terrifying power.

In front of such a magnificent dragon soul, Link and Elin were like two small rodents under the feet of a giant elephant. If even the elephant could not resolve this issue, how could two small rodents offer any help? The correct way to deal with this situation was to make a run for it.

However, Link had just accepted a mission and naturally would not agree to this plan of action. Furthermore, it was impossible to break through the Spatial Maze surrounding the Dragon Valley. Instead of rejecting Elin’s idea outright, Link rebutted, “Are you sure you know the way out?”

Elin fell speechless before she started to grumble, “I knew that something was wrong the moment I accepted the invitation. I did not think much about it and look at what happened! How unlucky!”

Link then stuck his head out to take a look at the Red Dragon Queen who was constantly being corroded by the Dark Sacred Gear. After a few minutes, he turned to Elin and said, “At this rate, the queen will completely descend into darkness in half a months’ time. If there is no improvement to the situation after half a month, we might be facing an insane dark dragon queen.”

“Do you have any ideas?” Elin clasped her hands on her face at the thought of this disastrous situation.

“Not for now…Let’s take our discussion back to our room. It is not safe here,” Link said.

Although he was tasked to find the mastermind behind this situation, the information that he was presented with was simply too sparse. He had to do further investigation before he could determine the next course of action.

“Alright, let’s go back. Look into my eyes,” Elin said.

Link followed her instructions.

Elin’s eyes were originally slightly cloudy. However, it slowly cleared up and sparkled, expanding to fill Link’s field of vision.

“Soul Return!” Elin whispered.

Shadows flashed across Link’s eyes at an unbelievable speed. He only felt himself shiver slightly before he found himself back in the room of the Night of the Dragon Inn. He then stared at the soul candle in front of him and realized that only a small portion of it remained.

It seemed like a dream.

Link could not help but exclaim at Elin’s techniques. It was indeed a lot safer and more effective than Eleanor’s dimensional scroll.

Elin’s voice then rang out, “Do you see now; the queen is entangled in a mess. She has no time to entertain us.”

Link fell silent and tapped the table lightly. After half a minute, he stood up and said, “We cannot watch and do nothing. Let’s go; we will circle the area and see if we can find any clues.”

“Searching for clues? Are you planning to get involved in this?” Elin jumped down from her couch as she said.

“I’m afraid we have no other choice,” Link said as he summoned Nana to his side. He then walked towards the door and said, “Instead of awaiting death, let’s try our luck.”

This sentence seemed to strike a chord with Elin as she skipped towards him and said, “Wait for me, I’m going as well.”

Quickly, the two of them reached the lobby of the inn.

Link then approached the boss of the inn and said, “I am going for a short walk. If a messenger of the queen comes, tell them that I will be back soon.”

The boss nodded and said, “I understand, but don’t go too far out. A circus just arrived in town. It is quite entertaining; you might be interested.”

“Thank you,” Link nodded as though deep in thought as he exited the inn with Elin.

“Do you have any plans now?” Elin whispered.

“Sort of,” Link rationalized the situation in his mind as he mumbled his thoughts, “The Scale of Balance would not malfunction for no reason. Someone must have purposely damaged it. As a Sacred Gear, it must have been heavily guarded by the high-ranking dragons. Ordinary dragons might not even get to see the Sacred Gear. The person who did this must then be a high-ranking dragon…”

“Could it be the fallen Isendilan? He was the husband of the Red Dragon Queen after all,” Elin lost her usual casual demeanor and became serious.

Link then shook his head and said, “That’s not very possible. He was already exiled from the Dragon Valley after being exposed. Everything in the Dragon Valley that is connected to him will be thoroughly investigated as well. Even if he had that idea, he would not be able to actualize it. I think that the person who did this must be someone that had a good reputation amongst the high-ranking dragon race.”

Elin had to jog to keep up with Link’s pace as she said, “There is nothing wrong with what you said. However, we have completely no clue about the inner politics of the dragon race. We are also not allowed inside the Dragon Temple. There is no way we can find this person…Hey don’t walk so fast, I cannot keep up with you.”

Link then recollected himself as he turned to look at a panting Elin. He then said apologetically, “I’m sorry that I did not notice. Do you want Nana to carry you?”

“Alright then, Nana, please,” Elin smiled as she said. She seemed to be extremely friendly towards Nana.

After Nana lifted her off the ground, Link continued his analysis, “Although we have never entered the Dragon Temple, this does not mean that we cannot find this high-ranking dragon. Think about it, the queen is already in such trouble. This means that the person has already succeeded. If you were in his shoes, what would you do next?”

“Me?” Elin frowned as she thought, “I have never plotted against someone. However, I had a fight with my father when I was six. I snuck half a bottle of goat piss into his cold plum wine and ran to my aunt’s house to stay for a month. I wanted my father to know that I have always been at my aunt’s house and had no time to execute this dirty plan.”

“Haha!” Link could not help but laugh, “Yes, that is exactly what this person will do. He will start creating an alibi to protect himself. Furthermore, there is a huge chance that he is not in the Dragon Temple, as any disguise may be easily exposed. It is simply too dangerous to stay in the Dragon Temple. It will be impossible to escape! Therefore, he will definitely find an excuse to leave the Dragon Temple.”

“So he might have already left the Dragon Valley—how are we going to find him then?” Elin followed Link’s train of thoughts and asked.

Link then shook his head and said affirmingly, “He is not in the Dragon Temple, but there is a low chance that he will leave the Dragon Valley.”

“Why is that so…Oh, I understand. He wants to see the fruits of his labor, right?” Elin already understood the situation. After she spiked her father’s wine with goat’s piss, she still constantly tried to inquire about the situation despite being at her aunt’s house. She wanted to know if her father indeed drank that disgusting drink.

Naturally, her father drank it in the end, though he also exposed her dirty tricks and gave her a good spanking.

Link then smiled and said, “That’s right. If we can find this high-ranking dragon race, we might just turn the tables around.”

“That will be tough. The Dragon Valley is more than 500 miles in diameter, and there are more than ten thousand high-ranking dragons. Each of them also has a territory. We merely have half a month’s time to look through all these unfamiliar people. This is impossible!” Elin frowned as she said.

If there were a high-ranking dragon who could give them an overview of the inner politics, coupled with their previous analysis, they could definitely point out the suspects swiftly.

However, there was no one to offer any help. They could only make ungrounded guesses.

Link then smiled as he said, “It is not as difficult as it seems. Look, this high-ranking dragon has already left the Dragon Temple. In order to not attract any attention, he will stay low on the radar. However, he also has to keep updated about the situation in the Dragon Temple. What do you think he would do?”

“Find someone to help?” Elin hesitated for a moment before she had an epiphany. Her eyes sparkled with excitement as she said, “This messenger has to not attract attention and must be an ordinary dragon. These dragons are usually very weak, and for him to get news on the Dragon Temple, he has to get as close as possible. The closest place an ordinary dragon like him can get to is Creekwood Village!”

Link snapped his fingers as he said, “Yes, that’s right. That is the dragon that we must find!”

Creekwood Village was a small area less than a mile in diameter and housed only around 3000 people. It would not be difficult to spot an ordinary dragon with unusual behavior, especially to a meticulous Magician with good observation skills.

“Let’s go; we will begin looking for him. We can even narrow our scope further. If this ordinary dragon is really present, then he will definitely not be a local. He must have arrived recently on a very reasonable excuse so as to not attract unwanted attention. The only thing that checks all the boxes…I think I already know the answer,” Link chuckled.

Elin had not understood Link’s words. She felt like she was missing an important piece of the puzzle and her curiosity got the better of her. She immediately pressed, “What is it? Where is he? Tell me!”

“The boss of the inn mentioned that a circus arrived in town,” Link reminded.

“Oh, yes, why didn’t I think of that! That person must have snuck into the circus!” Elin exclaimed before she quickly urged, “Let’s go! We will fish him out right now!”

Link was a lot calmer as he said, “Don’t get too excited. This is only our speculation. Whether or not we succeed will depend on our luck.”

His previous inference was merely built on a very limited pool of knowledge. However, the truth was often built from countless grounded key information. If they had missed out any crucial information along the way, they might be led in a completely different direction.

Their predictions merely gave their actions more conviction and purpose as they tried their luck.

The circus was extremely eye-catching. It was located at the center plaza of the village. Their performances were similar to that of the human world, mainly comprising of clowns, beasts jumping through fire rings, juggling bears, and so on.

Link and Elin made one round around the circus. After that, Elin stared at Link proudly as she asked, “Did you find him?”

From her haughty expression, Link knew that she had found her target. He then nodded and said, “I have mine too.”

As he said, he materialized an image in front of him. Upon seeing this image, Elin chuckled, “It seems like we found the same person.”