Steampunk: Sixth Era Epic
Chapter 876 - 876 Witch Empress

[Outlander, you have stepped into the "Time Corridor".]

[Message from the Ancient God "Father of the Infinite Tree":]

[Spring of Year 5177 of the Fifth Era, Shattered Isles, Lost Lake.]

[Event: The Witch Seeking Eternal Beauty.]

[Duration: Thirty Minutes (1/3).]

"Shattered Isles? After five continents to the north, east, south, center, and west, this time it's actually on the sea?"

Shard thought with some surprise.

[You have obtained additional information.]

[The silhouette of the Father of the Infinite Tree watches over you.]

[The Ancient God of Time gives you a trial.]

[Help mortals visit the Deity and learn the secret of Eternal Beauty.]

[The Father of the Infinite Tree will reward you with: Ritual - Water of Moonlight, Ritual - Sunfire.]

"Two rituals as rewards this time?"

Although somewhat surprised, past experience had proven that any rewards given by the Father of the Infinite Tree were extremely useful to Shard, so despite them being rituals, he was very pleased:

"This time, the Ancient God of Time has given knowledge of the Moon and the Sun again. I wonder what it will be next time."

The familiar white mist had already visited more than once, and Shard didn't think much of it, stepping forward with excitement.

The white mist silently retreated to both sides, like a curtain being drawn. What unfolded before Shard's eyes was a large lake under the night sky, with a thin mist swirling above the water.

"Night time again?"

But upon closer inspection of the night sky, the stars were obscured by the mist, even the moon seemed unusually hazy.

In front of him was the still lake under the night sky, and in the center of the lake, the hazy outlines of Heart Lake Island could be seen through the mist. Looking back revealed low bushes and lush forests, but both the bushes and the forests were enveloped in an abnormal fog. This fog wasn't particularly humid, but as Shard inhaled it into his lungs, he felt a slight confusion in his mind.

[The fog contains elements that inhibit brain activity.]

"This fog is a sedative?"

[A sedative with supernatural power.]

The night was very deep, and no human figures could be seen around. Even though it was in the depths of the forest, no insect sounds were heard. Instead, strange rustling sounds began to emerge from the bushes behind Shard, quickly approaching the lakeshore where he stood. Lacking interest in knowing what it was, Shard stepped into the lake:

"Water Walking."

This was sorcery learned after absorbing the divinity hidden within the golden pearl of the Lord of the Crimson Spiral. Shard had used its power during his death battle with Joey Barton.

He successfully stepped onto the surface of Lost Lake, standing steadily on the water. But the next moment, an extreme chill surged up from the soles of his feet, freezing his entire body in an instant, leaving only an involuntary exhale of cold breath.

Though the temperature here was close to midsummer, the breath he exhaled was white with cold.

Not only was his body frozen by the chill rising from beneath the water, but his soul also felt a stifling sensation. Furthermore, as time passed, the chill grew even stronger, making Shard feel as though he would soon be assimilated into the lake:

"As expected, Lost Lake, like Hope Town and Horror Fortress, is not safe at all."

The Primal Fire burning within him struggled to combat this eerie cold, and the frozen Shard forced his legs to move, running towards the direction of Heart Lake Island. Each step left a thin layer of ice in the shape of a footprint on the lake's surface, and the closer he got to the island, the more unbearable the cold became:

"Lagre's Leap!"

Having prepared the spellcasting materials in advance, he immediately utilized the arcane technique. But Shard failed; this area actually prohibited the power of spatial movement:

"Scarlet Butterfly Form!"

His entire being scattered into a swarm of red butterflies in the mist above the lake. The butterflies glowed with a red ghost light and shed crimson sparkles as they flew over the water surface, naturally avoiding contact with the water. However, the surrounding mist was not just a strong sedative; in mere seconds, the transformed Shard felt his consciousness starting to meld with the butterfly swarm in the thick fog, forcing him to switch back to human form.

Rushing forward a few steps, the cold became unbearable again, so he transformed into the butterfly swarm once more.

As Shard drew closer to Heart Lake Island, he saw a light through the mist. Near the island's shore was a barely noticeable campfire, and the people by the fire noticed the glowing red butterflies flying towards them, then saw the swarm transform into a tall silhouette in the fog, which then reverted back to butterflies:

"Someone else has arrived, help her out."

This was a language from the late Fifth Era, which Shard had studied in his textbooks but wasn't particularly fluent in.

As the clear woman's voice fell, a flying snake shot from the island's shore towards Shard, but he quickly realized it was a hemp rope. The rope's flight defied basic physics, showing no signs of falling. Unfortunately, it dropped rapidly towards the water, as if pulled by an invisible force, before reaching halfway.

"Great Sin Chain!"

Shard waved his hand forward, and the chain shot from his sleeve darted into the mist like a flying snake.

Like the hemp rope, the chain soon got pressed down towards the water, but fortunately the [Great Sin Chain] imprisoned all forces, slightly disrupting the unseen power, allowing the chain's end to barely touch the rope's end.

The witch on the island's shore, who seemed to also understand the sorcery of the Animated Rope Trick, used intricate maneuvers to tie the chain and rope tightly together. Then a powerful force pulled, straightening both the rope and chain, and Shard was lifted off his feet, dragged rapidly to the shore by that strength.

"Oh~"

He staggered from the water to the shore, collapsing beside the campfire and shivering as he reached out for warmth. If that rope hadn't appeared, he truly felt that he would soon be assimilated into the water by the cold. That sensation almost made him touch the edges of the Spirit Rune [Water].

"A man?"

While Shard, pale-faced, warmed himself, a voice beside him spoke, but another voice immediately retorted:

"Your Majesty, this shouldn't be a man; otherwise, how could the curse not take effect?"

"But it indeed looks like a man. Miss Teresa, Xerxes should have taught you not to be misled by common sense... although the current situation is indeed peculiar."

The first voice said, the same voice that had offered to help Shard.

The witch, referred to as "Your Majesty," softly questioned Shard, whose heart was still pounding fiercely, as if afraid her voice might scare him:

"Sir, since we saved you, would you introduce yourself?"

"Sorry, I... need to rest a bit. What's beneath Lost Lake? Besides the cold, I can sense something even more terrifying."

After saying this, he realized that the two witches beside him probably couldn't understand him, but unexpectedly, the second voice, from the lady referred to as "Miss Teresa," answered:

"There are many things beneath Lost Lake. As long as you don't touch the water, they won't wake up. You're quite brave to walk over the water like that."

"If I had a choice, I wouldn't have done it."

Shard's body temperature gradually returned to normal. He supported himself on the ground, trying to stand, and looked around at the surroundings.

This truly was the edge of Heart Lake Island. The island itself wasn't large, covered in low shrubs. Despite the mist, one could almost see the entire island at a glance.

At the island's center stood a dilapidated tower, an obsidian structure, which appeared even more out of place in the darkness. Shard took just one look before quickly shifting his gaze and began to take deep breaths again.

A great presence, more immense than this island, this lake, this overseas forest, dwelled within the tower. It was a true deity. He could certainly perceive the few people by the lake, but bore no malice towards them, thus likely a Benevolent God.

Looking at the witches around him, Shard was greatly surprised to find that beside the campfire, there weren't just two witches, but eight ladies.

Except for two of them, the other six were dressed in black and white maid outfits.

They lowered their heads, doing their tasks—maintaining the campfire, using their power to dispel the white mist, or setting up rituals to guard against danger.

The two witches not dressed as maids, who had conversed with Shard, warily watched him.

The witch referred to as "Your Majesty" stood closest to Shard. From just one glance, Shard knew she was another Thirteenth Rank Witch.

She wore a purple robe, her wavy long hair hanging down to her waist. On each hand, she wore three gemstone alchemical rings, and on her head was a pointy hat decorated with white, black, and pink diamonds.

Her eyes were brown, with specks of light glimmering in her pupils. Her beautiful face stunned Shard for a moment, but he quickly adjusted his expression and respectfully said:

"Thank you for saving me. I believe if you'd arrived a second later, I would truly have been lost in the lake."

"Your power might not be strong, but you certainly are brave. We used a special method to directly open a portal to Heart Lake Island in Lost Lake. Over the years, you're the first to dare walk over the water."

The tall lady wearing the pointy hat said, curiously scrutinizing him:

"These maids are my servants."

She introduced, although the weakest among the maids was at least Sixth Rank, with the strongest two being Tenth Rank. While the maids were doing their tasks, Shard could sense they were secretly watching him.

This was the most people he'd encountered during his adventures through past times.

"This is Miss Schultz Teresa, a tenth-year student at Sekses Medical Academy, and also my distant niece."

She pointed to the young girl beside her, whose appearance was entirely different from the speaking witch. The girl wore round-framed glasses, her long golden hair braided into more than ten plaits, and she scrutinized the man before her.

After introducing everyone present, the Thirteenth Rank Witch referred to as "Your Majesty" questioned Shard again. Despite a gentle smile on her face, her eyes held no warmth:

"So, sir, may I know who you are?"

"I am a traveler from afar."

Shard said, brushing off the dust on his clothes from when he knelt in front of the campfire, then looked at the witch and softly asked:

"May I ask who you are..."

The Grand Witch's mouth curled up, her eyes slightly narrowed:

"Although I'm uncertain of your gender, given that you use supernatural power, you don't know who I am?"

"You are..."

Shard pretended to ponder, then suddenly realized:

"The ruler of Wydon?!"

"Yes."

The witch in the pointy hat, whose entire attire and accessories reacted with spirits and elements, softly said:

"I am the Witch Empress—Violet Marshall."