Steampunk: Sixth Era Epic
Chapter 946 - 946 Tower Ascension

"Can cats use this relic too?"

Shard asked curiously.

"Of course, any creature with a normal digestive system and a mouth structure can theoretically use this relic. You can pay the Spirit in advance; your adorable pet is just an ordinary animal."

Miss Teresa adjusted her glasses and said, while Miss Violet and the young maid behind her also looked over with interest.

Shard then handed the bag of food to Mia with both hands. The cat eagerly poked her head into the food bag, and if Shard hadn't held onto her tail, the greedy cat might have completely crawled into the bag.

The front half of the cat's body wriggled inside the bag. When Shard pulled the dissatisfied Mia out, she had a piece of dried sausage in her mouth. After inspecting it, Shard confirmed it was a regular beef sausage.

This made Miss Violet exceptionally disappointed, as she had hoped to witness a more interesting scene.

"An interesting scene usually means danger."

Shard pointed this out as he stood up from beside the campfire.

"There is no danger for me."

The Thirteenth Rank Grand Witch said with considerable confidence.

Just like last time, the six maids stayed behind to guard the camp, while Miss Violet led the Tenth Rank Miss Teresa and Shard to set off together.

The upcoming journey would be very dangerous, so Shard turned Mia, who was nibbling on the dried sausage, and the sausage itself into a toy, and put them into his pocket. Miss Violet led the way holding the relics [Object-Seeking Compass] and [Lucky Iron Cross], with Miss Teresa and Shard, who was holding the [Night Watchman], following her.

The thick fog on the Lost Lake's Heart Island was as terrifying as last time, but fortunately, no terrifying things like the "gigantic object falling from the sky" appeared this time. However, Shard noticed that the Heart Lake Island seemed different. Last time, when he entered the fog, he could occasionally see some plants around, but most were low and withered, resembling the scenery near the Pantanal Swamp Area of Western Huntington in early winter.

This time, following the Witch deep into the island, they found it filled with hard, yellow-brown thorn bushes undulating across the landscape. These thorns were even harder than the Special Alloy used in steam engine pressure chambers, and as soon as a hand came into contact with them, they would immediately draw blood.

Even the Witch's flames could hardly burn them away in a short time. Shard had to use the "Moonlight Greatsword," attaching it to his tangible Silver Sword to cut a path, barely keeping the journey on schedule.

These thorns appeared not long after Shard left last time. At that time, Miss Violet and Miss Teresa had already returned to the campfire by the lakeside. With a muffled thud from the ground, the previously barren ground quickly sprouted lichen, green grass, flowers, then small ferns, followed by shrubs and finally trees and bushes.

Because time was difficult to gauge here, how long this "plant evolution" took in the eyes of the eight witches was unclear. However, those plants were not here to green the area but to absorb Earth's nutrients. Upon the emergence of the Primal Forest's scenery, they gave rise to terrifying Evil Objects like "Corrupted Treants."

As Miss Violet put it, these were mobile plants entangled with disgusting vines, exuding green flames all over. Once those monsters were born, they conflicted with the eight witches, culminating in a fierce battle.

The thorn bushes now covering the island were a byproduct of that battle. Although Miss Violet seemed fine, she was deeply exhausted. Alongside, in the Lost Lake Region, the recovery of Spirit and Stamina became exceedingly slow. Without the packet of Holy Water Shard had brought last time, Miss Violet might not have maintained her current composure.

Nevertheless, with Shard "cutting through thorns and thickets," the three of them safely reached the very center of the Heart Lake Island. The hard, yellow-brown thorn bushes, like the dense fog on the island, had not encroached upon the surroundings of the Obsidian Tower. Hence, upon reaching the base of the tower, they could finally take a short break.

Miss Violet adjusted her state, while Miss Teresa, somewhat panicked, made preparations to meet the Deity once more, hanging the relic [Proof of Faith] around her neck and praying softly.

Only Shard looked up at the Obsidian Tower before him. Miss Violet had not initially noticed him but suddenly realized something:

"I remember last time when you came with us, you didn't dare look directly at this tower either."

She spoke softly from behind Shard, afraid of disturbing the presence within the tower.

"People always progress; the me from last time isn't the me now... How interesting, the Deity is not on the first floor now, but on the second."

Shard slightly furrowed his brow:

"What does this signify? Does it symbolically show we need to complete the trial step by step? Or does it mean the Deity is moving away from this land, so we need to hurry?"

He turned to ask the witches, but they also did not know the answer. Even though they lived by the campfire at the lakeside and could see the faint silhouette of this Obsidian Tower from the edges of the fog and thorns, they did not constantly pay attention to the tower.

"Yes, let's hurry. I don't want to linger here a second longer; I miss my soft bed."

Miss Violet said softly. The three of them tidied their appearances, and the Witch Empress was about to push open the old wooden board at the tower's base but was stopped by Shard:

"No, my condition is better this time. Let me do it. Miss Violet, you should conserve some stamina; you still have to live here for a long time."

Shard left the [Night Watchman] outside and took a step forward to open the door. Miss Violet did not contest him, watching as Shard pushed open the door. Inside was an enclosed space with wind, and moist water vapor rushed in with the wind, filling the lungs, calming the mind as if all worries had suddenly been eased.

Miss Violet was about to step forward when she noticed Shard's profile, appearing as if a rift had been blown onto it by the wind. Subsequently, golden light streamed out from the crack on his profile, dragging golden embers along.

Shard turned to the witches and waved:

"Ladies, I'll lead the way. Hurry and follow me."

Miss Teresa looked in astonishment at Shard, whose entire body was covered in golden cracks, as if he were aflame with golden fire:

"Wasn't it red flame last time?"

"No, this isn't fire."

Miss Violet watched Shard cautiously:

"Although I don't know what this is, it's far greater than the flames from last time. Very well, sir, you walk in front, this time we're heading to the second floor of the tower, be more careful ahead."

"No problem, although I don't mean to boast, I've experienced this sort of thing more than once."

"Sir, we still don't know your name."

Miss Teresa still remembered this matter.

Shard hesitated for a moment:

"Shard Suren Hamilton."

"Suren..."

Miss Violet looked at him with some surprise, while Miss Teresa nodded to show she remembered.

[Revealing your true name just like that?]

"Both Miss Feliana and Miss Orland know, besides..."

Shard stepped into the tower, the abundant moisture almost made him feel as if he were soaked in water:

"The Father of the Infinite Tree seems to be deliberately erasing my traces from past times. Otherwise, Saint Byrons should have noticed something was off about me long ago."

The first floor of the tower was still that small lake, thick water mist rippling across the calm surface, but the table and the deity behind it were no longer in the center of the tower.

"Sure enough, moved to the second floor."

Shard thought in his heart, turning to look behind him, Miss Violet and Miss Teresa had also caught up.

"The deity is not here."

Shard said softly, and the two witches nodded lightly.

The three looked around the first floor of the tower, not seeing any stairs leading upward. Looking up, they couldn't see the ceiling, only increasingly dense fog.

"Something's off there."

It was the perceptive Witch Empress of the Thirteenth Rank who sensed it, she pointed to an area opposite the door. As the three approached, Shard also discovered the water mist in that area was unnaturally dispersed.

Reaching out to touch, when his fingers made contact with solid material, the shape of the steps appeared with a mercury-like texture in the mist. But when Shard withdrew his fingers, the steps disappeared again.

"Invisible stairs?"

Shard asked in surprise, and Miss Violet nodded:

"I've seen the relic 'Stairway to Heaven', very similar to this scene in front of us."

As she spoke, a ball of light flew from Miss Violet's right hand, emerging from where the steps had appeared and then passing right through. Shard frowned slightly, tucked his hand into his sleeve, and used his clothing to touch the area, but felt nothing. Touching again with his hand, he immediately felt it.

"The physical body must make direct contact for them to appear, without contact it's as if they don't exist. The irregular mist must be a clue deliberately left by The Great One for us; otherwise, it would take considerable effort to find the stairs."

He reached this conclusion.

"But why would the deity do this?"

Miss Teresa asked quietly.

"You think meeting a deity is like visiting a neighbor?"

Miss Violet retorted, then looked at Shard again:

"Will you go first or shall I?"

"I'll go first."

Shard said, bending slightly, reaching his hands forward. After a few attempts, as his palms made contact, the mercury rippled, once again outlining a small section of the staircase. Shard memorized the location but when he lifted his foot to step again, he still found himself stepping into nothing.

"Yes, the shoes."

Shard immediately understood, and took off his boots and socks.

He then turned to the two ladies and said:

"You should also remove your shoes and socks like me, oh, this truly feels like a pilgrimage. Recently, when I visited a White-robed Lady living on the lake, the Blind Nun accompanying us also took off her boots; and I heard, in some rural places, people clean their feet before entering a church, walking barefoot to the Holy Emblem... I should turn my head."

He tapped his own head, and the blushing Miss Teresa hesitantly bent down to remove her shoes and socks. Miss Violet, however, was very interested and took a glance at Shard's back, it was her first time seeing such a man.

Even in the Fifth Era, it was improper to casually look at a lady's feet.