Super Righteous Player
Chapter 444 - 441 So Annan, what is the cost?_1

Chapter 444: Chapter 441 So Annan, what is the cost?_1

——Salvatore certainly knew.

The first Tower Master of Heath Tower of Black was the "Flame Pilferer" Prometheus.

In the endless desert, the most dangerous thing was not the scorching sun.

It was the boundless night that descended upon the land.

That living desert would consume those within it come nightfall. In other words... anyone who lost their "light" in the desert would be swallowed up by the sand at their feet.

Therefore, to traverse that endless desert, one needed sufficient torchlight and... fuel.

The most challenging aspect was the fuel.

Because ordinary flames could not illuminate far in that desert. The darkness there felt almost tangible, heavy.

To solve this dilemma of darkness, an elf named Prometheus chose to become a "Flame Pilferer."

He stole the sun’s "Third Dawn."

——Which was the "Eternal and Unrelenting Bright Flame."

He used his flesh as kindling and wisdom as fuel, extracting the "Fire of Restlessness"... also known as the "Sacred Fire" to the people. As long as people continue to think, this bright white flame would burn eternally.

It was only with torches ablaze with the roaring Sacred Fire that people were able to escape the living desert.

By then, Prometheus was as withered as a walking corpse. He looked like a gaunt shadow with an extremely thin waist, his legs and arms so skinny an eight-year-old girl could wrap one hand around them.

At that time, the Mysterious Lady had already commanded the construction of twenty-four Wizard’s Towers across Aesirland to support a great barrier.

Beyond their primary duty of mere existence.

Each Wizard’s Tower had its significance, its mission.

The importance of the Heath Tower of Black was to produce "Sacred Fire."

The Sacred Fire is one of the top alchemical materials... It’s the flame necessary for the Forefather to create treasures; it can gradually transform mortals within its range, making their minds clearer; it also serves as the Fire of Order that protects Transcendents holding torches outside the barrier.

Within the range of the Sacred Fire, Mist cannot enter.

In the golden age of the Aesirland Empire, there were Sacred Fire altars throughout the empire. Each altar was a grand statue of a hero.

Elven Sages meditated or debated vigorously before the statues of the sages. They offered their wisdom to keep the Sacred Fire burning brightly—yet by that time, the great barrier had already been completed, and people no longer needed Sacred Fire to fend off the Mist.

Their greater significance was a memorial, to ensure that people did not forget the sacrifices of the sages of old.

But in the times of the Blood Service, all the Sacred Fire altars were extinguished.

War drained the people’s thoughts, and the scholarly men had a more important mission—to assist their lords in the quest for supremacy, not to pursue academic research.

Now, only from the Flame Pilferer could one obtain the Sacred Fire.

And Hugo was the only Flame Pilferer at present.

Of course... Salvatore would follow in the future.

"Why would Bernadino need the Sacred Fire?"

Salvatore blurted out without thinking.

Why would a wizard who evolved from a "Necromancer" need Sacred Fire to complete "an act of creation"?

But he quickly realized, "No, that’s not important... What about my teacher! Was he also killed by him?"

Salvatore’s emotions became slightly uncontrollable, "By what right did he defeat my teacher? My teacher was the world’s strongest transformation wizard in combat!"

His fingers were trembling.

Annan suddenly reached out and quietly yet forcefully grasped Salvatore’s left hand. Feeling the warmth of Annan’s palm and the pain of his bones being squeezed by Annan, Salvatore calmed down a bit due to the pain.

Truth be told, there was no sorrow or pain in Salvatore’s heart.

Only confusion, panic, and disbelief.

Upon hearing this news so suddenly, he just couldn’t feel it was real.

"I don’t know what he’s planning to do either."

The Silver Baron answered calmly, "As for Hugo Blacktower... he’s still alive. And he’s completely dominating. Even the entire swamp has been dried out by the aftermath of their fight, and within several miles, there is not a single living thing left.

"As long as Hugo’s soul doesn’t burn out, he might be able to keep suppressing Bernadino since Heath Tower of Black will supply him with infinite Order Mana... But after all, the Wizard’s Tower can’t provide him with Elemental Power.

"Bernadino completely abandoned his physical body, refining his flesh and blood into an unfinished version of the Philosopher’s Stone. During his attack on Denton, he acquired a highly pure Philosopher’s Stone... He then constructed an automatic transmutation array, turning those he killed into Philosopher’s Stones, and with that, he completed the great feat of the ’Four Rotations’.

"If Hugo had acted decisively and burned all the wizards in the tower immediately, he might have had a chance to defeat Bernadino after thirty-seven hours. But he hadn’t acted until the very end... So those wizards couldn’t help at all, but instead, they could only provide Bernadino with aid.

"This time, he also brought ’Jade Record’ Isaac and ’Dream Stealer’ Denton, as well as the souls of twelve Frostspeakers—this was all his reserves, everything was used to defend against Hugo’s ’countermeasures.’ Bernadino was prepared for a war of attrition... And with the addition of the wizards of the Heath Tower of Black, Hugo no longer can defeat Bernadino."

So, Hugo’s defeat was only a matter of time.

The Silver Baron calmly stated the cruel fact, "In about fifty-two hours, Hugo’s soul will be completely consumed."

"However, with the ’Soul-Bearing Sorcery’ of the Soul-Bearing Monk, he could still retain his consciousness. With Bernadino’s spirit-crafting skills, it’s possible to revive him on a soul level by using other souls as nourishment. If you manage to defeat him one day, maybe you could bring Hugo back."

"—Oh, by the way, Bernadino still has Clarence’s soul."

The Silver Baron spoke slowly.

It was as if he were hinting at something.

Salvatore clenched his teeth.

"I..."

I want to go—He wanted to say this.

But Salvatore’s reason told him that if even Hugo couldn’t defeat the enemy within the Wizard’s Tower, he probably had no chance of winning at all.

He was an "Alchemist," the weakest of the Transcendents.

And his opponent was someone who could kill his own teacher...

Even if he went, he would be powerless to do anything—he could do nothing at all—

"—Go, Sal."

But just then, an unusually stern voice echoed hoarsely in his heart, "You want to go.

"So what if you die? You are a child of the Black Tower! If the Black Tower is no more, your family name... doesn’t it strike you as absurd and shameful?"

"But I..."

Salvatore’s jaws were tightly clenched, his fingers no longer trembling, just a little short of breath.

At that moment.

Annan turned to face the Silver Baron.

"If I want to ask for your help..."

He looked at the Silver Baron and slowly began to ask.

The Silver Baron had chosen this time when Annan was present to tell Salvatore about this.

He simply wanted to let Annan know about this as well.

If Salvatore found out about this on his own, he would definitely leave quietly to avoid involving Annan.

However, now that Annan knew about it... he wouldn’t allow Salvatore to go to his death alone.

Seeing Annan’s inquiry, the Silver Baron’s face revealed a smile that said ’I knew it.’

He seemed as if he had been waiting for this question for a long time.

He asked with a clear voice, word by word, "So, Annan—

"What’s the price?"

"Price, huh..."

"That’s right, we’ll protect your life, we’ll even make a mirror to accelerate your birth.

"But I won’t kill your reflection for you; that’s your own mission. We can pay for your tuition, teach you knowledge, help you revise... but we won’t take your exams. We don’t want to, we won’t, and we can’t."

The Silver Baron spoke calmly, "He is your reflection, Annan.

"Your first mirror is Tan Juan Geraint. A boy of similar talent, extraordinary wisdom, and gentle nature, the ’Third Son’ who was also to become the heir of his family but was murdered in his budding stage by a corrupt husband, equally a Swordsman and a Cripple Wizard, even with similar bloodlines... Undoubtedly, you and he are similar.

"—But your talents far surpass his, your soul is also stronger than his. The purest strength and brightness have carved different destinies; this is The Light of the First Day."

"Your second mirror was originally Denton. But he, fearing the confrontation with you as a supporting character, fled from his destiny and placed the unhatched Fragments of Truth that belonged to him into the soul of Viscount Roth Fort.

"—You both have been tormented by countless failures, but you have never given up hope. A hope that never fades, ever new, this is the Light of the Second Day."

"Your third mirror is Henry VIII. Like him, you have never felt love since birth... But you have a family you cherish, a kingdom you care about, while he hated his bloodline and mission. You are more similar to him than anyone else.

"—Both of you are people who didn’t understand love from the very start of your destiny, but the love for the world and others in your heart burns on eternally. The Unquenchable Fire, this is the Third Day... and also the third Fragment of Truth you are about to receive."

"...But you mentioned the price."

Annan said slowly, "That means there’s still room for negotiation... right?"

"Yes, after all, I am the deity of trade. There’s nothing that can’t be negotiated for a price."

The Silver Baron’s lips curved slightly upward, and he patted Annan on the shoulder, stood up and turned his back to Annan, saying flatly, "Go to the funeral first; it’s what you promised me. We’ll talk about the rest later.

"We have plenty of time."

—At least, fifty-two hours left.

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