Super Righteous Player
Chapter 459 - 456, Page 4, Book of the Celestial Chariot_1

Chapter 459: Chapter 456, Page 4, Book of the Celestial Chariot_1

[Book of the Celestial Chariot, Page Two]

[Type: Fragments of Truth (1/6) (Unlocked)]

[Remaining Fragment Holders: 2]

[Manifested: 4]

[Description: A recently born Fragment of Truth, gather all fragments to grasp a new authority]

Annan didn’t rush to touch it.

He first drank a healing potion to recover from his injuries... and after sending out a notification of the main quest’s completion to the players, he reached out and touched the page floating in the air.

Like a phantom, it shattered into nothingness and merged directly into Annan’s body.

The progress of collecting the Book of Truth immediately increased by one level.

Consequently, a new effect appeared.

A function for which Annan had been eagerly waiting:

[Book of the Celestial Chariot (4/6): Summon or dismiss a specified number of players from another world (80/400)]

[Current Effects (4/6): Players may revive; Common Experience Pool (3%); Transport Keystone; Open Friends and Team Function]

[Common Experience Pool: Up to 3% (up from ’2%’) of the experience points gained from any source (upgraded from ’from instances’) by players whose level is not higher than one’s own can be stored in the Common Experience Pool, which can be allocated to any friendly unit (not limited to players)]

[Friends and Team: Players can add friends, view their level, health, and city at any time after adding, and can also block this information from friends; friends can form teams of four, eight, or twenty members, striking down monsters will result in the teammates splitting an additional 50% experience, and the experience earner will receive 50% of the original experience; does not cause damage to teammates, but still produces stagger or control effects on them]

—Experience sharing!

—No damage to teammates!

These were the features Annan had been eagerly awaiting.

Without experience sharing, there would basically be no players who would play as support—if you can’t get kills, you don’t get experience, so why wouldn’t I play as a damage dealer?

Or should I expect other teammates to hold back and leave the enemy with a sliver of life, just so I can land the killing blow?

Only after the introduction of experience distribution mechanics, could a systematic team combat style exist.

And only after turning off friendly fire could it ensure that players would be more inclined to form steady teams instead of individual combat or free-form teams. These two conditions complement each other.

Only if teaming up does not interfere with their own growth or sense of being surrounded by allies, would players be enthusiastic about teaming up.

And only after gathering enough people, would players have the capability to venture into unknown territories and act. They wouldn’t just pack a few things and think that exploring is too much trouble, preferring to stay in the city and not wanting to move...

When a "game" becomes too realistic, these problems are bound to arise.

So realistic that it’s just a bunch of trouble.

After all, the most realistic Earth OL is just a crappy game.

Now with the experience sharing mechanism, the ability to turn off damage to teammates, along with the transportation ability Annan had obtained before... players could finally explore without worry. No need to fret about this and that.

"Your Highness Annan,"

Once everything had settled down, Hugo Blacktower approached and said softly to Annan, "Thank you very much for coming this time..."

"It’s just a pity... our Heath Tower of Black doesn’t have much left to offer as a gift."

"I didn’t come for gifts,"

Annan tightened the robe that had become much looser on his body, and responded earnestly, "I came to help my friends."

"Yes... I’ve heard Salvatore mention you,"

Hugo’s voice was soft, "I just didn’t expect you to come."

"To be honest, neither did I."

Annan smiled, "I’m actually quite impulsive."

"It shows."

"Is it that obvious?"

"It’s not a bad thing,"

Hugo said slowly, "But let’s not talk about this now, Your Highness Annan. I need to return to the core of the Black Tower immediately... otherwise, the flames on the Black Tower cannot be extinguished.

"Even though my apprentices have... as long as the Black Tower stands, the legacy and hope will remain."

"What about the books?"

Annan inquired with concern.

With such a large fire, it’s uncertain if the books survived—no, they must have been affected.

But Hugo seemed unconcerned, "The purpose of a Wizard’s Tower is to pass on the legacy. Those books are just an outward appearance... even if they burn down, they can be recreated if wished.

"As for the other possessions—let them go if they’re gone."

Hugo smiled, his young voice surprisingly detached, "After all, I’m the only one living here. Those tables, chairs, beds... I don’t need them anyhow."

"...Right."

Annan looked at Hugo with a complicated gaze.

If he were the Tower Master and his property and family had been devoured by a great fire, he certainly couldn’t have maintained such calm.

But Hugo’s attitude was not so much indifferent... as it was a sage’s detachment.

As if understanding Annan’s question, Hugo simply smiled, "I don’t have many years left.

"It’s not your fault; you were timely. Thanks to you, I can last a few more years. At least I can hold out until Saul advances to Gold and is able to protect his inheritance."

"By then, my mission will finally come to an end..."

He sighed deeply.

It was not out of sadness.

But the calmness of laying down a heavy burden.

Hugo, before leaving, handed Annan two walnut-sized light yellow crystals.

"...What are these?"

Annan asked symbolically.

But as he touched the objects, a prompt appeared before him:

[Soul Crystal (Clarence Fredi)]

[Type: Material/Consumable/Offering/Oddity (Purple)]

[Description: A Soul Crystal crafted by Hugo Blacktower, containing the complete soul of someone who has died. It may have other uses]

[Description: You have never heard that it could be used as an offering ("Advanced Oddity Studies" check failed)]

[Effect: When crushed, it will be considered as having killed the person stored within the crystal; it can also extract Curse Bindings or form nightmares. The time of death is considered to be the moment the crystal is crushed]

The properties of the other crystal were identical to the first, except that the name "Isaac Flamel" was noted in parentheses.

"These are the souls of Sir Clarence and Sir Isaac. To resist your Wheel of Frost, the other souls were almost all consumed by him... Only Clarence’s soul survived.

"But after that man died, the soul that only existed because of his reliance on him is about to disperse."

Hugo chuckled self-deprecatingly, "Being killed by a Transcendent Monk has its one perk. At least the soul remains intact... There might still be a chance for resurrection.

"Sir Isaac wasn’t killed by him, and his soul had long since dissipated. This is an artificial Spiritual Body made of other spiritual bodies that fill the ’stuffing’ left by his lingering thoughts. He might be able to help you.

"I remember Benjamin had studied something similar, or you can also find someone else. Anyway... I’m sorry I couldn’t offer you any spoils of war. This is the only gift I can give you."

Hugo answered calmly.

Annan hesitated for a moment and then asked, "Then... what about his nightmare?

"After I’ve killed his soul, will his nightmare still exist?"

Annan was now very interested in these nightmares that could yield elements.

Hugo nodded, "If you’re interested, I’ll help you purify this nightmare. I’ll purify it to the threshold, not take anything from it, hand the key over to you, and give you the information. That way, you can easily inherit all the power from the nightmare.

"There’s no hurry for this. Come back at the end of June."

"Alright, no problem."

Annan replied, barely perceptibly relieved.

Bernadino was already dead.

Next, the Silver Baron would help Kafney ascend to the throne... It wouldn’t be quite appropriate for Annan to get involved at this time. What would it look like for a foreign leader to help a new king rise to power?

He would leave it to the Silver Baron, although it seemed a bit troublesome to him. But he seemed quite willing... Before Kafney’s coronation, Annan would stay away for a few months.

But in these months... what should he do?

Having suddenly become idle left Annan somewhat at a loss.

Should he make a trip back to the Winter Duchy?

... But with Maria there, would he really be able to return after he went back?

Especially when he had a Kafney in Noah waiting for him... would his sister let him leave?

But the task given by his great-grandmother was complete, and sooner or later, he would have to go back.

But Annan was also somewhat concerned about the situation in the Underground Federation... mainly because Annan wanted to meet the Mysterious Lady to ask what exactly happened at the end of the last cycle.

Of course, there was also the most critical mission.

— Unable to transport across boundaries, this temporarily prevented the players from being able to teleport internationally.

But this wasn’t something that was completely insurmountable.

They could simply follow the subway... Plant transport points underground, and by entering any subway line, one could teleport to any country’s underground.

It sounded very Skaven-like.

"Let’s head back out for now. I need to explain things to my senior."

Annan murmured.

The deficit of twenty points in Constitution also made Annan feel extremely weak.

It would take a full twenty days to recover...ah.

The potion that grants an extra life is indeed strong, but...

It’s still better to have the senior continue to study alchemy, at least to minimize the side effects of the medicines.

Watching the players rushing over, Annan stood at the top of the burning Black Tower, looking down at them.

He smiled and waved to the players.

"I have triumphed—"

Annan shouted:

"—We have triumphed!"