Super Righteous Player
Chapter 562 - 103: The Ruts of Destiny’s Chariot_1

Chapter 562: Chapter 103: The Ruts of Destiny’s Chariot_1

"It is I, Your Highness Annan."

The one who responded to Annan’s question was indeed the "Man in the Mirror," the Pope, Benjamin Foster.

The Delicious Wind Goose and the Wandering Child both recognized him.

After all, he had been a comrade in arms during the first major event they faced together.

Seeing this familiar figure, they slightly relaxed and eased up a bit.

But compared to his appearance back then, Benjamin had changed a lot, both in looks and temperament.

In those days, if you removed his wizard’s robe, he would look just like an ordinary old man with a scholar’s temperament. But the current Benjamin emitted a mysterious aura... Rather than human, he was more like a humanoid totem or a moving symbol.

Now, Benjamin’s pupils had turned into mirrors, reflecting all the scenery in front of him in pure silver. He was wearing a grey cloak with a rather strange design.

The cloak was inlaid with many fragmented mirrors near its edge, radiating a rainbow halo and resembling a peacock with its feathers fanned out in display.

Just one glance, and one could not forget his presence. His figure would be seared directly into one’s mind...

And when Pope Benjamin spoke, his voice carried a strange echo, as if reverb had been applied.

The moment Benjamin’s voice sounded, Annan realized that he had been subjected to a new influence:

[You have received a new mark "Low-level Influence: Infinite Overlapping Echoes."]

[If not removed promptly, you will fall into a random nightmare with the keyword "mirror" in seven days (Difficulty: Hard).]

...Can the Pope really apply an influence that simply?

Annan’s gaze fell on the dark gold mirror cradled in Benjamin’s arms. His hands hidden in his sleeves, the mirror he embraced reflected everything but curiously, no person could be seen in it.

Could it be...

The title "Man in the Mirror" referred to His special existence within the mirror?

It seemed Benjamin was alone, yet was he actually carrying his own deity with him?

For a moment, Annan couldn’t judge whether the "deity" was the "Pope’s" equipment or the "Pope" was the "deity’s" steed.

Such a strange symbiotic relationship.

—It was downright hippopotamus-like.

An extremely impolite comparison came to Annan’s mind.

"What brings you here?"

Clearing his throat, Annan politely inquired.

Regardless of the fact that Benjamin was also considered half a mentor to Annan and had provided much help in the early days... Now, as Pope, Benjamin’s status was only slightly less than Annan’s, after the latter had ascended to the position of Grand Duke.

"Are you searching for Justus’s nightmare?"

Pope Benjamin counter-queried.

Without waiting for an answer, he declared on his own accord:

"—That is absolutely unfindable."

Without giving Annan and the others a chance to express their doubts, Benjamin’s aged voice further explained, "Because the ’key’ to Justus’s nightmare... is not on this current timeline.

"That is why the ’Man in the Mirror’ has sent me here, to guide you."

...What does that mean?

Dragon Well Tea was slightly taken aback upon hearing this.

But Annan was beginning to understand.

Having been part of "Nightmare: White Tower," he had some understanding of Michelangelo’s ritual to ascend to godhood.

His ritual foundation was hidden in the "past." Without the means to cross the timeline, it was impossible to destroy it.

These False Gods of ritual ascension, if their ritual got destroyed, the temporary truths they ’borrowed’ via the ritual would be taken back. Thus, they would be directly demoted back to the Gold stage... For instance, the Skeleton Lord’s ritual foundation was the entire duchy he had sacrificed.

If someone wanted to kill the Skeleton Lord, they didn’t need to confront him directly; they just had to find a way to enter the Mist, locate the ruins of the Doxology Duchy, dig all the way underground, and kill all the undead there. That way, the Skeleton Lord’s "proof of betrayal" would be destroyed.

...Although that would be quite troublesome as well.

However, the Man in the Mirror’s ritual was hidden in the "past," making it an absolutely secure method of concealing his ritual.

—And Justus’s nightmare was also hidden in the "past"?

"Idol wizards attract each other," Benjamin slowly said. "This is because the essence of their power is ’fate.’ Once fates have intersected or have had connections, even after many years, the causality will not be severed."

Hearing this, Annan gradually understood.

"You’re saying... the man in the mirror had connections with the Professor of Wolves before?"

After Michelangelo attained godhood, people who knew him couldn’t casually mention his past name anymore, because it would generate new influences and also be regarded as mystical knowledge, bringing pointless pressure to bystanders.

In response to Annan’s speculation, Benjamin nodded.

He gave an affirmative answer without any hesitation.

I see.

Annan realized.

That’s why... Naifertali came here. Because "Bone Healer"—formerly known as "Professor Gray"—must have had connections with the "Professor of Wolves."

Idol Wizards can borrow power by increasing "similarity" with the other party.

In this respect, "Professor of Wolves" Frederick calling himself that was likely an attempt to steal "Professor Gray’s" power.

Perhaps "Professor Gray" changing his name to "Bone Healer" also had something to do with the Professor of Wolves.

Therefore, their relationship must be more complex than just "both being Idol Wizards."

Annan frowned slightly.

"Eye of Lag" Michelangelo was Gold ranked in the past and has now ascended to godhood.

Bone Healer," "Professor Gray" Seti was Gold ranked in the past and remains so.

"Professor of Wolves" Frederick was only Silver at that time, but now he has reached Gold rank.

Past and present...

If we include "Michelangelo" and use Seti as a medium,

could it be considered a "mirror" domain ritual?

Annan pondered.

He looked at Benjamin.

He asked seriously, "What kind of help can the man in the mirror provide us?

"And what do we need to do?"

"Broadly speaking, you just need to purify this nightmare,"

His Holiness Pope Benjamin replied, "As the proxy of ’The Man in the Mirror,’ I cannot deal with this nightmare myself, or I would have resolved it already. It must be purified by the people of your era..."

"Because the Professor of Wolves is stealing the man in the mirror’s power," Annan narrowed his eyes slightly, "right?"

Upon hearing this speculation,

Benjamin was silent for a moment.

He neither confirmed nor denied, maintaining his silence.

But this silence had already given Annan his answer.

—Indeed.

Benjamin had come all the way here to sever this nightmare.

As the "fates" of the three Idol Wizards converged at one point.

Upon reflection, it seemed that all three had some connection with Annan.

Or rather, the fact that Annan had heard these three names meant he had already formed a connection with them.

Benjamin, who acted on behalf of the man in the mirror to contact Annan.

Naifertali, who represented Seti to contact Annan.

And...

...Dorin, the werewolf girl, who contacted Annan on behalf of the Professor of Wolves.

If this was not a coincidence... what if all three Idol Wizards were "evading" themselves and thus sent proxies closely related to them?

"Fate is the track of the chariot of heaven..."

Annan murmured.

He had a deeper understanding of this phrase.

—The chariot of heaven might be a concept of a higher order than "fate."