Super Righteous Player
Chapter 933 - 466: So Vladimir Gave Up Thinking (Combined - s)_2

Chapter 933: Chapter 466: So Vladimir Gave Up Thinking (Combined Chapters)_2

The combination of these two spells is precisely the origin of the dark legend of the "Hand of Winter":

In the legend, the Hand of Winter are Disability Wizards who have completely frozen their emotions, emotionless watchers.

They could instantly freeze their enemies’ minds, making them lose the ability to resist, and could even freeze certain memories or deep-seated emotions in others, turning foes into friends...

Compared to the spells of the Ice Vein Wizards, the Hand of Winter was actually more skilled in the spells of the "Silence" Wizard. It was closer to the spells of the Soul Snatching School, albeit lacking some malleability.

The reason this new school was called "Disability" was not only because of the "loss of heat" from the frost, but also included the mental "loss of motivation."

Yes, Vladimir had never intended to use Elemental Power to attack Annan first.

Like Vladimir also knew, Annan was carrying a Genesis secret... he himself was also a Ritualist. Or rather, the upper echelons of the Hand of Winter, the "Ten Fingers", had some knowledge of rituals.

He merely had to look at the weight of Annan’s soul to know he definitely held a Genesis secret.

Such profound mystical knowledge was, in itself, power.

It was sufficient to severely wound, or even kill, Vladimir.

But...

Only the secret words about Winter would not kill Annan, because Annan possessed the Reversing Heart of Winter, immune to lethal attacks from the frost type.

Other Genesis secrets would all kill Annan as well.

Whether Annan dared to utilize this mystical knowledge was another matter...

Even if what Annan held was indeed a Genesis secret given by his grandmother... Annan simply did not have the time to recite it.

Chanting also required time, and it could only be chanted verbally. Recording devices could not handle that level of power.

And Vladimir was clearly not the kind of boss... who would stand still and watch as the hero transformed or gave himself a BUFF by recalling memories.

If Annan truly dared to stand and chant, he was bound to fail.

Annan was aware of this.

So he would not use such an overly delayed killing move.

His only means of attack—was that strange gun,

Similarly, Vladimir would not use his Elemental Power.

Vladimir’s Elemental Power, refined enough to unleash a Sublime Proxy, was indeed his sharpest spear.

Just like the very moment they met—Annan was completely unable to resist this attack, and Vladimir only needed one hit to paralyze Annan instantly.

But the expansion of the domain itself required time.

Elemental Power could only affect enemies within the domain or those touched by the Sublime Proxy.

Thus, Vladimir activated his Elemental Power as if specifically to use it to attack Annan... but he ultimately feigned an attack, instead gaining the upper hand over Annan first!

"Sorry, I’ve won."

Vladimir let out a deep breath.

He never intended to kill Annan from the beginning.

As he said—

He would never repent until the very end.

Because as long as he could move, Vladimir would never give up!

If the first round of control could be successfully executed, he could use the Hand of Winter’s trait to freeze Annan’s hostility. If "Loss of Fighting Spirit" successfully erased Annan’s desire to attack, he could then use "Enforced Pacification" to further hinder Annan’s actions.

If the "Enforced Pacification" state lasted for a certain time, he could use the "Friendship Spell" to add a "harmless" label to himself.

Then he could use "Hostility Removal" to turn an enemy into a friend.

Once completely devoid of hostility, he could use "Advanced Friendship Spell" to obtain a "close person" label. After that, whether he wanted to use hypnotic abilities to control the other party or conduct interrogations, he would get more accurate results, and could even directly enter the Soul Snatching School’s realm to start modifying memories.

The Hand of Winter was such a profession... once hit by a control, one would face endless chains of various controls.

This is one of the chain transformation directions.

Besides, there was the "Capture Mode" which completely froze people’s minds and personalities, turning them into dolls; or the "Interference Mode" where control alternated between the mind and the body.

This was precisely the spellcraft they used to serve the Grand Duke of Winter and protect the holder of the "Heart of Winter."

Vladimir had used it to counter Annan Winter.

This was precisely what the tragedian wanted to see—

But as Vladimir rapidly chanted the "Spell of Disabling" known as "Forced Pacification,"

he suddenly saw Annan’s lips slightly curl upwards.

In that moment, Vladimir’s pupils tightened abruptly.

Annan just... had no desire to attack?

As long as the opponent wished to attack, "Loss of Fighting Spirit" could completely freeze that emotion.

But if there was no such thought in Annan’s heart, the effect of "Loss of Fighting Spirit" would be completely nullified.

It required like the "Deepening Fear" under the Soul Snatching Spell that the opponent’s "fear" be strong enough to manifest on the surface of their consciousness; whereas "Fearlessness," a ritual spell from the Idol School, could be applied without a state of "fear."

Generally speaking, the Hand of Winter wouldn’t recklessly deploy "Loss of Fighting Spirit" against an unknown enemy.

This meant a control lapse.

Instead, it gave the opponent a chance to exempt themselves from "Deep Cold Stare."

The follow-up to "Deep Cold Stare" could be linked to "Deep Cold Manifestation," which would freeze the opponent’s mind and body simultaneously; or it could be used to link to "Lazy Eye," to further enhance the control effect of the Deep Cold Stare.

Link to "Loss of Fighting Spirit" was usually employed against kidnappers or black wizards about to attack... only when the opponent had the upper hand and must be stopped.

And Vladimir, with his previously implied "I’ve already lost," "I hate indecent scuffles," and his last rule proposed to Annan "Nobody shall flee or hide" were all a trap.

If Annan believed it and intended to gain time by launching a preemptive attack on Vladimir—his right of initiative would, in fact, be completely lost.

Even worse, it’d allow Vladimir to directly snatch control of his mind!

Then using the Three Sirens on Vladimir... to confirm Vladimir’s prophecy!

...Could it be that Annan had anticipated his movements from the very beginning?

Even forsaking the initiative, betting that he would use the standard Winter Hand "Preemptive Attack Routine"?

But if that were the case, if he used Elemental Power... Annan wouldn’t have the slightest chance to fight back!

This was simply a gamble with his life!

—No!

Vladimir suddenly noticed, behind Annan within the Three Sirens...

at some point, a color had vanished!

However, it was not the white associated with "Mad Blood."

...In that instant, Vladimir understood.

Annan’s decision... was the same as his.

He feigned an attack using Elemental Power, but actually employed a visually triggered Spell of Disabling— and Annan had never considered that strange gun as his only hope for turning the situation around.

"—Riege!"

Annan loudly called out the true name of the Siren "Clear Tune."

A stunningly beautiful, azure radiance flashed right in front of Vladimir.

He didn’t even see what the Siren named "Riege" actually looked like.

His right hand suddenly emptied—

The calmness and indifference that were isolated from the world, vanished instantly along with the disappearance of Black Mammon.

Or perhaps... not just that.

His entire consciousness began gradually dissipating.

The first to disappear was his insight into sounds. The entire world turned into silence... followed by colors, then light.

He no longer felt anger, nor pain. He had no nostalgia, nor hesitation.

—Thus, Vladimir, like an unborn fetus, quietly ceased to think.