Super Righteous Player
Chapter 964 - 22 Prisoner of the Black Tower

Chapter 964: Chapter 22 Prisoner of the Black Tower

He burned his own soul... to become the fire of inheritance.

Even Annan couldn’t help but hold his breath.

He soon realized that the ritual conducted by Tower Master Hugo was also a kind of "fire not kindled for oneself."

He had exhausted his own wisdom— for a wizard, wisdom was essentially everything in life.

For his life, which was already nearing its end, his soul, elements, and magic power were meaningless things about to vanish... but they were the things that became extraordinarily valuable at this last moment.

Like charcoal fired in a kiln.

But what truly astonished Annan was Tower Master Hugo’s intention to pass the sacred fire to Salvatore.

"...Sacred fire?"

Annan frowned deeply, "If I remember correctly, Tower Master Hugo, you just mentioned... the sacred fire is the energy source of Heath Tower of Black, right?"

If the sacred fire was lost, it would have to be ignited by the Tower Master. Like Hugo now— dressed in nothing, shoved into a chamber, hanging there at the top level.

Through the power of the "Flame Pilferer," substituting for the sacred fire to power Heath Tower of Black. When Hugo emerged from that apparatus, the entire Heath Tower of Black had come to a halt.

If the sacred fire was also given to Salvatore... it most likely meant that Kaisser too would completely lose his freedom, becoming a living battery.

Of course, Annan felt that Salvatore probably wouldn’t dislike this kind of life.

Because after entering that apparatus, the Tower Master’s thinking could control the Heath Tower of Black at will. For instance, this current "Thin Tall Wraith" was a "tangible illusion" created by Tower Master Hugo using the power of Heath Tower of Black.

Moreover, the power from Heath Tower of Black could nourish the Tower Master, sustaining his body. No need to eat, drink, sleep, or excrete, as if hibernating in a space capsule.

Such an arrangement would allow Salvatore not to worry about lack of sleep, thereby achieving a stable mind.

For Salvatore, who had always been tormented by lack of sleep... this might rather be a liberation. Because this would bypass his "Curse Binding" and also clear his mind.

He could also stay peacefully in Heath Tower of Black, continuously researching to resolve others’ difficulties. This seemed to be a good outcome for anyone.

...But Annan still felt that something wasn’t quite right.

"If the price of giving him the sacred fire is to make Salvatore permanently serve as the energy pillar of Heath Tower of Black... I think we still need to tell him."

Annan clasped his hands in front of his belly, leaned slightly back in his chair.

In a lounging posture, he spoke solemnly,

"Although I think he will agree and be pleased. He might even have been prepared for this— but that’s not the reason I can make this decision for him.

"I think... you might understand me."

The words Annan spoke were much like the decision Tower Master Hugo had made.

Should one sacrifice a person doomed to die, to save oneself?

Even knowing the sacrificial victim might agree, making one’s own inevitable demise more meaningful... it must still be confirmed by the person in question or by someone who can speak on their behalf.

Though it might sound a bit inauspicious... the best analogy is perhaps organ donation after death. While it’s certainly a good act, and the deceased would probably agree, if it’s done without the knowledge or consent of the deceased or their family...

Even if it results in good, it is inherently an act of evil.

Evil deeds and evil consequences are not directly linked.

Annan no longer wanted to engage in such "incomplete good". After all, he now had the capability to perfect the things he intended to do.

Although unlikely, if Salvatore suddenly wanted to go out and see the world instead of being sealed in the Wizard’s Tower forever, then Annan was essentially inflicting harm upon Salvatore.

Salvatore might not care, but Annan had to consider this possibility.

After all, people change—he might not care now, but he might regret it decades later. Such life-altering decisions should be made by him.

From his previous life, Annan had already regretted making decisions for others.

Of course... from another perspective, it was precisely because Annan valued Salvatore as a friend that he was so cautious. If it were someone whose name Annan couldn’t even remember, he might not care as much.

"—So, if you want me to deceive Salvatore and determine his future without his knowledge... I think, I would have to decline."

Annan said seriously, "It’s not about being right; it’s just that he should have the right to know about this—after all, the Curse Binding you signed with him has ended by now, hasn’t it?"

"It had ended. My wisdom has been completely burned away, and now I can only think with the aid of the holy flame, but... if I am to follow this ritual and give him everything, this Curse Binding still needs to be maintained."

Wizard Hugo sighed, "The soul is not something that can be given to others at will, which is why the Philosopher’s Stone is so necessary. Elements can’t be traded at will either... but there is a loophole in this Curse Binding; it doesn’t specify that I can ’only’ burn my wisdom to him. Since this ritual can burn such intangible concepts as wisdom and talent, it can also create a new pattern."

"That means, this ritual might not necessarily succeed."

Annan summed up, "It’s somewhat similar to the Ritual of the Mirror Image."

"...Yes, this too is an experiment. An experiment with my own life."

Wizard Hugo nodded frankly, "I will not harm Salvatore; if anything happens... it will be only me who is at risk. This is much like what Michelangelo decided to do, only he decided to ascend himself, whereas I decided to let Salvatore ascend in my place.

"However, this doesn’t mean he is more selfish than I, nor that I am nobler than he.

"It is because the Twin Towers were originally a ’Door,’ the gap between the mirror and its reflection; while the Black Tower is about ’Fire,’ emphasizing the inheritance of passing the torch. Our paths are not the same."

The tall ghostly shadow seemed to know what Annan was worried about and chuckled softly.

"You also don’t need to worry... don’t be afraid that Salvatore will be bound to the Heath Tower of Black for life due to the lack of the holy flame. Rather, the holy flame must be given to him—only then can he complete the ’Turning of the Four Wheels’."

Wizard Hugo revealed astonishing words.

From the very beginning, his goal was to create a god—not that the god was himself.

Annan was momentarily startled, then slowly nodded.

He had understood Wizard Hugo’s idea.

Even though Salvatore had not yet ascended to Gold... he was the sole maker of the Philosopher’s Stone. With the Philosopher’s Stone in hand, he didn’t need to worry about the ’perfect essence of elements’.

He could easily extract his elements into their perfect forms.

And as long as he could complete the Philosopher’s Stone, and take over the work of Nicholas II, fully completing the research on the new poison dust... he could act in the capacity of a legitimate successor of the Hermes School, realizing ’the work of creation’.

Nothing was more fitting of this achievement than "inventing a new method to make the Philosopher’s Stone".

And with the death of Nicholas II, Salvatore was now the only alchemist left—an alchemist who could also advance to Gold. Thus, when Salvatore advanced to Gold, he would naturally complete the ’Crown of the Supreme’.

Therefore, the only things Salvatore still lacked were two.

—Those were the ’Turning of the Four Wheels’ and the ’Prototype of Truth’.

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