Who Designed This Underworld Dungeon?
Chapter 327 - 246 Let’s Hype Topps Up_2

Chapter 327: Chapter 246 Let’s Hype Topps Up_2

"Alright, let’s follow your plan."

Ceder didn’t continue persuading and instead said to his assistant Jina, "Go prepare the ritual, the Memory Extraction Magic ritual."

The Memory Extraction Magic, a type of magic with high risk and usage threshold, can extract a segment of a creature’s memory and preserve it in an Image Stone.

Only those who are extremely adept in magic manipulation and have the highest magical talent can use this magic. Furthermore, it also demands a certain level of spiritual strength from the extracted person; if the strength is too low, the ritual might fail or even cause paralysis, making this magic impractical.

Steeran had full confidence in her spiritual power and trusted in Ceder’s magical proficiency. The main thing was—

She couldn’t wait for people to see what was happening in the Painting World and had no patience to wait for another person to collect all the painting fragments!

She probably felt the same eagerness as Dal after witnessing the story of Artorias and couldn’t wait to share it.

She completely immersed herself in the identity of "Topps’s disciple."

One day later, an image titled "Topps Force Field" appeared in Bed City, starting sales in the name of the Guild, along with methods to acquire related painting fragments.

Two days later, the spread of the image saw a wild growth. People competed to buy blank Image Stones to duplicate this segment of the image, and the Image Stones in the city were sold out for a time.

Three days later, the city’s newspapers competed to publish reports about Topps like sharks smelling blood. A wave of enthusiasm comparable to Artorias emerged, and the image began to spread rapidly outside the city, showing initial signs of its influence.

Four days later, areas fully covered by the influence of Sain Dungeon received this hopeful image. Due to the lack of sufficient Image Stones for everyone, some began organizing public screenings, and all merchant caravans urgently started stocking Image Stones, while the Bed family had already begun producing related merchandise on the second day.

Five days later, Topps became known to everyone. "Topps Force Field" became the most talked-about term in recent days.

Six days later, in Spring Sun City and Cangyin Dungeon, a couple who came here to tour accidentally left behind an Image Stone recording Topps’s image, which was picked up by City Lord Heiniss.

"What’s this? An Image Stone from Sain Dungeon? Let me see!"

"Is this bald-headed uncle the protagonist? He looks weak, what could he be talking about?"

"He actually seems pretty nice, maybe a bit excessively self-deprecating. If I had a teacher with this personality, I’d be quite happy."

"Boo-hoo, teacher, why did you leave, teacher...?"

"Wow, so cool! The teacher’s magic brutally humiliated the Elden Beast!"

Heiniss’s reaction was basically the common reaction of anyone who had seen the image, feeling formulaic.

The blue force field and the golden meteor, these were the most profound impressions the image left in the heart of every viewer. The world-destroying meteor was deflected by what seemed like an unremarkable force field, human wisdom rejecting the might of the gods....

Those who delved deeper into the image and Dungeon information discovered that the requirements for using the force field were very low, and the War Ash version could be used by anyone, even the farmers working by the roadside could use it to deflect the proud magic of mages, and even divine magic!

This, this is the greatest aspect of Topps Force Field! Human wisdom has triumphed!

Perhaps it was precisely because Topps’s talents were mediocre that he created techniques that common people could use. Compared to it, which among the Calia Return and Full Moon was not for geniuses?

Once this point was discovered, Topps became not only well-known among adventurers but also warmly welcomed by common folk.

Someone created a painting of the Force Field against the Elden Beast, but changed the protagonist wielding the force field to Topps, just hoping the Elden King wouldn’t mind this little alteration.

Only seven days had passed, and Topps had already become a rising star after the veteran Fran Undead Team.

But, there were those who rejoiced and those who were troubled.

"What nonsense about deflecting divine power, it’s absurd!"

It wasn’t just the Holy Light Church; various organizations that worshipped gods reacted strongly to Topps’s notoriety, viewing it as undermining the gods’ authority, which they couldn’t accept.

Even the Starfire Church that worshipped the Fire God Gwyn felt uneasy about it.

The magicians, too, felt offended. Ever since the force field became famous, they had the perception that people looked at them differently, as if looking down on them.

Damn it, even if the force field can deflect magic, so what? You can’t obtain it, so why look down on us! The magicians were all stifled with a frustration they couldn’t express.

Disputes began to appear, but these disputes actually benefited Sain Dungeon, after all, it brought more attention.

So, in the city, you could often see a young black-haired, black-eyed shopkeeper stirring up trouble everywhere, essentially becoming a provocateur. He must digest magic potions quickly (crossed out).

All of this was in line with Steeran’s expectations.

These days, she temporarily left the Elves’ team and instead became a Sun Warrior at Lake Lienia, but her goal was to help others obtain [painting fragments "Waste Stone"].

Just looking at the image effects extracted from her mind was still a bit lacking; witnessing the story personally is the only way to feel the shock.

And today, among the people she helped, someone finally appeared who had collected all the fragments and entered them.

It was the Sword Saint, Gapar.

Sain Dungeon, Academy Gate Town.

"Clang, clang..."

The sound of the Iron Hammer forging came from the next room. Steeran and Gapar sat on the floor inside the house next to the blacksmith. The latter was holding a Silver Shield, representing that he had entered the Painting World.

"Mr. Gapar, have you used the Tear-Drop Embryo yet?" Steeran asked with a smile, "Should I call you Magic Master now?"

Gapar waved his hand, his expression somewhat peculiar.

"No, I haven’t used it yet. How should I put it, my feelings are a bit mixed right now, especially..."

He tapped on the Silver Shield, sighed, "After seeing those scenes, I just feel like magic isn’t that cool."

After witnessing the White Wolf use the Force Field to tear through the academy, deflecting all those seemingly cool magic spells, and finally facing the Elden Meteor, Gapar’s reverence for magic shattered, along with his yearning, all swept into the trash.

All those cool ranged magic spells were deflected, while simple and unassuming weapon-formed magic spells were not affected by the Force Field, this...

After coming out of the Painting World, he looked at the [Calia Greatsword] and [Highmore Hammer] in his hand and thought for a night, ultimately admitting—

"I guess I don’t really want to be a Magician anymore."

Gapar’s expression was indescribable, mixed with disappointment and frustration, but weirdly there was also a sense of liberation from the shackles of obsession.

Magic could be deflected, but the swordsmanship and physical prowess he diligently trained would not.

It seems... close combat is still cooler, magic that can be deflected isn’t stylish at all.

Noticing his demeanor, Steeran almost laughed out loud. It might seem mean to say this, but she felt a bit refreshed inside, not expecting Topps Force Field to pull the aspiring Magician Sword Saint back on the "right path."

"Anyway, thank you for your help. If it weren’t for you, I probably wouldn’t have found the first fragment nor seen such marvelous scenes." Gapar said sincerely.

"Are you staying here, then? I heard you stayed in the Dungeon for the Tear-Drop Embryo." Steeran asked.

"It’s time to leave. I’ve been here so long, I’ve almost forgotten the original goal."

Gapar shook his head with a smile, "I have decided to use the Tear-Drop Embryo to increase my intelligence by a few levels, just enough to use some magic. It would fulfill my youthful dreams. As for when to leave..."

He flexed his muscles, suddenly returning to his energetic self.

"I’m planning to fulfill the dreams of my beloved apprentices first and leave when everything is done."

"Dreams?" Steeran tilted her head.

Gapar extended a few fingers and said:

"Leon wants to hunt the Golden Lion, Maru wants a pair of beautiful dual blades, Drew wants to exchange Original Force Burst from Endless Reincarnation, Tal wants a good hammer."

"And Dal, this kid has his desires written all over his face. He recently came to me."

The Sword Saint showed a kindly elder’s expression, truly looking like a good mentor who cared about his disciples.

"He asked to join me in granting the Fran Undead Team a peaceful end."