Chapter 2199: The Final 5,180 Years

Chapter 2199: Chapter 2199: The Final 5,180 Years

Miss Belindel handed Shard some information on the "Ritual: Summoning the Shadow of [Seven-Tail Performer]." Although it’s incomplete, the essential parts are there, most importantly the ceremony contents and the prayer. To initiate the ritual requires sacrificing a large amount of fresh flesh and bone remains, and if the quantity is insufficient, the flesh of beings like dragons can be used as a higher-quality substitute.

As for the prayer, it is recorded on a parchment roll handwritten by the witch. When Shard unrolled it in the study at home, Miss Galina, who was also interested, looked over and frowned at the writing:

"If Bella wasn’t dizzy when she copied it, then these terrifying symbols shaped like musical notes are truly strange. I have never seen such a script, but just by looking at it, I can hear sounds in my ears."

"I haven’t seen it either; no worries, we’re not planning on summoning it anyway."

Shard said, jotting down everything. Because she was there, he wasn’t worried about forgetting anything. Once he confirmed he had read all the information in the file bag, he reached out and picked up the wooden key with fine cracks lying on the desk:

"Time to go."

As he stood, the cat originally lying on the desk suddenly sprang up and refused to leave once held by Shard. He could tell it wanted to come along this time too, and recalling how nothing happened when it followed last time, Shard turned it into a toy and put it in his pocket.

"Sometimes I truly envy that cat, always receiving your love."

The red-haired Duchess deliberately said this, and Shard winked at her:

"You can receive my love any time."

"But not always when I have time."

She lamented, then followed Shard to the study door:

"Three seconds, right? I’ll wait here for you, be careful over there. Come, my knight, let me give you a victory kiss."

Saying that, she embraced Shard’s neck, stood on tip-toes, and kissed his forehead. Shard touched his forehead, smiling and nodding:

"Then please wait for the story I bring back; I bet this one’s going to be very interesting."

The witch pursed her lips without speaking further, watching as Shard inserted the key into the inner side keyhole of the study door.

"May the World Tree protect me in time."

Click~

Facing the cotton-like writhing white mist beyond the door, Shard waved towards those behind him again, then strode forward into it.

[Outlander, you’ve stepped into the "Time Corridor."]

[Message from the Ancient God "Father of the Infinite Tree":]

[Fifth Era, Spring 5180, Outer Sea, Sea of Darkness.]

[Event: "Radiant Messenger" wrecked cruise ship.]

[Duration: Forty minutes (3/3).]

[You’ve obtained extra information.]

[Father of the Infinite Tree’s presence watches you.]

[The Ancient God of Time presents you a test.]

[Assist the Old God "Giver of Dreams" complete four instances of fishing.]

[Father of the Infinite Tree will reward you: Arcane Technique - Dragon Roar, Arcane Technique - Corrupt Blood Fog.]

"Thirty minutes became forty minutes... where did the progress reach last time?"

Standing in the white mist, Shard asked in his heart; "she" gently chuckled:

[Witch Teresa and Maid Maxim’s fishing is complete, they’ve "come back" to life. The Zaras Literary Academy’s Professor Ivins, you’ve only attempted fishing twice, the first "Iridescent Bird" was frightened unable to fly by Mia, the second time the professor wished for "Black Flame Ice Wine."]

"Thank you."

Shard nodded, stepping forward once more in the white mist, then unsurprisingly his body plunged straight into the sea:

"Oh! I’d rather be chased by reanimated plants at the Black Mist Camp than come to this cursed place again!"

He struggled against the deep sea’s pull to surface, gasping a few breaths while squinting in the rain towards the dark yet tumultuous waves. An uncontrollable and inexplicable fear surged again, as Shard caught sight of a glimpse of campfire light in the splashing waves:

"Over here!"

He started swimming with all his might, finally gripping the edge of a floating plank before the unknown giant in the sea depths could catch him.

Climbing atop it with effort, Shard felt utterly exhausted. This sea area was highly unusual; he fully believed if anyone other than himself, especially not even a single Seventh Ring or Seventh Rank witch could’ve swum here alive.

Luckily, after consuming that piece of Nameless Dragon’s flesh, Shard’s stamina was further enhanced. He took a few deep breaths, wiped the water off his face, and sat up, then saw the child-like Deity still sitting at the edge of the raft fishing. Seeing Shard looking over, he smiled and turned his head to ask:

"Did you find the truth?"

The voice reached Shard’s ears clearly amidst the rain and gale.

"If you mean the truth about this ship’s sinking, we’ll know soon; if you mean what Miss Magie Malone really is, I can only say I have a guess now, but it still needs verification."

Using his arm to support his body, Shard crawled towards the central firelight on the raft. As he approached the campfire, not only did his soaked clothes quickly dry, but his drained stamina also slowly recovered. However, surrounding the campfire, the four women were still slumbering as they had been the last two times Shard arrived.

Among them, the blonde Miss Teresa and the maid Miss Maxim snuggled together, with their blanket simultaneously covering both. Professor Ivins was slightly closer to them, while Miss Malone was farther from the three.

Without waking the ladies first, Shard extended his hand towards the campfire, took some thirty seconds to restore his body temperature to normal, and then pulled out the cat toy from his pocket, bringing Mia into this sea of darkness.

"Meow!"

The petite cat was cradled in Shard’s palm, then slowly moved with Shard towards the similarly blonde Miss Malone:

"Mia, take a sniff, does her scent match that of Miss Eles we met in the cemetery this afternoon?"

The Outlander, using his pet cat like a dog, nervously asked, fearing his guess was incorrect. Although Little Mia was displeased with the rainy weather, she truly stretched out her little head, sniffed, and then meowed softly.

"Thank goodness, thank goodness."

Shard breathed a sigh of relief and tucked the cat into his chest.

[So, do you really understand its language?]

"You know me best, of course, I don’t understand. But seeing Little Mia’s demeanor lets me know that Miss Malone is at least harmless to me, otherwise, this cat would’ve been on edge long ago."

Regarding whether Miss Teresa and they were unconscious or asleep, Shard couldn’t really judge. But at least waking them was easy, just softly calling their names and giving them a slight shake, and those beautiful eyes would slowly open, first revealing a bewildered look, and upon fully awakening, softly thanking Shard.

And for Miss Teresa, there was an extra step of tightly hugging Shard’s arm and actively kissing his cheek. The young Witch had been terribly frightened during Shard’s absence this time.

Since Shard first awakened her and the maid Miss Maxim, the two could tell Shard what had happened this time:

"Shortly after you left, we all gradually fell asleep. Later, we were awakened by strange sounds, and in the sound of the waves, we heard strange music, and we even wanted to get up and dance to the music."

Miss Teresa trembled all over, and Miss Maxim continued, the young maid, although a rank lower than Miss Teresa, was clearly more in control of her emotions than Miss Teresa:

"We saw Professor Ivins and Miss Malone standing with their eyes closed, dancing at the edge of the raft. Then, then, a huge shadow appeared in the depths of the dark sea."

She opened her palm to show Shard the amulet she held tightly, now shattered into several pieces. It wasn’t the usual metal or stone amulet of the Sixth Era, but a bone artifact. It was one of the few personal belongings left on her when the witches were ’fished up’ by Shard during their escape from the shipwrecked vessel.

The young maid’s face also showed terror:

"If it weren’t for the amulet His Majesty gave us for protection, we’d have gone mad by now. That was, that was..."

"Don’t say it out loud."

Shard stopped her, handing them Holy Water to drink. Then he stood up, only to be tugged by Miss Teresa by the sleeve:

"You’re, you’re leaving, aren’t you?"

She looked up at Shard with pitiful eyes, and he could see the fear and unease in her golden eyes:

"I’m going to check the place Miss Maxim pointed out, don’t worry, I’ll be right back."

That was the other end of the raft, just farthest from where the Deity was located.

"You must be careful."

The maid said with considerable concern, but still took the initiative to hold Miss Teresa’s hand to keep her calm. Shard considered leaving the cat in his chest behind, to prove he’d be back soon, but at the moment, the cat nestled in his clothes clung to the fabric, and Shard didn’t want to ruin a shirt over a tussle with Mia, so he gave up.

He went alone to the other edge of the raft, and just like sensing the ocean’s power at Moon Bay Dock not long ago, he closed his eyes in the rain to perceive deeply. This time, Shard only took a few seconds before his eyes widened with an incredibly solemn expression:

"A familiar power."

[Yes, it’s the power of the Evil of the Deep Sea - Seven-Tailed Player, but even stronger than the phantom you defeated at Moon Bay Harbor.]

Her gentle voice even when revealing the terrifying truth.

The stormy sea now seemed more terrifying to Shard than ever, making him subconsciously step back towards the inside of the raft. It took him several hesitant seconds to ask again:

"You wouldn’t be telling me that beneath this sea, that Ancient Evil Entity is hidden, would you?"