The crypt of Hostings Cathedral was filled with a cold atmosphere. Hu Di walked one step deeper and the other shallower, looking at the ancient stone sculptures emerging from both sides in the darkness, staring ahead with empty eyes.
"Shizu...where is this place?"
"The underground prison of Hollett College. This is where they killed me back then, and there's even more inside."
"..." Hu Di fell silent.
At this moment, a shadow flashed in the darkness, causing him to turn around.
"how?"
"No, it's nothing..."
He shook his head, thinking he was hallucinating.
The iron torch in the inner niche was extinguished half a century ago. After the monks in robes left, this dark place has been used by the Dragon Worshipers to carry out their cruel deeds. There seems to be still something in the damp dungeon. echoed with the sighs and groans of those who suffered.
There was even a blood-curdling scream echoing from the end of the long corridor in the distance.
It seems that the souls of the victims are still bound here, enduring suffering and torture day and night.
"They use this place to detain the 'missing' students and those who discovered their secrets. Once they get here, they can never leave. The people imprisoned here are just livestock, living sacrifices, and have been tortured. And then eventually died.”
Shisi stopped and opened an iron gate. The cell door was in disrepair and made a heart-wrenching sound. It was stained with brown stains. It was unclear whether it was rust or dried blood.
Behind the fence door was an empty circular hall. Hu Di only felt that the ground in the hall was uneven. Looking down, he saw that the concave lines stretched toward the center like a spider web.
There is an altar covered in cobwebs.
The dome of the underground hall was inlaid with a fluorite, and a cool glow fell from there, just above the altar.
There was only a sickle-shaped dagger on the stone platform.
"This is it," Shizu said in a slightly urgent tone, "Put the sword on the altar, Hu Di."
"Wait a minute, Shizu, there's something wrong with this altar...?"
Hu Di felt the sword in his hand tremble slightly, as if he was resisting something.
"That is the evil handiwork of the Dragon Worshipers. It is what binds all the victims here. Hurry, Hu Di, put the sword on the altar and end everything."
"But--"
"Hu Di, don't you believe me?"
Hu Di frowned, glanced at Xisi, nodded, walked over slowly, and gently placed the Blade of False Victory on the altar.
The moment the sword came into contact with the altar, it seemed to be contaminated, with a layer of black spots appearing on it, and the originally dull blade became even more rusty at this moment.
And the sword body shook violently, causing him to subconsciously let go of his hand. The sword fell to the ground and cracked a gap.
"Did you see it? It absorbed the curse of the altar!" Shizu's eyes lit up and her tone changed involuntarily: "Hu Di, now. While the sword can still suppress the power of the curse, destroy it. ——Pick up that dagger, quickly!”
She suddenly coughed heavily.
He knelt down on the ground in pain, coughing until stars appeared in his eyes, covered his mouth with his hand, and then let go, his palms were all dazzling red.
"Shizu?"
Hu Di turned around, always feeling that the girl was a little strange, but when he saw Shisi kneeling on the ground with a pale face, he couldn't help but be shocked.
Shizu shook her head: "Leave me alone, go and destroy that sword——"
She gritted her teeth in her heart: "Damn human boy, just wait for me, that woman actually has a hand in the upper city. But it doesn't matter, there is still time, my undead army-"
Her expression suddenly changed.
Behind the two of them, the dungeon door flew open with a bang.
The one who flew in was a Dragon Worshiper. The former fell to the ground and fell silent, while the one behind him who rushed in first was an elderly knight with a solemn expression.
He held the long sword in his hand and looked directly at Xi Si and Hu Di, then landed on the altar in the center of the hall, and finally glanced at the False Victory Blade that fell on the ground.
Following Dict, the cursing Papalar crossbowman came in. Among the three, only Hongye was missing. Parker was seen retreating while shooting out, but after seeing the situation in the hall clearly, the little man couldn't help being stunned:
"Is there someone here? Wait, Hu Di, is it you!?"
His hands stopped.
The Dragon Worshipers from outside also rushed in, a total of seventeen or eight people. As soon as these people entered the hall, the originally empty hall immediately became a little crowded.
"Damn little dwarf, let's see where you run this time!"
The leader of the Dragon Worshipers didn't know what kind of harm he had suffered at the hands of Parker, and he was still cursing until now. However, as soon as the latter walked into the hall, he couldn't help but be stunned.
The man looked at Hu Di in surprise and said, "Is it you, that boy from the Dragon Fire Guild?"
He immediately looked around: "Damn it, where's the False Victory Blade you stole!?" Then the man's eyes were fixed on the dark sword next to the altar.
But he was still alert, and he immediately raised his head and looked at Dickter who was standing aside.
But the older knight didn't even look at him, and said to Hu Di calmly: "Young man, pick up the sword and hold it in your hand. Don't lose it."
Hu Di was stunned for a moment, looking at this man with some confusion.
He recognized the other person. This older knight had acted with Fang Plover and the others before, but he didn't know if he was Ed's teammate or a member of the Tapolis Knights.
"Hu Di, have you forgotten our agreement?" Xisi finally regained her breath at this moment, looked at him weakly and helplessly, and said with a pale face: "I can't hold on for too long, hurry up... "
Hu Di gritted his teeth and turned around to get the dagger on the altar.
But Dict stepped forward and blocked him with his sword.
"She is lying to you," the older knight looked at Hu Di and said calmly: "What you are chasing is just the phantom of the past, young man, she will not give you anything except lies."
"Don't listen to him," Shisi said weakly: "He is provoking. He and those Dragon Worshipers are the same breed. Don't forget that we are the only ones who can trust each other here, Hu Di."
She looked at Dict before continuing: "Don't be afraid of him, Hu Di, you are a person recognized by me, and no one here can hurt you. Go forward and do what you should do." "
Hu Di then turned back to look at the tip of Dict's sword, and then took a step forward.
The knight's sword passed through his body as if it were an illusion. This scene couldn't help but make Parker behind him widen his eyes and scream: "Oh my god, what is going on!?"
Dickert looked at the young man in front of him and shook his head. "This illusion is Miss Shizu's dream. I really can't stop you as a person under her protection, young man," he said slowly: "But the woman behind you is not Shizu. You know her who is it--"
"I know, she is the golden dragon."
Hu Di raised his head and answered slowly. "I have always known this, and Shizu has never tried to deceive me, but whether Miss Shizu or Dragon's Golden Eyes, they are one, no matter in the past or now - Mr. Knight, if you are Ed My friend, please help me say sorry to him, I didn’t mean to lie to him.”
He looked at the sword on the ground: "But Shizu didn't do anything wrong. She shouldn't have to suffer such a fate. Having the power of the Dragon's Golden Eyes is not her fault, and it was not her who caused all this, but It’s those people.”
Hu Di raised his head and looked coldly at the Dragon Worshipers behind Dict.
The Dragon Worshiper sneered: "The groan of a boring weakling."
He spread his hands: "Since you are so obsessed with Lord Nicol Bolas's power, then you should join us, boy. Her soul is only a part of the great Lord Nicol Bolas, and the dark dragon is He is the true master of the Golden Dragon. You must understand this and not pursue these wrong phantoms——"
"Xisi is not a phantom. She was born with the power of the Dragon's Golden Eyes, but this does not mean that she will definitely surrender to you." Hu Di looked at everyone and replied word by word: "Three You ruined everything ten years ago, but I will never let tragedy happen again thirty years from now, Shizu—she is not the dark dragon Nicol Bolas!"
"The golden dragon doesn't mean everything -"
Dickert sighed.
He put down the sword in his hand and looked at everyone present - even the Dragon Worshipers: "She didn't tell you the truth, young man, Miss Shisi was indeed chosen by the Golden Dragon. But all of this was planned by it. The Golden Eyes of the Dragon are the source of power of the dark dragon, the fire of Venus, and the disaster of Essolin - young man, only if you let her break free from this seal will Miss Shizu His soul was completely wiped out."
"Power exists in the human heart, Hu Di. There is no good or evil in power itself, but in the person who uses it," Shizu said: "Do you believe that I am someone who will use the power of the Dragon's Golden Eyes to do evil?"
After hearing this, Hu Di raised his head and looked at Dict, shook his head and said, "Mr. Knight, I would rather believe in Shizu." As he said that, he stepped forward and passed through the phantom-like older knight.
But when he was about to reach for the dagger on the altar, a faint phantom emerged from behind Parker and blocked him with open hands.
"Stop, Hu Di, Mr. Dickert didn't lie to you—"
That hazy shadow and crisp voice were so familiar to Hu Di.
This made him suddenly raise his head and look at the shadow in front of him in disbelief.
That weak figure was the brave and strong daughter of the pottery workshop owner; the last student who disappeared from Hollett College thirty years ago.
The girl shook her head slightly, and her ghostly figure gradually became clearer. But compared to the 'Xis' behind Hu Di, there was neither fanaticism nor anxiety in her eyes.
There is only endless worry about the person in front of me and a hint of inner peace.
Hu subconsciously turned around, looked at the former, and then at the latter. The two girls were exactly the same, but there was an uncontrollable wavering in his heart.
"Remember what I said to you, Hu Di," the girl said softly: "Don't chase the phantom of the past, although it gives us the opportunity to get to know each other through thirty years - let me see this You are just and brave, but Hu Di, some things are destined to have passed away——"
"But..." Hu Di's heart skipped a beat.
"Don't believe that woman," Shisi behind him looked at the girl who suddenly appeared in surprise, and said in panic: "She is just a fake, a trick played by those people!"
Hu Di also vaguely thought that there was such a possibility.
But there was a voice in his heart telling him that this was not the case.
He couldn't help but look at the latter.
The girl just looked at him quietly and said: "Dollifen's illusion will eventually dissipate, but you should be happy for this, not depressed; because that day, it will be the most beautiful day in this city. All of us, it’s the moment of our redemption.”
"Because we will leave eventually, but please don't be sad. The memory will always exist in everyone's heart and become eternity. When that moment comes, Hu Di, I will go where I should go, but at least, then And it can accompany you instead of me——"
Hu Di was startled for a moment and looked up, only to see an elegant black cat standing behind the girl, tilting its head and looking at him with bright eyes.
"Miss Spoon!"
His heart suddenly shook, and he finally remembered what the wrong feeling in his heart was.
It was as if an invisible force lingered in his mind, making him forget a lot of things, even the only witness he had with the girl - and at this moment, he was completely awake.
The girl smiled slightly when she saw this, and stretched out her hand as if she wanted to hold his hand, but the illusory shadow was destined to cross his hand. She could only watch this scene with a slight sigh.
"This is our original agreement. Hu Di, learn to be brave. Aitalia is very big, but Dolifen is very small. Your journey has just begun. We have agreed to see the world together, so no matter what you do in the future Wherever you go, you should always remember that I will be praying for you silently somewhere—"
Hu Di turned his head sharply.
And 'Shizu' behind him, her face had changed color at this moment, and she screamed: "When did you bypass me and do these things, this cat - this is that damn woman's thing!"
She looked at the girl in shock: "You actually secretly colluded with her. Don't forget that we are one!"
But the girl shook her head gently: "You and I have never been one. The power of the Dragon's Golden Dragon is the evil essence of the dark dragon. I have already woken up from the moment I handed the Ring of Promise to Miss Misu. ——You destroyed Dolifen and everything here."
She raised her head and said softly: "Do I still want to join in the same deeds with you?"
"You -" 'Xisi' looked at Hu Di, then at the girl, and seemed to realize that her exposure was inevitable, and finally roared in a low voice: "It shouldn't be like this, I have obviously controlled Duoli. Fen's illusion has controlled this chess game, and you are just pawns in this chess game——"
"That's true," the girl replied, "but you did something wrong."
She looked at Hu Di.
"One person gave me the courage to end this."
"The end," 'Shizu' sneered: "Have you and that woman not figured out the situation yet? Who has the upper hand in this illusion now? Look at you like this. In addition to influencing that cowardly and incompetent young man, you What else can be done?”
"But here, you can't exert your power, Dragon's Golden Eyes." The girl replied.
"Indeed," Shisi shook her head: "But do you think I would place all my hopes on one person?"
She just finished speaking.
The Papalar man couldn't help but scream: "Be careful!"
Dict turned around and saw the Dragon Worshiper leaping past him and rushing toward Hu Di. Without thinking, he raised his sword and blocked it.
…
