The stars disappeared.
The endless space has long since changed to another look, as if it were a scene after the end of the world. The earth is torn apart, mountains and rivers are moving, oceans and rivers have evaporated without a trace, and everything that comes into view is full of traces of raging magic.
All that was left on the cracked plain was scorched earth, devastated, and the remains of machinery piled on top of each other.
Staring at the blood-like setting sun, Friston's face showed an expression of indifference. He turned around and half-smiled, "You failed again."
In front, the dark creatures and the Nightmare Furnace construct descended from the starry sky, overwhelming the last line of defense of the Fang Plover construct.
But Fang Yu looked at this scene, but he didn't look depressed:
"But it has actually been successful."
he replied.
He guards this final line of defense alone, but he is not alone in the world. However, the annihilation of one line of defense resulted in the mortal army launching counterattacks on many fronts at the same time.
The horn has sounded, and it is already the final offensive of the misfortune star.
“Indeed,” Friston nodded lightly, “For an individual, it is almost impossible to defeat the Disaster Star, but the legacy of Jeldham and Hellingwell was not originally left to one person. You brought them here and you destined for that outcome.”
"Of course the future is not that simple. The tower cannot simulate what happens when the disaster star comes, but after mastering such ability, the future of mortals will have infinite possibilities. The road to victory may still be difficult, but A glimpse of the future has been revealed to us, and at least it is no longer hopeless.”
The genius took a long breath, walked back slowly, sat down against a gray rock, and said to Fang Plover, "Listen to me telling you a story."
Without waiting for Fang Yu's answer, he spoke: "Once upon a time, there was a young man who fell in love with a sincere, kind and beautiful girl, but as the noble princess of the empire, that girl already had another person living in her heart. "
"In order to get the love of Her Highness the Princess, the young man competed with his companions, but there was no winner in this competition. Her Highness the Princess suffered from a strange disease after a trip."
"Under necessity, the two young geniuses had no choice but to put aside their disputes and try every means to save the life of the princess. But all their efforts were destined to be in vain, when the black flames burned along every inch of the girl's skin and burned out. When her life and star shine, they can only watch her pass away without any means..."
"After that, the young man had questions about the loss of life and the origin of the black flame."
That was destined to be the beginning of the acquaintance between a genius from seven hundred years ago and the misfortune star.
Later, he embarked on another path. Since life withers like grass and trees, and if human life is only a short moment, why do we not think of ways to save it from the hands of death?
The young man invented an alchemical formula that could record the information of a person's soul in crystal. Then, bring the dead back to life, and bring back those who have passed away. But his first experiment encountered setbacks. Because of the immature technology, he made his sweetheart stay in the dark underground forever.
Friston said:
"With no choice but to do so, he chose himself as the second experimental subject. Worried about the possibility of accidents in the experiment, he left two bottom-level commands in the soul information engraved in the crystal at the place where he was experimenting - "
"The first is the love for that princess."
"The second is Yu's insistence on this technical route."
As long as both are indelible, the wish he left will continue along this path until it succeeds.
Fang Yu listened quietly, and naturally understood everything this story told - who the young man was, there was no need for Her Royal Highness to elaborate.
And that young genius did not give up the Soul School later on. He just left everything behind in that experiment. Since then, his shadow has been seen in every era. He was active in the empire. above history.
It may have taken him a long time to reshape his body, and it took a century or two before he returned to human society.
He got closer and closer to the center of power, and finally reached that high position.
It was not until more than half a century ago that, driven by His Majesty the former Emperor, Friston began to lead the alchemical revolution.
Fang Yu remained silent. In that story, the black flames represented the shadows of the shadow figures. It turned out that they had appeared in the history of the empire as early as seven hundred years ago. They were so lingering that it was always unsettling.
But Friston only told that story, "Actually, I also expected that things would change. I was fully prepared before everything was completed."
"I returned to the Winter Solstice Tower and left all the recorded information here. I was worried that the future would deviate from my plan, so I left an insurance here. And this is why you will see me here. reason."
Fang Plover raised his head and said, "Mr. Friston, what are you worried about?"
Friston was silent for a moment, "You're too young, kid."
Love will turn into hate, the unforgettable hatred of the black flame that is the source of all disasters.
Faith and persistence can turn into paranoia.
"Since you have met Jeldham and Helinwell, you naturally know that what I do is just walking on the edge of danger," he said. "They have also warned me more than once that people who walk on this boundary , one day it will cross the line.”
He shook his head, "Everything they can see, I can naturally see. I personally preside over all this, and I know the risks even more. Therefore, I always carefully guard that boundary, but hatred and paranoia will Crossing the line—"
"Do you know what's the most dangerous part of this plan?"
Fang Plover shook his head.
"My plan is to bring back the dead. If people are going to die eventually, why don't we keep them. But the result of preserving the soul will lead to an undeviable future, and people will realize that this can lead to an obvious path. road--"
"eternal."
"Alchemists know that eternity is the enemy of the world. When the starlight is permanently solidified, the underlying cycle of the world comes to an end. That is the beginning of all collapse, and it is just the path that the shadow people have walked."
He shook his head, "There is no eternal thing in this world. Even the world will die and the stars will become silent."
Fang Yu felt horrified when he heard this. He could almost imagine the possibility. Who could withstand the temptation of immortality?
If anyone could walk in this world forever.
Can you still endure your short life?
The jealousy of short-lived species towards long-lived species is innate.
He suddenly thought of the promise made by the Dragon Worshipers to the people they bewitched, and a shudder ran through his body.
Friston smiled slightly when he saw his look, as if he had relaxed a lot since seeing that future, "You and Jeldham had exactly the same reaction. They looked at me like this at first, as if they were looking at a madman. Exactly the same.”
He shook his head again, "But you don't have a strong personality, you are more like Hellingwell. No, you are more like the two of them combined. If Jeldham has half of your sanity, Hellingwell has half of you. 'Reckless' might be more successful than it is now."
Fang Yu coughed slightly, feeling a little embarrassed to compare him with those two peerless geniuses.
"Surprised?" Friston saw what he was thinking, "How many people can enter this door?"
He said with pride, "I don't know how many people can reach the door after me, but you are the first one who can push it open and see me. And there is no one who has passed the test except you."
The 'Mr. President' let out a long sigh: "I have been watching the starry sky and sunset here for seven hundred years, and I have never seen another person. It took seven centuries for a descendant to come here."
He turned around and looked at Fang Plover with a strange expression, "Do you know why I told you this?"
"Do you think your other self has strayed off course, Mr. Friston?"
"That road is dead-end," Friston replied. "Have you seen that future? If he continues on that path, he will eventually become paranoid. You might as well tell me, what is the other me doing? "
"He has been carrying out an alchemical revolution since many years ago."
"Under the leadership of the Empire?"
"Under the leadership of the empire." Fang Yu nodded.
"Is it going well? Are there any opponents?" Friston asked.
Fang Yu was stunned for a moment. The empire has been promoting the reform of alchemy so far, and it has already achieved a lot of results. And with the blessing of the technological revolution, the Oshur empire once regained its leading advantage from the second world.
The process of implementing the reform was incredibly smooth. As for the opponents, the Seven Sorcerers' Family did not seem to be true opponents of the change. At best, they just wanted to take the lead in dividing the cake. Looking back now, there are indeed no people or forces in the empire who are clearly opposed to the alchemy reform.
Even if there is, it is just some insignificant noise.
"I roughly guessed what happened, don't you think it's incredible?" Friston smiled, "The empire is not the empire of one person. There are large and small interest groups within the huge and complex organization, including manor owners and urban craftsmen. There are irreconcilable contradictions between them, so how can there be no noise at all in a reform involving all aspects of productivity development?"
"Is there really a reform involving changes in core interests that will not harm the interests of any party? The reform was completed so smoothly, as if it was really like Anji's blessing. In this change, everyone People and every family are just as they should be and everyone is happy. Young people, do you think such fairy tales exist?"
Fang Yu fell silent.
"We also led the same plan," he said, "but that plan was a complete failure. The Magic Emperor directly abandoned the second half of the plan and returned everything to dusty files. That plan Now I think it is a chaos, with a few people benefiting and the majority losing. In the years of recuperation after a big war, no one is willing to lose their own interests for the disaster that will come a few centuries later."
"Don't talk about a thousand years, even a month later there will be many people who will be hesitant," Friston shook his head, "That's how people are, unless there is something within reach, close in front of them, that makes everyone They have to put their heart-warming interests in front of them to unite them. What do you think it is?"
Fang Plover had actually guessed the answer.
"But this is all just speculation on your part," he said.
"It's also your guess. You've already guessed it. I want you to stop me, but you seem a little hesitant." Friston said to him with a smile.
Fang Yu was stunned. How could he not hesitate?
Even if what Friston said was true, could he stop the Empire?
Announce everything he saw in the tower? Not to mention that even he himself was doubtful about all this unbelievable information. Will the nobles and families in the empire who are directly related to the core interests believe his words?
This may even include His Majesty the Emperor.
During the half-century-long reform, I don’t know how many related interest classes have been formed in the empire. As Friston said, will these classes give up today’s interests because of a threat that may only be tomorrow? ?
There may be sane individuals, but class must be blind.
Wasn't it the same drama that played out in the Hart Principality twenty years ago?
Although he is a selector and not a member of the empire, the support of the Corin royal family for him and Sylvide is very minimal, and abandoning them at a critical moment is very likely to happen.
As the leader of the Seven Seas Brigade, shouldn't he consider the safety of every member of the team?
He is naive, but not stupid.
Will the world really come to an end after Stargate? But that will be a hundred years later. At that time, it is unknown whether he still exists in this world. Even if the star gate is really closed, what does it have to do with the world on the other side?
Everything is just back to the past.
But as soon as he closed his eyes, Miss Tata's calm look immediately appeared in front of his eyes, as well as the conversation he had with Farif and Atush in the Silver Tower.
"But what should I do?" Fang Yu raised his head and asked, "I am just a person, but my opponent is an empire. I can't give anyone eternal life. How can your Majesty, the nobles of the empire, do this? Are you on my side?"
Friston looked at him and smiled, "You didn't refuse the responsibility."
Fang Plover was speechless.
Intellectually, he shouldn't get into this muddy water. He can't be sure that what the other person is saying is true, nor is he a part of the empire. But both intuition and logic told him that Friston had no reason to lie, and he had already sensed it.
Besides, people have feelings.
Friston read the meaning in his eyes and nodded slightly.
It is precisely in this way that love, family, and friendship are the strongest emotions that connect people with the world, making them intelligent and emotional creatures that are different from those ignorant beasts. How could he have come to this point if it wasn't for loving someone deeply?
"But I have never regretted it," Friston said, "because the people I love once existed in this world and lived on this land. The empire I miss and love is because of the people and things I am familiar with. During my childhood, everyone around me was born here. Human feelings can transcend everything, so I have to protect it."
He looked at Fang Plover, "Do you understand what I mean?"
Fang Plover nodded.
The people around him are not always the chosen ones, there are also many people like Sylvide and Miss Tata. They grew up here, and this world is their bond to him, like a bond that cannot be broken. break.
If possible, he would naturally not want to see this beautiful thing come to an end.
No matter when, no matter how.
Friston then smiled and said: "There is more than one empire in this world," he said with a smile, "You have known for a long time that you are not an empire member, or even a visitor from this world."
Fang Yu looked at the other party in surprise.
"About the Chosen One," Friston replied, "Although I haven't seen it, I have already known about it. You should have heard about the Great Prophecy. Astrology exists in our world. In fact, as early as Before the establishment of the mortal kingdom, there were visitors from other worlds who went to Etalia, and you have heard of them——"
"Elves?"
Friston nodded.
really.
The Numelin elves were indeed the chosen ones of the previous generation.
But why do the Chosen pass through the Stargate, and how does the Stargate select them?
Fang Yu remained silent. Of course he was not helpless. If the Imperials were really planning some plan that was detrimental to the entire world, the only ones who wanted to stop the Oshurs were Kaolin-Ithurian and the Hill of Giant Trees. And Lotao.
That is the whole world.
But the premise of everything is that he has to prove that everything is true.
He looked at the other person.
Friston said: "The Soul School was founded by me, and everything promoted in this technical field was led by me. I naturally left the means to deal with it." He seemed very confident, "First of all, in my Times, this technical route is actually flawed——"
First, the extraction of souls can be reversed.
Second, it is not truly eternal, but will pass away with the passage of time.
Another flaw is that even if the soul is recorded, a person's life is fixed there and the soul cannot grow.
"With these two points," Friston said, "you have mastered the two core secrets of the Soul School. These things are unknown to those who come after you. It is possible that only you and 'him' know them. Information. But as for how to find a way to deal with 'him' from it, that is your business."
He looked at Fang Plover, "Of course, I won't let you deal with me with nothing like this. I have left you a little gift during this long period of time."
"A small... gift?"
"Do you still remember the soul engraving I said?"
Fang Yu thought back, "You mean the two messages you left for 'him'?"
Friston shook his head, "It's more complicated than that. It's a longer piece of information, just like letting a person have a memory and experience."
"Like the 'Knowledge Infusion' spell, a magic that allows people to possess corresponding knowledge in a short period of time?" Fang Yu asked.
"Not just for a short time, but permanently," Friston replied.
Fang Yu was shocked when he heard this, "Created out of thin air? How is that possible?"
"It's indeed impossible," Friston shook his head. "The starlight records everything. We can't easily increase or decrease it, which will bring disaster to the world. But thinking about it on the other hand, if it were created out of thin air, it would be impossible. , what about transferring knowledge?”
"Knowledge...migration..." Fang Yu looked at this genius from seven hundred years ago in bewilderment and wanted to know what was going on in his mind.
"The me who left here seven hundred years ago is only a part of me. The other independent part of me remains in this tower to check everything and use hundreds of years to test the outcome, also to leave a mark for the recklessness of the past. "The next level of insurance," Friston replied, "I have left to myself just enough for him to carry out the rest of his plan, and I don't believe he can use the extra."
Fang Yu suddenly reacted and looked at the other party in disbelief, "In other words, this is not a video, Mr. Friston?"
Friston laughed, with a look of satisfaction on his face, "You finally reacted, a little faster than I thought."
"But wait a minute," Fang Yu fully understood the cause and effect, "the so-called migration, then aren't you..."
"Yes," Friston nodded, "but you don't have to worry. Memories and emotions have some effect on me. I won't give them to you. You can choose on your own," he replied pretending to be relaxed. "I will give you true knowledge."
"But a person's soul is completely based on all his past experiences, memories, and experiences," Fang Pliong asked, "How can it be subdivided infinitely?"
"You also thought of it," Friston nodded. "You are right. I originally split myself into two with the help of the power of the tower. But how can a person really split himself into two? He becomes The paranoia is also due to me, now I leave everything to you, and I will naturally return to the starlight."
"But……"
Fang Yu had already realized what the other party was entrusting.
But Friston shook his head slightly, "I have stayed in this lonely time for too long. I have seen the end of time, the end of the world, and everything after the starlight goes out. I am waiting alone. A successor comes to correct the mistakes I have made."
"Now," he said, "I have finally waited, and I have lived too long and seen too much. No one in this world can last forever."
Fang Yu was stunned when he heard this.
Friston extended his hand to him, "Mark my words, no one can live forever."
…
After a long period of darkness.
Fang Plover stretched out his hand and pressed the heavy door.
He saw that the back of his hand was pale. In that reincarnation where there was no sunshine all year round, time seemed to be endless, and only at the last moment did he witness the bloody setting sun and everything after that.
He seemed a little silent.
With just a little force on his hand, the door slowly opened outwards. It was noon behind the door, and strong sunlight shone through the eaves of the tower's arch, making him subconsciously raise his hand to block it in front. Being in darkness all year round made him almost uncomfortable.
How long have you been in the tower? He couldn't even remember.
The final battle seemed to last until the end of time. Although the frame of reference of the final time was almost certainly different from the previous levels, Fang Yu almost had to wonder whether several years had passed in the outside world.
The sense of time dislocation gave him an unreal feeling, but the warm and scorching sunshine pulled him back to the real world. Outside was the dark green forest, and he could already see the Selva Saint. The spire of the church—and the corner of the airship tower in the distance.
He felt slightly quiet in his heart.
Seven hundred years ago, were the scenery those three geniuses saw the same as what they were seeing now?
After a brief period of silence, the first thing Fang Plover saw was many looks, all looking at him with surprised expressions. The expressions on the faces of those people varied. They were stunned for a moment, and then immediately rushed in this direction.
There was a roar of people outside the tower.
They were strangers, and they kept asking questions one after another.
"What happened in the tower, Mr. Ed?"
"Mr. Ed, have you passed the last red door?"
"What took you so long, Mr. Ed?"
"Mr. Ed, what exactly did you see?"
What did he see?
He met three people who loved the world deeply. The photos in the tower were like the confessions they wrote to the world.
Fang Yu suddenly remembered something and remained silent. He lowered his head and separated from the crowd and walked forward.
Ming asked him not to talk nonsense.
Probably because he had been in the illusory time for too long, he actually felt a little weak. He raised his head - raised his right hand, which was wearing a magic glove - and in front of him, there was a natural growth on the ground of the tower. Patterns emerge, form alchemical formulas, and become entangled with each other.
Then the earth and stone grew upward, forming half of the wall. He divided it to the left and right, and the stone wall automatically separated the crowd to the left and right, forming a road. People were pushed away involuntarily and looked at this scene in shock:
What kind of alchemy is this?
"Creation Technique," someone has already shouted, "This is the Elf Creation Technique, which he demonstrated in the Silver Tower. I didn't expect that the same power can be displayed in the real world -"
But they had never seen Fang Plover perform such alchemy, almost magic and miracle.
He didn't need to remind him.
Reporters from various newspapers have raised their projection crystals and recorded this scene one after another.
But people are still talking about it: "Do you think his condition seems a bit strange?"
"Indeed," someone replied, "Although this dragon alchemist from Corin-Ithurian is not very good at answering questions and answers, at least he is not like this." He asked his companion, "Will he? Will you pass the fourth red door?"
"It's normal to fail. It's impossible for anyone to pass. So from a time perspective, Luo Fen should be slightly better than him."
"I didn't expect that the Empire was superior," people commented, "but how could he stay in the tower for so long?"
Fang Yu naturally heard those discussions.
But he suddenly felt someone approaching him, and then the person grabbed his hand and pulled him aside.
He looked in that direction in shock and saw Ms. Ming coming to him, dragging him out and saying to him: "Follow me, don't pay attention to those people."
Fang Yu looked at the other party in surprise.
He thought that the Construct Queen had left long ago, and even if the one who stayed to wait for him would probably be the Soul Fingerprint Senior.
Ming Yue noticed his gaze and turned around to glare at him, "You guys will always cause trouble for me, but regardless of whether you passed the fourth red door or not, you entered the Hall of the Holy King in second place. It is already a sure thing, and this is enough for the Kaolin Kingdom."
She paused, "The same goes for Division Three."
"Sister Ming," Fang Yu shook his confused head, "I——"
"You don't have to say anything," Ming said, "You are in such a bad state, how did you get yourself into this state? That ship officer of yours left you in my hands well, how can I do this with you like this? A business trip?"
"I passed that door..."
"That door?" Ming Yi was startled, and a look of disbelief suddenly flashed in his eyes.
She was certainly not stupid, so she immediately stopped and raised a Banshee into the sky, and the silence field that unfolded immediately silenced the surrounding area.
"The fourth path?" Ming then turned around and asked.
Fang Plover nodded.
"real?"
Fang Yu smiled bitterly, is this fake?
Ming reacted immediately, covered his mouth and said: "Block it, you guy, don't tell anyone else."
Fang Yu looked at the other party with some doubts.
A deep light flashed in Ming's eyes.
She lowered her voice and said: "It's okay if other people know. You are the first person in the empire to pass the test of the Winter Solstice Tower in thousands of years. Do you know what that means? Anloser really gave us a surprise. I am now I'm a little curious about your achievements in Xia Jin Tower——"
"But don't ask anything now," Ming said. "You just need to keep this secret and don't let anyone know. It's okay for those people to guess. Let them confirm their doubts. From now on, you have to Keep your own secrets.”
"Sister Ming," Fang Yunli said in confusion, "Why?"
"It has something to do with the Turbid Realm," Ming glanced at him, "You don't need to know for now, I will ask you to do a favor when the time comes..." She paused, "Of course, little guy, I won't treat you badly. That’ll be good for you.”
Fang Yu fell silent, and he understood most of it when he heard about the Turbid Realm.
If anyone else were here, he would probably refuse. But Ming taught him swift tactics and margin skills without reservation. If not, it would be difficult for him to pass the last level of the Winter Solstice Tower.
So he thought about it and made no excuses.
Let’s talk about the turbid realm——
Isn't that exactly his destination?
"Is it really okay for you to be like this?" Ming asked again, "How did you get yourself into this state? Isn't there a resting space in the tower?"
Fang Yu shook his head. He was actually just too tired. Although the endless bloody battle was in a space different from reality, the mental drain was real.
Fortunately, he had experienced it once in the Silver Tower, otherwise he really wouldn't have been able to persevere.
Ming looked him up and down carefully, and then asked, doubtful, "Your creation technique...?"
Fang Yu nodded. Others couldn't tell, but he certainly couldn't fool Ming.
That was the gift Friston gave him.
His knowledge.
There is also his youthful experience in alchemy and his calculation ability.
Those things were combined into a massive amount of knowledge and experience, which allowed him to advance to a full four levels in the tower. Naturally, he now doesn't have to work as hard as before to perform ancient alchemy.
But those things were only the most insignificant part of the gifts Friston gave him.
Fang Yu really didn't have the strength to walk back to the Seven Seas Traveler, so he went to the rest area near the tower accompanied by Ming. There was a small hunter's cabin there for these players to rest.
But now most of the players have already left. According to Ming, the time has exceeded the original schedule by more than a month and a half. It is already close to midsummer and the end of June. The qualified players have already gone to Ayinbrok, and he is the only one left here.
And when he arrived at the fourth red door, he was qualified to go to the Hall of the Holy King no matter what, no matter whether he went as first or second, so because of his absence, the finals of the Hall of the Holy King had been delayed. Until now.
Until the tower opens.
Ming also wanted to inform others, so he was soon the only one left in the room. Fang Pliong sat there quietly for a while before raising his head.
He looked at the ground not far away and tentatively raised his right hand - an alchemical formula emerged from the ground, and the soil lifted up the bricks and surged upward, forming the appearance of the earth element in his imagination.
Countless alchemical formulas built a system, and Fang Pliance felt a little exhausted for a moment because of the complicated calculation power, but he gritted his teeth and persevered - looking at his work with a pale face.
The elemental creature is just an appearance. In fact, the internal gears fit together, and the dense pipes extend the ether circuit to the area where it should go. The ether-driven mechanical structure and hinges make this 'elemental creature' 'float' from the ground.
But it's actually still a construct.
It’s done.
Fang Plover immediately felt that it did not need his own instructions and could move freely.
Like a real life.
A true soul.
Fang Yu watched this scene quietly.
As if still in the tower.
'We can't leave a star behind, or stop time at a certain stage forever. '
'But we do get to keep our souls -'
'It leads to another road, but it leads to the same destination as Jeldham and Hellingwell. This may be our fate, but this is also the last gift I leave to you -'
That would be the final piece of the Star Device puzzle.
It is also the most precious gift from the Soul School.
What alchemy creates - the soul.
…
(End of chapter)
