Free Web NovelChapter 2014: Chapter 2014: The Third Game
Iluna confidently pointed beneath her feet:
"In the first game, I came here and was killed by the ’Gatekeeper of the Apocalypse, Guardian of the Sanctuary, Undead of Everlasting Humanity, and Bound Grey-headed Eagle.’ He told me that I ’cannot’ come here ’now.’ But this time is different. Before the game began, I was allowed in. Shard didn’t mind me standing in his home’s foyer. So, starting from the third game, I appeared at No. 6, Saint Delan Square legitimately and legally. From this introduced story, my entry here is legal."
"If" was not surprised but lightly clapped:
"It seems you have completely mastered the game rules, which is good. Please note that the next game will be our last. Regardless of the outcome, this will be the final chance."
"I understand. I will find a way to save Shard. He can change others’ endings, so I can change his future."
The "If" parchment roll unfurled, with the background of snowfall outside the door. Strange gold lines outlined the spoken words in beautiful Draleon scripting between the two:
[You are Iluna Amelia Beath, heaven’s chosen hero, Chosen of Balance, the main character on stage.]
[On the 26th of the Rain-Prayer Moon, you ended your travel and mission in the Green Lake Region, returned to the fate-converging junction, Tobesk City, full of exhaustion and longing for the future.]
[For some peculiar reason, you found yourself at No. 6, Saint Delan Square again, standing safely in the foyer. You have earned entry here. Gazing at the dilapidated house, what will you do next?]
[1. Perhaps you should investigate this house; there are many clues here.]
[2. Prepare for battle. This time, you must seek revenge on the grey-headed eagle!]
[3. Or leave this dangerous place; your safety is most important.]
[4. Or leave this dangerous place, then report to the church!]
[5. Maybe you have other ideas.]
Iluna glanced around, Shard’s shoes on the shoerack, a box of cookies on the shoe cabinet with spare keys and change. There are gas lamps and paintings on the wall, a not-too-dirty doormat, and the walls and floor were immaculate. A cat sat high on the staircase watching them, and the copperplate engraving at the staircase corner was exquisitely high-end.
"If" indeed did not describe the present; No. 6, Saint Delan Square felt very cozy now:
"Maybe there’s another idea."
Iluna said, eyes on the man with the parchment:
"I looked towards the door and saw the strange man holding the parchment. Upon recognition, I realized he was the Unclassified Level Relic ’If’."
The golden light traces forming letters between them lingered long, and Iluna’s response was inscribed in those rays.
With the bustling crowd of Saint Delan Square behind, "If" moved his eyes from the parchment to Iluna, then nodded lightly:
"It seems you truly understand."
[Your unexpected inspiration did not initially make you aware of the strange "Haunted House" problem, instead leading you to the Unclassified Level Relic "If" waiting outside for you.]
[You confirmed he is harmless to you and is attempting to help you find some truths. So, what will you do next?]
[1. Converse with "If" to gather more current information.]
[2. Prepare for battle; perhaps the dangerous relic before you is deceiving.]
[3. Ignore him, I want to investigate this house’s problems.]
[4. Leave here; this house is becoming increasingly dangerous.]
[5. Maybe you have other ideas.]
"Other ideas."
Iluna made the same choice again, then turned to look at the staircase behind. The cat "meowed" at her, and Iluna nodded at it, but it seemed like she was seeing the distant past, the once dilapidated No. 6, Saint Delan Square:
"I know he’s still in the ’present’ house; after all, it was he who opened the door last time. I want to summon Sparrow Hamilton in this game house, yes, that Sparrow Hamilton with a long list of titles. Why didn’t he fight with me this time?"
"If" nodded lightly:
"Are you sure you want to do this?"
"Yes, of course. Didn’t the Cherub’s hint last time say so (Chapter 1834)? You are the guidance of fate, Cherubs give the Enlightenment of Wisdom, and I still need to find two from among the ’Guardian of Time and Space,’ ’Guardian of the Apocalypse,’ and ’Fire Guardian’ to receive the final hint. Guardian of the Apocalypse, I suppose it’s him?"
Iluna recited the long list of titles again:
"Gatekeeper of the Apocalypse, Guardian of the Sanctuary, Undead of Everlasting Humanity, Bound Grey-headed Eagle, please come out and see me!"
[In the dilapidated foyer of No. 6, Saint Delan Square, you shouted a name towards the dark staircase end.]
[You received a response. Sparrow Hamilton, who should not appear before you, emerged.]
"If’s" description was simple, and those golden lines only sketched two short lines. Yet Iluna inexplicably felt a chill as the Whisper Element affected the surrounding environment in a terribly frightening state.
Behind the cat, darkness condensed into a vortex, mold spread along the walls and ceiling, and in the blink of an eye, corroded the staircase and half of the foyer in Iluna’s view into a dilapidated appearance.
But in other places, everything remains normal.
The cat, displeased, meowed once, still standing there watching everything below. And in front of the cat, a figure wearing a black coat, leaning on a cane, and donning a black hat appeared out of thin air, walking towards the vestibule below.
Sparrow Hamilton’s figure indeed appeared, but this was not the Shard familiar with the former detective. The expressionless middle-aged man exuded an extraordinarily terrifying aura.
Iluna now understood why she died here during her first game. Even though the entity appearing was merely a shadow described in the story, its power far surpassed her already Eight Rings level.
She even believed that even if she reached Thirteen Rings, she might not be able to defeat this man with a long list of titles.
[The Gatekeeper of the Apocalypse arrived in front of you, coldly staring at you, the Chosen One standing here through strange means.]
[You were not attacked; your attempt succeeded!]
[The Gatekeeper inquired about your purpose here, so what will you do?]
[1. Inquire why No. 6, Saint Delan Square became so ruined.]
[2. Inquire about the Gatekeeper’s identity and current responsibility.]
[3. Inquire about matters related to the apocalypse.]
[4. Ask why he believed you shouldn’t have come here last time.]
[5. Inquire about the uniqueness of No. 6, Saint Delan Square.]
[6. Perhaps ask some other things.]
To be honest, Iluna wanted to ask all these questions, but she knew why she was here this time; as long as she focused on her target, those distracting options could easily be eliminated:
"Mr. Hamilton, please wait for me here for a moment."
She said this, then chose her next course of action:
"This house’s basement has an entrance to the Spatial Labyrinth. This entrance existed before Shard moved in, so it still exists in the game. I intend to use it to go to the White Valley Vineyard outside Huntington City, then, like last time, meet the Cherub and invite the Cherub to come here."
[Your request for the Gatekeeper to wait made him somewhat impatient, but he still agreed to your request.]
[You went to Huntington City, and because you had reached Lake Cherub before, you didn’t have to catch stray cats; you smoothly met the Cherub - Kirubel.]
[You extended the invitation, and the Cherub agreed to your request.]
Several luminous white feathers descended from the sky, and within the light and shadows of those feathers, the woman in a white robe holding a staff stood barefoot in the vestibule of No. 6, Saint Delan Square.
Emitting a pure white glow all over, she slightly nodded to greet Iluna. Iluna cared not whether this was an angel from a past timeline or the present; her goal was achieved nonetheless.
If both the Cherub and the Gatekeeper were observing Iluna, Iluna instructed "If" to provide her with the next step options. freewebnσvel.cѳm
[The assistant of the Ancient God, Cherub - Kirubel, responded to the call and came with you to No. 6, Saint Delan Square.]
[You seem to understand something; perhaps fate’s turning point has truly arrived.]
[The Cherub looked at you kindly, so what would you do?]
[1. Ask her how to obtain the greatest wisdom.]
[2. Ask her about knowledge related to the apocalypse.]
[3. Ask her for more detailed rules and exploitable "loopholes" in the game "If."]
[4. Request the Cherub’s help to defeat the Gatekeeper of the Apocalypse and seize ownership of the proactive house.]
[5. Perhaps ask some other things.]
"Other things."
Iluna spoke smoothly:
"Not long ago, I asked the Fire Guard Nun of this era about what exactly a Fire Guardian is. She told me that although she is the nun of this era, the Fire Guardian itself does not refer to her but rather to all of them collectively."
Iluna said, taking out a transformed silver fragment from her pocket, on which vague patterns could be seen:
"Sister Delphine told me that seeing the Fire Guardian is equivalent to seeing the concept of all past Fire Guard Nuns. If it were Sister Delphine herself, she indeed could summon these ’Nun Incarnations’ by sacrificing most of the Primal Fire’s power, but I don’t need to do that."
She asked "If":
"This is a game, not reality, so as long as I possibly can achieve it, then I truly can achieve it."
"If" smiled and nodded:
[You attempted to summon the Fire Guardians using the fragment of the "Ancient Mithril Eyepatch of the Fire Guard Nun."]
