Free Web NovelChapter 2037: Chapter 2037: The Witch Who Was Called
Since the door opened outwards, there was no need to clear away the sand. Turning the doorknob, amidst the sound of metal twisting, Shard exerted considerable effort to push the door open from the deformed frame. The wind-swept yellow sand almost immediately blew in through the gap.
Shard squinted as he sidled through the door, then looked at the devastated Saint Delan Square and the fountain where the statue of a girl holding a water jug was mostly buried by sand.
In the distance, the black sun was surrounded by a red and white halo, and the single red line dripping down from the lower edge of the sun hinted at an unknown significance. The enormous Floating City, surrounded by storm and lightning in the sky, seemed to have shifted position from last time, but here time held no meaning. After all, the damage to Saint Delan Square from the previous two battles now showed no trace.
The yellow sand rolled through the cracked brick lines and stones, boots pressing on the ground, symbolizing deathly silence and a world that had truly reached its End Point.
Standing on the edge of the square watching this desolate scene, Shard did not immediately head toward the center of the square to confront the formidable enemy. He took out a small lady’s pocket watch, holding the chain, watching the circular casing spin before him.
He had initially thought something strange might happen, but even after waiting a long while he couldn’t detect anything out of the ordinary.
[Look down.]
He heard a prompt at his ear, prompting Shard, who stood at the bottom of the steps of his house, to lower his head. He then saw a luminous white trace on the fragmented dusty brick ground, perhaps a meter long and half a palm wide. Looking closely, it wasn’t the ground that glowed, but rather a series of glowing runes had appeared above it.
This was another unfamiliar script. Knowing this anomaly was caused by the watch, Shard began to read aloud:
"Adel Isabella. Oh, so it’s a name."
As his words fell, the glowing runes emitted even stronger white light upwards. From within that white light, the silhouette of a golden-haired woman kneeling on one knee manifested itself.
She slowly rose, lifting her skirt as if unused to her current body. As she looked up and saw Shard, Shard too saw her beautiful, delicate face with a tear mole under her right eye. Her golden long hair draped behind her, swaying in the wind and sand, and although her golden formal gown, which had been washed to a slightly washed-out and wrinkled state, wasn’t ideal for battle, it still maintained the dignity of a witch.
They had only met once at the start of the Sunlight Moon, so Shard naturally recognized the witch who appeared before him:
"Miss Isabella, good morning... if this can be considered morning."
The Grand Witch of Time from a bygone era looked at Shard in surprise, then at their surroundings:
"I felt a call just now and thought it was... I hadn’t yet figured out how to find you, and yet you have actually found me? You used that key to get to this time point that has reached its End Point? Wait, your body and soul can actually withstand the Power of the Apocalypse?"
"Luviya chose me; if I had no special traits, why would she favor me? Just because of this face?"
Shard retorted and then curiously asked:
"I didn’t expect doing this would succeed. I’m curious, why can I see you at this time point just because I’m holding your pocket watch? Is this your true self now? Or just a phantom? Oh, my name is Shard Hamilton."
"Hamilton..."
She glanced at the house behind Shard and then explained:
"’Now’ no longer holds the concept of time and space. I am here, but I am not here. The normal rules of time do not apply at this time. Apocalypse City: Tobesk, it means that all time and space converge and intersect here. In theory, unless you create a special Space-Time marker like me, it’s hard to allow an individual surviving in this chaotic space-time to see another individual at this moment of apocalypse."
This sounded somewhat complex, but Shard, who also commanded the Power of Time as a Circle Sorcerer, could understand:
"So, are you the true self now?"
"No."
She gently shook her head. Her clothing, although not as worn as Long-Haired Luviya’s, still appeared in a somewhat deplorable state. She could tell Shard was observing her, which inexplicably made her appear somewhat embarrassed:
"This is a projection. I can feel that the power of the Ancient God of Time has temporarily stabilized the time flow of this square because of your arrival, as if that ancient Tree God were gazing from the other side of the temporal river. Therefore, you cannot leave this area, and in this chaotic space-time, I cannot meet you with my true form. You do not belong to this time point; it is unchangeable."
She looked towards the empty square swept by wind and sand:
"I only know that Luviya Annette’s Time Key is very special, but I never used it. I guessed it could lead to a ’bygone era,’ and seeing you confirms it. But since it’s also a Time Key, what is your task upon arriving here?"
"Defeating a formidable enemy."
He explained his monthly "challenge task" and the "Calamity Cards" he gathered as a result:
"Defeating a formidable enemy is simply to hone my combat abilities; the main goal is to gather information from the past. Because with the destruction of Space-Time, the only way for the ’present world’ me to understand the ’bygone era’ now is here."
The Grand Witch of Time nodded in understanding, her golden eyes filled with an extremely complex expression as she looked at Shard:
"It seems she truly chose you, and you seem to be doing well. For a witch to choose a man in the end... what does she intend to do this time? No, even if you do well, it’s still all within her plan. Yes, everything is within her plan. Every time we think we’ve made a choice for ourselves, she emerges to tell us it’s all part of her plan because she has lived through it more than once."
When she said this, her mental state was clearly somewhat abnormal. Though exceedingly curious about what Luviya had done to leave such an impression on her, Shard still said:
"I still trust Luviya, at least for now, so let’s discuss this topic after I find the ’Hope Diamond.’ Speaking of which, since we can meet now, do I still need to search for the ’Hope Diamond’? Perhaps you can tell me now how to ’stop’ Luviya."
Shard suggested again, but the witch before him indeed shook her head:
"No, I cannot reveal anything about my time. Last time, I already said too much crossing illegally, and after this, I can only provide guidance and other forms of help for you... How many rings do you have now?"
Within the Steam Mist, a huge Ring of Fate appeared behind Shard; Miss Isabella was equally surprised at the abnormal size of the ring but thought that since Shard was noticed by Luviya, it wasn’t that surprising:
"So you are a Seventh Ring, barely sufficient. With a bit of effort in two or three years, you should be able to gather the Words of Inner Ring Ascension and advance to High Ring."
"Hmm... actually, I’ve only been a Circle Sorcerer for just over a year. According to my own estimate, the High Ring should be three or four months away."
The Grand Witch of Time blinked, trying to calm herself:
"That’s even better; let’s meet here once a month from now on, and also find a way to meet in your Space-Time. You also have the power of Time, and I am the Grand Witch of Time in the Council; I could be your mentor and teach you the knowledge you need. Additionally, though I don’t know your relationship with those girls in the Council, if you want to avoid witches you don’t know, I can assist you. Some girls aren’t very friendly toward men."
Shard hesitated a bit;
"Thank you, but I have a mentor... Miss Mana Feliana."
Miss Adel Isabella paused in surprise at the handsome young man in the sandstorm:
"That name... Is it the one from the Fifth Era?"
"Yes, that one. The Tree Father seems to favor me somewhat, and my Time Key adventures are a bit unusual. Oh, I’m still a student at Saint Byrons, I mean in my era. I possess the Spirit Runes of [Space-Time] and [Silvermoon], and Red Moon Witch Danist is my mentor at the Academy, teaching me the incantations of the Moon. Besides Time, Space, and Moon, I’m particularly skilled in Fairy Tale Enchantment, but it consumes quite a lot, so I usually don’t use it in normal situations."
So the witch before him pursed her lips, inwardly marveling at how much this Sixth Era seems to have changed, but then comforted herself with "No wonder he was noticed by Luviya Annette":
"You don’t have to call me teacher, but I will still instruct you.
You will need power, she chose you, and in the future, you will bear a heavier responsibility. You don’t have to tell me what happens in your time; I am a witch who is already dead to you, and the only thing I can do now is to stop Luviya Annette. As for the knowledge of the Circle Sorcerer, while I wouldn’t say I’m exceptionally knowledgeable, I believe I am more than enough to teach you. Danister, she is only proficient in the powers of the Moon. Though it might sound boastful, even the professors at Saint Byrons History Academy, combined, cannot compare to me."
"Thank you, well... actually, I can also learn the witch’s power."
Shard added, then displayed "Feliana’s Witch Light." Watching the familiar glimmer in his hand, the Time Grand Witch with her golden hair fell silent once more as she carefully examined Shard up and down:
"So, are you sure you really are a man?"
"Yes, several deities have acknowledged it. The witches I know, including Miss Feliana and those demigods from the Fifth Era, have asked me similar questions, but I can assure you I am male."
She didn’t know what to say:
"Where on earth did Luviya Annette find you? In my Sixth Era, I never heard of you. So it seems every time, there are different changes?"
Obtaining Shard’s permission, she used her slender hands, so slender you could see bluish veins on the back, to hold his wrist and examine it once more, ultimately having to admit she couldn’t see anything:
"You complete your own task first, though you can withstand the power of the Apocalypse, don’t linger here too long. This time, I will only watch from the sidelines as you showcase your power as much as possible. When you call on me next, I will bring you the knowledge and power you need according to your performance. Of course, if you’re unable to overcome the formidable enemies you’re about to face, you can still seek my assistance."
"Okay. But ma’am, please don’t underestimate me like that. In the name of Luviya Annette..."
Shard murmured a spell softly, and as a large golden ritual circle appeared at his feet, the [Yggdrasil’s Staff] manifested, and in the watchful eyes of the Time Grand Witch, he walked with the long staff to the center of the square.
He looked around, waiting to see in what manner this time’s enemy would break into the square. He didn’t have to wait long; while scanning around, his eyes casually caught sight of a pale face at a window upstairs.
Upon a closer look, it was the house at No. 3 Saint Delan Square, a building with half its roof torn off, with at least the second floor remaining intact. And now, the ghastly pale man stands at the window, staring at Shard.
Shard couldn’t be sure how long the figure had been standing there, though he was slightly taken aback, he quickly realized what he was up against this time:
"Is it the undead this time?"
"Thunder Spear!"
Deliberately showcasing some of his skills, he raised his left hand, empty, making a charging motion, then hurled a silver bolt of lightning at the window. The Thunder Spear pierced through the window without glass, exploding with a bang inside. But not just the witch at the door of number six watching this, even Shard felt certain that his attack had not succeeded.
