The translucent figure glided forward, her fingertips tracing faint purple spell circuits. As she explained to Yu Yu, "This is a mana cycle, a favorite of ancient spellcasters. See…"
Her lecture flowed, the mana humming a lively melody, dancing into the gate. A deep purple array overlaid the silver-white door, its grooves filling with mana, glowing brighter.
Yami sighed, "Ancient Seniors were too idle. I admit it's pretty, but…"
At the final groove's fill, the array blazed gloriously, then dissolved with a boom.
"Here's where I died," Yami said. "Only made it a few steps…"
Lynn, finding her less scary, piped up, "Weren't you just careless? Knowing the danger, why go alone?"
Yami snapped, as if a switch flipped. "That damn Joel, I ***…"
Yu Yu seized her chance. "Who's Joel?"
The translucent figure flickered wildly, and a series of vague words were thrown out urgently, "F**k! He betrayed his teacher and destroyed his ancestors! He should go to hell!..."
Yu Yu cut in, "Senior, Senior, focus! What's next?"
After a long while, the translucent figure finally stabilized. She squatted down in disappointment, "I'm dead... I can't be promoted to High Steward..."
"That bastard used my achievements to gain fame and success..."
"I'm not willing to accept this..." Her voice gradually tightened, "I'm not willing to accept this..."
Seeing her near tears, Yu Yu softened. "Don't worry, Senior. I'll expose him back home, clear your name."
Suddenly, Lynn tugged her.
Yu Yu looked, puzzled.
Lynn's eyes locked on the figure, pulling Yu Yu back slowly. As they neared the door, the collapsing blue figure steadied.
She stood, scoffing, "I'm grieving, and you don't comfort me—you sneak off? Kids these days, no heart!"
Yu Yu glanced at Lynn.
Lynn stayed silent, her emerald eyes fixed on the figure.
The figure didn't turn, just spun in place, then waved. "Good, the array's holding. Long shelf life."
"If you can't crack this door, pry out that ancient mana core." She pointed to a deep red gem spinning atop the array, its vast energy palpable even to Yu Yu.
Like… an elemental lord?
Yu Yu broke free from Lynn, scampering back. "Senior, is this thing valuable? Pry it now?"
"Senior," she paused, "your eyes are red?"
Lynn's hair nearly stood. "Yu, run!"
The figure turned, rubbing her eyes. "Got Solanine?"
Yu Yu pulled out a blue vial.
The vial opened, liquid passing through her, pooling on the floor.
The figure sighed contentedly, "Knew it. The magic circle might lose anything, but Solanine's twenty-three flavors? Never."
"This is original. I prefer Roland herb flavor—more kick."
Her voice chilled, but the red in her eyes faded miraculously.
Yu Yu eyed the spilled liquid, then the now-stern Senior. "Senior?"
Yami looked at her, "Obsession is one of the causes of abnormality."
"She wanted to take you away because she was afraid that I would be controlled by obsession. At that time, I would no longer be myself, but a newly born abnormality," Yami said in a cold voice, "Maybe I would even have spiritual intelligence."
Lynn was fraying, "Let's go. She's too unstable. Who knows when she'll turn?"
"We'd be first to die."
Yu Yu nudged her aside. "Wealth and honor are sought in danger. You go first. If you can't leave, I will commit suicide. It's okay."
Those red eyes gave her a thrill, but Yu Yu was buzzing.
So intense! So exhilarating!
Lynn clutched her head, pained. "I shouldn't have brought you. I knew it—you're all lunatics in these moments."
"Think how she died," Lynn hissed. "Overconfident, like you, dragging until death."
Cough. Yami's voice, now icy—Solanine's aftereffect—cut in, "I'm still here."
"Though I died pretty unjustly."
Her blurred face was bitter. "I seem to have been accidentally scratched by something. There is a very big wound. I also found that I had drunk all the medicine before. Unfortunately, I decoded the secret ceremony incorrectly. The circulation of mana in the door was disordered, and the spell could not be used. I don't know where I threw the staff in a hurry..."
"I managed to hold on until the chaos of mana stopped and I teleported out, but then I couldn't hold on any longer."
"If I'd specialized in transmutation, I'd have been tougher."
Got it: 'flashed out before death.'
"It's fate," Yami sighed, "If it weren't for Joel, I wouldn't have been stuck in the ground, not even able to refill my potion, and I even drove my assistant away..."
"Later I realized that I should have found an assistant. At least she could have helped me buy two bottles of medicine while I was doing research. But for some reason, I never got a response to the application I submitted."
She spread her hands and said, "When I saw you, I thought my assistant had finally arrived."
Yu Yu scribbled in Lynn's palm, [You go. I revive. No fear.]
[You here, I'll worry,] Yu Yu met her emerald eyes, [We revive, you know.]
Lynn gritted, [Still risky! What if it traps you?]
Yu Yu flashed a [random teleport] scroll.
Lynn wouldn't budge, gripping like iron.
Yu Yu: [Fortune's in danger. Indulge my curiosity!]
[Task's not done!]
Seeing Lynn's face, Yu Yu knew it was hopeless. "Senior, can you send my friend out?"
Yami turned, "Hm? Sure. Non-spellcaster, just timid."
"Who knows anomalies better than us?"
Muttering disdain, she waved, and Lynn vanished.
Yu Yu blinked, "Senior, you can teleport?"
Yami paused, then casually flexed her hand, "Didn't know. Never died before."
Yu Yu: "…"
Speechless.
Yami: "Come, I'll teach you the first three ritual steps."
Yu Yu listened intently, clutching a poisoned dagger, ready to suicide.
Per Senior Chong's advice, she'd prepped it—lethal venom, instant death for her meager health.
But…
She checked her corruption. Yami seemed safe for now.
No rise despite close contact, unlike Wang Rui, where minutes spiked it to 5.
Learning Yami's technique, Yu Yu glanced at her corruption.
Stable.
She felt in control.
Yami griped, "Focus! Stop eyeing your corruption. Don't you trust your Senior?"
Yu Yu played innocent.
Yami huffed, "I've got obsession, but I'm no anomaly."
"My willpower suppresses my obsession I'm just a lingering night spirit," she said. "Only if will fails, and obsession takes over, does an anomaly form."
"What if will fails?" Yu Yu asked. "Your eyes went red."
Yami brushed it off, "Joel pisses me off. Damn him, still furious."
"Don't think about him, really," Yu Yu urged sincerely.
Yami hummed, "If will falters, use aids to suppress."
"Aids?"
"Another vial." Yami held out her hand.
Yu Yu, exasperated, handed over a blue vial.
The translucent figure downed it, liquid spilling to the floor.
She glanced at Yu Yu's stare, calm. "I'm dead. Can't drink. Normal."
Her voice grew colder, but her tone stayed steady.
"What's will?"
"Believing I can use void sanity, so I can."
"Your friend? I teleported her."
She rubbed her chin, "Anomalies work like that, too."
"No matter how absurd their rule, if they believe, it manifests."
"Anomalies must have high will."
Yu Yu's forehead sweated, "Senior, you're on thin ice. Stop thinking."
"Fine," Yami relented, "Focus, open the door faster, and leave."
"Quit checking corruption. I can see your level."
Yu Yu gaped.
Yami rubbed her eyes, "Don't know why, but your corruption's low. Learn! Distract again, and I'll turn anomaly and eat you!"
Yu Yu half-laughed, "Senior, you're…"
Damn humor.
Focusing, Yu Yu picked up speed.
She still peeked at her corruption, but it held steady.
Yet, over time, its growth accelerated.
Yami's state was indeed unstable.
She had to hurry.
"Senior, done, but the last two rituals?"
Yami circled, eyes reddening. "I knew where I erred last time. Come, I'll show you."
Yu Yu: "Senior, eyes."
"Solanine."
Yu Yu handed it over.
Yami's eyes cleared, her tone icier, "Come, mimic me."
Yu Yu checked her corruption, frowning.
Soon, the fourth ritual unlocked.
Beyond the purple array, a spinning golden orb glimmered.
"I knew I was right!" Yami bounced, thrilled. "Damn Joel, just wait!"
"The last one?"
Yami sat, "Hold on, I'm calculating."
Yu Yu: "…"
Moments later, Yami stood, casual, "I'm too unstable to finish in time."
Yu Yu: "Brilliant, Senior. You finally noticed."
Yami glared, then fretted, "Now what?"
Yu Yu: "I've got your method, but need to confirm."
She asked step-by-step; Yami answered.
Yu Yu: "It's a complex real-time system. You said it shifts key nodes hourly. We need constant recalculation."
"Right, but I'm out of time," Yami sulked.
Yu Yu: "Wait, I'll try my computer."
Yami blinked, lost.
Yu Yu: "I'm logging off. Don't panic, hold yourself together—don't collapse or fade."
My reward's on you!
Yami, dazed, nodded coldly, "Fine, hurry. I'll wait."
"Zi Shu, Wei Zishu, wake up!"
Living together had perks—Yu Yu easily shook Wei Zishu awake.
Zi Shu: "What? I was with the Duchess."
"Forget her! Fuyu said you are good at mathematical modeling, and you are very good at it..."
"Can you solve this?"
Yu Yu waved her frantic offline notes.
Zi Shu, unquestioning, scanned them, "Not too hard…"
"But the computation's heavy. Even with formulas, coding takes time. You might not wait."
Yu Yu froze, "What then? She's nearly dead!"
Or turning anomaly! How'd she take her loot?!
Her bag of junk—wasted?
No way!
Zi Shu mused, "Ask the almighty Yu Bai. She might know."
Yu Yu lit up.
Right! The Federation's stacked with talent. Maybe!
Zi Shu scribbled formulas, grumbling, "What a mess, so many time change nodes, isn't it redundant?"
Yu Yu: "Maybe these puzzles were made for fun?"
Zi Shu glanced, "You seem to be having a wonderful time?"
"Not really. I might croak and crawl from a respawn point."
Yu Yu: "No time to chat. I'll explain later."
Trust in the almighty Yu Bai!
Forty-five minutes later, Yu Yu logged back on, answers in hand.
"Senior, I'm back!"
The translucent figure turned slowly, "Oh? Thought you ditched me."
Yu Yu stiffened, "Senior, your eyes…"
The blue figure was fading, her face barely visible.
But her eyes burned blood-red.
"Solanine," she said flatly, reaching.
Yu Yu tossed three vials.
After chugging, the red faded slightly, still faintly lingering.
Yami: "Got the answer?"
"If not, retreat to my office. I'll force it," she said. "Earthquakes can't kill me now."
She stood ready at the door.
Yu Yu: "No! I've got it! Look!"
The figure seemed very anxious. He turned his head when he heard the words and walked over after a while, "Let me see."
When she calmed down and looked at the formula, she became completely quiet, and even the redness in her eyes faded a little.
Yu Yu looked down at his own pollution and felt a little depressed. Pollution is growing more than three or four times faster than before. In this case, if she stays with her senior for another half an hour, the pollution level will exceed 20.
Seeing that the pollution level had reached 14, Yu Yu drank a small red bottle to calm down. Seeing that the pollution level had dropped below 5 again, Yu Yu put away the little red bottle with satisfaction.
Looking up, Yami watched her, "Senior?"
Yami sighed, "Time's short, huh?"
"Come on, I already know what to do, just learn it quickly."
As long as you have the answer, the problem can be solved quickly. After all, as for the mana circulation, there is a high-level spellcaster by your side to teach you step by step.
Five minutes later, looking at the magic circle that suddenly dissipated, Yami's voice suddenly became joyful, "I succeeded! I succeeded! I succeeded!"
"Damn it Joel, I did it!"
"I should…"
She faltered, deflating, "I'm dead."
Yu Yu grabbed the golden orb.
[Forgotten Time] (Open the ritual gate) (Completed)
[Forgotten Time] (Farewell)
Yu Yu paused, emotions mixed.
[Centurion Core] ×1
[Centurion Crafting Process] ×1, Infuse knowledge now? Estimated time: 3.5 hours.
Yu Yu rejected it.
No way she had three-plus hours here.
Her corruption at 8, she turned, "Senior, look."
"I see," Yami said heavily, yanking a golden automaton from the door. "This thing killed me."
Yu Yu gaped at the [Restoration School Automaton] (Out of control…).
It struggled frantically in Yami's hands, slashing around with the small sword in its hand.
Yami was extremely strong at this time, and he snatched its sword viciously and took a look.
"Damn it, it's just a pet machine, and it's actually an epic weapon!"
Yami sounded aggrieved and almost crying, "I want to tell you why I can't stop the bleeding!"
Yu Yu tentatively took the sword.
The sword was dark purple, like flowing crystal. As soon as it fell into Yu Yu's hand, it immediately turned into its original form, a slender and beautiful one-handed sword.
[Heart of Deep Dark]
[Quality: Epic
Attributes: Strength +8
Traits: Bleeding, Sacrifice
Requirements: Strength 17, Constitution 16
Description: It drinks blood—enemy's or… owner's.]
Stunned, Yu Yu cast insight on the golden automaton.
[Advanced Improved Automaton]
[Quality: Legendary
Traits: Legendary Resilience, Legendary Strength, Legendary Agility
Status: Bound, out of control…
Description: It's cute, isn't it?]
Yu Yu realized Yami's bag was still with her, the staff with Lynn.
Silence fell. Yu Yu whispered, "Senior, anything to say?"
Yami, clutching the automaton, mused, "Should be, but I'm drawing a blank."
"Feels like when my mentor made me write enchantment book reviews," she said. "I always flunked those."
Yu Yu eyed the squirming automaton, "Can I touch it?"
Yami pinned its limbs, offering its safe back.
Yu Yu patted, then again.
[Finished: Advanced Improved Automaton (Out of control)] ×1
The golden automaton turned into an item, slotting into her inventory.
Yu Yu was floored.
Yami, shocked, said, "The magic circle's changed a lot?"
"Care to share?" she asked.
Yu Yu put away his sword and walked out of the hall with her. She didn't stop until she reached her body.
Yu Yu: "I'm new, but the magic circle's still… very powerful and domineering?"
She scratched her head, "The seniors and seniors are all very easy to talk to. Although we have retreated to the Allen Peninsula," Yu Yu said, "I believe that a turning point is just around the corner."
Yami drifted back to the core's hall, staring at a wall, curious. "That thing popped out from here. This wall's fishy."
Yu Yu: "…Weren't you asking about the magic circle?"
Why start smashing walls?!
"The magic circle's always like that. World dies, they're last," Yami said dismissively. "What's to care?"
She wailed, "My High Steward, my title's gone…"
"Trash magic circle, dogs wouldn't return."
She shoved the wall down, dust waved away. "Knew it! Come look!"
A tiny nook, like a break room.
A small table, a rusted chair, and scattered bones.
Déjà vu…
Yami rummaged eagerly, then slumped, "No diary?"
Yu Yu teased, "Your classic quest diary's rare."
Yami was disappointed and ordered, "Quick, she's dead, you strip her."
Yu Yu glanced, "No bag, just clothes."
"Then strip!"
"What's to gain from a high-tier spellcaster's robe?" Yu Yu muttered. "I can't wear it when I take it back. Magic Circle is not a small place without organization and discipline."
If she strutted in a high-tier robe, tsk, enforcement would greet her.
Yami fumed, spinning, "Then why strip me?!"
Yu Yu, innocent, "I got carried away."
"But," she lifted a book from the table, "what's this?"
Yami glanced, "Some idle read."
Yu Yu read slowly, "On the Specific Application Differences of Restoration and Healing."
Yami: "Was she slacking here? How'd she die?"
Yu Yu: "Maybe an automaton went rogue, stabbed her."
Yami: "Then she's worse off than me!"
Yu Yu mused.
[Obtained 'Restoration'] [Obtained 'Healing']
"Senior," Yu Yu murmured, "is the restoration school the magic circle's?"
"Of course," Yami said as a matter of course, "but it has all been lost. I heard that all the spellcasters of the Restoration School, whether legendary or apprentice, were cursed by the evil god at that time. An entire school was completely lost."
"Their books were also cursed with the anomalous 'knowledge bait'. Many of us died, and we had to give up this school in the end."
A milky white light bloomed in Yu Yu's hands, very gentle and soft, far less dazzling than candlelight.
[Healing]
[School: Restoration
Rank: 1st-ring
Range: <1m
Chanting: None
Cost: 30
Proficiency: Novice (1/200)]
Yami: "?"
Yami: "??"
Yami: "???"
She gasped, "What chosen one are you?!"
Yu Yu, shy, "Players are like this. Don't stare."
Yami: "Aaaah! You'll be prized back home! I'm sure! Waaah, my High Steward…"
Healing was first-ring, Restoration second-ring.
Yu Yu beamed, "Knew it. No game lacks a healer."
"And I'm the healer."
No wonder spellcasters ranked so high.
Tenfold versatility—they could solo without other classes.
Yami glowed, not just for her fulfilled wish, but for Yu Yu.
"Today's my lucky day," she said, "I witnessed your birth."
Yu Yu: "…No, tons like me. Don't overthink. Know outsiders?"
Yami: "Nope."
Yu Yu: "…"
Yami insisted, "You're special. Why else did I appear to you? I didn't know I could linger."
Yu Yu: "…"
What if players trigger quests?
Fine, let Yami believe—it'd brighten her view of the magic circle's future.
"Yep, I'm the chosen one," Yu Yu puffed proudly, "I'll lead the magic circle from darkness, dominating the mainland."
"I believe you!" Yami said, fiercer than Yu Yu. "The future's yours!"
Yu Yu's eyelids twitched.
How'd she leap to me running the magic circle?
If Seniors heard, she'd die of embarrassment.
Good thing they wouldn't.
Yu Yu forced a polite smile, "Uh, I'll try."
Yami: "The magic circle's already top dog. Skip the fluff, say something real."
Yu Yu: "…?"
"Then? Banish anomalies? Restore light?"
Yami stared.
Yu Yu sighed, "I want to, but you all leave me no room to shine."
Yami nodded, "If we could banish anomalies… We've forgotten sunlight's hue, a pure sky's look…"
Back at the corpse, Yu Yu pulled out the stripped robe, "Senior, I'll take you home."
Yami hummed, "Know star guidance?"
Yu Yu carefully gathered her bones, retrieving the tossed skull from a corner, tying them in the robe on her back. "I do. Wanna see?"
"Oh, Senior, you've held on so long. Can you make it to Silver Moon?"
Yami: "Doubt it. If I don't go now, an anomaly's what you'd bring back."
"Want me as an anomaly?"
Yu Yu checked her corruption—17, ticking up every three seconds. Bad.
"Let's not do that. What if Senior turns into that kind of stupid and unpresentable anomaly?"
"Like 'Joel Must Die'? 'Plagiarists Must Die'?"
"Then whoosh, sealed. Not a High Steward but you'd get a magic circle single cell," Yu Yu fake-cried, "Not a genius Steward but the first sealed high-tier spellcaster!"
Yami felt stabbed, snarling, "Thanks, shut it."
Her eyes' red faded, "I want to see star guidance."
"Senior, can you ascend, too?"
Yu Yu secured the bones, taking the silver disc, curious, "Holding on so long, your will must be high?"
"Not much, just 7," Yami preened, "But I'm only high-tier, not legendary. My will, my Spirit, can't raise stars."
Stars bloomed underground, the blue figure bathed in their light, almost divine.
Unnoticed, the last red in her eyes vanished, her form reverting to her initial clarity.
Her outline hinted at her living face, eyes bright.
"Senior…"
The blue figure gazed at the stars, ancient, steadfast wills casting light.
They wove, linked, shoulder-to-shoulder, showering gentle radiance.
"Any coffin preferences?" Yu Yu asked, "Rosewood? Purple gold?"
"Location or size requests?"
Yami: "Kid, didn't the magic circle tell you? High-tier spellcasters have a set end. I'll be tossed in a spell furnace, my robes and papers buried behind the council, joining countless others."
Yu Yu scratched her head, "Want something unique?"
Yami paused, eyeing Yu Yu, "Nah, I'm good with my peers."
She added, "Take that other unlucky soul, too. She's worse off, but get her to the magic circle."
Yu Yu stood solemnly under the starlight, bowing deeply, "Senior, safe travels."
The blue figure smiled, waved, and faded under the stars' glow.
[Forgotten Time] (Farewell) (Completed)
[Gained EXP +30,000, Points +10,000, Title 'Undertaker' Magic Circle Reputation +3]
Yu Yu ignored the rewards, gazing at the stars, tightening the bundle on her back.
"Senior, I'm taking you home."
"Yu!!!"
Lynn stormed in, furious, "You promised to listen at critical moments!"
Yu Yu was gathering the other bones, "Ugh, forgot to ask Senior how her bag opened."
"Whatever, after years, probably nothing left."
"You're here? Help find bones."
"This one was too lively—bones scattered…"
Lynn froze, eyeing Yu Yu's bundle, her calm tone sinking in.
She sighed, "Good thing she didn't harm you."
"No more trips with you," she grumbled, picking bones. "You don't listen."
Yu Yu nodded, "Next time, I'll bring teammates. If it's bad, we all suicide."
Lynn's emerald eyes widened, her white pointed ears twitching in rage, "You're dissing me?"
"Nah, we revive, you don't," Yu Yu said, "I'd worry about you. Better you stay back as support."
She couldn't resist pinching Lynn's ear.
So soft.
Lynn roared, "Stop pinching my ears!"
They'd arrived full of zeal.
Leaving…
Two small bundles.
Waiting for the teleport, Yu Yu mused, "Pretty good haul, right, Lynn?"
Lynn, now a cool dual-wielding warrior, was thrilled.
They'd swapped weapons.
Lynn took the sword, Yu Yu the staff.
Yami was a genius.
An auto-casting staff?
A Shooter's Staff that went biubiubiu!
[Shooter's Staff]
[Quality: Epic
Attributes: Spirit +8
Traits: Solidified Fire Arrow, Solidified Lightning Arrow, Solidified Ice Arrow, Solidified Wind Blade
Requirements: Spirit 17
Description: 'Yami Ternes' custom. This kid was creative from the start.]
The staff was simple, save for a charge slot.
No frills—just relentless biubiubiu.
Defense? Scouting? Nope! Biubiubiu did it.
And Yami heroically GG'd at the clutch.
Epic.
Yu Yu hadn't forgotten the array's energy core, fitting perfectly in the staff.
Sadly, she needed levels to use it.
It'd be a monster-slaying beast, brainless.
The teleport's high-tier spellcaster, aloof, glanced at Yu Yu's bundles and waved them through.
Smoothly back to Silver Moon, Yu Yu's brief adventure ended.
Honestly, it felt… tame.
Thrilling, sure, but…
Chong didn't show. At the magic circle's base, she was gone, who-knows-where.
Yu Yu left, planning to return.
[Summon Phantom Steed]
"Lynn, let's roll—home~"
Lynn, energized, "Great haul."
"My map's done. The other side was easier."
Yu Yu froze, "My merits posted? My potato shield's not swapped yet."
Lynn: "Takes days to settle. Come back then—they won't stiff you."
"Fair enough."
~
Silver Moon loomed.
Yu Yu felt a rush of homecoming.
Shouldering two bundles, she sauntered into the city.
She was casual, but others weren't.
Except Lynn, now used to her, everyone gawked.
Who's this? So brazen?
Using a high-tier spellcaster's robe as a sack? For what?
Where'd she loot that?
Hm?