Surviving The Fourth Calamity

Chapter 1380: Chapter 1170: Soul War, Only One Victor

Black Eye’s illusory body couldn’t help trembling slightly.

She initially thought that Midnight and Edna would have a showdown first... Toril Deities usually tend to take down the strongest one first.

But Edna directly chose to divert Midnight’s attention to herself!

Really... although she knew a bit about the outside world, Black Eye’s soul was ultimately too weak to stay conscious all the time.

And Edna was a very typical Mage, keeping her soul power well-contained... As a child, she used to be taught in her dreams by the consciousness of Black Eye within oil paintings, each classroom summoned by Black Eye. In less than two years, it reversed.

If Edna didn’t want to attend class, even if she slept for several days and nights, Black Eye couldn’t bring her into the classroom.

The clever young girl, after repeatedly testing and ensuring that Black Eye wouldn’t revive through her, resumed her daily classes.

Black Eye hesitantly glanced at the battle-ready Midnight... why was she so easily incited?

So many things had happened, yet she wasn’t cautious at all?

Black Eye hesitated to speak... she suddenly remembered that once this person made up their mind, they wouldn’t listen to anyone, and her attempts to persuade might cause more severe issues instead.

If battle-ready Midnight turned into raging Midnight, she might perish on the spot.

But even with the help of that divine power, the soul shards in the Weave were too weak. Edna always called those Quel Senta female mages debris, but what difference did she make?

Black Eye resolutely looked at Edna’s soul sea: all she could do now was find an ally!

Edna’s expression was extremely solemn.

She was waiting, waiting for a result she didn’t want to see.

However, the remnant consciousness of the divine artifact attached to her soul still didn’t choose her.

Edna’s mental sea was forged extremely solidly by her, and only the oil painting fragment that resonated with her spirit for a long time could break free.

Edna’s stern expression gradually revealed a trace of sorrow: Edna understood that Black Eye would surely help herself, as it concerned survival, few would choose to give it up.

But from that moment on, she permanently lost her first teacher.

Eight years of staying and guarding, ended just like that.

At the moment she saw Black Eye standing in the mental sea, Edna thought of her teacher from the oil painting, she had enough capability and time to stop this fleeing consciousness.

Yet she chose not to.

She neither wanted to hold on to something inevitably lost... what good would it be to stay?

To forever pretend sincerity?

Add to that, despite it being a series of misunderstandings, Black Eye’s divine sense diligently taught her, but it still was a goodwill gesture.

Growing up among the Undead Tribe, Edna often heard stories of cause and effect, with grudges and kindness being cleared.

She didn’t know if Toril had such entanglements, but she was willing to take this risk... at least from here on, she owed Black Eye nothing!

Midnight wielded a sparkling sword of starlight, with gleaming blue gems forming a star sword behind her, directly pointing at Black Eye.

She turned to Edna: ”Although I don’t know what you want to do, I’m quite willing to take down Black Eye first.”

Then she looked at the open-mouthed Black Eye and sneered: ”I’m famous for having no brains, being impulsive and extreme, so, spare your nonsense!

I’m already annoyed by the sight of you!”

Edna blinked and smiled helplessly.

Then she also took a stance, looking at the Black Eye that slowly turned from illusory to real, condensing one by one amethyst-like stars... the same star sword also pointed at Black Eye.

”How did she do that?” Midnight curiously asked, ”Which old lover dares to step up at this time?

What use is there to help her?

Don’t tell me, Toril still has, ah... eternal love stories.

If there was, why didn’t they shield Black Eye from that strike back then.”

”Safras is right beside!” Edna’s smile was as radiant as a flower, ”For him, one of us appearing means certain death.

Only Black Eye is his last straw of hope.

How intriguing~

I thought she would turn to Azuth for help!

I did panic a little, after all, she’s been flaunting that identity as his granddaughter for so long!

In the end, she chose the nearest, most useless Safras... she had no intention of trusting Azuth.

Besides, reminiscing about lost lovers doesn’t mean being willing to give up everything for them... even if most of Azuth’s followers were once hers.

Thus, she chose the cornered Safras, with his glass mind clinging to her straw without retreat.

Otherwise, he might as well descend to hell with Manks!

Eh~

What a fitting pair, don’t you think?”

”Ha~” Midnight sneered, ”That’s right, after all, it’s a choice made by Black Eye! But, could you refrain from calling her Manks?”

Black Eye completely ignored the double entendre spoken by the two women opposite her. She was only aware of the increasingly powerful Soul Force within her... Safras must have found some very strong believers praying devoutly nearby, hoping she could reappear in the Mortal World.

In that case, it’s not like she doesn’t have the power to fight... As for Midnight, Black Eye doesn’t believe that cunning Edna wouldn’t have something up her sleeve!

The Wise Ones always think more.

She will win!

Edna doesn’t have any believers to rely on!

Midnight? Who could she possibly find?

Surely Kranvo wouldn’t get skeletons to do the work, right?

Hehe, prayers from the dead are useless.

Around Black Eye, the phantoms of small animals appeared, madly crashing towards the two Star Swords.

The Divine Sense in the oil painting can be used, and Safras brought a lot of Harua Mages... The Harua Mages who once believed in her are nearby, and fate is on her side!

Victory will only be hers!

”What’s going on here?” Celene pointed to the giant screen and spoke blankly.

On the dark giant screen, came waves of devout prayers from several White Sailed Ships: For Mystra.

But after listening for a while, Celene discovered that every word was directed at the former Black Eye!

Even the description of the emblem was the old version: a blue and white star!

The praises were only of Black Eye’s achievements, with not a word about anything after the Years of Turmoil.

”A Soul War?” Shaer appeared suddenly, staring at the giant screen without blinking: ”This could be interesting. I thought only Midnight could contend with Edna for dominance... If these two are competing, the victory was decided from the start, wasn’t it?

But Black Eye?

How could Edna give her a chance?”

”Honorable Lady of the Night, can you explain more clearly?” A loud voice came from the study, and the ’Old Age Striking King’ peeked out from the door while holding a tablet, ”What’s going on with Edna?

Is the chanting inside harmful to her?”

”This is a barrier she must overcome before becoming a deity.” Shaer smiled at the concerned-looking Female Priest, ”No one can help her with the battles within the soul.

As for those prayers... I can only say, they’re not helping Edna.”

”Is praying all it takes?” ’Old Age Striking King’ widened his eyes.

”The Undead Tribe can’t do it~” Lansendel said solemnly, ”Your souls can’t resonate with the Weave of Toril.”

”So it’s fine if it’s Toril people!” ’Old Age Striking King’ pondered and then tentatively asked, ”It doesn’t matter even if they’re not that devout, right?”

”The ones in the giant screen are also temporary believers, but a mage with a strong soul can be worth a thousand ordinary people.” Shaer glanced at her and answered readily.

”The number of people has never been an issue.” ’Old Age Striking King’ quickly waved her hands, her fingers rapidly typing on the tablet.

In less than ten minutes, Shaer and Celene looked at her simultaneously.

”Anmur, there’s actually that many people still alive? This kind of volume in prayer means at least twenty thousand people!

Did you even keep the soldiers?” Celene asked curiously.

”We don’t like killing, especially powerless civilians.

Among Anmur’s soldiers, many are just reaching adulthood, or are about to, and are still apprentices!” ’Old Age Striking King’ answered with a smile, ”Besides, Anmur has so many real little kids!

Must we kill their fathers so their mothers, who aren’t used to going out, can learn to fend for themselves early?

Such a change in mindset isn’t a one or two-day matter; we... some might be willing to help these women who’ve lost the will to live, but most don’t want to do such boring things.

We can’t just watch the children die, can we?

So, even though it took some effort, we kept everyone who didn’t have any major issues.

Thanks to Hill, for giving us plenty of oil paintings.”

Hill, still sitting by the pool, smiled and looked up: ”That’s because William was willing to spend.”

The ’Old Age Striking King’ held up her tablet: ”Edna is also willing, so, can you take the mission, Hill?”

The pretty and adorable Female Priest looked at Hill intently: ”I beg you, please don’t refuse me!

Especially... don’t say you’ll wait until the battle is over.

Edna left saying it so casually, I thought it was just a formality!

I didn’t expect it to be so dangerous.

I really hope that when she comes back, she’ll directly see her own Immortal’s Visit.”

”Wasn’t this agreed upon a long time ago?” Hill waved to her, ”Did you come up with some plan to patch me up, afraid I’ll refuse?”

Then he couldn’t help but change his expression: ”So many cutouts! So much multi-metal smelting! So many inlays!

Do you think I can make a house grow on its own?”

”But Hill can do it~” ’Old Age Striking King’ cautiously leaned towards him, her smile turning into a sunflower, ”Look, isn’t it just a matter of putting in a few more days of work for you?”