Surviving The Fourth Calamity

Gilbert finally understood the true meaning behind the words of the mage from the Starry Sky... No matter to which deity their world originally belonged, it certainly wasn’t Bisozeya.

Moreover, the disdain in the mage’s tone was very evident.

This only proved that the one who turned the world into its current state was, in fact, that ’great’ Goddess.

And the true World Master of their realm had either completely perished or was barely clinging to life.

Then Gilbert quickly made a judgment: it must be already gone.

Otherwise, this obviously strong mage wouldn’t suddenly seek out people like them, especially someone like him who was near death.

”You, are looking for me, is there something you need me to do?” Gilbert hesitantly asked, ”Though I’m not concerned with the Tower of Dark Enigma, I do care about the Hainarson Clan.”

He dared not say more, but actually made his intentions clear... He didn’t mind Hill using him against the Tower of Dark Enigma, or even the Sia Tower, but he was worried that if Hill failed, the Hainarson Clan would follow the Defense Tower’s fate.

Having lost his home once, Gilbert was truly sensitive to such matters, he reacted instantly upon hearing.

”I want to visit the Sia Tower.” Hill stated honestly.

His timing, while both fortunate and unfortunate... he had initially planned to pose as Gilbert’s grandfather, or impersonate him directly after this unlucky child passed away, but he arrived at this awkward moment.

He couldn’t resort to violence over such minor issues, nor could he restore Gilbert.

If Gilbert continued to sacrifice his Life Force and Soul, he could actually sustain himself for another 20 years... especially since a mage would definitely feel if their Soul had issues, yet Gilbert didn’t care at all.

Even though he sensed things weren’t right, Hill didn’t mention the Soul damage directly after coming out, he just said his Soul Power couldn’t support becoming a Necromancer.

This statement actually proved Gilbert’s Soul was damaged... becoming a Necromancer is the easiest profession change, even apprentices can do it.

Only those with Soul damage can’t ignite their Soul Fire.

However, Gilbert asked something that startled even Hill.

This ability because of accidental Soul turbulence and connection with Styx Force, Hill hadn’t seen it in any other world.

Yes, souls marked by Styx can only be recorded by those marked by Styx.

And this world’s connection with Styx had long been intercepted by Asmodeus... all souls directly fell into some devil’s Soul Pool.

Logically, it should be Bisozeya, but she hadn’t resurrected yet, so it should be the exclusive pool of the Lord of Hell.

With his power, severing a world’s connection with Styx is quite easy.

But apparently not completely.

At least Gilbert, through his chaotic efforts, had actually been marked by Styx.

So even if Gilbert died, Hill couldn’t bypass Styx to keep his soul... not that it was impossible, but Hill as a Nature Mage didn’t easily violate his principles and beliefs.

This was entirely different from dealing with souls in a devil’s Soul Pool.

Though Styx seems unresponsive to those snatching souls from his hands, that’s not truly the case... otherwise all deities wouldn’t bring souls marked by Styx into their Divine Kingdom before they reached Styx.

Curses feared by devils are still feared by deities.

In most worlds, the Grim Reaper is basically Styx’s spokesperson... and the first task of any official Grim Reaper is to reclaim souls for Styx.

Gilbert might be the only soul marked by Styx in this closed world, so Hill couldn’t touch it!

Hill felt Styx wouldn’t stay content with the forced interruption and the devils snatching all his souls from the world... this was the entire world.

So much so that he couldn’t help but be a bit lost: ”In your situation, you’d better give up sooner.”

Gilbert paused for a few seconds, suddenly realizing... if his soul was still going to be taken and devoured by that so-called Goddess, this seemingly righteous mage wouldn’t say that.

”I...”

”Although it’s unknown if that one tampered with anything, you’d best not mention it before you go.” Hill cut him off, ”The Isolation Array I enhanced only guarantees mortal ears can’t intrude.”

Gilbert paused: ”Is there a problem with my earlier setup...?”

Hill floated to a circular carpet: ”In the floor tiles below here, a very subtle micro-formation was placed, a type of remote control mechanism, it won’t directly transmit your words, but if they want to listen, they can hear it.”

Gilbert frowned... though he was weak to the point of being skin and bones, due to Elemental Power continuously nourishing his body, his skin was still taut, so his face hadn’t felt wrinkled for a long time.

Upon sensing the wrinkles between his brows, Gilbert was startled himself, realizing he could still squeeze out a few folds!

Then he gritted his teeth, remembering the few occasions of complete isolation... he cried out in despair during his parents’ passing, thinking ’I can’t save you, I’m useless’ amidst his breakdown, cursed his fate while taking stock of resources when his body was about to collapse, and arranged for Ulrich to handle some family affairs.

While for other mages, the resources and his arrangements with Ulrich might be of interest, for the one who set up this floor tile, there was no need for concern.

Gilbert clearly understood who did this... he had once thought his teacher cared somewhat for him.

He was always cautious, inspecting his Side Tower meticulously whenever outsiders visited.

But when Freitz Lute personally came to see his ailing student before his own seclusion, Gilbert was genuinely touched, never considering what the other was truly there for.

At that time, he hadn’t yet crafted those curtains!

No wonder... Gilbert thought and hadn’t paid attention to Lute since then, coldly smirked.

Once Lute determined Gilbert had no real value, he completely abandoned him!

Gilbert completely let go of the last bit of attachment to the Tower of Dark Enigma... over the years, while the tower did imprison him, it protected him too.

Especially Lute, without his harsh words, Gilbert wouldn’t have enjoyed such peaceful days in this dying Magic Tower. Thus, Gilbert still held some gratitude toward the Archmage... indeed, he had no prospects, and the other was too lazy to teach him, Gilbert understood.

But this floor tile had shattered the unemotional warmth he created for himself.

”Indeed, people can rely on nothing but themselves,” Gilbert murmured to himself.

Hill inexplicably looked at him.

When Gilbert joined the Tower of Dark Enigma, didn’t he already know what their goal was?

Surely they’d use various tactics!

The stick and the carrot, coercion and appeasement, these were bound to come together.

Why did it sound like this kid still had some belief?

Hmm... yes, since he’d willingly sacrifice for the family, his heart was bound to be somewhat tender.

But Hill knew he wasn’t in a position to judge others, having survived to this point in good health thanks entirely to the year-round, unceasing surround sound of Natural Consciousness.

Gilbert mustered his spirit: ”But, if they happen to use this to monitor, then... hearing nothing will indeed raise some...”

Hill waved his hand, and on the innermost curtain, just excluding that carpet, formation runes slowly appeared.

Gilbert looked over in amazement: is this person a master of Magic Arrays?

Being able to reveal runes in a formation crafted by an official mage with just a wave, he really hadn’t witnessed such a feat!

Usually, it requires quite a bit of material and lengthy spells to accomplish!

And then he couldn’t help but widen his eyes... the runes were being modified.

A formation in use, being modified directly!

Is this something humans can do?

Gilbert couldn’t help tilting his head... could this be an opponent of Bisozeya’s deity?

”Your runes aren’t very standard, which is why there was a loophole.” Hill explained softly, ”Otherwise, this layer alone could block that monitoring array.

Though it’s intricate, it’s not that powerful.”

”It was when I first became a mage.” Gilbert chuckled wryly, ”That person wouldn’t care much, just didn’t want to miss a chance.”

Hill nodded with understanding: it was his teacher after all.

Just as he’d thought! Even if he eventually developed some affection, there was no way he was sincere to Gilbert in the beginning while harboring ulterior motives.

”But if I die now, what’ll happen to Russell and the others?” Gilbert finally turned to the main issue.

”Leave your memories with me.” Hill smiled, ”Extremely private ones that you’re sure others will never know, you don’t need to.

But any memory known to at least one person other than yourself, you must leave it with me.”