Surviving The Fourth Calamity

Ruth floated above the Tower of Dark Enigma, his expression indifferent yet with a touch of determination.

”Are you prepared to die fighting at Sia Tower?” a sharp voice sounded behind him.

”I’m about to leave home, never to return, why do you insist on mocking me?” Ruth shook his head. ”Besides, although I’ve set up a barrier, they know we’re definitely dissatisfied... but at this stage, why say such troublesome things?

It’s not like you can avoid it, Nicholson.”

”Ha~ you don’t care, after all, the legacy of the Soul Department doesn’t end with you.

But what about me?

What about the future of the Tower of Dark Enigma?”

Nicholson said angrily, ”The Soul Main Tower is long gone, now, the main pillar of the Tower of Dark Enigma is only our Tower of Prophecy, isn’t it?

Although we don’t really have a legacy to speak of, the common prophecy spells can still activate prophecy talents, and the Hazy Moon can still be useful.

After I leave... without a real Prophecy Mage, the glory of the Hazy Moon will also dim!

Damn Kamente Tower, why isn’t he the one to die!”

”Wasn’t this already known?” Ruth gently comforted him, ”You’re angry now because you couldn’t take the opportunity to strike at Kamente Tower, right?”

”Of course!” Nicholson sneered, ”You wouldn’t also tell me some nonsense about abandoning evil for good and forgiving him a little, would you?

I’ve reached a point where I can’t even bear the taste of food anymore!”

”Who?” Ruth asked in surprise, ”Who dares to speak to you like that?

Besides, what is this talk?

Abandon evil for good... what nonsense is this?”

”Kamente Tower said it himself.” Even now when he mentions it, Nicholson’s chest continued to tremble with anger. ”He said he had turned over a new leaf, hoping I could let go of past grievances and cooperate with him... if people were a little more forgiving, they would surely see a boundless sky.”

Ruth’s teeth suddenly felt acidic, and he couldn’t help but hiss.

”Being able to forgive others is a good thing, but if one could utterly forget the mistakes of others, that would be even better.” Nicholson continued, emotionlessly repeating Kamente Tower’s words. ”He claimed it to be a profound saying.

I don’t even want to ask which world of fools he learned such words from.

Besides, Mages don’t have such sayings.

A grudge paid back a hundredfold is how a Mage lives.”

Ruth helplessly shook his head. ”That guy must have just taught him how to use nonsense to divert your hatred, rather than genuinely thinking it.”

Nicholson couldn’t help but snort twice before calming down: ”I know, but I...”

This is hard not to think about.

Originally Nicholson was troubled by the deaths of his students and relatives... even to the point where he didn’t want to speak with Kamente Tower at all, causing their relationship to be somewhat stalemated.

But anger can quickly dissolve awkwardness, which is quite good.

As long as they talk, some things aren’t really issues.

Nicholson would come to realize that the future matters, the most important is only himself.

Those shallow emotions, although losing them can indeed be distressing, but... they will eventually drift away with the wind.

Treasuring the present and the future, especially one’s own, is what life is about.

Moreover, Ruth has always thought that Kamente Tower was indeed not a good thing, but his fault in this matter was only six parts, the remaining were all Nicholson’s students who had a feeling and had to personally verify it.

Prophecy Mages fear most those who know just a little, but in actuality understand nothing at all.

If they really saw those horrific results, maybe they wouldn’t be stupid enough to take action personally.

Additionally, Ruth also somewhat suspects that those secretive actions by the few were because the crisis they saw wasn’t as significant as the temptation they noticed.

The Sia Tower on the other side really likes piling up gold and silver mountains to lure people into a sea of desire.

The Tower of Dark Enigma, or rather, in the very distant past, one could even say the previous era’s Tower of Dark Enigma... in the mouths of some slightly older legacy Mages, it was to pursue so-called treasures that led to total collapse.

Even its legacy left only a tiny fraction behind.

But this tiny fraction allows the Tower of Dark Enigma, relying on its remaining energy, to summon Soul Mages and Prophecy Mages who then continue to stand at the world’s top through self-study.

Unfortunately, the foundation the Tower of Dark Enigma left is too fragile, unable to support several consumptions.

By the time Ruth grew... ha, there was only Nicholson left as a half-baked Prophecy Mage.

Though Ruth didn’t know whether in fate he saw himself surrounded by descendants... disregarding the importance of bloodlines and merely being called father, grandfather, or ancestor sufficed... in the prophecy, whether Nicholson mixed daydream with prophecy.

But at least, the guy’s inspiration sometimes had its uses.

”It seems you’ve awakened from your turmoil.” Ruth said calmly, ”What did Kamente Tower say?”

”He said, at that time, the only difference between him and Rolando was that he had more restrictions... though only in certain areas, but the binding was stronger.”

But at that time, she completely thought it was his own idea.” Nicholson turned his head and glanced, ”What kind of array is this you have?

Even the peeping of the Tower of Dark Enigma has been blocked.”

”Gilbert gave it to me.” Ruth squinted his eyes, ”He quarreled with Aislin, so he stayed in the Meditation Chamber for more than a month.

It was all for this array... The appearance of the Standard Runes gave him many wild ideas.”

”Hmm? His talent in arrays is so outstanding?” Nicholson frowned slightly, ”Have you checked?

Is he really Gilbert?

Not another Rommel?”

”He is.” Ruth nodded, ”The reason Rommel didn’t let us discover any issues initially is because he was Rommel before entering the Tower of Dark Enigma.

The soul detection of the Tower of Dark Enigma, as you know, looks strong, but in reality, the highest it can reach is only the Ninth Ring level... existence stronger than him couldn’t possibly be tested out.

Otherwise, we wouldn’t be deceived until now, only then daring to officially confirm his identity has issues.

Hehe~ Actually, not being able to test out is pretty good, right?

It’s someone stronger than the Magic Tower!

Why fight him? He’s not coming after us.

Things are best like this now.

Gilbert is different.”

Ruth looked down at the people coming and going beneath his feet: ”He was listed under my name right from the start, and officially registered in the Night’s Mist Tower.

It’s a Soul Mark, even Rommel can’t replace it... The will of Styx is unquestionable.”

”I never thought we’d see the day we could openly say the words Styx.” Nicholson suddenly sighed.

”What’s there not to expect?” Ruth coldly chuckled, ”Sia Tower remembers more firmly than us!

The moment that dragon appeared, I knew we couldn’t have any more time.

How would Sia Tower keep us around with possible Styx marks to assist that dragon?

He will first go to find the Tower of the Undead...”

”It’s not completely unexpected,” Nicholson muttered, ”We can still live, but they truly dare not die.”

Ruth shook his head helplessly... Necromancers are truly afraid to die.

If they really can’t withstand, they will usually choose to self-destruct... leaving not even a trace of Soulfire.

So, the reason the dragon from Styx could command them to act so recklessly, daring to reach for anything, is because as long as that dragon is here for one day, necromancers can happily embrace death... At least when dead, their souls can be collected by that dragon.

These Styx believers only have this much hope.

On the other hand, they’re in Tower of Dark Enigma, although owing to certain inheritance they have some connection with Styx, they’re not yet Styx believers, their souls still belong to this world.

Though no one wants to face death, at least after dying they won’t even lose their souls...

Ruth frowned slightly, quickly shook his head, and dispersed the thoughts about to surface: Can’t think, can’t speak, can’t move.

Though he still didn’t know what method that terrifying Goddess uses to discern humans possibly discovering the truth and betraying, controlling one’s thoughts, not even thinking in that direction, is the simplest and most effective method.

It’s the only way Archmages have found over the years.

”Prutt, how does he still live?” Nicholson’s gaze fixed on a corner below.

”How could Kamente Tower let him die in Magic Tower?” Ruth chuckled, ”After all, he is the Tower Master.

A Tower Master who controls a Main Tower, letting his high-level student die within Magic Tower’s realm, would be too disgraceful.

This has nothing to do with whether he gives up on Prutt.”

”So, along the way?” Nicholson pondered before he spoke, ”Wouldn’t they travel together?”

”Prutt wouldn’t stick beside him.” Ruth laughed, ”He wouldn’t even dare to think.

That Rommel... really good at creating pressure on people.”

”Hmm? Ruth.” Nicholson suddenly shifted the topic, ”Why is your array not using all Standard Runes?”

”Ah? Hmm...” Ruth suddenly chuckled, ”Gilbert said, our runes, after being used for thousands of years, though not as concise, how could they completely lose their value.

So, he’s been pondering over how to use the original runes.

Hehe~ he used some distorted runes at connection points in the middle to form a rune chain.

How interesting... Though grotesque runes are difficult to learn, and occupy too much space in the Mental Sea, they suit well linking various Standard Runes together.

I’ve been researching them recently, this is the result.”