(Two-in-One Chapter)
The Time Shadow appeared in the sky like a mirage. As it was high above, not only Ye Chui and his group but also the Fourth Prince and his party, who had arrived near Shengguang Forest, witnessed the entire scene in stunned silence, learning of events that transpired five thousand years ago.
They were all Nineveh speechless with shock. Among them, Bishop Talbot’s expression was particularly shaken.
The Golden Greatsword, the Sacred Bible, and most shockingly for Talbot, the Red Devil.
A memory from over a decade ago surfaced in his mind.
Talbot was a bishop, a symbol of status and power among believers. But years ago, he was an ordinary follower in the White Monastery of the Holy City. Due to his talent, he earned the trust of a cardinal.
That day, he had the privilege of accompanying the cardinal into the Forbidden Temple of the Church.
The Forbidden Temple was a place only cardinals could enter, where they could commune directly with the deities worshipped by the Church, receiving divine inspiration. Statues of these deities were enshrined there.
For five thousand years, the deities of the Church had taken various forms: sometimes compassionate elders, youthful adolescents, or enchanting beauties, as if reflecting the legend that deities could manifest in any form. But only those at the core of the Church’s power knew these were not their true forms, which were deliberately hidden for being too hideous and evil. These were divine beings born from omnipresent magical elements, not belonging to any race that once existed on the Castro Continent. Only a few believers ever saw their true visage, and Talbot was one of them.
That encounter with the terrifying, ferocious statues nearly shook his faith.
Yet, he ultimately chose to dedicate his most loyal soul to the deity.
But he could never forget the appearance of those gods in the dark, desolate Forbidden Temple, etched forever in his mind.
Today, he saw them again.
Yes, the Red Devil fighting the Goddess of Wealth and the Goddess of Faith was the very deity the Church had worshipped for five thousand years.
Five thousand years ago, the devil that invaded the divine realm, causing the fall of the gods, was the elemental deity that established the Church’s current faith.
Talbot couldn’t help but silently recite sacred scriptures, a profound fear rising within him. From the villagers of Shengguang Forest, he knew the “devil” was still sealed here. How could he remain calm knowing the deity he worshipped was suffering in this place?
His god needed him.
“Your Highness, Fourth Prince,” Bishop Talbot said, bowing immediately after the Time Shadow ended, “I must lead my followers to the forbidden land.”
They had planned to enter Shengguang Forest together to retrieve the Golden Greatsword and then destroy the Sacred Bible in the forbidden land, a heretical and forbidden item for the current Church. But now, discovering his worshipped deity was sealed and suffering, the desire to save it far outweighed destroying the Bible. He decided to part ways with the Fourth Prince’s group.
“Bishop, we should act together at this time,” the Fourth Prince said, startled and displeased, as Talbot was their top expert, and he didn’t want him leaving now.
“Indeed, Talbot, once we resolve matters here and obtain the Golden Greatsword, we’ll assist you in destroying the Bible,” Ice Mage McKenzie added. “There may be trouble in Shengguang Forest. We need your help.”
Talbot’s followers hesitated, clearly reluctant to separate from the main group in this unknown world, but they dared not defy the bishop, whose authority was immense among ordinary believers.
“I’ve made my decision. We part ways now,” Talbot declared firmly, turning and leading his followers away without looking back.
The believers’ group consisted of five people, leaving seven with the Fourth Prince.
Watching Talbot’s group depart, the Fourth Prince’s face darkened with displeasure. He knew he couldn’t offend the Church’s people, despite nominally leading this expedition. He couldn’t command Talbot as he did McKenzie and others.
“Forget it, Your Highness. Even without Bishop Talbot, we can easily handle Shengguang Forest,” the Black Sword Guard, previously gravely injured by Gilga, said softly, looking much recovered. His gaze fell on a mage among the seven.
This mage, his face hidden under a tall hood, gave a dry, raspy chuckle, summoning a green-covered magic book and raising a hand. “Indeed, Your Highness, leave it to me. With my magic, I can swiftly and easily deal with everyone in this village, heh heh heh…”
As he spoke, black liquid surged from his palm, dripping to the ground.
The grass touching the black liquid withered instantly.
…
The Black Pearl sailed swiftly along the Liangshui River.
Ye Chui tried summoning the Golden Greatsword, but like his initial failed attempt with Dragon Treasure, the summoning halted midway with a failure prompt. It seemed he lacked something essential. He had needed the Dragon Soul to summon Dragon Treasure successfully. Did the Golden Greatsword require a Sword Soul?
Looking toward Shengguang Forest, it was clear the Sacred Stone Sword there would be key to his summoning.
“Did I really say those things? That’s odd, I don’t remember a thing,” Debbie’s puzzled voice came from nearby. Green was asking about her recognition of the Goddess of Fate, but Debbie had no recollection, tilting her head with a confused expression. “The ancient gods’ images are heretical in the Church, so all related information is banned. Only a few divine images remain, and for the Goddess of Fate, only her name, Lil or something, is known. How could I know about her? Did you mishear?”
“No way, you clearly said it was the Goddess of Fate, daughter of the God of Gods and the Goddess of Wealth,” Green said, astonished.
Debbie looked shocked. “Daughter of the God of Gods and the Goddess of Wealth? The gods’ relationships are that messy?”
She was clearly unaware of what she’d said.
“When the Time Shadow ended, did anyone notice the Goddess of Fate looking at us?” Ye Chui interjected, troubled by her gaze and final words.
But everyone, including Debbie, shook their heads.
“She did glance downward, but she couldn’t have been looking at us from that distance. I didn’t feel her gaze,” Cass said.
“Really?” Ye Chui replied, feeling increasingly uneasy.
The Goddess of Fate controlled the river of destiny. Could she know future events?
What he saw and heard might not be an illusion.
“I will always be watching you…”
What did that mean?
Moreover, the Goddess of Fate stopped the Goddess of Wealth from killing the Red Devil, choosing to seal it and leave the Golden Greatsword. It felt deliberately left for Ye Chui to gain experience and level up.
Bloody hell, there’s definitely something fishy here, isn’t there?
Setting these thoughts aside, Ye Chui calmed himself, as Shengguang Forest was just ten minutes away.
He reopened the [Demon Seal] game, preparing to form a team.
He asked Debbie, Cass, and Green if they’d join him. Having done this before, they agreed without hesitation. Their pixelated avatars appeared in the game. With a team limit of five, Ye Chui hesitated over the final member.
Godo was only a heroic spirit, barely sustained by Debbie’s magic, unable to fight or count as an individual, so he was excluded. The choice was between Guni or Reisa.
Scanning them, Ye Chui decided, asking Guni, “Will you join my team?”
Reisa, the healer, had been chanting Bible verses to restore Ye Chui’s magic, leaving her exhausted. She’d be of little use in combat. Ye Chui had to be practical, and as a healer, Reisa wasn’t meant for fighting or dealing damage, so her absence from the team didn’t matter.
Hearing Ye Chui’s question, unlike Debbie, Cass, and Green’s unconditional trust, Guni was puzzled. “What’s teaming up?”
“Don’t worry about it. Just say you’re willing,” Ye Chui said with a smile.
“Oh,” Guni nodded, then replied, “I’m not willing.”
Ye Chui paused. “…Why not?”
“Why should I be willing?” Guni asked curiously.
“Because it doesn’t affect you much but benefits me greatly,” Ye Chui explained.
“What benefits?” Guni pressed.
How was he supposed to explain? Why was this kid so difficult?
Ye Chui turned to Godo. “Fatty, deal with your seventeenth-generation troublemaker.”
Godo looked curious too. “Speaking of which, I’m curious. Is teaming up some kind of magic?”
“Bloody hell, enough already. Just agree,” Ye Chui said, exasperated. Was dawdling a family trait?
After much debate, Guni finally joined Ye Chui’s team.
Reisa stood silently, understanding Ye Chui’s reasoning. She knew her combat role was minimal, her healing scriptures ineffective due to exhaustion.
This feeling of uselessness was truly frustrating.
Then, Reisa thought of the Goddess of Faith’s Bible.
Minutes later, the Black Pearl reached a vast pool, practically a lake, the source of the Liangshui River. A massive spring beneath fed clear water upward. A water bud was visible at the lake’s centre, suggesting a magical array converting water elements.
Guni introduced it as Shengguang Lake.
Ye Chui stopped the looping background music, and the Black Pearl vanished. With a splash, everyone fell into the water, wading to shore. They surveyed their surroundings, spotting a dense forest ahead with trees unlike any outside, their large, umbrella-like leaves resembling giant mushrooms, creating a fantastical scene.
Soft light emanated from the forest, likely from the Sacred Stone Sword. A tranquil path, clearly man-made, extended from the forest.
This was Shengguang Forest, where Godo and the original ten founded the village.
Ye Chui checked his magic book’s map, noting that the Fourth Prince’s twelve had split. Five headed to the forbidden land, likely Talbot’s believers, eager to destroy the Sacred Bible, a taboo for current followers, Ye Chui guessed.
He couldn’t help but think, Are you lot so eager to court death?
Needing the Golden Greatsword first, he let them go. The remaining seven, including the Fourth Prince, had entered Shengguang Forest, where conflict seemed underway. Most villagers were gathered, many standing motionless, likely restrained, with some scattered elsewhere.
“We must act quickly. Stay cautious and quiet, assess the situation first,” Ye Chui instructed, looking at Guni, knowing this was her home and she must be furious.
“I’ll be cautious,” Guni replied, hefting her massive stone sword onto her shoulder. Then she asked, “What does cautious mean?”
“…”
Isolated for centuries, some words had been lost in Shengguang Forest.
Shengguang Forest was a woodland with a central clearing, possibly natural or cleared by residents. Simple huts lined the edges, and at the centre, a peculiar giant stone sword was embedded in a rock.
This sword emitted soft light, protecting the residents for centuries against external evil, though ineffective against humans. Now, malicious humans had arrived.
The Fourth Prince and his seven stood before the sword, gazing with狂喜 at its radiant glow.
Over a hundred villagers lay collapsed around them, their faces tinged with ominous grey-black, blood flowing from mouths and noses.
Twenty minutes earlier, the Fourth Prince’s group arrived.
The villagers, seeing outsiders for the first time, showed great enthusiasm. Led by their elder, nearly all gathered to offer a warm welcome.
But then, pools of living black water flowed beneath them, and they collapsed involuntarily.
This was Black Water Magic.
Also known as Poison Magic.
A fusion of dark and water magic elements.
The hooded, sinister mage was a Black Water Mage, less rare than Curse Mages but equally infamous for malevolent, venomous power.
“The true Golden Greatsword must be sealed within this stone sword,” the Fourth Prince said,狂喜 on his face, sweeping aside offerings of food and water to touch the sword’s surface. “The Goddess of Wealth’s sword in my hands. But it’s too large. We must break the outer stone first.”
“Let me try,” the Black Sword Guard sneered, drawing his cursed black sword.
“Stop, you can’t touch the Sacred Stone Sword. Our ancestors won’t forgive you,” a frail elder among the fallen villagers struggled to shout.
“Ancestors? What rubbish is that?” the Fourth Prince scoffed, signaling the Black Sword to act, dismissing the villagers’ quaint beliefs. He then addressed the other swordsmen and mages, “Search the village. Bring anyone not gathered here to me.”
“Yes, Your Highness,” they agreed, beginning their search.
Ye Chui’s group entered Shengguang Forest, led by Guni toward the centre. He monitored the game’s map, spotting several figures leaving the village centre, two approaching their direction.
Were they spotted? No, Ye Chui saw on the pixelated map that the two stopped at a simple hut, entering where two white dots remained, not captured with the others.
“This way,” Ye Chui whispered, leading his group toward the hut.
Inside, two swordsmen burst in, scanning the sparse dwelling. They spotted two girls in the centre, embracing—a fifteen- or sixteen-year-old and a seven- or eight-year-old, likely sisters, clinging in fear as the intruders approached.
“Two girls? Heh,” the longsword swordsman chuckled lewdly, eyeing the older girl. Though perhaps older than Guni, she seemed defenseless but strikingly fair, a beauty. He grinned at his companion, a dual-shortsword swordsman. “Keep watch outside.”
“You can stomach this wild girl?” the shortsword swordsman sneered but nodded, hoisting the younger girl onto his shoulder to leave.
The little girl wailed in fright.
The older girl tried to reclaim her sister but was roughly shoved down by the longsword swordsman.
“Daddy will be back soon. He won’t let you go. He’s the village’s best hunter,” the older girl shouted.
“Hunter?”
The longsword swordsman sneered. “We killed four hunters on the way. Was your daddy one?”
The girl shuddered, crying out in anguish. As the longsword swordsman approached with a wicked grin, her face filled with terror.
Ye Chui’s group reached the hut, peering through a small window at the scene.
“These adventurers have no morals,” Ye Chui said coldly, sliding his finger on the iPad magic book to activate [Shadow Stealth] and enter to kill the swordsmen, who didn’t seem formidable. He didn’t want to harm the girls or alert the Fourth Prince’s group. Turning to his companions, he said, “Cover me… Bloody hell.”
Guni, raising her massive stone sword, spun a half-circle as Ye Chui spoke, hurling the sword with a “Hah” through the wooden wall toward the longsword swordsman, who was preparing his vile act.
Boom.
The hundred-pound stone sword smashed through the wall, charging forward, striking the swordsman’s stomach, pushing him back through another wall, stopping at the second.
The sword pierced his abdomen, pinning him to the wall, nearly cleaving him in two.
The swordsman stared at the sword in his body, blood gushing from his mouth. Trying to look up at his attacker, his head grew too heavy, and life faded.
Ye Chui gaped at Guni, still posed from throwing the sword.
“…”
Girl, didn’t I just explain what cautious means?
The shortsword swordsman, reaching the door with the girl, froze at the sudden chaos but reacted swiftly, preparing to flee.
Ye Chui, quicker, cast [Wind Walk] to circle the hut, blocking the door.
The shortsword swordsman dropped the girl, drawing both short swords, staring coldly at Ye Chui. “Didn’t expect you here, but you’ve walked into a trap.”
His short swords danced flamboyantly, a prelude to some technique.
His eyes scanned warily, noting Cass and others blocking the hut’s other side. Thinking the girl at his feet was his best hostage, he sneered, his swords flashing more elaborately. “President Ye Chui, don’t be rash. I can kill this girl in under a second. My swords are fast…”
Bang.
His head exploded before he finished.
Ye Chui’s finger pointed at him.
Intermediate Destruction Spell [Starfire Blast].
A modified shotgun.
“Pity I don’t need a tenth of a second to kill you,” Ye Chui said calmly, shaking his head as the body fell. “Why all the flashy moves? Tsk.”
It was like a duel where one flaunts dual swords, only for the other to pull a shotgun and blast their head off.
Debbie, Cass, Guni, and others rushed into the hut. The two girls recognized Guni, scrambling up, crying as they recounted the village’s plight. They’d escaped by staying home, but most villagers were gathered at the centre, poisoned and collapsed.
“It’s Mandel, the Black Water Mage’s magic,” Cass said gravely. “His poison magic is tricky if unprepared, rendering victims immobile. But it’s easily undone. Kill him.”
“That simplifies things,” Ye Chui nodded. He’d planned to sneak into the village and ambush the Fourth Prince’s group, but this commotion made stealth impossible. Looking toward the village centre, he told his companions, “No choice now. We face them head-on.”
