Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

Translator: Kinky || https://kinkytranslations.com/

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Chapter 171: The Curtain Falls

At death’s door, Drake’s thoughts were extremely heavy, as if he was fatigued to the utmost.

However, when facing death, some decisions became easier to make. He had lost his body, lost his future, and had nothing but a thin strand of consciousness. If he could trade his shattered soul to check on his companions one last time, why not?

At this moment, his remaining life was worth less than a piece of gold. He was curious about the price the mysterious voice would offer.

[I will let you live.]

Discovering that Drake didn’t immediately refuse, the voice quickly continued, [But I must tell you, what has happened has happened. I cannot restore you to your original form… I will give you a piece of my flesh, provisionally letting you have a body.]

[You will witness the coming years with me. When you make up your mind, then trade with me. I am not someone who likes to force things*.] At this point, the mysterious girl sneered coldly.

*Driving ducks to other/Force a donkey to dance (赶鸭子上架) Metaphor referring to forcing someone to do something beyond their abilities.

[It sounds like I only benefit…] Drake struggled to perk up.

How could there be a trade in this world that only had benefits?

[Alright, when you decide to trade, I want you to mortgage your name—of course, you will retain your knowledge and common sense, but you will forget those most important people and events.]

The girl’s voice was a bit dejected. [Rest assured. Once my goal is achieved, I will return your name to you. After all, my power is limited. I need a little insurance. There’s no stronger chain than ‘mortgaging one’s life’. Besides ‘the past’, what else could you give?]

Naturally, he couldn’t. Drake answered in his mind.

But if the Goddess of Life really broke her promise, he must make her pay the price. And… he could live, couldn’t he?

To live was to hope.

[Why me…?] He silently agreed to the trade.

[Ha!]

The girl let out a laugh filled with anger. [Ordinary people can only withstand so much power. I can’t offer too much protection. That fake goddess would notice them first and kill them.]

[And you, my friend. You can withstand my protection, sneaking under that guy’s nose—you are at least a False God. Even now reduced to pieces, A False God level is still False God level. I have only felt three False Gods born in this land—”

[The ancient dragon leader Subelbot. That timid lizard must have sensed something, hiding in its nest every day. Near the Dragon’s Lair is the Creator God’s protection. That guy can’t touch him, and I can’t contact him at all.]

[Gregory Gilmore. A warrior of pure heart, with astonishing talent. He got lucky in a mausoleum left by the Creator God and broke through his limits… Unfortunately, this poor guy was a high-ranking Temple official, targeted by that guy early on, becoming a puppet with a broken mind.]

[You are the third one I’ve seen.]

At this point, the girl’s voice was somewhat emotional. [Now that guy has taken over the whole world, talented beings are closely watched. After you, it’s probably hard for a False God level being to appear again…]

[No wonder Star Stealer Sol wants to impersonate the two Gods, creating oracles—keeping an eye on potential ‘competitors’ while gathering strong, loyal forces. How convenient. I would do the same.]

This time, Teest’s tone was quite serious. [Speaking of which, this guy lost his body, and Star Stealer Sol got the prophetic power to create oracles, something She never mentioned.]

[Is this Perradat’s voice?] Nol couldn’t help asking.

Teest’s mind carried a smile. [Correct. When negotiating with me, this guy was more dignified, not so frustrated.]

Well, the situation was now quite clear. Nol sighed in his heart.

Setting aside the mysteries of the previous three worlds, the fate of the Tahe continent was clear enough.

This world was born by his hand. And he, having suffered something unknown, had no memory, only a suspicious knowledge seal.

The manager was missing, and the system turned into an ownerless world authority. The outsiders Perradat and Star Stealer Sol engaged in a system struggle, resulting in Perradat’s disastrous defeat. Since then, She’s been lurking in the shadows, barely surviving.

But so far, the war surrounding the system hadn’t ended.

Star Stealer Sol’s power was limited, unable to swallow this piece of fat in one bite. More unfortunately, the beings originally belonging to this world seem able to “surpass system limits”, obtaining False God power.

Therefore, to prevent new competitors from emerging, Star Stealer Sol used oracles to gather the most talented people, keeping them under close surveillance. Once these people showed signs of “False Godhood”, it would be through “domestication”, “contracts”, and other means, nipping them in the bud.

During this period, Star Stealer Sol just needed to slowly erode the system, gradually turning Tahe into its own.

No wonder Perradat was so desperate—

Without Star Stealer Sol’s suppression, three False God level beings appeared in the early stages of Tahe. And in the two hundred years following, until himself and Teest appeared, no False God level powerhouses were born. Her speculation was very correct. Star Stealer Sol kept this land under tight surveillance.

Theoretically, Perradat almost had no chance of turning the tables.

[…But I have seen your future.]

At this time, the girl’s voice said. It wasn’t the elusive and pretentious “word of God”, but closer to a flesh-and-blood sentiment. [Your future holds hope. You will be illuminated by light. I can no longer approach the land of Tahe, but you can… You will follow the guidance of fate and meet those you are supposed to meet.]

Countless tendrils extended from the ground, approaching the ring of fire. One of the tendrils broke off on its own, coiling into a dark, twisted mass.

The other tendrils lifted it in front of the soon-to-extinguish cyan ring of fire.

[I voluntarily give up this piece of flesh, this power.]

The girl’s tone contained a bit more vicissitude. [I allow it to no longer follow my commands. I allow it to carry another life.]

The mass of flesh gradually deformed, and the cyan ring of fire quickly shrank, absorbed by the black flesh.

The thing gradually wriggled and transformed, becoming candle-like. A blue vertical eye opened, with blue flames burning fiercely.

Drake struggled to adapt to the new body for a while. Breaking free from the whirlpool of death, his reason gradually returned. The ancient Demon King was still not far away, but it seemed to have no interest in him now. That huge figure lay on the ground, deeply asleep.

Perradat was rarely silent.

After groping for a long time, Drake found a new way to speak. [What’s wrong?]

[Why exactly in the form of a candle? What were you thinking?]

Perradat’s voice sounded a bit panicked. [What if ‘being illuminated by light’ refers to your head rather than your future…]

Drake: [……]

Drake: [Because of the fire…]

[Ahhhhhh!] Perradat screamed in a very ungodlike manner. [Damn it, damn it. If only my power was complete, I would definitely be more certain of what the prophecy points to… Damn it!]

After a while, She sighed in defeat. [Well, let it be. You have withstood my flesh. It will ensure you’re not discovered by that guy—]

[Let me reintroduce myself. I am Perradat, a god from beyond, with the powers of concealment and prophecy.]

Drake silently felt his new body. He could still hear, still see. Candle tears were under his control. Though not very flexible, he could still move.

His proud magical power was all gone with only a blue flame burning atop his head remained—he seemed to retain the power to split space, but he wasn’t too sure…

Well, he had just agreed to trade with a completely unknown god, what more was there to lose?

[My power is gone,] Drake honestly admitted. [How can I help you?]

[You still possess a bit of spatial power. I can feel it.]

Perradat hummed with laughter. [That’s one of the authorities of this world. That guy didn’t use it cleanly, leaving you some residue. As for how to use it…]

Drake listened intently.

[…I don’t know either. I haven’t gotten a hold of the authority of this world.]

Perradat said, [No worries. Once our trade is complete, we can study it slowly. What’s important is that you will meet the one who can break the stalemate… probably.]

Drake: [……] For a second, a tinge of regret surged in his heart, but he politely remained silent.

[I’ll do my best,] he said.

[When that day comes, you must guide them to oppose that guy. Even if you can’t achieve that, you must ensure they don’t cooperate… This is our last chance.]

Perradat sighed. [Now, let’s go.]

[Where to?] Drake was a bit lost. He wasn’t even as fast as a mouse now. Was he supposed to just walk like this?

[Near my core,] Perradat said somberly. [Didn’t I tell you? I’ll let you see what comes next. I know what you’re wondering. I will send you there.]

Drake tried to look around, giving the Demon King a couple more glances. […Where are you?]

[You’re standing on me,] Perradat said. [There’s more far away. There weren’t any Desolation Islands before. How do you think they came to be?]

For a moment, not just Drake, even Nol felt a chill.

His attention turned to the black soil in his field of view… Indeed, the islands in the Endless Sea didn’t exist before. He subconsciously thought they were appendages of the ancient Demon King.

[My remnants, alas.] The girl said sadly, [I was supposed to be in the sky…]

Drake: [……]

The Desolation Islands were the remains of a fallen god. This news was too shocking. He didn’t know how to respond for a moment.

[Alright, let’s go.]

In the end, all he could muster was this dry remark.

The memory gradually faded.

In the next scene, the black candle sat on a silver candlestick.

It was a… dimly lit stone room, with architecture resembling a church. But neither in style nor material did it resemble the Evergreen Church, nor was it the work of the Eternal Church.

The style here was gloomy and soft, with candles of distorted shapes lit in every corner. They varied in length, their shadows flickering in the light of the fire, like a nonexistent noisy crowd.

In the silent revelry, Drake’s heart was about to be torn apart by pain—

After learning to control the blue flame, Drake personally opened a spatial passage, peeking at those familiar places.

He couldn’t see any familiar figures, not even one.

No one returned home.

The tavern was abuzz with news, saying his team “disappeared completely”. Countless strong ones fell since then. Parents didn’t wait for their children, and children didn’t wait for their parents.

Some insisted on searching—from teenagers under eighteen to high-ranking kings, but they found nothing, not even a lost piece of clothing or a familiar ring. Those people vanished without a trace.

Everyone believed that their fleet had sunk in the Endless Sea or were all slaughtered by the Demon King.

“Kermit’s Magical Grocery Store” lost its owner, and several heirs argued endlessly over the position of owner. In a magic workshop within the Eternal Day City at the Blanco’s mansion, a female craftsman sat statuesque in a chair, staring at an empty vase.

Nol recognized that face. He and Teest had seen her portrait at the Blanco’s mansion; she was the founder of the Blanco family, the genius craftsman Wilma Farren Blanco.

She looked to be under thirty, yet her hair already had quite a few white strands.

Drake closed his only eye.

[I agree to the trade,] he said. [Take away my past, Perradat, and send me to Tahe.]

[I will worship you as a god, become your knight, your messenger, your eyes. I will help you bring down Star Stealer Sol until the end of my life.]

[I hope this is not an impulsive decision.]

Perradat’s voice came from all directions, followed by several hums. [You mortgage your name to me, so you won’t remember these people—don’t expect a thrilling and warm reunion.]

[I know,] Drake said.

[Don’t expect too comfortable a life either. The only thing I can guarantee is “Star Stealer Sol won’t discover your true nature”.]

Perradat emphasized again. [Once you leave here, you must completely submit to the arrangements of fate—you might be discovered by people from two religions, studied, even locked in a box for decades, or worse, centuries.]

[I know,] Drake responded decisively. [I will wait.]

[…You’re more stubborn than I thought. Wouldn’t you take the opportunity to ask for more benefits?]

[My companions were killed by Star Stealer Sol. They died because of my negligence. Star Stealer Sol is for me to punish, and I am to be dealt with by fate. It’s fair.]

[Well, it seems you don’t yet know the cruelty of time and solitude,] Perradat said. [I used to be quite elegant.]

Drake responded with silence.

[I used to be quite elegant, really,] Perradat said again.

Drake continued to be silent.

[My loyal knight, what did I just say?] Perradat persisted.

Drake: […You were once quite elegant.]

[Time is just that cruel.] Perradat concluded satisfactorily. [Then go, my knight. Thank you for your praise. I will give you a small gift.]

This is considered praise? Drake was at a loss for words.

But the moment he received the “gift”, a faint sourness emerged from where his heart should be.

It was many… “memory books”.

They existed within his consciousness, recording numerous odd tales and curiosities of the starry sky. Some were trivial but interesting knowledge. He guessed they wouldn’t make him stronger, but they would be enough to fight against the impending darkness and solitude.

[Thank you.] He thanked from the bottom of his heart for the first time.

[That’s more like it.] Perradat said, [I hope we both find relief.]

Drake closed his eyes.

He recalled the house of his childhood, the aroma of bread his mother made. He recalled the noise and clamor of the mercenary guild, the smell lingering on the potion stoppers. He remembered the smiles of his comrades, pairs of bright eyes by the campfire.

He remembered the person he admired, his promise to defeat the Demon King, to bring back the beautiful flowers of the Desolation Islands— the best magical materials, the best gift.

‘Goodbye, Drake,’ he thought.

The blue flame went out and the black candle closed its eyes, appearing in a sealed cargo box. The cargo ship swayed with the waves, like a cradle.

Two hundred years ago, it carried him… it, towards the Inato Alliance.

At the edge of the waves, several black tendrils quietly retracted.

A very bad end, a very good beginning.

From that day on, the hero Drake, aboard the ship of fate, began a wait that lasted more than two hundred years.

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The author has a word to say:

The remaining puzzle is actually Star Stealer Sol’s boss mechanism (?

Previous worlds, neighbors, and contradictions were all related to its authority. Just fight it to find out √

How could you not strategize for a boss fight, right?

If you haven’t read Stray, it doesn’t affect your reading; races and the like will be explained later, but having read it might give you a guess in advance~

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Another pair of God and knight has appeared!

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Kinky Thoughts:

This marks the end of the arc.

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