Ashe thought that throwing out these two bombshells would surely stir up a storm, but not only Tamashi-even Igor and Harvey were quite calm, wearing expressions that said, “So that’s all you were being so serious about?”
Igor only asked whether the Heart of Wishes Command could teleport at any time, and had no further questions. Ashe couldn’t help but ask, “Aren’t you surprised that I inherited the Wishflux Celestium?”
Tamashi: “Wishflux Celestium, it must be pretty powerful, right?”
Harvey: “Oh.”
Igor: “There are four black-robed sorcerers who inherited the Wishflux Celestium. Besides you, the other three are all women, right?”
“How did you know?” Ashe was taken aback.
“These past few days, you talked in your sleep and I overheard.” Igor said casually, “I also heard you want to chase dreams with them, live together, and… reproduce…”
“Impossible, absolutely impossible, Igor, don’t even think about tricking me.” Ashe waved his hand. “I don’t even have any dreams.”
Tamashi suddenly remembered something. “Is she one of those three black-robed sorcerers?”
Although Tamashi’s question seemed out of nowhere, Ashe knew he was asking about the sword Princess they’d discussed in Black Robe Town, so he nodded. “Yes.”Tamashi nodded slightly, lowering his head, lost in thought.
“So, what’s the plan?” Igor asked. “What do you want to do?”
Igor, Harvey, and Tamashi naturally didn’t care about Ashe possessing the Wishflux Celestium. Tamashi simply didn’t know its significance, Harvey didn’t care, and Igor had known all along. The Wishflux Celestium was so precious that even the Con Artist thought Ashe would keep it secret forever, but unexpectedly, Ashe revealed it to save everyone… Though unexpected, it wasn’t surprising at all.
“Since none of us will be drawn in by the World Destruction Procedure, we can just fly straight into the rift, then open the Void Gate and let the falling Senlo people time trave directly to another Kingdom.” Ashe said, “Even if there’s more danger in another Kingdom, it’s still better than dying here.”
His plan was so rough it bordered on naïve: wasn’t Doomsday just opening the reservoir and letting the Senlo people flow into the sewer (Virtual Realm) like water? Now that they could use the Void Gate Spirit to open a passage to another Kingdom, they could set the Void Gate inside the rift, catch the surviving Senlo people, and let them time trave to another world.
But thinking it over, this was indeed the most feasible plan for now. And even if they didn’t save the Senlo people, Ashe and the others would have tried to go to other Kingdoms anyway. The Wishflux Celestium was just a last resort, since as Ashe said, even after reaching the Wishflux Celestium, they’d have to find a way to leave. After all, the Wishflux Celestium was desolate; unless Harvey could summon a bunch of Necromancy creatures to help farm, it would be hard for them to survive.
“Since we have a retreat route we can use at any time…” Igor glanced at the other two. “I have no objections.”
“I’m rested enough.” Harvey stood up and stretched.
Tamashi looked at Ashe, the corners of his mouth slightly upturned, his eyes seeming to shine.
“You are still my Judge,” he said. “I will follow you, even to hell.”
“But Ashe, this is the first time you’ve ever taken the initiative to do something for strangers.” Igor ‘kindly’ jabbed. “You don’t think that just because you’ve gotten stronger, you can do whatever you want, undo every tragedy, and solve every problem, do you?”
“Of course not,” Ashe said. “It’s just that Doomsday is right before us, and we have a theoretical solution. If we don’t try, I can’t convince myself. Besides…”
“This Doomsday, in every sense, is related to me.” Ashe glanced back at the little Silver Lantern. “I’m not arrogant enough to think the end of the world is my responsibility, but if I do nothing, this memory will be nothing but helpless regret.”
“I want to do my best to save this world she destroyed.”
Igor looked at the little Silver Lantern hugging her doll, watercolor pens, and book, and asked, “Who is she?”
Everyone had noticed the little Silver Lantern long ago, but they’d been waiting for Ashe to explain.
“She is Silver Lantern,” Ashe said seriously. “She is both the Mad Silver Lantern and the deity Silver Lantern.”
Everyone nodded slightly. They all knew there must be an unbelievable story here, but time was tight, so Ashe and Silver Lantern’s story would have to wait for another day.
Harvey had the ghoul Alice lie in the coffin, then put it into his spatial ring. This was a spatial ring Chikara had made himself; before entering the Silent Spiral, he had finally completed Igor’s order.
As always, Ashe carried Tamashi on his back, but for some reason, Tamashi was especially heavy this time, and he pressed his whole body against Ashe’s back, even yawning lazily.
“Tired?”
“Maybe I’m just too exhausted.” Tamashi murmured softly, “Even though I can go three days and nights without feeling sleepy, it’s strange…”
“It’s also possible your back has a hypnotic effect,” Igor said. “Next time you like a girl, just rush over and carry her off. She won’t dare resist.”
“Are you talking about hypnosis or kidnapping?”
The four of them flew together toward the rift in the sky, with the little Silver Lantern following close behind.
Their sight could pierce through all eighteen layers of the Silent Spiral down to the ground, and they could see others still falling into the Abyss. As long as they could create a Void Gate in time, they could save another life.
Yet this was the hardest part.
Ashe and the others quickly settled on a perfect spot to place the Void Gate-there was a 30% chance the Senlo people would pass through this area. But when they activated the Void Gate Spirit, they found that fate, after slapping them once, made them offer the other cheek.
First Void Gate: virtual realm turbulence.
Second Void Gate: virtual realm turbulence.
Third Void Gate: not turbulence, but still inaccessible-it was underground rock strata.
Fourth Void Gate: seawater surged out-it was the deep sea, the water pressure enough to crush a person into Lala Fatty meat paste.
Fifth Void Gate: virtual realm turbulence.
……
Ashe and the others had originally planned to stay in the Silent Spiral for a month, waiting for the Void Gate Spirit to cool down, so they could continuously refresh the Void Gate passages. Now, in order to quickly find a reliable passage, they had no choice but to fish with dynamite-Void Gate Spirits shattered one after another, but not a single usable passage appeared!
Even though the 50% success rate was already a thousand times better than on the surface, they needed to find a way out for themselves and the Senlo people. If they couldn’t reach a normal Kingdom, what was the point?
Soon, they had only one three wings Void Gate Spirit left. In the last refresh, the best result was only a location three hundred meters above ground. That was enough for Ashe and the others, but for ordinary Senlo people, that height was no different from death!
The three wings Void Gate Spirit could be used twice in a row; if used a third time, it would self-destruct.
The four exchanged glances. Ashe took a deep breath and activated the Void Gate Spirit.
First result-not virtual realm turbulence! But the lava that immediately poured out from the Void Gate instantly extinguished all their hope.
It’s over.
It’s already over.
To be safe, this three wings Void Gate Spirit had to be kept. That way, when Ashe and the others reached the Wishflux Celestium, they could use it to travel to other Kingdoms. So this Void Gate Spirit could only be used one more time. If the next attempt still failed to open the right passage, then it would be Wance End.
Roughly estimated, about one-tenth of the Senlo people hadn’t fallen yet and were still sliding along the path. But let alone saving them, Ashe and the others couldn’t even save a single one.
Even if they caught a Senlo person, the Senlo would burst like a bubble, dissipating like flowing water.
“Just do our best,” Igor said. “Neither we nor the Senlo people have much luck.”
Ashe sighed and turned to look at Tamashi on his back, only to find he had already fallen asleep. When Tamashi slept, he didn’t look like a judgment warrior who had hunted countless evil ravens-his sleeping face was as peaceful as a small animal’s.
That was fine, at least he didn’t have to face the moment when even the last hope was shattered.
At that moment, someone happened to fall toward their area. If the Void Gate succeeded this time, that person would be saved; if not, that person and all the Senlo people behind would fall into the only torrent of fate.
Void Gate Spirit!
Ashe poured all his spellforce into driving the Void Gate Spirit. After scouting, his face showed helpless frustration-the other side of the Void Gate was virtual realm turbulence.
There was no Miracle where going all in would turn the tables. In this world, Miracles are created by sorcerers themselves, not granted by fate. He should have understood that long ago.
Just as the falling person was about to reach the lower level and Ashe was about to withdraw the Void Gate, a crisp snap of fingers echoed through the Silent Spiral.
The wind stopped.
The falling person froze in midair.
Broken stones and dust hung motionless.
Time for the entire world slowed to nearly infinite.
It was the effect of “Sanctuary.”
The three of them turned to look at Tamashi, who had snapped his fingers.
Tamashi lay on Ashe’s back, pondering for a long time before slowly saying, “I seem to be… No, people like me, we’re all used by the Chasm Sovereign as backup vessels for resurrection.”
“Even if the world is destroyed, we’re unaffected, and then the Chasm Sovereign will resurrect from among us.”
“Before the Chasm Sovereign is resurrected, Senlo’s administrative rights are transferred to us.” Tamashi tapped Ashe’s face, turning him into the Red-Haired Sword Princess for a second-it was the effect of “Kaleidoscope.”
“The Chasm Sovereign is dreaming of me.”