Chapter 446: D164. View on Life and Death
The Hero stood quietly beside the Ice Abyss cracked open in the Snowfield, lifting her gaze to watch the snowflakes falling from the sky.
The snowfall on the silver snowfield rarely ceased, and the silently descending snowflakes would vanish without a trace upon reaching a certain height above the Ice Abyss.
When she first arrived, the Hero, focused on the connection with the White Snake and quickly welcomed, hadn’t noticed this phenomenon.
Though many years had passed, the Prayer House beneath the Ice Abyss had not gone unattended thanks to the continued guardianship of the Snow Woman Clan and the White Snakes. It was still protected by a powerful Barrier, keeping the warriors’ remains undisturbed.
Even the descendants of those heroes, the remnants of the ancient village, had forgotten their ancestors’ past and the sanctuary they once had. Yet, the departed warriors continued to wait, their remaining bodies destined to become a source of Strength for those who followed.
Then, under the Hero’s silent gaze, the continuously falling snowflakes stopped vanishing at a moment, unobstructed, continuing to drift gently to the dark depths of the Abyss.
The Holy Sanctuary Barrier was lifted. The souls of the heroes had long dissipated, and the remaining Magic Power in the Prayer House was entirely absorbed during the Forging process. There was no longer any need to maintain it.
The White Snake silently bowed its head, paying respects to the humankind who once fought alongside its ancestors.
Behind her, the Snow Women watched the scene with mixed emotions.
Influenced by the Snow Women, it would only be a few years before the snow filled the seemingly giant Abyss, smoothing over this scar on the Snowfield and bringing tranquility to those who should have been buried long ago.
The remains in the solid ice, having been stained by the Snow Women’s Magic Power over the passage of time, would, without their restraint, gradually break down into pure Magic Elements. Eventually, everything within the solid ice would disappear without a trace, leaving only a shallow void and a blurry silhouette to prove that something once existed inside.
The Hero lowered her eyes to the falling snowflakes, a feeling of unspeakable loss welling in her heart.
Although she personally defeated the Corrupted Phoenix, ending the Great Demon War that had raged from ancient times until now, her understanding of those past warriors was minimal beyond the fragmentary memories of the Ancient Hero.
And now, even the ruins that proved this entire existence were about to disappear, hidden in the mist of history.
She knew that allowing them to rest undisturbed was the right choice and that her sense of familiarity and kindness towards them was just an illusion brought about by her predecessor’s memories. The real them had died long before she was born, but still, the Hero couldn’t suppress her sense of loss.
If only she could speak with them, say thanks.
“Hero…”
The Snow Woman Archer behind her, seeing her somewhat melancholic silhouette, gently parted her lips, wanting to speak but stopped short.
Even for the Snow Woman Clan, who had lived generations on this snowfield, the remains sealed in the Prayer House were a distant past. Although they followed the ancestral teachings to maintain the Prayer House, it didn’t mean they felt deep emotions for the dead inside.
Millennia had worn down too much, perhaps only the girls who truly spoke with the Martial Princess and shared a soul with the Ancient Hero could cross this heavy time and see the exact figures of those deceased.
“It’s okay, Snow Woman Sister,” but before the Snow Woman Archer could speak, the Hero had already turned around, revealing a peaceful smile. “I know this is the most appropriate action. Those people wouldn’t want to stay like that after death, right?”
After completing the Forging in front of the Priest’s remains, under the Frost Matron’s guidance, she had paid respects to all the deceased resting in the Prayer House.
The Priest’s mutation was the most severe, but he wasn’t the only one polluted into a twisted form. Many warriors’ appearances had deviated from Humanoid, looking incredibly hideous and frightening.
There were many of them who gave her a familiar feeling. Though she couldn’t name each of them, she could vaguely sketch their appearances in life from their severely disfigured remains.
She understood that even if that history hadn’t been buried in the river of time, those warriors, rather than being viewed in twisted forms by future generations, would certainly wish to return to Nature in a purer way.
“So, it’s okay,” the Hero gently smiled, “this is good.”
“Yes, this was their wish,” the White Snake nodded in agreement.
As the longer-living Fantasy Species and the leader of the Holy Sanctuary Barrier, the White Snake’s memories of ancient times were not unfamiliar. With everything now at peace, returning their remains to dust was indeed the warriors’ wish.
Sensing the atmosphere was still somewhat solemn, the Big Snake with scales as white as jade considerately shifted the topic.
“Besides, this time’s Forging should have been successful, right? The humankind’s technology is truly wonderful.”
The White Snake turned its gaze, looking at the Hero’s [], with a touch of admiration in its eyes.
It seemed, even for the Fantasy Species, the scene of that Treasure-level Equipment forming was filled with attraction.
[Folded Format]
1. Block Necklace
2. Vambrace
3. Ankle Band
4. Brooch
5. 1
6. 2
7. 3
8. 4
9. Anchor
10. Critical Success♛/Extreme Failure
D10=d10(10)=10
D2=d2(1)=1
Although the forging results of the Arcane Block were unpredictable due to environmental changes, given the high integrity of the Devouring Curse Demon materials, the Count and the Old Factory Manager somewhat predicted what kind of Equipment this batch of precious materials could ultimately forge.