I, who have never even directly expressed my feelings, have no right to selfishly claim you.
"To me, that you could journey across time to see me one last time… is already enough."
Isadella forcefully suppressed the overwhelming and intense sorrow in her heart, a sorrow that caused her immense inner pain.
Despite his ashen face, Shiayar's dark eyes were sparkling.
In the next instant, the phantom of the gloves slowly dissipated.
And the die began to spin slightly, finally settling on the side with six dots.
[Thief's Gloves (One-time Use)]
[Rarity: Purple]
[Category: Extraordinary Item]
[Price: Fifteen pieces]
[Description: After wearing it, designate a target and activate to randomly steal two things from the target; item disappears after use]
[Note: Steal stealthily? Stealthily!]
…
[Dice of Fate (Phantom)]
[Rarity: Purple]
[Category: Extraordinary Item]
[Price: Thirty pieces]
[Description: Upon flinging the dice, the number on the upper face determines the luck value; item disappears after use]
[Note: Aurian Free, ALL IN!]
…
The Thief's Gloves and the Dice of Fate were items Shiayar had seen on the display board of the Sands of Time Mall when he first accessed it.
Shiayar had realized their potential for combined use at first glance.
The Thief's Gloves, when used to randomly steal two things from a target, aren't particularly significant on their own. After all, the concept of 'things' is broad, ranging from a wallet to a button. This makes the probability of successfully stealing a specific targeted item quite low.
If by chance he stole something like underwear, he might even be caught on the spot as a pervert.
But, if it were to be enhanced by the Dice of Fate, everything would be different.
As long as a sufficient price was paid, and a six was rolled for the maximal luck value.
Then, according to the principle of wishes coming true, the things stolen by the Thief's Gloves could switch from being random to being predetermined choices.
The reason the Thief's Gloves could attain Purple Rarity, on par with rule-based items like the Dice of Fate, was precisely because they could steal not just tangible objects, but also many intangible, abstract concepts.
For example, the identity of the King of the Imaginary Zone. Or, the very cause and sin that resulted from altering history, leading to a Corrective Force Backlash.
Of course, if this ability to directly steal from the source were activated against a manifestly hostile enemy, it would naturally trigger resistance, making the theft less effective or even failing entirely.
Otherwise, Shiayar could casually find an ancient god right now and directly steal their power.
Only when the other party completely trusts you and is entirely off guard can the success rate of the Thief's Gloves' theft reach its maximum value.
This was also why Shiayar, despite all the risks, had insisted on awakening Isadella's human side.
…
BOOM—
A massive mystery surged beside Shiayar.
In an extremely short span of time, it even surpassed the mystery contained within the Sacred Sword.
Isadella's ruby eyes widened in disbelief as she looked towards the frail figure in her embrace.
A tangible river of time was gushing around Shiayar, surging and roaring, and even causing the figure of the youth to become ghostly and transparent.
Although Shiayar was right in her arms, Isadella distinctly felt that his body in her embrace had vanished without a trace, leaving no solid sensation of touch.
Though they were within arm's reach, it was as if they were separated by two entirely different timelines, beyond reach of each other.
The valley trembled; the heavens and the earth thundered.
It wasn't just the geography of the Valley of the End that was collapsing, but the entire world.
A clear sword chime came from the Sacred Sword in Isadella's hand.
The Power of Historical Correction had loomed like a mountain from the very beginning, only bearable with the protection of the Sacred Sword. Now, it suddenly dissipated, ceasing to oppress Isadella.
BOOM—
The material realm within the Imaginary Zone collapsed.
The river of time, seeping through the gaps generated by the Imaginary Zone, made everything around it shimmer and shine.
Countless scenes from the past, belonging to the future, all not belonging to the same point in time, converged within this collapsing time, then collided and dissolved.
"Life is something that ends."
The youth's voice echoed in Isadella's ears, yet it seemed to come from an entirely different world.
"Life is a pilgrimage of accumulated pain."
"However, Your Highness."
"I believe that the legend of the Knight King."
"is not a story of death and cessation."
Shiayar's face remained pale, but the frozen river of ghostly time around him grew more and more robust.