The stone door was large and heavy, and he couldn’t push it open imdiately.
He cast several beneficial magic spells on himself, and with the assistance of the Mage’s Hand, the stone door finally began to tremble.
"Boom..."
Even though it was made of stone, the giant gate didn’t convey a cold touch, resembling a piece of warm jade instead.
Behind the door appeared a room that seed sowhat dim, as if draped with curtains, creating a mysterious atmosphere.
Ceder took a step into the room and suddenly found his body out of control, and the scene before him began to change...
Is he trapped?
No, he has entered an illusion.
Once he realized this, he took a relieved breath, curiously watching what might appear next.
After several flashes, Ceder finally saw the protagonist of this scenario, an Undead Man, making his way through the Fog Gate towards the Royal City duo’s battle arena.
The armor on the opponent appeared unremarkable, seemingly unworthy of attention, but he was accompanied by Solar in a spiritual body state. Solar’s armor too seed ordinary at first glance, yet still fierce in battle; hence, the Undead Man should not be underestimated.
Although, it turns out in the illusion, Solar was the one who helped this person defeat the Royal City duo.
Ceder recalled that Sain often showcased in the illusion who originally defeated certain formidable bosses, and whether it’s Ash or White Wolf, their remarkable skills were always awe-inspiring.
So what about this Undead Man?
He might be disappointed, as there were no dazzling effects, nor any holy light throughout the battle, and the illusion seed not to show the full battle scene, but kept flickering through several segnts.
The Undead Man and Solar fought hand in hand like close comrades; the Undead Man defeated Smough with simple yet hone edged martial art hidden in its plainness; the Undead Man and Solar seized the final blow against Ornstein, and they drank the Elental Bottle heartily afterward.
The battle seed to end swiftly, with both appearing sowhat disheveled, but mostly filled with the triumphant spirit following victory.
"So fast!"
Ceder saw neither grand display nor dazzling effects, only pure force and technique, reminiscent of old martial arts films.
Both sides in this fight were top-notch experts, thus the battle returned to simplicity, with each move carrying the most genuine power.
Ornstein’s thrust, Smough’s Mount Tai Pressing, these "big moves" that sent adventurers back to bonfires countless tis, in the fight with the Undead Man were just regular attacks, even allowing the Undead Man to find opportunities to bounce them back.
What confounded Ceder more was that in the illusion, Solar demonstrated far stronger performance than his fellow; where Solar partnered with him struggled under the duo’s onslaught, however, alongside the Undead Man, Solar was effortlessly masterful.
Solar and the Undead Man precisely looked like the perfect pair, their synergy far surpassed simple addition.
Summarizing, Ceder felt it likely a matter with the team configuration.
Which implied the issue was with him...
"I apologize for not being as strong as the Undead Man."
The process of the battle might not be flashy but was certainly impactful.
If a Warrior were watching, they might gain insights, who knows.
"This ought to let Gapar, that old fellow, take a look; watching it as a Magician is futile, just a waste."
The image finally stopped flickering, with the battle concluded. When the Undead Man stepped into the room beyond the stone doorway, he saw a looming...
A giant goddess!
"Wow..." Ceder felt nostalgic about his youth.
He had never seen a woman like this in his life; none as large as her could be this beautiful, while the ones as beautiful weren’t nearly her size.
"I was mistaken earlier; what really needed Gapar to see is this." He now felt a compelling urge to share this splendid sight with a good mate.
However, dared not show excessive fascination, like staring directly at the goddess, that would be too disrespectful.
Yet couldn’t resist taking another glance...
The goddess, large in stature, sat solemnly at a golden throne under the royal canopy in Yanor Londo, arms crossed over her chest, dignified and divine. Her skin was pale as the moon, emanating a gentle glow, with brown hair falling waterfall-like to her waist, glimring subtly among strands.
She was enveloped in a faint golden halo, with dusk cascading through the do, casting her in colorful light spots.
[Undead hero, I am pleased you successfully overca the challenge to arrive here, co, to my side]
Her words were gentle as her deanor.
The Undead Man knelt respectfully before the goddess, demonstrating reverence.
[Undead hero, my na is Gwen Ivia, daughter of King Gwyn, the Sunshine Princess]
[Since father transmitted fire, I have been waiting for you]
[I shall entrust to you the Royal Artifact]
[I beseech you for one thing. Please succeed King Gwyn, inherit the world’s fire, fill the Royal Artifact with spirit, and tread the path of Fire Transmission, thus, perhaps humankind’s night will draw to an end, and Undead will cease to exist]
Ceder watched as the Sunshine Princess handed an object akin to a giant bowl to the Undead Man—could it be the Royal Artifact? Filling it with spirit, then igniting, was this the thod of Fire Transmission?
He recorded everything observed in his mind.
[Will you make an oath with ?]
[From now on, I will be your guardian. Should you have any request, I will strive entirely to assist you]
[May the sunshine always be with you]
As Ceder pondered, he saw the Undead Man making a new oath with the Sunshine Princess, both seed amicable, the atmosphere harmonious, the Undead Man about to depart.
The illusion’s fra froze here, the Undead Man stepped out of sight, only the sound of footsteps receding away remained.
"Seems like the illusion may end soon, this new oath, needs inspecting."
He gazed at Gwen Ivia’s figure, contemplating what expression to wear when eting this revered goddess, must not lose deanor, be courteous.
Thinking thus, he suddenly wished to tidy up, post-battle attire was sowhat inappropriate.
By the way, will the Sunshine Princess address as gently as or nobly as with the Undead Man? Quite expectant.
Ceder showing thoroughly what it ans by having youthful spirit despite aging.
But at that mont, a peculiar sound rose from behind, sothing tightened.
It seed like... the sound of a bowstring drawn?
"Whoosh—"
An arrow sliced past his shoulder, striking the Sunshine Princess directly!
Ceder’s heart tightened as though seized by the hand, who shot the arrow? Could not possibly be the departed Undead Man, wasn’t he bound by oath!
Turning his back on the covenant, just like that?
He wanted to look back but was unable, only watching as the Sunshine Princess slowly began to vanish...
Wait, slowly vanishing?
Not a single shriek uttered, hit by an arrow, the Sunshine Princess seed unfazed, her expression unchanged, still serene, yet her form turning to ash.
A few seconds later, Gwen Ivia was gone.
"Fake, fake?"
Ceder was dumbfounded.
He never anticipated that even a God’s image could be falsified.
But then, who crafted this illusion?
While brainstorming, a voice sowhat familiar echoed through.
[Solemn offerings of deity’s avatars, I am Gwendolin. Your disrespect constitutes a grave cri not to be exonerated, sentenced to eternal imprison in Yanor Londo’s night!]
The dusk-bathed Yanor Londo suddenly darkened.
Coldness invades, erodes everything like a drowning person fell into the deepest dark sea, with senses subrged, until the illusion ended.
Kicked out of the illusion, Ceder looked inside the room at once.
It was empty, the goddess had long vanished.
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