Chapter 112: I Come From Dawn (7,000 words)
“Experience a true death.”
Shaya stared at the azure light screen in his mind, lost in thought.
He could understand the mission requirements previously given for this historical echo. After all, the System’s name was “Destined Great Villain.” The infamy and hatred accumulation were just extensions of the beginner missions.
However, this newly revealed fourth Soul Pact information cast a layer of mist over everything in this historical echo. Shaya hadn’t forgotten that this piece of information only appeared after he entered this historical echo.
“Experience a true death…”
“When people are killed, they die.”
“If they simply wanted me to throw my life away, even an idiot wouldn’t do it.”
While thinking, Shaya quickly walked out of the grand cathedral. As a newly appointed Templar Knight, Shaya was assigned his own room in the town surrounding the cathedral. In theory, a fourth-ring Templar Knight could already be called a master, a strong individual anywhere. It wouldn’t be strange even if he were given a separate mansion or even knighted as a noble with lordship over an entire village.
However, due to the rampant Abyss Monsters on the continent of Escarnia, many once fertile towns were abandoned. Countless refugees left their homes and sought refuge in areas protected by Great Knights and powerful individuals.
As a result, the land around the Dawn Cathedral became extremely scarce. Coupled with the Dawn Holy See’s emphasis on integrity and devotion, the treatment of clergy was indeed not very high compared to individuals of equivalent rank.
Shaya walked and stopped, finally finding his room in a row of houses. The furnishings inside were simple, with only basic wooden furniture. Even the lighting was provided by an oil lamp, not the magic lamps that were already commonplace in later generations. Everything around the Dawn Cathedral was extremely simple. His clothes were merely coarse cloth, and his diet consisted mostly of ordinary black bread and water.
But as Shaya walked, he noticed that the commoners living there not only showed no dissatisfaction but also gratitude. They were grateful that in such chaotic times, they could have a full meal under the protection of the Dawn Holy See, without living in constant fear of being engulfed by a tide of monsters.
This changed Shaya’s preconceived notion of the Holy See, formed by numerous works in his previous life. “Regardless of the purpose,” “whether it’s proselytizing, gathering faith, or accumulating good deeds… the Holy See has indeed established a land of order amidst the chaos of Escarnia, providing a place of refuge for these displaced disaster victims.” “Evaluate actions, not intentions. Perhaps not entirely, but there are indeed many in the Holy See who are maintaining order and protecting the people.””No wonder she chose to become the Saintess of Dawn.”
A maiden’s figure appeared in Shaya’s mind. Dressed in a white dress, with a charming smile. Her beautiful eyes held a gentle smile, yet were somewhat blurry, making it difficult to see clearly. “Of course, this was the nascent Dawn Holy See before the Holy Calendar was established…” “The current Holy See is orderly and benevolent… but after a thousand years, it may not remain so.”
A thousand years can change many things. Perhaps the original intention was good, but after a long period and residing in a high position, it degenerated. This has happened countless times. Those like Sylvia, who remained true to their original intentions for five hundred years without change, are ultimately in the minority.
Shaya closed the door and sat down at the wooden desk, lighting the oil lamp. Then, he took out paper and a pen from his “Spatial Pocket” and began to organize his thoughts while writing. This had always been Shaya’s habit. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have taught Sylvia how to relieve stress by writing a diary in the historical echo of the Ancient Azure Court. Who writes diaries like a proper person?
However, the characters he wrote were Chinese. This way, even if someone used divination or supernatural abilities to investigate his writings, they would only see it as gibberish.
“1. Negative legend status.”
“2. Favorability and hatred from important figures in this historical echo.”
These were Shaya’s main objectives for this historical echo. After all, he entered historical echoes to obtain mission rewards and improve his strength. It’s not shameful to grind points. Of course, achieving these two conditions was not easy. Because whether it’s being renowned throughout the ages or infamous forever, it’s not something ordinary people can achieve. At least, the wicked deeds you commit and the villainous acts you perform must be sufficiently sensational and involve a high level for them to be worthy of being sung by the world as evil deeds.
To put it more bluntly, to be a truly wicked person, a great villain also needs strength to support it… Otherwise, if you only commit acts of bullying and robbing civilians like a bandit, why would you bear centuries of infamy and gain historical legend status?
Based on Shaya’s self-assessment, his current rank is high fourth-ring. His actual combat strength, even without using the fourth Soul Pact, should be around peak fifth-ring. If you add targeted preparations, or buffs like carelessness and underestimation of the enemy, and exchange for one-time items to spend money when necessary, he could even fight against ordinary Titled-level individuals… like the “Silver Fox” Riel, who died with his eyes wide open.
However, according to the intelligence Shaya had gathered, in the current Escarnia, even Titled-level combat power is not considered much. Moreover, there’s the matter of favorability and hatred from important figures. Shaya’s pen moved, drawing three circles and filling them with Chinese characters.
“King Vortigern, Abyss Monster.”
“City of a Thousand Years, Blood Race.”
“Dawn Holy See.”
His pen tip paused, then drew a larger circle.
“King of Knights.”
These four were the qualified chess players on the chaotic chessboard of this historical echo. The first three were the major powers in current Escarnia. According to Bishop Solen, who Shaya had spoken with earlier, all three had legendary existences. Furthermore, unlike the ordinary legendary Red Cardinal of the Dawn Holy See, whether it was King Vortigern or the Blood Race Prince who ruled the City of a Thousand Years, they were not mere legendary figures.
This also led to the Dawn Holy See being the weakest among the three factions, confined to a corner. If not for the fear of the Holy Court of Ferrus, it might have already been annihilated or expelled from Escarnia. As for the last, the “King of Knights,” he had not yet appeared, but according to real history, he was the true victor.
Before long, he would rise like a comet, quickly gaining the support of other scattered lieges, knights, and nobles throughout Escarnia, eventually unifying the entire territory. Then, in the holy city of Camelot, he would establish the unparalleled Freista Empire. His strength level was beyond mention. The King of Knights, as the future owner of the Holy Sword in the Lake, would undoubtedly transcend the Throne realm, being eighth-ring or higher.
None of them were individuals whom the current Shaya could provoke. Legend and Titled-level, although only one rank apart, had a vast difference and were not existences that could be easily overcome by the opponent’s carelessness or specific counters. Shaya paused slightly, then drew a new circle on the paper.
“Cain.”
That’s right. Just as no matter how strong Sylvia was, she was more remembered by the world as the Lord of the White Tower, even though Shaya considered the White Tower nothing more than a negligible tomb. And the most widely spread infamy in history has always been of corrupt rulers and traitors, not some exceptionally powerful wanted criminal. Since the gap in individual strength could not be bridged in a short time, to gain legend status, one could only do so by building a force.
In this regard, Shaya had a unique advantage: he came from the future and knew the historical development of certain important nodes in this historical echo. Even if his hard power was lacking, he could rely on his understanding of historical development to make Cain and his organization’s name known at key junctures.
“Since the goal is to grind points, we need to go big.”
“The evil organization founded by the embodiment of all evil in this world, bearing the infamy of ages, its prestige naturally cannot be poor.”
“Hmm, and to first gain favorability from important figures, this organization and I as Cain must initially present a positive image, and then flip the script at the end to maximize benefits.”
Shaya pondered for a moment and quickly came up with an idea. His mind moved.
The next moment, a red piece of fabric and a black piece of fabric were taken out of the “Spatial Pocket” by Shaya. After the incident of not bringing seasonings for grilled fish last time, Shaya had learned his lesson and upgraded his shiny “Spatial Pocket” to perfect grade, filling it with all sorts of miscellaneous items. Whether they would be used or not, he had them.
“Mimi mi~ (What happened?)”
A flash of red light, and the little Silver Spirit, Chihong, was summoned, looking bewildered. It was practicing swordsmanship in its Soul Pact Space, and was still a little disoriented upon being summoned. But then, it saw the two pieces of fabric, one red and one black, in front of it. And the clothing concept art that Shaya transmitted through their Soul Pact connection with his mental power.
“Mimi mi?”
Chihong’s clear big eyes were filled with confusion.
“What can we do about it?”
“Since we are to bear the burden of all evil in this world and the infamy of ages in the future, an evil behind-the-scenes organization must have a uniform, right?”
Shaya patted the little Silver Spirit’s shoulder and said earnestly.
“It’s not easy to find a proper tailor in the current chaotic Escarnia.”
“Chihong, you are already a mature Familiar, you should learn to make clothes yourself.”
“After all, as a Silver Spirit who has honed his slashes to ‘Transcendent Saint,’ being a tailor part-time should be fine. Scissors and swords are no different, they all cut, cut, cut.”
“Mi, Mimi~ (Is, is that so?)”
Chihong blinked its eyes, feeling something was not quite right but unable to pinpoint it. So, practicing swordsmanship had already broadened its career prospects so much… Why didn’t it know before? It could be a chef, and now a tailor. But thinking about it carefully, it seemed to be the case. It’s just that one cuts people, one cuts food, and the other cuts cloth. Its Star Spirit Body flickered, and it finally obediently went to fiddle with the two scraps of cloth. After all, it was its own Beast Master, how could it really be fooled?
…
Over there, the little Silver Spirit, Chihong, was busy with scissors and two pieces of fabric. As a hard-working individual, Chihong, like Shaya, had a compulsive perfectionism when it came to doing something. To be a qualified tailor, it even called its good friend Yin over, asking the little mink to simulate the process of cutting fabric repeatedly with Tsukuyomi, afraid of any mistakes.
On the other side, Shaya turned his attention to the last matter.
“Experience a true death.”
The general course of action in the current historical echo had been determined, leaving only this riddle to be solved.
“Since experiencing death is a condition for unlocking the fourth Soul Pact.”
“This means that if I want to die now, it might not be so easy?”
Shaya pondered for a moment, then suddenly said to the two plastic sisters busy with tailoring, “Chihong, cut me.”
“Mimi mi?”
“Ying ying ying?”
Not only Chihong, but even Yin looked at Shaya in shock with its ruby-like eyes. Had their master finally succumbed to the pressure of the terrifying ordeal and lost his sanity?
“I’m not joking, seriously, cut me quickly. Remember to be gentle.”
“Mimi mi…”
Ultimately, an arm cannot twist a thigh. Driven by their Soul Pact, Chihong was forced to carefully control its strength and unleash a weak sword energy.
*Pfft.* The sword energy entered Shaya’s arm, creating a wound that was neither too deep nor too shallow. Crimson blood gushed out. Although Shaya’s physique had been significantly enhanced by the Soul Pact feedback, and his self-healing ability had also improved. However, even so, a wound of this magnitude would take one or two days to recover by self-healing alone, without taking healing alchemy potions.
However, the next moment. Shaya clearly saw that the wound on his hand stopped bleeding the instant it appeared. Then it healed, scabbed, and fell off. Within a short span of three to four seconds, his wound disappeared, and even the scar was rapidly fading. Observing everything that happened to his body, Shaya’s pupils contracted slightly.
“Quick, Chihong.”
“Cut me again, this time cut off my arm directly.”
“Mimi mi? (Has this man finally gone mad?)”
…
Half an hour later, in the room. Shaya and his two Familiars, Chihong and Yin, stared at each other, their eyes wide. For a moment, they were all a little bewildered, not knowing how to speak.
During this time, Shaya and Chihong had tried many times. In the most extreme attempt, Shaya even had Chihong cut him in half, turning him into “Sha|ya.” This was also the limit that could be healed by the healing alchemy potions he had stored in his Spatial Pocket.
However, even in this life-threatening situation, the body, which had been cut into two pieces, miraculously reassembled and healed within seconds. In less than ten seconds, Shaya was back to normal as if nothing had happened. This recovery speed even surpassed “Super Regeneration,” a racial skill unique to Elemental Life. But that was a skill that depended on the characteristics of Elemental Life, and each regeneration consumed a lot of magic power. Once the magic power was depleted, regeneration was impossible. But Shaya could be sure that he was a physical being of flesh and blood.
And that self-healing ability, apart from Shaya still feeling no difference in pain, seemed to have no cost. Whether it was life force, mental power, or magic power, there was no depletion. He could even actively control the speed of his body’s regeneration… It was outrageous. It was truly an “Undying Body” in every sense of the word.
This BUG-level self-healing ability made Shaya think of the immortal vampires, or Blood Race, in various fantasy works from his previous life. It’s also strange that although he transmigrated into a genuine Western fantasy world, where races like Succubi, Dragons, Elves, and Dwarves existed… In the Real Timeline, Shaya had never heard any rumors or news about the Blood Race.
However, in this historical echo, Shaya did find information about the Blood Race, as well as the mysterious “City of a Thousand Years.”
“So, over these thousand years, the Blood Race has declined.”
“My body’s abnormal state, it couldn’t be because my race isn’t human, but rather some weird setting like the last remnants of the Blood Race, or a half-blood prince, right?”
In the past half-hour, Shaya had had such speculations. But in the end, after a series of attempts, he dismissed this guess. Garlic was ineffective; he ate a whole head of garlic and found it delicious and appetizing. Sunlight was ineffective… Shaya had been exposed to the sun for who knows how long on his way here. Silverware… he had hugged Chihong for a long time, making the little Silver Spirit’s Star Spirit Body steam, but he didn’t feel uncomfortable. As for crosses and holy water… well, Shaya experienced all of them when he was made a Templar Knight, and didn’t notice anything unusual.
After much thought, Shaya could only bury this confusion in his heart. However, with his current self-healing ability, he found that it was exceptionally difficult for him to “experience a true death.” Based on Shaya’s estimation, even if he were put into a meat grinder, he could recover from a pile of minced meat.
“I wonder if my self-healing ability is only effective in this historical echo, or if it also works in reality.”
“However, with this in mind…”
Shaya looked at the paper on the wooden desk with many plans laid out, and the robe that had been made by Yin and Chihong.
“Some things can be done more boldly now.”
…
On the boundless grassland. The sun was setting, and the blood-red sunset dyed the entire sky.
*Clang—*
The long sword rang. Isadorella gazed at the square, neat stone pedestal before her. Stabbed into the stone pedestal was a magnificent long sword. The Sword in the Stone. Also, the symbol of royalty.
“He who pulls the sword stabbed in the stone…”
“Shall be the future new king of this land.”
This rumor had spread from who knows where. But thanks to it, all renowned knights within the territory came, harboring the desire to be king and the mission to revive Escarnia. However, all of them eventually left in disappointment. And now, Isadorella grasped the hilt of the Sword in the Stone. No one would believe that such a young knight was qualified to be recognized by the Sword in the Stone. The onlookers had already dispersed. But unlike other knights who came to pull the sword with anxious hearts, she was remarkably calm about the final outcome.
“How does it feel, this feeling of heaven and hell with a single thought?”
“Your future destiny, whether you will live an ordinary, unremarkable life as a knight, or become the king who ends the chaotic era, will be decided the moment you pull the sword.”
At this moment, a vague and hazy voice, whose details were difficult to discern, sounded behind her.
“The symbol of a king?”
Isadorella chuckled.
“But what kind of king needs an inanimate object to decide for them, to choose?”
“It would be great if I could be recognized by the Sword in the Stone.”
“But even without its recognition, I would still walk the path to becoming king.”
In the distant sky, vast clouds drifted. The next moment.
*Clang—*
The sword was pulled from the stone. The glow of the sunset shone on the sword’s edge, reflecting a glass-like color.
*Boom—*
At this moment, a huge roar came from afar. Following it were the cries of refugees and the wisps of corrupting aura transmitted over. Isadorella looked around and quickly understood the situation. The tide of Abyss Monsters. The Abyss Monsters wandering throughout Escarnia, for some unknown reason, had gathered into multiple groups and were roaming here.
Originally, due to the Sword in the Stone and the prophecy of choosing a king, many famous Great Knights had gathered here. Great Knights were at least fourth-ring Beast Masters, with even fifth-ring or sixth-ring Titled experts among them. However, facing the incoming tide of monsters, none of these Great Knights dared to engage. It was a true ocean of monsters. Although in reality, most high-level Abyss Monsters were in the royal city where King Vortigern resided, the tide of monsters still included fourth and fifth-tier Abyss creatures. Even a Titled expert, if isolated and unsupported within it, would only face exhaustion of stamina and eventually be swallowed by the tide of monsters. Furthermore, if injured by an Abyss creature, one would have to cleanse the wound with holy water from the Holy See, otherwise, they would be cursed by the Abyss. Therefore, the vast majority of Great Knights chose to flee. Anyway, they only needed to run faster than the refugees.
The silver-haired maiden, disguised as a man, gripped the sword’s hilt. As a princess who had undergone the most rigorous royal education since childhood, she knew very well that in the current chaotic era, to embark on the path to kingship, she had to establish her banner and become the heart of the people. And now, the monster tide was attacking, which was the best opportunity to establish her reputation as the King of Knights.
Isadorella sensed that in this special time-space, most of her mental power, which was originally close to the Throne realm, was sealed by the vast mystery of the holy sword, allowing her to exert only the strength of a high fifth-ring, which matched her current physical body’s capabilities. However, since her original experience was still there, it was enough. Her countless experiences in reality, confronting the Lost Kingdoms and even the Abyss on the border, made her acutely aware that the formation of such a monster tide must be due to the appearance of a leader of an Abyss creature. As long as the core was killed, the monster tide would dissipate on its own.
However, just as Isadorella was about to act, the next moment, her mental power keenly sensed that the mysterious person behind her who had spoken earlier had disappeared. And when Isadorella located him again, she found that he had appeared on the distant city wall. In stark contrast to the refugees and knights fleeing the monster tide. That somewhat slender figure, from the city wall, silently fell. Like a falling leaf, it drifted into the center of the countless ferocious Abyss Monsters.
*Roar—*
The ferocious Abyss Monsters were stunned at first, then madly began to tear at the human flesh that had delivered itself to them. But the next moment.
*Boom—*
The air twisted. Blazing white light shot up into the sky. Following it were violent magic fluctuations and a huge explosion. The monstrous magic fluctuations dispersed the clouds in the sky and even collapsed more than half of the damaged city walls. Dust accompanied by a blast wave, sand and soil flying, making it difficult to see clearly. In an instant, including the leading monster commander. Half of the monsters at the center of the tide, were annihilated by the scorching heat and the impact of the explosion wave. The remaining monsters on the periphery were fortunate, but even so, their gaze towards the center of the explosion was tinged with fear. Abyss Monsters were indeed bloodthirsty and ferocious by nature, but that did not mean they lacked intelligence and did not fear death. Coupled with the death of their leader.
Instantly, the orderly monster tide dissipated, scattering in all directions and ceasing its attack on the city.
Explosive ability? Isadorella’s pupils contracted slightly. As a princess of a future empire, she was no stranger to such abilities. The trump card of the Alliance of Lieges, the Gustav Cannon, operated on a similar principle. She had never expected that in this era, a thousand years ago, someone would possess such an ability. Although from her initial perception, the mysterious arrival did not seem particularly strong, yet he could now cause a power comparable to a single shot from the Gustav Cannon. However—such a large-scale super explosion. Even with escape abilities like teleportation, it would be difficult to completely escape the range of the explosion, right?
He… sacrificed himself to stop the monster tide in order to cover the civilians’ evacuation? In this era, there are surprisingly such individuals. Not only possessed such generation-defying explosive technology, but also lacked the arrogance typically associated with the strong, caring about civilians and righteousness. Isadorella felt a pang of regret. Whether in reality or in historical echoes, what she lacked the most was talent. It was a pity that the other party was already dead.
As soon as this thought arose, the next moment. On the scorched earth, turned white by the searing heat and impact, a figure clad in a pitch-black trench coat slowly emerged from the crater left by the explosion. As the dust settled, Isadorella could finally see his true appearance. His slender figure was wrapped in a black robe. Red clouds were embroidered on the black robe. He had black hair and wore a mask with a swirling pattern, a mark of a slanting cut engraved at the highest point of the mask.
“Who are you?”
Isadorella looked at the figure emerging from the explosion smoke.
“My name is—Cain.”
That vague, unrecognizable voice sounded again. As if sensing Isadorella’s gaze at his black-and-red cloud robe through the mask’s openings, the voice spoke again.
“From—”
“Dawn.”
…
PS: A 7,000-word chapter. Last night, my wisdom tooth became inflamed, causing me to be unable to write all night due to the pain. I managed to write and publish this morning after the swelling subsided a bit. I realized I’m too fragile. Looking at Shaya’s Undying Body, I can only sigh. Also, for the sake of the author who is still writing despite half his face being swollen… requesting a monthly ticket at the end of the month.
