Chapter 985
A Painting of Extreme Paleness
After the Spirit Tower reached Avalon and landed in Eagle Cape Village as agreed, Eivass rushed over from Glass Island without delay.
Eivass stopped by Eagle Cape Village on his way, greeting the friends and elders he had met the previous year and informing them about the imminent arrival of the Spirit Tower.
It seemed like last year was the last time he had visited Eagle Cape Village. Yet, everyone still remembered Eivass.
After all, he was a rare dignitary in this small village. Even so, the villagers’ attitude towards Eivass was neither fearful nor fawning—they treated him like a child from a familiar neighbor’s household, with a warm and natural demeanor. This made Eivass feel quite good.
It was akin to the feeling of returning home during holidays after going away to college, greeting friendly neighbors.
Although this wasn’t Eivass’s home, it gave him the illusion of having “returned home.”
Perhaps it was due to seeing the King of the Wild Hunt daily, but the residents of Eagle Cape Village were very calm and accepting of the undead. When they heard that Necromancers would be settling nearby, they showed no fear, only curiosity. On the other hand, when they heard that a group of young men and women might be frequent visitors to Eagle Cape Village in the future, the villagers were all very happy.
It was rare to meet people from the living world here—though these people from the living world didn’t seem entirely ordinary, they were still better than unexpected visits from the King of the Wild Hunt.
After settling things with the villagers, Eivass paid a visit to the Spirit Tower.
He remembered—
The vice-dean, whose name sounded like someone who would retake the art college entrance exam, had left Eivass a gift—or rather, an inheritance. He had said to claim it if Eivass successfully defeated the Fallen Heavenly Envoy.
This piqued Eivass’s interest. He had initially only intended to fulfill the agreement. Now, it seemed… like it was truly something valuable?
The Lich elder sent Eivass a message after completing the long journey with the Spirit Tower.
At the time, Eivass had curiously asked him what Vice-Dean Adolf had left him, but the old man insisted that Eivass see it for himself.
So, here he was.
This time, Eivass was not greeted by Adolf upon entering the Spirit Tower.
Instead, it was someone who looked quite familiar.
“Albert, long time no see,” Eivass said with a smile.
This young Necromancer, who shared the same name as his father-in-law, currently wore robes that suggested he had inherited the Black Phase mantle. Although the Spirit Tower had left Star Antinomy, he could no longer be called “Prime Minister.”
“My Lord, long time no see!”
Albert Lore looked at Eivass with deep respect and fervor—he was clearly excited about Eivass’s victory over the Fallen Heavenly Envoy.
Unlike most Avalon residents who had no clear concept of the Fallen Heavenly Envoy, Albert was one of the few who truly understood Eivass’s caliber.
“Just call me Eivass,” Eivass corrected his overly humble speech. “Mr. Grunewald doesn’t handle matters typically, and you are the future master of the Spirit Tower. We are equals… and perhaps I’ll need your help in the future.”
“But…”
Albert seemed hesitant.
“What are you nervous about? Does landing in Avalon grant you the Authority trait?”
Eivass patted his shoulder and then changed the subject: “What about that girl?”
“…Who?”
Albert hesitated.
He wasn’t sure if Eivass was referring to Aurora or Christina.
“The girl you like,” Eivass said.
“…Aurora?”
Albert blushed, realizing he had inadvertently revealed his feelings.
He turned his head slightly, changing the subject while ushering Eivass inside. “She went with Master Amber to study the Preservation Technique. The Master took a liking to her talent… They’ve gone to the Everfrost Empire, apparently to help her complete an inheritance ritual.”
“That’s quite impressive,” Eivass exclaimed. “You’ve inherited Mr. Adolf’s legacy, and Aurora is inheriting Master Amber’s Preservation Technique. You are the future of the Spirit Tower.”
This time, Albert did not act modest.
He simply replied with sincerity, “I will continue to pass on this legacy.”
Eivass smiled and nodded.
Albert led Eivass to the Preservation Room he had visited once before—it was an “ice house” where the Lich’s phylactery was used to freeze external time, thus permanently preserving items. The inheritance Adolf von Menzel had left for Eivass was stored there.
After applying an authentication spell to Eivass, Albert allowed him to enter.
As soon as Eivass stepped into the Preservation Room… his eyes widened slightly.
—It was a Magic Painting.
Eivass had seen many Magic Paintings before.
But those were created by “Maestro Artists.” Apart from Master Janis, who leaned towards the Path of Balance, there was also Isabel, who inherited Master Janis’s artistic theories.
However, the Magic Painting before his eyes was created by a “Mysterious Painter” who belonged to the Twilight Path.
—How could this painting be described?
It was a painting of extreme paleness.
It seemed to have absorbed all colors yet shed all colors.
It resembled a pure white canvas, yet it was whiter than white. If one mixed various colors, they would get the deep black of night; however, if one mixed all colors of light, they would achieve the whiteness of the sun. From this, one could conclude that color is the opposite of light, the trace of absence of light.
—And this Magic Painting was created using “light” as its pigment.
Eivass gazed at the extremely pale painting and walked forward slowly.
His pupils unconsciously ignited with radiance, turning into transparent, glassy obsidian.
As Eivass took steps, illusory scenes appeared on the white canvas as if projected by illusions—
A charred human figure tied to a cross and burning;
A rose in full bloom and then wilting;
A Japanese white-eye flying from a branch;
A three-branched candlestick inserted with two candles, one black on the left and one white on the right;
A swaddling cloth wrapped around an infant;
A snake biting its own tail…
…
It wasn’t just that each step changed the painting; rather, at “every frame” as he approached it, a completely different simple painting appeared. These paintings, piled upon each other, seemed to narrate life, or perhaps depict truth.
The further Eivass walked, the more transparent his pupils became.
Golden radiance seemed to overflow from the bottom of his pupils, possessing a divine glow.
From the snow-like extreme paleness, Eivass saw the yet-to-be-born sun.
When the countless illusions before his eyes dissipated, he had precisely reached the painting and gently touched it.
Naturally, the System did not display any prompts. It was just a painting, after all… It contained the power of the Twilight Path, but its level was comparable to “The Golden Dawn.”
However, Eivass attached immense importance to this painting.
Not because the illusions resembled some kind of allegory or prophecy… but because he could faintly sense a clear divinity from it!
This filled Eivass with dread.
…This meant that the raw materials used to paint this artwork included Adolf’s soul and memories.
Eivass had originally thought Adolf would ascend to the Dream Realm—given his merits and abilities, becoming an Apostle of the Winter Envoy was a sure thing.
However, Adolf had rejected this possibility.
He had severed his own future.
Using his soul and memories—at the price of his complete annihilation—he had created this painting. In other words, the pigment for this painting was from an “Apostle who willingly offered everything.” Sacrificing all of himself… it was a complete act of “Devotion,” even more thorough than Sister Sasha’s sacrifice.
—An act of devotion lights the way; pure nothingness brings darkness.
Even Sister Sasha had only offered her hands, feet, eyes, and skin!
But he had abandoned everything entirely.
Even the Hengwo, after sacrificing ten times, retained its purest self…
But he voluntarily plunged into the void.
Leaving no room for retreat, even severing the possibility of resurrection… he preferred to turn himself into fuel, into nothingness, just to elevate Eivass to a higher plane.
Yet, they weren’t that familiar… Precisely because of this, the “Devotion” within this painting was so strong. It even overwhelmed the void, which was why the painting appeared so extremely pale.
Eivass didn’t know what other materials were used in this painting… But he faintly sensed the Triple Miracle Power of “Love and Void,” “Beauty and Twilight,” “Devotion and Transcendence.” If Adolf had provided the void, beauty, devotion, and twilight… then he must have obtained the powers of “Love” and “Transcendence” from elsewhere.
—Did he turn the Red Phase into materials?
This thought crossed Eivass’s mind.
Although Eivass also had no idea how this painting was supposed to be used, there was no doubt that the paradoxical divinity it contained was enough to elevate Eivass to the level of a Heavenly Envoy, or even to a higher realm.
“…I’ll leave this painting here.”
Eivass took half a step back and said softly to Albert, “You must preserve it well.”
If there was anywhere in the Material Realm that was the safest, it was likely the Preservation Room of the Spirit Tower.
This painting was too precious for Eivass to dare take it away from here.
He had a very clear premonition.
If, one day, he was forced to use this painting…
That would likely be when Eivass intended to confront the Ring Heavenly Envoy, or to fight against the Doomsday.
(End of Chapter)
