My setting is above yours!

Chapter 55 "Dragon Quest" Version PV, "Medium" Potion (4k8)

...What is this?
Looking at the version update announcement that popped up on the Dimensional Update Manual, Ron couldn't help but feel a chill run down his spine.

What is the main storyline of Evening Bell City? Does it refer to the important events that will occur in Evening Bell City?
Idrila... is she destined to die in this so-called main storyline?
Ron stared blankly at the announcement that popped up on the Dimensional Update Manual, then looked at the robe in his hand, which was still stained with the warmth of Idrila's body, and couldn't help but tremble slightly.

[To refine the logic behind this story item appearing in the player's possession, and to anchor it within a suitable storyline...]

Upon seeing this passage in the Dimensional Update Manual, Ron immediately understood what had happened.

Just like his "Introduction to Mysticism," that magic book that was transformed from a cheap novel sold at a street stall...

After it became a magic book, its origin and source were immediately generated, making it reasonable for it to appear in this world and fall into his hands.

That's why an old magician suddenly appeared and tried to kill him, claiming it was the forbidden book of the Church of the Embers, the "Key to the Beginning"...

Now, Idrila's anchored "plot line" is probably because Ron took her clothes to Ideal City, turning them into the "Shroud of the Dead"!
After all, the so-called "shroud of shamanism" can only be a shroud for the deceased...

Ron didn't initially think it was a big deal. After all, everyone dies eventually, and the time from the "Potion Age" to today is countless. Even the high and mighty gods of the "Potion Age" have passed away.

At least in this era, Ron has never seen Idrila. It is likely that she has long since turned into dust in the endless time from the "Potion Age" to the present.

That's why Ron was willing to take her clothes and turn them into the "shroud of the dead"—but who could have imagined that Idrila would be destined to die in some so-called "drama, hero slaying dragons" plot?

This doesn't look like a natural death at all!
The Dimensional Update Manual once again effortlessly rewrites history, manipulating fate as if it were God...

Ron was quite pleased with such power.

But now that the turmoil caused by his fate has struck those around him, he can't help but feel somewhat helpless.

However, Ron quickly recovered and gave himself a pep talk.

Although the waves of fate may seem like towering tidal waves to others, and no matter how hard one tries to escape, one will inevitably be swept up in them, turning into a corpse that sinks into the sea of ​​destiny amidst the waves...

But there's still room for maneuver when it comes to Ron.

After all... no matter how much the Dimensional Update Manual is anchored to the plot, it ultimately serves Ron.

Moreover, he also discovered a small problem—

Even if Idrila was destined to die, there had to be a reason...

After all, it can't be that Ron turned Idrila's clothes into the "shroud of the dead" and therefore she was doomed to die.

Find the cause, and then solve it...

It seems that this fate can be reversed, and Idrila can be successfully saved from this seemingly inescapable crisis!

As for the reason...

Naturally, it's inextricably linked to the so-called main storyline of Evening Bell City.

Looking at the announcement in the Dimensional Update Manual, Ron couldn't help but ponder.

"A 'drama' about a hero fighting dragons...?"

Drama... why is it called "drama"?
Is this so-called "hero fighting the dragon" just a drama at a higher level of understanding?

Thinking of this, Ron couldn't help but frown.

So what role should Idrila play in this drama?
Considering she's destined to die in this main storyline, her role will likely be that of the evil dragon slain by the hero...

But no matter how Ron thought about it, he couldn't have imagined this possibility.

After all, Ron had a deep understanding of Idrila's noble character...

No matter what, this guy could never become some kind of "evil dragon." So if she were to have a role in this so-called "hero fighting evil dragon" drama, she would only be the "hero"!
Could it be that... in this drama of "hero versus dragon," the heavens have reversed course, and the "hero" has died?

Moreover, what exactly happened that turned into such a "drama"...?

Ron frowned, carefully examining the dimensional update manual in front of him, when he suddenly noticed a small circle flashing behind the megaphone for version update announcements—

In the middle of the circle is an inverted triangle tilted to the right... It looks exactly like a "play" sign!
What will play if I click on it?
Ron's question was immediately answered by a new notification that popped up on the Dimensional Update Manual:
Should we play the 3.172 version PV for "Dragon Quest"?

...There's also a version PV?

Do they really treat this world like a game?

Ron was a little nervous for a moment, but when he thought that this was a prompt from the Dimensional Update Manual, he finally sighed.

Well, after all, it's a dimensional update manual.

Thanks to the power of the manual, this world really is like clay that can be sculpted at will. The manual's style has always been like this, and even version update announcements are now available. So, isn't it only natural to release a version PV?

Ron clicked "Yes" on the prompt, and a new screen immediately popped up on the manual's display.

The howling wind brought snowflakes flying everywhere.

The sky above Wanzhong City was shrouded in mist, tinged with a cold gray.

But the main perspective doesn't focus on the city; instead, it skips all that and turns its gaze to the outskirts, to the tower that Ron is familiar with...

It is the scorched earth sanctuary!

Meanwhile, inside the sanctuary, a bonfire was lit, with a twisted, spiraling longsword stuck in it.

Beside the campfire stood a familiar old priest with a long beard…

That was Father Suer.

He still looked old, standing silently by the campfire, wearing a white robe with gold thread.

The white robe is quite similar to Idrila's nun's habit, and is clearly a standard monastic robe from the Scorched Earth Sanctuary.

However, this time Father Sue was noticeably more energetic than when Ron had only caught a glimpse of him the last time.

At this moment, he was holding the containment mask, a manifestation of the [Trickery] Sequence Four demigod's extraordinary characteristics, and coldly watching the two uninvited guests who had intruded into the sanctuary not far away—

One of them was Idrila, whom Ron knew well. At this moment, she was holding an intricately patterned longsword and cautiously looking at Father Suer.

The other was a heavily armored knight whom I had never seen before, dressed in bright armor and carrying a spear.

“Father Suer! You’ve been caught, come with us!”

The knight glared at Father Suer not far away and shouted angrily, but Father Suer sneered and said in an old voice:
"I will stay here, and no one can force me to leave."

As he spoke, he slowly put the mask on his face, grasped the spiraling longsword in the campfire, and loudly proclaimed:

"The heart of great strife has been set ablaze for me!"

"boom!"

A raging fire suddenly erupted from the bonfire in front of him, which seemed to be a ritual object, and fell on him, instantly burning him up before gradually disappearing...

Only faint, glowing embers remained on his body, appearing as scattered specks.

"Hmph... a last-ditch resistance!"

The knight snorted coldly and immediately charged forward, engaging Father Suer in a fierce battle...

The clang of metal rang out, and after a long while, the knight, pierced through the abdomen by the spiraling longsword, slowly collapsed to the ground.

"Did I... become careless...?"

He coughed up blood, staring in astonishment at his severely injured state, and could only muster all his strength to turn his head and shout at Idrila:
"You...run away!"

But Idrisla showed no sign of backing down.

“Now that I’m here, I have no intention of leaving…” She charged towards Father Suer, who had drawn his spiral sword and raised it high once again, without hesitation!

At that moment, the intricately patterned longsword in Idrila's hand glowed with a scarlet light, its dense thorn patterns illuminating the area.

But as the light from the blade shone forth, Idrila herself was inexplicably covered in one laceration after another...

"This sword, bestowed upon me by His Excellency the Bishop... is more than enough to kill Sull!"

She had only taken a few steps when countless deep, bone-revealing wounds appeared all over her body, turning her into a blood-soaked figure.

But she showed no fear, as if she were impervious to pain, and plunged the longsword into Father Suer's chest, while the spiraling sword pierced her heart as well...

Then, crimson light bloomed on their bodies like flowers.

A crimson light shot into the sky, even turning the church of the Scorched Earth Sanctuary into ruins, burying everything within...

The screen in the Dimensional Update Manual has stopped displaying images.

Ron frowned as he looked at the images in the manual, lost in thought.

So that's what "The Hero Quest for the Dragon" is all about.

The "evil dragon" did indeed die at the hands of the "hero," but it was a mutual destruction.

But what Ron didn't expect was that the "dragon" in this so-called "hero versus dragon" story was actually Father Sue.

He thought it was a new problem that would arise later...

After all, President Elvis had already sent Charles to deliver the whistleblower's letter to Fog City, and the church organization would naturally send someone capable of dealing with Father Suer to Evening Bell City. This matter should not cause any further trouble.

However, it seems that Father Suer's strength has exceeded everyone's expectations.

Ron was certain that the young, armored knight he had never seen before was someone sent by the church's higher-ups...

Unfortunately, despite his great strength, he ultimately fell short and died at the hands of Father Suer.

Finally, Idrila plans to use the unknown longsword, bestowed upon her by the bishop, to kill Father Sue in a suicide attack.

But... looking at the version PV in the manual, Ron actually breathed a sigh of relief.

Because he was not shown in the illustrations in the manual.

This means that the Dimensional Update Manual didn't even take him into account... He's a variable that's completely out of the picture!

Therefore, if this variable can change the fact that "Idrila and Father Sull perish together", it will naturally change Idrila's inevitable fate of dying!

Whether you persuade Idrila to leave or kill Father Sue early, you can resolve this matter.

However, Idrila's behavior was very much in line with her personality... Ron felt he couldn't stop her, nor did he want to.

Then... we must go and kill the source of all evil, Father Suer.

Although Father Suer was incredibly powerful after being given fire by the god of war, he ultimately died at the hands of Idrila and that knight...

So, if we could add Ron to the mix...

It seems that rescuing Idrisla shouldn't be too difficult.

Moreover, Ron doesn't necessarily have to wait until Father Sue completes the fire-seeking ceremony and receives fire from the god of war before killing him...

If we had enough strength, we could have killed him before then!

In that case, we wouldn't have ended up in such a dangerous situation.

Thinking about this, Ron felt a sense of urgency.

While upon closer examination, it's highly likely that he, as a variable, could alter Idrila's fate, it doesn't happen out of thin air...

Strength is the most important thing that Ron needs to rely on right now!

Without sufficient strength, he wouldn't be able to stir up any waves at all, and he wouldn't have any chance of affecting the ending of this so-called "hero versus dragon" story...

At least for now, it's absolutely impossible for him, a mere Sequence Eight, to do that.

Only by advancing to Sequence Seven, or even by devising a formula and scheming for other powers, might it be possible to truly slay the "evil dragon" and allow Ron to become the "hero" in this "drama"...

No more time to waste.

With that thought in mind, Ron turned his gaze to the potion ingredients in front of him.

He cut up Idrila's white robe with gold thread, turning it into pieces of similar size "shroud"...

However, when he turned around and saw the extraordinary characteristics of that semi-transparent, spherical, Sequence Seven "medium," Ron couldn't help but feel a headache coming on.

According to the potion recipe recorded in the magic book, Ron was to put the ghost's embers into holy water, and then drip the clear liquid, filtered through the shroud, into pure water.

But this thing is like this as a supernatural characteristic... how do we filter it?

Should I dissolve it in pure water?
Or should we just place it directly on the Shroud of Relic...?

Ron scratched his head, still hesitant to add any extra steps. He simply weighed 30 milliliters of pure water into a measuring cup, then wrapped the extraordinary property directly in the "Holy Shroud" and suspended it above the measuring cup.

The next moment, Ron saw the crimson magical light on the "Shroud of the Dead" flicker violently.

"Zizi..."

Like the sound of cold water being poured into a red-hot pot and drying out, Ron saw that the extraordinary properties immediately reacted with the "Holy Shroud," and it slowly began to melt...

A drop of grayish condensed liquid passed through the "Holy Shroud," was filtered by the scarlet magic on the "Holy Shroud," and turned into a drop of liquid tinged with gray and faint light, falling into the measuring cup and turning into a small, semi-solid, jellyfish-like mass of liquid.

At this moment, the crimson [War] magic on the "Shroud of the Dead" also underwent a very noticeable erosion, and slowly dissipated...

However, the remaining extraordinary characteristics did not shrink much at all; they remained the size of a round fist, unaffected.

Ron frowned as he looked at the scene.

What's going on...? Why has the magic on this "Holy Shroud" disappeared, but its extraordinary properties remain unaffected?

He could understand why the magic had disappeared—

Perhaps because the potion-making process took longer this time, unlike the last time when everything was fused together into a potion extremely quickly, this "Holy Shroud" has clearly undergone some degree of wear and tear from the [Anti-Mystic Equation]...

But the magic is being worn down far too quickly... The other "shrouds of the dead" haven't shown any problems yet. Is this because the "extraordinary properties" themselves are also consuming the magic on the "shrouds of the dead"?

Thinking of this, Ron looked at the extraordinary property and couldn't help but recall the "fingers of the wronged" from before.

The "extraordinary properties" and the finger bone used as the main ingredient in the potion seemed to have remained unaffected by the [Anti-Mystic Formula], as if they were completely unaffected...

Is it that they are impervious to wear and tear, or...?

Won't they wear out?
Ron seemed to be deep in thought, but didn't dwell on it any longer. He put on a new "Holy Shroud" and continued the potion-making process.

It's hard to imagine just how stubborn the extraordinary properties of this "medium" are...

Ron actually used up all the fragments of Idrila's nun's robe, turning these "shrouds of hominids" into useless rags, before he completely squeezed out the extraordinary properties of this "medium"!
However, although it took one or two hours, the results were gratifying.

Ron looked at the beaker in front of him and could see countless, shimmering, grayish liquid clumps solidifying within the clear, transparent water...

The beaker was shaken, and the surface of the pure water rippled, but the liquid clumps seemed to freeze in place, completely still.

Looking at it through the Magic Vision, one can see a dense, grayish-green [Death] magic power shimmering on it.

[Death] Sequence Seven "Medium" potion is now complete!
(End of this chapter)