Curse Returns, a gamble from the start, I awaken dual spells

Chapter 165 Sealing

Li Ren was startled, his gaze fixed on the woman in front of him who resembled Xiao Ye but was completely different from her.

"Wait for us? You knew we'd come?"

A gentle yet profound smile graced Hitomi's lips. When her gaze shifted from Rito to Sayo, a complex emotion flickered in her eyes.

"I knew you would come here from the moment you stepped into the Death Return Barrier."

She took two slow steps forward, her white robe trailing on the ground.

"Because this tower exists to wait for you."

Xiaoye involuntarily took a step forward, her eyes gleaming with a light she herself couldn't understand.

"Do you...do you know me?" Xiaoye's voice trembled slightly.

Tong's smile softened even more.

"Recognize that I am a part of you, or rather, I am the part of your memories that have been sealed away."

These words struck like a thunderbolt in the empty hall.

Rito's pupils suddenly contracted, and Itadori and Fushiguro Megumi were also stunned, exchanging bewildered glances.

"What do you mean?" Rito stepped forward, blocking Sayo's path. "Who exactly are you?"

Tong did not avoid his gaze; instead, she looked at him calmly.

"The Death and Annihilation Return Barrier is not just a killing game; it is a seal, a seal set up by the strongest sorcerer a thousand years ago, and the core of the seal is this tower."

She raised her hand and pointed to herself.

"And I am the key to this tower."

"The key?" Xiaoye's voice was filled with confusion. "Then I—"

"You are the chosen one." Hitomi's gaze deepened.

"You have a special bloodline flowing through your body, a descendant of that sorcerer from a thousand years ago. You were guided into the Death and Annihilation Return Barrier to come here."

Liren clenched his fist.

"So, all of this was pre-arranged? Including all the dangers we encountered?"

"Not entirely." Tong shook her head. "The arrangements exist, but the dangers are real. The Death Annihilation Return Barrier is a selection process; only the strongest can make it to the end. You survived to get here because of your own strength, not because of my arrangements."

She paused, then her gaze returned to Xiaoye: "Xiaoye, can you feel it? This tower is calling to you."

Xiaoye's body trembled slightly. She raised her head and looked at the semi-transparent orbs of light floating above the hall.

The orbs of light began to descend slowly, swirling around her and radiating a warm glow.

"I—" Xiaoye stretched out her hand, and a ball of light landed in her palm. "I think—I remember something."

Her eyes suddenly deepened, and a golden light appeared in her pupils.

Rito watched this scene nervously, a ball of gray magical energy already gathering in his palm.

But Tong raised her hand, signaling him not to act rashly: "Don't worry, she'll be fine. She's regaining her memories."

Xiaoye's body swayed slightly, and the orbs of light seemed to come alive, merging into her body one after another.

With each sphere of light she merged into, her aura would subtly change, becoming more composed and profound.

"This barrier—" Xiaoye spoke slowly, her voice carrying an authority that didn't belong to her, "was established a thousand years ago to seal 'that thing'."

"That thing?" Itajō asked quickly, "What is it?"

Xiaoye closed her eyes, remained silent for a moment, and then opened them.

"I'm not sure, my memory is still hazy, but I can feel it—it's an extremely terrifying power. If it were released, the entire world of sorcery would be destroyed."

Rito's heart skipped a beat: "So, the existence of the Death Recurrence Barrier is to seal that power?"

"Yes." Xiaoye nodded. "But what's even more terrifying is that someone wants to break this seal."

"Who is it?" Fushiguro Megumi asked.

Xiaoye did not answer immediately. Her gaze was directed towards the depths of the hall, where there was a huge stone door, its surface covered with densely packed runes.

"I don't know exactly who it is, but that person used the Death Return as a disguise to secretly search for a way to break the seal, and all your actions after entering the barrier were seen by him."

Li Ren frowned: "Then we—"

"You have two choices," Xiaoye interrupted him, her voice becoming firm.

"First, leave this place and act as if nothing happened. Second, enter that door, find the core of the seal, and stop that person."

Kouhuzhang grinned: "Do we even need to choose? Of course, we'll just shoot it in!"

Fushiguro Megumi nodded: "Now that we've come this far, there's no reason to back down."

Rito looked at Sayo: "And you? What do you think?"

Xiaoye took a deep breath, her gaze hardening.

"I cannot allow that thing to be released. This place—is a seal left by my ancestors, and it is my responsibility."

Rito nodded and turned to Hitomi: "So, what do we need to do?"

Tong smiled slightly: "It's very simple. Enter the core of the seal, find that foundation stone, and then carve your own spell power imprint on it. This will strengthen the seal, making it impossible for anyone to break it."

"Is it that simple?" Itari looked at her suspiciously.

"Of course it's not simple." Tong's smile turned serious. "There is a guardian in the core of the seal, an avatar left behind by the strongest being from a thousand years ago. Its power is enough to instantly kill any level one sorcerer. Moreover, the person who wants to break the seal will definitely appear. You must be prepared to face the worst-case scenario."

Rito was silent for a moment, then slowly spoke: "I have no problem. Saya, Itadori, Fushiguro, what about you?"

"Of course, no problem!" Itadori clenched his fist, his whole body radiating fighting spirit.

"I will do my best," Fushiguro Megumi said calmly.

Xiaoye didn't speak, but the resolute light burning in her eyes had already given the answer.

Li Ren nodded and turned to walk towards the stone door at the back of the hall.

"In that case, let's go."

His hand rested on the stone door, and gray magical power surged in his palm.

The runes on the stone gate seemed to sense his power, and began to light up slowly, emitting a deep rumbling sound.

The stone door slowly opened, and an even more ancient and profound aura surged out from behind it.

Behind the door was an even darker passage, with ancient runes carved on the walls on both sides. The runes emitted a faint golden light, as if some kind of sealed power was flowing.

Rito stepped into the passage, followed closely by Itadori, Fushiguro Megumi, and Saya.

As the four figures disappeared into the passageway, Tong stood in the hall, a meaningful smile on her face.

"It's finally here—"

She whispered softly, her figure gradually disappearing into the air.