Azure Scepter

It seems we're almost at our destination.

Trier glanced at the arcane eye one last time.

The elf moved swiftly, her toes barely touching the puddle before she was gone, as light as a shadow.

Beside the puddle, the back of the steel golem was inscribed with the Chinese words: "Number 232, Agility Enhanced, Shadowsteel, No Spirit Drive."

The transmigrator's lips twitched slightly. He had been curious about the abnormal speed of the steel golem, but he never expected that the golem was actually something he had created.

Beneath the golem stood a novice priest of the Church of Radiance, a crystal scepter in his hand. His eyes were wide open, oblivious to the rain streaming into them. With utmost piety, he recited, in perfect, rather frivolous scripture: "Ring the bells three times, sing in unison, praise..."

The time traveler rubbed his temples hard, feeling a little embarrassed.

—It's likely that he created the Iron Golem in the past, then transferred control of the machine to someone within the church. Perhaps out of boredom and a mischievous sense of humor, he turned the joking prayer he used in his previous life to please the machine's soul into a necessary option for anyone other than himself when controlling the Iron Golem...

"Was I really that boring?" Trier thought to himself.

The Arcane Eye kept transmitting the novice priest's strange words about the Iron Golem, which annoyed the transmigrator. He wanted to sever the connection with the Arcane Eye, but the next moment, he vaguely heard Frythia talking to herself.

The whispered words were as faint as a mosquito's buzz: "Trier..."

Trier severed his connection with the Arcane Eye, turned his head, and reached out to brush aside the black velvet curtain on the carriage window, peering through it at the distant scenery.

The torrential rain showed no signs of abating. The carriage traveled eastward along the main road of the inner city, and by now, the vast Olco Bay could be faintly seen. The dark sky was filled with clouds, and the wind howled and swirled.

In the boundless darkness, the Royal Theatre, converted and expanded from the Great Lighthouse, stands alone on the steep cliff, its warm yellow light beams swirling and leaping like a solitary dancer.

The carriage slowed down further, and Trier turned his gaze to what was nearby.

The streets were deserted, and there were no lights in the nearby buildings. In the strong wind, the trees beside the carriage road trembled and shook like drowning people, with leaves and branches hitting the ground and walls in the wind.

Trier saw the carriage's destination—an extremely quiet little tavern with a dilapidated wooden sign so worn that only the words "The best puppet show in all of Erlav" could be vaguely seen.

"The probability of Vercingetorius attacking me is extremely low. And even if he does, his success rate is very low. After all, according to the game, my current base attack bonus is already comparable to that of a newly legendary warrior. With the Shadowless Longsword, I can also use Shadow Travel, and I currently have a large number of mana storage stones..."

“However, to be on the safe side, let’s upgrade first.” Trier couldn’t help but smile.

"upgrade!"

[XP-42500]

[Paladin lv9→lv10!]

[Based on your main class advancement, you have acquired the feat "Mastery of the Holy Slash"]

[XP-52500]

[Paladin lv10→lv11]

[Based on your main class advancement, you have acquired the feat "Aura Advancement"]

[Based on your Intelligence modifier and primary class upgrade, you have gained 42 free skill points.]

Chapter 135 Upgrade!

In an instant, nearly 10 experience points were wiped out!

His heart pounded powerfully, and a surge of warm energy suddenly rose from his chest! The warmth, like a comet streaking across the night sky, instantly dispelled the coldness in Trier's veins, and his muscles, which had been slightly stiff from the damp cold, relaxed as if he were soaking in a hot spring.

At this moment, Trier felt as if he were a weathered traveler, as if he had traveled thousands of miles and was now standing at the foot of towering mountains. A sublime and sacred feeling welled up from his heart and then connected to his limbs and bones.

The warmth reached right to my fingertips, a sublime and gentle current flowing from the inside out, forming a seamless whole. The wooden hilt of the Trier sword sheath had somehow been enveloped in a layer of holy white light, and pure white light spots danced and fell in the carriage like petals.

The holy light illuminated the dimly lit carriage, and the fine details on the lifelike angel sculpture on the incense burner were clearly visible.

At this moment, the pitch-black rain raged outside the carriage, the damp, cold darkness slowly seeping in like ink, while the invisible moisture, like the giant hand of an undead giant, slowly grasped the carriage. Trier, still with his eyes closed, stood like a wall between the two. Before him, pure white points of light were born in an instant, then expanded and exploded a moment later, drifting away and dissipating, the light shining through his eyelids onto his eyeballs.

Trier had never felt this strange sensation when leveling up before; this bizarre experience reminded him of the feeling when he took up his paladin rank in front of the tomb of Cord.

[Mastery of Holy Slash: Fulfill your oath, and righteousness will come. Having undergone a long trial of heart and action, your oath grants you immense power of righteousness. Every melee weapon strike you deliver carries divine power. Whenever you hit an enemy with a melee weapon, that enemy will suffer additional holy damage based on your "Sanctuary of Faith" stacks. If you also activate Holy Slash, the additional damage from Holy Slash stacks with this additional damage. Current additional holy damage: 5d3.]

"This extra damage is enough for me to punch the ghouls in Beaver Town to pieces," Trier thought to himself. "My damage is already overflowing. If Vercingetorie dares to make a move, I only need to use 'Lightless' plus Holy Slash to graz him and he will be seriously injured."

He still didn't open his eyes, but instead looked in his mind at the feat brought by the second Paladin class upgrade.

[Advanced Aura: Conviction solidifies into an oath, which brings supernatural influence. With long-term training, the range of any of your auras increases by an additional 30 meters. Even if the affected object leaves the aura's range, the aura's influence will still remain for 1d4 rounds.]

"It turns out that the paladin in the guild has a legendary banner. With the Advancement Aura feat, he can even make the influence cover an entire army."

At that moment, Chief Spy Nordman was jolted awake from his nap. He stared dumbfounded at Trier opposite him. He felt as if Noy had struck him on the head with a flail; the shock was so intense that he was almost disoriented.

—Such a big commotion? No, the question is, why can a paladin increase his strength while sitting?

He took a deep breath, trying his best to suppress the scream in his head, and then a sense of rational terror replaced the emotional shock.

—Trill's already incredible magical abilities have improved even further; he can now even simulate the power of the most holy paladins... Wait, could he really become a paladin?

Nordman struggled to lift his eyes and glanced at Neuer beside Trier.

Neu was gazing at Trier with her chin resting on her hand, looking extremely calm, as if she were already used to it.

The most bizarre thing was that Hult beside him and a gaunt-faced man dressed as a tailor were inexplicably huddled together, as if they were afraid.

Do they know something?

After a moment's thought, Nordman decided to remain still. He suppressed his shock, sat up straight, and even placed his hands on his knees.

"Thud! Hiss—" The sound of a heavy object falling to the ground could be faintly heard outside the carriage, followed by the pattering of footsteps in the mud.

A wet knocking sound came from outside the car door.

Nordmann glanced at Trier, noticing that the man had reopened his eyes. Trier nodded.

The spy chief hesitated for a moment, then opened the car door himself.

Torrential rain.

The exquisitely crafted carriage had excellent sound insulation; only the faint vibrations from the raindrops hitting the ceiling could be heard. Opening the door at that moment, the cacophony of rain and the dampness of the downpour rushed in.

Trier stood up. Outside the carriage, the silent coachman, cloaked and standing straight, was already in the rain.

The coachman's face was unnaturally pale, as if he had applied powder. He looked very young, without a trace of stubble. Trier narrowed his eyes, and only with his extraordinary perception could he make out the almost imperceptible red light in the other man's pupils.

This is a vampire, possibly a derivative form.

"Your Excellency," the coachman greeted respectfully, "please hurry, the bishop is already waiting."

Stepping onto the makeshift steps that had been placed in advance, Trier walked down steadily.

In the darkness, the tavern's windows faintly emitted an ambiguous warm red light. The heavily chipped wooden signboard was swept away by a gust of wind with a "crash," crashing into a fir tree and breaking into two pieces.

Trier didn't rush forward; he listened intently to the sounds around him.

The wind howled, carrying with it the agonizing cries of those infected with the plague. The torrential rain fell like a percussion symphony, the sound of raindrops rolling down in sheets exceptionally jarring.

In the warm, ambiguous light of the tavern, the faint sound of a woman's melodious singing voice and a slightly humorous violin tune could be heard. The lyrics were explicit, and the constantly repeating melody seemed to be a unique obscene polyphonic piece from the Elf Evergrande Island region.

Trier focused his attention, and faint sounds of arguing drifted from the polyphonic music.

"You...she...let her go?"

"Saint Seir appeared... then suddenly... vanished..."

"Radiance...blasphemy..."

—The voices sound like those of the bald judges; they seem to be discussing the little girl that Noy released from the church dungeon.

Trier remained calm and followed the crowd into the dilapidated tavern.

Chapter 136 Knight, Nymph, Queen

Just as Trier entered, the singer's ethereal elfin tune finished its intro: the female singer's voice was delicate and clear: "Recalling your first exploration of the dark valley, gently gathering the embers as they swirled~"

Although the tavern's exterior was dilapidated, its interior was luxuriously decorated. Ochre carpets were embroidered with silver brocade, purple candles were scattered throughout, and unknown exotic flowers clung to towering marble pillars. The four crystal chandeliers overhead cast a warm red glow.

Under the light, the mahogany chairs in the tavern's main hall were empty, with only ethereal singing mixed with the roaring sound of the torrential rain echoing around the room.

"Clang—" The pale-faced coachman pushed the iron gate shut from the outside, and the noise of the torrential rain outside instantly disappeared.

The tavern's swaying iron gate seemed to possess some kind of magic; as long as it was closed, it would not only keep out the torrential rain but also the blood plague and suffering outside, leaving only an air of nobility and elegance.

The air was filled with the fragrance of incense, but Trier could detect a faint, almost imperceptible scent of blood amidst the elegance.

The marble pillar on the left is as white as milk, but an inappropriate yellowed poster is pasted on it. The poster reads "The Moon of Drunkenness". The red-haired woman in the painting wears light makeup and extends her left hand, as if inviting her lover outside the painting to dance.

“Dorothy,” the spy chief Nordman murmured to himself, “I’m going to have a good get-together with her after all this is over.”

Following the sound, Trier turned his head to look at the spymaster and happened to see the female singer who was singing erotic elven tunes—a half-human with no limbs, only a torso. She was almost completely naked, with only her vital parts covered. The half-human was fixed to some kind of wheelchair-like device, and several invisible threads hung from above, connecting to the wounds on her limbs. As the threads moved, the half-human moved with them like a firefly drawn to a flame.

Trier glanced at it only once before looking away. Perhaps it was because he had been a paladin for too long, but seeing the halfling's remains dancing as she was pulled by the silk threads, he felt a throbbing pain in the veins of his limbs.

Behind the halfling, on a high platform, was a magnificent, stained-glass wall, made of stained-glass mosaics that looked exactly like the windows of a church. Trier narrowed his eyes slightly, then realized that the paintings on the glass did indeed depict religious stories from the Church of the Radiant Light.

“It’s ‘Saint Seil and the Nymph,’” Noy said softly. “To torment that poor halfling like this under the sacred painting is blasphemy…”

"Saint Seir and the Nymph" is a very simple religious allegory. The gist is that Saint Seir, once a mortal knight, was commissioned by the Queen to overcome absurd hardships, including hunting down a laughing dragon, venturing into an abyss, and outwitting a succubus lord. Finally, in a mysterious silver lake, he found the incomparably beautiful and powerful nymph fairy, and with her help, the kingdom was saved from peril.

It's worth mentioning that the Queen in the story is based on Loseweg, while the Nymph Fairy is clearly based on the mortal enemy of the Dream Realm demigod who was defeated and sealed by Loseweg.

Trier stared silently at the stained glass, knowing it was actually a one-way viewing window, and that Vercingetorius was behind it. A strange premonition, fueled by his supernatural senses, told him that Bishop Vercingetorius was standing behind the stained glass, staring back at him—whether intentionally or unintentionally, he was positioned perfectly behind the portrait of Saint Sel, their figures overlapping.

The giant stained-glass windows with colorful stained glass, the burning purple calming incense candles, the yellowed opera posters, and the blood-red four-tiered crystal chandelier with the screams of a half-human, half-dead woman—everything seemed like chaotic light reflected on millions of shards of glass, filled with a mixed mess and a sense of incongruity and contradiction.

Trier secretly became more vigilant. Judging from the other party's enjoyment and aesthetic style, Vercingetori's image in the original history of the game would probably be very, very different.

In the original history, Vercingetorius would have been a kind-hearted man willing to give his life for a strange, alien race. However, judging from the bishop's current treatment of the halflings, they are certainly not benevolent.

“Another dragon.” After a long silence, Aurelius laughed. “In every story, everyone has to defeat the dragon, so the dragon that serves as the prototype in the story must have multiple forms.”

“You can’t joke like that, young man,” Nordman warned solemnly. “That dragon might still be alive. As far as I know, dragons are very petty. Be careful it doesn’t swallow you whole.”

“That’s not necessarily true, sir. You haven’t seen many dragons, have you?” Aurelius winked, even emphasizing the word “sir.” It seemed that once it could no longer hear the thunder, it had escaped its uncontrollable state of fear and reverted to its incessantly chattering mode.

"I've seen it quite often. I've even seen a mage in the Great Swamp raising a white dragon..."

Although Nordman's tone was authoritative and his face serious, perfectly fitting the stereotype of a ruthless spy chief, Trier was utterly astonished to discover that this spy chief was also a chatterbox—in fact, Nordman's chatter was on par with the bronze dragon's. Soon, the man and the dragon began a verbal sparring match...

"I apologize for keeping you all waiting." A clear and gentle voice came from the stairs. "Lord Trier, I am so glad that you have recovered. May the Radiance bless you. I am truly, truly happy."

Although he was prepared, Trier was still taken aback when he turned his head.

Completely different from the person Noi remembered, the newcomer was a tall, thin young man wearing gleaming, carved plate armor. He had stubble on his chin and a gentle, light smile on his face, looking like a standard knight straight out of a woodblock print.

Trier's expression remained completely unchanged as he subtly and carefully observed the other person's facial details.

The newcomer had slightly cloudy eyes and a pale face that hinted at fatigue. Judging from the skeletal structure, the person was indeed the tall, thin, and emaciated high priest Vercingetori that Noi remembered—only the person now looked far too young.

Without a doubt, this is the result of my own influence.

With this thought in mind, Trier reminded himself again: never apply preconceived notions from the game to this situation, and be careful. Although the possibility of a friendly response is relatively high, the other party's attitude is still unclear.

Suddenly, Trier vaguely sensed the other person's gaze. He turned his eyes slightly and happened to see Vercingetorius scrutinizing him.

Trier knew this was a sign of a test—but the question was, what exactly was the other party's purpose?

“Your Excellency Trier, you seem completely unsurprised?” the bishop said softly as he stood on the stairs.

In an instant, Trier realized the other party's purpose.

P.S.: I'm not satisfied with the writing, but I'm not feeling well, so I won't revise it.

Chapter 137 Negotiation

Trier knew that Vercingetorie was testing whether he had regained all his past memories.

His mind stirred slightly, and he quickly observed the other man's deathly pale skin. In the blood-red light, Bishop Vercingetorius exuded a subtle sense of incongruity, as if there were some invisible cavity between his skin and muscles.

This is clearly the result of magical influence.

“What are you surprised about? Magic?” Trier retorted without any politeness. Before the bishop could reply, he immediately raised his left index finger and said something completely unrelated, “Iolum’s Longevity Spell.”

As he spoke, he openly observed the other person's reaction.

The transmigrator only knew that the other person was so young, which must be due to his own magic. However, he didn't know exactly which spell he had cast. From a purely magical perspective, spells like Life Steal, Kiss of Time, Cloning, Zombie Substitution, and Iolum's Longevity could all achieve similar effects.

However, Trier knew he was always confident in his magical abilities, so the life-extending spell he had chosen for his opponents in the past was most likely the most difficult and effective Iolem Longevity Spell.

The light flickered and swayed. In a fleeting moment, Trier keenly sensed that the bishop, who had always appeared calm and composed, suddenly seemed to have been pierced in the heart by a spear. In a very short time, the bishop's pupils shrank sharply, and the fingers gripping the stair railing turned white from the excessive force. Furthermore, with his extraordinary perception, Trier even knew that the other's heartbeat had paused unnaturally for that instant.

Although the other party returned to normal in an instant, Trier knew he had guessed correctly thanks to his keen insight.

The reason why Vercingtoli is so young is that he cast the Iolum longevity spell on him.

As its name suggests, the Iolem Longevity Spell is used to extend lifespan, and Iolem is the name of the spell's inventor. The knowledge of this spell comes from an extremely distant place, and for a long time, this secret knowledge has only been passed down among a very small number of master spellcasters. It can restore the youth of another life and increase its maximum lifespan by separating all life within a certain range.

The life forms sacrificed have no qualification requirements, and the more they are separated, the more lifespan is extended. This means that as long as a large nest of ants is found and they are separated using the Iolum longevity spell, the recipient can obtain a long lifespan without violating any moral ethics or taking any risks.

It's worth mentioning that, according to the game "Azure Scepter," the lifespan provided by Iolum's Longevity Spell is a permanent magical state, which means that this state can be directly dispelled by dispel magic—once dispelled, the lifespan it provides will vanish instantly.