Chapter 442: D162.Miracle_3
The Hero gazed at the cube in wonder, but soon her brows furrowed.
The runes on the cube flickered on and off, and the liquid metal within the semi-transparent shell showed a sense of difficulty and stickiness as it flowed, as if the forging process had encountered some sort of problem.
On the front of the cube, a special rune lit up with a steady light, seemingly guiding its holder to activate it.
[Press the auxiliary rune?]
1. I press
2. Don’t press♛
D2=d2(2)=2
“Ugh… I’ll wait until I’m down below to see.”
The Hero hesitated for a moment and, seeing that the cube was only moving with difficulty and had not stopped altogether, chose not to interfere just yet.
Perhaps it would become smoother when closer?
She sat atop White Snake’s head, waiting to reach her destination.
[Sitting posture]
1. Side sit
2. Cross-legged♛
3. Duck sit
4. Sports sit
5. I lie down~
D5=d5(2)=2
→☆→☆→☆→✧←★←★←★←
When traveling in the wild, she never cared for so-called ladylike manners; sitting cross-legged on White Snake’s head, which was stable enough for her to roll without falling, the Hero stretched comfortably.
Even though the scales beneath her were cold, they didn’t feel bone-chilling cold even to the touch of bare hands.
After spending a night on the snowy mountain yesterday, she inexplicably started to feel a little cold, but fortunately, the Maid Supervisor and the Gleaming Scale Serpent were well-prepared. Currently, she wore a thick fleece on her upper body and close-fitting long pants on her lower body that would not hinder her movement; runes provided warmth and heat, outlining her straight legs.
And below her calves were a pair of somewhat heavy-duty mountaineering boots, making the girl’s legs appear even more slender.
White Snake’s massive and elongated body flew steadily through the Ice Abyss. As they delved deeper, the surroundings didn’t turn pitch-black. The icy walls emitted a faint luminescence, illuminating the increasingly vast underground space.
Soon, White Snake landed at the deepest part of the Ice Abyss, where there was a rough-looking sanctuary, its entrance embedded at the end of the ice walls.
Even with only a dim glow around, the Hero could take in the entire scene.
The architectural style of the sanctuary was rugged, and although the overall look was recognizable as a place of worship, it lacked elaborate details. It couldn’t compare with modern churches, not to mention the Curse Temple also located underground, which was much more refined than this place.
The only point of praise was the grandeur of the sanctuary’s gates, tall enough for a creature like White Snake to pass through.
However, the Hero quickly understood that for an ancient tribe decimated by a brutal war to be able to build such a magnificent sanctuary was already commendable.
After White Snake approached the ground, she hopped down from its head, holding the struggling pre-formed cube, hesitated for a moment, and decided not to press the rune to restart the process.
It had been active for so long; it didn’t seem quite right to interrupt it now.
“Come on!” She patted the cube and whispered encouragement before she and White Snake stepped through the sanctuary gates.
The long-awaiting Snow Woman Clan members immediately came up to greet her.
[The attitude of the Snow Woman Clan (Respectful — Enthusiastic)]
D100+30=d100(41)+30=71
“Snow Woman sister, Clan Leader!”
As the Hero saw the familiar Snow Women and was about to wave hello, these ice-blue beauties couldn’t wait to swarm around her.
“Ah! It’s the Hero!”
“The Hero really came!”
“Long time no see, let us hug you—”
“Hey, you guys, show some respect toward the Hero!”
“Right, Hero, don’t listen to them, come over to my side.”
The Snow Women crowded around the Hero with smiles on their faces, clearly showing a great deal of fondness for the Hero who had successfully defeated the Corrupted Phoenix, but they all knew their limits and no one dared to take advantage of the chaos to touch inappropriately.
After all, it was different from when they first came; although the Hero helped them eliminate the Depraved Flame at that time, it could not be compared to the Corrupted Phoenix.
Demons, though acknowledged as part of Humankind, also possess traits of Magic Creatures, exemplified by their stringent Class hierarchy.
While they don’t place much emphasis on human Lineage, it’s because the bloodlines of regular humans don’t equate to Strength. However, for Magic Creatures, the gap between Species is akin to a chasm in the sky.
If not for the Hero’s warmth being so enticing and approachable, they would not dare to be so relaxed in the presence of a High-Ranking Individual.
Watching the Hero surrounded again by her sisters, the Snow Woman Archer, now a citizen of honor, returned to the Highland and shook her head helplessly, quickly going forward to Interrupt.
“How could this be, the Curse has worsened so soon…”
After the Hero explained his purpose, the Snow Woman Archer’s expression also became solemn.
She realized after the award ceremony that the Curse on the Hero was far more troublesome than initially thought. That’s why she raced back without much experience of civilian life, together with her clan and White Snake to the Prayer House, to extract the Magic Power here.
Just as success was within reach, before she could notify the Hero, he came on his own initiative, bringing such bad news.
However, the Hero had almost gotten used to the fact that others worried about him more than himself, consoling the disheartened Snow Woman Archer before following the Frost Matron deeper into the Prayer House.
“Hero, ahead lies the final resting place of the Ancient Warriors and our ancestors.”
After their death, Snow Women’s bodies, along with the dissipating Magic Power, vanish rapidly like melting snow, unlike Humankind that leaves behind complete skeletons.
The Snow Women on this Highland, sensing their time of death, would come to the Ice Abyss to silently Dissipate in their slumber. Their Magic Power returning to nature would become the strength that reinforces this frozen Sanctuary.
The Frost Matron gently raised her hand, and the ice wall with simple Rune marks, seemingly ancient script used for recording, disappeared like an illusion.
Rich and ancient Magic Power surged out instantly, causing the Hero to widen his eyes slightly, and the pre-made cube in his arms ran much smoother.
“These are…”
At the nod from the Frost Matron, the Hero stepped lightly, as if fearing to disturb others, gently stepping in.
“Yes, they are the Ancient Warriors who once fought in the war against the Corrupted Phoenix.”
The Hero looked up, pausing to look at those encased within the ice wall.
Their faces remained lifelike, not decaying despite the long passage of time, and even the bloodstains and scars on their bodies were visible. Yet the void of Magic Power proved that only soulless shells lay here.
Closest to the Hero within the ice was a Believer in tattered robes.
The Hero’s pupils shrank as he studied the one, who looked as if sealed hastily into the ice without even time to change clothes—
1. Her
2. Him♛
D2=d2(2)=2
Their bodies no longer Humanoid, with twisted traces of Depravity, dark Gleaming Scales, fierce claws, unnatural swellings and fissures on limbs and torso, all evidence of the Believer’s severe deep Pollution.
This could be called a Magic Creature, and even the Hero understood, if a companion were polluted to this extent, the best choice would be to slay them on the spot.
But on this Believer, there remained a single part untouched by Mutant transformation.
A rusty, blackened, thick metal Collar tightly encircled the neck, sharp spikes piercing from the outside into the flesh, forcibly preventing the spread of Pollution.
And as if the distortion and Pain on the body were non-existent, that Humankind face bore only calmness and Unyieldingness.
[Roll for Outcome Five]
1. Curse Shield
2. Prayer Dance
3. Song of Unyielding
4. Lingering Pain
5. Anchor
6. Anchor
7. Painful Transformation
8. Distorted Amplification
9. Miracle♛
10. Critical Success/Extreme Failure
D10=d10(9)=9
[Essence Capture]
3d57+30=d57(7)+d57(44)+d57(15)+30=96