It’s the ritual to pick an heir.
But why is the main mission “stay alive”?
Annan raised his eyebrows slightly.
He noticed some hints through this info.
The other side missions related to this main mission brought him into deeper thoughts.
[Do not fight with anyone.]
[Get everyone’s real name.]
[At least survive till only four people remain.]
Side missions were detailed explanations of main missions.
—In other words, I won’t be able to survive if I’m involved in a fight with others and if I don’t get everyone’s real name.
What’s the deal with Gerald’s whisper not to trust anyone in the beginning?
“This is becoming interesting.”
Annan murmured with more resolution in his eyes.
He felt a little excitement and a strong pleasure.
Although Annan did not know Soul Snatch spells at all, and this body wouldn’t allow him to use his original Falteration spells, it didn’t matter.
It was because Annan had a hunch that this dungeon instance might be his home ground.
Annan no longer hesitated and put away the Venerated Skeleton’s blood trigger. Instead, he raised his trekking pole and moved forward.
Before Annan moved forward for long, he paused with his pupils shrank slightly.
He noticed an inexplicable sense of danger without seeing any warning signs as if he would be killed if he continued to take a step forward.
After all, Wizards had exceptional perception.
So, he chose to trust his instincts without any hesitation.
“Hello there?”
At the same time, Annan showed a gentle smile on Gerald’s face and asked tentatively, “Is there anything I can help?”
“If you are willing to turn around and go back, that would be the best.”
The one who answered had a clear and tactful voice of a girl. She seemed to be about nineteen years old.
She had short umber hair and azure blue pupils. She wore a white woolen shawl and a long-sleeved sweater with cuffs covering half of her palm. She appeared gorgeous and tender.
The snow under her feet accentuated her beauty.
She didn’t wear heavy anti-skid boots like Annan, but little red leather boots like a noble lady. The long, slender khaki [1] trouser spread out like French horns when it came close to the boots.
Strange fluctuations continued to spread from her ankle.
The snow under her feet condensed into the flagstone walkway.
Beside her stood a taciturn red-haired youth.
He had beautiful and smooth red short hair, but a white bandage was thickly wrapped around his eyes. There were traces of stitches on the sides of his mouth.
He wore a pure white straitjacket usually dedicated to mental health patients. Even his cloth shoes were white. On his forearms, upper arms, chest, thighs, and between his calves, there were densely packed, fixed straps akin to black belts. But the buttons on the straitjacket were temporarily unbuttoned halfway so that he could at least walk normally.
The red-haired youth followed the girl. Hot stream fumed around him. The snowflakes melted before they got in contact with him.
Even though Annan had a harmless face and a gentle voice, the girl with short umber hair still looked at Annan vigilantly.
“But I don’t think you would want to do that. Are you David Gerald?”
“There is no need to be so nervous, miss.”
Annan sighed, with a calm tone and a soft voice, “Even if there is a competitive relationship between us, I am just a poor bereaved dog whom everyone detests. I’m nothing but a prop to bring out the greater brilliance of others. You didn’t really think I can succeed, right?”
With that, Annan laughed mockingly. He showed his embarrassing state with his face showing a pitiful look like a stray dog, “Can I get closer? It’s so cold. I was sent over before I was ready. Miss, your side seems to be warmer.”
Hearing that, the umber-haired girl subconsciously began to assess Annan.
Although Annan’s clothes were neat, they seemed a bit shabby. Naturally, he had messy hair that portrayed his sorry state. His body was covered with snowflakes as he trembled due to the cold.
He does look pitiful.
The girl’s gaze grew a little tender.
Annan acted humbly and said with a silly smile, “I’m Gerald, now I’m just a useless person. No matter which of you wins in the end, I’m happy if you can take me in and provide food for me.
“If you don’t mind, can we introduce ourselves formally?”
With that, Annan bowed to the girl, “Your humble servant is David Gerald. I should be a candidate for the Soul Snatch school.
“Everyone says that I am not a good person, but I am just an ordinary person who is useless and has no talent.”
With that, Annan smiled wryly.
Under Annan’s repeated praise, if this umber-haired girl still did not give up her vigilance on Annan, then Annan would begin to doubt her identity.
This was the most common chat technique – the seesaw principle.
Lowering one’s worth and raising the other’s worth would incite the other party’s reciprocity. It was especially suitable for situations where the opponent held vigilance, but the fight had not broken out. It could effectively delay the conflict.
As the saying goes, don’t slap those extending a welcoming hand to you.
Seeing Annan showing such weakness, she stared at Annan’s pupils and slowly nodded, although she still didn’t let go of her vigilance against the Soul Snatch wizard.
“My name is Claire, a candidate from the Shaping school. He is a candidate from the Destruction school. You can call him Kim.”
She introduced the red-haired boy following her to Annan.
Immediately, she issued a polite invitation to Annan, “If it’s too cold, it’s okay for you to get closer. With Kim, we can keep warm.”
“Ah! Thank you so much!”
Annan looked at her gratefully and then ran over quickly, frightening Claire.
But as soon as she became vigilant, she realized that “Gerald” really rushed to her side- or Jin’s side. Annan breathed heavily with a happy smile. Claire could not help but show a self-deprecating smile.
Such a funny poor bug. What on earth was I afraid of just now?
It’s not bad to have a temporary ally.
Maybe that will give me a better edge.
She thought of the request of her friend before leaving and sighed silently.
Even if you say it’s dangerous here, I can’t just change the itinerary that I have prepared for several months for such an absurd prophecy.
Claire and Kim?
On the other hand, Annan secretly noted down the two names.
Annan had a hunch that at least one of these two names was a pseudonym, or it could be that both names were pseudonyms.
The purpose was nothing more than to deviate the spell that homed targets through name.
But Annan didn’t care less.
After all, he knew no Soul Snatch spell.
The only power he had was with his words.
At least, he had successfully established regular communication.
For Annan, this was no different from knowing the other party’s real name.
The power of “communication” became an option.
Anna could utilize comical ways to reduce the other’s guard. After all, everyone had limited energy. Being vigilant in all aspects at the same time would render one much more vulnerable. With moderate clumsiness, it could often make the other party ignore oneself.
Annan was soon aware that he was the weakest among the contenders.
Seven of the most outstanding Silver Rank Wizards of all schools. Although they had the limiting label of “orphan,” they were beyond Annan, who couldn’t even use a Soul Snatch spell.
Annan followed the duo for thirty minutes.
It didn’t feel so exhausting walking on the floor, which Claire manifested.
Under Annan’s unremitting efforts, the trio became familiar with each other temporarily.
Annan finally learned from Claire that Kim was not by nature taciturn, but because his words, actions, and even his eyes had Destruction power that he could not control. So he could only be assisted and protected by Claire in the journey to White Tower.
Indeed, the two of them knew each other before they came here.
After walking forward for more than ten minutes, the Howling White Tower appeared in front of them.
The person waiting in front of the tower caused Annan’s pupils to shrink suddenly.
It was because the person looked exactly the same as Annan.