When Bernardino turned to leave and was about to look for the tower master, a twisted “humanoid” suddenly appeared in front of him like a ghost.
However, describing the monster with the word [humanoid] was not quite befitting.
He had no hair and not even hands. His “characteristic” could only be roughly estimated through the legs that allowed him to “stand”.
He wore a faceless black mask with a shimmering red “α” symbol. He had a jet-black cloak, and his overly slender body resembled a ghostly figure. His frame was hidden in the tightly retracted cloak.
It was like a living column rising from the silt over the Black Tower.
Seeing this human figure, Young Bernardino raised the corner of his mouth.
He narrowed his eyes and bowed deeply to the man. Then, he spoke in a slow, polite, and artificial voice, “Lord Hugo… long time no see.”
“Long time no see, Bernard.”
It was somewhat unexpected.
After a moment of silence, a young voice came out from under the black mask, “I haven’t seen you for about ten years.”
“After all, you have cultivated many amazing young people.” Bernardino narrowed his eyes and said calmly in a mellifluous voice.
Due to the tan curly hair draped to his shoulders, he looked like a noble man after ignoring the horrific tattoos on his skin, composed of countless alchemy runes.
Who would have known he was the son of a fisherman?
He was a humble, lowly man who would do anything to achieve his goals.
An idiot who lost the token and all the money Father Ludwig had accumulated over the years to give him as travel expenses and tuition fees.
A person who could not do anything well and could only sell his soul in exchange for a chance to change his fate… a futile wastrel. He was an undoubted “laggard” who finally began to explore the path of transcendence after 100 years old.
Standing before him was the young and promising son of the tower, who was less than half his age back then and had lost his physical body.
The talent that everyone was looking forward to.
A genius wizard who successfully advanced to Silver Rank at seventeen.
The one who saved himself from the unfortunate hell… his only friend.
Of course, since Bernardino, who was forty-three years old, met Hugo, who was seventeen years old… He had been unable to look directly at Hugo’s brilliance.
Hugo was his only friend.
But he was not Hugo’s only friend, and he did not even know if he was considered a friend. Or was it just pity? Or a charity to the pitiful?
But now, everything had been reversed.
What kind of creature was the “Tower Master”? He had long understood.
He was a pitiful fellow like a hermit crab.
[Tower] continued to exist after losing its tower master. But, how long could a tower master stay alive after leaving the tower?
In Bernardino’s view, freedom was undoubtedly taken away.
It was worse than losing freedom.
The tower master was a voluntary sacrifice.
The mission of each generation of tower masters was to cultivate the next heir. It was also a contract formed between the tower master and the tower. After the heir was qualified to inherit the [Tower], the tower master would put all his soul and curse into the heir’s body and become one with the candidate’s soul.
It was not so much a person but a “group”.
The twenty-four wizard towers brought from the East by the Mysterious Lady had always been like this. This system was passed down from generation to generation.
It was like the monster’s lair.
Bernardino would be breaking this cycle.
He wanted to split and kidnap the soul belonging to Hugo and end the wizard tower’s inheritance ritual!
Hugo could not do anything about it.
Have I really escaped from hell?
Maybe not.
—That’s because he is hell itself.
The corners of Bernardino’s mouth rose, “How do you feel when you see me here?”
“To be honest, it’s not good.” Under the mask, Hugo replied in a young, cheerful and gentle voice like a young poet.
“I feel it. This is Sir Issac’s [Inertia Refinement]. Have you dug up his grave too?”
“I prepared it just for you, Hugo.” Bernardino said plainly, “You told me yourself back then. Issac is the founder of the Alteration School, the greatest Alteration Wizard, and the last alchemist.
“All alteration magic operates on Issac’s model, using the concept of ‘converting’, ‘changing’, and other concepts as the underlying framework. They are all extensions of Issac’s elements, and they cannot escape the fate he denied. At least 90% of Alteration spells come from his inventions in the current state.
“Even if you are now a Firestealer of the Prometheus school, you will start as an Alteration Wizard after all.
“Give it up, Hugo. You have no chance of winning. If you are willing to surrender, I will stop attacking your students. Even if I don’t take the initiative to attack them, the other creatures in the tower will die here as long as we fight.”
He did not come here to bring destruction to the pillars of the wizard tower.
Certainly, he would not mind replenishing his arsenal at this place if too many of his souls were consumed.
However, things went out of Bernardino’s expectations.
After a brief silence, Hugo suddenly asked, “Are you in a hurry?
“Are you fleeing from the Bell Ringer Oik? Or the Silver Sire?” Hearing this, Bernardino’s face immediately turned gloomy.
He took a deep look at Hugo and then took a long breath.
Unexpectedly, he replied, “Silver Sire can’t attack me. He will even help me stop Bell Ringer Oik’s pursuit because I can’t die at their hands.”
“Why?”
“That’s because I’m [Mirror].” Bernardino replied slowly, “I am the fifth hatching egg of the [Rays of Seven Luminaries].”
Hugo paused for a moment.
The red symbol on his face flashed suddenly.
“So, the Rays of Seven Luminaries are coming? Is the immaterial world about to invade?”
“He has descended, but the mirror has not broken, so he has not awakened.”
The corners of Bernardino’s mouth slowly rose, but the smile on his face began to dissipate.
“[Fate is the Wheel of Divine Transporter]. The Divine Transporter has not arrived on his track, and my destiny has not yet been sealed. Then why can’t I fight for my future?
“I’ve been following the world’s trends for 40 years, but a nightmare woke me up. I know this is a fate that should not be confronted. The Rays of Seven Luminaries are the Divine Transporter. But I still want to do it. I don’t care if I lose my chance for ascension.
“If I can accomplish the ascension before the Fourth Mirror shatters, my fate can be changed.
“I want to fight against my destiny. Even if it might implicate the whole world this time, it doesn’t matter to me.”
He looked at the monster with the voice of “Hugo” and said slowly, “It’s not the ‘Spiritual Monk’ Bernardino standing in front of you. It’s the future Deity of Death, Bernardino.
“I’m a Deity and the World’s Undertaker. There’s no other choice.”
I am different from my past self.
I am a big shot.
I am a person of greatness.
The man who decides the fate of the world.
At the same time, He was also a rebellious pawn.
Bernardino looked at Hugo and declared, “To accomplish my great work, I must attain your flame.
“Do your best to resist me, Hugo.”