Chapter 200: The Dream of Miracles

Chapter 200: The Dream of Miracles

  Before the third gate, a tall and handsome demon stood ready, his expression stern and devoid of any contempt.

  "I won't underestimate you for making it this far."

  "Unlike you, I'm almost losing interest in the likes of the Seven Sages of Collapse."

  Luk glanced at the corpse lying near the demon, recognizing the mage's robe as that of Sian, once known as the strongest mage.

  But that was just a title. If the ancient elf Selia had the will, the Demon King's Castle would have been no match, even if not easily destroyed.

  The demon spoke as if reciting a lullaby.

  "Drift into a dream, lose yourself, and sleep deeply!"

  "I am one of the Seven Sages of Collapse, the Miracle of Graosam!"

  "Let me grant you a dream from which you will never want to wake!"

  The moment the magic was cast, an irresistible drowsiness overtook Luk, and his consciousness grew hazy.

  ...

  Luk opened his eyes to see deep red bed curtains hanging around him. The room was filled with antique furniture, and a painting of a valiant knight hung on the wall opposite the bed.

  This was a room from his memories, enchanted with spells to keep it ventilated and dust-free. Before him, a dignified and elegant old woman looked at him with a gentle smile.

  "I remember when you first came here, so small. Leneis carried you in a backpack, and you looked absolutely adorable. I can't believe you're getting married so soon."

  The lady took Luk's hand and spoke kindly.

  "Getting married?"

  Luk looked down and saw himself in a finely tailored, comfortable wedding suit.

  "Ms. Rhine?"

  He hesitated before speaking.

  "What's wrong, Luk?"

  Before Luk could respond, a young man with shining golden hair, like a lion, burst into the room.

  "Come on, Luk! What are you dawdling for?"

  "Amir..." Luk gazed at his childhood friend, uttering his name.

  "Why are you looking at me like that?" Amir scratched his head, not understanding why his friend was giving him such a sad and nostalgic look.

  "Probably because it's been so long since he saw you. After all, you just returned from the army," Rhine said with a smile.

  "Don't remind me. It wasn't a place for humans. I've retired and will stay home with you all from now on."

  Amir grumbled, then grinned at Luk's expression.

  "What's wrong, Luk? Am I making you cry because I traveled so far to be your best man?"

  "Alright, today is Luk's special day. You two should go and not keep Trella waiting."

  Rhine affectionately patted both of their heads and pushed them out of the room.

  Outside, the usually stern butler, Arno, was giving Luk some final advice.

  "Master Luk, congratulations on your wedding. You will soon be the head of the household. And Master Amir, you're also due to settle down. What did you think of Miss Sally at the last matchmaking event?"

  Amir blushed and coughed, "It was okay."

  Seeing this, Arno nodded in satisfaction and turned to Luk. "I've been feeling unwell lately. My son Charles will likely take over as butler. I wanted to say goodbye in advance."

  Luk nodded, completing a regret that he couldn't express in person. "I understand, Uncle Arno. Take care of yourself and rest."

  The two walked side by side to the outdoor venue where the wedding was to be held. Amir couldn't stop talking.

  "How did you decide to get married so quickly? I thought you weren't interested in women."

  "When are we going to have another fight? I've gotten much stronger in the army. I can even hold my own against a demon general for a while!"

  "Amir."

  Luk interrupted him and asked, "What do you wish for?"

  "Nothing really." Amir scratched his head. "I'm doing pretty well, aren't I?"

  Luk fell silent for a moment, then said, "Hit me."

  "What do you mean?" Amir hesitantly tapped his chest.

  Luk took a couple of steps back and fell to the ground. A few seconds later, he got up and said calmly, "Good, you win for the three thousand six hundred and sixty-third time."

  Amir was speechless, waving his hands. "What's this? If you're going to let me win, at least make it look more convincing, like you did when we were kids."

  Luk tapped him on the head. "Be happy you won. Don't start making demands."

  "No, I want to make demands." Amir's eyes lit up, remembering something.

  "Remember the Campbell family rule? The loser of a duel must grant the winner one wish."

  "Go on."

  "Stop spending all day researching magic. Take more time to enjoy life. Don't always lock yourself in the manor. Go out, meet new people, and improve your quality of life..."

  Luk glanced at him. "That sounds like something Ms. Rhine would say."

  "She might not listen, but you can't ignore a condition... We're here."

  They saw Trella, who looked a bit impatient but was forcing a smile, and Fleurian, who was dozing off nearby.

The young noble lady, dressed in a gown that shimmered like stardust, had a radiant face that glowed with beauty. She held a bouquet of flowers, looking like a painting come to life.

"Looks like you're late."

Trela whispered a complaint, linking her arm with Luk's. "And you're dressed so handsomely, you're stealing all the attention from me."

Luk shook his head, looking at the beautiful young noble lady. "No way, you're much more beautiful than I am."

"Since when did you start saying things like that?" Trela's cheeks turned red. "It's a bit simple, but for you, it's a huge improvement. Nice, keep it up!"

"I'll try."

Luk greeted Fyllian briefly. "It's been a while, Fyllian."

The drowsy elf opened her eyes slightly. "What strange things are you saying? We see each other every day, don't we?"

"…That's true."

After looking around and not finding the person he was looking for, Luk asked Trela, "Where's Lenise? Since Amir is back, she should be here too, right?"

Trela was about to speak when a loud noise suddenly rang in Luk's ears. The world seemed to wobble and become unstable, the scenes and people around him overlapping.

After a few breaths, everything returned to normal.

Time abruptly jumped to the final scene of the wedding. Luk felt a warmth in his arms, and he realized he was holding Trela, as if they had just finished a light kiss.

A meteor shower, as expected, appeared in the sky, the meteors trailing tails of fire, creating a breathtakingly beautiful sight.

"A half-century meteor shower, a spectacle that only occurs once every fifty years."

Trela blinked proudly. "Isn't it a nice touch for the wedding?"

Luk smiled at her and slowly released her. "I have a better touch."

Trela looked at him expectantly. "What is it?"

"The death of a Sage of the Seven Collapses."

Trela looked at him in surprise, but saw Luk's expression turn cold, his warm gaze shifting from her face to the sky. Then, the world shattered.

Graosam looked startled at the elf who had just opened his eyes, involuntarily stepping back.

"You… broke free from my dream. Why?"

"What do you think?"

Luk had always been clear about what was real and what was false. After constantly using Future Sight to peer into the timeline from a near-divine perspective, his mental strength had become unprecedentedly powerful.

His expression now showed a brutality he had never displayed before, as he took steps toward Graosam.

"You really dared to do it, to pry into my mind, to probe my memories, to bring out my deceased friends and elders."

The pressure around Luk grew heavier, a bloodthirsty smile curling at the corner of his lips, as if he was about to release all the suppression, anger, and frustration he had been harboring.

Sensing the danger, Graosam turned to run. Besides the magic that could drown people in their sleep, his own magical prowess and physical abilities were also considerable among the great demons.

But facing the elf who radiated murderous intent, he fell into panic and instinctively tried to flee. His speed was fast, and his movements were stealthy, making him especially skilled at escaping.

This was the worst decision he could have made.

As if he had foreseen it, the elf blocked his path. Before Graosam could react, a large hand pressed against his face, the force so great it seemed to crush his skull.

"Shurahart? No, what have you done!"

Graosam, familiar with future-predicting magic, showed a mix of terror and confusion on his face, but he did not get the answer he wanted. Instead, he heard…

Bang!

Luk slammed Graosam's head into the ground, the force causing a slight tremor in the earth. The great demon's skull cracked, and a scream of agony was cut short.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The first blow was not the end. Luk, expressionless, continued to slam the great demon's head into the ground, leaving a horrifying trail of blood and brain matter.

Then he threw the great demon into the air, flying up to stomp on his stomach with great force.

Like a meteor striking the earth, the impact sent Graosam's blood and flesh splattering across the ground, creating a crater.

Even as the great demon slowly dissipated, Luk did not stop. He used his foot to crush Graosam's bones, ensuring he suffered until the very end. When the great demon's eyes were filled with fear and pain, Luk finally crushed his head with a final stomp.

Exhaling, as if expelling all his negative emotions, Luk's expression eased as he pushed open the door.

The blood and brain matter on his body dissipated into the air as the demon died, and Luk thought, in a way, demons were quite environmentally friendly.

Avoiding various traps and mechanisms, he finally reached his destination.

In front of the fourth door stood a golden statue.

It was Abu, the monk who had been turned to gold by Mahat, a member of the hero squad from over forty years ago. Over the decades, the statue had not changed at all.

Luk studied the statue, his gaze slowly shifting to the great demon standing to the right, draped in a cloak, with a cold expression.

The strongest of the Sages of the Seven Collapses, Mahat of the Golden Land.

Master of the magic that turns everything to gold!

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end