Chapter 301: Chaotic Eternity

Chapter 301: Chaotic Eternity

"Then what happened?" Thinking this, he pressed on, eager to learn more details:

"I remember the 'clock king' ultimately never became the Lich King..."

Uther's Phantom Husk sighed:

"That's right. She successfully ascended as an Archmage and, over the following centuries, created many unprecedented time-based spells.

But the story's ending... was far from perfect."

His voice paused, heavy with obvious sorrow:

"During the late Second Era, during a massive erosion event by the 'Primordial Abyss,' the 'clock king'—as one of the rare time-specialists—was targeted by the Awakening Being as a potential feast.

She faced immense pressure—over a dozen Apostles launched a joint assault."

"Even with her mastery over time, facing such overwhelming enemies forced her to adopt a near-suicidal barrier strategy.

She created a massive 'Temporal Stasis Field,' isolating the entire battlefield from the outside world."

"When the dust settled, Erika's Phantom Husk had vanished completely.

Only endless layers of bell chimes echoed across that ancient battlefield, resonating even to this day."

Uther's voice grew abnormally heavy:

"Some say she perished in the Apostles' siege, but more rumors suggest she might have transferred her consciousness into an anchor artifact, choosing a completely new form of existence.

This rumor was never confirmed, and that anchor artifact disappeared during later wars."

This tale left Luo En in deep contemplation.

Perhaps this explained why both the "Silver Pocket Watch" and the Time Hound possessed "time reset" abilities?

After all, according to Uther's earlier account, Erika had incorporated the structure of the "Canine King" when forging her soul anchor.

"A tragic yet magnificent story."

Luo En finally remarked, his tone carrying both reverence for the great Archmage and reflection on similar fates:

"Every path to power seems to carry its own price."

"Not just a price, Luo En."

Uther's voice darkened, his Phantom Husk dimming:

"Erika's tragedy reveals the universe's harshest essence—the orderly power we mages represent is eternally the minority in this chaotic expanse."

His spectral form drifted faintly in the air, the silver glow growing exceptionally dim:

"You know, every Abyss explorer consumed by the Abyss spawns countless twisted creatures from their power.

And when a Full Mage falls... the Abyss savors their demise like a gourmet treat, birthing unique Abyssal Creatures from the feast."

Uther's voice carried deep helplessness:

"Each time those Abyssal Creatures and Apostles successfully devour one of our kind, they absorb twisted fragments of knowledge and techniques.

A mutation originally driven by instinct alone gains wisdom and quasi-spell abilities after consuming a Full Mage."

His tone darkened further:

"This explains why Erika faced a dozen Apostles—her Time Manipulation Ability was an irresistible 'nutrient' for those chaotic entities.

Imagine if they succeeded—resetting battle outcomes or foreseeing attacks, a group of such Apostles would spell the end of the entire ordered world."

Uther's Phantom Husk trembled:

"The stronger Erika became, the more deadly the chaos-hungry predators were drawn to her.

Her very existence provoked the Abyss. Every breakthrough screamed to those ravenous mutations—'Here lies a lavish feast.'"

His voice approached despair:

"The cruel irony? If Erika had chosen mediocrity, living as an ordinary mage, she might have survived peacefully.

But her relentless pursuit of power and perfection doomed her to the Abyss.

This is the destiny of order—we grow stronger to protect ourselves, yet our strength attracts ever-growing, ever-mad enemies.

And when we fall, our enemies gain far more than we ever accumulated."

Uther's Phantom Husk nearly faded to semi-transparency:

"There’s a warning etched at the Abyss Research Center’s entrance:

'Order burns like candlelight; Chaos roars like storm winds.

The brighter the flame, the fiercer the storm.

When the fire dies, darkness reigns eternal.'

This is why even one as mighty as Erika could only choose mutual destruction."

He sighed finally:

"Power is no blessing, Luo En.

In this universe, every strong mage is prey to Chaos—a marked lamb.

Our so-called growth is merely a countdown to our own demise."

Yet despite it all, mage civilization still flourished, blossoming brilliantly.

Even the terrifying Abyssal Chasm seemed to serve as little more than a breeding ground for Lich Kings and higher beings, allowed to develop unchecked.

Clearly, deeper power struggles remained unknown to him.

For now, Luo En could only nod:

"Understood, professor. I’ll remember your wisdom—maintaining humility toward power."

...

Ending his conversation with Uther, Luo En returned to his quarters, his mind weighed down by heavy thoughts.

Night had fallen deeply, the stars over the Central Lands still dazzling, but tonight their distant glow failed to capture his attention.

His mind churned with the information he’d just learned:

The Time Hound’s weakness, the mechanics of Triple Phase Detonation, the clock king’s legendary tale, the essence of cosmic chaos—each detail deserved meticulous analysis.

"Come to think of it, it’s been over two months since I returned from the Abyss Outpost."

Luo En sat at his desk, pulling out a detailed schedule record to review his recent progress:

"My History Research skill has advanced faster than expected. Each session with Professor Eutel brings significant improvement. At this pace, I should reach proficiency within another fortnight."

He flipped through the record book, pages dense with symbols and annotations chronicling each day’s research.

From his early struggles, he’d progressed to relatively proficiently analyzing low-grade Memory Crystals.

This speed of advancement would be considered astounding even in the genius-filled halls of the Crystal Spire.

Yet Luo En knew this rapid progress stemmed not just from innate talent and effort, but also from Uther’s meticulous guidance as a top-tier historian.

Every Memory Crystal analysis session saw the old professor personally demonstrating the most refined techniques—practical wisdom never found in books, the true catalyst for his swift growth.

However, in recent sessions, Luo En had keenly detected subtle shifts.

Uther occasionally revealed a hint of veiled concern, an expression never shown during academic instruction.

"Professor seems troubled by personal matters lately."

Luo En recalled the subtle fluctuations in Uther’s Phantom Husk projection tonight:

"And it’s not just him—Eve’s behavior has seemed off lately too. Though she still attends my classes diligently, she seems distracted."

A keen observer, Luo En couldn’t ignore these details.

Within the Crystal Spire, some intricate interest-balancing mechanism seemed at play.

While outwardly orderly, beneath the surface, power struggles never ceased.

"Come to think of it, Eve mentioned something recently—her mother Cassandra seems to be returning soon..."

Luo En pondered this intelligence, frowning at its contradiction:

"But that makes no sense... Cassandra Tower Lord’s triumphant return from a distant world expedition should be good news for both Uther and Eve.

Why would Eve seem unhappy about her mother’s homecoming from another world?"

Days earlier, while en route to a review committee to submit his new paper, he’d accidentally spotted several usually austere lecturers gathered in silent mana communication, their expressions unusually grave.

Even the perpetually composed Associate Professor William had shown clear signs of worry.

"I must be more cautious, more focused."

Luo En warned himself inwardly:

"Regardless of what transformations occur at the upper levels, for a mid-tier mage like me, enhancing personal strength remains paramount.

Only through sufficient power can one protect oneself in any upheaval."

Closing the schedule record, he drew from his drawer the silver pocket watch.

Moonlight poured through the crystal window, casting an ancient, mysterious glow across its surface.

"Since tonight’s Historical Research Training hasn’t started yet, perhaps an attempt is warranted..."

Luo En inhaled deeply, his gaze hardening with resolve:

"Last time I failed, but let’s give it another shot. After injecting Time Hound’s power, I can feel something inside this pocket watch awakening."

This idea had been brewing in his mind for a long time.

Ever since obtaining this pocket watch, it had displayed abilities beyond imagination. However, he knew very little about its origins and creator.

Uther’s recent recounting of Clock King’s legend had only intensified his curiosity.

"That ability to reset time, combined with the temporal principles inherent in the pocket watch itself, perfectly matches Clock King’s legendary capabilities."

Cautiously, Luo En placed the pocket watch onto the specially-designed Sensing Platform, then entered a specialized meditation state for History Research.

This was an advanced technique Uther had taught him. By employing a unique spiritual energy circulation method, one could perceive the "time imprints" lingering on objects.

As his consciousness gradually descended, the physical world around him blurred, replaced by an unusual perceptual state.

In this state, the pocket watch ceased being a simple object. Instead, it transformed into a vessel carrying countless time fragments.

Each scratch and worn spot recorded specific historical moments.

Luo En’s spiritual energy extended like gossamer threads, delicately brushing against the time imprints on the pocket watch’s surface.

At first, only hazy fragments flickered past:

A battlefield stained with blood and fire, complex alchemy rituals, countless precise calibrations...

But as his skills grew more refined, these fragments began sharpening into clarity.

Suddenly, a breathtaking vision exploded into his consciousness.

Before him stood a magnificent clock tower, piercing the clouds. Its body was forged from some special metal emitting a faint glow.

The colossal clock face didn’t follow conventional twelve-hour mechanics. Instead, its hands moved along a complex trajectory, seemingly recording the passage of multiple temporal dimensions.

Inside the tower’s uppermost workshop, a tall woman worked with intense concentration.

Her gray hair cascaded down her back, while her eyes possessed an unusual indigo hue, as if containing the profound mysteries of time itself.

Most striking were the countless semi-transparent clock Phantom Husks swirling around her, each moving at different speeds.

"Clock King Erika..."

Luo En’s heartbeat quickened. He realized he was witnessing an extremely valuable historical fragment.

In the vision, Erika was crafting something. Every movement demonstrated astonishing precision.

Rare materials flowed like living things in her hands, fusing seamlessly. The surrounding Phantom Husks meticulously controlled the timing of each step in the process.

Luo En recognized this scene instantly - she was forging the very pocket watch now in his possession.

Yet this crafting process proved far more complex than imagined. It required not only supreme alchemical mastery but also profound understanding of temporal abilities.

The vision abruptly shifted. Luo En’s perspective now floated within a sinister Temporal Rift.

Here, no fixed ground or sky existed. Instead, countless twisted time streams wove together, forming a chaotic hunting ground.

Erika stood at its center, surrounded by at least seven or eight Time Hounds. They darted between different time streams, launching attacks from various angles and moments.

"This... is the Time Hounds’ den?"

Luo En watched in astonishment.

Erika didn’t confront them in conventional space. She had deliberately entered their domain - the Temporal Rift itself.

The battle began.

The first Time Hound lunged from the side, its maw slashing toward Erika’s head like lightning.

But at the moment of impact, her figure vanished. The next instant, she reappeared behind the hunter.

"Time jump?"

Luo En scrutinized her technique.

He realized she wasn’t simply teleporting. Rather, she subtly adjusted her position along the time axis, momentarily stepping outside the current moment.

The second and third Time Hounds swiftly joined the assault, their coordinated attacks placing Erika in grave danger.

But her counterattack proved even more astonishing. She released three Spirit Shockwaves simultaneously, striking all three attackers.

- Triple Phase Detonation!

Luo En’s eyes widened. This was the advanced technique Uther had mentioned.

He focused intently on Erika’s casting process, desperate to grasp its secrets.

What he observed astounded him - this technique hinged not merely on splitting consciousness, but learning to exist simultaneously across multiple temporal points.

Erika anchored her consciousness across past, present, and future through some unique Temporal Innate Talent.

Then, from these three temporal points, she unleashed Spirit Shockwaves. The result was a continuous attack spanning time itself.

This assault proved nearly unblockable, as targets had to withstand impacts from three distinct moments.

The Time Hounds clearly struggled against this attack. But they quickly demonstrated terrifying teamwork.

The remaining hunters adjusted their attack rhythms systematically, attempting to reset their positions through synchronized timing, creating an unbreakable attack cycle.

Erika sensed the danger. Her expression sharpened with intense focus.

Suddenly, the surrounding time currents thickened, as if the very air turned to glue.

- Time Anchoring!

Luo En recognized this technique immediately. This was the spell Uther described that could suppress a Time Hound’s Reset Ability.

Under Time Anchoring’s effects, the Time Hounds lost their greatest advantage - their ability to reset states.

Seizing this opportunity, Erika launched a true massacre.

Her combat techniques surpassed Luo En’s imagination. Each detonation struck perfect weak points.

More astonishingly, she seemed to predict every hunter’s movements, always choosing the optimal countermeasure in advance.

"This is the power of a top-tier battle mage..."

Luo En marveled inwardly. This battle gave him direct insight into higher realms.

Erika’s every motion demonstrated absolute mastery of power - no energy wasted, each strike perfectly timed.

Every veteran mage he’d encountered, including Youni and Hayaek, focused extensively on power compression and concentration.

All attack spells sought maximum destruction against single targets. Any collateral damage to surroundings was considered proof of poor control.

The battle quickly neared its end. Most Time Hounds had fallen.

Only one remained - the largest, clearly the Canine King.

The Canine King sensed its inevitable defeat. It began manifesting an ability Luo En had never seen before.

The entire Temporal Rift violently trembled. Countless Time Fragments rained down like hail, each containing terrifying twisted power.

Yet Erika remained calm. She slowly raised her right hand, revealing a delicate silver pocket watch in her palm.

"I see..."

Luo En suddenly understood. The pocket watch in Erika’s hand was the very one he now possessed.

........................

The battle ended. The pocket watch radiated brilliant light, like a newborn star.

Erika looked upon her completed creation with satisfaction, her eyes shining with the pride unique to creators.

Suddenly, she lifted her head.

Those indigo eyes pierced through time and space, directly locking onto Luo En observing from the future.

The sensation was deeply unsettling - as if she’d always known someone would one day view this memory through History Research.

The gray-haired witch’s lips curved upward, revealing a meaningful smile.

This smile held wisdom transcending time, and an indescribable expectation.

"A fascinating little one."

Erika’s voice rang clearly in Luo En’s consciousness, despite the vast Time River between them:

"To have peered into this memory means you’ve mastered History Research quite well."

Her figure began fading. This memory segment clearly neared its conclusion:

"Use it well. This represents my life’s dedication.

Remember, time is the fairest judge, yet also the harshest enemy."

The vision dissolved completely. Luo En’s consciousness returned to reality.

Opening his eyes, he found the pocket watch in his hand gently warming, as if responding to the historical journey it had just relived.

[Detected special historical fragment analysis. Gained additional skill insights]

[History Research (entry-level) experience points +1]

[History Research (entry-level) experience points +1]

[History Research (entry-level) experience points +1]

...

[Current Progress: History Research (entry-level 45/50)]

[Detected essence of "Triple Phase Detonation" skill. Spirit Shockwave skill received upgrade direction guidance]

However, the greatest gains extended far beyond these...

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end