Chapter 512: Malice Unbound
Chapter 512: Malice Unbound
After a lengthy explanation, Alarson's gaze naturally fell upon Lindsey.
The key to an Awakened one's power lay in their Extraordinary Skills.
It had little correlation with combat abilities or other arbitrary factors.
Alarson had reached this conclusion after a long journey, relying on his extensive knowledge and experiences.
However, his theory was now being challenged.
If applied to Lindsey, it simply didn't make sense.
The man before him possessed an incredibly wide range of abilities, excelling in combat, crafting, disguise, reconnaissance, and even artistic performances.
With Alarson's vast knowledge, he could confidently assert that many of Lindsey's displayed abilities involved the Manifestation of Rules.
This was entirely different from the skills of ordinary low-stage Awakened ones, who merely followed the rules of reality to create their Extraordinary Skills.
It was truly an anomaly that defied common sense!
It was unimaginable to witness such traits in an Awakened one who had not yet become an Ascended One.
Lindsey noticed Alarson's expression and smiled awkwardly.
"In my case, the situation is a bit special."
"Your theory is probably sound, but you can't apply normal human logic to understand my condition."
Lindsey's Extraordinary Skills were derived from a special existence beyond the universe.
This world had no concept of video games.
Moreover, apart from his skills, he also possessed the Codex of Human Wisdom, a divine artifact from the City of Law that further enhanced his abilities.
What was already beyond common sense now became even more incomprehensible when measured by conventional logic.
Alarson spread his hands and turned his attention to Wah Wah Wah.
"So, Wah Wah Wah, what rule power did you awaken in the 6th stage?"
"What made you even attract the attention of an 8th stage Awakened one?"
Wah Wah Wah looked a bit bewildered.
"I... I only have a vague understanding of it."
"Reality Shift? Artistic Core? Master of All Skills?"
"I was sorting out my newly acquired skills when I was pulled into that whirlpool."
"..."
Would an 8th stage Awakened one covet the abilities of a 6th stage Awakened one who had just advanced? Lindsey wondered.
Even though Wah Wah Wah's abilities were extremely rare.
But at the 8th stage, where Awakened ones could create worlds, it didn't seem sufficient to warrant such attention. There must be a deeper significance.
At that moment, Lindsey's gaze swept across the surrounding wraiths.
He recalled their initial encounter in the storm a few hours ago.
The first wraith that attacked them had shouted, 'Adores, why did you betray me?'
"Adores..."
Lindsey murmured.
"Liliadany and Adores" was a well-known story in Thousand Sails City, akin to "Romeo and Juliet" or "The Butterfly Lovers" in other worlds.
However, Lindsey was certain that the two artist companions knew more about this story than he did.
He turned to Wah Wah Wah and Alarson and reminded them,
"Do you remember what the first wraith that attacked us said? Adores?"
"..."
"Adores!"
The two artists also reacted, realizing the significance of hearing a character from a famous story in the mouth of a ghost.
Wah Wah Wah was the quickest to respond. She immediately looked at the pale ghostly figure before her.
"Can you tell us about your lives before you became wraiths?"
"..."
Due to the previous performance, these wraiths had become fans of Wah Wah Wah.
Without hesitation, they began to tell their stories:
"I am Finster, a knight from Nimrod, who perished in a venomous swamp on my return journey after slaying the Steel Dragon..."
"I am a merchant from Fenghua who died alone in my home due to my children's abandonment..."
"I am Ray, who challenged the gods in the Hurricane Fortress and now rests beneath the Black City..."
"I am Solriel, who died in my coronation year due to court poisoning..."
Lindsey was completely unaware of these stories.
Wah Wah Wah, a native of Thousand Sails City, looked increasingly grave.
"The Journey of the Steel Knight," "Solriel's Founding Saga," "Galilei's Requiem," "Wind Son's Chronicles," "Werner Maje's Poem"...
All the wraiths present were characters from these renowned plays or works! Regardless of their fates in their own stories...
Their ultimate destinies had been altered, all dragged into the abyss of the pitch-black sea by evil intentions.
"How is this possible?"
Wah Wah Wah's brows furrowed.
Some of these stories were based on real events, and it made sense for the corresponding souls to be pulled into this world.
But a portion of them were completely fictional, so how could they be the same as the former?
The wraiths took turns narrating their stories, one by one enveloped in pain, unwilling to harm the princess who had played them, gradually dissipating and leaving.
Wah Wah Wah immediately shared his discovery with his companions:
"They're all characters from famous plays!"
"So the souls in this world are all from renowned stories?"
Alarson added his thoughts:
"The Fallen Artist of Black Tide Island has turned his world into a massive stage, crafting tragic endings for characters from famous stories and dragging their souls into it."
Lindsey, speaking from an outsider's perspective, asked:
"His goal is to forcefully twist all fates towards tragedy and then evolve the world?"
"..."
A shiver ran through the trio.
—A tragic world purely dominated by malevolent destiny.
For a single person's skill to create such a world, it couldn't be something kind or good.
And the character who had created all this was the very entity they were about to face.
Wah Wah Wah's expression turned hesitant:
"Lindsey, facing such an enemy is too dangerous. You..."
Lindsey interrupted him:
"Don't overthink it. This guy's condition must be unusual."
"If he were a complete Eighth Stage Awakened, dealing with us would be child's play for him."
"Instead of using methods like summoning wraiths or calling upon storms like he did earlier."
Lindsey made a decisive judgment:
"I'm certain he's in a very special state right now."
"Whether he's alive or dead is uncertain!"
"After all, think about it—Thousand Sails City wouldn't provoke an Eighth Stage Awakened without reason. The fact that the Art Association took action against Black Tide Island, even destroying it, is proof enough!"
Lindsey's analysis was based entirely on real-world information.
Wah Wah Wah, following his train of thought, was unable to continue his persuasion.
It was at this moment that Lindsey, following his previous line of reasoning, suddenly had an idea about their upcoming enemy.
He immediately asked Wah Wah Wah:
"All the creations in this world are from stories."
"Wah Wah Wah, do you know any stories related to the giant whirlpool in the deep sea or the colossal sea monster guarding secrets?"
Wah Wah Wah exclaimed:
"A sea monster?"
"That must be the Abyssal Whale Solorya or the Ocean Nightmare Krulu!"
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
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