Chapter 68: The Arbiter
Translator: StarveCleric Editor: StarveCleric
2 weeks after Wumianzhe’s Ascension to Godhood. After Annie took over the position of the City Lord, many things started to fall back into place. Due to Roland’s departure, Adam was much more caring towards Elisa.
However, what was reassuring was that Elisa was exceptionally strong. She didn’t wallow in sadness as they expected. Rather, she not only worked as per normal, she showed even more smiles than she usually did, as though as she had already got past her previous trauma.
But, it seems that she was only using work as an excuse to bury her sadness. She took the initiative to work overtime, leaving early in the morning and returning late at night. She appeared less and less frequently in public places. Her friends also sympathetically didn’t interrupt her at this point in time.
At the same time, outside Sulfur Mountain City, the hot spring that Adam built out of a whim became a tourism spot well-known within the city.
The originally normal pool water was used by Adam as a medium to draw heat away from the Fire Elemental God. In order to suppress and weaken the Fire Elemental God, Annie took over his job and went there every night to draw heat away from the pool.
Due to the excessive heat, the pool water turned into a man-made hot spring. After the news that the Druids had inspected the water, which had a hint of sulfur smell similar to that of the mines, and affirm that the water was beneficial to one’s body, it instantly became the hottest tourism spot of Sulfur Mountain City.
However, it is a pity that good sights don’t last long. The extraction of heat that was estimated to go on for at least more than a decade suddenly came to an end. In less than a week, the water of the hot spring cooled down. After a commotion that lasted for just a few days, it reverted back into a deserted land without a single person.
Releasing Arolaweiss only when he is weakened to his limits, thus halting any plans that the Chaos Faction has regarding him. At the same time, allowing the Elemental Tide to progress as how it did in history while weakening the impacts of the release of the Ancient Elemental God. This is the plan which Roland and the rest came up with after a series of discussions.
But, at this moment, the heat suddenly vanished. This could only mean that the Ancient Fire Elemental God Arolaweiss grew weak rapidly or even died. The Chaos Faction could not possibly allow such a thing to happen. The one who came previously was a Count, the next one might just happen to be a Duke. It is something that makes one worry about.
However, what was bizarre was that even after Adam and the rest heightened their awareness and the security around the area, even stopping the drawing of heat from the spring, the pool water mysteriously became colder and colder. Even so, the Chaos Faction didn’t make any moves.
This lack of reaction makes one feel like there might be a greater scheme behind it.
Annie, who was tasked to look over this spring, would come every day to inspect the spring every day. Today, she decided to follow one of the suggestions of her godfather and dug a little hole in the water to bury herself in it. Finally, through this foolish method, she found the culprit behind Arolaweiss’s weakening.
At midnight, at the peak of the freezing cliff, 2 female warriors were crossing blows.
Similar to the countless usual fights they had, Annie, who as a Warrior, was being suppressed by a Mage in a direct battle. Just as she was putting all of her mind into the physical brawl, a cold thread suddenly hooks onto her ankles.
Then, with a pull of the thread, the enemy made use of her loss of balance to throw in a few blows. Her old opponent didn’t go easy on her at all. The young Annie was bound totally with several cuts by the threads on her body.
“Why, why, Big Sister Elisa! What do you want!”
Yes, the one who turned the pool water icy cold and caused the Ancient Fire Elemental God to weaken to the point of death was Elisa.
“What did I do? I only used my Marauder to rob the Fire Elemental God of his powers. Arolaweiss, who is completely suppressed by the seal, to me, who is also of Fire Element belonging to the Chaos Faction, is a piece of delicious and nutritious fodder.”
“You... Impossible! That is way beyond the limits of your physical body! How can an ant eat an elephant?”
“Then, I would just have to eat a little bit of snacks to increase the capacity of my physical body.”
The mountainous winds cut at night. A cold gale blows and the dark clouds scatter slightly. The faint yellow lights of the luminescent algae shine down. It was a familiar face, yet it seemed slightly unfamiliar.
Half of her originally silky-smooth silver hair has been dyed a blood red color by the Fire Element. The other half of her hair had the additional smell of ice. Her icy cold face of previous days vanished without a trace. On her face which rivals with those of the seductive succubus is an even colder smile. It is the kind of brutal smile that looks forward to playing with its prey and slaughter it. The night wind blew apart her fringe, revealing the dim yellow narrowed pupils of a beast, the most distinguishing sign of a Demon.
At this moment, Elisa is no longer a Half-Demon. After letting go of herself to accept the calling of the Abyss, she is already a true Demon.
In an instant, Annie understood it all.
“Then, what about Kakajil’s heart which is placed in the nation storage vault? Did you take it too?”
A demon’s heart is the source of their power. Demons consume each other to evolve. In actuality, the thing that they eat is the other’s heart. In that war, Kakajil’s physical body was reduced into ashes, but its heart still remained, making it the most valuable of the spoils of war, thus it is kept in the nation vault.
“Yes. Although I stamped the Internal Affairs Bureau and the Supreme Court’s seal by myself, no one actually checked it and allowed me to simply walk into the vault. I spent a week to devour those 4 Demonic Hearts.”
No matter how much you try to prevent something from happening, an insider’s job is always hard to guard against. Who would have expected that the most probable successor to the Supreme Court and the Internal Affairs Bureau would actually steal the thing she was guarding?
Elisa’s Soul Imprint is very unique. It allows her to take away power that her body is able to bear. Kakajil, who scorches the land it walks on and was proficient in using shooting stars and fire rain kind of Forbidden Spell, is also a Fire Element Demon, another suitable nutritious fodder for Elisa.
Cold sweat trickles down Annie’s back. She also knows of the ability of Elisa’s Soul Imprint and the basic ability of Demons to consume each other to further their power is a perfect match with her Marauder. With these 2 together, even if Elisa couldn’t match up with Kakajil now, she wasn’t far off from him.
“It seems that you have finally got it? In order to sustain this state of mine without being driven off to another Dimension, it wasn’t really easy for me. Don’t force me to use my true strength, it wouldn’t be good for anyone.”
There was a hint of bitterness to Elisa’s smile. She finally attained the power she hoped of but the first person she had to use it on after obtaining it was actually against her own friends. This is really a kind of amazing irony.
After finishing her piece, she intended to leave like that. Since she got found out, it is best for her to hasten the speed of the devouring, perhaps opening the seal tonight to complete the devour.
“Like that, Uncle Bones will be upset!”
“Upset? She only treats me as his daughter, his younger sister. I don’t want that kind of upset.”
“Don’t be like that, Big Sister Elisa. There must be some other way, we can work it out together.”
Annie’s shout from her back made her stop. Annie thought that she was hesitating but what she was about to face was Elisa’s furious questioning.
“Annie Layde! What do you know! Do you think that everyone is as fortunate as you, destined to become a powerful expert? It took me nearly a century to reach my current level but you were able to stand at the same height as me despite not even being 20. If this goes on, give it another 20 years, after you fully merge with the Phoenix’s Heart, I would be even less of an opponent to you. Is this the difference between our talents and hard work?”
“You are a genius that everyone takes good care of. Everyone dotes on you, the Phoenix Inheritance waits for you, the Godsword Blessing of the Phoenix waits for you, the seat of the City Lord waits for you! As for me, what do I have? I only have that log-headed fool! Now, because of these darned calamities, he is about to leave me too!! I don’t have anything left... nothing left. Speak, how do you intend for me to accept such a reality.”
“Big Sister Elisa...” Mumbling, Annie really doesn’t know how she could reply.
“Do you know how it feels like watching the Light of Order shining down on you, bringing about your impending doom? Do you know it feels like to watch the person you love die again and again? I have had enough. I have had enough of this feeling of weakness and inability to do anything. I have had enough of standing behind that fool, watching him being wounded again and again. This time, I want to amass sufficient power to stand by his side, regardless where the power comes from! Regardless of whether this power is the evil in everyone’s eyes.”
Under Annie’s question, the icy cold emotionless mask finally shatters. All the emotions that she had been accumulating finally finds an opening to be released. Along with her furious howls that come from deep within her heart, tears start to fall from the young lady with clenched fists, but they turned into embers from the overflowing Fire mana within her, extinguishing in midair.
Seeing the tears of the other party, Annie stands up.
“Annie doesn’t understand, but Annie knows that if Big Sister Elisa goes into the world of Demons, Uncle Bones will be depressed. Annie doesn’t want Uncle Bones to be depressed, nor do Annie wants Big Sister Elisa to leave. Annie doesn’t want this kind of future. Annie just wants everyone to stay together happily, to have a future where no one has to shed tears!”
The flames of the Phoenix burn once again. The bloodline which turns one stronger the more they undergo has turned Annie into a human-shaped Phoenix. As the light of Rules light up, a Soul Imprint of the Order Faction finally forms. At this crucial moment, Annie.Layde successfully breaks through into the realm of Legends!
“The Watcher!”
The flames of the Phoenix turn into an insignia of a shield and bow crossing each other with clear eyes behind them. The insignia showed the nature of the Soul Imprint, to protect and to watch over.
Following afterwards, the faint image of a Phoenix burning in an inferno shows that she is definitely not any kind of normal Legend-rank. After breaking through this bottleneck, she immediately heads directly towards the next bottleneck and attempts to advance into the realm of Saints.
Before Annie could even make sense of her new-found power after breaking into the realm of Legends, a punch heads straight towards her face. The fearsome brute strength sent the Legend-rank Warrior flying. In the next moment, countless threads follow her and binds her again.
“Annie, let Big Sister teach you one final lesson. Without power, you can’t achieve anything. A kind will without power to back it up, it is just harming you yourself and those around you!”
Along with the rising flames, the new Demon Noble Elisa showcases her power. With a furious roar, the endless Phoenix Flames were absorbed by her.
Under the heavy blows of Elisa, Annie was unable to retaliate anyhow and faints. With the threads drawing power from her, the newborn Legend expert is probably going to be asleep for a long time.
At this moment, there is no longer anyone who is able to stop Elisa from completing her evolution through devouring Arolaweiss. When the future Demon Marquess walks out from the seal, 2 people were already waiting at the entrance. Annie, who was left hanging on the tree, was now lying peacefully in the embrace of a figure dressed in blue.
“Hey, Elisa.”
Still the same greeting without any consideration for the atmosphere. It seems as though the 3 of them have planned on this meeting together, Elisa and the 2 SemiGods weren’t in the least surprised by the other party’s presence.
“You two aren’t going to stop me?”
“Of course, everyone has the right to choose their own future. This is your choice, so why would be stop you? We are just here to send you off. It matters not whether you are Elisa or Lisa, at the very least, we were once friends.”
Squatting there and speaking unreliable words, Adam took out a handkerchief and waved to her to send her off. Immediately afterwards, the handkerchief with blue lilies stitched on it was immediately confiscated by Margaret, who was blushing bright red.
“‘Without power, you can’t achieve anything. A kind will without power to back it up, it is just harming you yourself and those around you!’ Although it is a bit extreme, you aren’t wrong. Annie should be able to accept it.”
Margaret was looking at Elisa with a face that is similar to how one would be delighted by their best apprentice was doing well in her career. While saying these words, she nods her head in approval.
Since they heard all these, it means that they had arrived long ago, just that they didn’t appear earlier. Shaking her head, Elisa didn’t say anything else. After all, some things are better left unexposed.
As the Demon Gate opens and Elisa was about to walk in, Margaret’s voice suddenly sounds out again, only this time, the usual coldness in her voice is absent and in its place is warmth.
“No matter what happens, Sulfur Mountain City is your home. If you suffer any grievances, you are welcomed back anytime.”
“I will be back. Roland that fool needs me.”
As the voice disappears as the Dimension Gate closes, leaving 2 SemiGods staring at each other.
“Looks like Elisa has finally found something within her. From my estimates, there is an 80% chance that Roland, being soft in his heart despite having a vicious mouth, would be unable to withstand her attacks. What do we do with Annie now? What about the thing you promised her?”
This time, it is time for Adam to look helpless.
“Initially, I intended to come with a last minute entrust. Before my death, I would hold Roland’s hand and say ‘promise me that you will marry Annie, otherwise I would be unable to die in peace’. Going by Roland’s personality, he would most probably agree to it on the spot. As long as he agrees to it, he would most probably carry out his promise. But, I didn’t manage to die so, why don’t we try it once again after Roland returns?”
Alright, it seems that Adam’s supposed preparations was actually just this. But, should it be said, as expected of Adam? It might seem nonsensical but he was able to accurately pinpoint on the vitals. If he were to really carry it out, there is a high possibility of it actually succeeding.
Looking at his foolish face, Margaret’s anger appears all at once.
“Nonsense! Do you believe that fool around this time, Roland will really kill you with a single blade. Forget it, let’s not bother anymore. Our child will find the one suited for her, let her settle it by herself.”
————–
“Alright, let me revive!! Right, there’s still Elisa! What happened to her! Also, who released the seal of the Fire Elemental God.”
There was no reply to my question once again. In the end, a piece of memory pierces through my mind, one that was left behind by Elisa.
That memory flashes through my brain and after that, I was silent for a long while.
“It is worth it?”
“Of course, you have asked something like that before. Do you remember it?”
I suddenly recall, that was when I told the plan to Elisa. This is how she asked me.
[“Master, to sacrifice so much, is it worth it?”
“Un, of course it is worth it. There can’t be rewards if we don’t sacrifice something. If we don’t change anything, what is awaiting this world is only destruction and calamity and I personally think that there is still a lot of things worth living for here.”]
But, the voice of a young lady suddenly projects out at this point.
“But, don’t be mistaken. I am not doing this for the world. I am just doing this for a log-headed fool. Remember, the world doesn’t owe me a favor, but you do.”
After being silent for a long time, I finally laughed.
“Fine, I owe you that. When you return, I will repay you back.”
“That’s more like it. I will help you look up news on Karwenz. That’s all. Recently, I have been really busy. Those Demon rascals, they betray me and conduct rebellions time after time again, they are even more deserving of a beating than you.”
Soon after, the silver ring darkens. It is difficult for a communication device to transcend dimensions. Based on the description by the system, this ring can only be activated a maximum of 3 times every day and the total time it is activated cannot surpass a minute. Seeing by how contact is made suddenly these 2 times, the word to activate this ring is probably ‘Elisa’.
At this moment, I solemnly jot down this favor I owe in my mind and turn my attention towards the System. In this instant, the System, in response to my request, has listed down all of the different types of physical body I could make.
[Normal Human’s Physical Body,
Strength: 10
Agility: 10
Stamina: 10
Intelligence: 27
Will: 19
Charm: 10
Race Talent: NIL
Lifespan: 60 years
Recommended Job: Any Job]
This Normal Human’s Physical Body is really not worth mentioning. Other than the Intelligence and Will stats that come along with the soul, the other stats are a mere 10 points. Furthermore, it has a short lifespan. Naturally, I wouldn’t choose it. However, the advantages that a Human possess is that it can choose any job and is able to move freely on the surface.
The difference in basic stats may not seem like a big thing at this point but as they grow, the gap in the basic stats and race talents will just grow bigger and bigger. This is the greatest disadvantage of the body.
The System also had quite the one-sided mind. It listed out more than 50 types of body but over half of them are just a white-tier physical body (No System Ranking) that I wouldn’t even consider. The ones that attracted me the most are naturally the few Golden Bloodlines listed at the very bottom.
[Son of the Ancient Red Dragon, Dragon Descendant
Strength: 19
Agility: 12
Stamina: 28
Intelligence: 25
Will: 17
Charm: 16
Race Talent: Dragon Form, Dragon Wings, Dragon Breath
Recommended Jobs: Mage, Warrior
Lifespan: 2000
Evaluation: Silver Pinnacle
System Notice: You can find Dragon Empress Einz Mezus to undergo the Dragon Form Ritual to gain her bloodline to turn into a true dragon. Considering your relationship with her, it isn’t hard to carry out this task at all. However, you would probably have to call her mum in the future.]
Although the System Notice really makes one at a loss of words, the power of the Red Dragon is not one to be underestimated. An Ancient Red Dragon is a Half-Diamond Bloodline. If they were to evolve into an Immemorial Dragon and obtain a Diamond Bloodline, their battle prowess would be even more reliable. Furthermore, after playing around as Lich for a long period of time, I have had enough of having a brittle physical body. The powerful physical body of the Dragon Tribe is indeed very attractive. But, the fall in the Intelligence and Will stats rather than increasing shows that this physical body has a negative impact on Intelligence.
However, considering that I would be heading towards Human civilization in the future, an obviously unorthodox species such as a Dragon Descendant isn’t very suited. I will only keep this in mind and consider it if there aren’t any better choices.
[The Immortal One, Man-made Physical Body
Strength: 12
Agility: 12
Stamina: 15
Intelligence: 30
Will: 20
Charm: 18
Race Talent: Immortality, Rapid Learning, Spellcasting Proficiency
Recommended Job: Mage (After that, Saint is recommended)
Evaluation: Hold
System Notice: There is no need talk about how this bloodline came about, it is definitely powerful. As it is the clone of a particular person, there might be some side effects, such as having the same outer appearance and skin color as the original, you understand. Now, if you were to call in, we will even send you a complimentary Margaret suit!]
Side effect? Similar skin color? I think even the face would look alike. A portion similar to her? I reckon that it will be identical, turning me into a woman. Trying to scam me? It won’t be that easy! A straight pass!
[The Divine Child of the God of Law, God Descendant
Strength: 12
Agility: 12
Stamina: 18
Intelligence: 27
Will: 17
Charm: 20
Race Talent: Son of Law (The speed which the Power of Law powers up at is increased by 100% and its effectiveness is heightened by 30%)
Recommended Job: The bunch of Law Jobs which you invented yourself
Evaluation: Gold
System Notice: Stop hesitating. This is the job most suited for you. Also, I would like to ask you, how does it feel being your own son?]
Alright, ignoring the darned notice once again, I am a little tempted by this physical body. However, this body of a God Descendant is obviously sided towards the Order Faction, which means I would have to split ways with Necromancy. This way, my [The Infallible Diffindor] would turn useless.
On this point, the weakest human is instead the strongest. They don’t have any inclinations towards any factions, they are able to undertake any jobs and they could utilize any power.
However, thinking of humans, I recalled the previous generations of the children of Order, reminding me of the 2 unique presents that Ayer gave me, so I immediately handed them over to the System.
After a long period of time, in the menu list of the System, 2 more physical body options appear.
[The Bloodline of the 1st Generation Child of Order (Royalty), God Descendant
Strength: 18
Agility: 18
Stamina: 20
Intelligence: 27
Will: 17
Charm: 20
Race Talent: War Angel Form
Evaluation: Diamond Bloodline
Recommended Job: Order Knight
System Notice: As expected of the ones favored by the Goddess of Order, powerful beyond the expectations. Order Knight is a basic job that System created based on this bloodline. It is able to use any Power of Order, including Law and Holy Light. It is definitely powerful. Perhaps, it might not be as powerful as the one below, but it definitely has limitless potential.]
Some things can only be seen through comparison. Without doubt, this bloodline is really overpowered. However, the Child of Order has the same weakness as the Child of Law, they aren’t able to tolerate Necromancy, causing negative effects on my Soul World.
On the other hand...
[The Bloodline of the 1st Generation Child of Chaos (Royalty), Devil Descendant
Strength: 22
Agility: 20
Stamina: 22
Intelligence: 29
Will: 20
Charm: 8
Race Talent: Sinful Devil God Form
Evaluation: Diamond Bloodline
Recommended Job: Chaos Witch King, Devil Knight
System Notice: Seriously overpowered basic stats together with a perfect physical body. Choose him and you will obtain endless power. Of course, if you were to accidentally reveal your Devil Bloodline, hehe, just hope that you can run fast enough.]
Other than charm, all of the basic stats are beyond 20. These are stats that are easily above that of the basic stats of Legend-rank experts. This physical body is really powerful beyond all imagination. However, it has the exact same problem as the one above, it is unable to tolerate Powers of Order.
Thus, I really hesitated. Without doubt, this choice is extremely important. But, no matter which one I choose, there would be regrets left behind.
“If only I can put the both of them together into one.”
How can there be such a wonderful thing in the world. Just by thinking about it, one would know that it is impossible. Thus, I shook my head but suddenly, the System rings out.
“It is possible, but Fate Points has to be paid for the physical bodies of both of the bloodlines.”
“What? If it is doable, why didn’t you say so earlier? Why didn’t you list it out?”
“You didn’t ask me.”
“Fine, stop the crapping, quickly list it out.”
[Bloodline of The Arbiter
Strength: 19
Agility: 19
Stamina: 19
Intelligence: 29
Will: 19
Charm: 19
Race Talent: War Angel Form, Sinful Devil God Form
Evaluation: Double Diamond Bloodline
Recommended Jobs: Order Knight/Chaos Witch King
System Notice: The bloodline of the Arbiter which lies on the border of both Order and Chaos doesn’t belong to any of the Factions and is also able to coexist with any of the Factions. The Bloodlines which came from the same source but yet are different created this miracle-like physical body. Perhaps, it can’t be said to be the strongest, but it definitely holds the greatest potential.]
Looking at this, I was delighted. However, I hesitated and asked a question which shows my lack of contentment.
“Since we are able to mix, then can we add a bit of Dragon Blood, Phoenix Blood and such to strengthen the toughness of the physical body? I can gather blood from them.”
However, the System’s reply was a bucket of cold water.
“Do you think that a mixed-breed dog would be more valuable than a pure-breed dog? This is the cloning of genetics to create a physical body, not creating a medicine. Excessive bloodlines would only cause the physical body to break apart. You would be fortunate if you just turned into a monster. This physical body is only possible as both bloodlines come from the same source but under a Creator God level God Powers, turned into 2 opposite kind of life, that’s why it is possible for them to merge together as one. This is a rare exception. However, you can try to collect 7 different colors of Dragon Blood and make a wish, see if it can become a rainbow-colored Dragon Bloodline. I will help you make a Mary Sue’s 7-colored long hair.”
TL: Mary Sue really not sure which show this is, I googled the Chinese word and this is the result I got.
Since that’s the case, then there’s nothing more to talk about. This would be it. However, going by my understanding of the System’s spirit to scam me, it would be weird if there is nothing wrong with the body. There is no mistake in being warier.
“What kind of deficiencies does this physical body has, just say it out straight.”
“This body, in order to maintain equality, must train in both Order and Chaos Power simultaneously, thus requiring one to invest a large amount of time and effort.”
“Double basic jobs? Order Knight/Chaos Witch King? This is a good thing. Or rather, is there other fatal flaws?”
Opening the introduction page to the System’s Job Introduction, I found out that Order Knight is just like the combination of both Holy Knight and Justice Knight while Chaos Witch King is the combination of Necromancer and Elemental Mage. These are all routes I have walked on before and thus, they are paths that suit me the best.
This double job isn’t separate. On the screen, the four skill trees intersect with each other, forming each other. The skills and abilities that I have learnt before are indicated by a gray mark on the skill tree. For example, [Ice Aeon] which is on the top of the Ice Magic skill tree and [The Infallible Diffindor] which requires all 4 classes to be at least of Legend-rank. At where the Necromancy skill tree and Ice Magic skill tree intersect, there are even combination techniques like [Summon Ice Lich].
“The growth rate of special classes is 1.5 times the difficulty of normal classes. However, going by the 2 times difficulty of a double special class and considering the slow physical body growth rate of a Double Diamond Bloodline, all in all, it is at least 3 times the difficulty of a normal human’s growth.”
Hearing this, I only felt joy. Isn’t it just 3 times experience penalty, what do I have to be scared about growing slightly slower? After all, I am able to use Fate Points in order to forcefully raise my experience bar.
Right now, problems outside here will keep coming one after another. Even if I don’t have enough points, I can just do a few more Epic Missions to earn them. I am not afraid of it growing slowly, I am just afraid that it will not turn out strong enough in the end.
“Alright, this will be it!!”
The physical body which has a sales price of a hulking 200000 Fate Points, after using the discount voucher, turned into 100000 Fate Points. Even so, the points that I earned so great difficulty only had 20000 remaining. It is difficult to earn money, but easy to squander it all in an instant.
Following the descend of light on my body, the familiar touch of a physical body brought comfort to me. I, Roland.Mist, is finally revived. Finally, I am a man once again. I finally have my little partner. I can finally openly whistle towards beautiful ladies!
As usual, my happiness wasn’t long-lived...
Very quickly, when I looked at my reflection by the dark river, a scream of agony is released once again.
“System! You actually scammed me again! One of these days, I will strike you!”
“You didn’t ask about it. Hehe, the motto of our service is that your dissatisfaction is our satisfaction, your unhappiness is our happiness, the one we are scamming is you! Thank you for your patronage, we will be looking forward to your return. Oh, and don’t forget to leave positive reviews!”
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