When the plot-skips players into the game world - Chapter 1074 - : 410: let's perish together

Chapter 1074: Chapter 410: Let’s Perish Together

On the other side, when Aleister reappeared again.

She was back atop the clocktower, just as she had been when she first entered this scene.

At this moment, the clocktower remained intact, but the surrounding buildings bore the scars of bombardment. Comparing this with the image still etched in her memory underscored better what this city had been through.

However…

“…Doesn’t seem like it was bombed that badly,”

Aleister remarked sharply.

Although many buildings had collapsed, one could still make out the outline of the original complexes. More than seventy percent of the buildings with intact structures remained standing, with only the tallest skyscrapers having vanished. Surprisingly, the shorter residential houses and shops were almost unscathed, and even the streets hadn’t been blasted apart.

Looking around, this clocktower had already become the tallest structure in the city.

—-Rather than being blown up by ground-launched missiles or something similar, it appeared more akin to a barrage of meteors striking obliquely from above. So the higher structures were the ones that bore the brunt of the impact first.

“…What a surprise.”

Aleister gazed up at the violet-red sky, her expression a blend of satisfaction and excitement.

A faint violet halo flickered in her pupils, giving her scarlet irises a hue strikingly similar to the sky itself.

She murmured in a low voice: “I thought they’d go for the Fallen Celestial Marshal or the Shadowy Celestial Marshal instead…”

…But then again, maybe not.

After all, there was another possibility–they didn’t recognize the “Endless Knot.”

They had descended precisely on August 8th, and “Eight” happened to be the holy number of the Serpent Father and the Endless Knot. If they could acknowledge today’s date, it would be easy to infer the intelligence that “the Serpent Father has perished.”

Though for most people, they couldn’t possibly know that the Serpent Father’s true reason for abdicating was his attempt to break through the Wall of Dusk… But as one reaches the strength of Fourth Level ascending to Fifth, at the very least the upheaval in “royal authority” should indeed be common knowledge. If the Silver-Crowned Dragon of old could replace the Supreme Heaven, then a new Pillar God replacing the Serpent Father wouldn’t be unthinkable.

Especially for those ascendants who had already run through the previous two paintings.

The first painting depicted the elevation of the Banquet Master. The three possible conclusions to the second painting respectively illustrated the Silver-Crowned Dragon’s ascension, the Eternal Self’s ascension, or the joint ascension of the Winged Celestial Marshal and the Lord of Scalefeather. Even abiding by the “same tone,” the third painting should inherently involve the succession of the Pillar Gods.

But if they weren’t meticulous about advancing the storyline and failed to grasp the identity of the “Endless Knot”…

…Then in the eyes of most ascendants, the Endless Knot, neither counted among the Nine Pillar Gods nor titled as a “Celestial Marshal,” would be considered at best an Angel Envoy.

They voted for the Endless Knot precisely because they were betting on the simplest ending!

This wasn’t an act of courage… but of cowardice instead.

“How fascinating,”

Aleister couldn’t help but burst into laughter: “Choosing to flee with timid hearts, yet ending up stepping into the most arduous of rivers.

“Is this fate? To present the weak with insurmountable adversaries, to leave cowards no roads to escape…”

Still, to oppose the Serpent Celestial Marshal… that’s a bit too outlandish for a Fourth-to-Fifth energy level ascension ritual.

What could a group of Fourth Level ascendants possibly manage?

—-Fight a Celestial Marshal? For real?

An ascension ritual is never designed with unsolvable main tasks. The very existence of such a task guarantees it’s theoretically achievable, meaning all three endings of the third painting must be completable.

However, this painting awarded the highest points and posed the greatest difficulty.

Combat was more than likely to occur here.

…Even if the Serpent Celestial Marshal descended, at most, they’d only end up battling the minor creatures summoned by the Celestial Marshal.

For Aleister, battle was never a concern.

She lived by three words alone–Fight! Thrill! Victory!

Aleister eagerly anticipated the Serpent Celestial Marshal’s descent, simply because she couldn’t stand its cryptic nature any longer.

She longed for a straightforward confrontation where she could question the Serpent Celestial Marshal directly–Are you planning to devour me? Has my life been manipulated by you?

—-If that’s the case, then let’s declare war!

Never would she submit!

No matter the cost, she would fight; even if utterly defeated, she would tear off a chunk of its flesh. If its supposed “grand scheme” required both Aiwass and Aleister to exist, and if even the Pillar Gods couldn’t save them…

Then she’d rather go out in a fiery blaze than let its plan succeed.

One who harbors reservations invites oppression.

To instill fear, one must desire nothing, defy all taboos. Only with such ruthlessness, when the other party grasps that she truly dares to die together with them… would they back down and negotiate sincerely.

Just then, Aleister heard the sound of footsteps rising from below.

Someone was ascending the spiral staircase inside the clocktower, step by step.

The Night Fiend, which had taken the form of a raven perched on the railing, immediately took flight, turning along with Aleister to face the intruder.

“–I mean no harm.”

It was a woman’s voice: “May I come up?”

“…Come up then.”

Aleister smirked slightly and replied coldly.

When she’d first heard the footsteps, she actually thought it was Aiwass coming to find her.

They had not yet separated at that time; they were both Aiwass.

Aiwass had been here, standing with Isabel, watching Yanis paint her final work before departing Avalon.

For Aiwass, Aleister, and Isabel, this clocktower carried unique significance.

Before long, a middle-aged woman raising both her hands in a non-threatening manner slowly emerged at the top of the stairs.

She appeared to be in her thirties, wearing a simple black ponytail and a modest, conservative women’s suit.

Though her physical appearance could only be described as that of a slightly older young woman, as an alchemist capable of concocting youth-retention elixirs, her actual age must have been much higher. She bore the poised, approachable yet polished demeanor reminiscent of a government official, accented with gold-framed glasses… she seemed less of a scholar and more like a courteous lawyer.

“…A royal court alchemist, is it?”

Seeing it wasn’t Aiwass who’d come, Aleister lazily drawled, interest fading somewhat: “What brings you here?”

“No, I just thought… this clocktower might hold the key.”

Princess Noel spoke softly: “I heard from Laro that you are Aleister Crowley… the hero who killed the Red Chancellor.

“I am Noel Valentine. Thank you.”

Saying this, she bowed deeply toward Aleister.

Realizing this newcomer wasn’t here for a fight, Aleister completely lost interest.

She waved dismissively: “Whatever, suit yourself… that Old Dog was a real man. For his sake, I won’t lay a hand on you. You can stay here if you want, but I wouldn’t recommend it.”

“Because the enemies will emerge from here afterward, correct?”

Princess Noel suddenly interjected.

Aleister looked at her with slight surprise.

Yet Noel continued: “Every tall building in this city has been destroyed except this clocktower, which remains wholly intact without a single sign of bombing. It’s conspicuously abnormal at first glance. If it doesn’t contain some kind of critical artifact, then it must’ve been chosen by the organizer as our final battleground. Since there’s clearly nothing here, it can only be the latter.”

“…What, you have a death wish?”

Aleister sneered, her demeanor shifting from what it had been in the preparation room to one of sharp ridicule: “Do you even know who you’ll be facing? If it really comes to a fight, don’t count on me to protect you.”

For some reason, a wave of unease and irritation surged within her.

An inexplicable fury made her clearly more irritable.

But the Princess spoke calmly: “I’m not here to court death.

“On the contrary–I’ve come in search of *courage*.”

In her mind, she replayed the final words spoken by the Sun:

“–You seek courage, don’t you?”

“–Then I shall grant you courage.”

Now, I possess courage, Noel thought.

But I need even more courage, enough to face any adversity.

This is a trial–and I will emerge victorious.

“…Hmph.”

Aleister snorted coldly, but her tone softened a little.