Steampunk: Sixth Era Epic

"What does it mean to have a special destiny?"

Shard inquired, and Miss Annette pointed at him:

"This is the simplest condition in the ritual because both you and I can do it. You are beyond destiny, while I..."

Miss Beyas subconsciously covered her eyes but promptly lowered her hands, replying with firmness,

"It's simpler than I imagined. If the price of gaining power is just one eye, I think I should have no problem."

The ritual required the sacrifice of one's own eye, thus it couldn't be replaced with something like a Demon Eye.

"But this type of sacrificial ritual to the deities, if it specifically requires your eye, I'm afraid it might not be possible to restore it afterward,"

Shard worriedly reminded her, having recently learned more about mysticism fundamentals. She was still only seventeen; this decision would impact her entire life.

"Detective, acquiring power always comes at a cost,"

Miss Beyas said through clenched teeth, her expression stern:

"I am determined to become The Chosen One, not because someone asked me to, but because I truly wish to.

I am not a particularly resolute person, but this power has been haunting me; it's a part of me. My heart, too, yearns to explore it. You aren't me, you can't understand that fate-like desire. In the dead of night, I often ponder about the power hidden within my soul and body; now I understand."

Both Shard and Miss Annette watched her, Miss Beyas's expression resolved:

"One eye in exchange for immense power seems an uncontroversial trade to me. Moreover, it's not necessarily irrevocable. But... Detective, should the sacrificed eye truly be irretrievable, I hope you won't find my face too..."

"Not at all."

"Hmm."

She nodded slightly and said no more.

Shard found it hard to comprehend her feelings at that moment, but if he were faced with such an opportunity to exchange an eye for the potential power of a Thirteen-Ring Sorcerer and extraordinary abilities, he, too, would probably accept it after some hesitation.

The acquisition of power always comes with a cost, and in this world, there are no free gains.

"So, for the enemy of destiny, Iluna, who will you choose?"

After waiting a while, and seeing that Miss Beyas's emotions had calmed down, Miss Annette finally asked.

"The Silver-Eyed One."

This answer was almost predictable, and the choice most appropriate. Such sacrificial rituals are not successfully performed with just any ordinary person.

"Don't worry about the eyes. Even if they truly can't be restored, I can use divination to find a treatment for you,"

Miss Annette said softly, causing Miss Beyas to smile at her:

"It's truly good to know you guys."

"Let's save such words for after you've successfully become The Chosen One,"

the Female Diviner said before picking up a gold coin. After the first divination, only two Blood Coins remained.

"May I use another one to divine the challenges I might face against the Silver-Eyed One?"

she asked Shard.

"Why ask me?"

"Aren't these Blood Coins the relics you won? They belong to you."

"Hmm?"

Only then did Shard understand her logic and nodded:

"These things have almost no positive effect on Circle Sorcerers like me; I wouldn't dare keep them myself, so go ahead and use them. But Miss Annette, does performing such consecutive divinations not burden you?"

Miss Beyas also thought of this and looked worriedly at the Female Diviner.

Noticing her companions' concern, Miss Annette gave a gentle smile:

"One of you is willing to sacrifice your eye, the other willing to sacrifice a precious Relic; how could I hold back? But it's okay, I'll just need to sleep a bit more after the divination."

"Alright then, but I'll use the fifth Blood Coin myself,"

Shard said, believing he felt no curse effects after using the Blood Coin probably due to the "Divine Afterglow."

Miss Annette did not refuse Shard, and only after the designs on both sides of the Blood Coin appeared did she take it from his hands.

After the purple glimmer disappeared from her eyes, the somewhat weary Diviner provided the answer:

"A Blood Coin offers limited information.

First, regarding the Silver-Eyed One, his current power is at most the level of Six Rings, and as he's severely injured and worried about losing control of his Relics, he doesn't carry many with him. The most dangerous are his eyes that made him famous; those eyes are Sage-Level Demon Eyes, and I can't provide specific details."

"I know that,"

Miss Beyas said, taking a deep breath to suppress her anger:

"The squad I was with at First Ring, was destroyed because of those Demon Eyes. The name of the Demon Eyes is 'Greedy Silver,' with both eyes being Demon Eyes. Their specific effect requires activation and a preparation period; maintaining the eyes' effect for a prolonged period is impossible.

During the effect duration, unless the person under their gaze immediately cuts off the already transformed part of the body, they will irreversibly turn into a pure silver statue... Irreversibly."

"How do we counter it?"

Shard asked.

"After that incident, the church specifically created a batch of amulet charms that can temporarily resist the effects of the Demon Eye. However, those are relics after all, and the charms can only resist for three seconds and can only work once."

"Three seconds is enough,"

Miss Annette said. Discover exclusive content at My Virtual Library Empire

"Very well, I will take responsibility for the charms, and this time I will not let him escape."

Miss Beyas took several deep breaths to calm her emotions.

Miss Annette continued,

"The passage leading to the deepest part of the ruins is blocked by three exceptionally dangerous relics. The one closest to the exit is a Keeper of Secrets Level Relic, Thousand-Eye Gargoyle No. 3765, an ancient alchemical product from the Fourth Era that has mutated. The surface is engraved with the manufacture number 3765, and it possesses dual attributes of stone and flesh.

Its combat power is extremely formidable, proficient in close combat and incantation abilities. After killing an enemy, it will seize their eyes and install them on itself, thus obtaining an almost unobstructed field of view."

"Do we need to confront it directly? Is the gargoyle equivalent to a magician of several rings?"

Miss Beyas asked.

"No, if we could only confront it directly, the 'Blood of Mercury' wouldn't possibly continue to occupy the ruins. Every time, sacrificing three pairs of human eyes from living persons will make the gargoyle temporarily abandon attacking living people. The eyes must be freshly removed."

But the 'Blood of Mercury' could brazenly do such things, which Shard and his companions couldn't.

"What about sacrificing a Demon Eye?"

Shard asked, frowning.

Miss Annette, having learned of the incidents that happened on Monday during the study meeting, also understood Shard's plans:

"Two Demon Eyes would keep it at bay for 48 hours, but the Demon Eyes would enhance the power of Thousand-Eye Gargoyle No. 3765. This relic is a rare kind that can continuously enhance its own power."

"Let's not worry about this for now, I have one Demon Eye, but we need another. Who among you can find one?"

Shard asked, not caring how precious the thing he offered was.

Miss Beyas raised her hand:

"As it happens, I encountered an incident last week where a Demon Eye went out of control, and I haven't managed to sell that eye yet, so I'll handle the second Demon Eye."

Miss Annette nodded:

"The second relic, a Keeper of Secrets Level Relic 'The Mirror Behind,' ineffective against ordinary people, is a rare offensive relic that affects magicians' 'other selves' below the Seventh Ring, causing almost irreparable damage to their 'other selves,' which is extremely terrifying. Once our 'other self' is injured, we also suffer severe damage."

Shard heard laughter, a woman's soft laugh near his ear, familiar to him.

"Can you?"

"I am you, Divine Afterglow has strengthened you and also me."

"No need to say more, I'll handle this,"

Shard raised his hand signaling.

The two ladies looked at him skeptically, and Miss Annette reminded him:

"Detective, this is no joking matter. That mirror could even harm a Thirteen-Ring Sorcerer, so you can imagine its danger. If not for the simplistic containment requirements, this relic's rating would definitely be higher than Keeper of Secrets Level. Most Sage-Level relics may not be more dangerous than this."

"No worries, I have it under control."

"But even if it's under control, it means, Detective, that you must join us deeper into the ruins,"

Miss Beyas said with concern:

"No one understands the situation in that ruin, and Miss Annette's divinations cannot see every corner, not to mention, once the Blood of Mercury discovers our intrusion, they will definitely send people into the ruins to intercept us."

"But aren't all actions bound to be not completely safe?"

Shard asked, knowing that inside the ruins was the 'God's Gift Box', which contained a gift from the Old God 'Creator of Innocence' for him, and the box could not be removed from the ruins, so he had to go no matter what:

"You don't have to worry about me dragging you down, when push comes to shove, perhaps I'll be the strongest among us."

Seeing him say so, Miss Annette and Miss Beyas no longer opposed.

"Then the last relic, this one is only of Scribe Level, 'Maze Candle.' It's not originally a guardian of the ruins, but placed there by the Silver-Eyed One. Once lit, it forms a large-scale illusionary maze in a confined space, and one needs to exit the maze to extinguish the candle,"

Miss Annette paused to give them a moment to think, then before the others spoke up, she shook her head and said:

"You don't have to worry about this one; I still have some influence in the Prophet's Society, and I can borrow a Compass-shaped relic when it's time to venture into the ruins, and I'll handle this candle."

"I have some friends in the church, and as a Church Ring Sorcerer, I can also apply to the church for permission to use relics, when the time comes, I can also get some good items,"

Miss Beyas also stated.

Shard didn't know many people, but he had one friend who would definitely not be stingy:

"I also have a friend, she is very eager to use the corpse of a Silver-Eyed One as bait. I can ask her for help, even if she doesn't agree to take action directly, she likely won't be stingy about providing some help."

He was referring to Miss Galina, now the Thirteen-Ring Sorcerer of the Sun Church in Tobesk; she likely wouldn't take direct action, but this Duchess had plenty of good items in her possession.