Sorcerer’s Handbook

"In that case," Gwen mustered her courage and said, "why don't you just-"

"This catastrophe is definitely related to Silver Lantern. Ashe is right below; he's certainly thinking of a way to solve it. Raven, Harvey, and the others must be rushing over too-maybe they have a plan." Igor said, "I told you, I know what you're thinking. Don't think that just because you can be my assistant, you can take it upon yourself to make decisions for me."

"But I'm just your captive," Gwen said. "You don't have to-"

"Because you still have value to me, just like Raven and Chikara," Igor replied coldly. "Haven't you noticed? The three of you are all shackled by heavy chains. Chikara is bound by a Pact, Raven by the friendship Ashe offered him, and you… Did you really think I don't know you like me?"

"When we chat, you've also heard Ashe say that we were once cellmates in the same prison. The funny thing is, we were all imprisoned for manipulating others-Harvey for dominating the dead, Ashe for dominating disciples through religion, and me, for being a Con Artist who played with feelings."

"People like you used to be way down in my contacts list-at least number thirty or later. It's just that here in Senlo, where everything is unfamiliar, and since you have some use, I spent a little bit of effort on you." The Con Artist continued, "All those casual concerns, the sudden coldness, the compliments, the impatience-every bit of it was just a way to make you fall for me."

"I just never thought it would be this easy. When it comes to relationships, you people of Senlo are as naïve as your fantasies about the stars. Nothing is a better shackle than affection-I only need to touch the softness in your heart, and you'll loyally serve me till the end."

"So I will save you." Igor coughed, then laughed coldly. "Because even after hearing all this, you still won't want to leave me. How could I possibly let such a useful slave go? At least serve me for ten years."

A wave of piercing pain shot through his head. Just now, Igor had silently used several Mental spirits to make his words sink deep into her heart. But his severe injuries seemed to be affecting his soul as well. His spellforce was recovering so slowly that even this simple Mental enchantment pushed his spellforce dangerously close to the brink of unconsciousness.

"You really didn't have to say such hurtful things," she said softly. "I never wanted love from you."

Igor was momentarily stunned.

"Besides, you said that after a month and a half together, I have no secrets from you. But Mr. Igor, you're actually easy to understand too." She sniffled and smiled. "Though I'm a little sad, I can still hear your goodwill. Compared to the anger and hatred you want me to feel, this goodwill gives me far more courage."

"But… not everything can be solved just by trying hard." Gwen turned her head, watching the rain of people falling through the cracks above. "This must be the real Doomsday… I just saw sanctuary sorcerers and legendary sorcerers-they're fighting even harder than me, but sometimes you just can't do it, no matter how hard you try."

"I've always been like this-even when I grit my teeth and want to do something, I always fail in the end." She glanced at the battered Igor. "If I'd known, you should've let me be the bait earlier. That was the only time I had to stake my life, but you protected me again."

"Next time, the time after that, and the time after that, there will be plenty of chances for you to repay me," Igor said. "No one can owe a Con Artist."

Suddenly, Gwen breathed rapidly and trembled all over, but still forced a smile. "I'm honored."

"Don't be stupid!" Igor shouted. "For all you know, Ashe might-"

"But before that, your blood will run dry first." She raised the dagger and ran it along her arm. Igor's blood flowed onto the blade, filling the gap marked with Gwen's name.

"I don't know why, but Mr. Igor, you seem unaffected by Doomsday. That's really great."

Gwen pointed the dagger at her own wrist.

"Actually," tears welled up in her eyes, her lips trembling, her face full of fear and unease, "I really wanted to visit other Kingdoms and see if the real starry sky is just as beautiful…"

She sniffled, her eyes brimming with tears as she looked at Igor, both crying and smiling. "If you ever see the stars, remember that someone owes you a debt that can never be repaid."

The moment Gwen pressed the dagger to her wrist, Igor suddenly coughed up a mouthful of blood, even spitting out fragments of his own organs. He couldn't hold on any longer and let go. Gwen seemed almost relieved as she plunged into the abyss below.

"Little Trumpet!" Igor cursed in Ashe's signature style and, dragging his wounded body, leapt in after her!

He wasn't jumping blindly-he could still unfurl his virtual wings and accelerate. Within three seconds he caught up and grabbed Gwen, desperately flapping his virtual wings to pull her up! But the fall was unstoppable, especially with Igor's body battered and broken; his desperate effort could only slow Gwen's descent a little.

The two of them, like fallen Angels, embraced as they plunged into hell together.

Yet Gwen stared at him in horror, stammering, "This is too dangerous, you should-why would you go this far?"

Yes, Igor wondered the same-why would he go so far? What he'd just said wasn't a lie. Back in Dead City, he'd noticed Gwen's feelings for him, which was why he played along, showcasing his real skills as a Con Artist and successfully gaining a first-rate tool.

That was his usual work under the Blood Moon. In fact, he'd understated it earlier-his contacts list had at least a hundred regulars, ninety percent of them women. It wasn't just about money; a lot of it was about acquiring Intelligence and gathering information. Emma, for instance, was just a needle he'd wanted to plant in Sin Hunter's Hall.

He took Gwen mainly to use her intelligence network within the Four Pillars Cult. However, Gwen was so considerate that Igor half-heartedly let her become his assistant; otherwise, he would have driven her away long ago.

It's like picking up a flyer with boring colored pencil drawings on the front saying 'I like you.' So the Con Artist uses the blank back page to scribble and doodle, making use of waste. Now that the flyer is crumpled and useless, why not just throw it away? Why bother retrieving it from the trash?

Like her? Impossible. Igor could take a stroll down the commercial street and bring back a dozen women like Gwen; how could he possibly like her?

Reluctant to let go? He had a hundred contacts, changing sixty of them every month. Others couldn't meet beauties as fast as he could switch people.

Igor didn't know why he rushed forward, but before he could think, his body already understood. He was sure that his past self wouldn't have acted this way; perhaps he would have given up the moment he saw Gwen fall.

His past self wouldn't care about a woman's life or death.

His past self wouldn't act before thinking.

His past self wouldn't feel sadness.

He used to mock Senlo people for loving and hating chaotically, yet he turned out to be just as chaotic… When did he become like this?

"Perhaps it's because," Igor whispered, "I often gazed at the starry sky when I was a child."

Gwen looked at him blankly, pursing her lips, tears welling up. After a sob, she broke into a radiant smile and asked, "I heard the most beautiful scene is the starry sky reflected in the sea, where two separate entities meet?"

"Yes," Igor nodded, "Starlight is the sea's Dream."

"Starlight is the sea's Dream…" Gwen murmured, then suddenly widened her eyes and looked at Igor nervously, leaning closer. Igor didn't dodge, but Gwen lightly kissed the corner of his mouth and retreated.

"Starlight is the sea's Dream," she smiled, "and you are my journey."

Igor suddenly felt the weight in his arms drop drastically. He tried to hold onto something, but could only feel water slipping through his fingers.

He stared blankly at the seemingly bottomless crevice Abyss, standing there like an idiot, not knowing what he was waiting for.

But soon, intense pain, dizziness, tinnitus, and weakness in his limbs erupted within Igor, making him unable to distinguish up from down. It felt like hundreds of excavators were working in his mind, his body heavy as if filled with lead, and his eyelids stubbornly wanting to close.

With the last bit of willpower, knowing he couldn't fall, he flew around like a blind fly.

After crashing into walls several times, someone suddenly grabbed him by the nape and hoisted him onto their shoulder.

Using the last bit of strength, he opened his eyes, a hint of confusion and amazement flashing through them, but ultimately he closed them peacefully.

Silent Spiral, eighteenth layer.

"Have too many people died?"

The dove's voice was like a thunderbolt, waking Ashe and Vesser from their healing.

Since the Doomsday crevice opened, the three deities had stopped paying attention to other matters, quietly watching the rain of people falling from the crevice, yet doing nothing.

"Yes," Fire Cat replied, "Too many have died."

"If this continues, will everyone die?"

"They probably will."

"If everyone dies, then the Chasm Sovereign won't die," the dove said. "That's not good."

Fire Cat and Bluebird nodded, "Not good."

"So we can't let more people die."

"Right, no more dying."

The three deities glanced at the crevice on the ground, and the dove asked, "Can we do it?"

Fire Cat asked, "Can we do it?"

Bluebird replied, "We can do it."

The discussion ended, and the three deities stood together, each displaying a unique posture: the dove squatted on the ground, its feathered robe spreading like wings; Fire Cat crouched on all fours, resembling a cat; Bluebird stood with arms raised like wings.

In an instant, the deities' aura erupted completely. Not only spirits but even Ashe and Vesser, two legendary sorcerers, had to bow their heads, unable to face the deities' might!

Boom-

With the full exertion of the three deities, the entire forest suddenly turned into a sea of fire, and tsunamis surged from the distant ocean! But most astonishingly, the narrow crevice leading to the Virtual Realm seemed to be pressured by immense power, slowly closing! Though the speed was slow, it was indeed closing!

The three deities could actually seal the crevice and prevent Doomsday!?

Ashe and Vesser felt their hearts rise and fall dramatically, but before they could show joy, they saw a shadow attacking the three deities!

"Specter Seer!"

Ashe instantly shot out the Heart Sword to threaten Vichy, roaring, "What are you doing!?"

"Really? Is this hard to understand? Do I have to explain?"

Specter Seer Vichy retreated into the burning forest, shrugging, "But given your great achievements, I'll explain. Now, you have triggered Doomsday-"

"It's you!" Vesser nearly ground her teeth to dust, "You controlled us!"

"Alright, it's me. In short, after Doomsday descends, the three deities will actively seal it to kill the Chasm Sovereign, and during this time, they won't be able to attend to the outside world. And this is the opportunity I've been waiting for, a once-in-a-millennium chance."

Vichy beamed with joy, spreading his arms like a conductor at a concert, "The opportunity to hunt deities."