area51novel Chapter 206, page 205: Promotion! Great Power! Paradox!
Chapter 206, page 205: Promotion! Great Power! Paradox!
Chapter 206, page 205: Promotion! Great Power! Paradox!
The disaster caused by Herbo has subsided, but the volcanic eruption continues, with surging lava like a giant wave sweeping and engulfing everything in the vicinity of the volcano.
There were no wails, no cries of anguish, only the roar of the volcano echoing between heaven and earth. Had it not been for the divine protection of the sun god, perhaps no one in this vanished civilization would have survived to witness it.
The chanting for the departed souls gradually subsided.
All the priests were also bewildered.
"What should we do with the rest of us?"
A priest, his eyes filled with sorrow and his voice tinged with grief, spoke. He turned to the infinitely radiant sun god for help, who could only offer a sigh of comfort.
"Live on with the regrets of the departed." The power of the gods may be able to do many things, but they are powerless to change the inevitable fixed points in history.
Just as they could not prevent Ragnarok from coming.
sometimes.
Knowing is more agonizing than not knowing.
"Father, why isn't this little one awake yet?" The brute goddess kept checking on Ian's condition, circling the glittering Ian about ten times.
The little wizard kept her eyes closed, and the aura emanating from her body made her feel increasingly uneasy—like a rabbit facing its natural enemy, with an irresistible urge to flee.
"He will wake up when he's supposed to," the Sun God said, though he probably couldn't even tell when Ian would wake up. But he still had to put on a show and maintain his authority as a father.
The brute goddess had no suspicions.
She simply raised her hand and pried open Ian's eyelids. Ian's bright eyes flashed with images, filled with oppressive force, which frightened the brute goddess into quickly withdrawing her hand and taking a few steps back.
"That's really weird."
She couldn't help but mutter to herself.
Ian was unaware of what was happening in the outside world. His soul was undergoing a qualitative change, and the patterns in his mind were becoming clearer.
In the world of consciousness.
The previously blurry image gradually became clear, as if a thick fog was slowly lifted to reveal the essence hidden within. It was a profound and mysterious scene—two scarlet points suddenly lit up in the darkness like hellfire. The light was not dazzling, but it carried a captivating power.
"This is?"
Ian stared at the changing image, and he saw the crimson gradually materialize as it twisted—two eyes, cold and deep, filled with an ancient and unknown aura. They were eyes, and as time passed, the outline of the image became clearer, and a cold raven gradually appeared.
Its feathers were jet black, each one seemingly imbued with boundless, mysterious power, shimmering faintly in the darkness. Ian's breathing quickened. He could sense a mysterious aura flowing across the pattern, like an ancient authority, or the whispers of the beginning of the universe.
"Is this my legendary authority?" Ian could sense that the paradoxical authority that had flowed towards him earlier came from his now-clear legendary essence.
It was a power beyond reason, a domineering force representing "plunder" and "occupation," which was now flowing through Ian's thoughts and merging into his soul.
This is why Ian could sense the paradoxical authority.
The power that should have belonged to Helbo flowed like an invisible river from the raven pattern, through every inch of his flesh and blood, and finally gathered in his soul to become a part of him.
This feeling of plundering power is both strange and familiar, like being chosen by some ancient law of the universe, granted the supreme privilege of exploring taboos and rewriting rules.
"This is too incredible! Am I too supermodel or is the Legendary rank inherently supermodel?" Ian was shocked by his own situation, his emotions fluctuating like waves.
of course.
Now is not the time to ponder how powerful this authority is. Ian could sense subtle changes occurring in his body, soul, and even consciousness.
This is undoubtedly a transformation.
A transformation from the mundane to a higher level. In this process, Ian experienced a strange sensation of pain and pleasure intertwined like never before. His body felt as if it were being pierced by countless tiny needles simultaneously, every cell both rejoicing and enduring immense pressure.
perhaps.
A legend's normal lifespan is less than a thousand years. However, a legend will also have a lifespan and physique far exceeding that of an ordinary wizard. The arrival of this moment will ensure that the legend's body will no longer be a weakness.
"No wonder so many legendary wizards are both physical and magical!" Ian couldn't help but exclaim. He could sense that his body and magic were leaping forward during this advancement process.
Their thinking becomes more acute, enabling them to easily detect the most subtle changes in their surroundings, even the movement of dust particles in the air, without needing their eyes to perceive them.
The flow of magic within him was no longer in its previous state, but began to flow in an orderly manner he had never experienced before, as if every strand of magic had been given life.
They danced to a mysterious rhythm, as if performing a special ritual at all times, causing a change similar to "willpower" to arise within the magic. This would amplify the effects of magic like never before, allowing more spells to unleash unimaginable results.
"The difference between a legendary wizard and an ordinary wizard is truly like heaven and earth."
It was at this moment that Ian truly understood the weight of a legendary wizard. The reason why legends transcend the mortal realm is precisely because they are no longer ordinary mortals.
The same magic can have vastly different effects in the hands of a legend versus an ordinary person.
The existence of legends transcends the limitations of common sense; their power is no longer subject to ordinary rules, but rather approaches that of the gods high above, residing in the clouds.
Although they lack divinity, their magic is beginning to approach divine power. This makes legendary wizards more than just enhanced power; their magic is a kind of understanding and control over the rules.
"I see."
Ian finally understood why simply increasing his magic power couldn't elevate him to legendary status.
The path to legend is not merely about accumulating magic, but also about the continuous exploration and understanding of the essence of the world. This inevitably requires one to integrate oneself into this world and leave an indelible mark.
That is, the so-called "story".
This stage.
Take another step forward.
This is the ascension to godhood that legendary wizards like Helbo dream of—of course, there may be more than one option.
The real world.
Ian slowly opened his eyes. The light emanating from him gradually subsided, and his heart reached a state of calm. He knew that he had completed his transformation from mortal to legend.
starting today.
He has left his mark on history.
"Huh! She's awake!"
The impulsive goddess immediately rushed to Ian's side, shamelessly pinching his cheek. "The feel hasn't changed. Are you really a legendary wizard now?"
"This is the first time I've witnessed the birth of a legendary wizard." Her tone was tinged with emotion; as a young goddess, she still had many first-time experiences to enjoy.
"Then you're in luck. I will be the most incredible legend you've ever seen." Ian saw the Sun God not far away, who was looking at him with a complex gaze.
"What do you mean?"
The brute goddess was somewhat surprised.
"Mutation, I've mutated." Ian wasn't telling the truth, but he couldn't exactly lie either. He walked to the only cliff near the volcano that still had green vegetation.
The sun god's divine power protected this place very well, and the people didn't even feel the terrifying heat. Otherwise, everyone would probably have turned into perfectly cooked jerky just from enduring the heat of the volcanic eruption.
"To be honest, I don't quite understand this situation either."
Ian stood on the edge of the cliff, the wind rushing in from all directions, carrying the pungent smell of sulfur and scorching ashes, lashing against his face, his wizard robes fluttering in the wind.
The city below the mountain is gone. The once bustling streets and towering buildings have been swallowed by the scorching lava. The fiery red river meanders through the landscape, turning everything in its path to ashes. Thick smoke billows up, obscuring half the sky, with occasional flashes of fire within the smoke, like the eyes of hell peering down on the world.
"Do you need me to share your divine position and take things a step further?" The brute goddess was also a kind-hearted person, which was of course related to her contractual relationship with Ian, where they would suffer the same fate together.
I don't think so.
Ian decisively chose to refuse.
His response left the brute goddess utterly astonished.
Any wizard faced with such an opportunity would likely find his decision difficult to understand. However, Ian had his reasons for making this choice.
Faced with the naive goddess's suspicious gaze, as if Ian had lost his mind due to a "high fever," Ian smiled gently, "Becoming a legend has suddenly given me a new perspective on the future."
"I think that Merlin, a thousand years ago—no, a thousand years later—had the same ambition as Helbo. Who doesn't want to become a god? The most brilliant wizard among us probably felt the same way."
"But... is this really correct?" Ian's tone was somewhat doubtful, as if he were asking the goddess beside him for advice, but more like he was thinking to himself.
"How is that wrong? It must be like this. Merlin, I know him. He's desperate to become a god, but he doesn't have your luck. He can't meet a generous god like me who loves to share."
The brute goddess gave Ian a look of disdain, as if he were a disappointment in her. What she feared most was that the little wizard would die of old age, and she would inevitably become a short-lived god along with him.
This is the main reason why she was willing to share her divine position.
"In my time, Merlin was an unattainable mountain, a figure that all wizards could only look up to. Now, I stand in the same position as him."
"If he truly desires to become a god, as you say, then perhaps I have already seen a possibility that he has not seen." Ian's gaze was fixed on the scene of destruction.
His pupils reflected the raging fire.
"Speak in a language that humans, no, speak in a language that God can understand."
The brute goddess rolled her eyes.
"It means I want to continue down the path of a wizard, I firmly believe..." Ian slowly raised his right hand, his five fingers spread, his palm facing the burning ruins.
His movements seemed effortless, yet they carried an air of mystery and pressure.
"A landscape no one has ever seen before lies before me." Ian's tone and movements were unhurried, and his gleaming wand seemed to contain the power to change the world.
All I saw was...
With a gentle flick of the young wizard's finger, an invisible yet powerful wave emanated from his body. The wind abruptly stopped, and the ash filling the air seemed to solidify under an invisible force, hovering in mid-air. An invisible power began to spread throughout the world.
That was the power of paradox, a mysterious force that transcended time and space and challenged the laws of nature. In the right hands, it began to unleash a power that Herbo never dared to dream of.
next moment.
The wind suddenly grew even stronger, emitting a mournful howl.
"Boom!"
The enormous commotion resounded throughout the heavens and the earth.
The sky and earth suddenly changed color, and the deep red volcanic ash that was spewing up above was torn apart, as if the universe was issuing a final warning, roaring and trying to interfere with Ian's arrogant act of defying nature.
"What are you doing?"
The goddess swallowed hard, her golden robes billowing in the wind, her eyes filled with confusion. On the other side, the sun god, seeing this, trembled slightly and looked astonished.
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"you……"
He wanted to raise his hand to stop him.
But it was too late.
"I am proving that wizards are capable of anything."
Ian ignored the warnings from heaven and earth.
The power of paradox is fully unleashed at this moment.
"Since this is my story, I prefer real fairy tales."
Ian whispered.
His gaze remained calm.
The apocalyptic catastrophe continues, but he has presupposed an outcome.
then.
Everything that happens during that process begins to lose its meaning.
……
Bright sunlight streamed down the wide street, the marble pavement reflecting a dazzling light. Shops lined both sides of the street, and vendors called out their wares loudly.
The air is filled with the aromas of fresh bread, spices, and wine. The residents of the old city, dressed in brightly colored robes, bustle about in the market, leading their busy lives.
Laughter and conversation mingled into a lively symphony—this once glorious city is now brimming with life, as if time has flowed back to that prosperous era. In the square where the crime occurred yesterday, fountains splash, children chase and play, and artists play the harp.
The singing was melodious.
Amidst this thriving scene, Ian stood in the shadows of an alley, carrying the unconscious Malfoy on his shoulder and holding Riddle, who was tightly bound by magical ropes, in his hand.
Since regaining consciousness, Riddle has been as obedient as Neville. Even when Ian tied himself up like a sausage, he chose to tie the knot with his own mouth.
Who would have thought this was the unruly Tom?
"You're a complete lunatic."
A sigh came from behind. Ian turned around and saw the brute goddess leaning against the wall, arms crossed, her eyes filled with a mixture of lingering fear and admiration.
"This is not just transgression, it's a desecration of nature." She vividly remembered Ian's actions yesterday, an attempt that no one would dare to even consider.
No one can afford the cost of failure.
Such behavior almost certainly dooms the company to failure.
But then... another miracle occurred, a miracle even greater than a divine miracle.
"Perhaps, at least the city is still alive, and the ending of my story must satisfy me." Ian was panting heavily as he spoke. This was certainly not the physical condition a legend should have, but it was the weakness of a wizard who was somewhat depleted and overdrawn. Even so, Riddle didn't dare to move his eyes at all.
"Let's go back, let's go back quickly." He missed Hogwarts terribly and longed to return to his home, Azkaban, where he felt he could only find the peace he craved.
"Don't rush, it's almost here. I can already feel the call of time." Ian looked behind the brute goddess, where Cassandra, dressed in a simple white dress, was gazing at him with eyes full of fanatical worship.
"My Lord, are you leaving?" The little girl looked up at Ian with reluctant eyes. Her eyes were like clear lake water, and her delicate face held a faith more faithful than any fanatic.
"Of course, I don't belong here." Ian chuckled and gently ruffled Cassandra's hair. He still felt quite attached to the first person he met in this era.
after all.
Who wouldn't love a child who treats them like a god?
Will we ever meet again?
Cassandra mustered her courage and asked.
His eyes were full of reluctance.
"We'll meet again, we definitely will." Ian gently stroked Cassandra's brow, where the once dull raven claw mark had been transformed into a dazzling gold by his touch.
Every story has an ending.
The guidance from the future began to appear. Unlike when he first felt this power, Ian could now clearly sense the power of time enveloping him.
The torrent of time is rushing toward him, a force he cannot resist or escape.
"See you in two thousand years." The brute goddess has now regained her mature and sophisticated aura. She can clearly feel this power as well. Leaning against the wall, she smiles and waves to Ian.
See you in two thousand years.
Ian's expression was somewhat complicated, and he hesitated to speak. In the end, he did not choose to tell the brute goddess about her situation two thousand years later, which turned her into a skeleton who had lost her memory.
A dazzling light shone forth.
As the light faded, Ian, carrying Malfoy and dragging Riddle, disappeared from the spot. Cassandra stared blankly at the place where Ian had vanished, her expression melancholy.
The same goes for the brute goddess.
However, the two of them are definitely thinking different things.
"It's time to go back."
The sun god reappeared silently.
He issued a stern command to his daughter.
"Yes, Father."
The brute goddess slowly withdrew her gaze.
"I haven't had a chance to ask him what kind of scenery he saw on his path after becoming a legend," the brute goddess sighed with some regret.
She still finds it hard to believe that history has actually been rewritten.
"Didn't he say he's still a wizard?" The sun god seemed unfazed by this, but his eyes flickered, his expression was serious, and his voice carried a complex feeling.
"A wizard cannot do all this, nor can you or any of the other gods." The brute goddess, however, felt that Ian was not telling the truth. There was nothing she could do; her understanding made it difficult for her to accept such an answer.
"But he did it, didn't he?"
The sun god looked around, showing a rare display of patience.
"Yes, that's why I can't understand it." The brute goddess wanted to ask her father, the great sun god, for she felt she would never forget yesterday.
"You only see the surface and not the essence, so of course it's hard to understand, child. You need to learn to use your brain. Your brain shouldn't just be a decoration."
The sun god clearly also has a sharp tongue.
There was a sense of disappointment and frustration.
"What is its essence?"
The brute goddess still looked bewildered. Perhaps her god-like super brain was telling her that the fastest way to get the answer was to ask her father.
"That's the essence of his words." The eyes of the sun god reflected the entire bustling city, and He also passed this vision on to His daughter.
"Child, the ancient gods have awakened."
"He is putting his beliefs into practice, using facts to prove the truth he firmly believes in—that wizards are the true gods, while you and I, and all the other gods in the sky, are nothing but... false gods."
The sun god sighed softly.
"In his eyes, this is what he considers scenery."
He spoke in a low voice.
It revealed the contempt He had sensed in the young wizard he knew...
(End of this chapter)