Sword of Dawnbreaker

Chapter 716 - 715: The Defied Ghost

Gawain knew that behind the Oblivion Association, there was definitely the shadow of the Defiers, because the "great evolution" they executed was clearly an extension of the defied Plan from back then.

But he never expected that "shadow" to be two elves.

He had always thought that the members of the defied Plan were only humans.

"They were once elven scholars employed by the Gondor Empire, and it’s been like this since a thousand years ago. At the same time, they were also members of the Holy Spirit Druid Sect... at least openly," Beltira continued, "When the impact of the Ancestral Peak occurred, they vanished from the sight of the sect members. I even thought they, like the other crazy cult followers, had rushed into the Gondor wasteland, but years later, they suddenly reappeared and revealed their true identity.

"At the same time, they also brought the defied Plan."

Gawain looked at Beltira: "Undoubtedly, given your situation at the time and the mindset after being subjected to the ’divine impact,’ the defied Plan must have been a very great shock to you."

"Not just a very great shock..." Beltira slowly shook her head, "We were inspired by this grand, almost tragic plan, awed by the wisdom and courage of our predecessors. We were miserable wretches crushed by the malice of the gods, yet in our most desperate despair, we suddenly saw a glimmer of light lit by other rebels. We couldn’t refuse the technology and ideas they brought."

"... The defied Plan indeed was the greatest self-rescue action in human history, but mortals are always prone to mistakes. Just as you said earlier, the long passage of time and stubbornness led everything off track," Gawain said with some emotion, "Not all the Defiers persevered, and you were very unfortunate to have encountered those who deviated from their original intentions."

Beltira did not make a response, perhaps because she didn’t know how to respond at this moment.

Any argument is powerless in the face of facts; the scorched earth of the Eastern Region of the Spirit Plain and this giant "Sorin Giant Tree" is the final answer to the centuries-long efforts and persistence of the Oblivion Association — a brutal conclusion, yet irrefutable.

But in Gawain’s heart, doubts arose instead:

The Elven Twins, who once participated in the defied Plan, set aside racial differences and stood shoulder to shoulder with humans against the gods, faced the chaotic wave that destroyed the Gondor Empire, and passed on the key technologies and ideas of the defied Plan to the Oblivion Association after a millennia of trials... Was their purpose merely to stir up such a disaster in Anzu?

Though the Artificial God is terrifying, Gawain knew well that it had not reached a level untouchable by mortals. Even without the Cecil Legion, even if it could destroy all of Anzu, it could not destroy Typhon, nor the Silver Empire.

As a conspiracy schemed for millennia, this ending seemed rather anticlimactic.

He could not comprehend what exactly the Elven Twins named Fyrna and Lelena intended to do.

Perhaps Veronica might know? After all, being ancient Defiers as well, they might have been acquainted...

Gawain shook his head, temporarily jotting down the new points of doubt, then asked, "About the Elven Twins, what else do you know? Where are they now? Are they here too?"

Saying this, his gaze involuntarily glanced behind Beltira.

In that chamber covered with vines and roots, the densely piled humanoid remains had begun to gradually disintegrate.

Having lost the continuous supply of life, those long-dead priests of the Oblivion Association had finally reached the moment of dust returning to dust, soil returning to soil. Beltira had trapped these people for far too long in a state of stupor, but now that she had awakened, everything should be concluded.

Soon, those remains would become nourishment for this giant tree... Then cycle through the power of nature, ultimately becoming new fertile soil on the Plains of the Holy Spirits.

"They are not here; when awakening the ’body of the fake god,’ they were on other missions," Beltira shook her head, "I’ve been in a state of stupor for a long time. I don’t know their whereabouts, but I suppose they are still alive."

Ghosts seldom truly "die," especially the ghosts of Defiers.

Gawain wasn’t too surprised by this, only somewhat annoyed and vexed — he had realized that Defiers could be as much of an asset when on your side as they could be a threat or uncontrollable factor when not.

"I’ve been with them for centuries, yet still can’t say I understand much about them," Beltira continued, "They always appear together, speak and act together, as if one soul controls two bodies; they have a kind and amiable appearance, but in fact, they are more cunning and dangerous than anyone; they mainly handle matters related to the defied Plan, but also work on technologies related to the great walls — after all, they hail from the Silver Empire, with some understanding of the technology of the great walls."

Gawain nodded silently, making a note, and couldn’t help but raise his eyebrows upon hearing about the great walls: "Speaking of the great walls... what’s your connection with what’s inside the wasteland?"

Beltira hesitated for a moment but soon twisted her lips into a strange smile and said, "Inside the great walls... lies the other half of the Oblivion Association."

Gawain’s eyes widened: "Another half of the Oblivion Association?!"

"Didn’t we just say that when the ritual at the Ancestral Peak went out of control and the divine power descended with an impact, a large number of followers from the Druid, dream, and storms sects rushed into the Gondor wasteland seeking self-destruction...," Beltira’s smile carried a chill, as if revealing this part of the secret wasn’t a psychological burden but rather quite gratifying to her, "But not all those who rushed in perished — Druids have always been the profession best at dealing with environmental changes and surviving under extreme conditions."

Gawain’s expression instantly became stern: "... So, the Druids who rushed into the Gondor wasteland at that time survived, adapted to the environment inside the wasteland through some form of evolution and mutation, and became the ’cooperation’ and branch of the Oblivion Association within the wasteland?"

"Yes, at least that is what we have always believed," Beltira coldly stated, "They operated in the wasteland, collecting intelligence for us, especially data on aberrations and chaotic waves. We always believed that whether inside or outside the wasteland, all sect comrades were working for the defied Plan, but evidently, that was not the case.

"The loss of control over the body of the fake god owes half its credit to those freaks."

Only at this moment did Gawain finally understand the cause and effect of the grand conspiracy of the Oblivion Association from start to finish, understood what happened to the evil cult priests in this underground ruin during the final phase of creating that "Artificial God."

Those Druids who rushed into the wasteland and survived... They had probably long been completely twisted in the terrible and harsh chaotic energy environment, had long abandoned their self-recognition and codes of conduct as humans. However, due to the barrier of the great walls, the Oblivion main base, which could only maintain limited contact with the wasteland, was completely unaware of everything.

Honestly speaking, the Oblivion Association indeed suffered a rather unjust loss this time around.

But considering the harm they caused, Gawain could only say—a dead cultist is a good cultist.

He truly couldn’t imagine, if the Oblivion Association hadn’t faced this "self-destruction," if what they created was a complete and awakened "Amoen, the Giant Stag," how this disaster would have evolved—by then, the Cecil Legion might really be unable to stop it.

And in the situation where the human defense lines collapse, whether those deep-sea salted fish can save the day in time would become completely uncertain.

With three parts sigh, seven parts relief, he exhaled and then frowned, saying: "That being said, the ’half Oblivion Association’ on the wasteland is probably still alive now... No one knows what they plan to do next, it will ultimately be a threat."

"Yes, no one knows what they plan to do next," Beltira said leisurely, "so, if you want to rush in and wipe them all out, I’d fully support that—if you can do it."

"You know that’s impossible too," Gawain glanced at Beltira, "retaking the Gondor wasteland, that’s a great goal, but unfortunately the Cecil Empire isn’t capable of that yet."

"The Cecil Empire..." Beltira paused a moment upon hearing the name, then her tone suddenly grew a bit ethereal, "I see those camps hanging the Cecil flag edged with gold, indeed..."

Afterwards, there was a few seconds of silence, after which Gawain heard the other person quietly say, "Placing the sword and plow crosswise was my suggestion."

"I remember, you wanted future generations to remember the hardships of pioneers, and also hoped the sword-wielding aristocrats wouldn’t forget to protect the plow-bearing people."

Beltira smiled briefly: "But actually, at first, it was because the design you made of placing the sword and plow side by side was too ugly."

"... You never mentioned that."

"Seven hundred years later, I finally said it," Beltira sighed, somewhat self-mockingly, "you did inherit his memory, I almost believed you were him."

"Now could you tell me, why say Gawain Cecil’s soul has been completely depleted? How do you know these things?"

Beltira quietly observed the Gawain before her.

He was a Wanderer from Outer Realm, a mysterious soul, an "unspeakable being" descended from the starry sky, able to occupy other people’s bodies.

Everything about him and his kind was a mystery, they shuttled among the stars, wrought destruction, provided shelter, conducted observations, seemingly doing as they pleased, yet apparently obeyed some rules.

The Eternal Sleepers feared the power of the Wanderers from Outer Realm, as the latter precisely countered psychic spells, and she herself once feared this Wanderer from Outer Realm greatly, because he had occupied Gawain Cecil’s body.

But today, they had such a lengthy conversation, it seemed... Wanderers from Outer Realm were also able to communicate, even conduct transactions.

Perhaps this was merely an imitation made after he occupied a human body, or perhaps this was just one of the many facets of his kind, but in any case, at least now he appeared kind and rational, claiming to harbor no malice towards this world.

Life, sometimes requires a bit of adventure—even in becoming a tree.

Gawain didn’t know what Beltira was imagining as she silently gazed at him, he could only strive to maintain his persona of calm transcendence and friendliness, then he heard Beltira speak: "Gawain Cecil once went on an unknown voyage, since you’ve inherited that memory, you must know about it."

Gawain’s breathing stopped short for half a beat.

That half beat was noticed by Beltira.

"I know of such a voyage," Gawain steadied his emotions, said gravely, "but the specific memories are a blank, as if the relevant content was deliberately erased—I suspect this is the only memory I couldn’t inherit from Gawain Cecil’s mind."

Then he fixed his gaze on Beltira: "Do you know the inside story of that voyage?"

Beltira shook her head: "I’m afraid you’ll be disappointed, I didn’t accompany him at the time, and I’m also very curious about what he encountered or saw during that mysterious voyage, but one thing... now it seems I know a bit more than you do."

Gawain’s gaze was intense: "What is it?"

"After returning to the continent, Gawain Cecil once said a sentence to those beside him," Beltira repeated word by word, "he said he made a deal in the Sea of Eternal Darkness, using his soul as the stake."

Gawain: "..."

Beltira continued: "No one understood what he meant by that sentence, he never mentioned anything about that voyage afterwards either, it’s said that even mages specifically checked his soul, yet discovered no problems, so that baffling sentence was quickly forgotten—only the old and undying would remember it persistently.

"After Gawain Cecil’s death, I took steps to sneak into the funeral, finally confirming that sentence personally.

"Normal humans, even ordinary people, after death their souls would linger for days, under suitable conditions, souls with unresolved attachments could remain for years, strong Transcendents could even maintain some self-consciousness after death, and have the chance to transform into undead creatures to continue ’living’...

"But in Gawain Cecil’s body, which had just recently died, there wasn’t a trace of soul remnant.

"It was an empty shell."