OBS Chapter 3993: Octopus and Business Trip
Chapter 3993: Octopus and Business Trip
Chapter 3993: Octopus and Business Trip
The young apprentice explained to Shad:
"The number of refugees outside the city is increasing every day. No one knows exactly how many people are outside the city now; it's impossible to count them all. Since the middle of this month, there have been rumors that some people in the city are unhappy with the refugees blocking the city's way out, so they have become serial killers and go to kill refugees every night."
But this is likely a rumor released to intimidate refugees from staying in the area; I don't believe anyone would do that.
"I see. I'll come visit again tomorrow."
It was good that Mr. Finch wasn't there, as Shad wouldn't have to delay his return home. And when he returned home with a bellyful of news, the house was as lively as it had been the past few days.
Sylvia and Galina were at home tonight, and Luvia was there too, of course. She's going on a stargazing trip this week, so she'll definitely be coming over every day.
Dinner was prepared by Tifa and the others, and Shad shared his discoveries from the day at the dinner table. The witches lamented that the [Church of Creation] really had problems, and then began discussing what Vigo's mother had done.
Luvia was more concerned about the "Calamity of Creation." She examined the "Spark" that had become even more powerful after absorbing the attack, and then inquired in detail about the spell that Shad had obtained:
"Is your spell to extract life force in the form of a spark? This shouldn't be a coincidence. You've been tainted by the power of the 'Spark Source' and subconsciously linked 'life' with 'spark.' Have you tried the power of this spell? Is the spark you extracted different from the mutated spark?"
"I haven't tried it yet. I was only concerned about Vige at the time. Jialina, don't look at me like that. She almost lost control back then."
"Okay~ I'm not that petty. Tifa, go to the kitchen and get a fish!"
Galina spoke to her head maid, who went to the kitchen and quickly brought out a fish with a towel—this was a spare ingredient for the evening, in case there were too many people in the house.
"Meow~"
The cat to Shad's right meowed, and Shad guessed it meant he shouldn't touch such a disgusting thing during dinner, but Shad still turned around and reached out his hand to the fish:
"However, even without casting this spell, it has already given me some special power. Now I can vaguely sense the life force of the people around me, and I sense it in the form of a spark. This does not mean that you all have sparks, but my perception has materialized the concept of life force into a spark so that I know it—Spell: Life Spark."
His right index finger lightly touched the fish, but the contact ended after only a second. At that moment, a slender red flame flickered on Shad's finger, watching over the girls present. Whether it was Galina, Sylvia, Luvia, or the maids, they all felt a yearning from their very life-giving instincts.
They wanted to obtain the fire.
"One of the instincts of life is to prolong its own existence."
Sylvia said that as for the fish that Shad had cast a spell on, it didn't immediately shrivel up and dehydrate; it simply died.
"This fire looks normal, without the distorted fire that Shad described, so is this normal life force?"
Galina asked with great interest, and Shad replied:
“Yes. And if I return this flame to the fish before its soul leaves, it can come back to life. However, the soul of a low-intelligence life form like a fish is extremely weak, and soon... well, it's too late. Even if I return it, it can only become a ‘plant fish.’ But if what is returned to the corpse is the twisted life force from the ‘source of fire,’ then it will become what Iluna mentioned this morning.”
Shad said that Tifa then took the fish back to the kitchen, and it sounded like she wanted to add another dish.
"Then what about this spark of life?"
Luvia, to Shad's left, stared at Shad's fingers:
"A crystallization of pure life force, so flawless and pure. This is indeed different from the 'distorted spark of life,' so can it give life to inanimate objects?"
Shad shook his head clearly:
“I’m afraid that won’t work. Life can only be given to life; this is one of the rules I learned after using this spell. But this kind of normal spark can also be absorbed by the ‘spark source,’ only in that case, it will also be contaminated.”
The flame at his fingertips was visibly weakening; even a normal flame cannot exist for long without life.
However, Shad did not use the fire himself, nor did he give it to the girls or Mia. Instead, he got up and went to the kitchen, giving it to the other fish in the tank.
After gaining an extra life, the "lucky fish" did not change in any way; it simply became healthier and had a longer lifespan.
“I have no intention of extracting other life forms to prolong my own life, nor do I want to use this spell for life experiments. The significance of this spell to me is that it allows me to interfere with the ‘distorted life spark,’ which is also within my control.”
Shad explained to the ladies:
"Although the 'Spark Source' can absorb other sparks, it cannot forcibly absorb them. It can only absorb them when the holders of other sparks are destroyed and the sparks briefly reappear."
But with this spell, I can try to forcibly strip away the embers of those mechanical lifeforms or 'zombies' while they are still functioning normally, which is crucial for the operations to come.
"But this also means that you will have frequent direct contact with that kind of distorted life crystal."
Sylvia reminded him, and Shad nodded:
"In the past battles of the chosen ones, didn't I also frequently come into contact with those calamities? This time is much better. With that spark, all I need to do is extract the spark."
He sat down again and ate with everyone:
"I was just thinking, I gained this ability because of the Jade Record, and Vige, because of the power of the Jade Record in her soul, even directly sensed the Church's huge source of fire this afternoon. Does this mean that the unknowable relic itself also has the ability to manipulate normal life sparks?"
“The twisted life force, existing in the form of a spark, must have a reason. Perhaps the essence of life force was originally anchored as a ‘spark’ by the ancient gods, and the Jade Records have recorded such power.”
Luvia said, and Galina reminded Shad again:
"When you're with Wei Ge, remember to help her look for any other clues left by her mother. She doesn't even know what's in her own soul, and she needs you to investigate. I think Wei Ge herself is a bit confused."
Sylvia smiled. As the youngest member of the council, she had a relatively good relationship with all the great witches.
“We didn’t know much about Vigo’s mother before, since it involved Vigo’s privacy. If there’s an opportunity later, I’ll have Margaret investigate that woman. Although she’s a ring sorceress, she did marry the previous head of the Astley family, so Grey Gloves should have some information about her.”
Although Sylvia thought the information probably wouldn't be very useful, it never hurts to investigate it.
"By the way, what is Vige's mother's full name?"
Jialina didn't know either, but Xia De heard Wei Ge mention it today:
“Peggy Nicola Astley. Of course, that’s her name after she married Viggo’s father. Her mother’s original surname was Lemaître, so the name Margaret should investigate is Peggy Nicola Lemaître.”
That evening, the most discussed topic was the Church of Creation, and Shad didn't forget to visit Danist again to tell her what he knew.
The librarian didn't react much to the possibility of a major problem for the church. She simply told Shad that the "Caller of God" should not show up for the time being and that they should handle it.
Daniste resolved the matter much faster than Shad had anticipated, or rather, the level of importance Danistee placed on the matter exceeded Shad's expectations.
Early Tuesday morning, Iluna arrived at No. 6 St. Teresa's Square, just as hurriedly as she would on a Monday morning. But this time she wasn't there for a free meal; she was there to say goodbye.
"The Vatican has issued an emergency order for me to go on a business trip today. I will be heading to the Arcadia region shortly. This time, I will not be taking an airship; I will be going directly there using special means. I will be able to have breakfast there at eight o'clock."
It was six in the morning, and even Mia was still asleep. Galina and Sylvia were still in their bedroom. Luvia had been stargazing until two in the morning, going to bed later than the three people on the second floor, but she still came up to the second floor in her slippers, still sleepy-eyed.
Only the two maids on night watch and Shad seemed somewhat energetic, but Iluna looked even more energetic.
"Go now? Did I tell you why?"
Iluna shook her head:
"They didn't say the specific reason, only that it was related to the [Church of Creation], so I came to ask if you knew anything about it."
"Please sit down first. I do know the situation."
Shad said, supporting Luvia who was about to collapse against him, and then ordered the two maids to pour tea.
Iluna was leaving in half an hour, and it was time for her to go home and pack her luggage, so Shad kept it brief, informing her about the massive AllSpark riot that had occurred at the Church of Creation yesterday afternoon:
"It seems Daniste has been busy with this all night. Anyway, be careful when you get to Arcadia. Take the [One-Hit Kill Gun] with you; there are two Soul Bullets left in its magazine. It can also kill activated machines."
Although the church members saw this gun during the War of Destiny, it was in disguise at the time. It was only restored by 'What If' after the war ended, so it's fine for you to take it out.