OBS Chapter 3699 Memories of the Snow Mountain
Chapter 3699 Memories of the Snow Mountain
Chapter 3699 Memories of the Snow Mountain
Shortly after the Infinite Serpents appeared near the camp of the sorceresses from the far north, Shad and the witches rushed over. Although Lady Asperger had released ice to confine all the serpents, they continued to split and grow in the wind and snow.
Originating from the ashes of the Fallen Star Beast, "Falling Star Strike" is extremely effective against such evil creatures related to fate. When the star falls from the sky, almost all the snakes within range turn into black smoke and disappear.
As Shad rose from the woods, Claire and Stella, wielding snake skins, entered and led the team to search for the remaining snakes. Shad then took to the air again, hovering above the trees. Once he saw the signal sent by the girls, he would immediately plummet downwards—a very effective tactic.
At 10 a.m. that day, with the discovery of the last snake that had been hiding in a tree and feigning death, the commotion caused by the Infinite Serpent temporarily subsided.
Shad gripped the small snake, which had evolved mimicry abilities, in one hand, raised his fist high in the forest clearing, aiming it at the sky. As thick steam billowed outwards, the Life Ring struck the snake like a hammer, its sound vibrating through the soul.
As the steam dissipated, Miss Asperger saw Shad approaching them, holding a black, curved handle.
“Even now I still have to marvel at how lucky Daniste was to find you to be her apprentice.”
The woman in the blue dress sighed:
"Do you have any extra snake molts? I think I need one now."
Only those with snake sloughs can fight the Infinite Serpent. Shad still had three blank snake sloughs, so he took one out and handed it to her:
"You should consider moving to the town. Although your current camp is close to the town, it's still quite a distance. And the elves will be arriving soon, so the area outside the town will probably be very crowded."
Miss Asperger did not refuse this time:
"Alright, let's get ready and move in this afternoon. We don't need any fancy accommodations. Winter isn't over yet, and we need to live closer to the snow and ice."
The followers of the Old Gods all have their own special rules, which Shad understood perfectly. When he returned to town and went with Claire to find Elder Harald to help arrange accommodations for Miss Asperger and her party, Professor Reinhardt unexpectedly appeared in the Snow Mountain Hall.
The bespectacled, disheveled folklore professor clearly hadn't expected his father-in-law and daughter to be there. The young priest who had led him in quickly left upon seeing this, while Professor Reinhardt awkwardly greeted Elder Harald, then said to Shad:
“I remember you said last time that you knew Professor Tiris Manning of Tobesco, right?”
“Professor Manning? Yes, I know him very well.”
Claire's father approached Shad, wanting him to deliver a letter to Professor Manning. He didn't actually know Professor Manning, but he had read many of the highly respected professor's works.
He had recently submitted a manuscript to an academic journal in Willendale, but due to the recent blizzard and the town's lockdown, the reviewers' comments, which should have arrived much earlier, were only delivered to him a week late by the postman. The reviewers were very impressed with the article, but there was a problem with one key citation.
The citation relates to Professor Manning's work. Because the reviewers' comments came back rather late, writing to Tobeske now to inquire would likely be too late for a response. Professor Reinhardt himself wouldn't want to use any other means to gloss over the issue.
That's why he wanted to ask Professor Shad, who had mentioned Professor Manning before, to help deliver a letter.
Claire stood to the side watching her father talk to Shad, somewhat displeased. This was a crucial moment in the story, and while her father's research was important, she didn't want Shad dealing with such trivial matters.
Elder Harald shared the same view, but before the elder could speak, Shad reached out and took the letter:
"No problem, but I can only get back to you tomorrow at the earliest. Academic issues do require rigor."
"That's enough. I hope we can get a reply within a week."
Professor Reinhardt immediately spoke, then exchanged a few more words with Claire before leaving.
After her father left, the platinum-blonde-haired witch pursed her lips and looked at Shad, who then put the letter away.
"Professor Manning's house is not far from mine. I can go directly to him after I get back tonight."
Elder Harald offered no comment, instead going to coordinate housing for his "relatives" in the far north. Only after her grandfather left did Claire take Shad's arm.
"You agreed to help because you wanted to make a good impression on my parents, right?"
This was only part of the reason; Shad felt that seeking out Professor Manning might yield other insights:
"Yes."
He unusually lied, and Claire muttered that she had caused Shad trouble again, but she still seemed quite happy.
Shad planned to visit Professor Manning after returning home that evening, so he stayed on the island for lunch that day.
In the afternoon, Chairman Le Norman arrived in town with his men and took away the three pieces of equipment that Shad had helped forge. Before they left, Shad inquired about the tortoise with the fate of "nothingness," and Chairman Le Norman told Shad:
"The tortoise should arrive at the island tomorrow. We have agreed to the church's deal, exchanging the [Void] for the fate of [Punishment of Evil]."
Shortly after the prophets left, Vanessa informed Shadsilis that the ritual was ready.
The current Archbishop of the Forgotten Order, Sirius, intends to explore the memories of this island and the snow-capped mountains. After half a week of preparation, the ceremony will take place on this day.
So not only Vanessa, but also Megan and Claire, who were temporarily free, came to watch.
The ceremony was held on the mountainside of the snow-capped mountain. Sirius changed into a white priest's robe that Shad had never seen her wear before. Barefoot, she walked to the center of the ritual array on the snow. She closed her eyes and tilted her body slightly. Then, Sirius floated above the snow as if asleep, surrounded by a golden spherical barrier made of divine runes.
The magical technique [Power of the Earth - Land Memory] has been successfully cast. She will communicate with this snow-capped mountain in her dream and read the ancient memories hidden deep within the earth.
"Do you think we'll be able to find that so-called guardian of the seal this time?"
Claire asked in a low voice from the side:
"At first, I suspected that the Guardian was Winnie, the maid from the Ice Castle, but after Shad brought her story, it proved that she wasn't always on the island. Now Shad has also been to the ruins on the mountaintop, but the Watcher, or rather the Guardian, still hasn't appeared. I'm very curious about what kind of being this Guardian is."
We Fatu people arrived on this island during the Fourth Age, but we have never heard of such a place.
Megan then replied:
"Based on past experience, we probably won't find the target directly, but we also won't come away empty-handed."
The ceremony didn't last long, but during it, Shad, Claire, and Elder Ursa, who came to help, all felt the snow mountain tremble slightly, but the others did not.
Ten minutes later, Sirius awoke within the ritual array, and Vanessa and Shad quickly went to support her. The blonde was pale, clearly from excessive mental exertion, but she did bring some good news:
"When I tried to connect with the memories contained in this land, I made direct contact with the spirituality of the snow-capped mountains of Fatummst Island. It was indeed not a conscious being, but it was very friendly. It took the initiative to show me some of the island's history and let me see the changes in civilization on this island in modern times."
This is certainly not the most important thing:
“I tried to search for information about the ‘Sealed Guardian’ within it, but the earth’s memories of the being sealed beneath the island are filled with only the deepest fear. All memories related to it are pitch black, as if tainted by the filth of the ‘Mad Earth’. But the Guardian does exist, and it should also be a snake. I know the Guardian’s identity.”
Sirius gripped Shad's sleeve, but his weight rested mainly on Vanessa.
"The water veins in the snow-capped mountains are part of the seal, but those recurring water veins also together form a snake. The snake symbolized by the water veins has not yet awakened; it will awaken at the right time."
"So now is not the time to play cards. The snake formed from the water veins? Perhaps it can be one of the forces to fight against Mr. Snake."
Megan said, opening the prepared potion and handing it to Shad, who then fed it to Sirius. The potion, which replenished mental energy, worked quickly, and Sirius then mentioned something else:
"In the memory of the earth, I read some recent events. I saw relics scattered throughout the island and the figures of evil beings, as well as those infected by the snake-like plague, many of whom are still lurking in the cities."
These entities, connected to the calamities of fate, caused the spirit of the snow mountain great anguish. Therefore, it proactively pointed me to the source of all this plague—no, not the location of Mr. Snake, but the location of that woman.
"Is this the real body?"
"I can't be sure, but even if it's not the original body, it's still a manipulated being who holds the fate of the Fool."
Although he had left the memory of the earth, Sirius's connection to the other had not disappeared:
“Shad, if you want to find that ‘Lustful One,’ that is, Ms. Halonen, I can take you there. For at least the next ten minutes, I can sense the location of the suspected original.”
Megan immediately asked:
"This is a good opportunity, Shad. Shad, shall we make our move?"
Shade shook his head:
"This time it might not be the real body. Besides, even if it is, my friend in Tobesk might not be able to completely suppress that woman. It's better to wait until that [Void] Turtle also arrives on the island, the angel-level relics prepared by the church are in place, and with the power that Iluna has now gained, we can act with four layers of protection."
Besides, there's something wrong with that woman, or more precisely, something wrong with the Baron. He might not just have escaped the infection. "Sirius, take me to find her. Not many people need to come with me, just Claire. This time I'm going to deliver Baron Samir's letter to her. I think there might be another twist in their story."
There's one more thing.
She whispered a reminder in Shad's ear, which Shad, of course, had not forgotten:
"Long-haired Luvia asked me to grab her with my right hand. What will happen?"