Steampunk: Sixth Era Epic

Chapter 1966: Ascension to the Seventh Ring

Shard took a deep breath and squinted, trying to see the silhouette of the Diviner amidst the crimson glow from above, but he couldn’t see anything.

Behind him, vast amounts of Steam Mist emerged from a mysterious direction, with the whistle sounding long, and the chimes of a clock ringing in the void.

The chime of a clock when a Circle Sorcerer summons the Ring of Fate, although loud to the person themselves, actually stops abruptly after a certain distance. Hence, there’s no occurrence of Circle Sorcerers fighting in the city alleys with the clock chimes being heard by passersby half a street away.

But at this moment, the chimes that resounded gradually echoed from the small remnants above the treetops to encompass the entire island.

Dong~ Dong~ Dong~

The resounding chimes seemed capable of breaking through all oppression and confusion brought by the red glow, grand and sacred, ancient and distant. Like the chimes the priests of the most ancient eras rung for the arrival of deities, or like the Echoes of Bygone Days, brought by wind and stories to the present.

The chimes even calmed the waves outside the island, subdued the monsters’ unrest, suppressed the ongoing storm outside the island, and even made the rift in the night sky above Green Lake display the image of another island where everyone currently stood.

Megan was right behind Shard, and she felt the chimes emanating from the Steam Mist more profoundly.

The hand that had been grasping Shard’s sleeve unknowingly let go; the man standing with his back to her, obviously right in front, yet she felt as if he’d ascended to the skies:

"So, this is what Galina meant by the feeling of being unable to grasp him..."

Golden light illuminated the faces of the three people behind Shard, as swirling golden light points formed a spiral in the dense mist, and then the spinning spiral transformed into a large brass ring floating above his head behind him.

The surface of the brass ring seemed to have fine cracks faintly visible. Within those cracks, only the Chosen of Balance, Iluna, and the Wisdom Grand Witch Megan and Audrey could vaguely see traces of golden light.

They were unsure why Shard’s Six Rings Life Ring emerged with such an entrance effect nor why the chimes resonating behind Shard at this moment could stabilize the space of the entire world.

Three drops of Divinity in his soul radiated more stable and powerful light with his understanding of "Space" and "Emotion." Shard closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and entirely unfolded the spirit needed for Maze Lock, which he couldn’t bear under normal circumstances. Therefore, even with all four Spirit Runes of the Six Rings fully intact, he didn’t immediately choose to ascend after acquiring the last Spirit Rune.

This was to await this moment.

In the glow of the Ring of Fate, he turned back to look at the two girls behind him one last time, then gently touched the tip of his toe, and his body floated up higher. Megan instinctively reached out, trying to catch him, but watched helplessly as he left her grasp.

The dazzling golden brilliance emerging from the Ring of Fate became like sunlight in the long darkness as the ring grew larger.

When the hovering Shard’s position aligned with the glow surrounding the Diviner, the golden light displayed on the Ring of Fate even suppressed that blood glow.

"God Summoner!"

Many thought of this name at that moment, as the blinding and sacred light radiated across the land and waters, yet no one could clearly see who was within that light. The pitch-black long night was once again illuminated, but this time, the light didn’t appear from seizing other lights. He was the light, and he himself was the only.

"I said I wouldn’t call upon the power of deities, but ascending doesn’t count as calling upon deities."

In the golden and red glow, both knew they were looking at each other, but Shard couldn’t see the silhouette of "Edwards" within the blood glow, and the Diviner couldn’t see Shard’s expression at that moment either.

A tender "she" chuckled by his ear, and Shard sighed deeply:

"Please, prepare to ascend."

[Understood.]

The chimes echoing above the island finally broke the silence of the long night at that moment. Golden ripples spreading in circles seemed to gradually restore this peculiar island to its original state.

Miracle, Desecration, Enlightenment, Whisper, the Four-Color Spiritual Light intertwined on the Ring of Fate. The bloody giant tree seemed to shiver at the light and shadow of that moment.

Above the small remnant on the treetop, Iluna looked up at Shard’s silhouette, her entire face illuminated by those lights:

"How many times has it been... the sixth time already, every time making me wonder why Shard isn’t the Chosen One?"

The shocked Witch beside her was speechless, reaching out to tug at Iluna’s sleeve:

"Is he going to summon a deity?"

Iluna shook her head in surprise:

"Of course not, Shard is a man of his word. Haven’t you noticed? He’s preparing to ascend, from Sixth Ring to Seventh Ring."

"Are you saying this is the form of the Circle Sorcerer’s ascension?"

Even the wise Witch encounters mysteries beyond understanding. She gazes skyward, towards Shard with arms outstretched before the golden rings, observing the beam of golden light enveloping him, watching him seemingly drift further from her, from everything in the world.

The Witch’s face, too, is bathed in this golden glow, her golden eyes filled with that figure. Instinctively, she reaches upwards, only to restrain herself. That figure radiating divine brilliance imprints itself onto their eyes and souls, and this moment’s touch propels Megan & Audrey’s intertwined souls towards the final step of a miracle.

"This is the one we chose."

Audrey’s voice reaches her ear. Megan turns her head and sees the girl identical to herself, hand in hand. The sisters stand side by side for the first time, silently watching him, grateful they had learned the Arcane Technique of dressing in advance.

At this moment, countless phantoms intertwine within the vast circle of fate. Shard’s eyes, turned golden, finally see the Diviner amidst the blood glow. He chuckles softly, unsure if the other notices his expression at that moment.

Golden light and the blood glow converge at the giant tree’s peak, interweaving seamlessly. This sun-like glimmer effortlessly shatters the blood light that originally dominated.

With each ascension in Shard’s level, the light and shadow effects grow increasingly bizarre. At this moment, people can no longer distinguish whether it is day or night on the island, nor do they understand what transpires on the blood-stained treetops.

On the island, those who look up see, amidst the Four-Color Aura, a strange and splendid illusion finally emerge.

Miracle - Charisma —

Golden-hued Spirit Runes detach from the circle, appearing to Shard’s left. An enchanting laugh echoes beside him as the exquisitely painted "Mermaid" leaps from the void, her multicolored scaled tail gently tapping the air, her hand softly caressing Shard’s cheek, then merging with him:

[The charm your soul reveals is the world’s fondness for you.]

The first crack pierces through the left eye, followed by dense golden fissures spreading across the body.

Desecration - Indifference —

Silver-hued Spirit Runes detach from the circle, appearing to Shard’s right. Rain gently falls again over the island. Amidst the sound of rain, someone’s sobbing is heard. A pale-faced Deceased, crowned, cloaked in burlap, emerges in the cold rain. The original Drowned One reaches out to Shard, and upon touching, they become one.

[Indifference is the greatest respect for death from the reborn.]

The rain grows heavier, yet the cold touch brings warmth, stemming from the soul.

At this moment, amid the night sky suppressed by darkness, three moons simultaneously shine bright, illuminating the stars. Rain does not bring clouds; above the downpour lies the grand Silvermoon, expanding under which Shard stands atop the giant tree, his entire being transformed into gentle silver moonlight.

Enlightenment - Bell Tower Lovers —

Brass-hued Spirit Runes detach from the circle, appearing in front of Shard. The elderly Sarah Miles and the young Knight Mr. Richard Jackman, support each other with a smile, nodding in appreciation to Shard. As they approach him, their forms transform into the familiar figures Shard knows.

The ladies’ hands touch Shard’s body, merging with him in brass-colored spiritual light:

"Loyal Knight, do not let anyone grieve."

[As the bell of the tower rings, are you ready to meet your lover?]

The Bell Tower Illusion flashes behind Shard, the massive Maze Lock slowly driven by divine power.

Whisper - Termination —

Black Iron-hued Spirit Runes detach from the circle, appearing behind Shard. Two "Calamity Cards" fly out from his pocket, and amidst black spiritual light, a blurred-faced, brown-haired girl manifests. She sobbingly approaches Shard:

"Can you twist all of this?"

"Yes."

Long-Haired Luviya’s phantom merges with him, and the world-ending power is cold yet irresistibly captivating.

[When you glimpse the end of time and all things, do you wish to see her one last time?]

Across the treetop, Edwards within the suppressed blood glow points at the struggling figure amidst the Four-Color Aura. But when the blood-red sword strikes Shard’s form, it silently melts in the golden light.

Golden Miracle, Silver Desecration, Brass Enlightenment, Black Iron Whisper, Four-Color Spirit Runes envelop Shard in a quadrilateral and gradually contract.

The Mermaid he once consumed, the Drowned One who endowed him divine nature, the Bell Tower Lovers who taught him the fusion of powers, and the Long-Haired girl who intertwined with his soul—the four marvelous phantoms overlap with his body. Flesh, body, soul, emotion are all enwreathed in Shard’s light, the silhouette of his body barely discernible.