Chapter 793: Gift of Thanks

"You will know everything you want to know."

Xia De was still in a prone position at this moment, so he barely supported the ground with his left hand and raised his right hand to touch the flame, but the severe pain in his arm made this action fail.

Sister Daifulin held the flame with one hand and wanted to help Xia De, but was rejected by Xia De.

He tried hard to change his posture, wanting to be in a kneeling position on one knee to make his body more stable. But then he thought that the nun in front of him was also in a kneeling position on one knee:

"Sister Daifulin, stand up."

After the nun stood up, he tried hard to kneel on one knee. Sister Daifulin knew what he meant and carefully extended the flame she was holding toward the front.

Xia De could not lift his head because of the severe pain. He could only stretch his palm upward by instinct.

The bonfire illuminated the side profiles of the two. Xia De just wanted to use this flame to fill the emptiness of his soul, while Sister Daifulin was exceptionally serious, but her voice was very gentle. The ancient grammar, using the Drareon language, asked softly:

"Xia De Su Lun Hamilton, are you willing to bear the power and will of the First Flame, assist me in collecting fire, and ignite the firewood? This is the contract between the nun guarding the fire and the hero who bears the fire."

【Promise her.】

This was very rare. "She" gave him the answer before Xia De made a choice.

"Yes, I am willing."

Xia De said softly. By the bonfire, beside the path where thousands of souls left, under the boundless starry river, his palm rested in Sister Daifulin's palm.

The shadows of the two swayed violently on the cliff because the flame spread along Xia De's arm to his whole body, as if wanting to ignite Xia De completely. But the fire did not harm Xia De, because cracks appeared on Xia De's body surface.

Divinity had disappeared, and there was no golden light in those cracks. The fire of the First Flame permeated, until it reached the surface of Xia De's exposed skin and the cracks in his clothes. The scorching firelight gradually converged, just like Sister Daifulin in front of him.

When the night wind blew, the firelight on both of them was dragged into fire marks in the same direction. The fiery red embers swayed with the wind toward the darkness, and a smile that had never been seen before appeared on Sister Daifulin's face. Behind the silver eye mask made of mithril from the ancient God of Death cult, which had fine patterns, those eyes were definitely looking at Xia De:

"Sure enough, you are the hero who can bear the First Flame."

His soul felt warm and full, as if he had just eaten a delicious big meal. The terrible emptiness caused by the loss of divinity was slightly polished, but the severe pain and weakness that made his body seem about to disintegrate were still there. This flame filled the vacancy of divinity, but Xia De was still in a state of serious injury.

【Outsider, you have accepted the power of the First Flame.】

【The First Flame burns the body, purifies the soul, removes curses, and guards the will. Your fire resistance is greatly improved, soul strength is greatly improved, and physical fitness is comprehensively improved.】

【Due to the trend of the divine radiance gradually dying out caused by the lack of divinity, but once the divine radiance disappears, the First Flame can no longer fill that power.】

It seemed that the First Flame could be used as an extremely degraded version of divinity. Unfortunately, it was not divinity after all and could only be used as a substitute before Xia De found the next drop of divinity.

【The sound of ancient times is triggered, you have learned the story of the First Flame—】

【From the very beginning, the fire and the nun guarding the fire have always existed. The First Flame is a symbol of civilization, and the nun guarding the fire implements the will of the First Flame. This is a contract, a contract created by the world itself for the continuation of civilization. The ancient fire comes from the very beginning, even, older than this world.】

The life ring appeared behind Xia De amidst the faint whistle and bell sounds. The firelight spread toward the life ring, because of the serious injury to Xia De's soul, the life ring also seemed about to crack, presenting a mottled appearance. But in the cracks of the bronze, there were vaguely golden traces.

The flames wrapped around the life ring, and the primitive and simple power gathered elements of miracles, blasphemy, enlightenment, and whispers. With the high-speed rotation of the life ring, the firelight left bright marks of fire rings behind Xia De.

But bathing in the First Flame did not allow Xia De to obtain spirit runes, miracles, or curses.

"Sorry, the power of the First Flame is no longer enough to provide you with stronger power."

Sister Daifulin expressed her apology in a low voice.

"It doesn't matter, the power of this fire is enough now."

Xia De wanted to show a smile, but fell because he couldn't maintain the kneeling posture. This time, Sister Daifulin helped him.

"Nun, how did you find me?"

"My clone fought above Mibao, and my true body ventured to Lake Bena where the god appeared, wanting to obtain the truth. When I saw the Red Butterfly Twins and the cat, I knew."

"Then... do you know what I just did?"

The nun still shook her head slightly:

"I don't know what kind of relationship you have with the God-Summoner, but since you have already bathed in the First Flame, we are unbreakable allies. Please rest assured, everything tonight will be spread according to the version of the story in your mouth."

"That's good... After I left the Cassandra Auction House, I wanted to go up the mountain, but was stopped by you. Subsequently, I have been with you, and we all saw the God-Summoner appear on the mountaintop."

"Yes, this is what happened tonight."

"That's good, quickly give me the leaf in the pocket watch."

The emptiness of his soul was gone, but the weakness and pain of his body were still there. Last time, Yin Luna poured a whole bottle of "No. 1 Holy Water" concentrate to save him, and he only had two pieces of 【Leaf of Eternal Youth】 from the Ringed Shushi church in his hand. The gap between No. 1 and No. 2 was too large, so he could only use the two 【Leaf of Eternal Youth】 he had left.

Sister Daifulin reached out to take the pocket watch on the ground, but suddenly stopped and "looked" at the deep night sky:

"I think, no need."

"What are you going to do..."

In an instant, brilliant white light rain from the starry sea poured out from that path of shattered light, sprinkling toward the cliff at the mountaintop like fireflies in a summer night.

Under the deep night sky, under the starry sea and that serene water area, the light rain was so eye-catching.

Those jumping white lights, like a waterfall of light, poured into Xia De's body, completely illuminating the cliff at the mountaintop.

Warm power poured in, but this power was not violent at all; instead, it nourished every wound in Xia De's soul and body. Just like sliding into a hot spring in an extremely cold situation, Xia De even couldn't control wanting to groan:

"Oh~"

He gradually controlled his body, broke free from Sister Daifulin's support, stood up, bathed in the white light flow under the night sky, and stretched his body with his arms raised high.

Bending down gently, he picked up Little Mia on the ground and held her in his arms:

"What is this?"

Reaching out to touch those brilliant lights, the white light seemed to shroud Xia De in the starry river as well.

"A gift of thanks more sincere than tears of the soul. This is a gift given by the souls to the helper before they leave."

The nun said softly.

Xia De stood by the bonfire, bathed in the white light flow that was continuously healing him, and looked up at the starry sea. He saw countless souls standing on the path of shattered light waving goodbye to him. He saw the corporal who died in the Ringed Shushi, saw Professor Higgins, the spy from Karsenrick, saw the innocent ladies murdered by the serial killer Henry Wall, and also saw the third nail, Count Dalak.

They were all waving at him with smiles at the end of the path of shattered light, then walked onto that water area and headed toward the Underworld Moon.

The Underworld Moon did not guide all souls to leave, but at least 99.9% of the souls in the Ringed Shushi were heading toward the end through this starry sea road.

"Teacher!"

A voice came from behind. It was Grace and Helen. The pale young ladies woke up, supported each other, crossed Sister Daifulin behind Xia De, and stumbled to Xia De, looking at the path close at hand with him.

The banquet of 3014 in the Fifth Era, the five people who walked out of it, gathered again in the late autumn night of 1853 in the Sixth Era, at the top of Mount Xikar, under this thick night.

"It really is like a dream, and we have always been the little butterflies on that wine table."

It's just that the witch and the armored old man turned into ghosts, the twins turned into supernatural items, and only Xia De was still Xia De.

The middle-aged witch stood on the path smiling and waving at the twins, while the armored old man looked at Xia De with satisfaction and nodded slightly as a farewell:

"Don't forget us."

They didn't say anything else, turned around, and walked toward the distance with the thousands of souls along that path in the starry sea. This was the direction they should have left a thousand years ago.

Countless souls surged out, and countless white light spots entered Xia De's body, healing the body and soul injured by burning divinity. The swelling spirit gave him the illusion that he was about to level up again. He also waved at the sky, waving to those souls who were willing to say goodbye to him. He knew he had done the right thing.

Mortals will eventually die, and all things have an end. This is the true end.

Mia the cat stood curiously on Xia De's shoulder, looking at the white light spots around, and even stretched out her little claws wanting to touch them.

【Outsider, your soul quality and weight have greatly improved. Any spiritual creatures will not actively attack you, and at the same time, fate will favor you more.】

"The improvement of the soul can be understood, but the favor of fate... why?"

【This is the world's gratitude.】

Xia De put his hands in his pockets and wanted to smile, but found that red butterflies were flying on that starlight path:

"Huh? Where did the butterflies come from?"

Looking around in surprise, Helen and Grace stood on his left and right in front of him, closer to the edge of the cliff and the path of shattered light. Their bodies were becoming transparent, and the colors in their bodies turned into red butterflies, following the white shadows, flying toward the deep night sky. ===== CHAPTER 794 =====