629 Life Traceback (2/2)

”Aren't they the patterns of the ancient Meshkate Empire?” The Meshkate Empire was one of the three major magic empires. It occupied the area south to where the Gusta Empire was currently located. The magic patterns of the empire were undoubtedly the basics of arcana and were needed in many spells in the school of necromancy. Therefore, Lucien did not feel very strange about that.

Rhine bent down and touched the vintage mysterious patterns on the grey tombstones with his narrow, long fingers. ”They are the patterns in the early years of the Meshkate Empire. Because they are similar to the patterns later, and their effect is also more or less the same, only an Observer like me who is a fan of history can tell the difference.”

”Is there anything special about them?” Lucien was rather eager to reach the spot marked by Maskelyne, but since Rhine was willing to waste their precious time in this place, he must have a very good reason. So, Lucien asked in the telepathic bond.

Rhine smiled casually, ”We are searching for what Meshkate left behind in order to crack the secrets of the 'Realm of Gates' and the monsters. Now that we already find a clue, we cannot let it go easily. Let's not reverse our purpose and our approach. Those patterns are not too special per se, but they indicate that this group of tombstones belong to the Meshkate in the early years.”

”However, the 'early years', associated with the tombstones everywhere, reminded me of a most famous custom at the beginning of the Meshkate Empire. It was the ritual of 'Life Traceback'.”

”'Life Traceback'?” Lucien recalled the famous ritual in the history of necromancy.

Rhine wiped his fingers with a handkerchief gracefully. ”Yes, the ritual of 'Life Traceback'. The people of the Meshkate Empire generally believed that there was a most powerful intelligent creature at the original point. He was perfect and boasted the vastest light of spirituality. He created the species like humans, elves and dragons with his blood power, which made him disappear in the river of time. If anybody sought after great power, they could reverse the process and melt the intelligent lives of different races to approach the 'Origin'.”

”That was the principle of funerals for the early Meshkate people. They made giants with wood and buried them at the certain of the graveyard. Then, only the clothes of the deceased would be buried in their tomb, and their body would be filled into the wood giant, hoping that they would be melted after their death. Although the custom was gradually gone, many spells of the school of necromancy obvious came from it, such as the stitched body.”

Recalling the spells of the school of necromancy he knew, Lucien nodded his head, ”That's true. Does 'somebody was here' on the paper fragment indicate a certain legendary sorcerer of the Meshkate Empire?”

”Possibility, but it's hard to imagine that a legendary sorcerer would establish such a huge graveyard. Did he have nothing better to do after entering this place through a dangerous adventure? Lucien, you should know that the World of Souls corresponded with the main material world except that the locations are disordered. If we extrapolate the law to the Realm of Gates, can we assume that the Realm of Gates is a mapping for the different customs of death?” Rhine tossed his handkerchief and smashed the cover of a coffin. There was only a black jacket inside, as he expected.

Lucien thought for a moment and said, ”That's a very reasonable deduction, but what does the monster represent? It can't be the fear of death in every intelligent life's heart, right? I prefer to think that it's the mysterious existence of the World of Souls.”

When he said 'heart', Lucien suddenly shivered and felt that he remembered something. But still, something was missing for him to see through the mist. He frowned hard. Perhaps, the difference on the surface had disguised the appearance of his memories, which made it impossible for him to find a similar experience.

”The bottom line is, we have clues about the monster.” Rhine smiled and said, ”We can only expect the items that Maskelyne left can give us more clues.”

Lucien sighed, ”Even if we figure out what the monster is and how it was born, the biggest enigma for me will still be why it can exist in such a way, and the arcana mechanism behind it.”

”You are showing more and more characteristics of a grand arcanist.” Rhine was amused.

Suddenly, the earth shook violently, as if some monster was crawling out of the underground world. The tombstones collapsed one after another.

Rhine chuckled, ”It seems that the 'Origin' in this place has already 'evolved' into a powerful spectre. Lucien, he's all yours. If you can't, I'll lend you a few legendary items.”

Dangerous air spread throughout the place. After a loud noise, the tombstones were scattered, and mud splashed out. An enormous blue-and-black arm extended from below the earth.

Right then, a blue-and-black giant dozens of meters tall stood up abruptly. Intact intelligent lives could be seen on its arms, abdomen and head. Some of them were humans, some dwarfs, some dragons, some elves, and some were murlocs. Together, they constituted the body of the giant.

The giant's eyes were suddenly opened. Dark red flames bouncing in them, there was no sign of life within its horizons anymore.

Lucien brought Rhine far away from the giant with an 'Accurate Teleportation'. He was terrified by the lifeless greyness where they stood earlier. That was the deepest fear in every intelligent creature's heart.

”It's only a level-one legendary. You can certainly defeat such a slow and unwise creature, Lucien, can't you? Huh, its heart is made of Fountain of Youth. No wonder Maskelyne said that there were many pleasant surprises in this place.” Rhine's weakness was not entirely gone yet, but his eyes were still as keen as before.

”Fountain of Youth?” Lucien repeated in the telepathic bond solemnly. That was a material to hold the legendary ritual extend the longevity!

”Atomic Fission!”

BOOM!

A gigantic fireball exploded by the head of the giant, covering it quickly and destroying everything around. A mushroom cloud rolled and soared to the sky.

”Simple and straightforward…” Rhine remarked.

Holding the Space Staff in his hands, Lucien was prepared to control it subsequently. Then, he suddenly recalled something else. ”Mr. Rhine, I saw similar tombstones and patterns in the 'Resting Place' of the Lord of the Undead. Does it indicate that one of his hidden spells is associated with the 'Precursor'”

Pondering for a moment, Rhine replied, ”Perhaps, he has already built his body into the 'Original Body'. In that case, he will be much stronger than he appears.”