Time flew by, and in the blink of an eye, a millennium had passed. The Dawnstar Dynasty flourished, and you and Violanda had finally reached Level 4 in your magical studies, with the threshold to the Archmage realm just within your grasp.
“Only a thousand years, and already at Grandmaster Level 4? That’s impressive!” Eirik marveled. he and Elvynna would often spend millennia in seclusion.
It wasn't that Elvynna lacked the talent compared to Violanda; rather, it was the power of faith that made all the difference. Advancing through belief offered almost no barriers, making the journey far simpler than a typical magical breakthrough.
Plus, there was no need to seek out resources. While they immersed themselves in their studies, the faith of the people flowed continuously, making their experience incredibly smooth.
However, it soon became clear to Violanda and Eirik that this power of faith came with a significant drawback.
“My lifespan is far shorter than that of an ordinary Grandmaster Level 4—only less than ten thousand years…” Violanda frowned, appalled at the absurdity of her situation.
Though reaching Level 4 meant that even death could not extinguish her spirit, as it could survive through faith, doing so would mean losing all hope of further advancement.
“I can only hope to break through to the Archmage realm within this ten thousand years,” she thought, then embraced Eirik once more and entered a state of seclusion.
By this time, most players had perished, leaving only a few survivors like Elvynna, Pixie, and the fox girl. Pixie had successfully executed her plan, using the Oceanic Realm to negate the adverse effects of the Forgotten Grimoire and had made her way to the central lands.
“So this is the central land? Doesn’t seem all that special!” Pixie gazed at illustrations of the region, feeling somewhat disappointed.
She had specifically visited the estate where Eirik once secluded himself, the mountains where he vanquished the Bloodthorn Clan, and the starry skies where he sacrificed himself to help Elvynna ascend to the Archmage realm.
“A central land without Eirik is so dull,” she sighed heavily.
“Shut it! The central landscape is beautiful enough on its own. What difference does that filthy man make?!” Fennec, the fox girl, retorted indignantly.
No wonder they called you “little bitch.” How can you speak so unpleasantly? She was currently stuck at Grandmaster Level 3, unable to progress, and her frustration was palpable.
“You can’t truly understand Eirik’s greatness unless you’ve been with him, Fennec. I don’t blame you,” Pixie replied haughtily, her tone dismissive.
“...” The little fox girl fell silent, muttering about love-struck idiots. Yes, Eirik was impressive, and gaining his favor felt like a cheat. But throughout history, there were countless who ascended to the Archmage realm without such advantages. And all Fennec wanted was to reach Grandmaster Level 4.
This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.
As the players continued their seclusion, time within the game moved rapidly, and soon, millennia slipped away in an instant.
[You exerted all your effort but still failed to grasp the threshold to the Archmage realm. Deep down, you sense that it is not due to a lack of talent, but rather some unseen rule impeding your progress.]
[It is like a fog, obscuring all paths ahead. You struggle through the mist like a lost soul, unable to find your destination...]
[Your lifespan has come to an end. You have died.]
Violanda stared blankly at the system prompt that appeared before her. Dead?! Just like that?! She had hoped to break through to the Archmage realm, but here she was, having aged into oblivion!
[As a Level 4, your body has perished, but your soul lingers. Do you wish to utilize the power of faith to continue existing?!]
[Note: By leveraging the power of faith to persist, your form will become almost immutable. You will no longer possess a physical body, and your progression will be incredibly slow, making further advancement impossible.]
Violanda fell silent, contemplating the system's message. Become a specter and continue existing? What was the point if she couldn’t advance anymore?
Wait, she could still explore the world with Eirik, enjoying their time together!
“Though it seems meaningless in simulation, I still have the Reincarnation Mirror in my inventory!” she recalled.
Elvynna had used her mirror, but Violanda’s remained untouched! This period as a ghost would be the perfect time to deepen her bond with Eirik. Their relationship had to surpass connection he shared with Elvynna!
Meanwhile, Eirik received a system notification as well. After a moment of hesitation, he chose to utilize the power of faith to survive. After all, he had never tried this method before, and it might be an interesting experience.
[Congratulations! You have unlocked the skin: Eternal Bond. (Limited Gold)]
[Effect: When fighting together as a couple, all stats increase by 10%.]
All stats increased?!
“Wow, this skin is impressive!” Eirik thought, captivated by the accompanying artwork.
In the image, a bright moon hung high in the night sky, with Eirik and Violanda hand in hand, floating above the tiny yet vibrant city of Elaresar below. Their forms appeared semi-transparent, their lower halves fading into nothingness.
This signified their current, unique state.
They had become specters!
“This life, Violanda’s inability to become the ultimate power in the universe must be related to the power of faith…” Eirik mused, recalling how the Archbishop who founded the Church of Holy Light had defeated the strongest beings in the universe with his Level 4 powers, yet had never reached the pinnacle himself. It was likely for the same reason.
Eirik sighed internally. The power of faith had allowed them to advance rapidly, yet in the end, it barred them from reaching the final destination. Such a pity!
“Another one who’s snagged a golden card yet can’t ascend to the Archmage realm!”
“Just one step away, yet unable to cross into that realm. How frustrating!”
The anonymous messages in the chat echoed continuously, filled with sympathy, gloating, and a tinge of melancholy.
“I’ve just gotten Eirik, and making it this far is already a triumph,” Violanda reassured herself, ignoring the world chat.
Hadn’t Elvynna simulated countless times before finally reaching the Archmage realm?
She’d come so close on her first attempt with Eirik, practically on the brink of breaking through to Archmage!
That already far surpassed Elvynna, didn’t it?
Hmph! Now that studying magic was pointless, she and her husband would roam the world, nurturing their relationship.
They embraced a fairy-tale-like existence, filled with wild adventures and passion. If only their power wasn’t so great and they didn’t lack physical bodies, they’d have enough children to form an army!
“This woman…”
Elvynna sensed something was amiss and quickly concluded that Violanda was frantically raising her husband’s affection!
“Junior Sister, we must be cautious. That girl also possesses the Reincarnation Mirror, and she hasn’t used it yet!”