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Chapter 365: Advent of the Oracle
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“Ragnarok?”
Siva looked at her, surprised, and nodded.
He bent down slightly, his voice low to avoid as much attention as he could, “How did you know about it?”
Scion lowered her head and bit her lower lip.
“Janus showed me.” She gripped his hand tighter and said in a low voice only he could hear, “That was the war that made you forget who you are.”
“I…” Siva was confused.
Or was it shocked?
Surprised….?
Bewildered……?
Perplexed…?
Whatever it is, it made his mind chaotic for a very short yet profoundly significant moment. He can’t remember any of that war aside from the time when he stormed through both the Gods and the Devils. And that was all because he believed what the [memories] had shown him.
For him, the [memories] were his connection to a very important and significantly large part of his life he felt he had lost.
“The Gods are extinct and Path of Immortality is sealed by Janus. All the rising Immortals since that time had to pave their own path with twice the blood and the tears as before; the Heavenly Laws have shifted and had been vacantly independent since then… or at least that’s what he said. I don’t understand any of it. I just felt like it was some sort of message to be delivered to you.”
Siva found these words familiar and yet also not familiar to him.
He raised his head and the silence in the crowd in front of them became consciously significant to his senses. Siva knew he had to break the ice but he can’t just brush of this topic and his curiosity to this subject was only piqued the more he heard.
“Mandy, do you mean to say that ascending was 100 times harder than before?”
She hesitated but still said, “Janus showed me some things and also said that it is indeed the case for the past few eon cycles since then. This is the reason why it was hard for him.”
Siva remembered what Gabriel said about the test he had to take before becoming a real Immortal.
But before he could dwell deeper on these thoughts, the overly enthusiastic Hojer barged in on their conversation, rubbing his hands as if he was about to do a shady business transaction.
“What are you two talking about? Can you tell me more of this Ragnarok I just heard? Hehehe…”
Siva felt angry and tried to push the man away but Maki stepped in and blocked his hand.
There was the blunt sound and the air seemed to scatter, proving the might behind Siva’s hand had enough power to actually heavily injure Hojer.
“Are you trying to hurt a defenseless scientist?” a voice full of anger exploded from Maki.
Siva hissed, “There are things that people should never know about. And the limits to my very short patience hovered to the fact that I hate the people eavesdropping to my conversations.”
In truth, h knew was in the wrong.
He was at fault there. He momentarily forgot that they were still in a tour and that there is an eager beaver flying off around him.
—I shouldn’t have entertained my surprise to the word Mandy said… damn.
Siva reacted to the word ‘Ragnarok’ because it is a word spoken to in his [memories] after that war.
[This is a really elaborate game setup, boss.]
Siva was, again, surprised.
‘Hm? Come on, tell me why this is so.’
[Based on the forum posts I’ve analyzed, then the available information in the game’s official site, the information I’ve gathered in the Local Net, and the information I’ve managed to collect so far ever since we have partnered up, I’ve referenced it to a couple of old MMORPGs from the 21st century until today and noticed that the game lore of RPG: Terroa is really deep and very detailed…]
Siva long ago had the hunch regarding the truth of this world but he never had concrete proofs to support his hypotheses.
[For example, boss, when you saw the flashes of visions from that war… you inadvertently recalled a few names in there.]
Siva did recall a few familiar names when he saw their faces earlier. But honestly speaking, though they are familiar names and faces, Siva could swear right now that he had no recollection of ever meeting them in his life.
Donar, Apollo, Hecate, Leviathan, Ramus, Atlas…
They were only a few that he recalled were all very familiar to him… and yet not.
[If, we say, they are all just in game images… then that’s already definite proof of this game’s story line to be as deep as a real world. But, if we also consider your [memories] to be a life you’ve lived in this world during that time 4 years ago that you cannot remember then I’d say, sir, that this world is a really… frightening place.]
Siva remained silent. His thoughts stopped.
‘I’ve always had the feeling, you know.’
[I know boss. You might not admit it but you’ve already accepted the worst case scenario.]
‘Yeah. You’re right.’
The [memories] aren’t just simply images. They’re real memories of a life he may have forgotten for a reason.
Scion’s words just now proved something else as well… and this only added more fear to him.
‘If this world is indeed real to an extent, then Baron’s life is in a much more fragile state than I initially anticipated.’
Siva and Maki were still in a deadlock in that short time when Cortana and he shared their thoughts.
And just in time, or perhaps it was right to say that it was the main reason why Maki is so agitated, her voice trailed off an indifference as she spoke with an icy cold voice.
[86%]
“You! What do you really want from us?!” Maki snapped and couldn’t help crying out in anger.
Siva and Maki made distance with each other, his eyes behind the mask sinister and cold.
“I only want to protect my brother. I need you to do it.” he released his battle intent while Scion walked in between the two of them and begged.
“I don’t know what you’re so angry about but I am begging you, please, help us. Rex is… he is not a bad person so I beg you to please treat this as a big favour. In exchange… in exchange, I will do my best to repay you in the future.”
Maki realized that Scion was innocent in this and it was only Siva and Cortana who was involved in the sinister plan to scan and ‘copy’ his [AI Source Code].
He also realized that the woman in front of him is someone with a pure and kind heart.
Because his [Scan] of her pulses were indicating her innocence. He had decades of experience of it so he could tell... or it’s just that Scion is so very talented in acting that he could deceive even Maki who had lived through life like an Immortal —a synthetic Immortal but an Immortal nonetheless.
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Maki was helpless and so could only ask in a very sincere and straight forward way.
“What are you planning to use me for?”
“I won’t use you.” Siva said. “I only need you as a reference but I will not exactly use you. Once I’ve seen and understood how you tick, I promise that I will not use it to hurt your people… as long as they’re sensible enough to not hinder me on achieving my one and only goal.”
Maki narrowed his eyes, “I don’t believe you.”
Siva snorted, “You’ve resisted until now, I don’t need you to believe me or not.”
[87%]
Maki cursed, “Shit. Stop it!” he was ready to fight.
“You can’t stop me.” Siva was dispassionate.
The dignitaries all looked forward to the fight for they trusted Maki and the legends he had made.
As for Higginson, he was perspiring cold sweat while pitted in the midst of these two absolute existences.
The First is a dubbed hero and one of Humanity’s two Immortals; the second is a rising menace, or a star to some, feared and famed for his ability to bring disaster wherever he went. Why wouldn’t he feel scared?
Right now, Higginson’s skin was having thick and obvious gooseflesh… he was really scared for the worst case scenario that would come.
[Boss, look!]
‘Huh?’
At this point, Cortana suddenly raised her head and looked at the direction of the Crystal.
No.
In fact, all of them looked at that direction. A flash of rippling Mana fluctuated in the surface of that barrier and a woman with an alluring presence in a blue night gown that sparkled with countless glittering diamond dusts with a flowing veil around her body and arms, appeared before them.
Her actions were weird: it’s as if she had been jumping over something as her right foot softly tapped on an invisible floor in midair as her body’s movements followed that action.
Everybody was surprised by her.
[Ara, ara… Where am I?]
What a playfully magnificent voice!
“Oh my goddess…!!”
The dignitaries gasped at the sight of her. She is, in simple terms, beautiful beyond compare… or at least slightly better than Scion.
She had the eyes of someone who came from the Hyuga Clan but her expression showed only still calmness that affected the chaotic emotions that’s about to explode.
And yet hidden in that tranquil expression is her innate playfulness, a coy that naturally entices the souls of men, igniting inner fires and eliciting full nights of dreams —hot… wet… beautiful dreams.
One could only compare her beauty to a fairy; her silvery-blue hair and smooth rosy-white skin, with gracefulness and charm that could match even Scion’s was a perfect beauty… especially as they all simultaneously discovered the pair of pointy ears that exuded more of that distinctive attraction unique to her race.
She is indeed a goddess, an angel of god, a soul-enticer, a natural tempter, a reliever of dry men.
Even Siva couldn’t help but be mesmerized by her beauty as soon as he laid eyes on her.
And yet, in the middle of being awestruck, he still managed to align her to something significant in his [memories].
—it was of a race with the highest affinity to the power that governed this universe, Mana.
“An Elf.” He whispered but Maki still picked up the words he said, “A real living High Elf.”
The moment of dumbstruck silence ended as the foreign beauty with the delicious mouth-watering curves and alluring natural charms righted her pose while looking at them and smiling beautifully.
[Everyone, that’s enough… no fighting, ‘kay?]
It was an ethereal voice of a woman. Smooth and soothing, having the same alluring feel as that of Scion when she was on her sweetie-mode.
The moment she spoke, the dying moment of her dream inducing entrance seemed to occur again.
Still, the first to recover were the Artificial Beings.
[Boss, I can’t scan her.]
[Please, Universe Spirit, you’re only wasting time.]
Her voice rung again on everyone’s ears. It was a really beautiful voice that could send you dreaming in the bedroom.
[Whoa! Boss, she can see me.]
[I can also hear you.] The woman giggled sweetly.
“Who are you?” Siva asked. In fact, checking the reactions of everybody, aside from Hojer, almost every one of them was asking the same question on their faces. Who is this woman?
[Hm? Ho?]
The woman’s voice sounded amused.
[This is surprising. To think I’d meet you ahead of our estimated time… how amusing. Are you the one who called me here?]
—Eleanor?
Siva was inwardly shocked.
—Could she be The Oracle?!
Maki reacted with hostility, “Where did you come from? How did you come out of the Artifact?”
Unlike mortals, an AI like him doesn’t care about carnal needs so he was apathetic to her charms.
Siva was also convinced; this is not part of what the Humans knew of their task from The Teacher.
This is part of The Teacher’s plans involving him!
At the same time, the [memory] he recalled earlier also told him of the answer to Maki’s question.
One of the uses of the Memory Crystals… is also connected to what Eleanor told him about one of the special secrets this world. He only knew of it now because the [memories] were triggered.
…it was a matter about Surface Continents!
(AN: please refer to Vol_6_Chapter_23)
But why are these [memories] going in batches and not in one fell swoop?
Is the system controlling it? Or is it as he had first thought it was; triggered by certain items, names, events, places, or random things that have a past connection to the [memories]?
The ‘High Elf’ looked at Siva and then pointed a finger, [You know what this is…] she pointed at the crystal behind her. [You also know how to use it and as well as know how to destroy it. But that is irrelevant… what I’m wondering about is why am I here in this place?]
She looked around her and was really confused.
Maki and the rest of the Humans looked at Siva in shock and were all surprised. Destroy it?
Is this the reason why he was so eager to look for the Artifact —his objective— all along?!
Maki took a hostile stance but Siva remained still and only looked at the High Elf.
He knew how to deal with her.
He’s now convinced that she is really the Oracle!
The [memory] doesn’t have recollections of how she looks like who exactly is the Oracle, but there was that ‘feeling’ and he trusted it wholeheartedly.
“You can read my mind... or at least part of it. Why ask when you already knew the answer?”
He was referring to the passive ability of the Oracle to read the thoughts of the citizens of the world and help Janus create ‘destinies’ to tie them all together like a large spider web of fates; one fate to affect the other and affects another that affects the others, and will affect others more…
The Oracle is the head of the Circle of Magi and she was once part of Janus as the [God of Fate], the creator of destinies, the Brahma.
But ever since the past events where the Trinity Gods —the three most powerful Gods and rulers of this world— had vanished, their [Tools] had all also taken that chance to gain sentience and take that step into reincarnation, defying the system to become mortals after going through the Cycle of Rebirth, and then aimed to be Immortals by using their own Chosen Paths to prove to the Heavens.
Yet, it was easier said than done.
In the end, considering all of that matter regarding the Cycle of Rebirth (or, in the earlier chapters, it was the so called Buddhist shibboleth “Cycle of Reincarnation”), the Oracle is still an incomplete Immortal —she was yet to complete her Test.
Since the Era of the Gods ended, gaining true Immortality through the “Test” became harder. In essence, all the Gods have all either died or in an eternal hiding; abandoning their Immortal Bodies and only preserving their Divinities to continue to exists as conscious entities that relied on worship and veneration from believers to survive.
Thus the Churches and Temples dedicated to the so called “divinities”.
As long as at least there is one soul who believed in them, then their divinities will persist and eventually survive. If lucky, they might even find that chance to live again by entering the Cycle of Rebirth and be reincarnated.
Those who had reincarnated as mortals, they have the chance to regain Immortality by proving their paths.
Whether they chose to reincarnate or not as mere mortals wasn’t important. What mattered was the fact that they had to work through limited lifespan to achieve this aim or they will return to Mana as mere specks of light in its sea of memories.
—this is the hidden lore of this game world and the Oracle belonged to the latter group.
She reincarnated to gain something for herself with her own hands.
*****
The High Elf laughed, [It is really odd. I was called here for some reason but I suddenly meet a very fascinating person whose fate I can’t predict.]
Of course, she already knew who Siva was. She was just trying to be coyly with him and playing with him for a bit. It was nature. She was a High Elf with an inherent ability to be alluring and very enticing to the senses, especially to men.
“Isn’t he?” Hojer was giggling to himself on a very remote corner in the platform. Who knows how he had ended up suddenly being there.
Interestingly, Maki was quick in the uptake and also thought that the woman brought no hostility to them. Still, it doesn’t mean he would lower his guard down in front of her.
—especially since Cortana’s [Scan] wasn’t stopping one bit despite the happenings.
Maki had just learned that there were other uses and purposes for their precious ‘Artifact’ that Siva called [Memory Crystal]; now, a High Elf appeared that Siva spoken to as someone who can read minds. Why wouldn’t he feel threatened by this?
Also, didn’t she just proclaim that she can see and hear Cortana? How is this possible?
Just now, just when things were heating up, she appeared like a mediator, prompting them to stop their imminent skirmish. Her entrance was just too sudden and too mysterious. Why shouldn’t they be alarmed? And besides, the biggest reason he found really alarming is the fact that Siva and her seems to know each other.
Though not in a friendly terms, but they still know each other. Maki can’t help thinking that perhaps she was someone who’s secretly on his side.
He at least had to be prepared.
‘Prepare to fight.’ Maki gave orders to Gaspar and the rest of the people in the entire area.
[There is no need to be so alarmed.] The High Elf spoke sweetly and then pointed a playful hand in the air in front of her, speaking, [Bind].
WHOOSH!!!
A ripple of Mana radiated from the tip of her index finger and everyone’s bodies stiffened.
“This?! W-Who are you?!” Maki yelled as he also felt the binding magic restrain him. “What are you planning to do? Argh! I can’t even connect to my other bodies!”
[Of course I can control something that simple. I am originally a Universe Spirit myself so it’s simple for me to understand how you children work.]
Technically, she was a [tool] on the same level as Cortana and had existed from the very first dawn of this world alongside Janus.
Considering that she had retained 99% of all of her memories since that time, it was simple to say that she was a granny so these ‘Universe Spirits’ that were only born merely 81 or so years ago are all just children in front of her eyes.
It was hard to measure how old she really is.
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Elves…. Elves………. ELVES!!!
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Next Chapter: The veil of light surrounding the Circle of Magi is finally lifted!
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