Echoes of the Past

Chapter 15 is quite lively.

Almahern's blood-red eyes reflected the tri-colored glow emanating from Nan'an's body, and her expression was solemn.

"Answer me one question." Her voice was deep and imposing, "Why can your 'Element Drive' preheat three elements simultaneously? As far as I know, the driving principle can only safely amplify one element at a time."

This curiosity came at just the right time. Nan'an desperately needed to buy Suiyue time to recover—once they got out, they had to get her a set of unorthodox cultivation techniques to solve her magic shortage problem first.

"A friend's improvement."

"A friend?" Almahern's gaze swept over his simple, tattered clothes, her tone tinged with doubt. "With your attire, you could possibly have a noble friend who is well-versed in advanced elemental theory?"

Nan'an's current clothes are gray short shirts made from the large robes he took from the minotaurs of the alien race—life forced him to learn how to alter and make clothes, and then he helped others alter theirs.

The haphazardly worn linen trousers and leather boots on the lower body were something from some unknown dead person.

Nan'an's style of dress is always casual during peacetime, but he takes out his beloved soft armor when going on missions in order to be as light as possible.

Death never waits for anyone to be ready before it visits. Judging from his clothes before he died, his fashion sense was indeed on par with Alma Hearn's.

"Not a nobleman, just a very skilled wild mage." Since his lack of knowledge about the Black Mist Era had been exposed, Nan'an simply asked directly, "What is this so-called Eye of Aging you speak of?"

Alma's lips twitched almost imperceptibly.

She could hardly believe that the fierce and ruthless magic warrior in front of her, with his experienced fighting style, was so lacking in common sense.

Who taught him magic? They're unqualified as a teacher!

Having confirmed that the erosion of the Aging Demon Eye was completely ineffective against Nan'an, the red light in Alma's eyes gradually faded.

Her gaze inadvertently swept over the gap in the wooden house destroyed by the flames, where thick smoke was slowly swallowed up by the deeper darkness outside.

"By fusing fragments of the Divine Nightmare, some people can gain strange powers."

Nan'an suddenly realized: "So it's living erosion."

Having his thoughts corrected by the two punches, Almahern initially intended to rebuke him disdainfully, but at the last moment, he changed his tone and suppressed his emotions.

"That's a derogatory term used by the rulers of Solitz and Onzer to appease you good children. They refuse to adapt to the Black Mist and stubbornly resist the inevitable end." She spoke with some passion, as if she were showing off. "But the Black Mist will eventually devour all the shadows of the past, and only those who accept it and adapt to it can survive into the new world."

Before she finished speaking, a surge of magical power suddenly erupted from her body.

Instead of aiming at Nan'an, he suddenly channeled his magic towards the burning pillar beside him, which was already groaning in agony.

boom!

The burning giant tree snapped in half, the remaining supporting structure was destroyed, and the precarious ceiling, engulfed in a sea of ​​fire, roared as it fell.

In the same instant, Almahern retreated rapidly, leaping out of the burning house and drifting straight into the distant black mist.

She knew that doing so would not harm Nan'an, so she chose to simply flee.

Nanan tore through the sea of ​​fire and smashed through the smoke and dust, but Almahern had already disappeared without a trace.

Suiyue understood that her combat power was of no use, so she cleverly exercised the qualities of a summoner and kept a safe distance behind her.

Only after Alma's figure completely disappeared into the thick black fog did she huff and puff as she approached.

"Aren't you going to pursue it?"

It was a rhetorical question, as Nan An glanced back at her, whose forehead was covered in a fine sheen of sweat, and couldn't help but reach out and tap her forehead.

Suiyue understood perfectly, but could only pout helplessly and mutter weakly, "There's nothing I can do... I don't have the seniority to fight as well as you."

In just a short while, Suiyue felt as if she had just been in a sauna, her whole body was covered in sweat, and her skin turned slightly red and honey-colored.

"Don't underestimate yourself. We've only known each other for less than 30 days, and your body has already basically adapted to the intensity of the summoning, which proves that you have potential."

"It all sounds like nice words of comfort..."

"I'm serious." Nan An smiled, his gaze fixed on the still-burning flames in the distance. "You're a bit like me back then, always figuring things out on your own until you met an excellent teacher who taught you how to systematically apply your existing knowledge and talents."

"You mean a bookworm, right?"

As Suiyue spoke, she took out the last two pieces of black bread from her pocket and stuffed them into her mouth without any hesitation, then began to chew.

Nan'an sincerely admired her teeth and willpower to swallow dry, hard bread without even looking at it; her cheeks ached just watching.

"There are others too, but she had the biggest influence on me... I also influenced her."

"Speaking of which, how much of your strength did you actually display, veteran?" Even chewing on dry black bread couldn't silence Suiyue. "Didn't you only just reach the advanced level before you died? How come you seem to know so much, and even possess strange high-level magic?"

Nan'an did not use magic; he simply scanned the charred ruins with his eyes, searching for possible survivors.

Hearing her chattering away, he decided to satisfy her curiosity.

"You're restricting me too much; maybe 30% is enough."

Suiyue excitedly sprayed out bread crumbs.

"That guy just now definitely met the criteria for level 3, or even level 4 Living Corrosion. You only hit him twice and he scared her. That's only 30%? Also, how did you become immune to the Demon Eye? It looks like she can drain people's lifespan... Could it be that you died, so there's no lifespan left to drain?"

Nan An thought to herself, "A person of flesh and blood, struck directly in the face by the Face-Breaking Fist and then hit hard in the abdomen, it's already a miracle she didn't faint on the spot."

If it weren't for Suiyue's magic not supporting the decapitation strike, he would already be happily playing with Almahern's head... Damn it, he still can't break this habit.

Nan'an was also puzzled by the Demon Eye's immunity.

According to his understanding of summoning, the summoning ritual communicates with the descending individual who is between the physical and spiritual realms, possessing tactile sensations and the ability to feel pain. Aging should be similar, and a response will be generated upon successful execution.

Surely his lifespan couldn't really be in a negative state because of death?

If Almahern absorbs his lifespan, wouldn't that shorten his lifespan as well?

After searching, Nan'an actually found the entrance to a hidden underground storage room, covered by wooden planks and straw mats, next to a well on the edge of the village.

Lifting the cover, a dozen or so thin figures were huddled together in the darkness, trembling. Hearing the noise, they huddled together in terror.

Two slightly sturdy boys mustered their courage, grabbed pitchforks leaning against the wall, and without saying a word, stabbed at Nan'an.

He wasn't some legendary witcher after all, immune to the damage from pitchfork-wielding Noble Phantasms; a mere flick of his wrist was enough to send the two of them off balance and toppling to the ground.

"I have driven away the people who committed arson and murder, and you are safe for now."

His voice was calm, with a strange sense of credibility.

The two boys in the lead looked on with suspicion, but soon, the rationality born of their desperate situation overcame their fear.

After all, even if what they said was false, they had nowhere to escape.

The two exchanged a glance, then turned to comfort the other children before climbing out of the cellar first.

At this moment, Suiyue was drawing water from the well to drink. This "cow" was still choking on the dry black bread. Its face was red and it looked like it was about to suffocate.

Good heavens, how could she do something so embarrassing? Spinning around in circles is so humiliating!

Nan'an clearly remembers that hybrids like deer, cattle, and sheep all inherited strong chewing, swallowing, and digesting abilities.

After wandering around the village ruins, the two boys, their eyes red and swollen, returned to Nan'an.

"Thank you, brother..." After such a sudden and drastic change, both of them were struggling to suppress their emotions, which were on the verge of collapse. "We plan to stay and bury our parents."

Nan'an understood the subtext and nodded slightly: "Is there any food left? Give us some."

The children in the cellar filled a bag with peanuts and carried it out.

Because of taxes, the villages didn't keep much staple food; most of what they kept were other crops that could be bartered.

"It's not appropriate to say it like this, but let's throw the bodies into the fire," Nan'an suggested, looking at the group of thin children. "Digging graves takes far more physical exertion than you can imagine, and it's very risky. This place is shrouded in black fog..."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over their youthful faces, and added something he himself didn't quite believe.

"Maybe the fog will clear up."

After saying that, he led Suiyue back into the black mist.

On the way, Suiyue hesitated, then finally just scratched her cheek and sighed.

"There have been many people like this in history... When the black fog came, they were unwilling to leave, alas."

Nan'an could understand that many races on the continent of Nora had a deep longing to return to their roots. Their homeland was the origin of their dreams, and even in death, they hoped to be closer to home.

……

……

Looking at the two people standing behind her, Leah felt a deep sense of powerlessness.

Just one day ago, the situation had not deteriorated to this extent.

When she suggested that everyone's personal food be centrally managed and distributed, a discordant voice emerged in the group for the first time, but it was limited to low murmurs.

After finally collecting all the food, disagreements arose again regarding whether to distribute it to Ian, who had already been hypnotized.

After the initial panic, the group members became increasingly afraid of Ian.

Discussions about the Nightmare's corruption were incessant, and voices increasingly urged Leah to abandon Ian and let him fend for himself.

"This is black fog. Who knows how long it will take to find a way out? Senior Lia, if you insist on taking care of them... please give me back the food. I don't want my food to kill everyone in the end!"

"Yes, Senior Lia... Ian has most likely been corrupted by the black mist and turned into a spirit. Isn't it too dangerous for us to continue carrying her?"

"Senior Leah, can you please think more about those of us who are still able-bodied?"

Leah understood the risks of bringing Ian along, but she was very worried that if she spoke up, the morality of the entire team would plummet in the current environment.

If you can abandon one companion... what about the other one who is injured, unconscious, and needs care?

She tried to maintain her balance on the edge of the cliff by taking on most of the responsibility for caring for the two injured people, hoping to quell the controversy.

But she soon realized that it was all in vain.

Her concessions did not earn her understanding; instead, they fostered new voices within the group.

Discussions about his "indecisiveness" and "lack of judgment" have been rampant.

Leah was acutely aware of her youth.

In this environment, not being assertive enough is fatal!

Finally, unsurprisingly, a big argument broke out over food distribution, and the group split up.

In just one day, they all became frighteningly unfamiliar to me.

"Sister Leah, they took too much food. If we can't find supplies..."

The two close friends who remained by his side looked worried.

"us……"

Leah's voice stopped abruptly, and she stared straight ahead, her eyes narrowing slightly.

A figure pierced through the black mist and stepped onto the riverbank of the Sickle Water Canyon... Was it an elf?

Almahern grinned wildly: "Oh? I actually saw living people again. It seems quite a few people were swallowed up by this spread of the black mist."

Having just suffered a great loss at the hands of Nan'an, she was so depressed that she almost vomited blood. It was rare for her to see a living creature again, and she made no attempt to hide her madness.

"You will take care of Ian."

Leah instantly sensed the danger, drew her sword and staff, and stepped forward.

"Judging by your clothes, are you planning to join the Bamboo Moon Witches' Guild and play role-playing games?" Elmar Hern's eyes were bloodshot. "You actually aspire to be those psychopathic old women? Then I'll let you experience the taste of old age ahead of time!"

Although two arc-shaped barriers were clearly formed using magic and water elements, Krillia's intuition screamed in her mind.

wrong……

Despite not understanding the source of her intense unease, Leah instinctively spun around and shifted to the side.

She spun like a top, preventing her body from being fully exposed to Almahern's gaze immediately.

"hiss!"

Leah's sword fell to the ground from her right hand.

She raised her withered, wrinkled hand with trembling hands.

"Hmph~~~" Almahern strolled leisurely, like a cat that had caught a mouse, scrutinizing Leah's young and beautiful face. "Youth is wonderful, isn't it?"

"You... Living Eclipse, Level 4?"

"I'm not interested in your rating system at all." Almarhern licked her lips. "Staring at that monster just now had no effect. It made me think my magic eye had failed... Hmm, the taste of youth is still so wonderful."

"Spare my friend... I'm at your mercy."

"Why do you think you have the right to bargain? Of course I want it all!" Alma Hearn's eyes lit up. "Let me show you what your face will look like when you're old. I love seeing you all collapse, hahaha..."

"Buzz~~~~"

Elmar Hern turned around sharply and retreated rapidly, causing even the light from her demonic eye to deviate from its original trajectory.

She exclaimed in surprise while still in mid-air.

An invisible blade of energy swept across the spot where she had just stood, tearing through layers of mist and extending into the distance.

"There are other experts?"

The thick antlers pierced through the black mist, and the moment the massive, mountain-like body stepped out, it seemed as if the mountain peak had collapsed.

Almahern sneered, "This black mist is quite a spectacle. And who are you?"

"【The Deer of Calamity】, the Bewitching Raven." The Bewitching Raven's antlers shone brightly with a dazzling green light. "I'm very interested in the monster you mentioned."