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墨書 Inktalez
Berfant!
Despite having guessed it, the moment of confirmation left Garen utterly shocked.
"Only the Void is the purest, for it can encompass all things. But if one cannot achieve that, they will fall into an endless descent, much like this continent," Berfant said with a smile, stroking his chin. "When I was young, I visited the Eastern Ancient Continent. Their cultivation methods are vastly different from ours; in their words, they are not cultivating but seeking the truth."
"They compare the world to an infinite sea of suffering, where countless beings are like small boats. Whether they drift with the current or row against it, they can never escape the shackles of suffering. The outcome may be reaching the shore or being swallowed by a tsunami. The purpose of cultivation is to make oneself unique; of course, 'the many' refers not only to others but also to the myriad paths of people, all aimed at leaving the sea of suffering, which is to say, descent."
Berfant pointed to the bright passage on the left and said with a laugh, "Look, this endless and unchanging road is what we call Eternity, and it is also my understanding of descent. No matter how hard you step forward, you are merely trying to surpass others; you will never reach an end. From the moment you take your first step, you will face nothing but endless descent."
Garen's inner astonishment gradually subsided. Berfant had mentioned earlier that he was already dead. Therefore, what stood before Garen was likely just a wisp of Berfant's illusion or perhaps a soul that did not truly exist.
Though unsure why the other was saying these things, Garen patiently listened.
"So in my view, Eternity is the dirtiest thing because whether you move forward or backward within it, you will ultimately descend," Berfant sighed with emotion. "Just like him, who exhausted himself searching for what I left behind only to become a sacrificial offering. In the river of Eternity, both the killer and the killed descend together."
At last, Garen understood something.
What Berfant referred to as "Eternity" were those things that never truly disappeared; touching them leads to descent. Unfortunately, no one can avoid this—such as Lucifer's "greed" for Berfant's relics or Tastandin's "murderous intent."
Because everyone struggles against this binding force, in a sense, it belongs to Eternity, and it is terrifying.
"What about another person..." Garen asked after a moment of silence.
"He became a servant of Eternity and left here."
A servant of Eternity?
Garen found himself confused again. If Eternity referred to those evil thoughts and desires, then why would there be talk of masters and servants? Who was Tastandin's master?
Garen witnessed Master Yi suddenly leaving this place.
As Garen was lost in thought, Berfant suddenly pointed towards the dark passage on the right.
"Let's go take a look."
Garen looked up and saw, faintly standing in the depths of the darkness, a shining doorway.
He had walked quite a distance down this passage and could be certain that this door had not been there before. At that moment, he was standing on what Berfant referred to as the "Nonexistent Staircase."
So that must be... the "Nonexistent Door"?
Garen was somewhat surprised. "You want to give me the relic?"
"Why not?" Berfant grinned. "I can smell my own scent on you. And I can sense that you have not been tainted by Eternity; you are the most suitable."
Garen fell silent for a moment. "I refuse."
Berfant did not expect this; his smile froze instantly. "Why?"
"Because I am not you," Garen replied, shaking his head.
Berfant's expression darkened slightly as he forced a smile. "What does that mean? Our ultimate destination is to escape from our downfall."
Garen pointed at the glowing door and calmly said, "So I will not become you."
Suddenly!
Berfant's body transformed into a blood-red hue, his golden hair fluttering slightly as he swiftly approached Garen!
He roared in a deep, angry voice, "Do you know how long I've waited for this day? This world has been tainted by Eternity for countless ages, and Cataclysm is approaching. Without me, all the beings in the void will perish!"
This time, Garen did not retreat. He stared into the other’s eyes. "Though I don't know if your Cataclysm is the same as what I understand, I will stop it, in my own way."
"Do you even know what you've given up?" Berfant's anger subsided as he drifted back into the distance.
"There lies a power that drives one mad."
Berfant coldly fixed his gaze on Garen.
"Power..." Garen shook his head and smiled. "My power has always been in my hands."
"That place can take you away from here," Berfant narrowed his eyes. "You know I'm not referring to The Road of Descent."
Berfant was talking about Immortal City, the entirety of the Lost Land.
Garen still shook his head. "If I had wanted to leave from the start, I wouldn't have come in."
Berfant's expression softened slightly, but there was still a hint of reluctance. "There is everything you want to know!"
"Is that so?" After a moment of silence, Garen replied, "What you know does not necessarily mean it's what I want to know."
"I should have guessed..."
Berfant shrugged, his demeanor now starkly different from moments ago; he seemed somewhat contemplative. "Only those tainted by Eternity would be interested in what I've left behind. It's truly a ridiculous contradiction... The one I've been waiting for is precisely someone who doesn't need it."
The distant light gate gradually faded away as Berfant let out a soft sigh.
Though stepping into that place would indeed lead to Garen being replaced by Berfant, in a certain sense, it would also be a form of empowerment for Garen. After all, when Berfant absorbed all of Garen's memories, he would no longer simply be Berfant.
"Sorry," Garen suddenly found himself at a loss for words.
"You don't need to apologize to me; you deserve this choice," Berfant said, glancing at Stormblade. "I will give you a gift. And we will meet again; I believe that day is not far off."
Garen nodded. "I look forward to our next encounter."
Berfant sighed again. Garen's response clearly indicated that he had guessed Berfant's intention to send him down the Road of Descent. Yet, even after making the decision, Berfant still felt a twinge of reluctance.
After all, it was a plan he had painstakingly crafted over many years, only to discover it was a massive contradiction—something anyone would find unbearable.
"Are you really not going to take a look? Don't worry; I won't do anything to you; you'll still be yourself," Berfant said eagerly. "And you'll see the truth—a sad story about the world."
Garen smiled. "No need, thank you."
"Alright then..." Berfant pouted, the glimmer of mischief in his eyes fading away. "Let's leave it at that."
As he spoke, the candelabra on the left extinguished one by one, drawing closer until an overwhelming darkness engulfed the scene in the corridor. Berfant, the cross, and Lucifer all faded into the shadows.
At that moment, Garen realized he had closed his eyes.
He opened them and looked around.
Garen had returned to the attic.
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