Fire Mage (Web Novel)

Chapter 694: Shepherd

Runeth shook his head and responded.

"No. It is the first time I've heard about this Goddess. If my guess is wrong, she might be one of the forgotten Ancient Gods of the Primordial Era. To be precise, this Era ended more than 100 million years ago. That's also when ancient Beings like Ancient Titans, High Humans, High Elves, Ancient Dwarves, and many ancient beings walked around. Each of their strengths surpassed the High Gods and was more like a walking disaster. But I heard that they all disappeared one day. The only person who survived that time was the Goddess Mxyenta." He paused for a moment and soon shook his head.

"After the Ancient Beings disappeared, many powerful ancient gods rose to the Divine throne to retaliate against the Chaos beings and waged wars over many parts of the Universe. Anangu might be one of those beings. If I'm not wrong, Mother Nature, the Main Goddess of Easica World, is also one of those ancient Gods."

"Mother Nature Goddess? You mean Zaqiel?" Charles asked before he recalled the conversation with Anangu.

"When I encountered her, she said, 'It's more like we are the same. I'm Her, and She is me.'"

Upon hearing those words, Runeth furrowed his brows and soon shook his head.

"Her past seems to be too mysterious. But you might find a clue from that strange plant in the pocket dimension. It has the power of 'Mother Goddess Zaqiel.'"

Charles nodded his head and asked the main question.

"So, what is the purpose of your visit? You didn't come here to check on me, right?"

"Haha, indeed. The reason I came here is not only to check on you but also to visit an important place. Do you want to tag along?"

"Important place?" Charles's interest was piqued.

"Yes. I want to return to the Nightwind Family and take the 'Darkness Elemental Crystal' from the Ancestral Hall to restore my spell model." Runeth's words made Charles grip his fist subconsciously.

"Of course, I'm coming. I've some unfinished business with those bastards!" A cold look appeared in his eyes.

"But before that, we need to visit a place and fulfill one of my promises," Charles said while regaining his cool and turning his attention toward the clone.

"What have you been doing all this time? Last time, I didn't have enough time to even chat with you."

Only then did the Clone Charles halt his drinking and turn his gaze towards him.

"Me? I've been helping Valarie and also became vice-captain of the Gold Demon Pirate crew. Also, I enjoy seafood, drinking with friends, and gazing at the night sky. I'm like the current living style."

'What happened to him?' Charles stared at his clone with a dumbfounded look.

Runeth couldn't help but laugh out loud.

"Hahaha. Stop looking at him like that, lad. He is acting very normal. Only you always get into trouble and always stir up chaos everywhere."

"It's not like I wanted to cause trouble everywhere." Charles shook his head and added.

"If you want to continue your life, go on. But help me whenever I am forced into a situation where I can't handle it alone. Also, your soul shard is evolving independently and can already extend 50% of my original power. So, be careful not to get corrupted by any strange power and end up attacking me from behind."

"I'm not that dumb."The Clone Charles stood up from his seat, enveloped his body in a crimson flame, and disappeared before leaving a few words.

"I'm going back to the Azure Federation. Don't call me unless it's something so important."

"What a unique clone." Runeth couldn't help but speak.

"What did you find about him unique?" Charles gave the old man a strange look. In his eyes, his clone was nothing more than an ordinary person with no motivation.

"Unlike you, he cares a lot about others. He accompanied me to many restaurants like a grandson for the whole month and even chatted with me about different things. That child is caring, emotional, and sometimes smart too. He looks like your polar opposite."

"I'm caring too," Charles said, recalling how he had cared for those kids during their hard times and even got attached to Runeth.

"Caring, my ass. You are cold, emotionless, and overly smartass," Runeth glared at him and shifted the topic.

"So, where do you want to go?"

"42D El Road, West Borough." Saying so, Charles touched his face and started to shapeshift into his original look.

Before long, he completely transformed into a blue-haired man and appeared to be around 24 years old.

"Hmm? What's on your waist? Although I noticed it earlier, it seems to be hiding its power."

"She is 'Grace,' a powerful weapon I got from the Star Tombs Dungeon. From what I've heard from the Guardian, she seems to be a creation of some ancient Rune Master named 'Shepherd.' Do you know him?"

"Shepherd?!" Runeth's eyes widened.

"Is she shepherd's creation?" He couldn't help but try to move his hand towards the sword.

Grace noticed his action and instantly got triggered, releasing invisible blades at Runeth.

Surprisingly, the invisible blades started disintegrating into red smoke before touching his outer skin, causing Charles's mouth to widen.

At that moment, Charles noticed the refined wisdom power covering his body like a force-field layer and looked invincible.

"How strong are you in the past, old man? Even I couldn't see through your true strength."

"I was an ancient Arch-Wizard of Three Elements and currently holding a soul of 'Divine Hand.'" Runeth said with a proud smile.

"Divine Hand?" Charles was puzzled by that title and gave him a confused look.

"My soul is currently holding the knowledge of a Rank-8 Historian Class Mystic. But with my current body, I can barely call myself a Rank-5 Wonder Discoverer. Alas, even with my broken soul and spell models, my wisdom power is still around Rank-7." Runeth said, with a trace of sadness in his eyes.

Charles also knew what he was currently thinking and sighed.

"Is there no other way but to use the 'Fake Reincarnation Technique' and restart as new?"

A silence appeared in the room.

After a short deliberation, Runeth shook his head and answered.

"I already made some plans with Zera and prepared for reincarnation. But that should be my last resort. You are lucky to get your hand on 'Shepherd's' creation, lad. That guy is an Ancient Rune Mage capable of creating artifacts defying Gods. He is even a legend among the Ancient Mages and has become one of the peak existences more than a million years ago. From what I've heard from the rumors, he was captured by Lawful Gods for selling weapons to Evil Gods and Demons and imprisoned in the Prison of Time Axis ever since. It would be a miracle if he ever exited the prison."

"Wow, do the Lawful Gods have to go this far?" Charles frowned and soon walked towards the entrance door.

Then, he used an invisible string to unlock the door from the other side and opened it.

"Let's go. I also want to ask you about something along the way."

"What do you want to ask me?" Runeth followed after him while adjusting his hat.

"What do you know about Monarch of Myriarch?"

"Hmm, Monarch of Myriarch? If I'm right, it's the name of the Rank-8 Trickster Class. Why did you ask?"

"I got the eye of a Monarch of Myriarch as a reward from the Star Tombs. Is it possible to transplant my current eye with this one?" Charles asked, pointing his finger at the crystalline 'Eye of Faceless.'

"Oh? An upgraded version of your eye, huh? It is indeed possible for me to transplant this eye to you. But you might need to stay in one place for over ten years, doing nothing. Are you okay with that?" Runeth asked.

"That's okay. I plan on not going anywhere for a while and focusing on constructing the remaining spells and comprehending them one by one." While speaking, Charles started to walk toward the Central Borough.

"That's good then." Runeth also followed him closely and soon asked.

"So, what happened in the Star Tombs?"

"It's a long story. But I got many things as rewards." Charles then started narrating everything he did in the Star Tombs and even told him about the Evil Goddess.

"Although I know nothing about the Evil Goddess Vespara, I've heard of those with the Title Star Monarchs. If I'm not wrong, twenty ancient Star Monarchs ruled different parts of the Universe at the beginning of the 'Age of Origin Time.' Some Monarchs were pure evil, while the others remained neutral. But as more and more time passed, they all ended up dying at the hands of either the Lawful Faction or Chaotic Faction. But I didn't expect Star Tombs to be a place where the inheritance of Star Monarchs resides. You better not lose the Key and miss the opportunity." Runeth said solemnly.

While talking, they reached the West Borough's El Road and soon arrived before a single-storied house.

"Who is staying here?" Runeth asked as Charles raised his hand and knocked on the door thrice.