Lord Shadow

Chapter 1567 Inkwell

A Few Minutes Ago

Ssszt!

Amidst the frigid wilderness, space itself seemed to tear apart with a haunting sound. From this rift emerged a man, who glanced around, surveying his surroundings.

"Full of snow and winter winds," he thought to himself, his gaze sweeping the bleak landscape.

He then cast his eyes upward, where heavy snowfall and fierce winds obscured his view.

He adjusted his vision, zooming in on a distant mountain peak.

As details of the distant peak came into focus, a sly smile spread across his face. "Is that where it is? Still, it must be heavily protected if I could not see anything," he muttered with a hint of anticipation.

With a sense of purpose, he started his ascent towards the distant mountain peak.

Every step he took left a mark in the pristine snow, creating a trail that wound its way up.

The mountain is an imposing presence, its slopes blanketed in thick layers of snow.

He look toward the top of the mountain and he narrowed his eyes

"Even the peak is modified. He really don't want anyone to know he is here" he sighed

Occasional roars and howls echoed through the air a sign that wilderness thrived in this harsh environment.

Despite the challenging conditions, the man pressed on, his steps steady and unwavering. His breath hung in the frigid air as he climbed ever higher.

As he journeyed through this strange, snow-covered landscape, he couldn't help but muse aloud, "This is odd. I am sure of it."

His words barely carried through the biting wind

In the midst of the frozen wilderness, the man's muttered words seemed to be lost to the wind, vanishing into the vast, snow-covered expanse.

Yet, they held a significance known only to him.

Those who did not know what he is thinking about would not be able to understand what he is saying and what he means. But he was never a talkative person.

But when he is flustered and when he is panicked and when he wanted to calm himself down, he would talk to himself

He produced a unique compass, an item not bound by the laws of physics, but rather, by mystical forces.

His eyes locked onto the compass, finding comfort and validation in its guidance.

With a solemn nod, he affirmed his unwavering conviction.

"It's here," he declared, a newfound determination coursing through him as he stowed the compass away in his pouch.

This time he would no longer doubt it as he put the compass back into his pouch.

Whoosh!

The wind keep getting stronger and the snow keep falling relentlessly

Amidst the relentless snowfall, a solitary figure marched through the unforgiving wilderness.

Cloaked in a bear fur coat, his facial features remained concealed, a testament to the biting cold that gnawed at his resolve.

Overhead, the tumultuous symphony of thunder and lightning played out with awe-inspiring grandeur.

Thunderclaps resonated like the mighty strokes of a cosmic hammer, while jagged bolts of lightning momentarily cleaved the sky, threatening to strike the very earth beneath.

Yet, in the face of nature's fury, the snow continued to fall unabated, its relentless descent creating a serene, albeit perilous, blanket of white.

Undeterred, the man pressed on, his unwavering determination contrasting starkly with the tumult above.

His relentless march eventually brought him to a secluded cabin, a solitary refuge amidst the icy desolation.

As he approached the cabin's entrance, a peculiar occurrence disrupted his course.

In the midst of the pristine white landscape, a sudden burst of vibrant green light radiated around him.

Simultaneously, he felt the weight of an oppressive energy bear down upon him, though the sensation was fleeting, lasting no more than a mere heartbeat.

"He is cautious" this man thought

Then he pushed the intercom button and he announce himself

"I think you know who I am, Inkwell," he announced, his voice carrying a tone of familiarity.

Lou, on the other side of the intercom, recognized the voice immediately and sighed. "It's been a long time since someone called me like that."

The man replied, "I've been searching for you in Ankara."

Lou responded simply with, "I moved."

"Evidently," the man remarked with a hint of dry humor.

A brief silence hung between them before Lou added, "You're going to leave an acquaintance out in the cold?"

Another sigh could be heard from the intercom, followed by the distinctive sound of the cabin's door opening.

With a smile beneath his bear fur-covered visage, the man stepped inside

….

Inside the cabin, the man carefully hung his bear coat on the hanger near the entrance door.

With the coat removed, his appearance became fully visible.

He is a young man, standing around six feet seven inches tall, with distinct Caucasian features.

His bright brown eyes held an air of curiosity, and hazel hair was neatly tied behind the back of his head.

Lou couldn't help but notice the wine gourd tied to the young man's left hip.

"Wine Beggar Louise," Lou stated, a touch of recognition in his voice.

Though the man face had changed somewhat since the last time Lou had seen him, he still bore the undeniable traits of someone Lou knew.

the last time they met Louise ask him to do something he could not do.

He still remember that day sometimes.

He only thought at that time that there is such a magic that could wipe out such a cause and effect. And it is even more terrifying that Louise seems to know that he had lost something.

In a world filled with renowned figures, many known for their extraordinary abilities and influence, there was a select group that Lou recognized as particularly enigmatic and formidable.

Death Monarch, Earthshaker Raymond, Time Master Jean, Mind Manipulator Hiate, Archmage Illusionist Hikigaya, and several others held the power to shape the world, their actions capable of causing cataclysmic shifts.

Yet, among these prominent individuals, Lou was aware of the existence of others like Louise.

These individuals were rarely seen in the grand stage of world powers, opting for a more covert and mysterious approach to their actions.

Despite their relative obscurity, Lou knew their methods were potent and their influence profound.

"I heard you called yourself Lou around this part" Louise suddenly said.

Lou nodded.

"It's the first name that come up from my mind"

"you use my name?" Old Lou nodded

"Inkwell does not really sound like a name don't you think?" Louise only chuckles at this

Despite the seemingly amiable atmosphere between them, both Lou and Louise understood that this is not a friendly social visit.

Louise presence was not born out of deep friendship, and Inkwell decision to admit him into the cabin was rooted in a lack of trust.

To the casual observer, this might appear contradictory – why let someone you don't trust inside your home?

However, for those who knew Inkwell well, they understood that he rarely adhered to conventional common sense.

His actions were often enigmatic

Inkwell has never act according to normal common sense.

Inkwell is not a fighter.

He is a Disk Formation leveler, but he is not exactly the fighting type.

That is not his talent and that is not his Path.

His method is a bit different than other and so, his method of fighting is also very different.

From the moment Louise foot crossed the threshold of the cabin, a subtle transformation unfolded in the atmosphere.

The air seemed to ripple with unseen energy, resonating with Inkwell mastery over the protective enchantments that swirled around every corner of his abode.

The cabin was more than just four walls; it was a fortress of mystic defense.

Every inch of the structure was meticulously woven with protective spells, imbued with the essence of mystical incantations that acts a protection spell.

A network of invisible wards lay beneath the wooden floors, forming an intricate lattice of magical safeguards.

These wards could rival the most fortified cities in the world, rendering this humble cabin an impervious stronghold.

Hidden amongst the rustic decor were devices of arcane origin, each ready to unleash a barrage of mystical energies at a moment's notice.

Enchanted weapons hung from the walls, their gleaming surfaces reflecting the ambient light, attesting to their readiness for action.

Louise felt the weight of this aura the moment he stepped in.

He knew that in this domain, Inkwell is the sovereign ruler.

Here, Louise is a guest, treading cautiously through territory that was not his own.

Unless Louise had reached Divine Comprehension realm, Inkwell is confident he could take down Louise if he began attacking him in this cabin.

Outside, Inkwell did not have such confidence.

Inside, he had one hundred percent confidence to subdue and even kill Loise if he wanted to.

And Louise also understood that the moment he enter, he enters a troop. But he enters anyway. Because that is the only way to make Inkwell trust him

"Why are you here?"

"Someone wanted to meet you"

Hearing this Inkwell eyes frowned.

"Who?"

"It is faster if I show you" and he shakes his wine gourd and Inkwell frowns.

He understood what Louise is implying

"In there?"

"In here….so please put down the ward. Let me work my magic"

Inkwell however did not seem to want to do anything

"You can't trust me?"

"We are not friends" Inkwell said and Louise only chuckles.

He could understand such wariness.

After all, if Inkwell came to him with that same kind of request he would also be like him. So, he rummaged around his sleeve and then brought out something

A black polished stone.

And then he throws it to Inkwell. Inkwell did not understand why Louise give him such a stone and so he inspect it and the moment he inspect it he sighed.

He saw a symbol and he knows who it is that gives Louise this stone and why Louise is here today.

"It's him?"

"It's him. He said you owe him one"

Inkwell sighed.

"it finally comes to bite me in the ass" as he chuckles bitterly

..