Chapter 328: People Captured by Darkness
Ding! Ding! In the forging room on top of the black tower, there was a constant sound of hammering and a glow coming from it. A figure in a white robe was working hard inside.
Click.
The forging tool was gently lowered.
Saruman picked up the new ring, his hands shaking uncontrollably.
"Ah...it's perfect."
It was a pure white glowing ring that sparkled with starlight. There was not a single flaw to be seen. The word "perfect" was indeed appropriate to describe it.
“It worked.”
Saruman couldn't help but smile.
Behind him was an obsidian pedestal covered with glass, apparently the casing of the beacon.
But it could no longer shine because the contents had been taken out.
He couldn't wait to put on the ring, and in an instant, Saruman's robe swelled up without wind, and some huge power flowed through his body through the ring.
Carefully feeling this power, Saruman assessed it in his mind.
"Slightly better than the Three Rings of the Elven Lord, but...far inferior to the One Ring."
Saruman's heart sank.
After personally forging a powerful ring of power, he gained more experience and insights into the One Ring.
At the same time, a certain obsession became deeper.
"call--"
Exhaling lightly to calm his excitement, Saruman returned to his usual stern appearance.
Thousands of years ago, Gandalf received the Ring of Fire from Cirdan. At that time, Saruman was extremely jealous and thought he was more qualified to hold the Ring of Power.
Thousands of years later, Saruman did it. He used his own ability to create a ring of power that was even more powerful than the three rings of the elves.
At this moment, he no longer envied Gandalf at all, but instead felt contempt and a higher level of pride.
"Levi, Levi, I really want to thank you."
"If it weren't for this beacon, I'm afraid..."
I'm afraid that even if I try my best, what I can forge can only be a ring that is barely as powerful as the three rings of the elves.
After sighing, Saruman began to conduct various tests on the newly forged ring.
In addition to the rule-level power blessing that the Ring of Power should have, this ring also has an additional unprecedented function - due to the addition of Nether Star materials in the beacon, it can provide a buff for the wearer.
It could be an extremely powerful force, or a vitality that can bring people back from near-death situations, or it could be a power that can make people move faster, make their bodies lighter, and make their skin harder and more durable...
"Star Ring."
After thinking about it, Saruman named the Ring of Power.
"From now on, I am the master of the Star Ring, the great 'Ring Forger' Saruman."
While feeling satisfied with his new title, Saruman accidentally caught a glimpse of the white robe he was wearing.
“Too ordinary.”
He shook his head.
It's time to change the color to show your strength.
So what color should I change to?
Saruman thought about it and slowly stretched out his hand.
"I want them all."
Batch after batch of dyes were brought to Isengard and brought into the tower.
A few months later, Saruman walked out of it, and the servants stationed in Isengard always felt that he had changed, but at the same time he seemed not to have changed.
That 'white' robe is dazzling.
No, that's not the case.
It appears to be white at first glance, but it is not entirely white.
This new robe was woven with countless colors, so many colors that it looked like white. Whenever Saruman, who was wearing the robe, moved slightly, the colors on the robe began to flicker and change. The colorful colors were dazzling.
Saruman was very satisfied with the effect.
So this year he gave himself another title - "Saruman of all colors".
Under the sun, Saruman's robe glowed with countless colors, and the whole looked as if it were white.
But in the darkness, when those colors lost the sunlight, the robe looked a little black and scary.
"Who do you obey?"
In the underground breeding ground, Saruman grabbed the head of an Orc with the hand wearing the Star Ring, and his eyes emitted a terrifying white light.
"I obey...I obey..."
Oak's innermost thoughts began to change.
"I obey the great Saruman!"
Boom! Saruman let go of his hand.
There was a mark on the forehead of Oak in front of him, a mark of a white, skinny big hand.
"Um."
This time, Saruman was finally relieved.
The Ring of Power, which can keep these Orcs absolutely loyal.
If before today, there was still a possibility that these Orcs who swore allegiance to him would betray Sauron when they met him, then this possibility disappeared after the mark of the White Hand was placed.
They truly became an army that could be used against Mordor.
"Humph, I really should let Gandalf and Levi come and see my work. They will be amazed."
Saruman began to daydream.
Using the enemy's army to fight the enemy, what a great plan!
When Sauron is defeated, history will surely record him in a profound way.
But it's still a little bit off.
After coming back to his senses from his imagination, Saruman looked at the thin Orc in front of him and fell into deep thought.
Too weak, not enough, totally inadequate.
Over the years, even with the addition of their own magic, this generation of Orcs has only become slightly stronger and is completely useless.
But fortunately, now I have the Star Ring, and my power has been enhanced.
Now we can start to conduct further research.
"Well... this matter cannot be exposed for the time being. At least we have to wait until stronger orcs come up with a solution."
“Then I’ll show them my work.”
Until now, Saruman has remained innocent and has done everything to defeat his great enemy.
It was not until the year 3000 that Saruman suddenly learned a piece of information.
A spy from Gondor.
Perhaps because he had nothing to say and nothing to report, the spy revealed some information that had been ignored by others.
One of these was that he occasionally saw Denethor at a great distance going towards a tall tower.
When the spy described the appearance of the tower, Saruman shouted anxiously: "Fool, you are telling such important news now!"
Denethor, he dared to use that crystal!
"I must warn—"
No.
Suddenly, Saruman paused.
Denethor, the Prime Minister of Gondor of this generation, does not look unusual.
Did he defeat Sauron?
It's incredible.
Saruman's eyes widened.
"If you can do it, why can't I?"
Saruman raised his head proudly and walked towards the room where the Stone of Palantir was kept.
Boom! The moment he touched the Palantir, two huge wills pressed down upon him, causing Saruman to stagger and almost fall to the ground.
The will of one of them was extremely strong, like iron, and it dealt him a heavy blow.
The other will was deep and dark, vast with no end in sight, and extremely contagious. Just a touch of it cast a layer of gloom over his heart.
Boom——
A huge evil eye appeared in the tower and burned Saruman's lips until they were dry.
The black figure slowly spoke: "We are on the same journey."
…
"Saruman, I always feel that you don't look very well. Is there something bothering you recently?"
A week later, in the tower of Orthanc, Gandalf, who came to visit, frowned and stared at Saruman in confusion.
I don't know if it's an illusion, but I always feel that he seems a little tired? "Don't worry about it, I'm fine."
Saruman managed to muster up the courage to retort.
"Okay, I won't ask anymore."
Gandalf shook his head helplessly and said, "I just wanted to come to you to discuss the affairs of the North. I think the wise Saruman should already know that the evil creatures in Angmar and Gundabad have been cleared out by the armies of the Free Cities. This will bring many changes to the structure of Middle-earth."
"Perhaps so. Humph, I have to admit that Levi's men are indeed very strong. The country composed of multiple city-states has already become a mature force that can exist without his captivity."
"Oh, 'captivity', Levi probably won't like what you said."
Gandalf refuted for Levi: "From what I have seen, the system of the Free Cities is already quite mature, and even has some shadows of the Numenor people. Their only shortcoming is that they don't live long enough. The death of many old friends has dealt a heavy blow to Levi..."
Listening to what Gandalf said, Saruman couldn't help shaking his head.
"It's hard to understand. People with short lives are like this. Why should we care too much about it?"
"You still don't understand, old friend." Gandalf tried to correct some of Saruman's ideas.
But he was destined to fail. Not only did Saruman in front of him not listen with an open mind, but during the discussion, Gandalf had the feeling that Saruman's attention was not on him at all, and he seemed to be distracted and thinking about other things all the time.
"well--"
Gandalf sighed, and seeing that Saruman looked absent-minded, he said nothing more, but just stood up and said goodbye silently.
Saruman followed him out.
Just walk all the way to the entrance of the tower.
Gandalf stood in the sunlight and bowed slightly as a farewell to Saruman.
And Saruman stood in the doorway, half in the incoming sunlight and half in the darkness of the tower.
Seeing Gandalf walking further and further away, Saruman seemed to be suddenly awakened, and raised his hand towards the receding figure, as if trying to grab something.
"Wait, I..."
The darkness hidden in the heart broke out again after the visitors left, trying to attack the high ground.
"save…"
Tiny syllables emanated from his throat as the white-robed wizard attempted a final struggle.
However, as he looked at the figure getting farther and farther away, he was unable to say the rest of the words.
His inner pride would not allow him to ask for help from a mere gray-robed fellow who considered himself inferior.
The figure eventually walked away.
Saruman withdrew his hand, clenched his fist, and the last ray of light in his heart slowly dissipated.
When Gandalf's figure completely disappeared, he knew that he might have missed the last chance to change his destiny.
So Saruman turned his back and walked into the tower, into the darkness.
"What are you trying to save?"
Just then, an annoying voice suddenly sounded in front.
Saruman raised his head suddenly, and saw that someone had sat on the stairs leading to the upper level of the tower. The person was staring at him with a smile, as if he was enjoying a good show.
"Don't you know how to knock on the door?"
(End of this chapter)
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