Chapter 70 Eight lives: four above ground and four underground. ...
Lucas vaguely felt that he must have passed out. His mouth was dry, and his brain felt like it had been hit by a hammer dozens of times. Some warm liquid trickled down his cheek, and he desperately hoped it wasn't blood.
He finally managed to open his eyelids, only to find that he was still the same as before.
In other words, they were tied up.
He was tied up far too many times along the way.
However, he was no longer bound by thorns, but by some kind of glowing rope. His blue cloak was no longer recognizable as blue, nor as a cloak, but rather as tattered fragments.
"Ashley," he heard himself say, "where is she?"
A loud laugh.
"She's trapped in Cynthia's magical illusion. She won't be able to get out for hundreds of years!"
Memories flooded back. The last thing Lucas saw before he fell unconscious was the witch and the rats being pushed deep into the tunnel by rampant vines and thorns. Therefore, even though Lanrit gave her a potion to control her magic, he could no longer use her powers.
Nova was tied up with him, lying unconscious, her face covered in blood. She held up a book with the title "The Labyrinth Movement Power Guide" on the cover.
It was clear that Lanrit needed Nova to move the maze, which was why he left her behind. As for Ashlin, she would only become a threat if the magic control potion failed, so he sent her into the illusion as soon as possible.
As for Zack... Lanrit probably thought he was just a rat, and it didn't matter where he was placed, so he just threw him away casually.
“Look closely, Nicholas. Your good boy is awake.”
Lucas focused his gaze repeatedly until he finally made out the two people in front of him. Beside him, his father was bound just like him; his uncle stood between them, looking on with great interest.
“…Lucas,” his father said hoarsely.
Nicholas II looked much older than when Lucas left.
He appeared to have been forcibly dragged here by Lanrit while he was asleep, given that he was still wearing rather plain robes and slippers, which seemed out of place in the maze.
They were still in the labyrinth, but Lucas didn't know which part of the labyrinth he was in.
“Hello,” Lucas said. “Father. Nice robe.”
Lanrit curled his lip. "Why are you two so distant? I was hoping you two could catch up. Nicholas, your son has been missing for so long, didn't you have any suspicions at all?"
“I thought you went to deliver a cat to the witch, Lucas.”
Hearing his father say those words in this setting, Lucas suddenly found it a little funny.
It all started with Ashleigh pretending to be him to deliver Lucas to her. What a mess.
Now, he and his father are in the labyrinth of Edoro, kidnapped by his deceased, deranged uncle. Things are getting even more chaotic.
“I am,” Lucas said.
Aside from the fact that he himself is that cat.
A dagger brushed intimately against his face, causing a light, subtle pain. Soon, a bloody gash appeared on his cheekbone.
“I thought you were going to use illusion magic to pretend I was hurt,” Lucas said. “Got your mind? Is the scariest thing you can imagine genital injury?”
"Don't speak, Lucas." Nicholas II suddenly shifted. "What do you want, Langrit?"
“Your pain,” Lanrit said joyfully, “your heart and your tears.”
“Your idea is excellent, Uncle,” Lucas said, dodging the dagger. “Unfortunately, you seem to have overlooked one thing. Haven’t you noticed the flaw in this plan yet?”
He had to buy time; it was one of the few things he could do. Elaine, Cassandra, and Aidan were about to arrive, and Lanrit was unaware of it. Elaine had told him that his mother had gone to visit relatives in another country. Lanrit couldn't teleport to another country using the maze, so his mother wasn't yet threatened.
Most importantly, Ashlin needs some time to break free from the illusion. Once she's out, she'll also need to break free from the control potion's restraints.
The most effective way to break free from a spell is through a dispelling spell.
Lucas happened to be very knowledgeable about the theory of spells and potions. Just like in the trials in the Orcish Forest, as long as he knew the ingredients of the magic control potion, he could write spells and counterspells for the same kind of magic.
Unfortunately, he's not a cat now, so he doesn't have that keen sense of smell.
The only person who could smell the formula was probably Zack, who was unconscious somewhere. However, of course, he couldn't contact Zack.
Another idea struck him.
What if he could willingly turn into a cat?
It sounds far-fetched, but hadn't he already discovered how erratic this curse was? His body no longer changed with time as it used to. This black cat curse already defied the characteristics of all curses in history, so why couldn't it be even more outrageous?
He focused his attention on the cat, but nothing happened.
The King must not shed tears from the bottom of his heart, at least not when they are being subdued. Although the three real items are still with Ashlin, once Lanrit discovers them…
Lanrit looked at him, pointed to the air, and the magic rope tightened instantly.
“I didn’t see it,” Lanrit said with a sneer.
“You seem to think that I am Father’s weakness,” Lucas said. “But I told you back when I thought you were Sanova that he wouldn’t be moved by me. In fact, he’s much better at tormenting me than you are.”
“You say he doesn’t care about you.” Lucas didn’t look at his father. “Then why do you think he cares about me? I still have the brand on my hand from the shackles he used to lock me in the dungeon. You can see for yourself.”
He struggled to extend one hand, revealing a scar on his wrist. Months had passed, yet the scar was still faintly visible.
Nicholas II looked at him, his expression unreadable. However, his father had never been particularly expressive.
“Only the shackles of the Helian Imperial City dungeon would leave such marks,” Lucas said. “Think twice before you act, Uncle. Don’t waste your time. Otherwise, would you rather wait until I’m dead to find out you’ve actually arrested the wrong person?”
"I arrested the wrong person?" Lanrit laughed. "Do you want to bring disaster upon your sister or mother, Lucas?"
“Don’t forget, our goals were originally aligned,” Lucas said. “I also wanted to obtain the last item. And I am not the key to obtain it.”
Lanrit squinted, as if trying to determine if he was lying.
Finally, he shrugged.
"So what? You're here anyway, so I might as well give it a try." Lanrit puffed out his chest expectantly. "Now, the show begins."
Well, Lucas thought, at least he did manage to delay his uncle for a little while.
Lucas's memories after that were hazy and indistinct. Everything was a blurry fragment, as if not only his cloak had shattered, but also his mind. He suspected that his internal organs had somehow moved outside.
If he could turn into a cat, perhaps he could escape.
If he could turn into a cat...
Lucas's consciousness fluctuated between clarity and confusion, but he preferred to remain in a coma forever, because when he was awake, he had to face his father's gaze, the pain coursing through his body, and the metallic taste spreading in his mouth. The air seemed to burn as it entered his nostrils.
"...Why did you do this?" Nicholas II asked with difficulty. "We didn't do anything to you. You left first."
Lucas almost laughed. If what Lanrit had told them earlier was true, then his father was even more shameless than he had imagined.
“I’m leaving?” Lanrit narrowed his eyes. “You betrayed me. You even stole my raspberry jam, which is my favorite.”
“…I told you long ago that it wasn’t me. That was a damn cat! Listen,” Nicholas II paused, “I never intended to betray you. I thought I was saving you, and someone told me that the herb was definitely poisonous. I suspect that person overheard our conversation and wanted to sow discord between us.”
He struggled for a moment, trying to straighten up.
“We used to be so close, Lanrit. We spent so much time together, I even went to see ‘The Dancing Potato’ with you…”
“What kind of example is that?!” Lanrit’s smile vanished. “It was an extremely highbrow play, Nicholas, and you were asleep next to me!”
“My God, your…brotherly love,” Lucas struggled to speak, “is so heartwarming, it really moves me, I’m about to cry. What if I’m the one who cries first?”
For those words, he got punched again. Well, he didn't cry, he just bled.
“Even so, you still won’t shed a tear,” Lanrit said through gritted teeth. “Are you even human, Nicholas?”
The father would not easily surrender to a dark wizard, especially one whose opponent was his own brother whom he thought was dead. He was stubborn and traditional, but not cowardly.
“I will not let you succeed,” the king said.
“I’ll say it again, and your heir to the throne will die,” Lanrit said. “Release your emotions, brother, and you can save his life.”
He moved closer to Nicholas.
“Do you think I really care whether Lucas lives or dies?” he said softly. “You know, I could kill him easily. The reason his death is being delayed is simply because I want to see you suffer a little longer.”
He once again commanded the dagger.
“I’ve had enough. This is your last chance, my dear brother.” He grabbed Lucas by the hair, the sharp blade pressed against his throat. “You can watch him die.”
Ashlyn. Elaine. Lucas thought vaguely. How is Ashlyn? She said Elaine would come, but where are they?
Nicholas II looked tense.
“Lucas, turn to your father; this may be your final farewell,” Lanrit laughed.
The dagger suddenly slashed downwards, but instead of cutting the throat, it changed its target.
Lucas felt a cold, stinging pain spread through his body, and blood stained his white shirt. Someone was screaming; it sounded more like himself.
Perhaps, today he has finally discovered his talent for singing high notes.
The good news is that it wasn't a fatal spot; the bad news is that he desperately hoped it was.
The king looked exhausted, half of his black hair was silver, his face was covered in scratches, and his eyes were red-rimmed. He closed his eyes and shook his head repeatedly.
“I’m sorry,” he said.
Lucas had a bad feeling.
Sure enough, a tear fell from the corner of Nicholas II's eye.
“No,” Lucas said weakly.
Now he had better pray that this tear wasn't from his father's genuine pain, but rather from the slight soreness in his eyes from keeping them open.
Lanrit immediately conjured a narrow-necked glass bottle out of thin air, suppressing his overwhelming excitement, and let his tears slowly, very slowly fall into the bottle. The tears shimmered in the firelight.
He was so excited that his fingers trembled and his dark eyes almost bulged out.
“Excellent. Excellent, excellent. All four items are finally complete!” He laughed maniacally. “The age of Cynthia, the age of magic… is finally returning. Your reign is over, Nicholas Nova. Take us to the center of the labyrinth.”
Nova shook his head, struggling fiercely to break free of the ropes. "No!"
“Who said you had a choice?” Lanrit turned Lucas around. “Take us to the center of the maze, or your good friend will die.”
At the so-called center of the labyrinth, there was nothing but a giant green crystal. Inside the dragon crystal was Cynthia, sealed away, holding a staff and mouthing the final incantation.
Before Cynthia lay a floor tile adorned with a crescent moon pattern. Lucas had seen the crescent moon pattern before, on the "Sanova" dagger. It was the symbol of the moon goddess Celeste. In other words, this floor tile was most likely a magical mechanism of the moon goddess.
Along the way, Lucas secretly dropped pieces of his cloak, hoping to use them as markers to attract the attention of Elaine or Zach.
Or... she's in here.
Lucas glanced at Nova. She clearly had no intention of getting involved in this absurd series of events, especially with her abilities being exploited. But she remained calm and strong.
In a daze, he recalled what Lanrit had said earlier.
The labyrinth's anchor points. Yes, he had heard of that before. When the four anchor points are destroyed, the labyrinth becomes unstable, and monsters and dark magic escape into the outside world.
Along the way, in their quest to obtain riddle items, they accidentally destroyed the remaining anchor points.
This means that the maze is currently very unstable. Even if Cynthia's crystal is still intact, the monster could escape from any of the four anchor points at any time.
They have one more task to complete.
“Nova,” he whispered, “what else do you know about the labyrinth…?”
Nova glanced at Lanrit, making sure he wasn't listening, before saying, "Life."
"What?"
She held up the "Guide to Maze Movement" and quickly showed him a page. To avoid attracting Lanrit's attention, she did so swiftly and then casually put it down again.
But Lucas understood it at a glance and imprinted the text and icons in his mind.
It was two simple squares, overlapping each other, with the four corners of each square connected by lines drawn in green ink.
Life underground and life above ground are interconnected, and they can prevent darkness.
“Like a box! When the top and bottom close together, the maze is suppressed,” Lucas whispered. “Eight lives are like eight nails… forming two magical surfaces. But we need a magician to connect the points into lines, and the lines into surfaces, and this person’s magic must be able to penetrate the earth…”
He stopped. Perhaps only Ashlin possessed such powerful magic. Not all divine beings possessed magic capable of shaking the earth. She had opened the entrance to the labyrinth; perhaps she could also make magic connect across the land.
“Zack is the anchor point in the south. The moon elf is the anchor point in the east. I am in the north. And there is a princess, the anchor point in the west,” Nova said haltingly.
This is underground. And above ground? Lucas pondered.
In the East, there is Melia; they can communicate using the rainbow and, incidentally, fulfill Aidan's wish to see Melia again.
In the north, Mara's family is still on the ground... Lucas can only pray that Ashlin can get them to come along too.
As for the West… Lucas realized that it would be best if either he or Elaine went back up there.
Lanrit was too overjoyed to pay attention to their conversation. He excitedly laid all the objects together, held up the flute, and handed it to Lucas.
Lucas raised an eyebrow. "This is...?"
“I can’t play,” Lanrit admitted.
“…Wouldn’t it be better to say this before you beat me to a pulp?” Lucas said breathlessly.
However, he picked up the flute anyway, because he knew it wouldn't work.
Lanrit naturally ignored him.
"The ring, the dragon fire, the magic flute, and the tears—we are still before Cynthia's seal... everything is about to be completed."
He whispered a spell to the object, signaling Lucas to play.
Lucas began playing the melody of "Leida Minor." It was Aidan's work, not Lucas's favorite, but Elaine's.
To the familiar music, Lanrit excitedly observed the entire process of the spell being cast, while Nicholas II remained silent, looking as if he had aged several decades.
When the music ended, nothing happened.
Lucas trembled as he put down his flute, and Nova helped him up.
"It seems we've all been mistaken... Uncle. Perhaps the riddle items aren't these. The Moon Goddess's writing was just a joke."
Lanri pulled her face down.
He stopped, recalling something, his expression replaced by surprise and hatred.
Lucas forced a smile, but immediately winced in pain. "She did lie to you."
“So the real three items are with her,” Lanrit murmured dreamily. “But she’s still trapped in the illusion Cynthia created for her, unable to escape even after hundreds of years.”
“I believe in her,” Lucas said firmly. “I believe in Ashleigh, she will come out.”
Lanrit turned to him, grinned, and revealed a gleaming dagger, still dripping with Lucas's blood.
“Throughout history, no one has ever escaped Cynthia’s magic crystal alive,” he said happily. “I think Cynthia will take care of her. Once she’s lost inside the crystal, Cynthia will naturally take out the magical items she possesses. Now, Your Highness, you’re useless. How about we bid farewell here forever?”
Lucas wanted to say that it sounded good, since he didn't really enjoy their time together either.
But before he could speak, he felt a wave of dizziness, and his whole body was surrounded by a refreshing yet wild power.
Then, that force surged out like a stampede of horses.
His gaze suddenly dropped.
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