Chapter 21

### Magic Condensation?

Luo De was truly surprised. After all, he had been playing Summoner Swordsman for seven years, and he had seen all sorts of bizarre situations, but he had never encountered anything quite like this.

Magic condensation refers to a phenomenon where some summoned spirits, after being used for a long time and developing a strong bond with their summoner, "conceive" something during their evolution. According to the game, this happens because their evolution is too rapid, causing an excess of magic to condense within them, eventually transforming into a magic condensation item—essentially, equipment.

However, players often referred to it more simply: a high-affinity summoned spirit would give them a surprise after evolving. That was all there was to it.

But this wasn't something to be overly envious about. First, the equipment given by summoned spirits was generally of low grade. Second, these items were illusions, usable only by the summoner. If discarded, they would vanish into nothingness, unable to be sold or given away, making them somewhat useless.

Luo De wasn't surprised that his summoned spirit had produced a magic condensation. After all, the holy sword had been with him all this time. What surprised him was—wasn't the holy sword supposed to be equipment?

Usually, only beings with their own will could have the characteristic of magic condensation, right?

What was going on here?

The holy sword wasn't a living being.

However, Luo De's moment of surprise was brief. The system notification didn't require his confirmation; it simply informed him of the event. The golden text quickly disappeared from his view, and the card in his hand dissolved into nothingness.

Lijie and Mace exchanged a glance but said nothing. They still weren't quite sure who Luo De was or his background. While he looked like a swordsman, his actions often didn't align with the profession. However, neither of them pressed the issue. As an adventurer, Lijie knew that many swordsmen had their unique powers and legacies. Mace, on the other hand, was even more convinced that Luo De was likely a descendant of an ancient family, the only ones who could possess such extraordinary abilities.

Although he noticed their gazes, Luo De didn't offer much explanation. As the guild leader, he knew it was best to keep things simple. Online players could be vicious in their arguments, and a single word or phrase could be blown out of proportion, especially after Luo De's guild became the first, drawing much attention. The more he explained, the more vulnerabilities he exposed. So, he simply put away the card and began organizing the other items.

Mages were quite wealthy.

In the church, Lijie and Mace had found more than just the statue controlling the gargoyles. They also discovered a small pile of gems and crystals that had lost their magic, which Luo De kept. As a part-time alchemist, these items were still useful to him.

What surprised Luo De was the diary Lijie found on the desk, detailing the life of the mage after he arrived in the town.

This piqued Luo De's interest. As a player, he knew the entire backstory of the Mist Ruins inside and out, but seeing it from the NPC's perspective was a first.

Although most of the diary's contents had become blurred, some entries remained legible:

**Year of the Saint, Thunder Moon 5th**

I succeeded. After the sacrifice of countless innocent lives, I finally saw her clearly. In the center of the array, she smiled at me, the same gentle smile she had in life. I was so moved that I couldn't control myself. I called her name, but she didn't respond. The spell wasn't complete, but I had hope. My idea was correct!

**Year of the Saint, Thunder Moon 15th**

Praise the Holy Soul! I have her back. I have gained the power to resist all things! I have brought her soul back to me. She can see me! I can touch her, feel her warm body. She hugged me, calling my name softly. In that moment, I felt that everything I did was worth it. Ah... my beloved Sina, she is as gentle, beautiful, and considerate as she was in life.

I am conflicted, but I have decided to confess to her. I told her what I had done, but Sina forgave me. She forgave me with the same smile as before. In that moment, I felt life was so beautiful, even the sunlight outside was so bright. I have decided to take her away from here. We will live a normal life, like ordinary people. I will no longer dabble in dark magic or use spells. We will move to a quiet village, get married, have children, and die like ordinary people.

I don't know if I deserve such happiness, but I will strive for it. May the Holy Soul protect me.

**Year of the Saint, Blasphemy Moon 3rd**

Something is wrong.

It's not Sina. I have this feeling, even though her appearance is exactly as I remember. It's not her. I told her my plans, but she just smiled and agreed. This is strange. She is a smart girl, but also independent. She wouldn't just agree to everything I say.

I suspect there might be a problem with the spell.

Why does she believe me so completely?

I will conduct another experiment to confirm my suspicions. May the Holy Soul protect me, and I hope I am wrong.

**Year of the Saint, Blasphemy Moon 4th**

By the Holy Soul, why is this happening!

It's not Sina! She is a monster with Sina's appearance! I told her I would kill for her, that I needed more women to be with me. If this were really her, she would never agree. But to my surprise, she sat quietly by the bed, smiling as I spoke, and then gently said, "Okay."

This is impossible! It's not her! It's not the person I remember! What is it? What is it? What is it? (The writing becomes chaotic).

**Year of the Saint, Blasphemy Moon 9th**

May the Holy Soul forgive my ignorance.

This might be my punishment for defying the Holy Law. I wanted to reverse death and bring back a lost soul. But I failed. This is my punishment. It is not Sina. It has no will of its own. It is an empty shell, a monster that survives by reflecting and exploring the deepest thoughts of others. I want to kill it, but I can't. It has drained all my strength... I am dying. I have no strength left to stop it.

This is for the best... Sina, since you cannot come to me, I will find you in the eternal dark river...

May the Holy Soul accept my sinful soul...

The diary ended there, the rest blank. Luo De closed the diary and shook his head. It seemed the mage was indeed a love-stricken fool... If he had chosen to commit suicide earlier, fewer people would have died. But...

A faint sense of unease flashed through Luo De's mind, but it vanished before he could grasp it.

Something felt off?

Luo De furrowed his brow, thinking for a long time but finding no answer. He soon put it aside, closed his eyes, and fell into a deep sleep.

This was just a minor episode. The three rested in the abandoned church for the night and set out the next day, heading deeper into the mist.

**"Whoosh!"**

A brilliant white light flashed, followed by the fading form of a wailing wraith.

Compared to before, the evolved Star Trace was even more beautiful. The flawless white blade was adorned with intricate, delicate engravings. The previously closed white wings were slightly spread, and silver-white threads spiraled out from them, forming a gauntlet around the hilt. Just looking at it, one wouldn't think it was a weapon but a work of art, more suited for a museum or treasure room than a battlefield.

"Truly a remarkable masterpiece."

Mace couldn't help but marvel at the longsword in Luo De's hand, which emitted a faint glow.

"To be honest, Mr. Luo De, in all my years running a guild, I have never seen such a beautiful weapon..."

Mace squinted his small eyes.

"I wonder, you..."

Luo De waved his hand, not to answer Mace's question but to focus on the path ahead. He then spoke in a low voice.

"We're almost there."

"Huh?"

Hearing this, Mace and Lijie quickly looked up, following Luo De's gaze. They soon saw a weed-covered square, and on the other side, two massive, dilapidated wooden doors appeared and disappeared in the mist.

"Once we pass through these doors, we can reach the Aragak Pass and then descend the mountain."

Luo De sighed in relief. Since waking up in this world, he had been under constant mental strain. While adventuring was enjoyable for players, it was less so when injured and under pressure. Not to mention, this wasn't a game where one could log out to smoke, drink, or play mahjong.

But there was one more challenge to overcome.

Luo De furrowed his brow, carefully observing the thick mist. He waved his hand, signaling the two to be cautious.

"Is there a problem, Mr. Luo De?"

Lijie quickly understood Luo De's gesture, stepping closer and whispering.

"Be careful, the battle isn't over. We still have the most troublesome boss to deal with."

"Pose?"

"Uh... I mean the monster."

Luo De shook his head, still accustomed to giving orders in the game. But now wasn't the time to worry about such trivialities. He took a deep breath and turned to the two.

"Do you know the origin of the Mist Ruins?"

Both were taken aback by Luo De's question and shook their heads.

"This was once a bustling town, but after the Wind Channel opened, it gradually became deserted. Later, a mage came here, seeking to bring back his deceased lover. He conducted forbidden magical experiments, but he failed."

Luo De paused, then looked around the mist-shrouded town.

"After that, the town became like this."

"Then, Mr. Luo De, the monster you mentioned is..."

Mace frowned, thinking the two gargoyles were the most terrifying monsters. Could there be something even worse?

"The Shadow."

The word was simple, but the eerie tone made both shiver.

"It is the most terrifying monster born from the mage's final failure. If we're not careful, we will all die here."

"Is it very powerful, Mr. Luo De?"

Lijie was puzzled by Luo De's knowledge, but the current issue was more pressing. To her surprise, Luo De shook his head.

"To be honest, not very. It is weak against physical attacks, similar to ordinary wraiths."

"Then..."

Lijie was confused. If they were similar, why did Luo De say it was dangerous?

"Because the Shadow has a special skill."

Luo De hesitated but decided to explain.

"It will probe your mind and transform into a familiar form. If you can't wake up from its nightmare and maintain a firm belief, you will die."

Luo De's tone wasn't entirely confident. In the game, this boss appeared after the entire party entered, transforming into the players and disrupting their judgment. Initially, it was a very troublesome boss, causing many teams to wipe. But players eventually found a way to deal with it. After multiple battles, they discovered the wraith wasn't very strong and had no other dangerous abilities besides copying the players. So, if only one player entered, it could only copy that player, making the one-on-one battle manageable for most. Thus, the wraith became a practice dummy for many players to solo, a rather tragic fate.

But...

Why did it feel like something was off?

Luo De furrowed his brow, sensing a voice deep within telling him things weren't that simple, but he couldn't quite grasp the details.

"Anyway, leave it to me."

The mist grew thicker.

Even the sacred light couldn't easily penetrate the sea of fog.

Luo De stopped.

He could feel the worried gaze of the girl behind him, but this was the most efficient and only way.

**"Whoosh!"**

A white blade appeared, causing the mist to stir before settling. It swirled around Luo De, isolating everything else.

The air became damp and heavy.

It was coming.

Luo De focused, subconsciously moving his fingers. The cool touch of the Will Ring on his index finger calmed him. He knew his opponent well, from its abilities and attributes to its combat tactics and attack range. He didn't think it would be difficult...

Perhaps not.

A figure slowly emerged from the mist. As it appeared, the air grew even more restless, the flowing mist reflecting the indistinct form, creating an eerie scene. A faint aroma filled the air, mixed with a strange smell.

The smell of disinfectant.

Luo De frowned, recognizing the scent but not having time to dwell on it. The mist suddenly cleared, revealing the entity within.

The moment he saw it, Luo De froze. His eyes widened in disbelief, his mind blank, unable to speak. Buried memories surged forth, echoing intensely within him.

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**[End of Chapter]**