Chapter 1058: Chapter 251: Yi Lian’s Account, Past History
The Golden Radiance Battle Banner fluttered in the underground hall, its golden surface casting dazzling light not only driving away the surrounding darkness; the radiance was like Dawn, cleansing shadows, even meticulously outlining every intricate line of the silver array on the marble floor. Andreg, Lopar, the Holy Angel, and the Wind Spirit Pseudo Dragon were bathed in this glow, witnessing the last stand of the Clockwork Man crumble like the boundary of darkness disappearing in the light.
But true victory wasn’t achieved by Brand’s final strike.
The Clockwork Man still had some fight left in him; the Level 60 to 70 Hateful Demon had the upper hand over the newly manifested elements of Lopar and Andreg on the opposite side. However, this last defense collapsed by itself, as the Clockwork Man was the first to fall. It was like a tottering building collapsing with a thunderous crash.
Basking in the newborn-like Holy Light, the Clockwork Man squinted, suddenly feeling the whole World veering off its original course; amidst this deviation, it too heavily fell to the ground.
Brand witnessed this moment.
At that moment, he suddenly understood; it had long been unable to hold on, yet it stubbornly persisted guarding the last gate. But such persistence ultimately crumbled when it realized its inevitable downfall.
The demon wielding a giant sword ignited itself before Brand’s summoned army, a blue flame burst from their bodies, instantaneously reducing them to ashes.
Nearby, a golden aura appeared on the ground, within which Yi Lian and her scattered summons became visible, but the terrifying Ancient Demon Imoku had already vanished. The older sister’s first glance was at the fallen Clockwork Man; her expression was one of emptiness.
Brand saw this scene, knowing she must feel uneasy inside.
The Clockwork Man lay on the ground, the ’tick, tock’ sound beneath the cloak growing fainter and fainter, it remained silent, its thoughts unknown. Its spell, summons, vanished with its fall, leaving traces of existence like an illusion, ultimately turning into white ashes.
Yi Lian came over. Her eyes were red, and she kneeled by the Clockwork Man. "Damn wooden-headed fool, what on earth, I just can’t understand you, you idiot!"
"I was for the rules my Master, for the rules..." the Clockwork Man muttered, its metallic voice fluctuating in pitch: "Every step of my Master is necessary, if he cannot defeat me, then I will kill him. I cannot... betray... such... a great... sacrifice, Travel Mages, we... cannot... afford... mistakes."
The older sister couldn’t help but fall silent.
"Must you die to acknowledge him? Are you satisfied, now you’re dying, you Clock Monster! You knew he is the Travel Mage, the first in a thousand years to enter here, and the last. Why do you do meaningless things, you fool, idiot, moron, simpleton!" The Deer Demon suddenly lay atop the Clockwork Man and cried aloud.
"Precisely... because... he is the last one, one must be... even... more... cautious. My Master... also left, what do I... have... to... miss?" the Clockwork Man’s voice seemed to come intermittently from its incomplete body, "Yi Lian, you don’t understand, how much... I wish... I were... a Travel Mage too."
Brand stood silently beside the two, his summons now regrouped behind him, yet despite defeating the opponent, Brand felt no joy in victory. This victory was due to an accident; even Brand himself wasn’t prepared to accept this victory.
To call it winning, rather say it’s losing.
But the Clockwork Man didn’t seem to care about the outcome, it glanced at Brand, its expression remaining indifferent. "I... don’t trust you, young man. You do not... know... what a true... Travel Mage... is... like. But... hope... you can... not let... me... down."
It shook its head, letting out one final sigh, then became silent.
In the hall, for a moment, there was only the sound of the Deer Demon’s wailing; no one knew how long she cried before the older sister gradually reined in her emotions. She lowered her head, pondered for a while, then turned back to look at Brand, the previous frivolous demeanor already faded from this lady.
