Steampunk: Sixth Era Epic-Chapter 511 - Preparation for Battle

"Alright, we'll split up and move independently. After I return home from the witch, I'll start preparing to enter the Dark Realm immediately, collecting Spellcasting Materials, Relics, and that Box that seals the demon. If there's any bad news, we'll depart at once. Luviya, after you come back from the black market, in addition to preparing the ritual for sealing the demon, don't forget to inform our other friend. Even if you can't find her, make sure to leave a message,"

Iluna had been temporarily drafted into the Sun Church's special ops team, so she wouldn't be at the security company.

"Got it, Detective. Be careful... We've been preparing for so long, it's really time now,"

Luviya reached out and hugged Shard.

"Yes, it's time,"

Shard, with a solemn expression, embraced the girl with purple eyes.

After the great incident at Coldwater Port, he had been waiting for Daknis to arrive. They always knew that Daknis's appearance would surely be the signal for the final battle. But now that the moment had come, it felt somewhat surreal.

Regardless, since they had decided to witness the Thirteen Chosen Ones, there was no avoiding it.

Shard and Luviya parted ways at Hymn Square, and without even going home, Shard took a carriage directly to the estate of Miss Galina in the south of the city.

Quite unfortunately, both Miss Galina and Tifa were not at the estate. Shard learned from the estate's housekeeper that the Duchess had accompanied Queen Diana to the royal stables to unwind.

This somewhat disrupted Shard's plans; he had hoped to take the Box of Darkness back with him this time, to use the last key from 1784 with three Roder Cards to complete the gamble and obtain the Spirit Rune of "Light."

But with them absent, Shard couldn't wait too long here, as Luviya might find him at Saint Delan Square at any time.

So, he left a letter. In it, he detailed the matter of Daknis, and hoped that the Duchess would also send the Box of Darkness to Saint Delan Square as soon as possible while dealing with the matter.

He had the housekeeper deliver this letter personally to the royal stables. Shard then rode the carriage back into the city, heading straight home.

His entrance and ascent up the stairs were so hurried that Mia at home was startled, thinking something had happened. While Shard was gathering items that might be needed, the orange cat kept following him around, as if worried that Shard was packing his bags to leave, but without taking the cat with him.

The Spear of Kindness, which could kill with a single strike in some occasions, the parchment page of poem that might bring Saint Byrons Academy's Dream at any time, the last Blood Coin of a Pirate, the Twenty-Sided Die of Destiny that interfered with Divination, the Ever-Youth Leaf for healing, the Demon Hunter Seal against demons, and the Transmutation Ring that could be used as an extra life—all these he took with him.

The Soul Fishing Rod was left at home because it was inconvenient to carry, but the necessary item, God's Gift Box had to be brought along.

This box was also inconvenient to carry, so Shard used needles, cloth, and scissors from home to make a very ugly shoulder bag.

Putting the heavy metal box inside the fabric bag, Shard tried jumping a few times with it on to ensure it was sturdy, then he placed it on the coffee table. Opening the lid, he considered whether he should put some Relics that he wouldn't need in battle inside the box, rather than on his person, to prevent them from going out of control due to the Dark Realm.

"Safety first, I'll keep everything on me."

He thought for a moment, wearing the Demon Hunter Seal and the Transmutation Ring on his right hand, the Mind Crystal Ring on the left. Although Shard had no desire to become a woman, when it really came down to it, life was more important than principle.

Looking over his hands, Shard removed the pebble ring:

"The change from positive to negative is the beginning of a new life."

He quickly recited the Spell Words to prevent forgetting them when he needed to use it, before wearing the ring again on his hand.

Meanwhile, Mia Cat, who had always treated the Transmutation Ring as a toy, sat perched on the sofa, eyeing Shard like a hawk. Seeing Shard muttering the inventory list and not intending to return the ring to her or play with her, the small ginger cat meowed once more, flicked its tail, and looked at the Relic that Shard had lightly tapped on the coffee table.

"And I mustn't forget the Weak Angel Potion," he murmured to himself.

Getting up from the sofa, he took out the light-sensitive Potion from a locked drawer in the study. Next to this Potion was an ointment as thick as oil, a vision-enhancing medicine concocted by the ophthalmologist from precious red Potion. Though it couldn't evolve the eyes like the red Potion, it did enhance vision, so Shard decided to take that out as well.

Standing in the living room, he pondered:

"Help me think, is there anything else I need to prepare?"

[Your doorway pendant.]

She whispered in his ear, and Shard immediately slapped his forehead:

"Oh, right, I can't forget that. Even if Miss Galina doesn't make it in time with the Box of Darkness, the last opportunity can still grant me 20 minutes of safety and rest. Not to mention, if I win the bet, I might even get a chance to have a brief conversation with the God of Gambling... It was the right decision not to use the key beforehand."

Praising himself, he also took out the Time Key and put it in his pocket. Only then did he breathe a sigh of relief and sit down on the sofa, looking at the Relic on the coffee table.

At this moment, the Outlander did not know whether to feel nervous or excited.

It was Thursday afternoon, just past three, when he returned home from Miss Galina's manor, and by the time he finished packing the items he might need for the adventure, it was almost five o'clock.

Not wanting to miss any messages from Luviya because of dinner, Shard settled for some bread at home. This led Mia, who still managed to get her fish oil mixed with cat food, to assume that Shard was out of food.

So, in a rare gesture, the cat did not finish the food Shard had given her but left some behind. She then stood on the dining table and nudged her bowl toward Shard with her little head.

Shard was a bit anxious, but seeing Little Mia's actions, his mood inadvertently relaxed:

"I've prepared for so long, everything will be fine."

He did not change into his home clothes but remained dressed for going out, sitting on the sofa with Miss Feliana's notebook, flipping through to that evening.

It was a little after ten on Thursday night when Luviya finally knocked on the door downstairs, and from her appearance, she had not had a leisurely afternoon or evening:

"The good news is that Daknis and the Weeper have not entered the Dark Realm so far. The bad news is, the church can't find any trace of them. If a Thirteen-Ring Sorcerer wants to hide, no one can easily find them," Luviya said, looking a bit exhausted as she settled onto the sofa.

"The church has received our message, but I didn't get to see Iluna; she went straight south with the church's team. I think the church is planning that if things go awry, they'll have the Sun Greatsword lead Iluna into the Dark Realm to confront Daknis and Hermons."

"That's not bad, but we can't just sit on the news from Iluna."

"Yes, the Prophet's Society also has some Diviners dispatched to the south of the city. I'll head back to the society shortly, to gather intelligence through our channels. If it's confirmed that Daknis has entered the Dark Realm, I will come to find you immediately. Shard, don't sleep too deeply tonight; I might knock on your door at any time."

Shard nodded, looking at the Relic on his table:

"Luviya, you also need to rest well, don't get too..."

"At a time like this, how can I rest!"

Her voice suddenly became loud, startling the cat Shard right into Shard's chest.

The girl with purple eyes immediately showed an expression of regret:

"I'm sorry."

This behavior was very similar to the nearly out-of-control scene when she learned in Coldwater Port who The Chosen One was.

"Luviya, calm down."

Shard still maintained his composure, reaching out to grasp Luviya's left hand:

"I don't know why, but whenever The Chosen One is involved, you get so emotional. But right now, we have the upper hand. There's no need to be anxious."

"Sorry, I lost my composure."

She raised her right hand to cover her forehead:

"I just...whenever I think of the possibility that Daknis might complete the ritual and then escape from Tobesk, I just...feel...I can't put it into words...like the world is about to descend into destruction. I'm sorry, Shard, really sorry."

She lowered her head and fell silent, while Shard held her hand, gazing out at the starry sky through the window:

"No matter what, I've always been here."

He said almost in a whisper.

Luviya left quickly, and Shard didn't go to bed for the night. Instead, he rested on the sofa, dressed and covered with a blanket, ready to leave at any moment. Although he was only a Second Ring sorcerer, his strong physical condition still allowed him to endure it.

But if it continued for several more days, Shard would definitely not hold up.

Nevertheless, where Shard slept made no difference to Mia Cat, who lay on the back of the sofa and slept through the night. When she woke up on Friday morning and let out a few drowsy meows, she seemed unable to understand why she was in the living room and couldn't see Shard. But as soon as the cat fully woke up and looked down at Shard on the sofa, she got excited and prompted Shard to prepare breakfast.

"Good morning, Mia."

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Shard yawned, threw off the blanket, and rose from the sofa, stretching until all his bones seemed to crack. The sound wasn't an illusion because the orange cat also heard it and looked curiously at Shard.

After breakfast, Shard returned to the living room to wait. At this point, whether it was Miss Galina sending a servant with the Box of Darkness or Luviya paying another visit, either would be a surprise for Shard.

But from that morning until evening, no one visited. It was only after Shard returned from dining out with Mia that they finally saw a girl waiting at the door of their home.

But it wasn't Luviya; it was Dorothy.

The blonde, blue-eyed writer stood at Shard's doorway, bathed in the evening sun of late summer. Suddenly turning her head, she gave the Outlander carrying the cat a smile. Shard felt as though his heart might stop beating.

Dorothy's visit this time was to borrow Detective Sparrow's detective records from Shard. She wanted to copy some parts that didn't reveal any secrets to share with her writer friends.

Shard had no objections to this, but as Dorothy followed him upstairs and saw the table full of Relics and Spellcasting Materials, she stopped in her tracks in astonishment:

"Are you finally about to finish the tasks you have been busy with recently?"

"Yes."

Shard nodded. Seeing that he didn't seem keen to discuss further, Dorothy pursed her lips:

"If you need help, Lecia can probably muster over a hundred steam-powered infantry in the city."

"No, no, I can handle it myself."

Shard shook his head slightly. He would not involve Dorothy and Lecia in terrifying matters related to demons, no matter what.

"Are you sure you don't need my help?"

"I don't need it. I'm not going to do anything dangerous."

"Alright then, take this."

She took out the Ever-Youth Leaf from the crevice of the silver jewelry hanging around her neck:

"Borrow it back to me in a few days, to prove that you haven't done anything dangerous."

"Okay."

Shard nodded with a smile, confident he'd have the keys along with two leaves, so he was sure he wouldn't be found out.

"Also, this is the ancient text of Kiss of the Tree that Lecia helped find. I was thinking of giving it to you at the meeting on Saturday."

She handed a scroll of parchment to Shard:

"Your Kiss of the Tree Spirit Talisman isn't linked to any Arcane Technique, which I always felt was not good, so take this, it might help you when the time comes."

Shard looked at the item in his hands:

"I... I..."

"I look forward to you sharing your story with me after your adventure,"

She said with a smile:

"Shard, you must, absolutely must, tell me."

This time Shard's guilt about lying became even stronger.

Mia Cat slipped into the God's Gift Box, and when Shard didn't pull her out this time, she curiously eyed the two people looking at each other in the sunset.