In this dense fog where one's eyes were nearly useless, if Perception was lacking, one might have already collided with a stone pillar.
But after transforming into the form of the Princess and redressing, the Hero had been navigating through the Fog Stone Forest for quite some time, and everything was still going smoothly.
The thick fog seemed not to have any intention of making things difficult for her, and although she couldn't guarantee that every step was directly toward her destination, she felt she hadn't deviated from the general direction, encountering no unexpected obstacles along the way.
Thus, when she stopped to rest a bit, the Hero had the energy to take out her notes and continue reading.
Yet the more she read, the heavier and more apprehensive her expression became, an overwhelming feeling of sorrow gripped her heart, making the young girl bite her lower lip slightly.
Scattered fragments of forgotten legends, ancient murals in the highland caves, fragmented stone tablets in the ruins of the ancient village, wind-eroded stone statues in the mountains, long unoffered to...
Under each note, the scholar's tone gradually became indifferent and objective, as if distancing himself from emotions, using calm and restrained rationality to refuse the inner turmoil.
"The ancient Hero of legend wasn't what we believed, a Hero who could strengthen by slaying Magic Creatures."
Extracting some pieces from the fragmented ancient legends, the scholar narrated the strange act of the ancient Hero taking away the bodies of the Magic Creatures after slaying those that threatened lives.
In the highland cave ruins, the scholar used magic writing to sketch the mountain of remnants and the faint ritual array patterns on the ground onto paper, leaving vivid and terrifying images.
Before the forgotten murals, the scholar turned the depicted contents into words, describing the scenario where the ancient Hero rapidly became stronger after slaying the Magic Creatures and being revered by the people.
Then, as the notes delved deeper, slight changes began appearing in the handwriting, as if the pen tip was somewhat unstable.
"She wasn't anything special, lacking both a strong Lineage and extraordinary Talent."
"I'm afraid the ancient Hero was just an ordinary human."
"Her method of growing stronger was actually quite simple."
"By forcefully swallowing the flesh of Magic Creatures, chewing the Demon Crystal with her teeth, driving the Magic Element into her marrow...twisting her own bones, blood, and Soul completely, transforming into something non-human, she finally obtained the power to seal the Great Demon."
"Besides this, she received nothing else."
"This ritual made her lose the sense of taste, lose the sense of smell, unable to sleep, unable to bear children. She lost all ability to feel beauty and happiness, being shrouded day and night in flaying-like pain, even slaughter and destruction couldn't alleviate this pain one bit."
"...This was essentially torture."
"No, even exhausting the imagination of the most brutal tormentors, one couldn't remain conscious under such penalty, let alone not fall into Madness."
"Yet she was conscious, voluntarily enduring this pain."
"Obviously, losing reason would be reasonable; it wouldn't be surprising if she fell into depravity."
"But in the eyes of others, they would only see her becoming stronger after defeating Magic Creatures, heroically leading people in resistance."
"Finally, this so-called Hero sacrificed her life but still did not gain release, instead turning all that was left of herself into the sealing of the Great Demon."
"People once enshrined her in a Shrine, revered her as a God, but later they abandoned this folk tradition, no longer transmitting the legend of how the ancient Hero grew stronger."
"The reason the legend is reduced to scattered words can now be roughly speculated. Presumably, the highland's inhabitants gradually discovered the truth afterward, choosing to hide the facts in profound guilt."
"I have already found the remnants of the ancient ritual used by the ancient Hero. If brought back for a little research and restoration, perhaps it could be recreated."
But the notes finally halted on a torn-out page, with complex and ancient array patterns remaining at the edges, revealing secrets once written there.
Left on the final page were only these forceful words that penetrated the paper.
[Hero's Pathfinding (Perception +96)]
D100+96=d100(47)+96=143
2d100+68=d100(37)+d100(71)+68=176
[Hero activated skill: Extrasensory Sensation]
D72+143=d72(55)+143=198
When the Hero silently mouthed those last words in her heart, it was as if she could comprehend the scholar's rage from back then, envisioning him tossing aside the painstakingly researched notes like rubbish.
And, she wondered, did this scholar ever leave the highland afterward? Did he ever rewrite the tale of the ancient Hero?
[Below 30 the Black Gate chomped, 30+ undisclosed, 50+ too ancient, 70+ believed the sealing could be maintained]
However, the pages of the notes were already yellowed, evidently weathered by Time. When the Hero found it, she could also see that this notebook wasn't recently consumed by the Earth Devouring Snail.
The legend of the ancient Hero had been passed down for countless years, now, even the Black Gate had set its eyes on the Great Demon under the volcano.
The scholar's notes might merely be one among countless attempts over the long years to unveil the truth, yet always returning disappointed.
The Hero silently closed the notes, a wave of indescribable bitterness welling up inside her.
Then, the end came abruptly.
Within less than a meter's distance, the Hero was still in the thick fog,
But with just a small step forward, everything suddenly opened up before her eyes.
[Weather (cloudy — sunny)]
The thick fog was left behind, and everything before her became clear and bright.