The Hero stood silently at the edge of the daunting Ice Abyss, appearing like a traveler blocked by this chasm.
Even with the ability to fly, carrying heavy prefabricated blocks to land within the unknown darkness was a highly difficult task.
But the Hero paused not because it felt difficult.
The previously faint magic connection on the Snow Mountain had become more pronounced here, and the other party also sensed this. In the Hero's Perception, a powerful source of magical energy was rapidly rising from beneath the Ice Abyss.
Before the other party completely reached the surface, she smiled and prepared to greet.
Amidst the howling winds, a cold breeze brushed her face, and the Hero's cheerful voice echoed above the Ice Abyss.
"Sister White Snake, long time no see!"
The White Snake, emerging from the abyss on the wind and snow, lowered its head, its giant Snake Eyes calmly meeting the Hero's gaze.
"Long time no see, Hero."
The Gleaming Scale Serpent behind the Hero also slightly bowed, prompting the White Snake to nod.
"What brings you here? Have the human affairs been settled so quickly?"
Although not as long-lived as the Phoenix and Dragons, the White Snake was an enduring being, and without pressing events, she had a more relaxed concept of time than humankind.
"Well, actually, it's …"
And so the Hero recounted her recent experiences.
[White Snake's Reaction (higher number, more excited)]
D100+30=d100(11)+30=41
After hearing the Hero's words, the White Snake let out a low sigh, which even those unfamiliar with reading its expressions could discern the helplessness within the sound.
"So it has come to this, I am late once again..."
"Sister White Snake, do you know something?" Seeing White Snake's unsurprised and somewhat troubled reaction to her ordeal, the Hero couldn't help but ask.
"In my inherited memories, although none were as intense as what you've experienced, those who once participated in sealing the Corrupted Phoenix in battle were more or less cursed in the end."
The Hero blinked in surprise.
Although she had learned of this Prayer House's location through a dream last night and experienced part of the life of an Ancient Hero, it did not mean she had acquired the Ancient Hero's memories or fully understood the past events.
Compared to her vague dreams, the words of the longevity species White Snake seemed far more credible.
"The effects of the Corrupted Phoenix's curse were mostly not intense, lacking any immediate destructiveness. At that time, humankind thought this was because the Corrupted Phoenix was exhausted in the end, sealed by the Ancient Hero, so the curse was not powerful, many capable humans didn't even take it to heart."
Hearing this, the Hero sensed something and cautiously asked.
"So, what happened to them afterward?"
"The outcome was largely unfavorable. Most died early due to battle after-effects; a few chose to be sealed beneath the Ice Abyss on their own, while others..." The White Snake flicked its tongue, hesitated a bit, but decided to reveal.
"They fell into depravity, became criminals, exiles... even fully demonized, turning into entities of evil that had to be eradicated."
The Gleaming Scale Serpent beside her frowned, looking solemn.
"Hmm, perhaps the true effect of the curse lies not on the surface, but in a deeper... 'destiny,' steering the cursed one's fate towards the Path of Depravity."
The White Snake confirmed.
"Although these are all just speculations since the Corrupted Phoenix did not wield the power of destiny, a person's fate can change in countless ways, and with a hint of malicious guidance along the way, the potential for veering off course greatly increases..."
The White Snake's tone revealed frustration.
"I originally intended to join the Snow Women in extracting the remaining Soul Power from the Ice Abyss, allowing those warriors who once opposed the Corrupted Phoenix to help you resist or even eliminate the curse... although we're almost successful, it seems our progress is still too slow. I should have exerted more effort, urged the Snow Women to go sleepless if it meant—"
"That—That's unnecessary!" The Hero quickly interrupted the White Snake's ever-escalating topic.
"After all, matters of destiny can't be clearly explained, like I, if it weren't for Bishop's guidance, wouldn't even know that I also—"
Here, the Hero paused, feeling momentarily confused.
It seemed like she forgot something, but if she couldn't recall it, it probably wasn't important?
After all, her memory was quite sharp now.
"Anyhow, I will not lose to that pervert inside me!"
The Hero thumped her chest, declaring boldly.
"True enough, since if the Corrupted Phoenix could control fate, it wouldn't have been killed by you." The White Snake chuckled.
"It was the combined effort of everyone."
Seeing the Hero blushing, the White Snake smiled gently.
"Alright, that concludes our reminiscence. I'll lead you to the lower levels of the Ice Abyss."
Tasking the Chocobo to guard the luggage here and instructing the Gleaming Scale Serpent to lay down a simple Barrier, the Hero sat on the White Snake's head once more, clutching the prefabricated block's metallic liquid.
As the Gleaming Scale Serpent reverted to decoratively coil around the Hero's hair, the White Snake summoned wind and snow, diving headlong into the Ice Abyss.
During the descent, sensing the environmental changes, the prefabricated block nestled in the Hero's arms trembled slightly, its runes blooming softly, beginning to draw from the Hero's Magic Power.