Chapter 299: The Beginning of Divergence
Magic Association Tower, inside Carlo's research room.
A week had passed since he derived the life force transfer magic. During this time, he had basically perfected the spell; all that remained was continuous optimization of its efficiency.
Of course, he hadn't forgotten to send a message to Flamme, informing her of the news.
While waiting for Flamme, Carlo stood in the center of the room. The table before him was covered in papers filled with complex magical runes.
His hands trembled slightly. His eyes behind his glasses were bloodshot, filled with indescribable conflict.
Before long, Flamme arrived.
She practically burst into the research room, not even waiting to knock.
Uncontrollable excitement was written on the red-haired girl's face. Her gaze locked instantly onto the papers covered in complex runes on the table.
"Carlo, did you really succeed?!"
Flamme's voice trembled slightly. She walked quickly to Carlo, staring at the papers with burning eyes. "Quick! Tell me! The complete structure and all the details!"
As she spoke, she reached out, intending to grab the papers.
However, Carlo subconsciously leaned forward, raising his arm to block Flamme's movement.
The joy of a research breakthrough was gone from his face, replaced by struggle and hesitation.
"Lady Flamme..." Carlo's voice was dry. "This magic—"
"What about this magic?" Flamme frowned, keenly sensing Carlo's anomaly. "We had an agreement, Carlo. I provided the most critical magical runes to help you complete the research. I am qualified, and I must obtain this magic."
Her tone carried unquestionable determination. This was the goal she had pursued for so long; she would not allow any mishaps at the final juncture.
Even if she had to use force, she would get this magic from Carlo.
Carlo's lips quivered. He looked at the determined light in Flamme's eyes, then looked down at the magical runes on the table—runes that represented a miracle, but also a sin.
Ariel's mocking words surfaced in his mind, along with his own derivation of the life conversion efficiency. The cost was shocking.
"I... I suddenly feel..." Carlo spoke with difficulty. "Such magic... perhaps, probably, possibly... should not have been created, and certainly should not be passed down."
Flamme's gaze sharpened instantly. "Carlo, what do you mean? Are you going back on your word?" She took a step closer, mana faintly fluctuating around her. "Do not forget, without me, you never could have reached this step!!!"
Faced with Carlo's hesitation, Flamme subconsciously assumed this man wanted to monopolize the magic for himself.
She was already prepared to strike.
Feeling the oppressive pressure from Flamme and remembering his promise to her, a pained expression appeared on Carlo's face.
He didn't understand why Flamme was so obsessed with this magic, but he indeed owed her for her help.
Torn between moral struggle and the pressure of reality, his shoulders finally slumped in defeat.
"...I understand."
Carlo's voice was low, but it transmitted clearly into Flamme's ears, causing her to breathe a sigh of relief. The mana fluctuations around her dissipated.
With a trembling hand, Carlo pushed a stack of papers recording the core formulas and magical structures toward Flamme. He also didn't forget to cast a spell to display the complete magic circle.
Flamme immediately picked up the papers and began to study them rapidly.
Her eyes were initially filled with excitement, but as her understanding deepened, her brow furrowed tighter and tighter, and the excitement on her face gradually faded.
"Absorb the life force of others, inject it into the caster's body to neutralize the loss of lifespan, thereby achieving near-immortality..." Flamme muttered to herself. Her fingers tightened unconsciously, crumpling the edges of the paper. "Conversion efficiency is extremely low... not even one percent..."
She finally understood why Carlo had hesitated.
This wasn't a path to eternal life at all. It was a plundering magic built upon the lives of others!
A chill shot up from Flamme's spine to the top of her head. She pursued longevity to have more time to research the mysteries of magic and to stay by Master Rhodes's side.
But if it had to be done in this way... what face would she have to face her teacher?
If she did this, let alone Master Rhodes, she wouldn't even be able to forgive herself.
Watching the shifting expressions on Flamme's face, Carlo felt mixed emotions.
He was silent for a moment, then spoke suddenly. "Lady Flamme, as Lady Serie's disciple, you must know a lot about Lord Rhodes, right?"
Flamme was still immersed in the shock brought by this magic. Hearing this, she replied somewhat absently, "Of course. No one knows more about... Lord Rhodes than I do."
Carlo looked up, staring straight at Flamme, and asked an earth-shattering question:
"Then, Lady Flamme, do you know... is Lord Rhodes... still alive?"
"Huh?!" Flamme was shaken to her core. She snapped her head up. "Why do you ask that?!"
But the moment the words left her mouth, she realized the problem.
Carlo asked because of this immortality magic.
After all, the source of this magic was Master Rhodes's draft.
"With Lord Rhodes's wisdom and ability, since he could leave behind such an exquisite draft, he himself must have mastered this magic perfectly long ago. He might have even optimized it to a level we cannot imagine."
"Then, using this magic to live from the Mythical Era until now... is not impossible, is it?"
He paused, not voicing his darkest speculation.
That great God-slayer... to cross a thousand years of time, just how many bones are piled beneath his feet?
He dared not think about it.
Flamme's brow furrowed tightly.
Carlo's deduction process was completely wrong.
Master Rhodes didn't need, nor would he disdain to use, such magic. His existence itself was a miracle beyond common sense.
But... the conclusion was accidentally correct.
Master Rhodes was indeed still alive.
But how could she explain it?
Tell Carlo that Master Rhodes transcended the laws of life through his own power? That sounded even more unbelievable than using immortality magic.
Moreover, she didn't know if Master Rhodes was willing to make his identity public.
Admit it? She couldn't explain, and it might violate her teacher's wishes.
Deny it? Carlo had clearly already convinced himself of his deduction.
The atmosphere in the research room became incredibly heavy.
Finally, Flamme avoided Carlo's gaze and changed the subject somewhat stiffly. "Carlo, your imagination is too vivid. Lord Rhodes would not use such magic. After all, this magic itself comes from a draft Lord Rhodes discarded, does it not?"
She clutched the papers in her hand tightly, as if they were burning hot.
"Regarding this magic, I need time to research it deeply. Wait for my news."
With that, Flamme turned and left the research room briskly without waiting for Carlo's reply.
Leaving Carlo standing alone, watching Flamme's retreating back, an even more complex and confused expression on his face.
Miss Flamme's answer did make sense.
If Lord Rhodes really used this magic to live until now, why would he have discarded it back then?
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