Chapter 16: I Have Come to Save You

The resurrection of the dead is an eternal truth that cannot be changed in the land of Rand.

Apart from certain malicious cults and secret organizations that manipulate the power of evil gods to propagate such means, even divine spellcasters and those who surpass them, including any potions, blessings, gifts, or even the legendary Fountain of Resurrection said to revive all things, cannot achieve true resurrection in the real sense.

Perhaps only a few orthodox deities can accomplish such a feat.

So when Char presented this explanation, he felt somewhat uneasy in his heart.

After all, the witch had lived for so many years and possessed a divine-level status. With her extensive knowledge and experience, she might not be unable to see through his lies.

However, upon careful consideration, he realized that apart from concealing the existence of the system and its capabilities, he hadn't held back in any other aspect. Strictly speaking, he truly knew nothing about the origin of the system.

Seeing the witch still coldly staring at him, Char understood that she did not believe his words just now.

So he paused, his face pale, and said with a bitter smile, "Lady Agnes, please do not doubt the fact that I was truly cursed, as it was a deeply unforgettable experience of despair."

"When I was on the verge of being killed by the curse, I felt as if the black mist was branded into my mind, devouring my body and soul with a maddening intensity. The pain was indescribable. I heard countless undead and abominations howling and wailing in my ears, as if they were pulling the cursed one into an endless abyss."

"Shortly after, I completely lost consciousness."

"But soon after, I woke up again, shocked to discover that all the damage caused by the black mist, including the curse itself, had vanished without a trace!"

"Perhaps my previous statement was not precise... I'm not sure if it can be considered resurrection, but in this way, I managed to survive the curse."

His words held seven parts sincerity and three parts persuasion.

He attempted to subtly link together the ideas of "I can resurrect from the black mist" and "I can make the black mist disappear."

It was a bold attempt.

Although there wasn't a particular reason, Char had been pondering the scene he witnessed during their previous encounter: creating a vibrant landscape, only to have it mercilessly destroyed by the black mist.

Was this behavior simply to derive satisfaction from destruction alone?

Although it aligned with the typical portrayal of a major antagonist, Char had a vague sense that the truth was not as simplistic.

At least he didn't perceive any pleasure or enjoyment from the witch's expression.

If it was solely about destruction and witnessing scenes of death, she could have created even more impactful scenarios and then obliterated them entirely.

Char glanced up, then lowered his head.

The witch's expression remained unchanged, but her hands holding the book tightened slightly, and her ten slender, fair fingers unintentionally curled inward, as if she had realized something.

There was a brief silence.

Feeling that the witch didn't erupt or make any substantial move, Char breathed a sigh of relief and continued, "Also, I apologize for deceiving you about something."

"The truth is, I am not your follower."

Char's knowledge of the witch was limited to surface information, knowing only her titles as the "Supreme Empress of the Abyssal Realm" and the "Malevolent Witch symbolizing death." He had no understanding of her authority or the doctrines to be followed.

This lie was easily exposed, as it was only mentioned casually before. So Char chose to admit it directly.

Upon hearing this, the witch lifted her head slightly, and her icy gaze slowly swept over Char's face.

After a moment, she parted her crimson lips, and her melodious voice carried an bone-chilling coldness, "If you don't believe in me, why did you come here, and why... did you release me?"

The witch lady he had seen last time, though possessing the same cold and indifferent demeanor and speech, didn't exhibit such obvious hostility.

She was skeptical.

The timing of Char's appearance and his actions seemed too coincidental and illogical, arousing the witch's suspicion about his identity.

She had been imprisoned here for tens of thousands of years and had never encountered any humans. Why did someone appear for the first time and coincidentally save her?

He didn't even make any wishes.

This was simply something a normal human couldn't do.

Could it be... one of the gods' conspiracies?

With this possibility in mind, her gaze locked onto Char without any concealment. If anything seemed amiss, she would take action.

Feeling the oppressive gaze upon him, Char took a deep breath.

Although he had personally exposed the previous lie, if he wanted to conceal his true purpose, he needed another flawless lie to cover it up.

"It's to follow the voice within my heart," he said calmly, his expression tinged with reminiscence. "When I was very young, I once received a revelation in a dream: someday in the future, I must save someone from despair, even if it means becoming an enemy of the world, an outcast in everyone's eyes, and forsaking my original beliefs."

"I don't know who the revelation came from or why it had to be done, but deep within my heart, there has always been a urging voice."

"But... I chose to run away."

"For all these years, in order to escape from that mission, I remained indifferent to the revelations in my dreams and the questioning within my heart, living in self-blame and guilt."

"However, when I finally made up my mind to follow the guidance of my heart and met you, I seemed to understand the true meaning of that mission—I have to save you."

"Perhaps, the truth behind the ability to come back from the dead is also related to you."

"So, in the end, I came here."

His words were full of implications, sounding ambiguous and open to interpretation.

As for guidance and missions, they were nothing but empty words, but Char firmly believed that the other party had no means to verify them.

After all, he had had so many dreams throughout his life, and according to the field of mysticism, there were always interpretations of certain dreams that had similar revelations.

The only tangible evidence was the absolute lethal nature of the black mist, and Char should be the first human in history to survive within the curse. This, in a way, added credibility to his words.

And the ultimate proof was that Char had undeniably freed Agnes from the curse in their previous encounter!

This was a fact that no excuse or lie could cover up.

Only those with a passionate heart could bring liberation to the one who was sealed.

He was the person with a passionate heart, the one who genuinely wanted to save her from the depths of his soul.

However, the ultimate goal was not what she had imagined.

Especially since time flows differently here compared to the outside world, Char was afraid that if he was imprisoned here for a year or two, decades might have passed in the outside world.

By then, what would be left to talk about revenge? Even the people he cared about might no longer be there.

Having said that, Char silently waited.

In the next moment, he suddenly felt a familiar chilling aura envelop his body, as if he were in the midst of a polar storm, bone-chilling cold penetrating his marrow.

The witch, who was just in the distance a moment ago, appeared before him without him knowing when.

Her cold, pitch-black eyes slowly scanned Char, from top to bottom, not missing a single detail, as if carefully examining something.

After a moment, she lightly opened her vermilion lips and coldly said, "The ability of the black mist is not to 'kill,' but to conceptually 'erase.' No matter how many times you are reborn, you cannot escape the fate of being consumed."

Char smiled and shrugged, replying, "But here I am, standing perfectly fine. Isn't that the best evidence?"

The witch fell silent for a moment, then took a step forward, extending her slender right hand. A twisted and eerie black mist appeared in the palm of her hand, as if it could corrode the surrounding space completely.

Just by glancing at it, Char felt a severe pain in his head, as if he had been struck hard by a hammer.

"Show me the proof," the witch's voice revealed a hint of coldness as she handed over the black mist in her hand, unabashedly observing Char's expression at that moment.

As long as he showed the slightest fear or hesitation, the words he had just spoken would lose their meaning.

But Char's eyes brightened.

In his view, this black mist was like a large cluster of experience points waiting to be harvested. As long as he simply reached out and accepted it, he could level up several times in one go.

As for the potential pain it might bring, that was simply inconsequential.

Is Miss Witch being so proactive today?

His expression sincere, Char slightly bowed, showing no trace of fear or hesitation, and agreed, "If that is your wish."

Having said that, Char took a step forward and reached out his hand towards the curse.

His movement was decisive, as if he hadn't considered at all what would happen if he actually died.

Seeing this, the witch's beautiful eyes trembled slightly, and just a second before Char was about to merge with the curse, she suddenly moved her hand away, seemingly lost in thought.

But Char grew anxious.

"Excellency?" (Note: maybe "Madam?" A single lady, of a certain age, may also be addressed as Madam hahahahahahahahhahaha)

"..."

The witch looked deeply into his eyes.

After a while, she once again extended her right hand, gently offering it to him.

Only then did Char breathe a sigh of relief. He slowly reached out his hand and covered the black mist from top to bottom, faintly intertwining his hand with the witch's delicate hand.

In the next moment, black light erupted from the gaps, and endless agony swiftly engulfed him!

Compared to the previous time, the pain this time was much more intense. At least, Char immediately fell to the ground, his body convulsing. Even endurance had become a torment that surpassed all limits.

He was drenched in sweat, his face pale and withered. Under the effect of the curse, his body gradually disintegrated, and his spirit slowly dissipated within the devouring black mist.

The witch knew very well that this was no different from the most terrifying punishment in the world.

But from beginning to end, Char didn't say a word, desperately suppressing everything.

Until the very end, he died completely, turning into ashes that gradually dispersed.

Once again, only one person remained in the palace. She looked at the spot where Char had disappeared, gently pinching the edge of her black gown, the worn-out fabric forming wrinkles.

Waiting was always long and boring.

Yet the incredibly beautiful and captivating Miss Witch stood quietly and lonely in place, just like in the endless past, always living alone in this palace.

Time passed, but it was uncertain how long.

When silver flames lit up at the entrance of the hall once again, she looked up and saw that familiar figure.

The witch, who had been cold and calm throughout, showed a slight expression of distraction for the first time.

The young man, wearing a humble smile, bowed and greeted, "Respected Lady Agnes, good evening. We meet again."