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The Sands of Time

As Forseti entered the Cave of Time, the Pool of True Sight came into view.

Crystal clear and deceptively serene, Forseti knew well the potency held within, especially after witnessing the dragon's sacrificial ceremony.

Precisely, it was the power of the Norn Spirits residing within the pool.

Forseti pondered the origin of these Norn Spirits...

After circling the pool, he identified the spot nearest to the sands at its bottom. Taking a deep breath, his palms involuntarily moistened with sweat.

Finally, with a determined grit, he gulped down the Swiftness Potion in his left hand and the Agility Potion in his right.

The potions took effect instantly, flooding his body with heat, lightening his form, and quickening his movements.

One second.

Just one second!

With focused steps, he propelled himself and dived into the water from the pool's edge.

"Swoosh!"

Just before submerging, he invoked the holy incantation in his mind.

Holy Shield!

The fragments of the spell vanished, enveloping him in a radiant rune light—the invincible state of the Holy Shield.

True to expectations, as Forseti entered the water, he felt a force pushing against him. Yet, this force could not breach the Holy Shield's defense, repelled before it could erode him.

The potions of agility and swiftness propelled him through the water, his speed surpassing that of most Asgardians. Reaching the pool's floor, he scooped up a sizable amount of sands of time and cradled them in his arms.

Swiftly, Forseti pushed off the pool's bottom, shooting out of the water like an arrow from a bow.

"Boom!"

Almost simultaneously, after a second, the rune light of the Holy Shield dissipated.

"Splash!" The previously tranquil Pool of True Sight erupted into waves, its waters churning like a boiling cauldron.

"What's happening?" The guards outside reacted swiftly.

Forseti, alarmed, dared not linger. With determined strides, he rushed out of the Cave of Time, accidentally knocking over a guard in his path.

Though the guards were bewildered by the sudden commotion, they understood something was amiss and immediately shouted, "After him, seize him!"

However, they were too slow to react. Forseti, with the aid of the potions, easily outpaced the ordinary Asgardians, evading capture.

Exiting the cave once more, Forseti vanished around a corner after a few steps.

Several guards stood frozen in place, perplexed. "What just happened?"

Nearby guards rushed over upon hearing the commotion. Their leader inquired, "What transpired here just now?"

The Cave of Time guards exchanged uncertain glances, unsure how to explain.

"Splash! Splash!"

At that moment, the waters of the Pool of True Sight surged, a large vortex forming at its center, its intensity alarming.

"Hurry, inform the Duke!"

...

Forseti reached a secluded corner, panting heavily. He examined his arms where he had scooped the sands of time—enough to complete the Talent Mixture with a surplus, sufficient for ten concoctions.

Transferring the sands to a container, he stored them in the Sanctuary space.

The holy deed was now stained, not damaged but with its layer of immortal iron eroded by the Pool of True Sight. To ensure his identity remained concealed, Forseti had preemptively applied camouflage to the holy deed.

A gentle breath cleared away the stains from the holy deed, restoring its pristine state.

Having secured the sands of time, Forseti ran for a while before dispelling his Flash Gold Town infantry disguise, reverting to his original appearance and changing into fresh clothes.

Emerging from the secluded corner, Forseti scanned his surroundings vigilantly before hastening away.

After walking a few minutes, he reached a bustling area, where the chatter and laughter of passersby eased his tense nerves.

"Phew..."

"Luo Wei!" A voice jarred him back to alertness.

Forseti turned to see Bart approaching.

Bart appeared different today, in high spirits with a beautiful woman on his arm, evidently tipsy. His flushed face and slightly ostentatious mustache made him look quite the gallant.

"Bart, it's been a while." Forseti endeavored to relax, forcing a smile.

Bart chuckled, "Is that your idea of a greeting?"

Only then did Forseti realize it had been days since they last met, prompting him to smile and change the subject, "Who's this lovely lady?"

"My beloved Ina, you remember her—love at first sight after three days! We even thought of names for our child." Bart slurred, gazing affectionately at Ina. "What shall we name our son? Hiccup?" He hiccupped. "Ah, yes, Fandral..."

...

Cave of Time.

Duchess Norn, Karnilla, Frigga, and numerous attendants gathered, all wearing grave expressions. Though the turbulence in the Pool of True Sight had somewhat subsided, it remained unsettled.

"You say he leaped from the water and fled?" Karnilla inquired of the guard.

The guard, drenched in sweat, stammered, "Yes, we're unsure what he did inside."

"Is he unharmed?" Karnilla pressed further.

Guard: "We couldn't see clearly... but he ran as fast as lightning. He should be fine, right?"

Karnilla was about to ask again when Duchess Norn raised a hand, signaling for the attendants and guards to leave, leaving only the Duke of Norn and her daughter.

"Swoosh..." With the others gone, the Pool of True Sight roiled, and the spectral form of the Norn Spirit emerged, shimmering atop the water's surface.

"Spirit of Norn, please enlighten us on what transpired," Duke Norn requested.

"An intruder," the Norn Spirit's tone shifted, no longer serene but fraught with fluctuating emotion, seemingly shaken.

"An intruder?"

"The Fated Intruder," the Spirit of Norn continued, "He is cloaked in a power beyond my comprehension. This power is formidable, severing my connection—UU Reading www.uukanshu.com to time, space, and even... to destiny."

...

Forseti wasn't in the mood for further conversation with Bart. After exchanging a few pleasantries, he bid farewell and headed home.

After a brief respite, he retrieved the sands of time from the Sanctuary space, transferring them into a crystal vial used for preserving potions—a perfect fit.

The sands of time appeared no different from ordinary sand, yet upon closer inspection, subtle differences were discernible, faintly glowing with mysterious power.

Placing the Crystal Vial atop the Talent Mixture recipe...

[Sands of Time substitution rate: 96%]!

Seeing the identification result, Forseti couldn't help but smile.

At last, he had collected all nine ingredients for the Talent Mixture!