A few days ago, he had handed Eventador’s notes to Noah. After some research, they discovered that Noah, who lacked a physical form, could indeed bypass most of the bloodline seals.
Noah had been quiet during this time because he was focused on studying the mysterious script from the East Continent. Just now, he had finally achieved a breakthrough.
Starlight sat up abruptly in bed and turned to look at Po Kong, who was not far away. The other man was already snoring softly, clearly deep in sleep.
“Heh, this silly kid’s sleep quality is as good as ever~” Noah chuckled, but his tone quickly became exceptionally serious. “Now then... I have a question for you first, Little Star. Do you believe in prophecies?”
“Prophecies... do you mean like a sixth sense? Like a sudden flash of intuition before encountering danger?”
Starlight thought carefully before answering with an uncertain tone.
“No, I am talking about a true prophecy. For example, being able to see right now the result of you becoming a Saint Rank powerhouse two years into the future.” Noah’s voice echoed in Starlight’s mind.
“Do you think such a thing is really possible? Isn’t that the kind of plot found only in novels? Even someone like my Grandmaster couldn't cross the river of time to see things years into the future, right?”
“My view is similar to yours,” Noah continued calmly. “As far as I know, there are indeed some divination arts that can predict the fortune or misfortune of an event to some extent, but it is almost impossible to obtain specific, accurate results.”
“Right? If someone could really do that, wouldn't they be invincible? Even if such a thing exists, it should be something only a god could achieve... Noah, why are you suddenly asking this?”
“This is exactly what I wanted to tell you.” Noah’s voice lowered a bit. “Do you remember the text Carlos left in the room? Based on the memories we’ve pieced together, those words were actually a prophecy.”
“What?!” Starlight’s heart sank, and he instinctively lowered his voice. “What did it say?”
“If I’m not mistaken, it’s a prophecy regarding you... the general content is this.”
Noah paused for a moment before speaking slowly.
“The path ahead is fraught with peril, and fate is difficult to discern. Before the light arrives, the destined enemy of the Godslayer shall surely perish.”
Although Noah had only translated a few short lines, that last sentence felt like a heavy hammer striking Starlight’s heart.
His breath hitched slightly, and countless thoughts flashed through his mind in an instant.
“The enemy... of the Godslayer? Is it talking about me and the Heavenly Demon?”
Starlight immediately thought of the Heavenly Demon Phoenix’s other well-known title. Given that the demon was also Carlos’s killer, the target of this sentence was very clear.
If the prophecy truly referred to him, then no matter how he tried to avoid it, a battle between him and the Heavenly Demon was inevitable, and the outcome seemed already decided—he would die at the demon's hands.
Seeing Starlight lower his head in silence, Noah’s voice rang out again with a hint of reassurance. “Let’s set aside whether this prophecy is correct for a moment. At least now I finally understand Carlos’s actions. He wanted to use his own life to try and change your fate...”
“But he failed, didn't he?” Starlight’s voice was low, carrying a trace of suppressed anger and helplessness. “He challenged an opponent he couldn't possibly defeat, all for my sake...”
Starlight instinctively clenched his fists, his nails digging deep into his palms, but the pain could not dispel the sense of powerlessness he felt.
Although he didn't believe that a single flimsy sentence could dictate a person's destiny, Carlos’s death weighed on his heart like a massive mountain.
“Alright, don’t dwell on it too much. I don’t think those words have any substantial meaning. And don’t forget, my very existence is to seal your fate! As long as I am here, your future remains in your own hands!”
“Furthermore,” Noah continued, “we can’t be certain if the characters in our memory are entirely accurate. This script has many glyphs that look similar but have different meanings. When we have time, I’ll teach it to you in full through our soul link. You can try to recall it more carefully then.”
After hearing Noah’s comfort, Starlight’s mood gradually calmed down.
He lay back on the bed, staring blankly at the ceiling.
“I thought the curse of the Radiant Elemental Body was enough of a headache, but now I’m tied to the Heavenly Demon... I really am plagued by misfortune!” Starlight shook his head with a bitter smile, his tone self-deprecating.
Inside the house nestled beneath the shade of the World Tree, the bright moonlight was obscured by dense foliage, but outside the window, spiritual lights gathered from various elements flickered. They danced gracefully in the air like countless fireflies, emitting an enchanting glow.
Faint spots of light filtered through the small window onto Starlight’s bedside, mingling with the subtle floral fragrance in the room. Exhausted from the long day, Starlight finally drifted into a peaceful sleep amidst the tranquil atmosphere.
...
“Ugh... what time is it?”
Starlight opened his eyes groggily, only to find harsh sunlight shining directly onto his face. The scorching heat caused a surge of panic in his chest.
When he finally sat up, he realized with a shock that he wasn't in bed. Instead, he was standing next to a giant brown wall. Intense light beamed down from every direction without a single blind spot, as if it intended to bake him dry.
“Huh? Where... where am I? Wasn't I just...”
He shook his head, trying to clear his mind. Looking up, the “giant wall” towered into the clouds, blotting out the sky.
It took a long while before he realized that it wasn't a wall at all—it was the trunk of the World Tree.
Just as he was feeling completely bewildered, a small, lush green path suddenly appeared in the empty surroundings. The path wound its way from the direction of the World Tree, extending right to his feet.
Starlight looked down at the path that had appeared out of nowhere. After a moment of hesitation, he took a step and set foot upon it.
The moment he stepped onto the path, the previously empty scenery on both sides began to undergo a wondrous transformation.
Countless varieties of plants and trees burst forth from the ground on either side of him, growing at a frantic pace.
As he walked forward, these plants sprouted and bloomed in a matter of seconds. In the blink of an eye, the entire space became vibrant and full of life.
The scene before him reminded Starlight of Moen walking through the flower fields. Mimicking the girl from his memory, he gently reached out a hand and brushed against a nearby shrub. Immediately, the most brilliant flowers bloomed on the shrub, as if responding to his touch.
Starlight looked at his “masterpiece” with satisfaction and then turned his gaze back to the path beneath his feet.
Even though it felt like he had only taken a few steps, he had reached the end of the path before he knew it. A deep tree hollow appeared before him, silently beckoning.
Starlight did not hesitate and walked straight into the tree hollow. The moment he stepped inside, his surroundings changed once again.
Rate on N.U.
