Mage Manual

Chapter 1671 - 1231: You Really Deserve to Die_2

She rubbed Ash’s palm, red from the burn, and calmly returned to the main topic: "Now, Uroboros has both consumed Level Six of Hell and is trapped within it. Limited by the degree of contamination, its power only slightly surpasses that of Dazzling Star and the others combined, so if you insist on getting involved in this war..."

"It’s highly likely to be in vain." Death Mad released his hand, and his palm had healed as if nothing happened: "But it might also create a miracle... a small miracle."

After speaking, Death Mad tapped out a cigarette from the pack. After Ash lit it for her, she stopped talking and didn’t mind Ash’s actions, leisurely gazing at the distant apex of the Divine War.

Ash wanted to ask her for advice, but after thinking it through, he swallowed the words on the tip of his tongue.

She deliberately stopped after giving a hint, perhaps laughing at his naivety in her heart, or maybe wanting to coax him into betraying his spirit, yet she said nothing.

She didn’t give Ash any impulse nor did she guide his emotions. She just laid out the objective information; the next move was Ash’s subjective decision.

If Ash kept asking, what he wanted wouldn’t be an answer but a command... whether it was to stop him or encourage him didn’t matter, just as long as it pushed him.

He had always been pushed forward; many who knew him thought he had opinions and courage, feeling uneasy if not taking risks for a day, but it wasn’t like that... he just had no choice.

In Shattered Lake Prison, not breaking out meant death; in Nabistin Palace, if he didn’t fight Lissdia tooth and nail, he would have to become a Divine container; in the Silent Spiral, if he didn’t go all out, he’d lose Black Crow and Silver Lamp; in the Kingdom of Allstars, without giving everything, he could only allow himself to be slaughtered... others thought he had choices because he always risked for others, and just a little selfishness could have led to a stable life long ago... but for Ash, clinging tightly and refusing to give up was the greatest selfishness.

It’s not that he couldn’t learn to be selfish, he just couldn’t learn to let go.

No matter how much he carried, he refused to lighten the burden, greedily holding onto everything, unwilling to let go, whether friends or lovers... in this regard, Ash was a qualified mage; he was greedy enough.

He had no real opinions; does a child clinging to their favorite toy show a strong will?

But this time, Ash stood at the crossroads of fate.

No imminent pressure, no immediate threat, with no room for impulsiveness, he had to make a calm decision.

Death Mad made it clear; the world only had a few months left, not only outsiders like the Sword Maiden but also Igula and Harvey in Hell—everyone’s ultimate deadline was the same.

If he did nothing, he could safely enjoy these final months, but if he betrayed his spirit for the third time... who knows what significant outcomes could result; there’s no hope of completely eradicating the threat of Uroboros, at most extending the time by a few years or decades... yet even if he failed, he could still return to reality.

Doing the math, it seemed like a win-win situation; Ash should hurry to pay a quarter of his spirit to join the battle.

But this was his last chance... if he still had 3/4 of his spirit, he wouldn’t hesitate, yet he only had 2/4 left, so this time it would be his last use while still alive, and his next would mean death.

But when the world is about to be destroyed, what meaning does holding onto 2/4 have?

Ash tried hard to persuade himself, but losing his spirit also meant losing memory; he had already forgotten about Weiser and Vishi, so this time, whose turn would it be? Sonia or Lissdia?

He’s willing to sacrifice many things, but these two alone were prices he couldn’t afford.

Perhaps Weiser and Vishi were also prices he couldn’t afford, but he had already forgotten how important they once were to him.

Moreover, this time was different from the previous two; the previous times he had no choice—don’t pay, and he would die, Ash didn’t need to think. But this time he could escape, no Forsaken army besieging him, no four Divine Lords ambushing him, he just needed to wait another one or two hours to return and sleep in the warm, soft embrace of the Sword Maiden.

Paying wouldn’t necessarily succeed, while not paying would certainly be easy.

Ash really disliked this situation... he’d rather have Uroboros chasing after him relentlessly, or Dazzling Star suddenly going insane trying to kill him, then he could sell his spirit a third time without any care.

Even if forgetting Sonia or Lissdia was unavoidable, it would be the world’s fault; he tried his best, he just had no choice.

But the Supreme of Magic and the Six-winged God were blocking Uroboros up ahead, and no one paid him any attention.

Ash had thought that Dazzling Star and the others would eye him maliciously, take him down as an experience boost before turning back to deal with Uroboros... but they didn’t even glance at him.

Why did these damned mages suddenly show the responsibility of the Supreme Divine Lords at such a time? Why hadn’t they wavered yet? Had they not realized they couldn’t defeat Uroboros?

Ash had always been dragged into the arena, so he couldn’t understand how Dazzling Star and the others could walk into the arena with heads held high and chests puffed out.

Shouldn’t someone come make him feel the beauty of life and help him solidify his resolve?

At least someone could bet their hope on him, push him into the arena!

"Ash."

Ash and Death Mad turned their heads, seeing Harvey and Igula flying over. A casual glance from Uroboros not only shattered the final fortress these demigods of Hell put everything into building but nearly blasted them apart, scattering Ash and the others in all directions.