Game World: I Can Share Talents

Chapter 158 - 156: Mivana, Your Master Is Coming to Save You

"Power to stop a rampaging Curser?"

Hearing Westheid’s request, the Master of Extinction murmured:

"That isn’t difficult. It’s a pity, my love, that you are still so far from me. Otherwise, all my power would be yours. But for now... this is all I can give you."

The young woman extended her hand, and a mask appeared in her palm.

The mask, as pristine and delicate as polished bone, was covered in faint, scarlet cracks. It had the metallic texture of a high-tech creation, yet it also emanated a potent Divinity.

With a gentle wave from the Master of Extinction, the mask floated down into Westheid’s hands.

[Mask of Fallen Heaven]

[Originally a finely crafted tactical mask that accompanied the last Warrior of the Mortal World through countless battles. It was stained with Divine Blood during an Ascension Ceremony and was thus elevated into a Sacred Artifact.]

[Its sparse Divine Power has been worn down over the long ages and is on the verge of fading completely.]

[Those who will not ascend to the heavens can only fall! Those who refuse Ascension to godhood can only drown! As for the ridiculous, unforgivable fools who believe themselves mired in sin, they can only sink for eternity into sludge and ruin!]

Westheid: "!!!!"

’This item’s description... is a little much.’

’Ascension? Divine Blood? A Sacred Artifact?’ Westheid held the [Mask of Fallen Heaven], not daring to move an inch. He was terrified of dropping and shattering this miraculous object stained with Divine Blood.

"And [Shadow-Born]. Those are the only two things I can give you."

The Master of Extinction said gently, "I wonder if this will be enough to help."

"...It’s more than enough. In fact, it’s far too much."

’Even if this [Mask of Fallen Heaven] only houses a sliver of Divine Power, even if it’s only a single-use item, its value is immeasurable. Countless people in the Mortal World would trade the wealth of an entire kingdom for it.’

’Just for beating down Mivana, this is easily enough! More than enough!’

"And [Shadow-Born]... so that was also a gift from you. I don’t know how I could ever repay you."

Westheid mused to himself. Only after using [Shadow-Born] to blaze a trail through new lands did he understand just how powerful the signature weapon truly was.

It had almost single-handedly altered the state of the war against Chaos.

Goals that would have originally taken a year or two of frantic effort to achieve were shortened to just one or two months, all thanks to the Flame of Extinction.

Though, this rapid progress also meant the Qinghui Legion’s reserves were severely depleted, allowing the Devourers to exploit an opening and nearly cause a total wipe.

"How can I repay this gift?"

Westheid asked the Master of Extinction after putting away the [Mask of Fallen Heaven].

Despite the unconcealed affection and goodwill in her words, Westheid felt he couldn’t just be a freeloader.

’It can’t be because she thinks I’m handsome, can it? A shallow mortal might fall in love at first sight, but a Demon who is a Celestial God’s Shadow wouldn’t fall for someone over mere looks or Charm—no matter how capricious she might be.’

’I won’t indulge in impossible fantasies!’

"Repayment?"

The Master of Extinction mulled it over for a moment, then once again extended her hand toward Westheid.

"I need no repayment. I want to protect you, and I have never wavered in that desire for even a moment... But if I may, my love, could you hold my hand? Just come a little closer... just a little bit closer..."

"As you wish."

This time, Westheid didn’t refuse. He had already entered her Imaginary Space and was standing face-to-face with the Demon in her true form; safety was no longer a primary concern.

Besides, he had already gotten what he came for; there was no reason to refuse now.

And so, he took a step forward, walking along the path of candlelight.

Yet, no matter how hard Westheid tried to advance, the distance between him and the Master of Extinction didn’t shrink in the slightest.

When Westheid looked at the Great Demon in confusion, a desolate look surfaced in her crimson eyes. She spoke in a haunting voice:

"It seems we are still so far apart. This life is as fleeting as morning dew, yet the embers burn on without end. This is my sin, and the punishment I am fated to bear. Even when my love is right before me, a mere step away feels like an impassable chasm."

The Master of Extinction sighed, seemingly lost in deep reminiscence as she tilted her head back and closed her eyes.

Her sakura-white hair cascaded over her shoulders. The dim, yellow candlelight illuminated her delicate, sweet profile—a vision of fragile beauty, enough to break one’s heart.

An immense sorrow welled up in Westheid’s heart against his will.

He wanted to say something, but swallowed the words before they left his lips.

He still knew nothing about the Demon before him.

In the long silence, the candlelight flickered. The Demon Maiden opened her eyes and spoke.

"If the final outcome is destined to be separation, would you still look forward to the meeting?"

"If you knew that fighting would lead you to personally destroy everything you cherish, would you still take up your blade?"

"If you knew you would suffer the punishment of eternal solitude, forever exiled beyond the world, would you still cast away the chance to ascend to the heavens?"

"My love, if your destination is one of destined hardship and sorrow, would you still walk the path?"

Westheid: "..."

’Hold on, what kind of questions are these? I don’t understand a thing, and they sound impossibly heavy!’

’I’m sweating bullets. Seriously, I’m breaking out in a cold sweat.’

Westheid’s intuition screamed at him that this answer was critical. He absolutely could not get it wrong.

Fortunately, the correct answer wasn’t hard to deduce. Based on the surrounding context and her tone, Westheid gritted his teeth and said:

"I would!"

"No matter the final outcome, I would not regret my decisions."

"That is true now, and it will be true in the future!"

The moment he spoke, the beautiful, sakura-haired young woman in his line of sight seemed to break into a smile, tilting her head.

Her crimson eyes filled with mist. Then, tears of blood streamed from their corners, and the Master of Extinction’s voice suddenly grew shrill.

"Ah... my love, bring me back! Bring back the me I was at the very beginning, the me who was not yet so mired in sin! I want so badly... to hold your hand again."

VMMMM—

In the bleak, gray-scale world, a splash of blood-red gradually sharpened. It was a halo spreading from the black sun high in the sky, like a drop of red ink slowly sinking into the hazy, monochrome space.

The celestial vault was torn asunder without a sound. As a radiance like golden rain descended, Westheid was struck by another wave of dizziness.

Westheid left the Demon Secret Realm as easily as he had entered.

And in his hands, besides [Shadow-Born], was the [Mask of Fallen Heaven], proving that everything that had just happened was no dream.

This meeting with the Master of Extinction had left him a nervous wreck, and he still had no idea what was going on with the Great Demon.

But Westheid still managed to deduce a few things from the limited information.

’"Ascend to the heavens"... That’s a prayer of the Celestial Vault Kingdom.’

’[Venerable Master of the Azure Heaven]...’

’Is the [Master of Extinction] the shadow of the [Venerable Master of the Azure Heaven]?’

Westheid couldn’t be certain, but it seemed like the most plausible explanation.

After standing there pondering for a long time and getting nowhere, Westheid decided to deal with the urgent matter at hand first.

Taking a deep breath, Westheid put on the [Mask of Fallen Heaven], and it instantly molded itself to his face.

K-CHAK—

In an instant, a power so majestic and boundless it defied limits surged from his body... no, it wasn’t a power perceived or transmitted by his physical form at all.

Westheid’s perspective seemed to transcend his body, to ascend. He could see himself, the forest, the hills, the plains, and even places farther and higher. It was as if his very soul had undergone a sublimation, allowing him to take in everything with an all-encompassing field of view.

’This is incredible. I understand everything now.’

The overwhelming power surged into him from all directions. His muscles, bones, blood vessels, and organs were all flooded with swelling Divine Power. This energy was so dense and violent that cracks even began to appear on Westheid’s flesh.

’Yes! In my current Status, I can easily take down even a Mad Beast of the [Cursed Source Blood]!’

’Mivana! I’m coming to save you!’