Chapter 483: Your Own Choice
"Hey, so I was caught."
There was no sadness or anger in Rhodes' tone, only open-mindedness and nostalgia.
"I want to study alchemy not out of malicious intent, because the flames of my time have become unstable. I can't pass on the flames like a hero, but I can make some contributions as a researcher through other methods."
"Flames need strong souls as fuel. I was thinking that refining new technology might be able to help."
"But I was still exiled because it was a forbidden technique. Of course, I was not the only one. My companions who studied and refined it with me were also exiled."
"At that time, I happened to find that due to the long-term experiments in refining, my body had also undergone some changes. It seemed to have become... more difficult to kill."
Having said that, Rhodes clenched his dry palms, and the tiny flames in the palm lines flickered.
"After that, I continued my experiments while wandering with my companions. Gradually, my body became stronger and stronger."
"Until I was found by the Fire Transmission Sect."
"At that time, the First Flame once again needed to be passed on, and the Fire Transmission Sect was also looking for candidates for the Cinderella King."
"Because I was spreading the art of soul refining while I was wandering, the people from the Fire Transmission Sect found me, and I showed them the art of soul refining."
"However, they were not interested in the refining process. Instead, they were interested in my body because during the refining process, my body gradually became stronger."
"After that, the people of the Fire Transmission Sect carefully studied the process of my refining. Finally, they discovered the relationship between refining and me."
"It turns out that when I was refining the soul, I also devoured a portion of the soul's power. That power strengthened my body and soul."
"Before me, there was a priest who relied on eating humans to gain soul power, and that man-eating fellow became the Cinder King. They believe that my refining technology is similar to that of the man-eating Cinder King."
"But after a series of experiments, they found that I was the only one who could devour souls through alchemy. None of my companions had this ability, so I became a candidate for the Cinder King."
"But to my surprise, the people of the Fire Transmission Sect thought that using small animals as refining materials was too inefficient, so they forced me to use humans to refine souls."
"At the time, I thought this was no different from murder, but those people did not give me a choice because I was an exile. I could either be killed or accept their arrangement."
"In order to avoid being killed, I finally accepted the proposal under the advice of my companions."
"At least this way... I can still survive."
"At first, they would find some death row prisoners for me to refine, but as the flames gradually died down and the sky began to darken, my strength was still not enough to pass on the fire."
"If this continues, the flame will go out before I become the Cinder King."
"But speeding up won't work either, because the prisoners I used as materials for refining are almost used up."
"So the people of the Fire Transmission Sect decided to let me use innocent people to refine it."
"At that time, I still refused. It was fine for the guilty prisoners, they deserved to die, but the innocent people..."
"Until those people told me that if the flames were extinguished, everyone would face doom. It was worthwhile to exchange the death of some innocent people for the continuation of the world."
"And the first group of innocent people that I need to refine are my companions who have been with me since Kurland. Because they cannot devour souls through refinement, they have no value in continuing to live."
"Under the pressure from those people, I had no choice."
"All I can do is continue to refine souls. No... to put it bluntly, all I can do is continue to devour the power of souls until I can become the Cinder King."
"It's really too much to ask an old man doing research to kill people and then become the salary king."
"But I have no choice, because they told me that my alchemy skills were meant to contribute to the world, and now is the time to make a contribution. I will transform myself into the Cinder King, and then pass on the flame, and the world will continue."
"Compared to continuing the world, sacrificing a few useless people is nothing."
"Haha, I'm really useless . The technology I refined failed to help the world. Instead, the side effects of the refinement gave me the possibility to help the world."
"After that, I continued to refine people day and night. Most of the people I refined were innocent. I could smell the scent of souls every night, which brought me endless torture."
"But I have no choice. This is my only path. If I don't continue to refine until I become the Cinder King, those who I killed will have died in vain."
"The world will also fall into darkness because of the extinction of the First Flame. I have to comfort myself with this. This is all for the great mission of inheriting the flame. So I must become the king. Even if the fire is weak, it can still continue the world."
"And at the last moment when the flames were about to go out and the sky was dark, I had the qualification to pass on the fire. That qualification was based on the lives of countless people."
"I have no choice..."
"I have killed countless people. I just want to do something for this world within my ability. Those people told me that I can save the world by spreading the fire, so I will do it, even if I have to refine other people's souls..."
"I won't refuse. What right do I have to refuse?"
"I'm not a hero, I'm just... an ordinary person."
At this point, tears welled up in Rhodes's eyes, which had been dry for a long time.
"In the end, I was thrown into the First Fire as firewood. Even though the flames caused me great pain and burned deep into my bones, I did not run away. Instead, I stayed."
"Even if the world wants me to burn my old bones again, I won't refuse."
"This is the story of the exile Rhodos. This is also my story. It's boring, isn't it?"
After Rhodos finished speaking, he looked towards his throne with a smile.
"Although I am a staunch believer in the Fire Transmission School, I will not force you to do anything. I have never had the opportunity to choose in my life, but you have..."
"Do you choose to inherit the flame? Or do you choose to extinguish the flame? That is the choice you can make."
"Of course, you can also choose something else, such as eloping with the Fire Keeper."
Hearing this, Xia Yu couldn't help but smile. It seemed that Rudos was more open-minded than he thought. He could even make a joke at this time.
But to be honest, even if they wanted to elope, he and the Fire Keeper had nowhere to go.
After all, the world is about to be destroyed.
"I see."
After listening to Rhodes' story, Xia Yu stood up and looked at the figure in the black dress beside the campfire.
"I have already made my choice."
Hearing this, Rhodos raised his dry head, looked at Xia Yu's face facing the flames, and murmured unconsciously: "Your own choice? I really envy you."
…
The last empty throne finally welcomed its master.
Xia Yu stared blankly at the five thrones above, silent.
Sensing Xia Yu's emotions, the Fire Keeper slowly came to Xia Yu's side and took his hand: "Master Xia Yu..."
Xia Yu held the Fire Keeper's hand and shook his head: "I'm fine, just... a little emotional."
After saying this, he felt the soul of the Cinder King, the soul of Wolfblood, the soul of Aldrich, the soul of the twin princes, the soul of the giant Youm, and finally, the soul of Rhodos stored in his body.
Except for the soul of his cub Aldrich, he stored the soul of every Cinder King well.
When the world tree grows the first new world, these souls will also become the first batch of new lives.
The sufferings of the Age of Fire will be washed away by the new world.
Soon, everyone at the Fire Transmission Shrine arrived at the scene, because Xia Yu was about to inherit all the fires of the Fire King and head to the starting point of everything, the original furnace.
"Are you going to fulfill your final mission?"
The leader of the Dark Moon Knights, Youlsika, suddenly walked up to Xia Yu, then lowered her head and looked at him.
Ever since Xia Yu forcibly threw Yourshika into the Firelink Sacrifice Site last time, Yourshika has stayed here.
"Although you are the Sword of Dark Moon, you are also a hero . You know that compared to the responsibilities of Dark Moon, the mission of passing on the flame is more important."
"So please accept this."
Yuershika suddenly took out a small object from her arms. It was a rattle with a pure gold handle and a white bell body, which looked like a blooming flower.
Seeing this, Xia Yu raised his eyebrows slightly. He recognized this bell. It was the best catalyst for miracles in the game - the Holy Bell of Yurshika.
But at the same time, he also knew how important this holy bell was to Yurshika.
No matter how many ears you brush in the game, you cannot get this weapon. Only by killing Yurshika can you get this holy bell. This also shows the importance of the holy bell to Yurshika.
Seeing that Xia Yu did not take it, Youershika said again: "Indeed, this is the last thought my brother gave me, but instead of leaving it here to gather dust, it is better to give it to someone who can use it."
"Besides, you are the hero who passed on the fire. I believe my brother would agree with my approach if he knew about it, so please accept it."
"I understand." Xia Yu nodded and reached out to take the Youershika Holy Bell.
Although he would not choose to pass on the fire, since Yurshika wanted to give it to him, there was naturally no reason for him to refuse.
Besides, although Yursika didn't know it, he killed Aldrich and corrupted Sullivan, which was equivalent to revenge for Gwyndolin.
Therefore, there is nothing to be embarrassed about accepting the Holy Bell of Yurshika.
Seeing that Xia Yu accepted what she gave, Youershika breathed a sigh of relief: "I knew you wouldn't refuse me. May the grace of Dark Moon always follow you."
After saying that, Youer Shika smiled faintly, turned around and left Xia Yu.
Xia Yu watched Youer Shika leave, then turned his head and looked around. His teachers and friends were all here.
Although these people did not give him any parting gifts like Yurshika did, the glances they gave him already contained all the words.
Except one person.
Xia Yu looked at that bastard Patch squatting in the corner. He seemed to have thought of something funny and an uncontrollable smile appeared on the corner of his mouth.
Hard, the fist is hard.
When he first saw Patch, he was very surprised. After all, this was an old friend who had been with him for several games.
But when he actually communicated with Patch, he realized that he was too happy too early.
If it weren't for his strong self-control, he would have hacked Patch to death with his huge sword.
Every time he talked to this bastard, he wondered how on earth this bastard had managed to live so long without being chopped to death.
With a light sigh, Xia Yu forced himself to ignore Patch. After all, he was about to reach the starting point of everything and the final destination. He decided not to let this bastard ruin his mood.
Thinking of this, Xia Yu withdrew his thoughts, shook his head, and knelt on one knee at the bonfire in the center of the Fire Sacrifice Site.
The Fire Keeper also walked up to his side and looked at the Fire King's throne above.
