Chapter 40: Power Of The Hilt

Destiny. Asa suddenly recalled this terrifying concept. He remembered a conversation he once had with Bishop Ronis.

"Everything has already been arranged. No matter what you do, the outcome will always be the same. This is destiny. Do you believe it? How would you deal with it?"

At that time, Asa had given a brilliant response to Bishop Ronis, but that was because he had the relaxed mindset of an observer. Now, after being caught in this whirlpool for so long, even becoming a part of it, the sudden realization of this concept left him feeling utterly powerless and hopeless.

If even his birth was just a small ripple in this whirlpool, then what was the point of all his efforts, struggles, and hopes?

So, Asa asked.

"Your origins?" Grandma Ail smiled. Even with the wrinkles on her face, her smile was still beautiful. "Haven't your origins been clear for a long time? You're just the son of a village blacksmith."

Asa was stunned for a moment, then thought about it and burst into laughter. "Hahaha... You're right. I'm just the son of a blacksmith."

He looked at the ring in his hand. Its once smooth, jade-like surface now had a rough scratch where a mark had been, but it had been rubbed away on his father's tombstone.

"As long as you understand, that's good. Now, take that thing out. I knew it was you bringing it to me when I sensed that aura a couple of days ago," Grandma Ail sighed. "The hilt of the Black Star that Sandru took from Dehya Valley."

Asa smiled bitterly. "To be honest, when I first saw this thing in the cellar and Sandru told me it was the divine artifact of Dehya Valley, I was really shocked. I never expected he could take a small piece of the Ghost King's Robe and turn it into a pouch, even infusing it with Sun Well water."

Grandma Ail held the ring that had always been on Asa's body in her fingers, while her hands grasped the pouch Asa had brought. She asked softly, "Are you ready?"

Asa nodded, his expression serious, with a faint sweat on his forehead. The glow of combat energy in his right hand had reached its peak.

"Good." Grandma Ail let out a soft cry, and her hands suddenly became a blur. The pouch, which had been tied like a twist, was instantly undone. With a light tap at the bottom of the pouch, the object soaked in Sun Well water flew out, carrying an immense dark aura.

But just as it flew out of the pouch, Asa's hand had already grasped it. The white glow of combat energy was as solid as a mountain, enveloping the aura that was about to spread. At the same moment, Grandma Ail's hand, holding the ring, quickly moved forward and slipped the ring onto the object.

"Done." Grandma Ail sighed softly, signaling Asa to let go. The object that had been soaking in Sun Well water now rested in her hand.

It was a dark, irregular cylinder, seemingly made of stone, with no signs of sophisticated craftsmanship. Its surface was uneven, as if it were just a small fragment chipped off a larger piece of obsidian. The ring was now fitted onto the narrowest end of the cylinder, deeply embedded into it. The once rampant, overwhelming aura was no longer spreading outward but had condensed into a visible black mist swirling around the object.

This was the sacred relic of Dehya Valley, the hilt of the Black Star, the divine sword representing darkness and death.

Holding the cylindrical object in her hand, Grandma Ail's eyes showed a hint of excitement. She let out a long sigh. "I never expected... I never expected that although this is just the hilt of the Black Star, I would be the first person in five hundred years to hold it completely."

Over the past five hundred years, there hadn't been too many people who dreamed of or attempted to draw the legendary divine sword, but those who had the qualifications to dream of it were all the most powerful or influential figures of their time. The Black Star was not just a symbol of power but also of countless dreams and ambitions.

Holding the hilt, Grandma Ail seemed lost in thought. Her eyes flickered, sometimes distant, sometimes sharp.

Even though she had never harbored those ambitions or dreams, almost everything in her life had revolved around them. The Black Star had almost come to represent her entire existence.

The feeling of holding something that had once determined the course of her life was something no one could remain indifferent to.

"So many people died, so much effort was spent, and so many changes occurred, all for this thing," Grandma Ail looked at the hilt in her hand and smiled bitterly. Although the ring had transformed the hilt's power, she still needed to maintain a thin layer of combat energy to hold it. "What is this thing? Desire? Or... something else...?"

She wasn't the only one whose life had been determined by this object. She knew there were others.

But was life truly in one's own hands, or was there something like destiny controlling it all? She suddenly wanted to test it.

In fact, she had always been testing it. Starting twenty years ago, while securing her position in Dehya Valley, she had been testing. And now, with things having reached this point, it was time for some clarity.

"By the way, would you like to try holding this?" Grandma Ail suddenly smiled at Asa, extending her hand. "In Archmage Akibard's prophecy, it was said that the one who gathers power can draw the Black Star and become the world's ruler, changing the world. Would you like to experience what it feels like to be the world's ruler?"

"Me?" Asa was surprised. He hadn't expected Grandma Ail to suddenly suggest this to him. He knew he was somewhat connected to this object.

The black hilt was surrounded by a faint mist. Its shape wasn't particularly appealing, and it didn't look like the divine artifact that could rule the world. Asa unconsciously reached out his hand, suddenly feeling something strange about the hilt.

Slowly, he felt he could see through the black mist. It wasn't just mist; it seemed like an ocean of deathly auras, killing intent, anger, terror, and more. As his fingertips touched the rough surface of the hilt, he suddenly heard countless voices.

They were the screams, howls, shouts, and moans of countless people, each one pushing their life and spirit to the limit, the voices of souls. He could feel the fear, dissatisfaction, and desire in each voice. These voices weren't just echoing in his mind; they seemed to rush into his body, screaming and calling for resonance in every tiny corner.

A wave of fear and disgust washed over him like a bucket of cold water poured over his head. Asa quickly let go and stepped back. He realized that from the moment he started staring at the hilt, the True Meditation had unknowingly taken over his entire mind and senses. His consciousness had merged with the hilt.

"Your True Meditation should be almost complete, right?" Grandma Ail's voice asked coldly.

"Yes," Asa nodded, realizing he was sweating.

"You and Sandru are the same—both of you retreated in fear after just touching it. Only those who have practiced True Meditation can truly comprehend the aura of the Black Star. Otherwise, like me, holding it would be useless," Grandma Ail sighed, seemingly relieved. "I didn't misjudge. Otherwise..."

Asa was still shaken. He said, "Grandma, do you know that I have the power of the World Tree Leaf and the Sun Well within me?"

Grandma Ail nodded. "I know. Although I rarely go out, I know quite a lot."

"Then why did you ask me to hold this thing?" Asa was puzzled. Although he wasn't entirely clear on the specifics, he knew that the two powers within him were closely related to the Black Star. When Sandru showed him the hilt in the cellar, he had vaguely hinted at something. It was said that the sword would be drawn by the one who gathered power.

Although Sandru hadn't explained clearly what "gathering power" meant, Asa understood the implication from the look he gave him. Bishop Ronis and Vadenina had different explanations, but both indicated that he was connected to this object.

He didn't believe in prophecies or the like, but that didn't mean he could completely ignore them. After all, they were the words of the greatest mage in the history of the continent. And with Grandma Ail's former status, similar to Sandru's, she had no reason not to know these things.

"Do you know what True Meditation is? What the World Tree Leaf and the Sun Well are?" Grandma Ail asked calmly.

"Bishop Ronis told me that it's a dark meditation technique created by Akibard, the founder of the Necromancer's Guild, to achieve the Necromancer King. Sandru said it's just a little trick anyone can practice for fun," Asa smiled bitterly. "...I don't know who to believe."