Chapter 157 – Light and Darkness 光与暗

Nick felt like his mind dropped into a bottomless hole.

He remembered being struck by the tail of an undead wyvern and crashing violently into the Black Magic Book. The searing pain made him lose consciousness almost instantly. The moment he touched the Black Magic Book, an indescribable coldness spread from the depths of his marrow, as if countless hands were tearing at his soul. His body aged frantically, his skin shriveled up, and it seemed as if his blood was being drained away... Until a warm surge of energy enveloped him. Thanks to Master Lin's magic, Nick's body kept changing-getting old and then young again. It was as if he was stuck on the edge of life and death.

"Where... am I?"

When Nick regained consciousness, he found himself standing in a burning space. Gigantic magical inscriptions floated all around, each engraved with ancient and obscure runes. They twisted and burned in the flames and were quickly reshaped, as if telling endless secrets.

"Hahaha..."

A hearty laugh came from not far away, carrying a hint of old age and mystery. Nick suddenly turned his head and saw a person standing ahead. He wore a grand black magic robe, looking both noble and mysterious. Then he slowly pulled down his hood, revealing his face...

"You are...!"

Nick's pupils contracted violently, and he couldn't believe his eyes.

"That's right, Nick. I am you."

The old man with silver hair showed a faint smile, as if he had long anticipated Nick's shock. He walked forward slowly with his hands behind his back, his eyes deep and profound.

"Are you me in the future?" Nick felt his breath quicken, and his mind was filled with questions.

"The Black Magic Book has chosen you as its heir. You have to accept this inheritance. If you don't, it will gobble up both our souls."

Nick involuntarily took a step back: "It? The Black Magic Book...? But isn't black magic a heretical art loathed by the world? And why me?"

The old man with silver hair let out a sigh: "What the world loathes is the abuse of black magic, not black magic itself. Black magic is just a kind of power, and it depends on how the holder uses it. Do you think the followers of the Black Tower simply yearn for darkness? In essence, they desire power beyond that of ordinary people. Nick, accept it. The Black Magic Book has already merged with you, and there is no turning back for you."

Nick squeezed his fists hard and frowned. Some unseen power was changing him, making him want more magic.

"Come on, Nick. Let go of your hesitation and become a true master of black magic."

...

At the same time, on the battlefield in the real world.

Lin Yuan slowly released Nick's wrist that he had been checking. He looked at Nick's eyes with a complicated expression. Black and white runes emerged, like two interlaced wheels of light and darkness, full of a mysterious aura.

This reminded Lin Yuan of the trial that Deshanluo had undergone in front of the Sage Statue before. However, Nick's situation was even more dangerous because this was not a trial but an inheritance ceremony.

Standing up, Lin Yuan told Ute firmly, "Take Nick somewhere safe. He needs total peace and quiet."

"Yes, sir." Ute immediately stepped forward and carefully helped Nick up.

Lin Yuan scanned the battlefield. The battle between the White Tower and the Black Tower was still going on. The army of the undead rushed against the defensive magic barrier like a tide. The mages of the White Tower continuously cast spells to maintain the enchantment and protect the ordinary people in the town, while the knights and warriors desperately resisted the undead wyverns swooping down from the air.

"Bang!"

A Seven - Flamed Monster suddenly waved its burning snake tail and sent several White Tower warriors flying. They used water magic, trying to put out the Seven-Flamed Monster's burning fire.

On the other side, Gudora's gaze finally locked onto Lin Yuan.

"Hehe... there's actually such a troublesome character here." Gudora walked forward slowly, followed by the leader of the Black Tower. Every step they took caused black ripples to spread on the ground beneath their feet.

"The aura of this crazy woman... It feels even stronger than that bald leader." Lin Yuan murmured softly, a hint of fighting spirit flashing in his eyes.

Laya stood by Lin Yuan, her expression stern. "Master Lin, these two are no pushovers. Let's fight together."

"I was just thinking the same thing."

The two looked at each other and then charged towards the Black Tower Bishop and Gudora without hesitation!

At the same time, Nick was still wandering in the consciousness world in the distance. The old man with silver hair showed a smile and gently raised his hand, tapping Nick on the forehead.

"Accept it, Nick."

Suddenly, the black runes flared up, and darkness swallowed the whole consciousness world...

===================

尼克的意识仿佛坠入了无尽的深渊.

他记得自己被亡灵飞龙的尾巴扫中,狠狠地撞向了那本黑魔法书.剧痛让他几乎瞬间失去了意识,而接触到黑魔法书的瞬间,一种无法形容的寒冷从骨髓深处蔓延,像是有无数双手在撕扯他的灵魂.他的身体疯狂老化,皮肤干瘪,血液似乎被抽干... 直到一股温暖的能量包裹住了他,那是林大法师的魔法气息,让他的身体在老化与年轻化之间不断切换,仿佛徘徊在生死的边缘.

"这里是...哪?"

当尼克的意识恢复时,他发现自己站在一片燃烧的空间里,四周漂浮着巨大的魔法碑文,每一块都刻满了古老而晦涩的符文,它们在火焰中扭曲燃烧,又迅速重塑,仿佛在诉说着无尽的秘密.

"哈哈哈哈..."

一阵爽朗的笑声从不远处传来,带着一丝苍老与神秘.尼克猛然回头,只见前方站着一个人,身穿华丽的黑色法袍,气质威严而神秘.他缓缓揭下头上的兜帽,那张脸...

"你是...!"

尼克瞳孔剧烈收缩,他不敢相信自己的眼睛.

"没错,尼克,我就是你."

银发老人露出一丝淡淡的笑意,仿佛早已预见尼克的震惊.他缓步向前,双手负后,目光深邃.

"你是未来的我?" 尼克感到呼吸急促,脑海中充斥着疑问.

"这本黑魔法书已经认定你为传承者,而现在,你必须接受它的传承,否则你和我,我们的灵魂将会被它彻底吞噬."

尼克下意识地后退一步:"它?黑魔法书...?可黑魔法不是被世人厌恶的异端之术吗?而且为什么是我?"

银发老人轻叹一声:"世人厌恶的,是黑魔法的滥用,而非黑魔法本身.黑魔法不过是一种力量,取决于持有者如何使用.你以为黑塔的信徒只是单纯地渴望黑暗?他们的本质,是渴望超越凡人的力量.尼克,接受吧,黑魔法书已经与你融合,你已经无法回头."

尼克紧紧攥住拳头,眉头紧锁,他感觉到无形的力量正在侵蚀他的内心,让他渴望掌控更多的魔力...

"来吧,尼克,放下犹豫,成为真正的黑魔法大师."

...

与此同时,现实世界的战场上.

林远缓缓松开检查尼克的手腕,目光复杂地看着尼克的双眼,黑色与白色的符文浮现,如同两轮互相交错的光与暗,充满了神秘的气息.

这让林远不禁想起了德珊萝之前在贤者石像前接受的试炼,只不过尼克的情况更加危险,因为这不是试炼,而是一种传承仪式.

"乌特." 林远站起身,神色冷静地吩咐道,"带尼克去安全的地方,他现在不能受到任何干扰."

"是,老爷." 乌特立刻上前,小心翼翼地将尼克扶起.

林远扫视战场,白塔与黑塔的战斗仍在继续.不死族大军如潮水般冲击着防御魔法屏障,白塔的法师们不断施法维持结界来保护城镇中的普通人,而骑士与战士们则奋力抵挡着从空中俯冲而来的亡灵飞龙.

"嘭!"

一只七燃怪物猛然挥动燃烧的蛇尾,将几名白塔战士抽飞.正施展水系魔法,希望能压制七燃怪物的地狱之火.

而在另一侧,古朵拉的目光终于锁定了林远.

"呵呵...竟然还有如此棘手的角色." 古朵拉缓步向前,身后跟着黑塔教主,他们每一步落下,脚下的大地都泛起黑色涟漪.

"这疯女人的气息... 感觉还强过那光头教主啊." 林远轻声呢喃,眼中闪过一丝战意.

莱雅也站在林远身旁,表情冷峻:"林大法师,这两个家伙很强,我们联手吧."

"正有此意."

二人对视一眼,随即毫不犹豫地朝黑塔主教和古朵拉冲去!

与此同时,远处的尼克仍在意识世界中徘徊.银发老人露出一抹笑意,轻轻抬起手,点在尼克的额头上.

"接受吧,尼克."

刹那间,黑色的符文光芒大作,整个意识世界都被黑暗吞噬...