Level Up Legacy

Chapter 1048 Gift You...

"Hard work and a little bit of luck can bring one's abilities to light," Arthur said, his hands resting confidently behind his back. He looked every bit the ideal soldier as he addressed the High Priest. "It's a pleasure to finally meet you, Red Priest. I've heard many great things about you."

The High Priest's kind and insightful eyes glinted with curiosity as he inquired, "That flatters me. May I know your name?"

"I am Alexie," Arthur replied with a self-assured smile, producing the letter from his robes. "This letter has been entrusted to me to reach you discreetly. It concerns a matter of great importance."

"The Seal of the Silver Rose is said to be second only to the Lord of Xeloria himself," the priest remarked, his eyes lingering on the envelope. "Though I met the knight earlier, he made no mention of this."

"Our captain mentioned that there were outsiders from other cities," Arthur explained with a knowing smile. "He assured us that everything would become clear when you read the letter."

Intrigued, the Red Priest tore open the envelope, scanning the contents with rapt attention. His eyes widened in shock, and he turned to Arthur, his gaze filled with suspicion.

"Is this some kind of scheme?" the Red Priest asked cautiously. "Is Xeloria attempting to absorb the Red Temple, merging the two into a single entity?"

"If the temple agrees to this plan, it would make Xeloria the most powerful of the ten cities," Arthur responded calmly. "This would offer the temple both the opportunity for expansion and the protection it requires."

"We have no need for protection," the priest retorted, offended by the suggestion of vulnerability. He even extended the letter toward Arthur, as if dismissing the notion. However, Arthur made no move to retrieve it and instead turned his gaze to Koby.

"This young mage with one arm can defeat your strongest priest, even as a newcomer in the Golden Division. Our soldiers are not lacking in talent like his."

"I do not doubt your abilities, but I have my reasons for confidence as well," the Red Priest replied, still offering the letter. "In times of crisis, you may be surprised by who comes to our aid, young one. The world is too vast for your overconfidence."

"It's not vast enough to contain me," Arthur retorted, refusing to take back the letter. "Joining Xeloria would cost you nothing. Your position would remain the same as our Lord's."

"Can you guarantee such a promise?"

"These words aren't solely mine," Arthur replied with an expressionless face. "As long as you show good faith, everything within this tower can be at your disposal."

"How might I do that?" the priest inquired, now captivated enough to tuck the letter into his robes. "I assume it involves the artifact bestowed upon us by our deity."

"Indeed," Arthur confirmed with a nod. "My Lord is eager to witness the effects of your artifact and assess how it can aid us. I will report its effects once I've witnessed them firsthand."

The priest considered the tempting offer but expressed concern about revealing the artifact's location. "There's no one inside the tower to be trusted, lad."

"Are you afraid that the three of us would be enough to bring down this entire temple?" Arthur asked, his surprise and confusion evident. The Red Priest fell silent before bursting into laughter.

"I suppose showing you the artifact wouldn't change a thing," the priest conceded, waving his hand dismissively. "Prepare the safe and make the necessary arrangements to welcome our guests."

Following their priest's command, two guards saluted him and took the lead, while ten others remained to protect him and maintain a distance. Without further words, the priest began leading the way deeper into the temple ruins.

"Alexie isn't a well-known name in Xeloria, is it?" the priest inquired as they walked. "How did you come to be entrusted with something of such significance?"

"I expressed my interest in your religion, and our captain deemed me a suitable candidate," Arthur replied, his tone filled with admiration. "The Red Tower saved me from a wretched life. Here, everyone has a chance to rise."

"I didn't expect you to be a follower of our religion," the priest said, surprised. "You seem too aloof to hold anything as your deity."

"I've never regarded the tower as a god, but rather as a haven," Arthur explained. "After all, a god is an entity, not a place."

The priest remained silent for a moment before finally responding, "I learned the truth about the tower when I was a slave in my world. Thousands of us were enslaved by humanoid monsters, condemned to a lifetime of labor. We decided to rebel, but it ended in a massacre. That's when the Red Tower descended to save us."

"In my world, too, the tower descended after a great battle, with countless lives lost," Arthur replied, probing for more information. "I managed to escape the battle by entering its gates. Here, I don't need to risk my life."

"Yet here you are, serving another lord," the priest remarked with a smirk. "Isn't that ironic?"

"In the tower, we all have the chance to be reborn," Arthur explained with a dismissive shake of his head. "If this isn't heaven, then I don't know what is."

"You possess a keen mind for someone your age," the priest said with a grin, patting Arthur on the shoulder. "I made the right choice entrusting you with our safe."

Arthur returned the smile but didn't say more as they reached a colossal double door fashioned from gold, adorned with countless runes. As they stared at the imposing entrance, Arthur realized that breaking through the safe would require disabling the runes with his black lightning. The priest touched the doors, activating a rune that unlocked the encryption.

"Open it!" the priest commanded his ten guards, who struggled to push the massive doors open. Arthur and the rest entered a vast chamber, where hundreds of soldiers stood guard, each covered head to toe in equipment and artifacts.

"I present to you our treasure room," the priest declared, waving his hand. In the center, a hovering item captured everyone's attention – an eyeball made of metal and runes. "And our most precious treasure, the Celestial Eye."

The group was entranced by the countless treasures strewn about the altar – gold, jewelry, and artifacts filled every corner. What impressed them even more was the number of guards standing in the room, forming an impressive formation with their double-spears.

Arthur focused on the artifact, realizing it was what they had come for. The eyeball emitted an otherworldly aura as it floated detached from reality. Then, the tower revealed its abilities.

[Celestial Eye]

[Category: Event Item]

[Level: Max]

[Usages: 100/100]

[Skills: Clairvoyance – Omniscience – Analysis]

"This eye can see everything?" Koby muttered in shock. "In battle, this item guarantees victory. How can such an item exist?"

"This is the battle for the artifacts," Arthur said, his brow furrowing. He hadn't expected the items to be this powerful. "However, knowledge alone means nothing without the strength to use it. Xeloria possesses that strength, Honorable Priest."

"I see that we share the same perspective," the priest said with a grin. "But it also means that my offer to the table has increased substantially. I want more than just power."

"What is it that you desire?" Arthur inquired.

"My temple requires devotees to spread its message," the priest explained, hands clasped behind his back. "I want a hundred able men and women each week to serve me. Provide me with this, and the artifact is yours."

Joey interjected with a frown, "This sounds no different than slave trading. How can you ask for such a thing after mentioning that you were once a slave yourself?"

"Our world can be cruel, and we require manpower," the priest responded. "However, rest assured, we don't need humans. Other races will do – I prefer races like felines, giants, and elves."

"You want felines?" Arthur muttered, his expression betraying no emotion. The priest nodded without much thought.

"We can utilize them for our tasks," the priest explained with a grin. "So, Alexie, do you wish to join hands with the Red Temple?"

Arthur remained silent for an extended period. Even as minutes passed, he offered no response. The priest and his guards grew perplexed by his silence and lack of expression.

Ding!

Ding!

Ding!

The distant sound of a bell ringing three times filled the chamber, causing confusion among the guards. It was at that moment that Arthur began to laugh, a chilling and hoarse sound. His laughter echoed in the chamber, and the thousand guards turned their spears toward him.

"I tried to understand your reasons for poisoning your river, but it appears there were none," Arthur declared, his voice cold. "You're simply someone who looks down on others and believes you can deceive everyone. I'll give you something better than slaves, Honorable Priest. I'll gift you...death."