Chapter 904: A Dream in the South

"Brother, come here for a moment."

After failing to trigger the Time Scepter again, Acheronides decisively called for Liszt.

Leaping directly from Ethan's back, Bard swiftly caught him and settled onto the dragon-tooth platform. "What's wrong?"

"Just now, Acheronides accidentally triggered the Time Scepter and saw a very strange vision—Bard was an adult, and brother had reached middle age, wearing armor forged from solidified flames. He said something to Acheronides." She imitated the voice from the vision, "...Acheronides, time cannot be blocked, I will conquer the Land of Exile."

"Time cannot be blocked, I will conquer the Land of Exile?" Liszt stroked his chin. "Conquering the Land of Exile... that bold tone does suit me, but what does 'time cannot be blocked' mean? Acheronides, describe the vision you saw in detail."

When Acheronides meticulously recounted every detail of what she had witnessed—the appearance of the adult invisible dragon, Liszt's middle-aged look, the surprised glint in his eyes, the tone of his voice, and the armor he wore—Liszt mulled it over.

The armor forged from flames reminded him of Leo. Perhaps it was a newly developed mana technique, a combined effect with Leo.

Or maybe it was some artifact-tier mana equipment.

"Time cannot be blocked... Acheronides, how did you see this vision?"

"She doesn't know. She was just thinking about what brother would look like in the future, and what Acheronides would look like, and then she saw it. If the Time Gem's magic power hadn't been severely depleted, she'd have thought it an illusion. But the vision felt incredibly real."

"If that's the case, perhaps the Time Gem projected a future scene before your eyes. By the way, you said the me in the vision was scruffy?"

"Mm-hmm."

Liszt immediately relaxed. "Then it's just one possible future—and a very unlikely one at that. The reason, Acheronides, you should understand—the first thing I do every morning is shave. As a great dragon knight and noble king, personal image is extremely important."

He disliked facial hair and would shave it off the moment it showed even the slightest stubble.

"Moreover, I am the embodiment of the glory of knighthood! Even fate must bow before me. How could a mere Time Gem possibly show the future?" Liszt refused to believe the vision was an absolute future, as the future held infinite possibilities—nothing was set in stone.

Even the smoke dragon that toyed with fate had met its end, leaving only remnants of fate's power clinging to him.

And the Dusk Dragon, representing time itself, had not been born for many years, indicating its demise. Such a mystical creature, unable to grasp its own future—how could it possibly determine the future of others?

"But, brother, does 'time cannot be blocked' mean Acheronides will grow old and die before brother? Sirens only live four to five hundred years. If brother formed a pact with a Fairy Dragon, he could live forever. Maybe the Time Gem saw such a future." Acheronides spoke with a touch of girlish whimsy.

Her eyes grew slightly misty, as if imagining something romantic—two lovers torn apart, shedding tears as they bid farewell.

Liszt chuckled. "What would be the point of forming a pact with a Fairy Dragon if I couldn't share life's joys with Acheronides? Don't go getting ideas." He mussed up her azure-blue hair vigorously. Letting go of Acheronides? Not in this lifetime—not even for a moment.

He concluded firmly, "The Time Gem merely presents a possibility—perhaps a future shaped by your own thoughts. You find tragic parting romantic, so it showed you such a scene."

"Mm-hmm."

After Liszt's reassurance, Acheronides also felt that the future held too many uncertainties to be predetermined.

Liszt suddenly added, "But conquering the Land of Exile—such a grand ambition—does suit my tastes. If such a place truly exists, I will conquer it sooner or later... This world has too many wondrous and exotic places. It would be a shame not to explore them all in my lifetime."

"Acheronides wants to see the Land of Exile too."

"Don't worry, we'll conquer it together when the time comes." Liszt took Acheronides' hand, pulling her into his embrace, then grasped the Time Scepter. "Now, teach me how to activate it. I want to see what the future looks like through my own eyes."

"If Acheronides isn't mistaken, the Time Gem's power requires the wood of the golden apple tree. There's a legend that says golden apples make dreams come true. Perhaps if brother focuses on imagining the future, the Time Gem will activate and show you a vision."

"I'll try."

Liszt began envisioning the future with all his might. He had countless possibilities in mind, but no matter how vividly he imagined, the Time Scepter remained inert.

When Acher tried to activate it again, she made numerous attempts, but still failed.

"Is it due to insufficient magic? That can't be right. Although the Time Gem has consumed some of its magic, there's still plenty left. It shouldn't be impossible to activate. Otherwise, if the ancient Archmage crafted it, could it only be used once? This should be a conventional magic staff." Liszt speculated.

Perhaps there was another possibility: "As someone who wields the power of fate, the Time Gem simply cannot reflect my future."

For an entire day,

he neglected his training with Ethan, preoccupied with trying to activate the Time Scepter. Yet, the Scepter gave no response, leaving him exhausted and dizzy instead.

By nightfall,

the party camped by the Rhine River. He simply held the Time Scepter as he slept, whispering to himself, "Imagine the future, imagine the future!"

Just as he was drifting into sleep, his vision suddenly blurred. The tent lit by crystal lamps transformed into an endless starry sky.

A pure white seashell floated above the cosmos.

A female mage, clad in a resplendent enchanted cloak with overflowing magic, possessed long, azure-blue hair. She held a dull gray longsword and gazed into the infinite void. As if sensing something, she abruptly turned her head—revealing the familiar, beautiful face of Acher.

Yet she appeared more mature, a sweet smile gracing her lips as she spoke in a dreamlike voice, "brother, Acher has waited so long for you. Finally, this moment has come."

Liszt's mind was muddled. "You... something's off. If what I'm seeing is a vision of the future, how can you speak to me?"

"giggle, brother, the Time Scepter has reflected time itself. Acher and brother are in different times and spaces, having a brief conversation."

"Ah!" Liszt was too stunned to articulate anything else.

By now, Acher had fully turned toward him. Her magnificent magic cloak, woven from shifting hues, resembled an exquisite gown adorned with intricate magical runes, giving her divine grace, like a celestial goddess—radiant and flawless.

"brother, you must ride more dragons. It's best if you ride every dragon in the Legendary Continent and the Martha Continent. Only then can you stand against *it*!" Suddenly, her expression shifted, her voice turning urgent. "*It* has awakened. Acher must hide now. Remember this, brother—the Fairy Dragon is in the Exiled Lands!"

In the next moment,

she waved her hand, creating a portal beside her. With one last sweet smile at Liszt, she stepped through and vanished without another word.

"What?" Liszt hadn't even processed what had happened.

But in the backdrop of the endless cosmos, a pair of eyes abruptly opened—filled with a chilling gaze, indescribable, unbearable to meet.

With just a fleeting glance at Liszt,

the illusory vision shattered. The scene returned to the tent illuminated by crystal lamps, yet Liszt remained frozen under the lingering weight of those eyes. His body locked up as if encased in ancient ice, unable to move, breathe, or even think.

*Crack!*

A sound like shattering glass jolted him from his paralysis, as if struck by a hammer. Gasping, his heart pounded, unable to recover.

After a long while,

he suddenly realized—the Time Gem at the tip of the Time Scepter had crumbled into dust, like spent crystal.

Even the Scepter's shaft, crafted from the wood of the Golden Apple, had rotted into worthless wood.

"Was it all just a passing dream?" A sense of loss weighed on his heart, yet his mind remained clear—passing dreams don't destroy sacred artifacts like this.

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