Super Righteous Player-Chapter 1178 - 224: Reunion, Never Too Late

Yes.

This nightmare was concocted by Evelyn in a moment of desperation.

It is the very prototype for the sublimation ritual that the Eye of Lag would later enact at the Frigid Wight Tower!

Endowed with an acute, intuitive judgment that surpassed the ordinary, Michelangelo, versed in multiple schools of spells such as Prophecy, Shaping, and Idolatry, deemed his ability not so much as "judgment" but rather "prophecy" based on his command of the Elemental Power of time.

He believed that Benjamin truly possessed transcendent talent, a strong, non-ceasing desire, and a sincere heart towards others. He had the potential to ascend to the Gold realm before the age of fifty.

Michelangelo also believed that the ritual born from this idea had a considerable degree of feasibility.

In an era devoid of new Fragments of Truth for nearly a century, he had to seek alternate paths to advancement.

The Skeleton Noble was an example of success, while the Rotted Husband exemplified failure.

Michelangelo did not know how his talent compared to that of the Skeleton Noble, but he was adamant that he was stronger than the Rotted Husband—if the Rotted Husband could achieve one-seventh, then surely, he could achieve half, right?

Thus, Michelangelo and Benjamin, two distinguished wizards, formed a pact.

Michelangelo would devote himself entirely to refining this sublimation ritual, while Benjamin would keep it secret. And later, he would assist Michelangelo in enacting the ritual to help him achieve sublimation.

If Michelangelo could ascend to divinity, he would appoint him as Pope. He would grant Benjamin sufficient Elemental Power of time to rescue Evelyn from the endless Cycle of nightmares.

...This seemingly whimsical promise, akin to "I am Emperor Qin Shihuang, and I have not perished, send me money," did not deter Benjamin from agreeing without the slightest hesitation.

The two refined the specifics of the ritual together.

To aid Michelangelo in reaching this goal, Benjamin had to suppress his own powers; Michelangelo could not abdicate the position of Tower Master or even allow himself a Tower’s Child.

Therefore, Benjamin had to constantly accumulate strength without advancing to Gold, for when the time came, Michelangelo would summon numerous Silver-tier wizards to witness and serve as sacrifices for the ritual.

In order for Benjamin, the "actor," to plausibly "fit into this ritual," he had to maintain his Silver soul.

In other words... it was like a high-ranked actor "sandbagging" their position.

Incidentally, the "Rafaelo Santi" who previously sought someone beneath the volcano in the Winter Principality to paint portraits for the Chariot, was also a student of the Eye of Lag during that period.

His parents were devotees of the Stone Father and the Paper Princess, his father a renowned architect in the United Kingdoms, and his mother a painter for Noah. He originally came to the Twin Towers to learn sculpture from Michelangelo.

He actually had the potential to become Tower’s Child, or rather... the Frigid Wight Tower had originally chosen him to be the Tower’s Child.

"Rafaelo Santi" is also spelled "Raphael Sanzio."

In the history of another Earth, he indeed learned techniques under Michelangelo for a time. And it’s probably this subtle connection... that caused Michelangelo to hesitate a bit.

As the most cautious course of action, Michelangelo should have killed him directly. To ensure that the Tower’s Child would not be born, not to affect his own plan.

But his plan already required the killing of four innocent wizards.

He could not bear to kill other young talents... not to mention, Rafaelo Santi was his own student.

People always differentiate between those close and distant—Michelangelo did not shy away from this truth.

A good student of his was indeed more valuable than a stranger’s life.

Thus, he risked his plan being exposed and revealed a part of it to Rafaelo Santi, allowing him to graduate and leave Frigid Wight Tower. For this, he gave Rafaelo a substantial compensation.

Rafaelo Santi was not lured by the Tower Master’s inheritance.

At the age of thirty-something, with one-third of Michelangelo’s wealth, he started to focus on his artistic studies.

The network of connections he had built allowed him to acquaint Earl Felix. This was also why the later attempts by them and Michelangelo to excavate ancient relics beneath a volcano and wield the Prophet’s Spells were not stopped by Michelangelo.

Michelangelo, ultimately, succeeded.

His sublimation ritual was far more successful than that of the decayed husband, and even more so than the skeletal duke’s. He smoothly became the "Mirror Man," and Benjamin did indeed become His Pope.

It was only when Benjamin found Evelyn again that he finally understood her painstaking efforts.

——Evelyn created this paradox not because she had to, but to ensure that her soul would not deteriorate over the long span of time...

The one thing she could be certain of, could believe in, was that Benjamin truly loved the once her. Since her appearance had been destroyed, what he loved could only be her soul... Therefore, she had to protect the integrity, purity, and cleanliness of her soul.

But if she were to die too many times in the nightmare, or be trapped with clear consciousness for too long...How could such a twisted and withered soul still receive Benjamin’s love?

Thus, the reason Evelyn created this tormenting nightmare before she died.

Was to ensure that when Benjamin finally rescued her, the Evelyn he would find would indeed be the "just died" one, the innocent Evelyn in his memory.

Deep down, she always felt inferior.

Step back and think... If after being rescued, she hugged Benjamin and cried out in unbearable pain and fear, it would also make Benjamin’s heart heavy.

She did not wish for such a future.

If Benjamin could rescue her, then at that moment, both of them must be smiling.

——Holding onto this last thought, Evelyn awaited the day she could smile once more.

Clearly, she succeeded.

Benjamin, armed with a different influence as a key, searched through every nightmare he could encounter and finally found Evelyn.

He directly prayed to the power of the Mirror Man, using Divine Arts and Elemental Power to sever the paradox nightmare of the infinite Cycle——and pulled up the Evelyn quivering on the guillotine, whose time had stopped over forty years ago.

Just as Evelyn had hoped for.

In each other’s eyes shimmered the same joy.

"It’s all over now."

Benjamin, now over fifty and aging, looked at Evelyn, her face marred with burn scars and completely bald, and said calmly, suppressing his excitement:

"Although a bit late... I have still found you, Evelyn."

"I know. I’ve always believed, you would come."

Evelyn touched Benjamin’s now aged and wrinkled face, saying tenderly and softly: "It’s never too late."