Chess Mage of Faerûn

Chapter 478 Signs
pat!

The monitor's dim light went out, and the computer shut down.
Zhang Yuan, who stood next to the Grand Master, was also a little disappointed, but he quickly put this little trouble behind him. After all, once the meat was in his bowl, it didn't matter when he ate it.

"Then I'll leave it to you, teacher. My little territory will always be open to you."

"Quickly compile information on the manufacturing method of the Shadowsteel Golem, copy it down, and send it to me. Also,"

Tyrantil glared at this cheap apprentice who not only got a windfall but also expected his teacher to heat it up and serve it to him.
"These manufacturing processes also contain a lot of Netheril's original runes and alchemy knowledge. You should also figure it out yourself. Since you have inherited this base, it will definitely come in handy."

"OK,"

Zhang Yuan nodded in agreement and added:
"Information regarding the arcane path during the Nether era is also part of the legacy; if the teacher needs it..."

"No need."

Unexpectedly, the Grand Master rejected his disciple's offer.

"I have also dabbled in the path of arcane magic, and I have to admit that the predecessors almost reached the extreme on the path of arcane magic. Some of their theories and doctrines are still quite incredible from today's perspective."

"However, the end of this road has fallen, lost to the passage of time along with the decline of ancient civilization,"

The Grand Master's tone shifted again:
"While it's good to learn from the past, blindly favoring the old over the new and pursuing so-called ancient techniques may not be a wise move, after all, times have changed."

Zhang Yuan nodded upon hearing this and said:
"As the saying goes, even supernatural powers cannot defy fate."

"That saying has a certain flavor to it. Is it a proverb from your region?"

Tyrantir moved his lips slightly upon hearing this, as if he were chewing on the words.

"Ah no, this is actually a phrase that bards always use to advance the plot and show off."

Seeing that the teacher's facial expression disappeared, Zhang Yuan quickly continued:
"But there is another saying, which is that the will of Heaven is difficult to fathom since ancient times, and it is also said that fortune turns like a wheel."

"Hmm? You might as well put it more clearly."

The Grand Master frowned slightly and looked straight at him. Zhang Yuan, who was being stared at, didn't dare to keep him in suspense.

"Rumors, just rumors, say that whenever the continent of Faerûn faces turmoil and calamity, a certain goddess who claims to possess great divine power always becomes one of the first unfortunate victims, falling at the beginning of the calamity. It has almost become a tradition, a symbol of the opening sacrifice."

Although someone's words were quite euphemistic in avoiding mentioning the name of that unlucky old goddess, with just a little thought, how could one not guess?

Tsk~
He quickly deduced that the great mage his apprentice was referring to was somewhat ridiculous. Putting aside the credibility of the rumor, just looking at his tone, commenting on the goddess of the Human Demon Network was like picking and choosing in a vegetable market. Anyone who didn't know better would think that a legendary expert was joking about the state of the world.

However, turmoil and catastrophe
The archmage's expression was somewhat solemn. Although he was focused on exploring and practicing the endless path of arcane magic, Terrathir was not the kind of hermit who would bury himself in his own world and ignore everything else. He had also noticed the subtle signs that had been emerging in the various regions of Faerûn in recent years.

The prophecies, buried by the dust of time, are gradually surfacing. The Son of Slaughter, mentioned in Arlando's scrolls, has already taken to the stage to vie for the throne. And the Sword Coast has never been a peaceful haven; rather, it is the eye of the storm. Less than a decade has passed since the turbulent years subsided, and now another wave of upheaval is about to rise?
Why rush things?

Tyrantil felt somewhat heavy-hearted and couldn't help but sigh inwardly.

Those turbulent years were unsettling even for him. As a Grand Mage, he was usually a powerful figure and a master of the Dao, but what could he do in the face of such a drastic situation?
The descent of saints to the mortal realm is no joke; it is a complete catastrophe, whether for gods banished to the mortal world or for mortals who are involuntarily drawn into the vortex.

The archmage does indeed possess extraordinary power, but he is still far inferior to the gods who appear in saint form. The latter not only possess legendary strength but also have a divine template, not to mention the artifacts or other backup plans they have.

This is not a contest of strength at all, but a game between the gods and fate.

Unlike those who descended to earth in disguise, the gods, whose true forms were kicked out of the divine realm by their superior Ai-O, were undoubtedly caught in a dangerous game they had never imagined—a deadly game where only one life could complete it.

This crisis was worse than they had ever imagined, but on the other hand, it was also a golden opportunity for ambitious mortals.

There's no need to confront the earth-shattering power of the gods, no need to worry about their authority over life and death for mortals, and no need to undertake the suicidal mission of penetrating deep into the enemy's divine realm, facing unpredictable hordes of supplicants and divine armies while simultaneously overthrowing a deity who is in charge of the main battlefield.

This is a once-in-a-millennium opportunity, and one can only imagine the mindset of those crocodiles who have been lurking in the mortal world, trapped in the legendary or even demigod stage for so long.

But is there even one successful case?
Indeed, three lucky individuals emerged among mortals: Midnight, Kramvor, and Cyric.

But what is it that makes them stand out from the crowd?

strength?

joke!

These few down-on-their-luck adventurers dare to talk about strength? That's like spitting dog shit in the face of those powerful beings. Their mere mid-to-high-level professional level doesn't even qualify them to enter that circle.

But the golden apple ended up falling on the heads of the three of them, rather than on the heads of the other powerful figures.

This is fate. Whether it is the high and mighty gods or the mortals who dominate the main plane, they are all inevitably controlled by it. No matter how heroic one is, one is like a duckweed on the water, unable to escape the whirlpool of fate.

The so-called Tablet of Fate, the culprit behind the events that caused the entire turbulent year, was something that Master Zhang firmly believed was actually a script written by the gods.

Just like the grand melody composed in the Lord of the Rings world, seemingly coincidental encounters and dramatic adventures are actually preordained destinies.

Therefore, whether relying on their own strength to seize power or meticulously plotting and scheming to gain an opportunity, there are countless ambitious people who attempt to seize power from saints who walk among mortals through violence and conspiracy. Among them are many powerful figures, but what is the result?
In the end, they are nothing more than stepping stones for the destined protagonists, and all their achievements and fame come to nothing.

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(End of this chapter)