The Giant "Late Bell"

As she got closer to Amber City's inner district, Li Wen felt the strange stillness and desolation even more strongly.

Li Wen reached the end of the stone bridge, and a towering city wall blocked her path. Amber City had no one to defend against. If they had to name anyone, it would only be the exiles from the outer district, so the wall was built to keep those exiles out.

It was a shame that too much time had passed. The wall had long been unguarded, and the stone city gate stood open, welcoming anyone to enter.

Li Wen walked in, as if stepping into a giant graveyard.

All the buildings in Amber City were uniformly black. It was hard to find any trace of human habitation here; everywhere was empty. According to the strategy guide's intel, there were at least three places that absolutely could not be approached: the Bell Tower, the Council Hall, and the Witch Disciplinary Center.

The architecture of these three locations was distinct enough, and they weren't in the same direction as the Amber Temple at the center of the inner city, making it unlikely she'd encounter them.

Li Wen didn't know the way and found it difficult to orient herself. However, according to the guide, if she just kept following the path she entered on, she could reach the temple and avoid most of the dangers.

Although the advice seemed a bit strange, since it came from the strategy guide, it should be about ninety percent reliable.

So, Li Wen continued straight ahead. As expected, she encountered no anomalies along the way. From a distance, she saw a pyramid-like building. That was the Council Hall, where the nobles and Twilight cultists of the city discussed state affairs.

The nobles of Amber City were said to be descendants of the Elders. They had established Amber City in the beginning and formed the initial core of the Twilight Witch's followers.

After walking for who knew how long, Li Wen felt she should be near the temple by now. But ahead, she saw no building that resembled a temple, only a towering spire.

It looked almost identical to the spire at the entrance, only taller and entirely deep black. It didn't look like any kind of temple.

Li Wen keenly sensed something was wrong.

"Come here, it's here."

A voice sounded directly in Li Wen's mind. Upon hearing it, Li Wen couldn't even resist and walked straight towards the spire.

At the top of the towering spire, a giant sat there.

"That's right, little one, it's here."

Li Wen felt her body relax, regaining control of her movements.

She looked up at the giant. The being was clad in a tattered cloak, thin and gaunt, nothing like the giants Li Wen imagined. Giants were creatures from the mythical age, rarely seen in the present day. More common were mountain monsters and the Highland Race, said to be descendants of giants.

However, in this city forgotten by the river of time, the appearance of such a long-vanished existence didn't seem strange.

"I am the keeper of this Bell Tower. You can call me 'Late Bell'," the giant spoke in Common Terra. Its voice rumbled, making Li Wen's ears uncomfortable.

Bell Tower?

Li Wen's mood became very complicated. The Bell Tower was one of the three forbidden zones in Amber City mentioned by the strategy guide. She had either taken a wrong turn, or the guide was wrong.

There was also a possibility that this giant had used some method to bring her here without her realizing it.

But didn't the guide say the Elders wouldn't bother with intruders? Li Wen felt like she'd been scammed.

"I just wandered in here by mistake. I didn't mean anything else," Li Wen carefully chose her words, speaking cautiously.

Who knew what state this giant Elder was in? It would be laughable if offending it meant she wouldn't be allowed to enter Amber City again.

The giant, Late Bell, spoke, its voice like thunder.

"I don't care about your purpose, nor will I stop you from walking in this city. However, I have some matters that require your completion, which is why I let you live and brought you before me."

Li Wen's heart skipped a beat.

"What do you mean?"

"Exactly what I said. I am the reason you are alive."

Was this when the Scorching Orb appeared? Li Wen suddenly understood. She had wondered how such a low probability event had happened to her; it turned out an Elder had been meddling behind the scenes.

Even though she hadn't needed the Elder's help at all.

"Though the truth may be hard to accept, that is the situation. Without me, you would have died then." The giant Late Bell seemed unaware of Li Wen's unique nature as a player, which was understandable, as Amber City hadn't had contact with the outside world for a very, very long time.

"That Fire Mage, you killed them too?" Li Wen suddenly asked.

"I only needed one survivor," Late Bell admitted magnanimously.

This meant that from the moment they entered Amber City, they had been under the surveillance of an Elder.

"You said you have matters for me to complete. That matter, it wouldn't happen to be related to the Amber Temple, would it?" Li Wen asked tentatively.

"Relax, little one. This has nothing to do with the Amber Temple, nor with The Final Codex." The giant chuckled, like a kind old man. "I know why you're here. Ah, the perfect Twilight Lineage, the symbol of eternity and the end... Ever since our master ascended to a higher plane, or perhaps passed away, the pillar of Twilight has remained vacant. Humans, elves, even demon gods, all covet the Twilight Lineage. Of course, you do too, right?"

"Don't you crave it?"

Li Wen didn't answer directly but instead asked the giant.

"During The Final Rite, all living Elders swore to our master not to meddle with The Final Codex."

So that's it. It wasn't that they didn't crave it, but that they couldn't.

The oaths of the transcendent were binding, especially an oath made before a pillar deity like the Twilight Witch. Naturally, even the Elders could not break it.

"Then what do you need me to do?" Li Wen asked calmly. For a player like her, as long as the reward was sufficient, she'd take any quest without a second thought. Whether she actually completed it was another matter.

"A very simple request," Late Bell said slowly, like a kind old man. "I'd like your help to find someone in the outer district, through the other gate of the spire."

Its tone was as casual as asking someone to find a person on the street.

The people in the outer district were, without exception, exiled criminals. In the Golden Age, releasing an Elder exiled to the outer district would have been a capital offense.

"When you find him, tell him it's a request from Late Bell. He'll understand and come with you obediently."

Li Wen found the whole thing too preposterous.

"What about my reward?"

"I saved you." The giant Late Bell said amiably, seemingly incapable of anger.

"I want my reward."

The Late Bell fell silent for a moment before speaking, "You can't enter the temple. The Daughter of Amber will tear you to shreds, just like she did the previous intruders. However, I can offer a little help, it won't violate my oath."

"You mean, others have entered Amber City before?" Li Wen frowned. This was something she had never heard of. "Then why are you asking me to do this? Could it be that those people weren't willing before?"

This wasn't something they could simply decide to refuse.

"No, they were not like you." The Late Bell shook its huge, withered head. "You are favored by destiny. This... only you can do it."

A chill ran down Li Wen's spine.