Chapter 261: Deep Winter (Part 2)

Chapter 261: Deep Winter (Part 2)

If left to its natural course, the tornado indeed would not have headed here. Every winter, the north wind howled ceaselessly southward. Following the general trend, the tornado would only be swept south.

Bran sat back down several times after lifting his rear. This storm let him see and learn much. The last time he saw a similar scene was on that nameless little island. But there were also many differences. That storm and rain did not arise from a monster; it merely danced in the wind and rain.

The tornado before his eyes, however, was caused by Xirui.

The Mana Xirui had mixed into the tornado now seemed insignificant. But it was precisely this insignificant Mana, like strings controlling a puppet’s head, that manipulated this behemoth. Looking at it for a long time, a sense of imminent danger arose; these strings seemed ready to snap at any moment.

Bran did not know what progress or discovery his little sister had made, as she was still urging her Mana forward without any sign of relaxation. Since Xirui still had strength to spare, she should be fine.

The Little Fairy in the clouds had actually condensed a Mana snake. It was truly hard to imagine. Bran believed that even after this storm ended, the snake’s most core essence would remain. Like the body of the Ancient Tree, like his current self, its most core part had already completely transformed into Mana, no longer fragile ice crystals.

Although the core was still tiny, the brilliant light of Mana illuminated the giant serpent’s massive body, providing it with unimaginable power and vitality.

Inspired by this, Bran thought of his own clothes. He knew what to do. Completely Mana-transformed items, such as the Ancient Tree’s leaves, branches, or even his own flesh and blood.

At that moment, the two Ancient Trees were also under the tower, watching the spectacle with Bran. Hearing Bran’s request, they both shed a small section of branch and threw it toward the tower top. But they overlooked that it was only a “small section” from their perspective. So, faced with two large branching logs crashing down on him, Bran was directly flattened underneath.

A wisp of gray smoke rose from under the covering leaves and branches, spreading along them. When the gray smoke dispersed, the leaves and branches had transformed into several sets of clothing. The fabric pattern showed faintly visible leaf veins. Upon closer look, one would discover images of the two Ancient Trees hidden within those veins.

Bran picked up one garment and gave it a light shake. The clothes instantly turned into a ball of gray smoke falling into his palm. After tumbling for a moment, they changed back into the form of clothes and draped over his arm. For now, it could only be like this. Later, he would need time to refine it carefully, letting his own Mana thoroughly purify these garments.

But currently, Bran’s own Mana had not yet completed its renewal, so naturally he wouldn’t prioritize refining external objects. Besides clothes and armor, his two Short Blades also needed to be refined through Mana.

His current Short Blades—Fragility—had long been an inseparable part of him. He had many ideas he wanted to realize. Since it already possessed spirit, could it be taken into the Sea of Magic? To be washed by purer Mana there. What changes would occur after being baptized by the Sea of Magic?

But all this required waiting. He needed to wait for himself to complete the transformation first, then it would be their turn. Then, he would try to infuse his own flesh and blood into them.

While Bran was distracted, the tornado grew a bit larger. Northland City was gradually affected. The chill brought by the wind became bitterly cold.

The distant phenomenon had long attracted everyone’s attention. Mr. and Mrs. Winchehil, along with Danny and others, had also climbed the High Tower, tensely looking toward it.

Danny asked, “Bran, what’s happening over there?”

“Xirui, she’s stirring up a little breeze,” Bran replied, pretending to be relaxed.

“Is your little sister alright?” Mother asked, somewhat nervous.

“What could be wrong with her? If something’s wrong, the unlucky ones would be us.” Bran’s casual complaint revealed some truth.

“Then why aren’t you stopping her?” Mother’s tone became slightly stern.

“No hurry. It’s not bad for her.”

“You can’t just think from your own perspective. You must consider how others in the city feel.”

“To be honest, I don’t have a very good solution either.” Bran, holding several sets of clothes, moved from the outer tower top back inside the tower and stood next to his parents. “And this is crucial for Xirui.”

Seeing everyone’s attention focused on him, waiting for him to explain further, Bran had to continue asking, “What do you see?”

Someone answered, “Wind, clouds, lightning.”

Bran shook his head. “That’s fire. Mana fire. Countless lives under the snow and in the forests are becoming its Sacrifice. After this Sacrifice, another Great Wizard will soon appear in the Northlands.”

I didn’t understand before, but now I’m slowly realizing. I chose the Trial, constantly killing on the path of the Trial. During that time, I even became somewhat bloodthirsty. At first, I thought I was influenced by Huahua, but it wasn’t just Huahua’s influence. The growth of Mana also needs life to balance it. I was just unconsciously following instinct.

But it was also during that time that my strength grew extremely fast.

My Mana accumulation was actually already sufficient long ago; I just lacked the Sacrifice of life. Danny knows, when I first arrived at Northland City, I started to lose control a bit. I even absorbed the abilities of some Wizards. I thought their Mana attracted me.

Thinking about it now, that wasn’t it. For a Wizard, ability contains too much of the essence of life, and I happened to be able to assimilate and absorb that.

I should thank those who provoked me. They helped me escape crisis after crisis. My explosive growth in strength also owes something to them.

I can still ease the craving for life by absorbing the abilities of other Wizards or Magical Beasts, but other Wizards cannot.

Like the Trial of us Northlanders, when we reach that critical point, we need the supplement of Mana. So, Sister chose to leave the Mountain Villa. Regardless of her reasons, the essence was still to harvest life, to provide what she needed for her growth.

I’m a bit envious of Sister. Under the guidance of instinct, she always finds the best timing. But I’m always overthinking things, missing opportunity after opportunity.

Actually, I’m more like a defective product. At the most important critical point, I failed to heed the call of Mana and absorb what I needed in time. I don’t want my little sister, or Zoya, to be like me. This journey was originally for them to harvest life. With their simple minds, they naturally could sense the call from the unseen.

Moreover, this great fire is already unstoppable. What can I do? I could try my hardest to stop everything before my eyes. But do you want Xirui to become a relatively perfect Great Wizard, or a defective product like me?”

No one answered Bran’s final question. Another Great Wizard. Or perhaps she couldn’t be called a Great Wizard yet, because she hadn’t established corresponding achievements.

But that wasn’t important. What was important was the word “perfect,” even if Bran said “relatively perfect.” Even Bran himself could hardly conceal his excitement. He wanted to see with his own eyes what this little Monster would look like, having accidentally inherited the experiences of the Fairy, Sister, and himself, and suddenly grown up.

Therefore, he would not actively destroy her, as long as she hadn’t truly caused irreparable damage here.

He also wanted to see how far his little sister would ultimately go.

By now, Xirui was gradually becoming clear-headed. The endless whispers of the wind in the mirror never ceased. She already understood that as long as the wind and clouds in this world continued to change, the whispers would not stop.