Chapter 1796: Chapter 1796

"I was going to tell you about my situation a few days ago when I sent you to the antique shop, but I never expected Tackwen to die so suddenly." Thɪs chapter is updated by noᴠelfire.net

Papa Oliver sighed, bracing himself with one hand on the bed as he sat on the edge. His right hand remained in his pocket, his fist clenched as if gripping a small object.

"I've lived for a very long time and grown accustomed to seeing those around me depart. I just never imagined I'd have an apprentice as remarkable as you. Perhaps this is fate's mercy on me. Because of the curse, there are things only I can know. But now, I'm starting to lose control. Before I'm completely overcome, I need to find someone who can know about this, someone who can handle it."

He didn't give Jenkins a chance to object.

"Everyone dies. You should know that better than I do. Death is a part of life; without it, a person isn't whole. I've lived a long time, so you should be able to understand how I feel. If death is coming, I will face it with composure. But I absolutely cannot leave trouble behind for you, for the living."

He had Jenkins fetch him a pen and paper from the desk, then sketched a small, flat key. Aside from the straight-cut teeth, it looked no different from an ordinary key.

"Fate took pity on me, allowing me to have you as my apprentice. Jenkins, I need you to do something, something only you can do. If one day—and this period starts now and lasts for the next hundred years—if one day I die unexpectedly, you must immediately recover this key from my body."

Papa Oliver pointed to the crude drawing he had made.

"Don't tell anyone about this, not even the Church. You must ensure you are the first person to get this key. And, you must absolutely not let your skin touch it, or you will be chosen by it."

"That key holds a powerful curse, but it also possesses immense strength. If I were to use it without caring about the consequences... Jenkins, no one in Nolan would be my match, not even you or the other Saints. You don't understand what 'evolution' truly means. This kind of indestructible power must be kept in the hands of someone with control. I've controlled it for hundreds of years, but I don't want my apprentice to be entangled in the key's curse.

"So, if something happens to me one day, you must recover it without touching it and hide it in a place only you know. Guard it with your life. Don't be tempted by it; luring people into using it is one of its traits..."

Blood trickled from Papa Oliver's left nostril, but he didn't notice until it touched his chapped lips.

"I can't say much more, but your most important task is to prevent anyone drawn in and tempted by the key from touching it. You have your own mission as well. When you finally face your destined trial, you must pass this responsibility on to someone else. Don't bury it, or someone will inevitably be drawn to dig it up.

"I've noticed you're on very good terms with that girl from the church choir, Fini Faithford. I've looked into her as well. You might consider her as a candidate; those blessed by the divine have a strong resistance to this kind of temptation."

The topic was almost too heavy, and Jenkins was unsure how to respond.

Papa Oliver knew he had placed a great burden on Jenkins, so he gave him ample time to think.

Jenkins had barely started when he was cut off.

"Don't ask any questions about the key."

Papa Oliver shook his head.

"I just want to know its true purpose."

"It's exactly what it sounds like,"

Papa Oliver answered vaguely, showing no intention of clarifying despite Jenkins's lingering confusion.

"Remember our conversation today, and ensure no one else ever learns of it. Whether we want to admit it or not, the day will come when what we've discussed will happen. When it does, Jenkins, I hope you will do as I've asked."

"In that case, Papa Oliver, how much longer can you suppress this key?"

Papa Oliver understood the meaning behind Jenkins's question and nodded in response.

"Don't worry, I'm not going to die tomorrow. The coming of the apocalypse has also enhanced the power of that snakeman-infant fossil. With its help suppressing the key this time, I can hold on for at least another six months."

That was better than Jenkins had expected, as he believed the true doomsday would arrive before the end of winter.

He wanted to ask more about the evolution key, but Papa Oliver refused to answer. He tried probing again, asking if there was any connection between the key and his [Cycle (White Basic)] ability, but Papa Oliver feigned ignorance, pretending he hadn't reacted at all when explaining the ability last time and insisting he knew nothing about it.

Realizing it was impossible to get anything more out of Papa Oliver, a disappointed Jenkins decided to attend to other matters. Miss Stevel had already left the church, so Jenkins went to catch up with Old Jack and report to Miss Bevanna about the situation at the mine, which would involve dealing with that hammer.

It was only when he passed the chapel and saw the holy emblem of the Sage that he suddenly remembered something he had forgotten to do.

"I think I'm still technically a mouse."

Chocolate, perched on his shoulder, had been hoping Jenkins would forget. It wasn't because she wanted to "play" with the little mouse again, but because she was certain Jenkins would settle the score with her tonight.

Having dealt with a similar situation before, he explained things to Miss Bevanna. The smiling woman led him to an underground ritual site. After calling upon the Sage's gaze, the effects of the light of evolution and de-evolution vanished under that magnificent, gentle light, which felt as if it could wash away all the filth from body and soul.

When calling on the Sage, Jenkins didn't remove the [Primal Amber Stone]. He conducted the ritual himself in his human form, as he had no desire to become a mouse again. Thus, when the special influence receded, his outward appearance remained unchanged—he still looked like Jenkins Williams—but his inner life essence had been altered.

As the Sage's gaze slowly faded, Miss Bevanna and Papa Oliver approached the center of the ritual site to ask Jenkins how he felt, only to find him holding a handful of small yellow crystals.

"The amber stone shattered,"

he said. The crystals in his hand were completely devoid of power, and the centipede-like creature once sealed within the amber was gone.

"This was a gift from my friend. She wore it for many years, and I went and broke it just like that."

Jenkins lamented. Although Anathasia had made it clear it was a gift for him, the amber stone had been with the silver dragon for ten thousand years. He had no idea how he would explain this the next time he saw the dragon and the princess.

Papa Oliver knew the stone most likely came from the silver dragon that had appeared above the Evergreen Forest before vanishing just as quickly. Hearing Jenkins refer to the being as a "friend," he couldn't help but shoot him a curious glance before offering an explanation.

"I think I know why the amber stone broke. The two transformations you've been through were genuine, complete transformations of everything but your soul. This probably caused your body to memorize that state. Then, the Sage's gaze brought about some subtle changes, but what you needed was not just to transform, but to return to your original form..."

Jenkins more or less understood what Papa Oliver meant. He summoned the light-orbs representing his abilities and, sure enough, discovered a brand-new one.

[Malicious Transformation (Red Martial)]

This was a change based on the body, requiring no incantation, making it a typical Red Martial ability. It occupied one of his two remaining bubbles, leaving him with just one left.

[Malicious Transformation] was not a particularly rare ability. It was based on the talents of the ancient "Druids" from before the Enchanter ability system took shape. The effect was just as the name implied: "Transformation" meant that from now on, Jenkins could master methods to transform into other creatures through certain rituals and means. For now, he could only turn into a mouse.

"Malicious" represented the ability's cost. The 18th Epoch was, after all, no longer the ancient era of adventurers roaming the world, and the supernatural forces of the material plane had undergone fundamental changes.

This didn't mean that energy and ability systems had weakened; rather, some abilities had become more difficult to use, while others had become easier. Shapeshifting fell into the category of abilities that grew harder to use with each successive generation. Therefore, transformation required a price, and that price varied from person to person.

Since Jenkins could currently only turn into a mouse, he only knew the cost of becoming a mouse.

After placing Chocolate a safe distance away, Jenkins transformed into a mouse again in front of Papa Oliver and Miss Bevanna. During the process, scorching steam once again enveloped him, and even after the transformation was complete, the feeling of being seared from within did not disappear.

In his mouse form, he could clearly feel every blood vessel and every nerve in his body burning and stinging, but fortunately, the sensation wasn't intense, so it was bearable. Before the frolicking Chocolate could pounce on him, the small gray mouse in the pile of clothes leaped into the air, transforming into a swirling ball of purple light. A moment later, a naked Jenkins stood before the two of them, bringing the demonstration to a close with Papa Oliver's sigh as he covered his face.

"Malicious Transformation requires a change of clothes, Malicious Transformation requires a change of clothes, Malicious Transformation requires a change of clothes."

As he followed Miss Bevanna to her office, Jenkins repeated the phrase over and over in his mind. When he had used the amber stone to change back, he had also been naked. Strangely, though, the silver dragon Anathasia had clothes. He made a mental note to ask her how she managed it the next time he saw her.