Wizard starting from shoeing donkeys Chapter 1634 - 565: Divine Artifact

Rein advanced toward the crumbling palace without the slightest pause.

Out of nowhere, a shadowy pitcher-like plant nearby snapped open its pair of razor-edged black leaves, snapping viciously at Rein's lower leg.

Yet in that very moment, a steel spike burst from the soil ahead of time, impaling its gaping jaws and rapidly ripping it into fragments.

Such a trivial interruption failed to disrupt Rein's stride even a bit. He pressed onward at a measured, even rhythm...

Still, Rein turned his eyes a fraction, spotting how the dark pitcher plant dissolved into strands of pale black mist that leisurely wafted in the palace's direction.

"The Fiend Demon draws in evil qi to some degree."

"Much like the innate harmony linking avatars born from different demon energies," Rein reflected inwardly, quietly taking in the sight.

Mulling over these notions, Rein kept moving deeper within.

On his path, flora tainted by the Fiend Demon assaulted him without end, though with his existing might, they presented zero peril and scarcely delayed his steps.

Upon arriving at the palace entrance, a swirling mass of evil qi had clearly shaped into a dim black vortex barrier, floating high over the building.

Rein felt sure that if anyone under epic tier approached, the sheer thickness of evil qi would quickly twist them into something unnatural.

Through the shattered doors of the palace, he peered inward.

A vivid vortex barrier held Solson Gren captive as he rested inside it.

Over that barrier, the odd device— which Rein believed might be the Key of Time— turned gradually, sending down fine trails of clear, graceful vaporous energy.

Dark evil qi continued to encircle the final emperor, yet his eyes stayed firmly shut in calm repose, a world away from his earlier savage look.

Nevertheless, after a thorough scan, Rein detected no trace of the Goblin Princess Amora Gren. Her spirit form might have vanished or lurked out of sight— it remained uncertain.

Most probably, though, it had faded entirely.

Having watched for some moments, Rein turned his focus to the Key of Time suspended over the Goblin Last Emperor Solson Gren's head.

On this occasion, the Key of Time stood as no mere phantom but a genuine form, its base pointing straight like a blade while the top curved into an open loop.

Nestled at the loop's lowest edge sat a scant remnant of glowing, jewel-resembling dust.

Rein detected that these small crystalline flecks carried an aura of mystical force.

Clearly, these dust-like crystals were what held back Solson Gren— or truly, the Fiend Demon itself.

"...the quantity of crystal flecks within looks a touch fewer than during Amora's debut," Rein mused thoughtfully, drawing on his memory.

He shut his eyes once more, channeling his vast spiritual force to probe with care again.

"Yes, thirty-two crystal particles remain."

"With one equaling a day, that adds up to a little more than a month."

"But isn't the Key of Time right before me now a tangible thing?"

"So why would the Goblin Princess Amora urge me to locate the actual Key of Time?"

Rein creased his brow faintly, immersing himself in deep thought for a spell, then shook his head anew.

Temporarily, the answer eluded him.

Moments later.

As though reaching a conclusion, Rein regarded the Key of Time once more, his stare now steely with resolve. He extended his arm, inching his hand forward gradually.

Beforehand, he had mulled it over extensively, sensing deep down that the core of the puzzle lay within the Key of Time staring back at him.

While essential for sealing away the Fiend Demon, this item proved even more vital for cracking open secrets.

Rein resolved to brush it softly.

For at Rein's rank, certain impulses or insights went beyond simple random fancies.

Truthfully, for a Full Moon Wizard, it's no stretch to claim that plenty of ideas function like prophecies, driven by pure instinct.

The instant Rein's fingertips grazed the 'Key of Time', his eyes snapped wide in astonishment!

A flood of data rushed into his thoughts, while visions flickered through his mind like a swift reel...

...

After what felt like ages, Rein at last lifted his gaze, brimming with disbelief, and whispered, "Ah, so that's how it is..."

In reality, this wasn't the storied ancient Divine Artifact 'Key of Time', but merely a sub-key of the 'Key of Time', holding just a sliver of the real Divine Artifact 'Key of Time's' abilities.

Yet it could also rewind a life or one item back to an earlier instant in time.

"Does it tamper with time's rules on a minor level?" Rein studied the Key of Time sub-key with wonder.

Anything that meddles with time's principles deserves the title of Divine Artifact, sub-key included.

It's easy to picture the awe-inspiring might of the authentic Divine Artifact Key of Time!

That said, even a sub-key like this carried a heavy toll for unleashing its force.

And that toll was anything but light!

Aside from demanding the user's mighty spiritual energy— no less than a Full Moon Wizard's— every creation of a Time Sand speck would drain a full day from the user's years.

What's more, the subject's power level also determined if the power could take hold.

The greater the opponent's strength, the more Time Sand specks required to pull off the identical outcome.

"Yet even bearing such a Divine Artifact, can the Fiend Demon still not be overcome?" Rein mulled over yet another dilemma.