SWWW Chapter 210: Xi Nian's Second Artifact
"Pietro, you went racing your classmates again, didn't you?"
"Hmph. Of course! One day I'll be the fastest man in the world!"
"You lost all your pocket money, don't come asking me for more…"
"Wanda, fine, I'll call you big sis already!"
The scarlet-haired girl and silver-haired boy chatted as they returned home, but once they entered the house, both kept quiet.
Inside, a middle-aged man with glasses sat in the living room reading a newspaper, while a middle-aged woman bustled back and forth from the kitchen, carrying the scent of cooking with her.
"You're back? Dinner will be ready soon! Go wash up first," the woman said with a warm smile.
"Okay!"
The twins answered in unison.
The Cauldron of All Things projected this image of a harmonious family of four, so vivid and real it didn't feel like watching a recording at all.
Xi Nian knew.
This was a past timeline, a real scene from a family in New York City.
He also knew—
Not long from now, this peaceful household would meet disaster.
The Ancient One pressed her hands together in a seal, and the Cauldron's projection accelerated rapidly.
The sun fell, the moon rose.
Night faded, dawn returned.
…
From a godlike perspective, Xi Nian and the Ancient One watched the daily lives of this family. Completely ordinary, and precisely because of that, Xi Nian felt his chest tighten. The sweet, gentle scarlet-haired girl had no idea her life was about to be turned upside down.
As the scenes skipped quickly through the past—
"Wait, stop there."
Xi Nian suddenly called out.
The Ancient One halted the vision, even rewinding slightly.
Xi Nian's heart gave a tremor. In the corner of a nearby street, not far from Wanda's home, he spotted a very familiar figure.
Long dark-green hair draped casually over thin shoulders. Her delicate young face was smudged with heavy eyeliner, her slender body leaning against a lamppost. Arms folded, she looked arrogant and untouchable. Any thug who saw her would immediately turn and flee.
It was as if everyone feared her.
But when Xi Nian saw the green-haired girl, his lips curved upward despite himself, and his eyes softened with both affection and heartache.
As dusk gave way to night, the proud girl stayed at the street corner, gazing at Wanda and Pietro returning home. Only after the lamppost beside her flickered on and lights lit up inside houses in the distance did she shrug indifferently and turn away. Her small but determined figure melted into the city's night.
Xi Nian suddenly wanted to pat her head, though he knew she'd scold him for it.
He wanted to hug her too, though she'd probably bite him.
But even if she scolded, even if she bit him—
He'd still pat her head. He'd still hug her.
Wasn't that a little brother's duty?
Too bad Xi Nian had no idea where his big sis had gone now. She didn't answer calls, and even Jarro's split-off jellyfish scout only confirmed she had disbanded her gang and left New York…
"Master, continue," Xi Nian said, pulling himself back.
The Ancient One shook her head. "We're nearly out."
"Huh?" Xi Nian froze, but then realized what she meant.
The Cauldron's vision, which had been so clear, suddenly blurred. The timeline of the twins' past grew indistinct, untraceable.
"What happened?" Xi Nian asked, startled.
The Ancient One said calmly, "After a certain point in time, the twins' past can no longer be observed by the Cauldron. Only they know what happened then."
"Does that happen often?" Xi Nian frowned.
She dispersed the illusion with a wave. "No. It's rare. But the universe is filled with mysteries. Unexpected things happen. Even I cannot see through everything."
Unlike the stubborn type who had to dig to the root of every mystery, she accepted the unknown with surprising peace.
Xi Nian thought for a moment. "From what time did it stop?"
"On the eve of the New York battle," the Ancient One answered.
"The eve of the New York battle?"
Xi Nian blinked, then froze in place.
He remembered.
At that time…
…
New York Sanctum, second floor.
Led by the Ancient One, Xi Nian ascended the wooden staircase. The upper floor resembled a strange museum, filled with artifacts displayed in glass cases.
A round window let in faint light, wall lamps flickered, but the hall still felt dim.
Xi Nian looked around curiously.
Good lord.
There were even boots and belts among the displays. Ordinary-looking, maybe, but if they were here in the Sanctum, they had to be extraordinary artifacts.
Wait!
"Master, is that a pot? Or a torch?" Xi Nian blinked, pointing to a case in the corner. "That's an artifact too?"
The Ancient One clasped her hands behind her back. "That is the Cosmic Cauldron. Born from the endless mists of time, combined with astral projection it allows one to glimpse the eternal, unchanging essence of the universe."
"What about this one?"
Xi Nian spotted a shining longsword, its blade bright and gleaming with faint power.
"That is the Dragonfang Sword," she said with a nostalgic smile. "Forged from the tooth of a great dragon from another dimension. Indestructible."
"Okay, okay."
Xi Nian spread his hands.
So even in this world, wizards still dreamed of melee combat.
"And this belt?" he asked casually.
"Like your gem artifact, it contains spatial properties. It can store anything, as large as an entire city."
"No thanks."
Xi Nian walked away without another glance. Compared to Xiao Huang's dimensional stomach, this belt was nothing.
Then his eyes fell on another artifact—
A crystal orb, resting on a red cloth inside its case, mysterious and radiant.
Now this, this fit the image of a wizard's tool.
"The Crystal Orb of Agamotto," the Ancient One explained patiently. "It works like a radar. If a magical event occurs anywhere in the world, the orb will float and show its location."
Xi Nian felt a pang of disappointment. He had hoped it was for fortune-telling.
"What about that one?"
He pointed at a crystalline wand, both ends tipped with devilish spikes. Very wizard-like.
"The Wand of Watoomb," she said. "It amplifies a sorcerer's ability to channel elemental forces. Very effective in combat."
"Now that sounds useful…"
Xi Nian rubbed his chin. Maybe not the best, but it was reliable. He mentally listed it alongside the Dragonfang Sword as a serious option.
Unless he found something even better…
"Hm? What's that one…?"
Something caught his eye, and his attention locked on instantly.
…
[Please give powerstones if you're enjoying the story.
500 stones = 1 extra chapter
patreon.com/GuessMyName33 10$ for 80 chapters ahead]