(Tyler: 774, 773, 772…)
(Lady Nissen: You, you, you mean second-o?! Why didn’t you mention such a crucial detail earlier ahhhhhh?!)
Priscilla Nissen’s highly agitated reaction pleased Tyler, as her display had provided him with the information he sought.𝑂𝒱𝗅xt.𝑐𝓞𝓜
Aware that he had less than 13 minutes left to live, Tyler didn’t immediately consider how to evade his impending demise; instead, he first tested the extent of Priscilla Nissen’s knowledge.
Based on her statements and reactions, Tyler deduced that she couldn’t see the “death scene” he witnessed and had no other means of accessing information about it. This suggested that the control of the Divine Eye of Transcendence’s abilities lay in Tyler’s hands.
(…Assuming she isn’t deliberately putting on an act for my benefit.)
With time running out, Tyler could only probe Priscilla Nissen so far, as his more pressing concern was figuring out how to confront his future demise in just 12 minutes.
After successfully employing the ability to “foresee the death scene,” Tyler saw a bird’s-eye view of a village. From this vantage point, the bustling settlement, nestled near a forest, consisted of only two or three dozen wooden houses. In the frozen image, villagers turned their gazes towards the southwestern corner, where a tower-like column of fire soared into the sky. Beside the flame stood a vague, armored figure, and near the ground where the figure stood, fissures appeared as if resulting from a powerful impact.
Upon viewing his death scene, Tyler had but one question: where was he? Though it was his own demise, he couldn’t find a trace of himself in the image.
(Priscilla Nissen: There,there are less than 12 minutes left-o, Tyler! Quickly tell me how you die in the scene! If we don’t figure something out-o, you’ll perish!)
Priscilla Nissen’s frantic exclamations in Tyler’s mind only solidified his belief that she was unreliable. However, even the most untrustworthy companion could prove useful if guided properly. Additionally, upon hearing the phrase “if we don’t figure something outto, you’ll perish,” Tyler gleaned another piece of information: Priscilla Nissen wouldn’t die even if he did, thus weakening their alliance of shared interests.
(Alright, clear my mind and focus on solving the problem.)
Taking a deep breath to regain his composure, Tyler climbed a tree while conversing with Priscilla Nissen.
(Tyler: Lady Nissen, it’s not that there are only 12 minutes left, but rather, we still have 12 minutes. Also, I have some questions about the abilities of the Divine Eye of Transcendence.)
Tyler first briefly shared his death scene with Priscilla Nissen, then sought details about the Divine Eye’s abilities. Priscilla Nissen explained that the ability to “foresee one’s death scene” allowed the user to witness the moment of their demise, and the “death snapshot” would always capture the user’s final moments in full.
Combining Priscilla Nissen’s explanation with the scene Tyler observed, the contradictions pointed to a single possibility: Tyler was incinerated by the enormous column of fire in the image, his ashes dispersed in an instant, leaving no trace of even his bones. The bird’s-eye perspective was chosen to capture all of Tyler’s ashes within the frame, though, in reality, not even ashes could be seen.
(Tyler: During human cremation, the temperature of the cremation chamber starts at 200 degrees Celsius. The first phase is the burning of the paper coffin, clothing, and body fat, with an optimal combustion temperature of 400-500 degrees; then the second phase involves burning muscles, organs, and blood, with the best combustion temperature around 600 degrees; finally, the third phase is the burning of bones, which requires a temperature of at least 800-900 degrees to turn them to ash. The whole cremation process takes at least an hour and a half…)
(Lady Nissen: Uh, Tyler, excuse me for interrupting ah, but have you been frightened-o into confusion!? Why are you suddenly talking about-o cremation?)
(Tyler: By making this comparison, we can deduce that the temperature of the fire column that burned me to death was at least 3,000-4,000 degrees Celsius. That’s why I was vaporized instantly. Based on this conclusion, the “enemy” that killed me is extremely powerful, so powerful that I couldn’t even escape.)
After Tyler finished speaking, Priscilla Nissen fell silent for a moment, then suddenly burst into triumphant laughter.
(Lady Nissen: Hehehehahaha! Thank me, Tyler! Though this enemy may be powerful, I, the great Lady Nissen, have alread-o thought of a secret plan to help you escape deathhhh!)
To be honest, Tyler didn’t believe that Priscilla Nissen could provide any constructive advice, but since she had already brought it up, he had to give her a chance to speak.
(Tyler: Lady Nissen, what brilliant plan have you come up with?)
(Lady Nissen: Hehehe, listen closely, Tyler! Your death occurs in the village, right-o? But we’re in a forest-o now! We’re nowhere near any village! So, if we just hide in this forest-o, we should be safe, right-o? Hahaha! I truly am a genius!!!)
After hearing Priscilla Nissen’s idea, Tyler felt that he really shouldn’t have asked her, and that he had wasted a precious ten seconds.
(Tyler: Lady Nissen, the village is just outside this forest, and it’s only about a five-minute walk away. Moreover, I don’t think someone with such a powerful ability wouldn’t be able to find us hiding in this forest. I’ve noticed that the area of this forest is only slightly larger than the village itself.)
(Lady Nissen: …Ah(・_・)?)
During the time Priscilla Nissen was giving her opinion, Tyler had already climbed the tallest tree nearby. From the top of the tree, they could not only see the nearby village but also have a clear view of the entire forest. Judging by the appearance of the houses in the village, it was undoubtedly the same village as the one in Tyler’s “death scene.”
And now, there were less than 9 minutes left until Tyler’s death.
(Lady Nissen: It’s… It’s all over… Tyler, do you have any last word-o? I can help you bring them back to your original world-o, and pass them on to your family and friends through their dreams… waah, your second-o life was barely more than ten minutes long, it’s so pitiful, waahhh…)
Priscilla Nissen was completely devastated, but Tyler remained calm.
(Tyler: Lady Nissen, I would be grateful if you could remain silent. I have no last words, and I don’t plan to die here.)
(Lady Nissen: sniff… Huh? Are you saying you have a plan?)
(Tyler: Yes, all you need to do is watch quietly.)
After saying that, Tyler stopped paying attention to Priscilla Nissen. It wasn’t because he was finally starting to take action; in fact, ever since he learned that he would die in 13 minutes, Tyler had not stopped acting for a moment. The reason he was still able to chat with Priscilla Nissen earlier was that he was waiting for someone.
Now, the person he was waiting for had arrived.
In the forest, a middle-aged man dressed as a woodcutter was walking towards the village. Tyler quietly watched him from the shadows and silently descended the tree.