Lymar Village.
8:30 a.m. 15th Banem 1092.
Kashi squeezed his hand tight and revealed a mad grin as he examined the prompt. His fists trembled as he struggled to contain his excitement. Haha! Another method for him to get stronger! And this was one the Adjudicators would never be able to mess with!
"What's with the stupid grin?"
"Mother of—" Kashi cursed as he turned around and glared at the silent Shadow. "You really..." The daeben released a sigh and then shook his head in defeat.
"Huh? You are not going to scold me this time?" Shadow questioned with an 'innocent' gaze.
"Whatever. It's not like it'll change a thing," Kashi replied with a heavy snort. "More importantly,..." the daeben said as he looked at the party who were waiting for him. Larsial stood between Agamios and Darian, all of whom were staring at him with equal parts awe and fear.
No one could make sense of what they just witnessed. Where did Kashi take those people to? How did he get those blight monsters to listen to his commands? There were thousands of questions and not enough mouths to ask them.
Larsial finally regained her composure and was about to step forward when a loud voice interrupted her.
"You! You're alive!" Rayatha Thorn shouted out, forcing everyone to turn their attention to the bound druid. For a chained villain, Rayatha still looked somewhat clean and unperturbed. The centaurs had refrained from beating him, even a little bit, despite their hatred of him. The only reason for this was that, according to Larsial, Kashi had suggested a vague interest in this man.
Capture, not Kill, had been the order given by Kashi.
Darian only now recalled that he had indeed brought Rayatha with them for Kashi to pass judgment on. The daeben's brilliance had caused his brain to blank out. The centaur angrily clenched his fists and punched the druid's when he heard Rayatha's remark. "Shut up! You dare curse Kashi-dono!?"
The Dimeritium shackles stopped the flow of mana and ki in the body of whoever they bound—this reduced Rayatha's strength to that of a slightly strong average man. As a result, Darian's punch struck harder than intended and smashed a couple of the druid's teeth.
Rayatha nonchalantly spat out blood and teeth and then turned to Kashi with excitement in his eyes. "You really survived! Haha! That's only possible if you've become immune to the blight!" The druid crawled toward Kashi, uncaring of his unsightly appearance. "You! Your blood must have a cure. With a few experiments, we can make sure the blight never harms anyone for eternity."
"We?" Kashi's gaze turned cold as a heavy pressure crushed Rayatha's shoulders and pinned him face flat to the ground. "Have you so soon forgotten what you did? As you said, I do have the cure for the blight..." Well, this wasn't entirely true. Although Kashi could remove and command the blight, it wasn't like he would always be alive. He did not have a way of extracting a cure for permanent use. But Rayatha did not know that. "Why do I need you?"
Rayatha's eyes widened in shock as he realized his situation. To Kashi's surprise, rather than beg for his life, Rayatha's body relaxed, and he let out a satisfied sigh, "I suppose that is true. I have always known I would end up like this one way or another. At the very least, the blight has finally been cured. Whatever happens to me from here on out is of no importance."
The druid's behavior incredibly intrigued Kashi. From the beginning, Rayatha had only seemed interested in studying the blight. Even now, at the end of his life, it was still the only thing on his mind. Darian and Agamios watched, stunned, as Kashi walked over to Rayatha and sat on the ground.
Kashi took out a bottle of Yarcon Juice from his inventory and poured himself a cup. He looked at the prone Rayatha and said as he raised the cup to his lips. "I have never said I would dedicate my life to finding a cure for the blight." Kashi downed the cup and poured himself another. "Tell me your story. You have until I empty this bottle. I will decide what to do afterward."
Rayatha trembled but then began to narrate his life's story. It was a basic story anyone would have heard a thousand times. A young boy ran away from home to live in the woods, where he made friends with many creatures with high intelligence. While living among the beasts, Rayatha one day came across a druid who praised his affinity for nature and then taught him the basics of being a druid.
Rayatha's skills blossomed very quickly, and it wasn't long before he could converse with the animals, further deepening his relationship with them. Many years later, the forest was hit with a blight outbreak. At first, only the trees were affected, but then, it seemed this strain was exceptionally potent, as even beasts got infected.
As one would expect, Rayatha's friends fell to the disease, and he was forced to kill them to reduce the blight's spread. Ever since then, he swore to find a way to cure the affliction. He eventually traced the source of this particular dominant strain to the pit where Kashi met him. He began his experiments, which required the infection of many plants and beasts. Somewhere along the line, he was approached by members of the Chaos Order. After a brief battle to determine his worth, he joined their ranks in return for resources and manpower to hasten his experiments.
Apparently, the Chaos Order was after something they called Chaos Energy. Rayatha was not sure what it was used for or how they harvested it. All he knew for sure was that they needed blighted monster armies and a method to control them, which Rayatha provided.
"...That is all I know," Rayatha said with a neutral tone.
Kashi looked at the cup in his hand. "The final drop." He said as he arched his head and poured the final drop into his mouth. The daeben placed the cup on the ground and glared at Rayatha. "You made it just in time," Kashi coldly teased as he quickly processed the information to draw his conclusions and decide on his next course of action.
Kashi shook his head and let out a sigh. "You. You do not sound sorry at all. You mourn your friends, sacrificed the friends and families of so many others. Do you not regret your actions, even a little bit?"
"I do not regret my actions," Rayatha stated with a flat tone. "If I had to do it all over again, I would make the same decisions."
"Even if it would result in your death?"
"Even so."
"Why?"
Rayatha raised his head for the first time and gazed into Kashi's eyes. The druid's eyes were intense and prideful as he declared, "Because it was precisely these set of actions that led you here. You, the one man who can cure the blight."
Kashi raised a brow. "What?"
Rayatha shook his head. "I know how you Summoned operate. You do not go to an area unless there is a chance of profit or method to increase your strength." The druid's gaze pierced into Kashi's eyes. "Especially someone as strong as you. Would you have come to this forest if the centaurs had not personally sought the help of any passing being in hopes of defeating the big bad guy?"
Kashi remained silent. He knew the druid was telling the truth. Because of the nature of his primary quest (world conquest), the daeben had considered Rosendun done and dusted. He had already shifted his attention to broader projects and did not have time for leisurely exploration.
If Absalon had not informed Kashi of the centaurs, he might have never found out about them until several months later. By then, maybe some other team or guild would have resolved the issue. However, whether they would have been able to cure the blight itself was another thing altogether.
"You..." Kashi muttered as he looked into Rayatha's steadfast gaze and then let out a sigh. "Fine, I understand. I know what to do with you."
Darian's eyes trembled, and he could not help but ask, "Kashi-dono, could you please let us know your intentions for this man?"
Kashi looked up at the centaur. He could see the fear and hatred in the proud warrior's eyes. Darian was worried Kashi would be too lenient on Rayatha—especially after this man caused his people so much disaster and pain. Kashi leaked out a small smile and assured the centaur, "Do not worry. I understand your fear."
"But he speaks the truth," Kashi reluctantly stated with a sigh. "A cure for the blight needs to be synthesized to remove any chances of this reoccurring in the future. As the foremost researcher into the blight, his expertise cannot be wasted through execution." Kashi senses the atmosphere drop several degrees but continued, "However, I cannot forgive his crimes either, and as such, I have decided I shall exile him to a barren location in my world. He will find the cure that we need, and then live out the rest of his life in solitude."
Kashi raised his head and met Darian's gaze. "So many lives were lost in this battle. The loss of one more will not bring them back or balance out what has been wronged. But at least, we finally have a chance to bring an end to a disease that has plagued the world for thousands of years. I firmly believe that is a cause worth dying for. Do you not?"
Darian took in a deep breath and then slowly released it. He glanced at Kashi and then said, "You are correct, Kashi-dono. I was short-sighted in my anger and did not consider the bigger picture." He solemnly bowed. "I am sorry. Please forgive me."
"There is no need for apologies," Kashi said with a shake of his head as he rose to his feet. "The world is a nasty place, where greedy people like me use 'the bigger picture' to justify doing immoral things." The daeben walked over and patted Darian's side as he said, "It is essential that pure people like you who see the world differently remain the way you are. People like you ensure we do not lose our humanity. Never change that, no matter how many times people like me talk about the bigger picture or what's best for the world."
With those words, Kashi patted Darian once more, greeted Agamios, and then began to make his way back to the chiefs with Larsial and Shadow. Forty minutes had passed since he left. By now, the preparations for Drixlia should have been completed.
As Kashi's figure disappeared around a bend, Darian looked at the silent Rayatha with a complicated expression and then at the retreating daeben.
"He's a strange one, isn't he?" Agamios said as he patted Darian's shoulder.
"Ah, you are correct, Agamios-san," Darian muttered as he leaked a warm smile. "He is indeed quite strange. But perhaps, that is why I want to follow him."
Agamios' brow rose as he looked at Darian."Follow him..." The general scratched his chin and leaked a smile. "Perhaps thatmight not be so bad after all..."
A centaur guard guided Kashi, Larsial, and Shadow to a secluded area. There, they found Drixali, the chiefs, and the shamans stood around an intricate mandala array made up of several animal bones, blood, and leaves. Kashi spotted Drixlia stoically standing at the center of the array with a determined glint in its eyes.
Kashi let out a smile as he looked into the stallion's eyes. "Well, someone is excited. Kept you waiting long, didn't I?"
Drixlia excitedly harrumphed and beat its front hooves against the ground.
Kashi didn't know why, but he could vaguely understand the stallion's intent. "Yeah, there's no way I'll abandon you." The daeben then turned to look at Drixali, who stood outside the mandala with a stern expression. "How exactly does this work?"
Drixali nodded. "If I were not present, then the centaurs would have used a blood enhancement array spell, consisting of the blood and body parts of several high-level beasts, and augment it with the aura left in my spear. This would have forcefully awakened the dormant bloodline in your stallion or gifted him with a new one. Both outcomes would increase the strength, speed, and potential of this child to another level."
"I hear a lot of ifs and would haves," Kashi noted with a raised brow. "I take it you have something else planned?"
"Yes, master," Drixali stated with a solemn nod. "Although these methods will indeed improve this child's bloodline, the outcome would still be a slightly stronger stallion. No mount of my master can be such a common creature that can be easily found by throwing a stone onto a prairie."
Kashi chuckled and looked at Drixlia. "Are you going to take that? He just called you common." Drixlia coldly snorted and nodded in response. Kashi, in reply, shrugged and turned back to Drixali. "Alright then, since the one being insulted doesn't mind, it would be petty of me to dwell on the subject." He looked at Drixali and asked. "So, what do you have in mind?"
Drixali extended his left arm, revealing a deep gash from which blood unceasingly flowed out.
Kashi's eyes narrowed as he looked at the arm and then at the mandala. "You. Don't tell me..."
Drixali nodded. "Yes, I constructed the Blood Enhancement Array entirely out of my blood. It so happens that child has a trace of my bloodline in his veins. He must be a descendant of one of the stallions I blessed when I traveled the world. Even though it has been diluted over the centuries, it's still there. I will jumpstart that trace with my lifeforce and blood." The centaur demon leaked out a smile as he thought of the eventual outcome. "To be honest, even I do not know what this child will become after this. I will be lying if I say I am not the least beat curious."
Kashi's eyes were grave as he looked at the blood array and then at the gash on Drixali's arms. "I will let it pass this time, since you've already done it, but never do this again. I do not appreciate you endangering yourself just to help me."
"So you know about it." Drixali's eyes widened in shock, and he let out a bitter smile. "As expected of my master." The truth was that using his lifeforce in such a manner to boost Drixlia's bloodline was not as simple as it sounded. It could severely injure him, leave him permanently damaged, or in an extreme case, even kill him.
However, whether it was due to his loyalty, or his innate pride as a demon, Drixali could not abide Kashi riding on a regular stallion, hence his action. "Do not worry, master. In any other case, this might be considered a sacrifice, but Yggdrassil's aura can easily cure any injuries I incur."
Kashi thought about it and had to agree with the demon. Yggdrassil's healing aura was strong to the point of absurdity. It was a pity he could not access all of that aura at once, or he would have become an impossible cockroach. Unless he were downed in one hit, Kashi would always get back up at full health the very next second. Injuries that would be fatal otherwise were easily healed with its power.
No wonder the wisbens and treants worshiped and treated Ygdrassil so reverently. Kashi began to feel a tinge of guilt as he recalled Razznik cutting down the famed world tree in a fit of rage. Damn, that might have been a bigger sin than he initially thought.
Kashi shook his head and turned his attention back to Drixali. "Go ahead when you're ready."
"As you wish," Drixali answered and then looked at the shamans. The shamans quickly nodded and began chanting a spell. Drixali, meanwhile, raised his left arm and stretched it toward Drixlia.
Following the shamans' chants, the blood array brightened with a hollow red glow that grew brighter with each passing second. Soon, string-like rivulets of blood rivulets flowed out of Drixali's arms and linked themselves to the array. The array suddenly burst with a bright glow that forced everyone to look away or shut their eyes.
Well, almost everyone.
Even though the light burned his eyes, Kashi kept his gaze on Drixlia, who returned his gaze with a determined one. Drixlia nodded, and as if following its conformation, the blood array suddenly sprung to life. The blood separated into thousands of tiny silk-like threads that individually shot up around the stallion.
Drixlia did not have a moment to process what was going on before a thread suddenly lashed down and wrapped itself around its abdomen. A harsh sizzling sound rang out as that thread burned its way into Drixlia's flesh, leaving behind a terrible burn mark. Drxilia had barely processed the pain when many more began to wrap themselves around him, each one burning their way through his skin.
Drixlia gritted its teeth and refused to budge through the sizzling burns, smoke, and pain. It's bloodied and red eyes glared at Kashi with determination. It instinctively had a feeling that the moment it began to thrash about, the enhancements would end. Which meant that it could only get as strong as the amount of pain it was willing to bear.
Drixlia let out a stubborn snort as more threads attached themselves to it at a faster rate until its entire body has riddled with burn scars. However, the threads never seemed to end. Drixali kept feeding his blood and lifeforce to the array, which attached more threads to the stallion.
Eventually, the threads proved to be too much as they completely swallowed the stallion within. The last thing Kashi saw before the threads encased the stallion was Drxilia's gaze promising to never give up.
A few minutes later, Drixali withdrew his arm and allowed his body to close up the wound. "That should be more than enough. Any more, and I will actually die."
Kashi looked at the demon and sighed when he noticed the centaur's pale face. "You pushed yourself too far. But thank you." The daeben then looked at the large cocoon comprised of thousands of threads. He did not dare imagine just how much pain the Drixlia was going through right now. "So, what now?"
"Now, we wait," Drixali replied. "How much he improves depends on how much he can absorb." The demon leaked a weak smile as he said, "I am quite looking forward to the outcome. I wonder how much he can absorb."
"Same here," Kashi replied. "I wonder what will come out after Drix absorbs everything."
Drixali glanced askance at the daeben. The slight difference in their statements did not escape his notice, but he chose not to say anything. Indeed, having a master who believed in you must feel good. He turned to look at the cocoon. 'I wonder, are you worthy of the master's trust...'
Outlands, Serisis.
9:26 a.m. 16th Banem 1092.
The outlands was a vast area to the west of Serisis that contained some of the country's most dangerous mana beasts. Many ruins of small settlements, barracks, or villages could be found in these lands, left behind by people who had tried and failed to live in these lands.
Due to this land's dangerous nature, most patrols did not pass through this area, which was why there was no one to witness the weird sight of a dwarf and an orc emerging from a building in one of the ruins.
"Oh, merciful Aerith," Rudega exclaimed as he took in a deep breath and slowly let it out. "That clean, fresh air. How I missed you." Rudega looked at the bright sun with a profound grin. "I have never been so glad to see the sun in my life."
"Stop overreacting." Next to him, Ragnaf snorted as he adjusted Durst on his shoulder. "Where do we go now?"
Rudega shook his head. "I did not expect to have to run this way. I did not bring Serisis' map with me. but I do know we have to head east if we want to see signs of civilization."
"That makes sense," Ragnaf replied with a grunt. He was about to take a step but then suddenly paused and turned to look at Rudega. "Which way is East?"
Rudega chuckled as he pointed towards the sun. "Over that way," he said as he walked in that direction. "The sun rises in the east and sets in the west. Remember this, and you'll hardly get lost."
Ragnaf, who had almost headed in the opposite direction, turned around and followed the dwarf. He looked up at the sun. "So, this is East..." Because he never went on hunts with other orcs, he never needed to learn his coordinates. This was a good lesson. East was where the sun rose...
Rudega and Ragnaf trekked through the harsh lands for several minutes before coming across a small stream. They decided to take a short break to revitalize themselves. After all, they had been on the move since the previous day without rest.
Ragnaf gently the unconscious Durst on the ground and then knelt next to the stream. He cupped water into his palms and took a heavy drag. He repeated the action several times until his quest was wholly quenched.
The orc breathed a sigh of relief and then proceeded to prop Durst with his arm and leg. He then scooped up water from the stream and poured it down Durst's throat. Luckily, Durst unconsciously swallowed the water without any major fuss. Ragnaf repeated the action a few more times, until he was sure Durst would not suffer from Dehydration, and then once more rested Durst on the ground.
Ragnaf crossed his legs and stretched, groaning as creaks echoed from his overworked shoulders and arms. The orc rested his hands on his legs and took in a deep breath, destressing from the past couple of hours.
Perhaps due to getting relaxed from all the stress, the orc's senses suddenly grew exponentially more potent. Ragnaf sniffed the air and frowned slightly. "This air... How is it like this?"
Rudega chuckled as he sat down beside the orc. "You finally noticed. The concentration of mana in Serisis is no joke. Any mage who trains here will have double the progress with half the effort." The dwarf shook his head. "If a mage tower had been built in this country, who knows how rich it would have been... It's too bad."
Ragnaf raised a brow. "What is?"
"The large concentration of mana is as much a poison as it is a boon," Rudega explained as he cupped a piece of the soil in his hands. "Plants find it very difficult to grow in these lands because of mana poisoning."
"Mana poisoning? What's that?"
Rudega looked at the soil and explained, "Too much of anything is bad. This is as true of the air we breathe as it is mana. If a living being takes in more mana than it can handle, it will perish. That's what we call mana poisoning."
Ragnaf's brow rose as he looked around him. "This mana might be thick, but I don't think it should cause mana poisoning."
Rudega chuckled. "You are looking at the mana contained in the air. The mana concentration in Serisis' soil is a thousand times greater." Seeing Ragnaf's confused gaze, Rudega elaborated. "Let me put it this way. The mana you see in Serisis is emitted from the ground. The mana in Serisis' soil is so great that most seeds perish immediately they are planted as they cannot handle the overflowing mana."
"Do you know what's causing it?"
"There are a few theories," Rudega stated. "One of the greatest is the existence of the amrita. Many speculate the mana concentration might come from those underground rivers."
"You think otherwise?"
Rudega shrugged his shoulders. "Perhaps—"
"Perhaps it is time you both surrendered," a deep, gruff voice called from behind.
Rudega and Ragnaf's expression instantly hardened as they stood up and turned around.
Ragnaf's gaze turned cold as he glared at the mighty orc across from him. "Ragelock."
Renark Ragelock glared at Ragnaf and then looked at the unconscious Durst. "Give up, child. You cannot win this fight." As he said those words, Brilith Loneheart, Roro, Honne-Onna, and GrizzlyDiamond, holding a shocked Uthman, came out from behind the orc.
Despair colored Rudega's eyes as he felt the overwhelming power oozing out of the unfamiliar figures. However, that despair disappeared as soon as it came. He cracked his fists and glared at Renark. "If I'm going to die anyway, might as well take one of you with me."
Ragnaf grinned as he drew his ax. "Okay... let's die then."