"Okay... I have her, completely ready to obey my commands." Leon said with a sly smile as he emerged from the bushes, dragging Enid along. Her naked body trembled, her eyes unfocused and hazy, lips parted as though she had forgotten how to breathe properly. Her thighs glistened with overflowing arousal, her pussy leaking in a constant stream that dripped shamelessly down her legs.
"Mr. Leon..." Rees whispered, his voice full of awe as his eyes widened at the sight.
"Oh my god... I can't watch this. This is just too pathetic and she was just giving me disgusting looks because I got defeated by a human." Orion muttered sharply, immediately turning away in disgust.
"C-Cock... I-I want cock..." Enid moaned, her voice dripping with desperation as her trembling hands reached down to claw at Leon's pants.
"No, no," Leon caught her wrist firmly, his expression calm and unshaken. "First you release Medina from that parasite... and then you'll get my cock."
"Y-Yes..." Enid panted, her glazed eyes slowly opening as her gaze fixed on the parasite-bound figure. She shakily raised her hand, her body twitching with need.
"Avans Redemo," she murmured, her voice sultry even as she cast the spell.
*Crack—Crack—Crack—Crack*
The black vines began to writhe violently, loosening their grip around Medina's body. One by one they slithered back into the tree until finally, her limp body slipped free and fell from the trunk.
"Yes!" Rees exclaimed, rushing forward with joy. He caught Medina in his bony arms and quickly carried her away from the tree.
'I can't believe this... A demon general's daughter, defeated by a human? And he didn't even cast a single spell. Just some aphrodisiac, and whatever he did to her behind those bushes... This is outrageous. I must report this to Lord Raka immediately.
If Medina restored her powers, I will be finished.' Orion thought grimly, his jaw tight as he stared at Medina's unconscious form.
"C-Cock... Noww~ Pleaseeee~" Enid whimpered, her voice breaking into a desperate cry. She spun back toward Leon, fumbling with his locks, her fingers shaking as they tried to tug open his pants.
"Yes, yes... You will—" Leon stopped mid-sentence, his eyes narrowing. His skill activated immediately.
*Crack—Crack—Crack—Crack*
"Shit..." Leon cursed under his breath, instantly yanking Enid aside with him.
*BOOOM!*
The ground split open, and from the crack, a monstrous black tree surged upward, formed entirely of writhing vines. Its trunk twisted unnaturally, branches stretching high into the sky.
It was just as big as the tree of life.
"What the !?" Leon and Orion exclaimed simultaneously, both staring wide-eyed.
*Crack—Crack—Crack—Crack*
*BOOOM!*
Another massive dark tree erupted from the earth, rising and growing with unnatural speed. Its skeletal branches filled with jet-black leaves, until in a matter of moments, it resembled a real forest tree.
"W-What is happening?" Orion demanded, his voice sharp, though his eyes darted uncertainly toward Leon.
"Mnhhhhnnn~ Please... fuck my pusssy~" Enid moaned, lost in her frenzy as she ground her body against Leon's, rubbing the bulge in his pants with feverish hunger.
Leon's hand shot up and clamped tightly around her throat. His voice was a growl, sharp and commanding. "I will fuck your pussy like a beast.. after you tell me why the hell these black trees are growing out of the ground."
"Aahhnn~! It's... It's because... I removed the leash from the parasite," Enid confessed, her expression twisted into a delirious, perverse smile as she stroked his cock through his clothes with both hands. "It... it has its own free will now~"
Her mind was gone, consumed entirely by lust, her body offering up answers as long as she stayed close to Leon's cock.
Leon glanced toward Rees. "What's the purpose of a demonic parasite if it gained a free will, Rees ?"
Rees thought hard, his arms tightening around Medina's unconscious form. "If I'm correct, Mr. Leon... the parasite is trying to mimic its environment. In this case... it's trying to create a forest. And anything standing in its way—"
CRACK—CRACK—CRACK—CRACK!
A deafening sound erupted from behind them. All eyes snapped to the source, just in time to see a massive tree ripped from the ground by writhing black vines. The parasite crushed it mercilessly, tearing bark and roots apart until nothing remained.
Then, in its place, a perfect black copy of the tree rose, alive and complete.
"Holy fucking hell... It's destroying the forest and rebuilding it at the same time with its own body," Leon muttered, his face hardening.
"T-The village... It can't go there," Orion whispered, his eyes wide as he glanced at Leon.
Leon's expression shifted immediately. He scooped Enid into his arms without hesitation.
"DUSK! COME HERE, BOY!" Leon roared.
*SWISH*
In the blink of an eye, Dusk appeared, his skill bringing him forward, his fur glowing with a bright blue radiance.
"Master..." Dusk's voice carried both relief and resolve as he lowered himself, allowing Leon to mount him more comfortably.
"Rees... Come," Leon called, his tone firm.
"Y-Yes..." Rees hurried forward, clutching Medina as he climbed onto Dusk's back behind Leon.
"Sorry, Dusk... but you'll have to carry all of us," Leon said.
"It's nothing, Master. Just hold tight to my fur," Dusk replied before igniting his power, readying himself for the sprint toward the village.
"You can't leave me here! M-My wings are broken—I can't fly back!" Orion shouted, clutching Leon's leg in desperation.
"Do you really think I give a single fuck about that ?" Leon's reply was cold, his expression unchanging.
"B-But... i-it's my village! Without me there will be no protection—"
"I'm pretty sure I have someone who can transfer the rune link now." Leon spoke as he pointed towards Rees.
"N-No... y-you can't do this! I-I can't die like this... Please take me! I'll do anything you want—I'll even become your slave, I-I beg you!" Orion stammered, tears streaming as he clung to Leon with both hands.
"Leave my leg you fucking-"
Crack—Crack—Crack—
A sharp cracking echoed across the clearing. Leon turned his head sharply and saw seven fairies emerging from the shadows, each carrying a dead monster in their hands. They marched toward the parasite.
"The fairies..." Leon muttered under his breath with a serious expression.
'If I didn't save them... Medina's deal won't be completed.' Leon thought.
He carefully set Enid down onto Dusk's back, then leapt to the ground.
"Mr. Leon! Where are you going? We need to get out of here!" Rees shouted.
"Dusk, to the village, go go." Leon ordered grimly.
"Yes, Master." With a flash of blue, Dusk vanished into the distance.
"W-What!? ARE YOU FUCKING CRAZY?! You could've taken both of us out, but instead you let that skeleton escape with my stupid sister and that demon slut! YOU ARE—"
*SLAP*
Leon's hand cracked across Orion's face, silencing him mid-scream.
"Shut the fuck up for a second and let me think... She said I have to squeeze the fruit over the soul stone and then... what else? What was it? I can't remember." Leon clenched his teeth, struggling to recall Medina's instructions.
"You... you have to place the stone in their mouth," Orion muttered, clutching his reddened cheek.
"Yes... very good. You're not completely useless," Leon said as he pulled out the bowl of soul stones from his inventory.
He then retrieved the fruit from his pocket and squeezed it with all his strength.
*Squeeze*
A single drop of crimson liquid dripped into the bowl.
*Swish*
Immediately, the white soul stones glowed into many different colours—blue, orange, green, and yellow.
"The red one... it belongs to Kiren. She's the most intelligent of them all..." Orion said, pointing shakily towards Kiren.
"Why are you helping me ?" Leon's gaze sharpened, suspicion flickering in his eyes.
"S-So you'll take me with you, I-I don't want to die here." Orion admitted, his voice trembling.
"How do I get this inside her mouth?" Leon asked flatly.
"The stone doesn't need to enter her body... if you just keep it pressed to her for five seconds, she'll wake up and gain back her consciousness.
B-But it's impossible... The moment she notices the stone getting closer, she'll try to kill you." Orion swallowed hard.
"Will she feel it the instant it touches her? Or will she only react if she sees it?" Leon asked in a hurried voice as a plan formed in his mind.
"The parasite senses it... If it notices Kiren's link weakening, it'll react instantly," Orion explained.
"Are you sure about this ?" Leon's voice dropped, heavy with warning.
"I-I'm sure..." Orion nodded frantically.
Without any delay he activated his skill on Orion.
[Copying the strongest (non-combat) skill]
[Skill {Illusion} has been copied.]
"Good," Leon said curtly, invoking the ability.
A pale white mist enveloped him. When it cleared, Leon's form had shifted into the likeness of one of the cursed fairies, the one walking furthest left of Kiren.
'This is one of the stupidest ideas to get closer to her but this is the only one I can think about right now.' Leon thought with a serious expression.
"Hope I don't get killed in this," he muttered as he looked at Orion and started walking towards Kiren.
-x-X-x-
After taking the form of a cursed fairy, Leon silently closed the distance between himself and Kiren. Step by step, he fell into rhythm with her.
Kiren's eyes flicked toward him for the briefest second, cold and unreadable, before she turned her attention back to the parasite tree ahead. She didn't say a word and continued to walk.
Leon released a long breath, as if the simple act of walking beside her without being torn apart was already a miracle.
'I thought she recognised me.' He thought with a serious expression.
"Threads..." he whispered, his voice barely audible.
Thin strands of mana spun out from his head, invisible to the naked eye, weaving their way into the red glowing soul stone resting in his pocket. With a subtle tug, the stone began to rise. Slowly, it floated upward, hovering just above Kiren's head. Its faint light brushed past her hair like a fleeting spark.
'One... two... three—' Leon started counting seconds but,
Thud!
Kiren suddenly dropped the carcass of the monster she had been dragging. Without hesitation, she crouched low, her reflexes sharper than any beast's.
The next second, she straightened up, her dark gaze locking on the soul stone now floating in midair.
Leon's expression hardened. His lips curled into a grim line. "Fuck..." he muttered.
Her eyes darted toward him, sharp as blades—and in that instant, his illusion shattered and his real form was revealed.
"...Oops," he said, forcing out a nervous smile as he instinctively stepped back.
*Swish*
Kiren vanished. In the blink of an eye, she reappeared behind him.
"Shi-!?"
Crack!
Her hand clamped around his neck and twisted it with full force.
Thud!
Leon's body collapsed lifelessly on the ground.
For a moment, Kiren stood still, staring at the corpse. Then her pupils dilated. Her eyes flared into a bright, unnatural red.
"W-What...?" she whispered.
The black vines coiling around her limbs crumbled into nothing, withering away like dry leaves.
Swish!
Leon's dead body vanished.
He reappeared right behind her, panting, his face pale from exhaustion and he was holding the soul stone right next to her shoulder.
"Kiren... take this." He thrust the glowing soul stone toward her.
Her hands trembled as she accepted it.
"H-He created an illusion inside another illusion..." Orion's voice cracked with disbelief as he stared at Leon from afar. "Even I can't do that! Do you know how much mana it takes? Time flows slower inside the second layer... It's a nightmare to sustain it! How much mana does this guy even have? Is he... a Maze Master? Just what is he and how powerful is he ?"
"Who are you?" she demanded as she clutched the stone against her chest. As soon as the stone touched her chest, it went inside her body and her glowing wings popped out from her back.
"I am someone who knows your mother... Medina. She sent me—"
Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!
The sound of countless heavy crashes cut him off.
All around them, the other cursed fairies dropped their offerings in unison. Their dark eyes turned toward Leon and Kiren, faces twisted with fury.
Kiren staggered back, her wings trembling. Light flared across her body, and her wings started flapping at an incredible speed, glowing with a radiant sheen.
"Oh my god..." she whispered, her voice shaking. "We are heavily out-numbered, we have to get out of here immediately." She spoke as she immediately started flying.
"The Village... Your mother is there." Leon spoke with a serious expression.
"T-Take me with you." Orion spoke with a scared expression as he immediately walked upto them.
"I don't understand anything... But let's go to the village." Kiren spoke.
*Grab*
Grabbing Leon's and Orion's hand she picked both of them up and started flying towards the village with full speed.
'She is strong... Picking us up like toys, that's really something.' Leon thought with a neutral expression as he looked at Kiren.
"What happened ? I don't remember anything... Uncle Orion." Kiren asked with a serious expression as she looked at Orion.
"Tell her... Uncle Orion." Leon spoke with a mocking smile as he looked at him.
"I-It was nothing just a little misunderstanding... W-We can discuss about it after reaching the village." Orion replied with a fake smile.
"He betrayed your mother and stole all of your soul stones. Then he let a demonic parasite take over your brains and it sucked out your and your mother's life force for the past five years." Leon spoke with a neutral expression.
"WHAT !?" Kiren asked in a shocked and surprised expression.
"Uncle Orion... Is that true ?" Kiren asked with a serious expression.
"Hahaha... W-What can I say ? I-I might've been-"
"That's it." Before Orion could've completed his sentence, Kiren let go of him.
"AHHHHHHHHHHhhhhhhhhhh...." Orion shouted loudly as he fell back inside the forest.
"I knew he was never going to become a normal fairy. I warned mother about him but she didn't listen to me... Human, is she alive ?" Kiren asked as she looked at Leon.
"Yes... I saved her. So don't throw me down." Leon spoke with a neutral expression.
"I would thank you... But, I don't really know what your true intentions are for doing this. A lesser human like you won't help us without any reward promises." Kiren spoke as she immediately started going down towards the village.
"Wow... You really are the smartest fairy." Leon replied with a neutral expression.
*Thud-Thud*
Both of them landed inside the village and noticed that everyone was hiding inside their houses.
"Master..." Dusk immediately bowed down to Leon and looked at Kiren with a confused expression.
"Where is mother ?" Kiren asked as she looked at Leon.
Leon turned to look at Dusk.
"She is inside Orion's house, Master." Dusk replied immediately.
"Come." Leon spoke as he started walking towards Orion's house.
...
Inside Orion's house,
Medina is lying on the bed and Rees is using some kind of healing spell on her.
"Don't worry, My love. I won't let anything happen to you." Rees spoke as he touched her cheek.
*Click*
"There she is..." Leon spoke as he pointed towards Medina.
"Mother... Mother... Are you alright ?" Kiren asked with a worried expression as she immediately walked upto her and placed her hand over Medina's head.
"Almpus Olmups..." She used some kind of spell on her and a grim expression appeared over her face as soon as the spell ended.
"She has lost too much life force and mana... We have to do something right now or she won't live.
As long as we stay here... She won't regenerate any mana and I don't have any mana as well. We have to take her out of the runes." Kiren spoke as she turned to look at Leon.
"I don't think that's possible... your sisters will immediately kill us if we stepped out of the village boundaries.
See... They are standing right there." Leon spoke as he pointed towards the window.
Kiren looked out and noticed that her sisters were standing right outside the village looking at her with furious expressions.
"We can take her out tomorrow morning, when your sisters go back into their deep sleep." Leon replied with a neutral expression.
"B-But... We have to do something. She won't survive until the morning. She won't even survive for the next two hours in this condition.
We need to let her body regenerate mana or-"
"Mr. Leon..." Rees spoke as he stood up and walked upto Leon.
"... Please." He joined both of his hands in front of Leon and fell down on his knees.
*Thud*
"I will make myself the bait and you will take her out of the forest with the help of that shadow Velmora." Kiren spoke with a serious expression as she looked at Leon.
Leon looked at her then glanced at Rees who was lying down on the floor.
"Dusk... Can you transfer the mana to her body ?" Leon asked as he looked at him.
"Without any problems master." Dusk replied with a smile.
"Rees... You will bait the fairies and I will refill her mana." Leon spoke with a serious expression.
"Yes, Sir." Rees spoke as he immediately stood up and grabbed his scythe.
"I-I don't understand... How are you going to refill my mana ? I am a fairy, my mana holding capacity is far more larger than a human.
I regenerate more mana than you are ho-"
"Listen to what Mr. Leon says if you want to save your mother." Rees spoke as he turned to look at Kiren.
Kiren looked at Rees with a serious expression then looked at Leon and Dusk.
"Fine... But, if anything happens to her. I will... Chase you to the other side of the world." Kiren spoke with a serious expression as she looked at Leon.
"Come." Leon spoke as he took Kiren and dusk to the other side of the village, meanwhile Rees walked upto the cursed fairies.
"Come and catch me..." Rees spoke as he stepped out of the village.
...
"Dusk... I will give you the pure mana and you will transfer that to Kiren. I will only step out of the village for a single second." Leon spoke with a serious expression.
"Look... I don't understand, What you are trying to do but why are you using this shadow Velmora in the middle ?
Can't you just transfer the mana directly to me ?" Kiren asked with a confused expression as she looked at Leon.
"Can you take on a ray of pure mana into your mouth and convert it into normal mana ?" Leon asked with a neutral expression.
"N-No." Kiren replied with a confused expression as she looked at Leon.
"He can... Now, stand behind him and place your hand over his back." Leon replied with a serious expression.
"O-Okay." Kiren replied as she immediately stood behind dusk and placed her hands over his back.
"Dusk... Get ready." Leon spoke as he walked upto the rune and raised his finger towards him.
"I am always ready master." Dusk replied with a smile as he got ready.
"Phew..." Leon slowly closed his eyes and focused his mana on his finger.
'What is this human trying to do ? I can't understand... Pure mana into normal mana ? How much pure mana can he even produce to-' Before Kiren could've completed her sentence, she noticed a single droplet of pure mana forming over Leon's index finger.
As soon as she saw this, an angry expression appeared over her face.
"What kind of joke is-" Before she could've completed her sentence, Leon placed his left leg out of the village's boundary.
[-12000 MP]
[+786,757 MP]
*ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ*
Suddenly a very bright blue coloured ray of pure mana burst out of his finger and went directly inside Dusk's mouth.
[-12000 MP]
[+786,757 MP]
[-12000 MP]
[+786,757 MP]
[-12000 MP]
[+786,757 MP]
[-12000 MP]
[+786,757 MP]
[-12000 MP]
[+786,757 MP]
....
In just a few seconds he lost over 200000 Mana and recovered it as well.
Dusk took in all the pure mana and transferred it to Kiren.
"S-Such a huge amount of mana exiting from a human's body... How is he doing that ?" Kiren asked in a loud voice as she continued to absorb the mana.
'M-My eyes are blurring... I-I have to stop.' Leon thought as he barely kept his body standing.
"That's enough... That's enough..." Kiren shouted loudly.
Leon immediately stopped but due to the mana overflow... His body started to wobble.
"Fu... cking..." Leon spoke in a broken voice as he immediately fell out of the village.
*Thud*
[Mana flow has overpowered the body capacity.]
[Adjusting body to suitable working conditions.]
[Converting body fat into energy. Increasing adrenaline rush.]
[Warning: Host will not be able use any skills for the next one minute. All the passive and active skills are being turned off.]
[Mana Return has been turned off.]
[Sixth Sense has been turned off.]
....
Leon came back to his senses and slowly stood up from the ground as all of his passive skills went on cooldown.
'Fuck... All the passive skills are being shut down-'
"Master !!! BEHIND YOU." Dusk shouted as he started running towards Leon with full speed.
"What ?" Leon immediately turned around and noticed two cursed fairies standing behind him.
"...Hell." Leon spoke with a neutral expression as he immediately tried to run back inside the village but before he could've done it... The fairies grabbed his head and legs.
"LEAVE MY MASTER." Dusk shouted as he jumped out of the boundary and tried to bit one of the fairy but before his fangs could've reached her hand, both of them disappeared with Leon.
*Swish*
*Thud*
Dusk crashed against the ground and immediately stood up in order to search for Leon.
"N-No... Master." Dusk spoke with a worried and shocked expression as he immediately tried to sniff his smell but there were no signs of his presence after the point where the fairies disappeared with him.
Dusk immediately turned around and noticed that Kiren is running back to Orion's house.
He immediately ran behind her with full speed and blocked her way.
"Wait... You have to help me find my master." Dusk spoke with a serious expression.
"I can't... I have to heal mother first. She is my priority right now. I will save the human after this." Kiren replied as she walked past Dusk and entered inside the house.
"He helped you heal your mother and you are not even going to help ?" Dusk asked with an angry expression.
"I am still healing my mother and his sacrifice will go to waste... If I waste this precious time in finding him instead of healing the one that he sacrificed his life for." Kiren replied with a neutral expression as she started transferring mana into Medina's body using some kind of ancient complex healing spell.
"Okay... They didn't even follow me. But I managed to-" Rees started speaking as he entered inside the house but he stopped as soon as he noticed the angry expression over Dusk's face.
"What happened, Dusk ? Where is Mr. Leon ? Did you guys succeed in getting the mana ?" Rees asked.
"Two cursed fairies have captured master and she is not even helping me in finding him. Says that her first priority is to heal her mother and that master has sacrificed his life for her." Dusk explained as he scratched the floor with his big claws.
"Don't try to attack me... I will end your existence in a single second. If I don't save her... The tree of life will die, so will this forest and probably the world after that." Kiren spoke with a serious expression.
"O-Okay... did you see the Fairies kill Mr. Leon ?" Rees asked as he looked at Dusk.
"No... They took master and disappeared while he was trying to help this stupid fairy." Dusk replied.
"Oh no, no, no,no... What have you done, Kiren ? How can you let Mr. Leon be taken like that ?" Rees asked in a worried tone as he walked upto Kiren.
"Look... I can understand your loyalty to that human but you also know how important my mother is to this forest and to-"
"No, No, No... You don't understand. Mr. Leon is stronger than all seven of you combined... His powers and knowledge is far superior than I have seen in any human until now.
He found Medina faster than me and helped her in getting out of that parasites' grasp. If the parasite got inside his mind and unlocked the knowledge that Mr. Leon holds... I-I can't even imagine what will happen.
For crying out loud... That man holds infinite fucking mana." Rees shouted as he looked at her.
"W-What !?" Kiren asked with wide eyes as she immediately stood up and looked at Rees.
"Did you just say... He holds... I-Infinite mana ?" Kiren asked with a regret filled expression.
"Yes... Yes. If the parasite knew how to use it..."
"...it will become unkillable." Kiren completed his sentence.
"We have to save Mr. Leon at any cost..." Rees spoke with a serious expression.
"Mother... I am sorry, but I have to save him. Let's go." Kiren spoke as she immediately walked out of the house with Rees and Dusk.
...
*Blink-Blink*
Leon slowly opened his eyes and noticed that he was standing in a dark place and the ground was completely covered in water.
"I have seen this place before... In my dream." Leon spoke in a low voice as he turned around and noticed nothing but utter darkness.
He then looked around and noticed that darkness was everywhere except where he was standing.
"Wait... I was taken by those fairies. What happened after that ?" Leon asked as he started walking forward but as soon as he took a step forward, black vines popped out of the ground and wrapped around his legs tightly.
*Grab*
"What the-" Before he could've completed his sentence, more vines started wrapping around his body.
In just a second, the black vines covered him whole and restrained every part of his body from moving.
"You have caused me a heavy loss..." A sound came from far away but it was very clear.
"Loss ? Wait... Are you that demonic parasite ?" Leon asked with a neutral expression.
"I am and you have taken one of my slave away from me. Now, I will use you as my slave in her place."
"Use me ? You were a fucking pet thirty minutes ago. I freed you from that Demon Girl. You should be thanking me." Leon replied with a smile as he tried to get out of the vines.
'I have to get out of these vines and wake the fuck up...' Leon thought.
"Don't try to buy time or get out of those vines, this is your soul realm and I have captured your own soul inside it. Now, I will use your body to serve me as my slave." The parasite replied.
"Then what are you still doing here talking to me ?" Leon asked with a smile.
"I have to break your soul first in order to use your body and since time moves really slow in here. I have thousands of years to break you and take over your body." The parasite replied.
Leon's soul is now trapped with in the soul realm and the black vines are restraining it very tightly.
His soul looks very weak, skin is very pale and his eyes are barely opening and huge dark circles can be easily seen under them.
"It's been over an year inside your soul realm but out there only a few seconds have passed. I have to say, for a human you have such a high patience.
Even the fairies gave up after seven months sitting in this darkness but you are still holding on, What are you holding for Human ?
No one is coming to save you... Open up your mind and just let me inside so that I can use your body and I promise that your soul will live in peace." Parasite's voice rang from the darkness.
"F-F..."
"Hmm...? Do you mean 'Fine' ?" The Parasite asked.
"F-Fuck... You." Leon replied in a weak tone.
"Your ego is too big... But it will break, don't worry. I will see you a few seconds later." The parasite replied as he stopped talking.
'It's been 398 days... I have done every possible attempt to get out of this place. Nothing worked.
Everyday, I count to 86400 while staring at this utter darkness. My soul is too weak to escape these vines. I think I will go crazy one day and forget everything but then his voice comes and makes me remember that only a few seconds have passed outside.
I have felt anger, depression, anxiety and every single single emotion in the last year. The system doesn't work here and I have realised how pathetic and weak i am.' Leon thought with a neutral expression as he stared at the water on the ground.
"Took you long enough to realize that." Suddenly, a sound came from the side but Leon couldn't even turn his neck around to look at the source of the sound.
"I can't see you..." Leon replied in a low voice.
"How about now ?" A figure covered in a white robe stepped in front of him.
*Blink-Blink*
Leon blinked his eyes multiple times to see the figure clearly... His eyes couldn't stay open properly after looking at such bright white robe.
As his vision cleared up, Leon noticed that it was an old man with two swords strapped to his waist.
"You have stared into the darkness for too long... Leon Luster. But you didn't allow the darkness to stare into you.
You hold a really strong will inside that weak soul of yours." The old man spoke with a smile as he looked at him.
"Y-You... Aren't you that old man ? What was the name of that skill...?" Leon spoke in a low voice as he tried to remember something.
"Last Rise." The old man replied with a smile.
"Yeah that one... I got it from that guy inside that Dungeon." Leon replied with a faint smile.
"Yet, you never practiced it. I have been with you since that very day when you used the skill on that Goblin monster.
I was watching every part of your life, your physical relationships with every women and your battles too.
And... I have to say, you are pathetic and weak just like you said a few seconds ago." The old man replied with an arrogant smile.
"Tell me about it." Leon replied with a faint smile.
"When you got captured by this weak Parasite... I thought that was it for you but I have to say this as well that your Ego is too big to go down even in front of death.
Your Ego is so big that you have molded it into your will and that's what attracted me here." The old man spoke.
"I would rather die then to give up my body to a fucking parasite that was pet to a demonic slut that I broke in just a few minutes." Leon replied as his smile grew wider.
"See that kind of thinking... I have seen thousands and thousands of warriors in my life... But, I haven't seen anyone like you.
When I saw you the first time... I knew something was different about you, I thought you will practice the technique and master the first form just like the predecessors... But, you used it once and didn't even have it another look.
You always use that black sword in fight but never fought using a sword style. Always using it's blades to intimidate your opponents.
I don't even know how you survived for this long using that." The old man spoke with a neutral expression.
"Old man... Can you save me ?" Leon asked in a low voice as he looked at him.
"I can save you before you blink your eyes but what's in it for me ?" The old man asked with a smile.
"What do you want ?" Leon asked with a serious expression.
"Get over your pathetic condition.... No predecessors of 'Last Rise' technique was able to master it beyond it's first form except me.
I want you to do it... I want you to master this sword technique to it's final form and don't pass it on. Only when you master it's final form, shall I be able to transcend from this realm.
I have made this deal with every single predecessor who learned this technique... But not even a single one of them was able to go beyond the first form... All of them were pathetic but you... I know you can do it. Your ego will make you do it.
Now... Will you do it, Leon Luster ?" The old man asked as he came closer to Leon and looked at him with a smile.
"I will do it... Now save me." Leon replied with a serious expression.
"Hohoho... Do you think it's that easy ? You will just say it and I will believe you ?" The old man replied with a smile.
"What do you want then ?" Leon asked with a serious expression.
"To stand by the word of sword... Shall you know the worth of sword. What is your worth Mr. Leon ?
Shall I ask for your body in return if you failed to accomplish the given quest ?" The old man asked with a smile.
"What ?" Leon asked with a confused expression.
"If you failed to master 'Last Rise' technique in the next five years... You will give up your body to me. Do you accept these terms ?" The old man asked with a smile as he pulled his sword out of the sheath and placed it near Leon's finger.
"You said that it takes people their whole lifes to master the technique. How am I going to learn it in the next five years ?" Leon replied with a serious expression.
"I know... But, if I don't give you a time limit, how are you going to feel motivated to stay on course ?
And after all... That's how long it took me to master the technique." The old man replied with a smile.
Suddenly, a smile appeared over Leon's face.
"Fine... If that's what it takes for me to get out of here." Leon replied as he placed his thumb against the blade and the old man immediately moved the sword away with a swift motion.
Leon's soul got cut and a small drop of white liquid followed out of his thumb.
"Very good." The old man replied as he immediately grabbed the white drop with his hand and felt a strange energy running throughout his body.
"What now ?" Leon asked with a serious expression.
"Now... I will taking over your body for a bit." The old man replied with a smile as he disappeared.
....
In the real world...
Leon's body is attached to the tree of life and the dark vines have covered him whole, tightly holding him in one place.
*Sssssssssshhhh*
Suddenly, he took in a large gulp of air into his lungs and opened his eyes. They shined brightly blue and a wide smile appeared over his face.
"Feels so good to return back to the materialistic world." The old man who had taken over Leon's body spoke, as he placed his hands against the tree and used a skill.
As soon as he used the skill, a powerful force of air was generated in between his hands and the tree.
*Booom*
Leon's body immediately flew out of the dark vines and landed on the ground.
"Ah... So, this pathetic thing has grown too strong, huh ? Yet, it still looks really weak." Leon spoke with a smile as he raised his hands over his shoulder as if grabbing an invisible sword.
*Swish-Swish-Swish*
Suddenly, the black vines came flying towards him attempting to capture him.
"LAST RISE-FINAL FORM : FORMLESS AURA SWORD." Leon spoke with a wide smile as he tightened his grip around nothing.
"Witness my power.... You pathetic thing." He spoke as he disappeared from his position and re-appeared on the other side of the tree.
*Swish*
With one swift blow, the tree of life was chopped into two along with the Parasite.
"I will search for him from above... You two search on the ground and try not to get killed.
I don't want to see anymore deaths tonight." Kiren spoke with a neutral expression as she looked at Rees and Dusk.
*Swish*
She then immediately took off and started flying towards the tree of life.
'How can a human like him infinite mana and such high amount of knowledge ?' Kiren thought with a confused expression as she continued to fly forward.
...
"Rees... Get over me and grab my fur tightly. I will be moving really fast." Dusk spoke with a serious expression.
"O-Okay..." Rees replied as he immediately climbed over Dusk's back.
"Thunder Steps..." Dusk spoke as he immediately turned into a blue streak of light and ran straight into the forest.
....
Village's southern boundary,
*Huff-Huff*
A silent huffing sound came from behind the bushes as a blood covered leg stepped out.
Slowly his full body came into view and this guy was none other than Orion himself.
He was completely covered in blood from head to toes and there is a very angry expression on his face.
"This is my village and I am the only one who will rule it." Orion spoke as he immediately stepped inside the village and started walking towards his house.
As he walked towards his house, all the villagers stared at him through their windows in fear and no one dared to step out.
Suddenly, Orion noticed a woman peeking at him through her window with a scared expression on her face.
"I AM YOUR FUCKING GOD... I AM THE REASON YOU ALL ARE LIVING YOU FUCKING DOGS. YOU SHOULD FEAR ME JUST LIKE THAT." Orion shouted with an angry expression as he looked at her.
The woman immediately closed the curtains and hided under her bed in fear.
"I am the god... I am the one who rules these humans and I shall not-" Orion stepped into his house and immediately stopped speaking as his eyes landed on the woman lying on his bed.
"Oh my..." Orion spoke with a smile as he immediately walked upto Medina and his smile grew even wider.
"Hahahaha... Looks like gods are on my side tonight. They also want me to win. I will take good care of you, Sister." He spoke as he slowly placed his hand around Medina's neck.
...
Kiren is flying above the forest and she is trying to find Leon but more than half of the forest is now covered in black vines... And she can't see anything properly.
"This parasite is spreading really fast.... I have to find that human or it will become even stronger." Kiren spoke with a serious expression as she finally reached near the tree of life.
*Booom*
Suddenly, a loud explosion happened near the tree.
"What the- !?" Kiren spoke with a confused expression as she immediately increased her speed and arrived near the tree of life.
*Swish*
As she looked down, she noticed that Dusk and Rees are also standing on the side and Leon was standing in front of the tree.
"What is he doing ? Why is he raising his hands like that ?" Kiren asked with a confused expression as she continued to observe.
*Swish*
Suddenly, two black vines started flying towards Leon.
"Oh no..." Kiren spoke with a serious expression as she immediately started diving down towards him with full speed.
...
"I have to save Mr. Leon... I will-" Rees started speaking but Dusk interrupted him immediately.
"Don't do anything... Rees. Master... Is different." Dusk spoke with a serious expression as his fur started to get up and his expressions turned serious.
"What do you me-" Rees observed carefully and noticed that Leon was smiling and his eyes are shining brightly blue.
"LAST RISE-FINAL FORM : FORMLESS AURA SWORD." Leon spoke with a smile as he disappeared from his position.
"What the- !?" Dusk, Rees and Kiren spoke at the same time as they saw his form disappearing.
*SWISH*
In just a second, Leon appeared on the other side of the tree.
*Crack*
"Oh my god." Rees spoke in a serious tone as he noticed the cut on the middle of the trunk.
*Crack-Crack-Crack-Crack*
Loud cracking sounds started coming from the tree's truck as it started sliding away from it's lower part.
"No... Way." Kiren spoke with a shocked and surprised expression as she witnessed the tree of life falling down.
*THUD*
With a loud thudding sound, the tree of life crashed against the ground and the demonic parasite got completed annihilated with it.
...
"Everything has a weak point... The parasite was using the tree as it's main life force sucking source.
So, I just removed it's source. My work here is done, kid. You can take over your body but don't forget our deal." The old man spoke as he immediately returned the control back to Leon.
His blue shining eyes returned back to crimson red and Leon gained back the control of his body.
"What the-!?" Leon spoke as he immediately rubbed his eyes and noticed that he was out of the soul realm.
"Master..." Dusk's voice came from the left side as he and Rees immediately ran upto him.
"Dusk... Rees." Leon spoke with a smile as he looked at them.
"Master... That was amazing." Dusk spoke with an impressed expression.
"Yes, Mr. Leon... When did you grow so strong ?" Rees spoke as he looked at Leon.
"What ?" Leon asked with a confused expression as he couldn't understand what Rees was talking about.
"No, No, No... This is not possible." Suddenly, Kiren's voice came from behind.
"Hmm...?" Leon immediately turned around and noticed that the tree of life is lying down on the ground.
"Holy fucking... Shit. Who did that ?" Leon asked with a shocked expression.
"Umm.... You did, Mr. Leon." Rees replied in a neutral tone.
"WHAT !?" Leon asked in a loud voice as he looked at Rees.
"Yes Master... You were standing there just a second ago without any weapons and then you were standing here, you chopped that tree down bare handedly, Master." Dusk replied with a smile.
"He is right, Mr. Leon." Rees replied.
'What the fuck have you done, Old man ?' Leon thought with a serious expression as he looked at the tree.
"Who the hell are you ? Are you even a Human ?" Kiren asked with an angry expression as she immediately stood up and walked upto him.
"H-Hey... Calm down. That parasite died with it, right ? That's good."Leon replied as he tried to maintain a neutral expression.
"I don't think you have any idea... That tree was important to us fairies. It gave us powers to protect this forest and collected life force for us to live.
It gave life to this whole forest and all the monsters living inside it." Kiren spoke with an angry expression as she looked at Leon.
"Umm... I don't want to talk in this topic, but Mr. Leon destroyed a demonic parasite that had you all prisoners.
Your mother was planning to make you the next fairy mother and self-destruct the tree with her, to get rid of that parasite.
So, I think you should be thankful to Mr. Leon." Rees replied in a neutral tone.
"He is right..." Leon replied with a serious expression.
"Oh my god... Mother, we have to get back to mother immediately. The tree is destroyed... This is not good for her." Kiren spoke with a serious expression as the realisation hit her.
*Swish*
She immediately spreaded her wings and flew towards the village with full speed.
"Master... I am sorry, I was unable to save you from those fairies." Dusk spoke as he immediately bowed down to Leon and apologized.
"Don't worry about it Dusk. I am too weak and I neet to get strong... Really strong. For now... Take us back to the village." Leon spoke with a serious expression as he jumped over Dusk's back.
Rees also sat behind him and Dusk started moving towards the village immediately.
...
In just a few minutes, all three of them reached the village.
Dusk walked upto Orion's house and noticed that the main door was closed.
"Why is the door closed ?" Leon asked with a confused expression as he jumped from from his back.
"I don't know master... I don't remember anyone closed the door when we left." Dusk replied with a neutral expression.
Leon immediately walked upto the door and tried to open it.
*Click*
... But it was locked.
"It's locked... Kiren, are you inside ?" Leon asked as he knocked on the door.
*Knock-Knock*
"Kir-" Before he could've knocked again, he noticed blood coming out from under the door.
"Okay..." Leon spoke with a serious expression as he immediately looked at Rees and pointed towards the blood.
"Please step aside... Mr. Leon." Rees spoke and without wasting another second, he raised his hand used a spell.
*Click*
The gate opened up immediately and Leon entered inside the house.
But as soon as he entered inside, he saw something that shocked him to the core.
-x-X-x-
30 minutes ago...
*swish*
Kiren landed inside the village and started walking towards Orion's house immediately.
"Mother..." She spoke in a low and worried tone as she immediately walked inside the house and noticed Orion sitting near her.
"Y-You... How did you-!?"
"Shhhhhhhh... You don't want to wake up your mother, do you now ?" Orion asked with a smile as he looked at her.
"G-Get away from her... I am not scared to use magic on you, Uncle. I will really kill you and don't assume that I don't have any mana on me." Kiren spoke as she immediately raised her hand towards Orion.
"Kill me. Please kill me... To tell you honestly, I am already dead. So, why don't you just go ahead kill me for real ?
But, do you know what happens to a fairy when she takes a life ?" Orion asked with a smile as he looked at her.
"The fairy becomes a mungel." Kiren replied with a serious expression.
"Now... You have two options, either you kill me or give me your life and if you don't take either one of the option... I will kill my dear sister." Orion spoke as he placed his hand around Medina's neck.
"W-What the hell are you saying ? Have you lost your mind ? Why do you want me to become a mungel like you ?" Kiren asked with a confused expression.
"She is going to choose you as the next fairy mother and I want to see if she will still do it... If you you became a mungel, hehehe." Orion spoke as he started laughing creepily.
"Y-You are sick." Kiren spoke with a hesitated expression as she looked at Orion.
"I am... Now, What will you do ? I just want want to see the smartest fairy of them all make a decision." Orion asked with a smile as he tightened his grip around Medina's neck.
"I-I will-"
Back to Present...
*Click*
Leon opened the door and entered inside while holding Nyxter in his right hand.
But as soon as he saw the scene in front of his eyes, he was left shocked.
Medina was sitting on the bed with a sad expression on her face and she was completely covered in blood.
Kiren was sitting in one corner of the room with a scared expression on her face and Orion's dead body was lying on the ground.
His head was lying near his body but it wasn't cutted down, instead it looked as if his neck was grabbed so tightly that his head popped out from the force of the grip.
"Umm... Medina, are you alright ? W-What happened here ?" Rees asked as he walked upto her and took a seat right next to her.
Medina didn't reply to his question as she continued to stare at Orion's dead body.
Leon slowly walked upto Kiren and asked in a low voice, "What happened here ?"
Kiren slowly looked at him, fear still visible in her eyes...
16 minutes ago,
"Do something fast or I am going to kill her, Kiren and beware... If you tried to use some kind of restraining spell, it will not end in a good way.
Because I have casted a spell on my dear sister that will kill her as soon as my hand is from her neck.
So, the only way to stop me is to kill me. Hehehehe..." Orion replied as he started laughing like a maniac.
"Then... Die." Medina spoke as she opened her eyes and grabbed Orion's neck with an angry expression on her face.
"You have made my life a living hell... You betrayed my trust again and again but not this time." Medina spoke with an angry expression as she increased her grip's strength.
"N-No... Mother, please stop... You can't kill him." Kiren spoke as she immediately walked upto Medina and grabbed her hand but her grip was too powerful.
"Mother... Please I beg-" Before Kiren could've completed her sentence, Orion interrupted with a low voice.
"I-I... a-am ... S-Sorr-" But before he could've completed his sentence, his neck got crushed from the insane force and he died on the spot.
*Crack*
*Thud-Thud*
His body and neck immediately fell down on the floor and blood started spilling out.
"N-No..." Kiren spoke with a scared and shocked expression as she immediately walked back into the west corner of the house and sat down silently.
Medina on the other hand continued to look at the spilling blood of her brother.
....
Back to present,
"I-I killed him... I-I killed my own brother, Rees." Medina spoke as she looked pointed at Orion's body and tears started coming out of her eyes but her expressions remained neutral.
"I don't think you have done anything wrong if you ask me. He was trying to kill you, so whatever you did was just self-defense and it's not wrong to protect yourself." Leon spoke as he looked at Medina.
"I am sorry, Mr. Leon... But, I can't justify killing someone with that human reasoning." Medina replied as she looked at Leon.
"How did you even gained consciousness ? Kiren said that you won't live for more than one hour ?" Leon asked with a confused expression.
"Kiren transferred some of her mana into my body that must've awakened the hidden mana that I stored in my heart some time ago.
When I opened my eyes, I saw him holding my neck and I couldn't control my powers and my rage.
I gave in to my instincts... I can't be trusted as the fairy mother anymore. We have to conduct the ceremony right now... Kiren you will become the next fairy mother, come with me." Medina spoke as she immediately tried to stand up from the bed but her head spinned immediately and she fell back down.
*Thud*
"I-I don't feel too good... W-What is-"
"The human... He chopped off the tree of life." Kiren spoke as she immediately pointed towards Leon.
"W-What ?" Medina asked with a shocked and confused expression as she looked at Leon.
"Yeah it's a good story... you see what happened was-" Before Leon could've completed his sentence, he was interrupted by Medina.
"Oh my god... You are reason I killed my brother." She spoke while pointing at him.
"Umm... What ?" Leon asked with a confused expression.
"The tree of life guides us and keeps our emotions in control... When you chopped it off, all my emotions got very imbalanced.
Now, I understand... Why I got so angry all of a sudden." Medina spoke as she looked at Leon.
"I saved you from the grip of death and destroyed that parasite. You haven't thanked me once, you know that ?" Leon asked with a neutral expression.
"Hah... Nothing can be done about it now. We just have to restart everything from the start... Please tell me you still have the fruit that you plucked out from the tree ?" Medina spoke as she looked at Leon.
"Yeah... I have it but it's squished." Leon replied as he pulled it out of his inventory and showed it to Medina.
"I just need it's seed... Once I bind her soul stone to the seed. We will be able to grow another tree of life." Medina spoke with a neutral expression as she took the fruit from Leon.
"Just like that ?" Leon asked with a confused expression.
"What do you mean ?" Medina asked.
"I mean... You can just grow a new tree of life from it's fruits ?" Leon asked.
"Ah... Let me make this more clear to you. The fruit on the tree of life are very sacred and they only grow in a limited quantity... I think about six to seven every hundred years.
So... It's not a very common thing, Mr. Leon." Medina replied as she looked at him.
"What about him ? Aren't you going to punish this human for chopping off the tree, mother ?" Kiren asked with a neutral expression.
"To tell you honestly... I was thinking of destroying the tree myself. But, Mr. Leon saved me and destroyed that parasite... I have to consider it as a big favour, Kiren.
And you have to control your emotions for now. Don't let anger or jealousy take over your mind." Medina replied with a neutral expression.
"You are the one who killed uncle and you are telling me to control my emotions ?" Kiren spoke with a serious expression.
"And... I will pay for my sins. I will be leaving this forest with Mr. Rees and Mr. Leon.
I shall give up all my fairy powers and live my life as a mortal." Medina replied with a neutral expression.
"What ?" Leon and Rees spoke at the same time with a confused expression.
Kiren's eyes widened as soon as she heard this.
"M-Mother... I-I didn't meant to hurt you. I-I am sorry, if I have said something that I shouldn't have... But, you can't do that to me and the others." Kiren spoke as she immediately walked upto Medina and grabbed her hand.
"I have to leave, Kiren. I have to pay for what I have done, but before I do that... I should reward Mr. Leon for saving us all." Medina spoke with a smile as she started walking towards Leon.
"Mr. Leon... you have helped us in such dire conditions. Please, accept this as your reward."
Medina's voice carried a solemn weight as she lifted both hands into the air. Between her palms, a brilliant golden glow bloomed, expanding like a miniature sun, radiating waves of divine warmth.
Leon squinted at the light, his brows furrowing. "What... is that?" His voice was edged with confusion, his instincts already screaming that this was no ordinary magic.
"Mother... you can't be serious." Kiren's tone was grave as she stepped forward, her wings trembling slightly.
"I already promised it to him, Kiren. I cannot go back on my word." Medina's gaze remained steady, her expression unreadable, yet resolute.
Kiren's lips pressed into a thin line. "But mother... this isn't something a mortal like him can handle."
Leon looked at it with a confused expression but then he immediately used his skill.
[Error: Skill can't be used on the Object]
Leon's eyes widened in shock as soon as he readed the notification.
"What the hell is this thing ?" Leon asked in a low voice as he looked at Medina.
Medina looked at him for a moment, but before she could speak, Rees stepped forward, his red eyes gleaming faintly beneath his skull.
"Mr. Leon... it's called a Nexus Star. It holds immense power—power that only descends into this world once every thousand years." His voice was calm, but there was reverence in his tone as he stared at the golden glow. "When the Nexus Star passes through the sky, fragments of its essence scatter. But to capture one, you must stand on the Lake of Matilda, at the edge of the world, and grasp its reflection from the water's surface. That fragment then crystallizes... into this.
These fragments are so rare that I have only seen two of them in my whole life including this one."
"Wow, you really know so much, Mr. Rees." Medina said warmly, smiling at Rees.
Rees shifted, rubbing his skeletal head shyly. "Well... you told me about it once. I just remembered."
"Please accept it, Mr. Leon," Medina urged, her gaze locking onto his.
Leon raised a hand uncertainly. "So... do I take it from your hands, or—?"
"Oh, no, no." Medina shook her head gently. "It must be transferred directly... to your soul."
Before Leon could react, she pressed the glowing fragment against his chest.
The moment it touched him—
Boom.
A rush of searing heat exploded in his body, flooding through his veins like liquid fire. His breath hitched, his knees buckling as sweat drenched his brow.
"W-What... what is happening to my body?! I-I don't... feel good—!" His voice cracked as he collapsed, slamming onto his knees.
Thud.
"See... I told you. He won't be able to take the power of a nexus star... No matter how powerful and smart he is.
We have to help him in this." Kiren spoke as she pointed towards Leon.
"If we helped him... He won't be able to achieve the full potential of the Nexus star's power. Do you want that Mr. Leon ?" Medina asked with a neutral expression as she looked at Leon
"N-No..." Leon replied as his handclawed at his chest, the warmth escalating into unbearable agony, as though his very essence was being rewritten.
"Huff... huff... Adaptive Body!" Leon gasped desperately, activating his skill.
But then—
[System is being updated... Skills will be disabled temporarily.]
As soon as he readed the message his eyes widened in shock once again.
"What in the fucking—" Leon's words broke as his consciousness slipped away, darkness consuming him. His body went limp.
Before he could hit the ground, Dusk silently moved beneath him, allowing Leon's weight to rest against his large frame.
"Master will need rest after this," Dusk murmured, his deep voice calm, almost protective, as he settled down with Leon cradled like a fallen warrior.
Medina's eyes softened. She turned to Kiren. "Come. Let's go find your sisters. We must prepare for your ceremony."
Kiren hesitated, her gaze lingering on Leon's unconscious form. At last, she nodded. "Yes." She followed her mother, her steps heavy but determined as she continued to stare at Leon.
"Mr. Rees? Aren't you coming with us?" Medina asked, pausing at the doorway.
Rees shook his head firmly, his skeletal hand clenched at his side. "I can't. This man has done too much for me. I won't abandon him in such a vulnerable state. Forgive me."
Medina's expression softened further, a rare smile crossing her lips. "I understand. You are a very good friend, Mr. Rees. I admire that greatly."
With those words, Medina and Kiren left, their figures fading into the distance, while Rees sat down on the bed.
"She... smiled at me, didn't she? When she left... right, Dusk?" Rees whispered, his hollow voice soft, almost uncertain.
"Hm...? What ?," Dusk rumbled, his eyes fixed on Leon's unmoving body. "I was too focused on Master. I am also very tried from using my skills back to back tonight... I will just take a nap as well."
Dusk lowered his massive head onto the ground. A faint smile lingered on his face before he drifted into sleep.
"I-I see..." Rees murmured, his skeletal fingers curling slightly. His gaze returned to Leon. The man's skin flickered with faint golden light, pulsing like a heartbeat. Every so often his body convulsed, muscles twitching violently, as though something far greater than flesh was rewriting him from the inside.
---
Leon opened his eyes.
Darkness. Endless, suffocating darkness.
His lips curled in irritation. "I fucking hate this place," he muttered, his voice echoing unnaturally in the void. He was back in his soul realm again—the abyss of his own existence, where nothing but silence and darkness reigned.
*Swish*
A faint spark appeared in the distance, flickering like a candle flame struggling to survive in the void.
Leon froze. His eyes narrowed. "...What?"
The spark pulsed once, and then—
"Hello, Leon."
The voice was neither loud nor quiet. It simply was, carrying across the darkness like a whisper in his very bones.
Leon's shoulders stiffened. "...Who the fuck are you ?"
The spark shimmered, its glow shifting like rippling water. "Who I am... would take far too long to explain. But for now, you may call me... Nexus."
Leon's eyes widened slightly. "...Nexus. You're that star, aren't you?"
A gentle hum reverberated through the void. "Indeed. And now that I am here, I see something troubling." The spark seemed to peer into him, its presence weighing heavily on the air. "Your soul realm... is weak, fragile, and vulnerable. If left unchecked, it will collapse. You must strengthen it."
Leon frowned. "And how exactly am I supposed to do that?"
"I will help you," Nexus said calmly. "But first, we must drive away this darkness that clings to you. I will just add a little light to it."
Before Leon could respond, a sudden glow burst above his head. One by one, white specks appeared in the black sky—tiny lights, faint at first, then growing brighter, scattering across the void like stars awakening from a long slumber.
Leon tilted his head back, his lips parting. "What in the... fucking hell...?"
The darkness began to thin, and then—
Fwoom.
From the left, an overwhelming radiance flared. Leon flinched, raising his hand to shield his eyes. The light was blinding, pure and untamed, forcing his vision shut.
When he cautiously lowered his arm and opened his eyes again, his breath caught.
In the distance, hanging in the void like a divine sentinel, was a colossal silver moon. Its glow poured across the soul realm in rivers of serene light, drowning the shadows in its brilliance.
"Beautiful..." Leon spoke with a shocked expression as he continued to stare at the moon.
It was as if he was standing in a lake that was directly in front of the mood. The view was too mesmerizing.
"It's one of the best soul domain.... Full Moon's glaire. Although it's not the best at stopping your enemies from entering your soul realm forcefully but once they get inside... They will regret it very much.
Because they can come inside without your permission but can't leave unless you allow it.
You can strengthen this domain by collecting soul fragments from monsters that you kill." Nexus spoke.
"What ?" Leon asked with a confused expression.
"Yes... Whenever you kill a monster their soul essence tries to leave their body, if you capture that and send it here, I can make that very monster in here and it will guard your soul realm from outsiders.
Or, you can even fight them to strengthen your own soul." Nexus explained.
"You can really do that ?" Leon asked with a shocked expression.
"I can but remember... Soul essence only stays on a monster for a few seconds after it's death. If you didn't catch it on time... It will escape." Nexus explained.
"I see..." Leon replied as he disappeared immediately.
...
*Blink-Blink*
Leon returned back to his body and as soon as he opened his eyes, he saw a notification hovering in front of his face.
[CONGRATULATIONS !! ALL YOUR SKILLS HAVE BEEN UPGRADE BY +2 RANKS.]
"What the hell !?" Leon spoke with a confused expression as he looked at the notification.
Without wasting another second, he opened the status...
'Status...'
______________________________
[Name: Leon Luster]
[Class: Alchemist]
[Race: Human]
[Level: 28]
[Mana: 5000/5000]
[HP: 2500/2500]
Skills:
[Skill Crafter (D)], [Inspect (A)], [Adaptive Body (SSS)], [Minor Healing (D3)], [Trap (D)], [Inventory (D6)], [Blind Spot (D)],
[Touch of Lust (D4)], [Loose Grip (D)], [Adrenaline Rush (D)], [Lustful Thoughts (D)], [Potion Crafter (D {S-Cap})], [Alchemy (D)]
[Glitch Point (D)], [Instant Craft (D1)], [Reverberate (D1)], [Mana Thread (D)], [Life Steal (D)], [Leeching Aura (D)], [Mana Return (D)]
[Efficient Breathing (D)], [Core Bonding (D)], [Dungeon Master (D)], [Silent Steps (D)], [Blast Seal (D)], [Focused Reading (D)], [Data Manager (D)], [Mimic (D)], [Bluff (D)], [Lust Bite (D)], [Pain's Recovery (D)] [Compass of Heart (D)] [Multi-Cast(D)] [Instant Kill(D)] [Feather Weight (D)] +5 skills.
Titles:
{Dungeon Master}
{Goblin Slayer}
{Favour Of Fairies}
_________________________________
"HOLY SHIT." Leon shouted in a loud voice.
"WHAT- WHO IS HERE !?" Dusk shouted as he also woke up from his sleep and his claws jumped out of his fur, scratching the wooden floor.
"Master...? What happened ?" Dusk asked with a confused expression.
*Thud*
*Click*
"What happened, Mr. Leon ?" Rees asked as he immediately came from the other room.
"I... Just feel very refreshed." Leon replied with a neutral expression as he immediately controlled his emotions.
"I-I see... Phew." Rees replied as he placed his scythe against the wall once again.
"Master... Your face...." Dusk spoke as he looked at Leon's face.
"What about my face ?" Leon asked with a confused expression as he raised his hand to touch his face but stopped immediately.
"What the hell ?" Leon asked as he looked at his hand and noticed that there was a black sticky goo all over it.
"Ah... The Nexus star must've cleansed your body, Mr. Leon." Rees replied as he walked upto him.
"What do you mean by cleansed ?" Leon asked with a confused expression.
"It removed all the impurities from your body Mr. Leon... The Nexus star broke your body from within completely and rebuilt it once again." Rees replied as he looked at the black goo.
'Hmm... I think I saw something like this in the cultivation comics I used to read back on earth.' Leon thought as he looked at the black goo.
"Well... I should take a bath." Leon replied as he immediately started walking towards the bathroom.
*Grab*
*Thud*
"What happened ?" Dusk and Rees asked with a confused expression as they looked at Leon.
Leon slowly turned around and he was holding the door's handle in his hand.
"I think... My body strength got increased too." He spoke with a smile as he applied pressure on the iron handle and it started to bend.
'This is amazing... I can feel the power in my hand and-' Before Leon could've completed his sentence, he noticed that his stomach feels different.
Without wasting another second, he opened his coat and took off his shirt.
"Woah..." Leon spoke with a shocked expression as he noticed that instead of a normal stomach... He had six-pack abs now.
"Hmm... That's odd. The Nexus star had a really strong effect on your physical form too, Mr. Leon.
All I know is that it helps in strengthening one's soul and magical powers, but there hasn't been any known human in history who successfully consumed a nexus star without dying or turning mad." Rees explained as he looked at Leon.
"Guess... I am really lucky." Leon replied with a smile.
'No, your mental strength is very very strong.' Suddenly a voice rang inside his head.
"What ?" Leon asked as he looked at Rees.
"I didn't say anything, Mr. Leon." Rees replied.
"Did you say that ?" He asked while looking at Dusk.
"No master... I didn't speak a single word." Dusk replied with a neutral expression.
"Then what was that ?" Leon asked himself in a low voice.
'It was me nexus and don't talk back to me, you will look like a mad man in front of your servants. You are the only one who can hear me, Leon.' Nexus spoke.
'Can you hear me ?' Leon thought in his mind.
'One more thing, don't try to talk to me in your mind either. I can't hear that.' Nexus spoke.
Leon immediately rolled his eyes and entered inside the bathroom.
"Can you hear me now ?" Leon asked in a low voice.
'Yes.' Nexus replied.
"How the fuck are you even talking to me ?" Leon asked in a low voice.
'From your soul realm, Leon. I am now a part of your soul.' Nexus replied.
"I see... Wait, that monster thing. You said that every monster i kill-"
'Yes, It was all real. I can re-create a mirror image of that very same monster in your soul realm if you can provide me with it's soul fragments.' Nexus explained.
"I wanted to ask, how to collect their soul fragments." Leon replied with a neutral expression.
'Oh... I have given you a special skill to do that.' Nexus replied and immediately a screen popped up in front of Leon.
[Name: Soul Collector]
[Rank: C]
[Description: A special skill that can be used to collect soul fragment of anything you kill.]
[Mana: none]
[Cooldown: none]
"I see." Leon replied as he readed the skill with a neutral expression.
'Use it as much as you want. Although, try not to get yourself killed while trying to kill strong monsters.' Nexus replied.
"Thanks for advice... How would I ever survive without that adivce ?" Leon asked with a smile.
'Don't mock me... I have given you another skill. Check it out.' Nexus replied as another screen popped up in front of Leon.
[Name: Soul Prison]
[Rank: B]
[Description: An ancient technique that can be used to pull your opponent's soul into your soul realm for a very short time.]
[Mana: 500]
[Cooldown: 1 Hour]
"Why would I pull my opponent's soul into my own soul realm ?" Leon asked with a confused expression.
'You don't have to use it now. But, once you strengthen your soul realm... You can easily use it as a battleground in an unfair battle.' Nexus explained.
"I see." Leon replied in a low voice as he nodded his head slowly.
'I won't disturb you now until you need me again.' Nexus replied as he went completely silent after that.
"Nexus ?" Leon asked in a low voice.
'Yes ?' Nexus replied immediately.
"Nothing just checking." Leon spoke with a smile as he grabbed a wooden bucket filled with water from the corner of the bathroom and turned it upside down over his head.
*Splash*
As the chilled water fell over his body, all the black goo washed away immediately.
"Haa... Feels good." Leon spoke with a smile as he took another bucket and did the same.
*Splash*
...
After taking a bath he walked out of the bathroom wearing Orion's clothes.
Rees and Dusk looked at Leon with confused expressions.
"What ? My clothes are completely covered in that black goo... I can't wear them." Leon replied with a neutral expression.
"Master... Your aura feels different. It feels really strong." Dusk replied with a smile.
"It does ?" Leon asked with a smile.
"AL-JOIK IOPLO TYOUNG, IOPLOI ITYUOR."
"AL-JOIK IOPLO TYOUNG, IOPLOI ITYUOR."
"AL-JOIK IOPLO TYOUNG, IOPLOI ITYUOR."
...
Suddenly, loud chanting sounds started coming from outside.
"What's happening out there ?" Leon asked as he immediately started walking towards the door.
"Ah... I think they started the ceremony." Rees replied as he immediately opened the door for Leon.
Both of them immediately stepped out of the house and noticed that Medina and all of her seven daughters are standing In middle of the village.
Medina was holding a small plant in her hands and Kiren was also holding it with her.
All six of her daughters were standing around them with their eyes closed and their mouths chanting the same line again and again.
"Wow... They look really beautiful without those black vines huh ?" Leon asked with a smile as he looked at Rees.
"I only like their Mother... Mr. Leon." Rees replied as he rubbed his skull with his hand.
"I also like mothers..." Leon replied with a smile.
"WHAT !?" Rees asked in loud tone as he looked at Leon.
"Calm down... I don't want her since you like her so much." Leon replied with a neutral expression.
"T-Thank you, Mr. Leon. I-I got worried there for a second." Rees replied as he let out a sigh of relief.
"How many hours was I out for ?" Leon asked as he looked at Rees.
"I would say about three hours, Mr. Leon." Rees replied.
"Hah... I have wasted too much time in this village but that nexus star made all of this worth it. Now I want some sex- wait !
Hey, what happened to Enid ? I remember leaving her with you last time." Leon asked with a confused expression.
"Umm... Dusk told me to place her inside that house." Rees spoke as he pointed towards the house that was allotted to Leon on the first night when he jumped inside the village.
"Well... I will just go and have some fun now. Then we will start heading back to the dungeon." Leon replied with a neutral expression.
"What about the adventure of the necroheart Mr. Leon ?" Rees asked.
"I mean all these women need some place to live in the and I can't leave them here like this in such a dangerous forest." Leon replied with a smile.