Chapter 47: Abyss and the Vacuum
After a moment of stunned silence, the Druids erupted in exclamations.
Abyss had drained the mana from the entire clearing instantly, his speed so great that even Arcaiste, the most powerful among them, hadn’t noticed! This young Druid hadn’t been lying. He possessed incredible power. And he had used the drained mana to create a barrier?
“He actually did it!”
“Don’t use your magic! You only have your internal reserves left! You’ll be drained!”
“Oh, God of Nature, give me strength! My transformation is fading! I’m naked!”
Abyss smiled, releasing his control over the mana. The barrier dissipated, and the dense mana quickly refilled the clearing.
“As you can see, I possess this ability,” Abyss said. “And it wasn’t even a challenge. I assure you, I wouldn’t have made such a claim without the power to back it up. I’m not boasting—I’m simply offering a solution.”
The Druids looked at him with newfound respect, their earlier skepticism replaced by a mixture of awe, admiration, envy, and confusion. Why would someone so powerful reveal their abilities so openly?
Abyss usually preferred to be discreet, but the extent of his discretion depended on the situation. He concealed his true power not out of fear, but to avoid causing unnecessary alarm.
And honestly, even if he wanted to be discreet, few could harm him. Even before meeting Flora, his power had been immense, capable of destroying entire cities. Now, with the combined power of his followers and the Outer Gods he had subdued, he was practically invincible among mortals.
“But wouldn’t draining the mana from around the sacred tree disrupt the ecological balance?” one Druid asked.
“I’ve considered that, but I believe it’s a negligible risk,” Abyss said, holding up a finger. “Firstly, the ecosystem isn’t solely dependent on the surrounding mana. The sacred tree itself regulates the balance. Temporarily removing the mana won’t cause any lasting harm. And I’ll return the mana once I’ve identified the source of the problem, distributing the excess evenly to minimize any disruptions. We just need to warn the nearby mages, so they’re not alarmed by the sudden mana vacuum.”
“That’s true,” the Druid said, considering his words.
Some plants, especially those used for alchemical ingredients, benefited from high mana concentrations, but they wouldn’t die from a temporary absence of mana. They were resilient.
Ambrosius, initially opposed to Abyss’s plan, was now reconsidering, his skepticism waning.
Arcaiste, his usual melancholic expression unchanged, sat in silence, pondering the idea.
“The plan is simple. First, have your apprentices inform the nearby villages about the temporary mana disruption. Then, I’ll drain the mana, and you’ll surround the sacred tree, each of you observing a specific section of its roots. Once you’ve identified an anomaly in the mana flow, I’ll restore the mana. There won’t be any harm,” Abyss explained, seeing their hesitation. “I believe it’s worth a try. If it doesn’t work, we can explore other options.”
“I agree,” Baggs said. Although not universally popular, his position among the high-ranking Druids, sitting near Maggie, suggested he was influential, his power respected.
With Baggs’s support, the other Druids wavered, discussing amongst themselves. Some agreed, some remained skeptical, and some remained neutral—Druids were often indecisive, abstentions common in their votes.
“I… I believe it’s worth a try,” Ambrosius said, his change of heart encouraging Abyss. This Sage, unlike the “stubborn old fogies” Maggie had described, was open to new ideas.
The other Sages expressed their opinions, their views differing.
“Master Arcaiste, what are your thoughts?” Abyss asked, turning to him. “Will you support my plan? At least allow me to try?”
Arcaiste, who had been deep in thought, looked up, his expression still melancholic, his hesitation evident. Finally, he spoke.
“I… disagree. I don’t think it’s a good idea.”
Abyss tilted his head, surprised. He had expected Arcaiste, who had witnessed his power, to be more receptive.
“He seems to have some concerns,” Rebecca said through their link. “I can see it in his micro-expressions. He’s hesitant.”
“What are your concerns, Master Arcaiste?” Ambrosius asked.
“I’m worried about… unforeseen consequences. The sacred tree’s mana is delicate, interconnected. If we disrupt it, we might cause irreparable harm, and we wouldn’t be able to face our ancestors,” Arcaiste explained, his voice filled with worry.
“Very well. Let’s put it to a vote,” Ambrosius said, not allowing Arcaiste to veto the plan. “All high-ranking Druids have a right to vote. Those in favor, those opposed, and those who abstain. Let’s see the results.”
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