Chapter 102: Come Back, Agnes
Accompanied by everyone, Leona finally finished chanting the incantation for the hundredth time. Baggs also arrived at this moment, still in his black cat form, a hint of joy on his feline face.
“I saw that big flower bud on top of the Sacred Tree when I came over just now. Master Belator’s methods are truly effective! As expected of Master Belator, truly admirable!” Baggs said. “And the blood Master Belator entrusted to me, I’ve given it all to the Sacred Tree to absorb, not a single drop wasted.”
In fact, even without Baggs saying anything, everyone could feel that the operation should have been successful. Just by standing near the Sacred Tree, they could feel the powerful pulse emanating from within it.
Abyss could also feel this special pulse, exactly the same as what he had felt in the illusion before. The life force nurtured by the Sacred Tree seemed to resonate with the souls of everyone present, evoking a wondrous feeling in their hearts.
This life rhythm was also felt by all the Druids in the gathering. They couldn’t help but turn their heads towards the top of the Sacred Tree, looking at the still-unopened flower.
The final incantation Leona chanted was to assist Baggs in channeling Abyss’s blood into the Sacred Tree. One hundred repetitions was the number Abyss had set for stability. After Leona’s reinforcement, the Sacred Tree had now reached its optimal state.
The task of awakening Agnes from her long slumber finally, officially began.
“Excellent! It’s time. Let’s ascend to the treetop together and meet up with Arcaiste,” Abyss clapped his hands excitedly, addressing the group. “When Agnes awakens, we will gain a mage of my caliber on our side. At that time, our path will become much broader.”
“I can’t wait,” Rebecca smiled, taking a deep breath.
“Then what about me? I can’t fly now, ABC. I don’t really know how to use your body – there’s plenty of Dou Qi, but I can’t solidify it at all,” Leona stood up at this moment, finally able to speak. However, Abyss’s voice paired with her somewhat naive tone sounded quite comical.
“I know how to use your Dou Qi, though,” Abyss smiled and grabbed Leona’s arm. “I’ll take you up. Mr. Baggs, please use magic to send Flora and Rebecca up.”
“Oh, alright… Eh? Master Belator and Miss Leona swapped bodies? How did they do that?” Baggs also noticed something was amiss at this point.
…
“You’ve finally arrived.”
Arcaiste looked at Abyss and his group who had just ascended from below the tree. A rare expression of relief appeared on his face, a stark contrast to his usual worried look.
“How is the flower bud?” Abyss asked with a smile.
Arcaiste glanced at Abyss, who had swapped bodies with Leona, took a moment to process, then replied: “Rest assured, Master Belator, I’ve taken good care of the flower bud. It just hasn’t opened yet. What needs to be done next is up to you.”
“Thank you for your hard work,” Abyss nodded. “Leave the rest entirely to me.”
Everyone else respectfully took a few steps back, giving Abyss enough space. The Sacred Tree’s branches were quite thick, providing ample room to stand.
Just as Leona was about to step back as well, Abyss suddenly grabbed her arm again. He smiled at her and said, “Leona, sorry, but I actually need to trouble you again right now.”
“Eh? This is also for me?”
“Because all my magic power is currently in you, this matter cannot be done without you. Of course, it’s not difficult; you just need to follow my instructions,” Abyss smiled.
“Th-this way…” Leona wanted to ask Abyss why they didn’t swap back, but after considering it, she decided to fully cooperate with Abyss for now.
“Come.” Abyss walked behind Leona, gently placing his hand on the back of hers. The body swap made the current scene look rather like Leona was acting coquettishly towards Abyss.
Leona’s face immediately flushed red, but she obediently cooperated with Abyss’s movements.
“Repeat this incantation after me…” Abyss softly recited in Ancient Tongue to Leona, “With my blood I feed, grant thee new birth, magic now replete, Sacred Tree flower forth.”
“With my blood I feed, grant thee new birth, magic now replete, Sacred Tree flower forth…”
Leona’s hand, held by Abyss, was placed on the surface of the flower bud. As the incantation completed, she clearly felt the temperature emanating from the bud rise, and the heartbeat-like force within grew stronger.
The flower bud moved as if alive – it first stretched upwards slightly, then began to swell from the top. Next, a crack opened at the very center of the apex.
The crack widened continuously, and the flower bud opened its mouth. Many petals separated at this moment, silently unfurling in all directions, like someone stretching after a beautiful dream.
Abyss pulled Leona back two steps, making way for the petals.
The giant petals flattened out, revealing everything inside the flower. The scene presented before everyone made them hold their breath.
The flower had fully bloomed. In the very center grew a cluster of velvety pistils, and upon those pistils lay a petite, slender girl, hugging her knees, curled up like an infant sleeping in its mother’s womb, lying on her side.
She had long gray hair, the exact same color as Abyss’s, and a sweet, pretty face. Her ears were pointed and broad, indicating her elven identity. Her small mouth was slightly open, breathing. Her chest rose and fell slowly with a long, steady rhythm…
Baggs and Arcaiste both recognized this girl.
She was Agnes.
Abyss and Leona could both feel a unique aura emanating from her… she was dead, yet she was alive. Life and death intertwined within this young girl with a wondrous harmony.
“Leona, repeat after me again… Agnes Lafallia Delastir. With me as master, obey my command, cycle through rebirth, soul return to this land.”
Leona, her hand held by Abyss, gently placed her index finger on Agnes’s forehead. As she touched Agnes, she felt her body heat, warm like a newborn baby’s.
She nervously recited the incantation: “Agnes Lafallia Delastir. With me as master, obey my command, cycle through rebirth, soul return to this land…”
Oooom…
A low hum suddenly sounded, seeming to come from the distant past, clear yet as if it had never rung before.
A powerful ripple instantly swept across the entirety of Hai-Teweru. No one could perceive its specific existence, yet everyone, in that instant, felt an inexplicable sense of awe, even wanting to kneel towards a certain direction…
Centered on the Sacred Tree, all slightly higher-level wild animals, regardless of what they were doing, turned towards the Sacred Tree and prostrated themselves devoutly.
The wind swirled, the waters rejoiced, and the small flowers and grasses on the ground stretched their bodies. Birds flying in the air opened their mouths, singing the most beautiful melodies in unison.
At this very moment, the planet itself seemed to be softly calling a name, celebrating the return of its owner.
Agnes Lafallia Delastir!
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