Category: This Necromancer Wants to Capture the Hearts of Deceased Beautiful Girls

Chapter 60: A Dive to Investigate

Listening to Rebecca’s suggestion, Abyss nodded repeatedly. “Right, my sensing ability has limitations. We should search downwards and see if there’s anything noteworthy on the seabed.”

It was common knowledge that islands weren’t simply landmasses floating on the sea. If the water were drained, an island would resemble a mountain peak, with the portion above sea level forming the land. If the island’s surface and shallow areas yielded no valuable clues, exploring the seabed might reveal something they had overlooked.

“So, are we diving down?” Leona asked eagerly. “How are you two at swimming? I’m fine.”

“Ah… I’m not a very good swimmer. The Church only taught me basic swimming, enough to prevent immediate drowning,” Flora said worriedly in response to Leona’s question. “Diving to the seabed might be difficult for me.”

Abyss didn’t address Flora’s concerns but walked up to her and, with a smile, pinched her nose.

Flora was initially startled, her face flushing, but she quickly realized what Abyss meant and smiled.

When Abyss released his hand, Flora patted her head sheepishly. “Oh, look at me. I forgot I’m undead now and don’t need to breathe. I can just dive down; there’s nothing to worry about.”

“Now I’m the one who needs to consider how to protect myself,” Abyss chuckled. “To be honest, I’m not a good swimmer. I can only splash around in the water; moving is difficult. It wasn’t a problem before when I could use magic freely, but now I need to conserve magic. Frankly, I’m a bit at a loss.”

“How long can you hold your breath?” Leona blinked. “I can pull you down; you just need to hold your breath, right? I remember you telling me that my strength is partially transferred to you through the necromantic link, so your body is enhanced. A little water pressure shouldn’t be a problem.”

“I can hold my breath for about half an hour, provided I do this—” Abyss closed his mouth tightly, puffing out his cheeks, indicating he had to maintain that posture.

“Ew, you, a dignified Necromancer, might drown? You can’t be that weak, can you? No way, no way!” Leona patted Abyss’s arm in exasperation. “Are you planning to stay on land?”

“Why not ask the amazing Miss Rebecca?” Rebecca’s voice suddenly echoed in their minds. “Abyss, summon the alchemy lab with your magic. I’ve placed the potion you need on the doorstep.”

Abyss slapped his forehead. “Ah, I forgot such an important thing. Potions carry their own magic; there’s no need to worry about the surrounding environment.”

Rebecca had left a bottle of “Water Breathing Potion” at the alchemy lab’s entrance. This potion, upon consumption, automatically formed a protective film over the nose and mouth, efficiently filtering oxygen from seawater. Due to its complex brewing process and expensive ingredients, it was costly and often unavailable, usually carried by dignitaries traveling by sea as a lifeline in case of shipwreck. Abyss didn’t recall having this potion in his alchemy lab.

“I started brewing it while I was giving you suggestions,” Rebecca’s voice came again. “It’s fresh and tastes quite good. Drink it.”

Abyss had to admire Rebecca’s efficiency. With the time difference advantage of the alchemy lab, she was practically a walking treasure chest.

After drinking the potion, the three jumped into the sea, diving down along the island’s slope.

Leona’s Dou Qi proved invaluable. She didn’t need to swim at all; her Dou Qi condensed around her, forming a pair of large, seal-like flippers. Holding Abyss and Flora’s hands tightly, she propelled them through the water with her massive Dou Qi flippers, moving like three agile fish.

The deeper they dived, the darker the surroundings became. Large fish began to appear and disappear around them, and many bizarre creatures came into view.

Hai-Teweru’s exploration of the sea was limited, with most marine life unrecorded in scholars’ notes, let alone the creatures of these dangerous waters. Abyss and his companions had now reached a depth of several hundred meters, where the water pressure was immense. Ordinary people would have been crushed. The creatures here, adapted to the extreme environment, were largely unknown to Abyss.

As Leona pulled Abyss and Flora deeper, a strange, black creature composed entirely of tentacles, resembling a giant ball of yarn, swam towards them. Countless tentacles wriggled, reaching out – it seemed to consider them a new type of food, intending to reel them in for a taste.

“Ah, a tentacle monster! So disgusting!” Leona complained through the mind link. Two massive wings formed from Dou Qi sprouted from her back, intending to sever the soft tentacles and drive away the impertinent sea creature.

This monster was far more hideous than the Lord of Submergence. Coupled with Leona having read some manga featuring such fantastical creatures as protagonists, she wasn’t planning to hold back. In a flash, her wings tore through the water, slashing towards the tentacle monster’s tentacles.

However, just as Leona’s Dou Qi wings were about to strike, the monster seemed to instinctively sense the danger. A powerful icy aura rapidly radiated from each tentacle, instantly freezing a large area of water, trapping Abyss and his companions within!

Leona, momentarily surprised by the sea monster’s ability, quickly reacted. She shook her body, shattering the surrounding ice, then swung her Dou Qi wings, severing half of the monster’s tentacles.

Severely injured, the sea monster frantically paddled away with its remaining tentacles, leaving a trail of dark red blood as it vanished.

“A magic-using animal? We seem to be on the right track,” Flora immediately realized the sea monster had used magic! Nothing else could instantly drain the heat from an area of water!

“Look… there’s a light over there. Why don’t we go take a look?” Abyss made a new discovery at that moment.

Chapter 59: The Sacred Tree’s Propagation Method

Finding an island in the vast sea was much easier than finding a hill on land. Before setting foot on the island, the three circled it, confirming there were no other islands nearby, then officially landed.

The miniature Sacred Tree stood in the center of the island. While miniature, it was still a giant compared to ordinary trees. Its height of twenty to thirty meters and girth requiring several people to encircle made it particularly conspicuous in the surrounding waters. Lush vegetation flourished around it, yet the island seemed devoid of animals, except for some highly specialized insects – they possessed the ability to cling tightly to plants in strong winds and were unusually large.

Unlike the original Sacred Tree, this Stormy Sea branch had numerous aerial roots. These long, soft, noodle-like roots dangled from every branch, swaying in the wind. Abyss could faintly sense a magical vortex centered around the tree. A large amount of magic was being absorbed by the tree through these developed aerial roots.

“Is this the Sacred Tree’s root? So it grows into another tree at the other end?” Leona asked, curiously examining the tree as she stepped onto the island. “That’s quite interesting, like a mother and child.”

“Perhaps because the Sacred Tree isn’t entirely a plant,” Flora said to Leona, dismounting the undead warhorse with Abyss’s help. “I think the Sacred Tree is something between a plant and a magical construct. Similar to a familiar, but different in some aspects. We’ll have to ask Miss Agnes directly for specifics.”

“That’s similar to strawberries,” Abyss mused, stroking his chin as he walked towards the tree. “Strawberries grow stolons from the mother plant, and these stolons develop into daughter plants, making them very efficient at reproducing. However, the Sacred Tree uses its roots for this process. It also has some roots in the seabed, and I don’t know what form they take. The information from the insects is limited.”

“Wait, don’t strawberries grow on trees? How can their stems creep on the ground?” Leona suddenly looked at Abyss in astonishment.

Rebecca’s laughter echoed through the mind link.

“I’ll have Rebecca cultivate a strawberry variety that grows on trees for you sometime,” Abyss chuckled, waving his hand dismissively, not wanting to tease the worldly yet naive princess. “Let’s continue upwards. I want to sense the magic around the Sacred Tree.”

Flora followed closely behind Abyss. “I’ll be responsible for your safety.”

…

As the three approached the miniature Sacred Tree, Abyss closed his eyes, slowly walking forward while trying to sense the magic around it.

Logically, if the Druids in the Elven Kingdoms could sense the mixed power in the magic from the corresponding root, then Abyss should be able to sense it here as well.

Even though the power felt reassuring and comfortable, Abyss had seriously warned the Druids not to consider it benign. Trusting one’s intuition had its advantages and was a favored approach for many Druids, but blindly following intuition could also be detrimental.

Abyss tried hard to find that comforting power around the miniature Sacred Tree, but despite his efforts, he found nothing.

“What’s wrong? No results at all?” Leona, also receiving Abyss’s shared sensations, had been waiting for that comfortable feeling, but it never came. “Could it be that you were careless and made a mistake?”

“The Druids said the feeling was warm and tingling, but I don’t feel anything here,” Flora whispered. Like Leona, she was receiving Abyss’s real-time sensations. “The magic here is no different from before we landed. It’s still chaotic and unsettling, completely different from the Druids’ description.”

“Could there be a special kind of power here that undergoes a qualitative change after being filtered through the Sacred Tree’s roots?” Rebecca’s voice echoed in their minds. “Abyss, do you have any clues?”

“Hmm… To be honest, I don’t sense any special power here,” Abyss shook his head. “This island doesn’t look like it’s been visited… But attributing the Sacred Tree’s problems to natural phenomena doesn’t explain the griffin-transforming elf attacking me. There must be something else…”

Everyone fell silent, except for Leona, who was still curiously looking around. The other three were deep in thought, trying to figure out what they had missed.

“Abyss, I remember you have the ability to sense underground structures,” Flora said. “You sensed the basement when we went to Leona’s old home. Can you sense anything beneath this island?”

“I can’t sense anything. There are no cavities under the island…” Abyss tried using his usually reliable intuition, but still found nothing.

The investigation hit a snag. If they had arrived to find a group of cultists on the island, it would have been simple – a fight would solve the problem. But now, they didn’t even know where the problem lay.

“Wait…” Just as they were at a loss, Rebecca suddenly asked Abyss, “Abyss, your sensing ability isn’t unconditional and absolute, is it?”

“Yes, that’s right. It’s just intuition. I might be more sensitive to things like underground cavities. My master often used my ability to find tombs,” Abyss replied honestly. “Why, Rebecca, do you have an idea?”

“If it’s not absolute, then I think there’s another possibility,” Rebecca’s voice calmly analyzed in their minds. “That is, a hidden space exists in a place you can’t sense!”

“You mean…?” Abyss immediately understood.

“Exactly,” Rebecca said. “I think the problem might not be that the ‘source’ at the end of this root is contaminated, but that something is being added during the ‘transmission process’. We need to follow this root downwards. Perhaps we’ll find something valuable on the seabed.”

Chapter 58: Entering the Stormy Sea

Based on the information relayed by the insects, Abyss quickly identified the approximate location of the Sacred Tree’s roots. Since Abyss wasn’t particularly familiar with the planet’s geography, the location had some margin of error, requiring a gradual search.

Rebecca remained on the shore, constantly aware of Abyss’s situation through shared senses. The data transmission via the necromantic spell link was instantaneous, even if Abyss had to travel hundreds of kilometers offshore in search of the Sacred Tree’s roots.

Meanwhile, Abyss, Leona, and Flora sped across the water on their two horses.

Flora had cast the Divine Art “Water’s Blessing,” granting the ability to walk on water without wetting one’s shoes. This Divine Art was quite obscure within the Church, as its cost was the caster entering a dehydrated state, requiring constant hydration and enduring considerable discomfort. Its effect was also somewhat redundant – mages could achieve the same result with magic, without any drawbacks. Unless the user was Flora, who could utilize Divine Arts without cost.

But now, magic was no longer safe.

The undead warhorse and East Wind were astonishingly fast, streaking across the sea like lightning. As they ventured further from the shore, the surrounding atmosphere changed.

The further they went, the denser the fog became. The air grew increasingly briny, and while not foul, the smell evoked a primal aversion, creating an eerie, unsettling feeling.

The day had started cloudy, with the sun occasionally peeking through, casting brief warmth. However, as Abyss and his companions ventured deeper, the sun became increasingly elusive, replaced by masses of inky clouds. Lightning flashed intermittently, yet no thunder rumbled. The wind intensified, and the three felt increasing air resistance, the fierce, cold gusts scraping against their skin as if trying to tear it from their muscles.

The sea seemed to push them back, as if pleading, “Don’t come closer, don’t come closer,” rejecting their intrusion. Nature’s power was chaotic and immense, and even Abyss felt a sense of awe. He became even more curious about the genius Druid who once commanded nature, even more eager to meet her.

The surrounding magic also fluctuated. If magic on land was like water, ever-changing yet readily available for use and enjoyment, then the magic in this sea was like an unstable potion. One could attempt to drink it, but it would churn and roil in the mouth, corroding the throat and perhaps burning a hole through the stomach.

Abyss was already minimizing his magic output. With the surrounding magic so unstable, he had to conserve it, relying primarily on the magic stored within his own body.

Flora and Leona were relatively comfortable. As a Divine Arts user, Flora could find solutions through Divine Arts and wasn’t heavily reliant on magic. Leona was even more unrestrained; the playful, truant princess was practically a layman in magic, unaffected by its fluctuations.

“I can feel the natural environment becoming harsher,” Flora said, placing her hands cautiously on Abyss’s waist. After Rebecca remained ashore, she had taken the initiative to join Abyss on his horse.

Leona, riding East Wind alongside, could finally adopt a proper posture, galloping like a true knight. She turned, excitement in her voice. “When I was a princess, my geography tutor always told me legends of the Stormy Sea. I always longed to experience the power of the sea, but because I was a princess, every time I asked to go out and play, the attendants guarding me would threaten to die, so I never got the chance. I only played by the seashore a few times. Just skirting the edges, never allowed to truly enter. It was no fun at all.”

“This is the Stormy Sea, both yearned for and feared by everyone in Hai-Teweru,” Abyss nodded. “If we one day gain the ability to conquer the Stormy Sea, imagine how many treasures we could unearth. Beyond our continent, how many islands, how many mineral deposits… Ah, perhaps we could even dig up the remains and fossils of ancient creatures… Just thinking about it is exhilarating.”

“Perhaps Agnes had such abilities,” Flora speculated. “But she died too young to fully realize her ambitions.”

“Yes, I think so too. The Sacred Tree is her creation, perhaps the first step in her development of this planet,” Abyss smiled. “This Agnes might have been a very ambitious person.”

“So, when you dig her up, she might not be as averse to it as other Druids?” Leona glanced at Abyss.

“Perhaps… But I’m not sure. She’s a very mysterious figure in the records. I can’t deduce her specific worldview,” Abyss pondered.

Druids generally disapproved of anything that violated the natural order, but Agnes’s actions defied this convention. She hadn’t strived to maintain the world’s status quo like traditional Druids but attempted to reshape nature for the benefit of civilization, and she had succeeded. Without the Sacred Tree ensuring a large output of high-quality mages in the Elven Kingdoms, without it providing favorable natural conditions for the Elven Kingdoms to export goods and amass foreign exchange reserves, the elves might have been gradually squeezed out of their living space by humans, ultimately losing their homeland, assimilating into human society, or simply vanishing from history.

Compared to the passive Grand Sage Arcaiste, Agnes was clearly more proactive and daring.

“Well, according to the information my insect scouting team relayed, the Sacred Tree’s roots should be around here,” Abyss said after a while, having been calculating their distance from the shore. “If I’m not mistaken, there should be an island here… Ah, yes, look, there’s a sizable island over there.”

Through the swirling fog, the three could see a large island, roughly the size of Golden Griffin City.

As they drew closer, the island’s landscape came into view. It was a lush island, teeming with trees and vegetation. In the center stood a large tree.

Leona pointed at the tree. “Isn’t that a miniature version of the Sacred Tree?”

Chapter 57: Beyond the Map

“Really?” Leona’s eyes widened as she turned to Flora. “I hadn’t noticed Maggie being isolated by her peers. I even thought she was quite popular.”

Abyss and his companions were now within the Shadow Realm. They certainly weren’t going to travel conventionally and risk being intercepted by the enemy. Although the enemy currently seemed unthreatening, Abyss couldn’t be bothered with insignificant monsters, and the three girls had made it clear they didn’t want to see another gruesome sight of a dismembered corpse.

So, after galloping for dozens of kilometers, the two extraordinary horses were easily pulled into the Shadow Realm by Abyss, where they took a leap and flew. Leona’s “East Wind” possessed inherent flight capabilities, able to soar through the sky after transforming. Abyss’s undead warhorse, on the other hand, defied gravity, able to run wherever Abyss’s magic willed it.

“She does seem cheerful, but I noticed from the beginning that she’s actually a very lonely child,” Flora sighed softly. “She has no friends in the Druid gathering. Outside of her duties, she seeks us out, people she’s only just met. Otherwise, she stays with her master. Normally, elves her age should be looking for partners, but she barely even talks to boys her age.”

Wood Elves lived twice as long as humans, but this didn’t mean they matured at half the rate. An elf in their twenties was considered an adult. Wood Elves typically found partners in their twenties or thirties, courting for a few years before marrying and spending their lives together.

Normally, a beautiful girl like Maggie should have many admirers, but based on the four’s impression of her, she seemed to have none.

If it were simply because she was too talkative, it shouldn’t be this severe. Although Maggie was chatty and gossipy, she was agreeable and would stop when asked. Perhaps there were other reasons why others distanced themselves from her. Or perhaps… her incessant talking was related to her experiences?

“Now that you mention it, I did overlook Maggie’s relationships,” Rebecca said, holding onto Abyss’s waist as they rode the undead warhorse together. “I was also misled by her cheerful demeanor. She does seem quite lonely.”

“Yes, if possible, I want to check on her,” Flora said to Abyss. “Maggie is a kind and enthusiastic girl. She deserves to be treated more gently by the world.”

“In that case, we need to understand why others are avoiding her,” Rebecca added. “See if we can resolve her issue. Honestly, despite her talkativeness, I quite like her.”

“I feel like Baggs is hiding something from us,” Abyss said. “After we resolve the Sacred Tree issue, we need to ask him. My intuition tells me Maggie has a secret. Baggs’ willingness to stay with her might not be because she’s pretty.”

“Definitely. I don’t see any romantic interest in Baggs’ eyes when he looks at her. He’s not so lecherous as to have inappropriate thoughts about his female apprentice,” Rebecca smiled. “He clearly leers at other women.”

“Great, it seems the Leona Detective Agency has a new case.” Leona nodded with satisfaction. “Shall we start investigating after we’re done with the Sacred Tree?”

“Of course… Let’s try to resolve this quickly. If we’re lucky enough to seize the enemy’s artifact, we might even be able to effortlessly deal with this newly discovered Outer God,” Abyss smiled faintly.

…

The group’s destination was a sea region in the southwest of the Eastern Empire. According to Abyss’s insect scouting team, the problematic roots emerged in this area.

Hai-Teweru’s nautical technology wasn’t particularly advanced, limited to transporting goods, with little large-scale, long-distance seafaring. This was primarily due to the perilous nature of the sea, not only teeming with sea monsters that indiscriminately attacked passing ships but also plagued by frequent storms that disrupted navigation, along with chaotic magic that hindered mages, even injuring them.

If maritime safety couldn’t be guaranteed (venturing beyond a certain distance from the continent was practically a death sentence), then oceanic exploration and the discovery of new lands became extremely difficult.

The discovery of the Shadow Blight was a stroke of incredible luck. A geographical expert, through a series of coincidences, discovered unusual ocean currents and deduced the presence of a large island in that direction, not too far from the main continent. This led to the empire’s subsequent colonization and exploitation.

Currently, the most authoritative maps of Hai-Teweru only depicted the main continent, the Shadow Blight, and some smaller islands near the main continent. Beyond these areas was entirely unknown, a blank space on the map. Brave scholars had sailed into the unknown – and were now likely resting on the seabed.

After traveling for some time, Abyss and his companions could see the coastline. Continuing southwest would gradually bring them closer to the location of the problematic roots.

“Ahead lies the blank area on Hai-Teweru’s maps,” Rebecca said, one arm around Abyss’s waist and the other shading her eyes as she gazed at the distant sea. “This is the unknown territory that many geographers have spent their lives trying to reach. It’s a little exciting to think about. Ah, the area further offshore is completely shrouded in dense fog, obscuring the view.”

“This mission might be somewhat risky. Rebecca, you stay on the shore for now. I’ll share my senses with you. Once I’ve confirmed the environment is safe, you can come over anytime through the alchemy lab,” Abyss said, turning to Rebecca. “To be honest, I have no experience with areas far from the continent. My master’s adventures with me were limited to the mainland.”

“If you can’t use magic, let this Dou Qi Master help,” Leona thumped her chest. “Leona Express, your delivery is guaranteed!”

“Flora, Leona’s and my safety are in your hands,” Abyss said to Flora. “Our enemy is likely a minion of an Outer God. Your Divine Arts should play a decisive role.”

Flora nodded obediently. “I’ll do my best to protect you and Leona!”

Chapter 56: Maggie Wants to Help

Having learned the attacker’s origins and confirmed he wasn’t from a nearby village, Arcaiste returned to the gathering with Abyss and his companions. They informed the Druids who had returned empty-handed from their investigations in other villages, and a second meeting of the high-ranking Druids was immediately convened.

They quickly pieced together the events. The Druid Council always conducted its affairs openly, never hiding anything from nearby residents. Any inquisitive villager would receive a truthful answer from the sincere Druids. Having always coexisted harmoniously, with no reason for suspicion, they had no reason for secrecy.

The Druids were one of the Elven Kingdoms’ sources of pride, and the nearby villagers provided them with substantial support; they were essentially neighbors. However, this mutual trust likely led to the leak of information about the Druids’ search for Wild Druids scattered across the continent (similar to how wandering mages without affiliations were called Wild Mages, such Druids were called Wild Druids).

There was nothing inherently wrong with this, as the Druids were unaware that the Sacred Tree and the animal mutations were caused by external forces. Who would have guessed that such a powerful Sacred Tree could be affected by mortal power – at least, that’s what they thought until Abyss demonstrated his strength by draining the magic surrounding the Sacred Tree.

This information leak allowed those with ulterior motives, lurking within the Elven Kingdoms, to seize the opportunity presented by the Druids’ investigation and launch a surprise attack on Abyss, the central figure. This attack should have been quite successful – if Abyss were a conventionally powerful individual, the attack could have caused a magical backlash, costing him his life. However, the enemy hadn’t anticipated Abyss having a high-ranking Dou Qi Master and a disguised Divine Arts user as guards.

According to Abyss’s deduction, the attacker was likely a minion of an Outer God, although the number of these cultists and their communication methods remained unknown.

The concept of Outer Gods was relatively niche. During the discussion, many Druids were unaware of these otherworldly intruders in Hai-Teweru. Their entire understanding of Outer Gods stemmed from the Ossi Kingdom’s war of restoration, during which Queen Givia had announced their existence to the entire nation. Most Druids believed Outer Gods were merely powerful sentient beings awakening from slumber, with only a few willing to believe their power rivaled that of the Nine Gods.

Abyss’s candid explanation briefly surprised the Druids, but as high-ranking mages, they weren’t easily fazed. They quickly regained their composure and discussed new strategies.

The Druids decided against punishing anyone for the information leak, agreeing that ignorance excused the offense. Aside from the two gluttonous apprentices guarding the gate being punished with a year-long fruit ban, everyone who had leaked information was pardoned. From that day forward, the Druids’ actions would be classified into different secrecy levels, with some information restricted to high-ranking Druids and forbidden from being shared with apprentices to prevent further leaks.

Regarding the Sacred Tree, Abyss decided to depart immediately with the three girls to investigate the locations of the unusual roots. During Abyss’s investigation, Arcaiste would personally visit the Grey Elf Council to communicate with the protectors of the Elven Kingdoms and cooperate to maintain stability.

Initially believing the incident to be an ecological disaster, the Druids’ attitudes became much more serious upon learning their enemy was likely an otherworldly god. Every Druid, before formally studying the magic of the Druidic school, swore an oath to protect nature with their lives. None were afraid because the enemy was an Outer God; some were even excited by the prospect.

The second meeting concluded successfully. After brief preparations, Abyss prepared to embark on the journey with his three companions. Uncertain of the enemy’s nature, he decided to bring all of them.

“Mr. Belator, what did you discuss in the meeting?” Maggie, who had appeared nearby at some point, ran towards Abyss with a woven bag on her back. “Are you going to find the source of the magic anomaly?”

“Yes, we’re about to leave. It shouldn’t take too long, hopefully. What’s up?” Abyss replied, adjusting the saddle on his undead warhorse.

“I want to help too. Is there anything I can do?” Maggie seemed excited. “Master just told me our enemy is an Outer God from another world. I suddenly feel my mission is even more critical! What else did you discuss? Can you tell me?”

“Nothing much else was discussed in the meeting, and our task is simple. But I think your master must have sworn you to secrecy, not to tell anyone about our actions, right?” Abyss shook his head. “There’s nothing for you to do this time. Just wait for us to return at the gathering.”

“Okay, okay! If there’s anything I can do, please tell me as soon as possible!” Maggie nodded eagerly. “I may not be very capable, but I’m diligent!”

“Of course, if you’re willing, I’ll call on you when I need your help.” Abyss smiled and nodded. He currently had no idea what Maggie could do; the chatterbox indeed lacked any particularly outstanding skills. Her shapeshifting was decent, but shapeshifting alone had limited applications.

“Also, these fruits are for you to eat on your journey!” Maggie took off the bag from her back and handed it to Abyss.

The bag contained fresh fruit, not a large amount, but enough to show Maggie’s kind intentions.

“Alright, thank you.” Abyss reached out and patted Maggie’s head, then suddenly remembered Maggie was more than ten years older than him and smiled sheepishly.

Maggie smiled and smoothed her hair. “Then I’ll be going. I look forward to hearing good news from you!” With that, she turned and skipped away.

After Maggie had left, Leona asked curiously, “Why does Maggie want to help so badly? I thought she was playful and liked to slack off.”

Flora sighed softly. “She just wants to prove her worth. If you observe carefully, you’ll realize Maggie is actually isolated within the Druid gathering.”

Chapter 55: Who’s Pulling the Strings?

As expected, the two mages who had fled in terror after witnessing their companions transform into griffins spread panic beyond the gathering. By the time the Druids reached the nearby villages to calm the populace, the accounts of what transpired had evolved through several iterations.

“Master Arcaiste! I heard a dragon appeared at your gathering? Did it devour several Masters? Is this place still safe to live? Will it become a dragon’s lair? Can you protect us and help us escape? I don’t want to die! My wife is pregnant; she can’t handle the fright…”

In a nearby village, a Wood Elf villager rushed towards Arcaiste and Abyss’s group, anxiously inquiring.

Arcaiste’s expression grew even more somber. He shook his head and said, “No… please calm down. Don’t believe those rumors. We were indeed attacked while drawing magic from around the Sacred Tree, but the attacker was a griffin—a griffin transformed from an elf. The griffin has been killed, and it reverted to its elven form after death.”

“And he wasn’t a Druid. His transformation method was extremely violent, causing severe damage to his flesh and bones. This might be related to the recent animal abnormalities,” Abyss added in fluent Elvish, standing beside Arcaiste.

“I am the village elder. Please tell me what happened,” an elderly elf pushed through the crowd, his gait unsteady. He appeared much calmer than the panicked villagers contemplating fleeing the Keshel region, likely not having believed the outlandish rumors.

“Elder, we are investigating this attack, not to assign blame, but to ascertain the deceased’s identity,” Arcaiste, being an elf himself, found it easier to communicate with his kin. “If possible, I’d like your help in accounting for all the mages in your village. After the attack, all the mages observing the gathering returned. If any mage hasn’t returned home, please tell us their name and family.”

“What? Are you suggesting the attacker might be from our village?” The elder’s eyes widened in surprise. “That’s terrifying! Could such a strange person be hiding among us? I’ll investigate immediately. Carack!”

A young elf rushed over. “Father! What is it?”

“Go as fast as you can to every household with a mage and ask if anyone went to observe the Sacred Tree and hasn’t returned!”

“Yes, sir!”

Upon receiving the elder’s command, the young elf swiftly took off. The Wood Elves’ agility was evident in his movements as he leaped nimbly between buildings and trees with incredible speed, simultaneously calling out to households with mages along the way, inquiring about any missing family members.

The Wood Elf villagers’ houses were either built against trees or directly on them. The nimble young man quickly returned with news. Jumping down from a nearby tree, he landed steadily and reported loudly, “Father! I’ve asked every household with a mage. Everyone has returned safely. The incident at the gathering scared everyone into hiding in their homes! So, no one is missing!”

“Ah, Master Arcaiste, that’s the situation. The attacker shouldn’t be from our village.”

The elder visibly relaxed, addressing Arcaiste.

Arcaiste frowned, turning to Abyss. “What now? This is the last village. No one knows where the attacker came from. Perhaps we need to expand our search area?”

“If he’s not from a nearby village, it’s hard to explain how he received such timely news about our drawing magic from the Sacred Tree and went to observe it,” Abyss pondered, then raised his voice, addressing the surrounding villagers. “Have you encountered any travelers recently?”

Abyss was human, and the elves should have been wary of him, but he was accompanied by Master Arcaiste, whom they all knew and trusted. Coupled with Abyss’s fluent Elvish, his race wasn’t a significant concern. The villagers began to think.

“Travelers?” The village elder seemed to have been reminded of something by Abyss’s question, but he had no immediate leads.

“I know! I did see someone resembling a traveler near our village a few days ago!” At that moment, someone in the crowd raised their hand.

Abyss’s eyes lit up. “Oh? What did he look like? Tell us quickly.”

“He looked like a wandering mage. He’s been here for a while because I’ve occasionally seen him roaming near the village after sunset, by my herb garden,” the villager who raised his hand recounted. “He was unpredictable; I didn’t see him every day. I don’t know what he ate either, as he never interacted with anyone in our village. He probably foraged for food in the wild.”

“Did he have any peculiarities? Anything that felt off to you?” Abyss pressed.

“Hmm… Let me think. Ah, yes, yes, yes! That fellow always scratched his back, as if he had a rash. Also, he always stared at the Sacred Tree.” The villager spoke, a look of self-reproach on his face. “Oh dear, now that I mention it, he does seem very suspicious. I should have reported him to the gathering earlier.”

“It’s not your fault. We’re grateful that you’ve provided us with this information,” Arcaiste bowed to the villager. “Do you know anything else?”

“I don’t know anything else. After all, I haven’t spoken to him. I don’t like talking to strangers,” the villager shook his head. “Has anyone else seen him?”

The other villagers shook their heads. It seemed the attacker had maintained a low profile: never interacting with the villagers, staying within a limited area, and acting inconspicuously, so few had noticed him.

“It’s almost like… it was premeditated,” Rebecca murmured, standing beside Abyss.

Arcaiste glanced back at Rebecca and nodded. “So, the person who attacked us was trying to prevent us from discovering the Sacred Tree’s secret?”

“He wanted to take me out, but he was too weak compared to my companions. So, the nature of the recent series of events is now clear,” Abyss said, smiling as he ruffled Leona’s hair. “The Sacred Tree is withering because of an external influence, and the animal mutations aren’t natural phenomena. Someone is deliberately causing them…”

Abyss could have easily questioned the deceased’s soul, but when he attempted to summon the unfortunate soul whose brain had been pulverized by Leona, he discovered it had transformed into a mindless, highly unstable griffin, incapable of communication.

However, having encountered a cooperative villager, Abyss had achieved his objective.

Indeed, the current situation pointed to an Outer God as the mastermind, and the attacker was likely a follower of this deity!

“Things are getting interesting…”

Chapter 54: Results

The sight truly disgusted Leona. It wasn’t that she felt guilty about casually killing a sentient being to protect Abyss, but the appearance of the dead elf was genuinely unsettling. His entire body, stretched a size larger by the transformation, was now a grotesque mess, skin separated from muscle. Countless triangular holes dotted his flesh, oozing blood. His bones, too, seemed shattered and twisted at unnatural angles.

Leona could swear she had only delivered a single blow to the griffin’s head, a punch that used less than one percent of her full strength. She had only intended to crush its brain for a swift, painless death.

Who knew the griffin would revert to an elf upon death, collapsing into a limp heap?

Druids immediately rushed forward, carrying the mangled body away to prevent it from disturbing the high-ranking Druids still at work.

Leona trailed behind them, reluctant to touch the corpse that had become a puddle of gore. She continued to explain, “Listen, I really only meant to kill a griffin, not murder this person.”

“Don’t worry, miss,” one of the Druids carrying the body reassured her, turning back. “If we had the chance, we would have killed him ourselves. You don’t need to blame yourself. It’s good to have a high-ranking Dou Qi Master like you here.” He added, “But now we need to figure out where this person came from.”

Flora frowned at the corpse and sighed. She didn’t pity the creature, but the gruesome sight still disturbed her. This transformation was clearly not Druidic shapeshifting or Transmutation School magic; those wouldn’t be so horrific. It seemed that after Abyss finished his work, this incident would require further investigation.

Rebecca, while keeping a close eye on the situation, hadn’t stopped timing. The moment the allotted time elapsed, she called out to Abyss, “Time’s up, Abyss! You can stop now!”

However, Abyss seemed unresponsive to Rebecca’s call.

Rebecca called again, “Abyss! Time’s up! You can stop now!”

Abyss continued his spellcasting, but the Druids seated on the tree roots stirred at Rebecca’s voice. They opened their eyes and looked up at Abyss in the sky.

Eyes closed, Abyss continued chanting the incantation without pause. His brow was slightly furrowed, his head occasionally twitching, as if absorbed in something.

Rebecca had no choice but to shout a third time, “Abyss Belator! It’s time to stop!”

This third call finally had an effect. Abyss’s eyes snapped open, glancing downwards.

His chanting gradually slowed, and the output of his spell decreased under his control. Everyone present could feel the magic concentration in the vicinity rising as the Sacred Tree’s roots continued to channel energy. A viscous sensation once again enveloped everyone.

Simultaneously, Abyss slowly descended from the sky, landing steadily on the ground and ceasing his incantation. The flow of magic he had guided upwards finally broke. He exhaled deeply, looking at the commotion around him with some confusion.

“Are you alright?” Rebecca was the first to reach Abyss, asking with concern. “I called you three times before you reacted. Did channeling the magic affect you?”

Abyss shook his head, trying to clear his mind. “Ah… I’m fine, no ill effects. I genuinely didn’t hear the first two calls, sorry. While channeling the Sacred Tree’s magic through my magic core into the sky, my mind was invaded by an image… a sleeping girl… perhaps Agnes. Her presence affected my focus…”

He relayed the latter part of his sentence through a spell link, not wanting the Druids to overhear.

“It’s good that you’re okay,” Rebecca nodded, relieved. “I’ll examine you later. For now, let’s discuss the magic. The Druids have made a discovery.”

Abyss nodded and looked at Arcaiste, who was approaching.

“Master Arcaiste, have you found something?”

Arcaiste nodded. “Yes, we have. The magic from other locations is fine, but over there—the magic there is tainted with a different kind of power. This power isn’t unpleasant; it even felt quite comfortable when it passed through us, but it’s unusual. The other Sages have marked the affected roots. We can begin our investigation.”

“Tainted power…” Abyss pondered for a moment. “So, the Sacred Tree’s abnormality is caused by this mixed-in power?”

“Perhaps so…” Arcaiste replied. “It’s hard to imagine there’s no connection. While I didn’t quite agree with your method of probing the Sacred Tree’s anomaly, I must admit, it’s indeed effective. What do you plan to do next, Master Belator?”

“Since you’ve marked the problematic roots, I just need to follow them,” Abyss said with a smile. “I’ve already investigated the path of each root and memorized them. I’ll set off with my companions as soon as possible and try to reach the source of the problem.”

“Do you need our help?”

“Hmm… This task might be extremely dangerous, even I have to consider my own safety. It’s not very suitable for you.” Abyss explained. “So, leave it to me. I’ll do my best to resolve the Sacred Tree’s issue. I keep my word.”

“Then we can only thank you.” Arcaiste bowed respectfully to Abyss.

“Of course… I’m not entirely without selfish motives.” Abyss suddenly lowered his voice, leaning closer to Arcaiste’s face. “I presume you remember what I told you when we first met.”

“You’ve made a special discovery, haven’t you?” Arcaiste’s face clouded over, and he sighed.

“After resolving the current situation, I’ll do what I initially intended.” Abyss smiled. “But please don’t worry too much. I’m truly not a bad person. The final outcome will satisfy everyone, so you don’t need to be so apprehensive.”

“Let’s focus on the attackers for now…” Arcaiste averted his gaze.

Chapter 53: A Terrifying Attacker

Everyone saw the griffin diving towards them from the sky. The Druids gasped, but the mana around the sacred tree had been drained by Abyss. They were powerless to stop it.

Griffins were apex predators, their lion-like bodies and eagle wings making them formidable hunters. Even experienced hunters, without mid-level Dou Qi skills, were no match for them.

“Don’t panic! Stay at your posts! I’ll handle this!” Leona shouted, then leaped into the air, her body propelled upwards by her powerful Dou Qi.

The griffin, surprised by the small human blocking its path, sensed a primal fear emanating from her, despite her size.

Screech!

It roared, its powerful wings beating, its head lowered, its beak aimed at Leona like a battering ram.

Leona, hovering in mid-air, a confident smile on her face, raised a hand, intercepting the griffin’s attack.

Boom!

The impact of their collision, the griffin’s beak meeting Leona’s hand, created a shockwave, a sound like thunder, despite the lack of any physical contact between flesh and feathers.

Leona remained motionless, her small body suspended in mid-air, her smile unwavering, much to the Druids’ astonishment.

The griffin, stunned by the impact, its head ringing, flapped its wings, creating distance between them.

“So you’re not running? You’re attacking me directly? Next time, I won’t be so lenient,” Leona said, her voice carrying through the air, her smile revealing her sharp teeth.

Screech!

The griffin, either not understanding her words or simply refusing to heed her warning, charged again.

Leona’s eyes narrowed. She wouldn’t hold back this time.

The griffin’s beak, as hard as steel, snapped at her head.

Leona raised her hand, catching the griffin’s upper beak and pushing it downwards, disrupting its balance.

Screech!

The griffin, its massive body flailing, swiped at her with its claws. A griffin’s claws were incredibly sharp and strong, capable of tearing through flesh and bone. Few dared to face them directly.

But Leona wasn’t afraid. The griffin’s frantic attack seemed to move in slow motion. She casually raised her arm, her flesh glowing with orange Dou Qi flames, shielding her face.

Clang!

The griffin’s claws struck her arm, sparks flying as they met her Dou Qi, its power easily neutralizing the attack.

Leona then punched the griffin in the head, her small fist carrying immense force, its impact crushing the creature’s skull, its brain turning to mush. The griffin convulsed, its massive body falling from the sky.

“Leona, behind you!” Flora’s voice suddenly echoed in her mind.

Leona turned, seeing several feathers floating towards Abyss, who was still channeling his magic. The feathers pulsed with magical energy—they were clearly meant for him.

Flora’s quick thinking had slowed their descent, preventing them from reaching Abyss.

Leona, realizing the danger, her heart pounding, moved instantly, her Dou Qi forming two giant hands that snatched the feathers from the air, crushing them, then hurling them away.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The feathers exploded mid-air, each blast equivalent to a novice mage’s fireball. This griffin’s magic was far more potent than that of the other animals they had encountered.

“Damn it! I almost forgot they can use magic!” Leona muttered, then glanced at the falling griffin, its body transforming.

Its feathers were falling out, revealing its bare, scarred skin. Its wings broke apart, its body shrinking as it fell, its bones creaking and snapping. Its beak, crushed by Leona’s grip, retracted.

Thud!

The griffin landed, its lifeless body hitting the ground with a dull thud.

The Druids, except for those still focused on observing the mana flow, gasped at the sight of the corpse.

It was no longer a griffin, but a mangled elf, its flesh torn, its skin flayed, its body riddled with holes, like a discarded sack.

Chapter 52: The Bribable Gatekeeper

“Hey there, lads. Let us in. We want a closer look at that powerful Druid,” one of the mages said to the two Druid apprentices guarding the entrance to the council’s territory.

The two apprentices looked at the three mages, recognizing them as locals who had come to observe the gathering. Two of them seemed curious, the third almost fanatical in his interest.

One of the apprentices said apologetically, “I’m sorry, Masters, but we have strict instructions. No unauthorized personnel are allowed inside today. There’s a large-scale magical working in progress, and any disruption could be dangerous.”

The mages looked disappointed. The most eager one scratched his back, then said, “We won’t cause any trouble. We just want a closer look.”

The apprentices hesitated.

As elves, they were less suspicious than humans. Human guards wouldn’t have hesitated to refuse them—after all, what was in it for them? If these mages caused trouble, they would be held responsible.

“Here, have some berries. They’re from our village. We call them rainbow berries, a new variety. No one else has tasted them yet,” one of the mages said, offering a handful of colorful, fragrant berries.

The apprentices’ mouths watered at the sight and smell of the tempting fruit.

“But our master told us…”

“Just try one,” the mage said, placing a berry in one of the apprentice’s mouths. “How does it taste?”

The apprentice, his words muffled by the fruit, hesitated for a moment, then his eyes widened.

“Delicious!”

“You try one too,” the mage said, offering a berry to the other apprentice.

“Wow! It’s amazing!”

“So, if you let us pass, these are all yours,” the mage said, smiling. “A win-win situation, wouldn’t you say?”

The apprentices exchanged glances, then nodded.

“Alright, you may pass. But don’t get too close to the Masters. Their spellcasting can be dangerous,” they warned.

“Of course, my friend. We just want a closer look,” the mage said, handing them the berries.

“Don’t get too close,” the apprentices repeated, their mouths watering.

“We won’t cause any trouble,” the mages said, then walked past them, heading towards the sacred tree, the oppressive mana growing stronger with each step. Abyss’s form, floating high above, became clearer.

“Let’s stop here. We don’t want to disturb the Druids,” the mage who had offered the berries said to his companions.

“This view is good enough. We wouldn’t see anything different from up close anyway. As they say, we’re just laymen, here to watch the show. We don’t understand these complex rituals,” one of them agreed.

“What about you? Why aren’t you saying anything? Are you mesmerized?” they asked, turning to the most eager mage, who was staring at Abyss, scratching his back rapidly.

He didn’t answer.

As they were about to watch Abyss’s work, something happened.

Rip!

The mage’s back split open, a pair of massive wings erupting from within, knocking his companions off their feet.

“What the…” the mage who had bribed the apprentices exclaimed, staring at his companion, who had suddenly grown wings. “You’re a Druid?!”

Screech!

The winged man didn’t answer. He opened his mouth and let out a piercing cry, his body transforming, his clothes ripping as his muscles bulged, feathers erupting from his skin, tearing through his flesh, his hair falling out, his face contorting, his teeth replaced by a beak.

He had become a griffin.

“That’s not Druidic shapeshifting!” the mage exclaimed, recognizing the unnatural transformation. “Something’s wrong! Run!”

The two mages scrambled to their feet and fled, their movements panicked. The mana in the clearing had been drained. They couldn’t use their magic! Their only option was to run.

The griffin ignored them, its gaze fixed on Abyss, its eyes glowing red.

It spread its wings, the force of the downdraft flattening the grass, then launched itself into the air, a feathered projectile, aimed at Abyss.

…

Leona, leaning against Flora, was getting bored. According to Rebecca, it was almost time for Abyss’s plan to conclude, but nothing had happened yet. She had been hoping for some action.

Screech!

A cry echoed from the direction of the entrance.

“Hmm? Trouble?” Leona asked, sitting up.

Flora, also alert, looked towards the sound.

As they prepared for a potential attack, a massive, winged figure, moving with incredible speed, appeared, diving towards Abyss.

Chapter 51: Abyss and the Vacuum

Abyss didn’t stop chanting. Interrupting the spell could cause a dangerous backlash, releasing the uncontrolled mana he had gathered.

He remained calm, his gaze fixed on the darkness before him.

The Druids, chanting softly, their voices a low murmur, began sensing the mana flow around the sacred tree. Abyss had successfully drained most of the surrounding mana, making their task easier.

Abyss had instructed them to observe carefully. Rebecca would signal him to stop after half an hour, preventing any potential harm from the prolonged mana vacuum. He continued chanting, his focus unwavering, ignoring the encroaching darkness.

After a few minutes, a faint light appeared in the darkness, a tiny, flickering spark, like a firefly, its light weak and unsteady, pulsing rhythmically, like a heartbeat.

What was that?

The sacred tree’s mana flowed into Abyss’s body, channeled through his magic core, then released high into the atmosphere. This process seemed to be affecting him…

The light grew stronger, larger, gradually taking on the form of a young woman, her back turned towards him.

Her form was translucent, ethereal, like a figure from a distant memory, or a dream.

The image solidified, becoming clearer, the only thing visible in the darkness.

A naked girl, her slender body facing away from him, her long gray hair, similar to his own, cascading down her back, partially obscuring her bare shoulders. And she had four ears: two pointed elven ears and two cat-like ears on top of her head. She sat with her knees drawn to her chest, her posture fetal.

She remained motionless, her body curled up, as if lifeless, but not at peace.

Abyss sensed a faint pulse, a life force emanating from her, resonating with his own, a powerful connection to nature, a sense of life and death intertwined, a delicate balance.

Agnes…

He recognized her.

But why was she here? She was dead.

He had always been the one influencing the dead, not the other way around. He was the King of the Dead. This shouldn’t be possible. Was it the sacred tree’s magic? But where was she influencing it from? Its mana source was the planet itself. Where was Agnes?

She didn’t move, but her presence, the life force emanating from her, felt as if she were about to turn around, to face him.

…

While Abyss was lost in this vision, the Druids, their eyes closed, their skin sensitive to the faintest magical fluctuations, sensed the mana flowing through the sacred tree’s roots, up its trunk, and out through its branches and leaves. The reduced mana density made it easier to perceive.

Initially, they found nothing unusual. But as they focused, three Druids sensed something amiss, a subtle difference in the mana flowing through a few of the roots.

The purified mana should have been as clear and pure as morning dew, but this mana felt different, tainted by another force, a subtle energy pulsing rhythmically, flowing upwards from the roots, entering their bodies through their skin.

It was a calming, comforting sensation, a feeling of euphoria, although they couldn’t explain its effects. It was like pouring warm water over their skin on a cold winter night, a pleasant tingling sensation spreading through their bodies, reaching their magic cores, then traveling up their spines, before dissipating.

Something was being drawn from them.

They opened their eyes, their gazes meeting—they were sitting close to each other. The energy seemed to be emanating from a specific direction.

The other Druids, still oblivious, continued their meditation, their senses focused on the mana flow.

The three Druids who had sensed the anomaly gestured towards Arcaiste, who had been waiting patiently.

Arcaiste nodded, approaching them and sitting down, his senses now attuned to the mana flow. As the most powerful Druid present, he hadn’t participated in the initial observation, waiting for others to identify any anomalies before joining them.

The calming energy within the mana flowed into him, but his melancholic expression remained unchanged.

…

The mages watching from outside the clearing noticed nothing unusual, their whispers continuing.

“Do you think they’ll find the problem?”

“I’m not sure.”

“I doubt it, unless they can find Agnes’s grave.”

“By the Nine Gods, that Dark Elf wine must have addled your brain. No one knows where she’s buried. And how would they even resurrect her? She was incredibly powerful. Any necromancer would be a mere apprentice compared to her.”

“What do you think, friend?”

“Let’s sneak in and take a look. They haven’t completely forbidden us from entering,” one of the mages suggested, scratching his back, his curiosity getting the better of him.

“Aren’t you afraid of that human boy? He’s dangerous.”

“Do you think we’re safe out here? Come on, let’s talk to the apprentice guarding the entrance. He’ll let us in.”