Return of the Mythic Bloodline-Chapter 385: Main Quest

My injured arm and half-burnt face from Vajra’s lightning were completely healed when I returned.

The blade of Vajra had become sharper, its colour changing from bright silver to grey. The hilt had also transformed, now gripping perfectly in my hand.

Until now, it had been me who moved my body according to Vajra’s balance, but now the swings felt lighter and sharper. The sword had shifted its balance to match my body.

About an hour had passed in the present while my consciousness had been pulled into Vajra’s memories.

My eyes shifted to my palm as I recalled what Senior had told me before I returned.

"Aruma’s gift, huh?" I murmured, gazing at the circular yin-yang mark at the centre of my palm.

This mark was left by Aruma’s soul when I saved Ume from the Death Energy in her inner world. I tried to pour my Soulforce into it, but it did not react. I even asked Vivi about it, but being the bitch of an AI that it was, it said that I did not possess the skill required to activate it.

"If it’s related to the sword, should I cut my palm with the blade?" I thought inwardly, but stopped mid-thought as I realized how naturally I had considered cutting my own palm.

I was definitely not becoming a masochist.

Moreover, if it did not work, the injury would only become a hindrance in wielding the sword for the battle the next day.

After thinking for a few seconds, I made up my mind and asked Vivi again,

"Vivi, how should I use this mark?"

"Stab the mark with Sword Aura."

"So stabbing was the right decision," I sighed.

"But should I really do it?" The thought crossed my mind. 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

If I suffered any injury from the mark or if something strange happened, which I was damn sure would actually happen if I activated the mark, it could create problems for the battle tomorrow.

I needed to be in peak condition, and the risk was too high. In the end, I decided not to use it.

Rising from the ground, I exited the forest and moved towards the castle. Entering inside, I reached the basement of the castle.

The room was dimly lit, but it was clean and fully furnished.

Around the bed in the centre, Doran, Lunaria, and Aurelion were sitting. Lunaria and Doran had swollen eyes, a testament to how much the two had cried, while Aurelion had his usual unreadable expression on his face.

On the bed itself, Ume was sitting cross-legged. Before her, Nymeria’s body lay on the bed covered in a blanket, her head resting in Ume’s lap. Ume’s hands were placed parallel to Nymeria’s temples, from which pink energy was entering her skin.

"How is she?" I asked, reaching the bed.

Ume shook her head and replied, "I’m barely keeping her alive by stopping the Death Energy with Divine Soulforce. Once my Sea of Soulforce is emptied, the Death Energy will consume her."

I tightened my fist in frustration, my eyes locked on the ominous dark energy that was covering Nymeria’s feet.

"How long can you hold?" I asked. I already knew the answer, but I still asked.

"Twenty-nine days."

"I can also use a little amount of Divine Soulforce. I will help as well," Aurelion spoke up, his eyes half-open in grief.

"The Divine Soulforce you possess is not enough to hold back Death Energy," Ume replied.

"What about Lord Jambavan and Vyaghra?"

"Both of them have their Tree of Divinity damaged. The amount of Divine Soulforce they can use is even less than yours, Lord Aurelion."

"What if—"

"Lord Aurelion, I will save her," I replied, tapping his shoulder.

Before he could respond, Lunaria suddenly grabbed me by the collar and demanded, her eyes brimming with tears, "Be honest, Taranis. Can you really save her?"

"Don’t worry, Mother Lunaria," I replied, gently tapping her hands. "I will not let her die."

"Y-you are late, Taranis," Lunaria murmured, breaking into tears. "Why didn’t you return earlier? Nymeria has suffered so much because of your absence."

"I’m sorry, Mother Lunaria."

She only released my collar when Aurelion intervened. While I was about to leave the room, Doran’s voice came from behind me.

"I will also participate in the war."

His sclera had turned bloodshot from the fury burning inside him.

I turned and gazed at him for a few seconds. I could tell from the determined look in his eyes that he would not back down.

"Lord Aurelion, add him to your army," I ordered before leaving the room.

When Nymeria broke her Soul Oath, I used Divine Soulforce to stop her body from completely collapsing and cautiously moved towards Ume to ask for her help.

Ume was able to stop the immediate danger, but it was only a temporary measure. We were not healing her. We were merely keeping her from dying.

When Ume first informed me about Nymeria’s condition, I received this quest from Vivi.

"Main Quest: Save Nymeria’s life.

Description: Nymeria El Snowbane’s survival is necessary for the return of the Mythic Bloodline. To save Nymeria, reach Level 9 Transcendent Realm, absorb the Heart of the Fallen, and break the second seal on Nymeria’s bloodline.

Deadline: 28 days, 19 hours, 32 minutes

Reward on completion: Favour from the Heavens for saving their child.

Penalty on failure:

1. Disappointment and loathing from the Heavens for becoming the reason for their child’s death.

2. Extinction of the Mythic Bloodline."

"I will definitely absorb the Heart of the Fallen one way or another," I muttered inwardly before moving outside the castle towards the array at the foot of the mountain.

Using the array, I reached Heaven’s First Step, from where I exited the Hundred Sky Mountains and reached the open ground on the land below.

The ground was filled with thousands of people as the Sect Masters of each sect prepared their armies.

In an hour, the sun would rise and the Hundred Sky Mountains would launch their first attack on another kingdom in its history.

Moving across the army, I approached Jambavan and Vyaghra, who were standing a little away from the others.

"Never thought Ay would be fightin’ a war in this era again," Jambavan initiated the conversation as I arrived before them.

"I’m sorry for dragging you two into a war that has nothing to do with yo—"

Before I could complete my sentence, a punch landed on my head and Jambavan muttered, "Don’t say useless thin’, brat."

"We are friends, so it is natural that we will help you," Vyaghra added.

"In that case, I won’t be so kind," I replied with a faint smile. "Let’s go. It’s time to move out."