The entity closed the scroll, which imdiately transford into a broken shard of Aetherium crystal. He swallowed the shard and returned his attention to Carn.
Carn still had many questions to ask, but he didn't know where to start. He waited for the entity to finish digesting his bone back into his system and inquired.
"How is my father? Is he doing well in the Netherworld?"
"He is perfectly healthy and happy. You have nothing to worry about."
"What about the warning? What's happening in the Aether World?"
"The World of Aether?"
He looked directly at Carn before gesturing with his large hand. The space between them was sliced open.
"Instead of asking , why not see the state of that world for yourself?"
"Wait, hold on!"
Carn was taken aback and surprised that the entity could open a portal easily. He asked to make sure, as he was not sure that the entity would send him ho afterward.
"If I go in, will you bring back here afterward?"
"Of course. Your father has entrusted to guide and assist you after delivering the ssage. I will not betray that trust."
The entity's deanor was eerily composed, yet he exuded a sense of allegiance to Carn's father. Carn let out a long sigh, relieved that his father had his back. Looking at the tall man, Carn wondered if he was the Ferryman of the prophecy.
"Alright. Let's go." Carn steeled himself. He spent Aether to enhance his resistance and stepped through the portal. The entity followed, sealing the dinsional gate behind them.
.
Erging from the portal, Carn found himself in a dense forest. The fresh air was thick with Aether. The bright blue sky stretched endlessly, and three moons perfectly aligned in orbit above the planet.
Carn closed his eyes and inhaled, savoring the pure Aether in the atmosphere. His silver mark reserves surged from 5,300 to 5,400 in monts. Each passing second brought an additional 10 to 20 marks. Simply by standing still, he could grow exponentially stronger.
Before Carn could absorb further, the entity interrupted his thoughts with a warning.
"Demon Lord Pebble," Nobody said, his tone sharp. "Be mindful of your surroundings."
Snapping out of his trance, Carn expanded his senses and scanned the area with his Aether. His detection revealed nurous life signatures, all belonging to Ents, Trents, and other sentient tree-like beings. Yet, strangely, he found no signs of animals, insects, or birds.
"It's too quiet. Where are the animals?!"
Before he could elaborate, the forest ca alive.
Nearby trees uprooted themselves. Their massive trunks creaked and groaned as they shifted. Their bark twisted, forming hideous faces that ranged from human-like to abominable monsters. Root systems curled like mammal legs, allowing them to move freely.
The trents snarled at Carn and Nobody in unison with their thunderous voice.
"BY THE MANDATE OF THE MOTHER TREE, KILL ALL REMNANT OF KAIM ARIEL!"
Carn's eyes widened. "What?!"
The trents charged, swinging their long branches and sending their roots toward Carn and Nobody.
Tree branches arrived in front of Nobody, but they phased through his tall fra. He stood up, casually observing the tree monsters as if this matter didn't concern him.
More roots and vines ca for Nobody. But again, they couldn't touch his ethereal physique.
anwhile, Carn welcod all beatings. He stood firm like a mountain, accepting every punishnt. Every tree branch and vine that made contact with his stone skin instantly turned into stone and broke into small rocks.
The petrification curse then rapidly expanded toward the trents. As they were too slow to react, everybody who attacked Carn turned into stone trees.
Carn smiled. It had been a long ti since he was last besieged by strong monsters. Using the sa old trick, he drained their Aether and animated them into gargoyles.
20 giant gargoyles erged from the stone trees. They roared and rushed toward other trents in the area, initiating a heavyweight brawl.
Carn stood there, absorbing Aether in the air in glee. He was also curious why these trents ntioned the na of his nesis and why his father didn't want him to return.
For two minutes straight, Carn and Nobody watched the one-sided slaughter. The newborn gargoyles tore the trees like papers. While Nobody remained silent, Carn was confused as to why his father didn't want him to return.
These guys were no threat.
Still, Gawain couldn't return after entering the rift. Carn wondered what kind of hidden danger lurked here.
"Is this a joke?" Carn complained, "Where is this place? I thought Mother Tree had all trents and ents under control. Why are they attacking ?"
"They probably thought you and Kaim Ariel were on the sa side."
"Heh. Obviously, we are sworn enemies. I'd rather die than join hands with him."
Nobody gave Carn a aningful look and dropped a bomb.
"That day, Kaim Ariel didn't die along with you. His soul never enters the Netherworld."
"WHAT?!"
"Before Kaim Ariel fought you, he had gotten his hands on Lich King Akor's legacy. When the Sorcerer Empress trapped you and Kaim's soul in the abyss, he was the one who freed your soul and returned you to ."
"WAIT, HUH?!"
The new information blew Carn's mind. He had always been treating Hero Kaim Ariel as his sworn enemy ever since he turned himself into a thousand-eye demon.
Nobody stabbed himself in the chest and fetched another piece of ribcage out of his body. It transford into a scroll once more and mimicked the thousand-eye hero's voice. His hoarse archaic voice turned youthful but firm.
[Demon Lord Pebble, I'm so sorry. Our fight shouldn't have happened. We both were tricked by our allies.]
Carn narrowed his eyes. He started suspecting Nobody for attempting to confuse him. Still, he listened to the entity, wondering what he had in store for him.
[Sorcerer Empress, Sword King, Demon Lord Karshira, and the Mother Tree betrayed us both. We picked the wrong side!]
"…What?"
Nobody paused and looked behind him. Carn also shifted his gaze as a giant shadow lood closer.
Behind Nobody stood a colossal tortoise-dragon, towering over the entire forest at a staggering height of two kiloters. Its long neck arched downward, bringing its draconic head level with Carn and Nobody.
Carn recognized the giant. He was the guardian of Mother Tree and the Kirin race's guardian beast, the Divine Tortoise.
The tortoise dragon glared at Carn and his bodyguard. It bored fangs and snarled.
"Demon Lord Pebble, Mother Tree has summoned you. Co with obediently, or I'll erase your existence right here, right now!"
"…"
Carn didn't like its tone. He started doubting Mother Tree and the entity next to him. He couldn't figure out who lied or who told the truth.
But for now, he decided to follow the divine beast to the Mother Tree. He teleported and stood on top of the beast. While at it, he commanded his gargoyles to stop attacking the trents.
Nobody also teleported and appeared next to Carn. He warned him.
"We should return to Earth while we can. Otherwise, Mother Tree will kill you."
"…"
Once again, Carn suspected everybody.
Who should he trust?
Mother Tree who had been giving him power?
The self-proclaid subordinate of his dead father?
Or rather, trust no one?
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