This was only the second ti Zelda had witnessed holy power in person—and she had to admit, it was truly awe-inspiring.
Even just standing nearby, she could feel a faint pressure weighing down on her, as if her body was being forced to kneel.
Fortunately, the power wasn't directed at her.
Had it been, she might have been completely overwheld by the force of the holy power.
Her gaze then shifted to the chaos power—and suddenly, a strange sense of familiarity stirred within her.
"Strange... Why does this chaos power make want to get closer?" she wondered to herself, a flicker of confusion in her eyes.
This was her first ti seeing chaos power with her own eyes.
And yet, she felt an odd resonance with it—like it was sohow part of her.
If Leon had known this, he probably wouldn't have been surprised. In fact, he might have seen it as natural.
Zelda, like the Elf Queens before her, was descended from the first Elf Queen and the Demon Emperor Amon Crimson.
Within her veins flowed the blood of the Demon Emperor—the first wielder of the Great Sword of Chaos and the original master of chaos power.
So it was no wonder that traces of chaos dwelled within her, even if only faintly and barely detectable.
*Buzz!*
As the two powers surged forth, Leon opened his eyes—now glowing with a radiant brilliance. One eye glead with pure white light, the other with deep black.
His right eye reflected the holy power, while his left radiated the essence of chaos.
A mont later, a golden star—the symbol of the hero's destiny—appeared on his forehead, shining with an entrancing golden light.
*Grrrk!*
The statues surrounding the altar began to shake violently. Then, beams of pale green light burst from their forms.
The lights shot skyward, spiraling before rging with the holy and chaos energies swirling around Leon.
The sight was nothing short of breathtaking. Zelda's eyes widened, a mix of awe and unease flickering within them.
"What's happening...?" She whispered, barely audible.
***
"Where am I?"
Leon opened his eyes and found himself in an unfamiliar place.
On either side, dense trees stretched into the distance. A cool breeze brushed against his skin, and the air was filled with the gentle chirping of birds.
If he hadn't been certain he was awake, he might have thought he was dreaming.
"Master, can you hear ?" Miranda's voice echoed in his mind.
Leon let out a small breath of relief and smiled faintly. "I can hear you, Miranda. Where am I? Is this the consciousness space of the World Tree Spirit?"
"Yes, Master," Miranda replied softly. "This place is where the Spirit resides. It's quite similar to the dinsion I live in."
Leon didn't look surprised. He simply nodded. "Then where is she? Why don't I see her?"
"She's most likely still in a deep sleep sowhere. Your task is to find her," Miranda explained calmly.
"Alright, leave it to ." Leon patted his chest with confidence.
He had no idea how large this dinsion was, but based on his past experiences—when he entered Miranda's and the Dragon Progenitor's spaces—such places usually weren't too vast, likely only a few hundred ters across.
With that in mind, Leon slipped his hands into the pockets of his robe and began walking through the forest, quietly observing his surroundings.
The forest was dense but otherwise looked quite normal. The trees stood around eight to ten ters tall, and the ground was covered in lush grass, about ten centiters high—soft and springy, like walking on a bed.
Birds, insects, and other small animals moved about, all appearing strikingly lifelike.
Leon continued his walk, and as ti passed, he began to realize that this dinsion was far larger than he had initially assud.
"Was I wrong from the beginning?" he muttered, his brows furrowed.
He had assud this place would be limited in size, but the endless forest before him shattered that belief.
Shaking his head, he glanced up and noticed an apple hanging from a tree branch.
With a light leap, he plucked the apple and took a bite as he continued walking.
He had no idea how long he'd been wandering when he finally ca upon a wide, tranquil lake. The water was crystal clear, its surface perfectly still.
Leon stepped closer, crouched on one knee, and dipped his hand into the cool water.
"It's cold," he murmured.
Lifting his hand, he tasted it—surprised to find a faint sweetness, as if the water carried a hint of sugar.
Suddenly—
"Argh!" Leon groaned, clutching his chest in pain. "Damn it... What is this? Why does my chest hurt?"
He gritted his teeth, struggling to endure the sudden, sharp pain. Then his gaze dropped to the lake—and in that instant, his heart nearly stopped.
"Dark power?" His eyes widened.
The once clear, refreshing blue water had turned pitch black, radiating a sinister aura that weighed heavily on the air around him.
Just one glance was enough—he knew imdiately. It was the dark power of the Evil God.
"Did I… accidentally absorb so of it into my body?"
The thought crossed his mind, and gradually, his expression grew calm.
Now that he knew the cause, there was no reason to panic—he knew exactly what to do.
Leon pressed his index and middle fingers against his chest—right where the pain struck.
He channeled both holy power and chaos energy into that spot, aiming to purge the dark force within.
In seconds, the pain eased and then vanished completely.
"Phew…" Leon exhaled, wiping sweat from his forehead. "That dark power… It's ruthless."
Now, more than ever, he understood the tornt of those corrupted by it—an unbearable pain that cut deep within.
But instead of weakening him, the experience only strengthened his resolve.
With holy power and chaos at his command, purging that darkness was well within his reach.
Just as he was about to stand, the once calm black lake suddenly churned violently.
The water bubbled and roiled, as if boiling over an intense, unseen fire.
Leon froze, a sudden wave of dread washing over him. Instinctively, he took twenty cautious steps back.
His gaze locked onto the lake, sharp and alert.
"What's happening?"
*Whoosh!*
From the surface of the lake, a woman suddenly erged, her body entwined with eerie black roots.
She was breathtakingly beautiful, with flawless features and a sculpted jawline.
Her long green hair flowed freely, and her eyes were black, pierced by unsettling red pupils.
Leon's body stiffened—he knew her.
"Spirit of the World Tree... Astra!"
Reviews
All reviews (0)