As Shiranui displayed her powers to the Veladrys in order to teach them, I realized just how powerful she had beco. And I began to have doubts.
Was she actually right?
While the dark fae cheerfully fluttered around them, Typhon approached from behind.
[She's strong.] He observed.
And I sighed, because he was right.
[Are you thinking about naming them all?] Typhon asked, and I shook my head.
|[Their loyalty isn't complete without their Queen Mother.]| I replied. |[Once I offend her, they will turn against .]|
[I don't think that'll be an issue.] Typhon said with a smirk.
I was astonished. Was he teasing ?
That aside, there was sothing I was more curious about.
|[When I nad you, did you also experience anything...different?]| I asked Typhon.
I wasn't sure how much of Shiranui's theory was correct, but thankfully I had others to ask.
[It was normal in the beginning.] Typhon replied. [But after you nad us, everything improved. I began to level up much faster than before.]
|[What? Why didn't you tell this before?]| I hissed.
[I thought you knew.] Typhon glanced at with suspicion. [Isn't that why you nad us?]
|[Of course, I knew that!]| I imdiately replied.
What the heck!
I nad them because I needed a way to tell them apart, nothing else!
At the ti there wasn't much difference in their stats aside from [Status Inspection]. But I couldn't exactly say that now.
[One more thing.] Typhon added. [It's gotten even faster since your recent return. Did sothing happen while you were away?]
Haah. Why was he looking at like that?
Surely it was only because I evolved again and not because of the Abyss!
This ti I was positive.
But Sensei had a lot to explain when he got back.
Typhon looked away with a sigh. [You nad her even though she was already powerful. Will you kill her if she grows too strong?]
My eyes grew wide. Why was he thinking?
Even Shiranui felt his killing intent and turned to stare at us.
|[But I nad you as well.]| I frowned at Typhon. |[Are you asking if I will kill you for becoming too strong?]|
[Yes.] Typhon replied bluntly as he stared at , his gaze unflinching.
I was speechless.
Where was this coming from? Was this because of Ophelia?
|[Don't think so highly of yourself!]| I scoffed, more frustrated than angry that he thought so low of . |[I'll always be more powerful than all of you! Do you think I'll be threatened by your agre strength?]|
Typhon looked away, but I could see he was smiling. [I understand.]
This damn brat!
Was he serious or was he just joking?
Unfortunately, the dark fae didn't care for subtlety and crashed into our midst. [What are you two talking about? We're going sowhere. You should co with us!]
Neither of us moved, so she flew over and began to pull at my horn, as if she could just drag away.
The Nymph and the other Veladrys seed to be headed sowhere and I knew the tiny brat wouldn't give up until we went so I began to follow, with Typhon behind .
[When will you give a na?] The dark fae asked while from on top of my head.
|[And why do you think I'll na you?]| I chuckled.
The dark fae mused in thought. [Because I'm your friend and you love .]
Pfft!
I burst into laughter but the dark fae's tiny figure hovered over to with her arms crossed, her puffy cheeks even more enhanced by her frown.
|[Okay, fine. I will give you a na.]| I conceded.
How could I say no to such a cute face?
Typhon sighed and shook his head disapprovingly at , but I pretended not to see it.
Eventually, we arrived at the edge of the pink forest overlooking lower ground, where the full extent of damage could be seen. Miles and miles of forest now filled with withered, shrunken trees.
Shiranui was stronger now, so it made sense that she would try to recover the barren patch of forest the Abyss had destroyed. I really hoped it would work as we approached the area, her footsteps leaving trails of plants in her wake.
I watched the Nymph venture several ters ahead, hoping she would succeed so the destruction I caused would be reverted. However, the further the Nymph ventured onto infected ground, the quicker her abilities stopped working.
The plants she trailed started to die, until nothing remained beneath her feet except blackened sand. Nothing else grew and the area remained scorched.
[Why isn't it growing?] The dark fae muttered sadly.
The Veladrys were also devastated and Shiranui returned to us with a sad look on her face.
|[m sorry about that.]| I apologised. |[How about covering it up with the plants around it?]|
This made her perk up and she returned to try. [Alright, let's see.]
This ti Shiranui encouraged the surrounding vegetation that was around to grow and spread out to cover the infected ground. However, the further in the vegetation spread, the quicker their furthest leaves began to wither, until they too were also dead, leaving the scar only partly concealed.
I was curious if this was due to Shiranui's magic failing or is it sothing else related to the Abyss, so I decided to test it.
I turned to Typhon and spoke. [Go past the plants and try to move the ground there.]
He nodded and went over to manipulate the ground. At first his [Earth magic] worked as usual, but the further in he went, the quicker his ability started to fail until he could no longer move any rocks.
Shiranui looked startled as she and the Veladrys watched him with rapt attention.
[What is happening?] The dark fae asked.
|[It's a little test.]| I replied. |[Fly over to Typhon and try using your magic.]|
She quickly obliged but just as expected her [Dark Magic] didn't activate either.
Not even a single sphere was ford, and I watched her drop out of the air after a few minutes of flying.
It seed like the Abyss had created a dead zone for Ether where no magic would work.
Shiranui stared at thoughtfully. [Why don't you try?]
And I gave her an ironic stare - I could see what she was thinking.
If my magic still worked while all of theirs didn't, it would serve to prove she was right about .
And I recalled how the Abyss has spared all the Abyssal creatures it touched, which showed it could also make exceptions.
But I didn't want her to be right.
However, when I reached Typhon and the dark fae, my magic functioned like normal which only made the Nymph smile at with glee, her eyes sparkling like she just discovered a priceless jewel.
[Amazing! I knew there was sothing special about you!] The Nymph laughed.
Even Typhon seed surprised which made even more self conscious.
What the heck was happening here?
|[It doesn't an anything.]| I hastily replied. |[My magic could just be stronger.]|
But Typhon shook his head. [That's not possible. I can't sense any magic here. There is sothing very distorted about this place. I feel weaker the longer I stay here.]
Ah hell. He was just making her more set in her beliefs.
[Can you pick up?] The dark fae muttered in a small voice. [I feel weak and I'm unable to fly.]
She was slumped on the ground, her tiny figure trembling and I quickly set her on my scales before telling Typhon to get back.
Sothing in this area was affecting their strength as well.
When we reached the Nymph, I noticed she had a happy smile.
|[It's not what you think.]| I hastily replied before she could say anything while the Nymph only giggled.
Just then, we heard a loud roar as a large dragon approached the pink forest. The Nymph and the Veladrys all looked up with a slight frown, but I knew it was Sylrin without having to look.
His aura was stronger, as he circled the lush forest, refusing to land - it seed he had grown again.
I was more than pleased to see him, but if he was back, then so was the Alpha wolf who must have realised his missing, dead pack mbers by now.
I was looking forward to any confrontation that might happen.
|[We have to go.]| I said to the Nymph. |[We will continue this later.]|
[I'll be waiting, whenever you decide to accept that you're wrong.] Shiranui said with a mischievous smile and I handed her the limp dark fae before leaving - this debate clearly wasn't over.
Outside of the pink forest, we made our way over to Sylrin who had landed on the forest floor near the cave. The abyssal monsters were also with him, along with a pile of fresh monster corpses that he had caught.
The nestlings were quick to sll the creatures and rushed out of the cave to attack their new food pile.
They didn't seem affected even though the cave was close to the dead zone. However, I couldn't say what would happen to their magic if they were to venture further in.
Sylrin spotted us and excitedly ca over , while Typhon went over to keep the nestlings in order. Not far from him was the Alpha who stood heavier than the pack of dium sized wolves that accompanied him.
Ophelia was with them and they seed to have been communicating beforehand.
I wondered what she had told him about his pack, considering she was heavily unconscious at the ti.
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