Avre stood up and glared at Jereim. "I will kill you."
"He's an undead, so technically, he's already dead."
Avre scoffed. "Is the curse gone now?"
Jereim nodded. "What they put is a charming curse. It let them track you wherever you are, and also, it manipulate your heart to keep staying. It's usually used by lovers to keep their partners. A nasty curse I would say."
Avre frowned. "I didn't realize that he cursed me."
"Of course not. He is an Adamantite Rank."
"But, more than that, how are we able to escape from him?" Avre asked.
This time, it was Aldred's turn to reply. "Jereim is an escape master. He managed to run away from my golem army for quite awhile all by himself. I bet if he did not have a limited amount of magic ball, he could have escaped for a long period of time."
"So you killed him and make him your undead?"
"That is true."
Avre understood now. Aldred's ability was very useful. Most necromancers could not turn an expert into undead. If they did, the expert would only retain 25% of their expertise. Not only that, it would require tremendous rituals and resources.
"So what do we do now?" Avre asked.
"Jereim, can you get us back?" Aldred looked at him.
"Yes, I can." Jereim threw another ball that created a large hole. "Let's get in." He jumped.
Aldred and Avre looked at each other before they jumped into the hole.
After they passed through the hole, they appeared right in front of the castle.
"Dromimvot is gone," Avre said. "Where is he?"
"He must have entered my hole which teleported him elsewhere," Jereim replied.
"Good. Let's get back." Aldred led them to the hiding spot.
"Aldred!" His wives called and hugged him.
"We saw what happened, and was about to help you, but you managed to enter the hole."
Aldred nodded. "It's fine. Let's get out of here."
Suddenly, a man crashed onto a hill nearby. The impact cracked the entire hill and it crumbled.
"Fuck! Jereim, get us out of here!"
Jereim rummaged through his spatial.
"You're not going anywhere!" Dromimvot kicked the ground with a powerful force that cracked the earth below him, and he rushed at them.
"Jereim, be quick!"
Dromimvot opened his palm as he was flying. A powerful red energy formed in his hand. And just as he was about to attack, a voice entered his head.
'Do not attack them.'
Dromimvot stopped in his track.
"I found it!" Jereim shattered the ball and a blue mist engulfed them all before bringing them somewhere else.
Dromimvot looked at the place where they were before, but he closed his eyes and knelt on one knee. "Lord Krazar, I have let them go. May I ask who he is?"
'He is the son of a powerful being. Try not to block his path. And if you can, help him indirectly.'
"Yes, my lord." Dromimvot stood up and gazed at the distance. "The son of a powerful being… so there's someone stronger than lord Krazar himself."
…
Krazar was sitting in a dark throne room. He was a giant skeleton. Below his throne was an intricate ancient runes made with blood.
"The son of the Grand Ancestral Vampire grows quite slowly. Why? Is there a reason for this? If he was truly her son, then he should be a Celestial the moment he was born. Wait… he's a mixed breed. And not only that, he is mixed with the blood the demon king."
The red dots that acted as his eyes expanded. "No wonder his growth is so slow. Both the demon king's blood and the Grand Ancestral Vampire's blood counteracted on each other. This man is as good as mortal regarding growth."
"But… there is also no limit to his potential. With enough time, he could even surpass his father and mother. Even when the strength of his two parents combined, they wouldn't be able to match him at all in the future."
Krazar trembled in excitement. "This man is going to become the ruler of the universes!"
"I have to help him. I have to make him feel indebted to me."
Being a subordinate of Aldred was much more appealing than Eve's drop of blood.
"Grow my future lord. Grow." Krazar smiled.
…
Aldred and the others teleported above a mountain. The scenery here was beautiful and peaceful. Avre could see the valley of trees nearby with her naked eyes.
The entire landscape had a mystical aura that felt as if he was standing in a forest of spirits.
Avre was looking at the trees while she was wearing a white robe. It felt as if she could enter the forest right now, and talk to the spirits and fairies that lived there. But it wasn't the time to be dreaming or daydreaming.
The forest was very peaceful, but the calmness of it was hiding the threat lurking within its borders. The menacing trees and plants were waiting for their prey to come so they could feast on their flesh and souls.
Avre was staring at a group of fairies flying above the trees. She had to look away from them because they could make people hallucinate. They were a blend of fantasy and reality, with colorful wings, long hair, and fangs that were almost invisible due to their small size. Their beauty was mesmerizing and made Avre fall deep in their eyesight, though only slightly.
Jereim cleared his throat.
Avre snapped back to reality. She saw Jereim who was holding two green balls in his hands.
"So what do we do now?" Ivette asked.
"We can't get back to Golden Dragon City," Avre said. "He will surely wait for us there. It seems like I have to go exile for a few years."
"But more than that. Tell me, how did you know that I was kidnapped?"
"Someone told me. I don't know who. But I received a piece of paper that said you were kidnapped."
"But how do you know where I was?"
"Krista guided us to you. She had the power to track something or someone, though her power mysteriously couldn't be controlled. So we cannot rely on it every time."
"I see. Thank you, Krista. And, I should say thanks to you all of you. Especially you, Aldred."
Avre turned to the side and noticed someone new. "And you are?"
"I am Bargoosk Stugulze. I was also saved by Aldred. The only difference was that he did not have to run away from an Adamantite Rank."
"We have a favor to ask," Aldred said. "I want to reach the top of this world tree. Avre, I heard you have the treasure to let me do this."
"Treasure that lets you reach the top of the world tree? I am not sure if I have one. Maybe I can check in my vault."
"The treasure is not in your vault." Bargoosk stepped forward. "You know what I am talking about."
"No. I completely do not understand what you are talking about."
"I am not talking to you Avre. I am talking to the Heartdancer."
Avre frowned in confusion until suddenly her eyes rolled to the back of her head and turned back again. But this time, her eyes was filled with glittering stars.
"What do you need me for?" Her voice seemed louder than before even though she spoke with such calmness.
"We need the True Treasure to make us undetectable from the Tree Worm."
"My prized treasure has never been loaned, borrowed, or stolen. Do you think I will risk it now?"
"Those treasure is useless if they won't ever be used."
"I can use them anytime I want."
"Lies! You don't even use them when you got kidnapped. Instead, you rely on Aldred to save you."
Heartdancer furrowed her eyebrows. "These treasures are more valuable than my life. Give me something worthy enough for me to let you borrow it."
"What about this?" Aldred opened his hand and revealed the golden emblem.
"The Golden Emblem of Herakas. Are you sure you want to give it to me?"
"Until I return you your treasure," Aldred said.
"Fine."
