Lackey's Seducing Survival Odyssey

Chapter 1267: Block the Arcane

The barrier that Aether created had the only ability to push back the energy outside once it was deployed and then maintain its form, never allowing any foreign energy to seep inside.

That’s all!

So if the energy was created within the barrier, then it would be impossible to block. Sure, he could just turn off the barrier and activate it again to push the energy away but...

Those bizarre, unnatural trees were producing it endlessly, almost like they breathed it out the way they breathed oxygen. The glittering particles of Mother’s energy spilled from the swaying leaves, drifting lazily into the air.

Those trees had sprouted ever since the empires were connected. And it wasn’t just a few—there were countless of them scattered across the lands of the empires.

And now those cursed things were still inside the barrier...

Sshhh~

The leaves rustled gently as the shimmering white particles spread like mist through the air. The people who stood near the tree—

”ARRhh!!” They clawed at their throats, choking as a burning sensation consumed them before—

BUFFF!

They exploded into pieces.

”NNNOOO!”

”PLEASE HELP US!!”

Screams tore through the barrier. Panic gripped the survivors as they shrieked in horror, just when they thought the nightmare was finally over. But now...

They screamed louder, scrambling and trying desperately to escape from an enemy they could not even see.

Aether and the others stood frozen, their faces twisted with horror as the massacre unfolded before them.

”What should we do now?!” Helena’s voice trembled, her eyes wide with fear, her words nearly breaking into a sob.

Aether clenched his fist... He hadn’t expected this. Sure, he had thought those trees were strange, but... to think they were the very source of the energy itself.

Aether raised his hand sharply as he ordered the chosen ones to deal with the trees, commanding them to see if destruction was even possible right now.

Helena, Aqualina, and Raven gave grim nods before rushing toward the cluster, blades and magic cutting down tree after tree, but... it didn’t work.

The moment one fell, it regrew instantly... almost in the snap of a second.

What was worse, the instant a tree was destroyed, another erupted nearby, multiplying as though the land itself was spawning them.

Aether gritted his teeth, his figure blurring as he vanished from sight and reappeared above them.

The trees below writhed like living abominations, devouring every trace of life. The people of the Aurora Empire saw him and gasped with hope, sighing in relief as their Archpriest finally came to their aid.

Aether’s hands ignited with roaring flames, fire spilling down his arms. He thrust them forward, pouring blazing torrents upon the cursed trunks. The trees shrieked as they burned, collapsing into ash and disappearing—yet only for a heartbeat.

In the blink of an eye, they regrew, taller, darker, and... another burst forth beside them.

Aether then encased the entire tree with an icy covering. For a second, nothing stirred within. Aether thought it would work—rather than destroying it, he would simply freeze it, seal it away in silence, and that would be all!

However...

Crack!

The ice split suddenly. Aether’s eyes narrowed, and he raised his hand, flickering with ice energy, pouring it over and over again, as if entombing the cursed tree again and again.

The frozen block grew larger and larger... yet the cracks spread like chains, linking across its surface.

!~Ding~!

[Remaining Time: 00 days 18 hours 60 minutes 60 seconds↡]

Aether gritted his teeth, his brow furrowing as he failed to understand.

Was the energy simply too much to restrain?

Then an idea sparked in his mind... what about using it together with Clarion energy?

Both were the same essence, weren’t they?

If so, perhaps combining them would hold it down.

He lifted his hand once more, Clarion energy flowing within his body. Just before the ice shattered, his palm shimmered with frozen particles, frost shooting across the cracking ice to cover it anew.

”...”

Nothing moved.

The cracking stopped.

Aether blinked, then exhaled, relief softening his tense jaw.... the idea worked!!

Fuck finally!

A faint smile tugged at his lips as he whispered, ”Guess... I have a lot of work.”

He knew he would need to cover all of those trees in the same way, and that would take more than strength—it would demand time.

He was just about to shift his focus toward the other tree when—

”ARRRHH—!”

A man who had come too close suddenly burst apart.

!~Ding~!

[Remaining Time: 00 days 17 hours 60 minutes 60 seconds↡]

Aether’s eyes widened. He turned toward the frozen tree—his sight flickered into the black-white world, and there he saw it... the Clarion energy bleeding outward!

”FUCK!”

Aether roared.

The Clarion energy hadn’t blocked it at all!

His teeth ground together as he spun, watching in horror as people burst into gore, while others twisted into grotesque monsters. He clenched his fist, rage and despair colliding within him.

Did he really have no choice but to watch these innocents die?

And worse... his beloveds.

Soon they too would be caught in this nightmare. Some of them were not strong enough to bear the weight of Clarion energy.

”What should I do now?” Aether clenched his fists, trying desperately to think of a way out of it.

What should it be? What could it be?

But nothing came!

He had done everything he could until now... he had done his best... stopping the colossal skeleton with everything he had, creating Project ’X’ with the best of his mind and effort.

Yet, nothing seemed to be working.

If only he had the memories of his past!

If only this damned past held a way to deal with this thing.

Iteration No.25...

He could—maybe he could—be able to tell him the truth, but... how could he contact that damned dead man?

... After that day, Aether hadn’t dreamed once of Iteration No.25. Everything had stopped, as if something had deliberately cut him off... as if there was something he could not, or should not, see past a certain point.

/A-Aether... everything is dying.../

Helena’s painful voice echoed in his mind... Others too.

Aether nudged his brows together, the sound piercing him. He opened his eyes, and in the next instant, teleported to the Ebon Stone... no, more like the dug grave near the Ebon Stone.

Where his... his past spear lay rusted, stabbed deep into the unknown skeleton.

Aether took a long, steady breath before lowering his hand. He reached down, fingers brushing the corroded shaft, and tried to pull it free... but it didn’t budge.

His teeth clenched hard, fury trembling in his chest as he almost wanted to tear the damned thing apart with his bare hands. But he stopped. He drew another breath, remembering Mother’s words.

She had told him once... he wasn’t worthy to wield it.

Not sure what it meant... not sure how it was intended to be.

But Aether had seen it in his dreams. This weapon had the power to annihilate an army... and the power to shield the innocent.

That was what he had sworn... that was what No.25 had sworn.

!~Ding~!

[Remaining Time: 00 days 15 hours 60 minutes 60 seconds↡]

”COME ON, AETHER!! I NEED TO TALK TO YOU!!”

Aether screamed, slicing his palm open. Blood dripped freely as he gripped the spear, clutching it like a lifeline, as if he could bind himself to it with his own essence.

His blood... it was the link between all of his other Iterations.

And with this weapon... he could—he could truly connect to Him!

His eyes flickered white as he strained to pull the spear. His hand trembled, his blood seeping into the rusted grooves, merging with the steel, and then...

Aether’s eyes lifted as his vision flickered before shifting into... a pure white space. There, before him, stood Iteration No.25 with a soft, calm smile.

Aether panted before muttering, ”I need your help.”

No.25 didn’t answer right away. At last, he spoke quietly, ”I see... you are different from the rest of us,” he muttered.

Aether shook his head fiercely. ”I need your help to protect these people... I know, I saw your memories—how you faced the Origins. That means you must have encountered this Clarion energy problem too, right?”

No.25 nodded with the same gentle smile. ”Yes, I did.”

”T-Then can you tell me—”

But No.25 shook his head. ”I am sorry. I cannot.”

Aether’s eyes widened in disbelief. ”What do you mean? Wasn’t it people you swore to protect? Are you going to abandon them now?!” he shouted.

No.25 frowned, his calmness breaking as he stared directly at Aether. ”Boy... I think you mistaken me. The people I promised, I protected them until the very end.

And now... it is yours, not mine, to protect.

Next time, choose your words more wisely!”

Aether gritted his teeth. ”But... fuck...” He clenched his fist, then forced himself to calm, lowering his tone. ”P-Please... help me...”

No.25’s frown softened. He sighed, then smiled—so warm, so gentle, that it unsettled Aether to see it.

”Ah... you already have, boy...”

Aether’s brows furrowed. ”What do you mean?”

”Sanctum,” No.25 muttered.

Aether’s eyes widened. ”Don’t tell me... that thing...”

No.25 interrupted firmly, ”Built for my people. It was the place where I sheltered them from harm, until the very end.”

”But it only allows one person now... Tell me how to get more people there!”

No.25 shrugged. ”I have no authority over that anymore... forgive me.”

Aether clenched his fists, his lips trembling. That face—weak, helpless, defeated—twisted his heart.

No.25’s weak smile returned as he stepped closer, resting a hand on Aether’s shoulder.

”You are different... not only within, but in your heart as well. Thank goodness, at least you have not changed,” he whispered softly.

Aether frowned, unable to grasp his meaning. ”What do you mean?”

No.25’s expression turned serious,

”Believe me...

Believe yourself...

Believe only you...

You already carry the answers... Hope is in your hand.”

Aether’s lips twitched. His anger snapped through the moment. ”I don’t need your damn advice right now! Tsk, so useless!!” he muttered furiously.

No.25 pouted, ”Now I feel offended... ahaha.” He chuckled before smiling gently as he patted Aether’s head like that of a child.

”Remember... the future me... no matter what happens... do not give up until the very last one.”

With those words, Aether was pulled back to his previous position. He blinked as his eyes focused again, the spear before him hissing with a tense, sharp sound. Suddenly, heat surged through his hand.

”Ouch,” he groaned, yanking it back.... Not seeing that the spear had fallen down slightly... as if it was lifted... Just a few millimetres!

Aether clenched his fist.

Now what should he do?

Damn these useless iterations... always acting like they were some untouchable big shots! \

Only he knew how truly fucked he was!!

!~Ding~!

[Remaining Time: 00 days 08 hours 60 minutes 60 seconds↡]

His other way was too blocked... what should he do now?

Just as he clutched his head, grinding his teeth—

/Aether... Mom told me... block the Arcane energy./

Selene’s voice echoed suddenly in his mind.