CHAPTER 333: CHAPTER 333 - LIGHT IS THE ANSWER

Atlas stood in the area where the Luminaria Grove lay. The sacred tree that served as one of the most iconic symbols of Gacha Haven. The surroundings were filled with rows of flowering trees and gentle streams flowing in a circular pattern around the radiant tree. Even in broad daylight, its glow remained strong, emanating a soft green aura that bathed the entire grove in serenity.

Beside him stood Mira and Dullorak, both watching the unusual sight before them: a glowing green plant cocoon resting beneath the sacred tree. Atlas knew that Lyrassa was inside.

"How long will Lyrassa stay in this phase, Dullorak?" he asked quietly.

Dullorak, wearing his wise head, stroked his beard thoughtfully before replying. "My lord, the nature spirit must remain within this cocoon to absorb as much nature essence as possible. The energy will nurture and strengthen her as she shapes the new life within. It is a delicate process, the creation of a new offspring of nature itself. Such growth cannot be rushed. It may take several days... or even weeks."

"Weeks?" Atlas repeated in surprise. "Lyrassa mentioned this to me once, but I didn’t realize it would take that long."

He exhaled slowly and nodded. "That’s fine. We’ll make sure she’s well protected during this phase, since she’s the one who needs it most now. Tell me in detail what we can do to support or perhaps enhance the process."

Dullorak bowed slightly before continuing, "For now, we must ensure that no one approaches the grove too closely. Any disturbance could disrupt the balance of mana surrounding the cocoon. The area must remain calm, pure, and untouched until the resonance of the sacred flow stabilizes."

So... in the near future, the second child of Atlas would be born. After Vienne, though he had barely spent enough time with her, another life was already on the way.

This would certainly be interesting: a dhampir with a nature spirit as a sibling. Atlas couldn’t help but wonder how the two would one day communicate and connect with each other.

**

That night, Atlas held a small meeting with his elite subordinates. Those who shared a strong affinity with the Dark Element. Among them were Dullorak, Kurogasa, Edrik, and even Milo.

Morganna should have been there as well, since she was the one who understood the Dark Element better than anyone else. But she refused to attend, and Atlas didn’t press the matter. Apparently, this artifact wasn’t enough to pique her interest. Even when Atlas mentioned that he intended to absorb the core, she merely replied,

"That’s not that important. The result won’t be much different."

Edrik stood before the others, holding a small crate in his hands. When he opened it, a surge of dark purple energy shimmered into the air, its presence heavy and almost alive. Tilting the container slightly, he let the others see its contents more clearly.

"I want to hear your opinions," he said evenly, "because Lord Atlas intends to absorb this core for himself."

Dullorak rose from his seat the moment he saw the core’s dark glow. He was still using the head of Archmage Eldros. His wisest and most stable form for discussions like this.

"The Abyss calls from deep within," he said calmly.

Edrik nodded slowly in acknowledgment.

Then, several spectral heads began to drift into existence around Dullorak, each one emanating faint traces of dark energy. Each possessing its own affinity with the Dark Element.

The first was the head of an Ebon Panther, its furlike shadows rippling as it spoke in a deep, resonant voice. "A warrior, a conqueror, a ruler... this core holds power beyond what eyes can perceive. Strength unimaginable, my lord. But it is not without a price."

Next appeared the head of a witch, a hollow-eyed woman with sharp, angular features. Her voice screeched through the air like breaking glass.

"Demon! Demon!" she cried, twisting as if in pain. "I sense it. Corruption! A demonic essence lurks within that core! Touch it, and the abyss will feast upon your soul! It whispers even now... waiting to devour!"

Then came the head of a Helm-Split Knight, his cracked visor glowing faintly from within. His voice was grave and metallic, echoing like a fading oath.

"Glory and ruin walk hand in hand, my lord... Power so vast demands a burden beyond measure. Should you reach into the abyss for strength, beware the weight of its curse. The blade that cuts deepest... always draws its wielder’s blood. Tread carefully... or be unmade."

Atlas furrowed his brow as the spectral heads spoke one after another. Each of them offered different insights. Yet all carried the same warning. The core held immense power, but also an equally immense curse.

And among them, the word demon lingered most.

Feeling that none of the answers so far were quite satisfactory, Atlas turned his gaze to Kurogasa. The ninja rat quietly stepped forward and bowed respectfully before speaking. If anyone could give a clear assessment, it would be him.

"My lord," Kurogasa began, "we’re quite fortunate to have obtained this core. I may not fully grasp the exact price paid for it, but I can tell there’s tremendous potential within. Let’s say... seventy to thirty. Seventy percent great potential, and thirty percent curse."

"So, thirty percent?" Atlas nodded slowly, though he still couldn’t tell how deeply the curse might affect him. "Tell me more, Kurogasa."

"Yes, my lord," the ninja rat continued. "Just as Dullorak mentioned, this core contains the essence of the Abyss. Within it are fragments of cursed creatures. Some demonic, others even darker. But they exist only as condensed essence, not as full entities. You can absorb it into your own core to gain its abilities... perhaps even something greater."

He paused briefly before adding, "However, the influence of this core runs deeper than simple ability gain. Its essence may also alter your body itself."

"Alter my body?" Atlas asked, frowning slightly. "That wouldn’t be the first time. Morganna’s and Lyrassa’s essences changed me too. What makes this one different?"

Kurogasa folded his hands behind his back and spoke carefully. "This alteration, my lord, is not one of nature’s balance like before. The essence of the Abyss reshapes from corruption. It bends rather than grows. The thirty percent drawback could, perhaps, be lessened if you strengthen your affinity with other basic elements first. You could stabilize the darkness and reduce the effect. Though only by around ten percent at best."

Atlas narrowed his eyes thoughtfully. "So there’s no way to completely nullify the drawback?" he asked.

"There is, my lord," Kurogasa replied. "We can bend the dark, tame it, and even reshape the curse into something more controllable. You would still experience certain alterations, of course. But they would no longer consume you. The key lies in confronting darkness with its natural opposite."

"You mean... the Light Element?" Atlas asked.

"Yes, my lord," Kurogasa confirmed with a small nod. "If you can unlock an affinity with the Light Element, we might be able to absorb this core completely while preserving almost all of its power. The light will balance the corruption, purify the essence, and bind it under your will instead of letting it twist you."

Atlas fell silent for a moment.

"Light Element is the answer," he murmured at last.