Chapter 98: The Verdant Whispers of a Scarred World
The faint, unearthly glow of the shimmering pathway still pulsed at the edge of the Desolate Maw, a constant reminder of the unseen cosmos now within Kael's grasp. His ascension to the Worldpiercer Realm, coupled with the Vision Beyond the Veil, had opened his senses to subtleties he'd never perceived before. The profound intimacy shared with his wives had not only bolstered his power but also deepened the intricate web of their Sovereign Union, allowing him to feel their essences with startling clarity.
As Kael surveyed the desolation, preparing to discuss their next move towards the portal, he noticed a subtle shift in Valeria. Her usual serene composure was tinged with a faint unease, her connection to the natural world, usually a source of grounding strength, seemed to be subtly agitated by the lingering chaos of the Maw. It was more than just the residual energy of ancient battles; it felt personal, a discordant note resonating with her very being.
"Valeria?" Kael asked, stepping closer, his hand gently finding hers. Her skin, typically warm and vibrant, felt cooler than usual, and he could sense a faint, almost imperceptible dissonance in her natural aura.
Valeria turned to him, her eyes, usually like verdant pools, held a troubled glint. "Kael," she began, her voice soft, "since your Tribulation, and in this… this place of ancient scars… I feel it more keenly. A whisper. A song of agony, deep within the earth, beyond what even the Desolate Maw's history suggests."
She gestured around them, not at the shattered obsidian, but beneath it. "It's a wound, yes, but one that actively draws upon a deeper corruption. Not just the residual energy from ancient clashes, but something that seeks to unravel life itself. My very essence, as a Verdant Windborne Queen, feels it like a phantom limb, aching with an imbalance that threatens to spread. And worse… it feels familiar. Like an echo of the insidious magic that poisoned my home."
Selene stepped forward, her silver eyes scanning the ground. "She speaks of a resonance. I can feel a faint chill, a discordant note in the lunar energies of the earth here, unlike any corruption I've sensed before. It feels… deceptive."
Evelyne's brows furrowed. "A corruption beyond simple blight. Something… systemic? Like the remnants of a deep-seated curse?"
"Precisely," Valeria affirmed, her voice gaining urgency. "It's a lingering corruption, a distortion woven into the very fabric of this place during those primordial clashes. It drains the life force, slowly, imperceptibly, even from things that are long dead. It's why nothing grows here, why even the air feels lifeless. And the deeper I feel it, the more flashes of fragmented memories I receive… of a corrupted elder, of betrayal. I believe this lingering blight is connected to the very force that framed my lineage."
Nysera, her Scarlet Hexmistress affinity resonating with the concept of curses, stepped closer, a dark, intrigued glint in her eyes. "A grand curse, then. One not bound by mortal spellcraft, but etched into the world's bones. And your nature, Valeria, compels you to confront it for more than just healing this land."
Kael activated his Vision Beyond the Veil. He focused on the ground, and suddenly, the subtle discord that Valeria sensed became visible to him. Like intricate, glowing veins beneath the earth, he could see faint, coiling tendrils of a sickly grey energy, slowly siphoning vibrancy from the very rock. It was pervasive, reaching deep. As he looked closer, the corruption swirled, and for a fleeting moment, he saw blurry images within it – figures, faces, a gnarled, shadowy hand extending a tendril of dark power. It was indeed a living scar, and it seemed to hold echoes of the past.
"I see it," Kael confirmed, his voice grim. "It's subtle, ancient, and deeply rooted. This isn't just a battlefield's aftermath; it's a festering wound, and within it… whispers of the past. This corruption, Valeria, it holds fragmented truths. Cleansing it will not only purify this land but will help us uncover the truth about your downfall." He looked at the details of Valeria's ongoing quest, the "Uncover the Truth" objective now feeling more tangible than ever.
Valeria closed her eyes, concentrating, a fierce light building within her. "It calls for a restoration, a rebalancing. My lineage, as a Verdant Windborne Queen, is connected to the primal life forces of realms. I believe… I believe there is an anchor to this corruption. A core, a nexus of its origin, likely hidden deep within the Maw itself. To heal it, I must face that core, and channel my essence to cleanse it."
She opened her eyes, meeting his. "But it's too potent for me alone. It would consume me. I need your strength, Kael. And the combined power of our Union. It will be a channeling, a shared spiritual battle against the very decay of this world, and a direct push towards reclaiming my name."
Kael's gaze hardened. This was a clear path to advancing her primary quest. "Then we shall seek this core," Kael stated, his voice ringing with authority. "This is not just your burden, Valeria. It is ours. Together." He looked at the shimmering pathway to the unknown. "The cosmos can wait. This wound on our current world, and the truth it holds for you, demands our immediate attention."
His wives nodded in agreement, their faces reflecting grim determination. The path forward was clear: descend into the scarred depths of the Desolate Maw and confront the ancient corruption that poisoned its very heart, for Valeria's sake and the truth it promised to reveal.
STATUS WINDOW: KAEL VIREN
System Level: 49
EXP: 2,522,850,000 / 80,000,000,000
Realm: Worldpiercer Realm — Tier 2/9
HP: 105,000 / 105,000
Mana: 118,000 / 118,000
Stats (with buffs applied):
Strength: 980 × 2.8 × 2 = 5,488
Endurance: 950 × 2.8 = 2,660
Willpower: 970 × 2.8 = 2,716
Charm: 1080 × 2.8 = 3,024
Intellect: 870 × 2.8 = 2,436
Dexterity: 980 × 2.8 × 2 = 5,488
Sin Points: 30,480,000 / 100,000,000,000
Sin Tier: Warlord Rank
SKILL WINDOW
Active Sin Skills:
• Sovereign Flame Crush [+Max]
• Wrathflare Lance [+Max]
• Flamebind Chains [+Max]
• Infernal Domain [+Max]
Passive Traits:
• Crown of Dominion → Throne of Ascendancy [+Mythic]
• Sovereign Union [+Enhanced]
• Nullfire Core [+Enhanced]
• Phoenix Mantle [+Enhanced]
• Worldpiercer's Will [+New]
• Vision Beyond the Veil [+New]
Bloodline / Physique Traits:
• Carnal Sovereign Core [+Enhanced]
• Sin Catalyst Matrix [+Enhanced]
[Skill Upgrade Available — Spend Sin Points to enhance or evolve active/passive/bloodline skills]
[Bonded Partner Skills Eligible for Sin Point Upgrade]
Bonded Wives (Mythic Bloodlines/Physiques Active):
Selene — Skyshatter 9/9 → Worldpiercer 2/9 (Mythic Eclipse Matron)
Evelyne — Skyshatter 9/9 → Worldpiercer 2/9 (Starlit Ember Empress)
Thalaria — Skyshatter 8/9 → Worldpiercer 2/9 (Stormheart Valkyrie — Advanced 11 tiers)
Nysera — Skyshatter 9/9 → Worldpiercer 2/9 (Scarlet Hexmistress)
Valeria — Skyshatter 8/9 → Worldpiercer 2/9 (Verdant Windborne Queen)
Aelisa — Heaven's Echo (Peak Rank) (Lilin Duskkissed Queen)
Pet Panel:
Emberfang — Infernal Flamebeast Cub (Tier 5)
Vira — Sky Serpent Hatchling (Tier 2)
Cultivation Realms:
Initiate → Essence Drawn → Veinwoven → Soulroot → Starforged → Sunbound → Moonglade → Skyshatter → Worldpiercer ← Current (2/9) → Heaven's Echo → Celestiaflame → Worldbreaker → Eternal Crown → Primordial Ascendant
Next: Heaven's Echo (Unlocks at Worldpiercer Tier 9/9)
QUEST WINDOW — BONDED WIFE: VALERIA
Quest Title: "Echoes of the Verdant Queen"
Quest Type: Legendary Bonded Quest (Unique — Ongoing)
Status: Active
Time Limit: None
Difficulty: ★★★★★
Quest Summary:
Valeria, the once-exiled princess of the Verdant Sylvan Courts, bears not only the weight of betrayal but also a deep-rooted divine potential hidden within her bloodline. Her rise was halted when a corrupted elder, jealous of her gifts and favored by the ruling council, framed her for treason.
But fate changed when Kael claimed her bond. Now, to unlock the full power of the Verdant Windborne Queen, Kael must help Valeria reclaim her birthright—and awaken the sealed nature godblood within her.
🌿 Objectives:
Uncover the Truth — Investigate the downfall of Valeria's lineage and find the true orchestrator behind her exile.
✅ Progress: 50% (Current actions in Desolate Maw aim to advance this)
Reclaim the Sylvan Crown — Defeat the false leader ruling the Sylvan realm and restore Valeria's name.
⬜ Pending
Awaken the Nature Godblood — Trigger Valeria's transformation into her Mythic Bloomborne Sovereign form.
✅ Achieved (Transformed: Mythic Bloodline Unlocked)
Verdant Legacy — Build a sanctum or forest-dominion infused with Kael and Valeria's power.
⬜ Not Started
Sacred Union (Final Trial) — Engage in a sacred union under the ancient Verdant Moon during an elemental bloom to permanently unlock her highest potential.
⬜ Not Attempted
💎 Rewards:
Mythic Trait Unlock: Verdant Sovereign's Heart (Passive regeneration aura for all party members within 500 meters)
Skill Evolution: Sylvan Tempest → Arboric Cataclysm
EXP Bonus: +8,000,000,000 EXP
Sin Points: +10,000,000
Passive Trait Unlock: Shared Bloom (Increases Charm and Intellect of bonded partners by 8%)
Title: Warden of the Verdant Sovereignty