Reclaiming the Demon’s Curse - Chapter 199

Cyril looked at the Demons and ordered them to follow him.

The Sand Dragon didn’t stop them so Cyril heaved a sigh of relief.

“Try to join me with this trial that he mentioned. It seems that anyone who wanted to see the Tree of Life is actually allowed to see it so they’re no longer attacking us. It should be an opportunity.”

Cyril said as they started walking closer to the tree.

The huge oasis appears to have a huge concentration of thick Arcane Energy if Cyril wasn’t mistaken.

It’s quite stuffy and the place appears to the energy he’s feeling is quite dense and actually very helpful to his body.

The Arcane Energy should be the power of this Arcane World to sustain it and keep it alive. He learned from Demoness Selma that this energy is what was lacking in their Demon World so it has now started to collapse making them uneasy.

‘I wonder if I can transfer this energy to another Arcane World to avoid them from collapsing and creating an outbreak?’ Cyril mused but he immediately shrugged the idea off his mind since it sounded too good to be true.

If that was possible, it should’ve been done before as well.

“Master… It’s getting difficult to walk… It seems that we really have to stay here.”

“Ugh, that’s right. This is too much.”

“It’s better to stay with the Dragon than continuing our path here.”

The Demons started complaining as they have felt the repelling force that greatly irritates them.

Cyril thought for a while as he realized why the Sand Dragon allowed them to accompany him. It seems that he knows that the Demons were really incapable of proceeding forward.

“I got it. Be careful around that Dragon…”

Cyril said as he moved ahead. The Demons then looked around the oasis once more before stepping back.

Well, they thought that if Cyril died now, they would no longer have to serve him so it’s a good situation for them. However, the problem is that they are still in this Dragon World. Even if they are freed, they won’t be able to get away at all and will have to face the Dragons living in this place.

‘Right, they mentioned another Dragon a while ago. I wonder where is it hiding.’ Amaris thought as she lead the other Demons to the outer part of the oasis where they could still enjoy the lake.

***

While the Demons retreated, Cyril felt an ominous presence as soon as he traveled alone to the Tree of Life.

As he gets closer and closer, he heard a beating sound like a heartbeat. It wasn’t his so he felt quite confused. He couldn’t find any other people or animals here after all.

However, since it wasn’t harmful, he decided to continue moving ahead with caution. Five minutes later as he reached the tree, Cyril finally found the source of the heartbeat…

Thud! Thud! Thud!

It was actually coming from the Tree of Life!

The Tree of Life was so huge that Cyril could imagine ten people holding their hands together to surround the tree and they wouldn’t be enough.

Its leaves are red and quite scary to look at contrary to his imagination before he entered this Arcane World. He looked at the canopy of the tree as he tried looking for the Fruit of Life but unfortunately, there was nothing there.

‘Wait—Don’t tell me that they would only bear fruit in the next twelve years?!’ Cyril panicked for a moment but he immediately recalled the Sand Dragon’s words.

As long as he passed the trial, he should be able to get what he wanted as per Odycreth.

“Well, where’s the trial?”

Cyril muttered as he glanced around the tree. There are no plants or small trees growing beside such a large tree. There are only a few grass and stones nearby.

Since he doesn’t know what to do, he decided to just step forward and touched the tree with his bare hands

It was cold.

This is what he could remember before Cyril suddenly reappeared in an empty white world, floating and naked… The sudden change in the surroundings hurt his eyes as he decided to use his Conqueror’s Domain but unfortunately, he can’t feel the presence of his Artifact.

“You can’t use your Aura in this place, human…”

A deep yet gentle voice of man was heard as soon as Cyril tried manifesting his Aura to protect his body.

“Who are you?!”

Cyril shouted to the owner of that voice as he secretly asked the Demon inside him.

‘Xagan, can you still hear me? Can I steal make a request at this state?’ He asked immediately.

Xagan is basically his last form of assurance when he entered this Arcane World.

He didn’t really mind using several months or years of his life as long as he could pass the trial or get the Fruit of Life.

‘Yes, Master… Our contract is not just bound by your Spirit but also your Soul, Contractor. We have the greatest possible connection so this Dragon wouldn’t cut us off.’

The powerful Demon said and it seems that he talked too much hinting that the one who did this to Cyril is actually a Dragon.

‘It must be Nirgurth… The one they mentioned a while ago.’ Cyril mused as he listened to the Dragon’s voice.

“I’m the Tree of Life, young man. Tell me, why have you come here?”

Cyril took a deep breath after hearing the question. Well, the Tree of Life actually has sentience? Then, who was Nirgurth?

“Ehem… I have come to take a few fruits from this tree. I heard that it’s good for the body. Can I have some of them?” Cyril asked cautiously.

He can’t see the one who was speaking after all.

“A few fruits? Hahaha… If your body could even consume one of them, you’re already incredible. Are you planning to eat a few of them?” The voice asked in an amused tone.

“Yes… The more the merrier. It might help me with my current condition. I heard from the Dragon outside that there is a trial. I’m ready for it!”

Cyril replied with confidence. He has no idea what the trial will be but since he’s already here, he can only accept it. There was no way he would back down after coming here.

“Fine… Then I will start the trial. If you managed to pass it, then you can take the fruit from this tree depending on your score… Good luck.” The gentle voice of the Dragon playfully said before disappearing. Cyril then realized that he already returned to his body.

Nothing happened to him and he’s still touching the trunk of the Tree of Life while his body was still wearing his equipment and weapons.

It seems that his soul was really just pulled by the Tree’s consciousness for a while.

As Cyril was thinking about when the trial would start, he heard the voice of the tree again with the instructions on how to pass the trial and get the fruits it has.

He was expecting to fight some kind of magical monsters, dragons, or perhaps servants of the dragons… He even prepared a lot of his Artifacts in case of such battles happen. However, the trial was something that he had never thought of!

“The trial is simple… It’s to see how resolute you are with your desire to acquire the Fruit of Life. You have to sacrifice your Artifacts. The stronger they are, the higher chance of the tree bearing the fruit you wanted to have.”

“This…”

Cyril was at a loss for words after hearing the voice. It was like he has to water the tree for it to bear fruit… However, instead of water, he has to give up his Artifacts!

He can’t just blindly follow this instruction so he decided to ask Xagan.

“Xagan, is this a trap? Should I follow that voice? Is that even the real consciousness of the Tree? Perhaps I’m being pranked by another Dragon?” Cyril can’t tell what’s true or false at this point. He has no power to determine the truth except through Xagan’s ability.

“Contractor, your questions will be answered if you give me 45 days of your life.”

“So expensive?”

“Yes… This is related to the Tree of Life and the Dragons after all.”

Xagan replied with an irritated tone. It is the first time that he noticed that the Demon was unhappy after getting such a transaction.

“Alright… I’m willing to spend that much. Take that 45 days from me.” Cyril replied.

As soon as Xagan confirmed the acceptance of the deal, some warmth in his body disappeared again just like in his previous deals.

Xagan then started informing Cyril about the secrets of the Tree of Life.

“Let me answer your questions now, Contractor. The Tree of Life is formed after the death of Dragon… In short, under this oasis in the middle of the desert is the corpse of the Dragon that is most likely Nirgurth…”

Just from these words alone from Xagan, Cyril felt enlightened…