Chapter 265

Chapter 265
Chapter 265: Never Mind The Heir, I’ll Focus On Healing

Lion dropped into the excavation site the instant Petrick stopped speaking.

‘The drop is deep.’

Had he not endured freefalling from the sky just days prior, genuine terror might have seized him.

Or perhaps he would have hit the floor in a clumsy, broken heap.

Fortunately, this time around.

*Thump.*

A cushion of natural air currents allowed him to touch down softly.

“Phew.”

“Ppippi.”

Lion tapped Nature on the shoulder in a gentle high-five and scanned his surroundings.

Where ordinary sight would find only impenetrable shadow, Lion perceived subtle gradations.

‘What on earth is this…’

His gaze fixed on an intricate matrix spreading across the ground.

It resembled an immense spider’s web or an ancient meshwork.

“To be precise… it’s a botanical organism.”

A living vegetation that visibly throbbed with a slow, rhythmic pulse.

Whether it functioned by absorbing vital nutrients or secreting waste, the steady movement never lagged.

It mirrored biological veins tethered to a beating heart.

Furthermore…

‘So this explains the pervasive luminescence.’

The mystery of why the entire cavern floor glowed was instantly solved by this sprawling mass.

While the sheer scale of it posed challenges, the silver lining remained.

‘The fact that harvesting is possible is fantastic news.’

Without rushing forward, Lion kept his distance to study the specimen carefully.

In all honesty, uprooting a monstrosity of this magnitude proved physically unfeasible.

‘Even Grandfather has limits to his stamina.’

He was not merely shifting dirt.

Balancing the strain alongside the Great Barrier while weaving Illusion Magic to keep the Old Castle blind required immense finesse.

Consequently… time was severely restricted.

‘First, let’s test it.’

Drawing a dagger from his belt, Lion targeted a thick stalk.

Following several forceful hacks against the durable fiber…

*Chaaak!*

Dark sap erupted, sending smaller tendrils scattering away.

“Ugh.”

Lion stared at the murky fluid that splashed onto his garments.

It appeared to be a defensive secretion, expelled as a last ditch retaliation.

Had his skin been bare, the outcome could have proved troublesome, but…

*Ssssh…*

A chilling hiss accompanied the immediate neutralization of the corruption.

The catch, however, was that incomplete purification left not only his robes stained, but also began eating away at the blade itself.

‘My dagger, forged by Mudu, reduced to this?’

That wasn’t the end of it.

*Fssst-*

The hacked stem fragment withered rapidly in his grasp, turning to dust.

‘The severed portion…’

New shoots had already sprouted to take its place.

The organism boasted formidable regenerative prowess.

Additionally, a few more strikes with the dagger confirmed his suspicions.

The outer bark had grown noticeably thicker and denser than before.

“Opportunities will be scarce.”

A fleeting thought suggested the necessity of eradicating the entire root system, yet…

“So that’s how it plays out. Splendid. Truly splendid…”

Lion grinned.

No one anticipated an effortless task.

Reaching this stage already represented a monumental leap forward, courtesy of Grandfather’s assistance.

Action needed to follow swiftly.

“Step one involves preparation.”

Diving into his inventory, Lion retrieved a variety of stored gear.

Foremost among them was a heavy-duty axe capable of shearing through stubborn wood in a single blow.

Though normally too cumbersome for practical combat, nothing suited the current predicament better.

And next…

The Asteri family heirloom staff.

‘To be frank, carrying this thing feels like a heavy liability.’

Deploying it once here would leave merely a single charge remaining before it shattered permanently.

Worse yet, activating self-enhancement magic might force another unwelcome glimpse into forbidden sights, much like last time…

‘That could spell serious trouble.’

Even so.

Hesitation was a luxury he could ill afford.

Besides, should a sudden shift into Story Mode occur, Tiamatrak could handle the fallout.

Gripping the staff firmly, Lion closed his eyes.

『Activating self-enhancement magic.』

『Due to the active weapon’s innate effect, self-enhancement magic is amplified by two additional stages!』

Up to this threshold, the progression mirrored previous experiences.

Yet a new prompt emerged.

『You currently maintain more Mana Circles than your personal threshold allows.』

『Do you wish to incorporate them?』

‘Ah.’

The query referred to channeling Tiamatrak’s dormant circles as well.

‘If I utilize them right now…’

The resulting output would dwarf the capabilities of a single circle entirely.

Both the raw power scaling and the physical toll would skyrocket.

Still.

‘This likely marks my final chance.’

For the foreseeable future.

In truth, returning to the Great Barrier anytime soon seemed improbable.

Abandoning temple duties prematurely merely because of vague rumors would raise awkward questions, after all.

The choice had already been made.

‘I’ll use it.’

As Lion mentalized his affirmation, the suppressed Mana Circles resting near his heart began spinning in absolute synchronization.

『Severe strain may be exerted upon the vessel. Exercise extreme caution.』

Accompanying the concluding warning.

*Thump.*

A profound physiological shift overtook Lion’s frame.

‘…’

The bizarre sensory influx forced Lion’s eyes open wide.

Suddenly, realms previously hidden from mortal sight flooded his perception.

Every microscopic detail across existence lay exposed to his awareness.

‘No, this transcends mere sight.’

Perception served as a far more accurate descriptor.

Information bypassed the eyes and optic nerves entirely, conveying raw essence directly through all five senses simultaneously.

Such a phenomenon could never be achieved merely by sharpening physical vision.

Advanced self-enhancement magic evidently restructured the body toward optimal functional awareness.

In that case…

‘At the very least, my life isn’t in immediate danger.’

Collapse or sudden unconsciousness was off the table.

Naturally, he was essentially borrowing vitality from his own future.

‘Well, think of it as working overtime.’

With effortless strength, Lion plucked the axe from the ground and strode forward.

While the surrounding cavern had previously shimmered in vague golden hues, every detail now stood out with crystal clarity.

A distinctly unique radiance flickered in an awkward pocket of space, situated neither at the dead center nor the perimeter.

“Nature. Could you clear away the earth around this spot?”

“Peey.”

Fortunately, communication with Nature remained completely fluid.

Soil yielded instantly to Nature’s prompt sweeping motion, brushing the dirt away from Lion’s designated target.

As the earth cleared and the plant was exposed, the mass writhed furiously, converging upon the exposed area.

As if attempting concealment. As if erecting a shield.

Or perhaps acting on the instinct to protect its core host.

Finally…

*Swaaaek!*

The vegetation, which previously repaired itself even when mutilated, lashed out violently toward Lion with whip-like speed.

Yet.

*Chaaak!*

Lion’s counter-deployment of Holy Water proved marginally quicker.

To be precise, he essentially drove the entire glass flask straight into the core.

A sharp hiss of evaporation echoed, causing the plant’s thrashing to freeze momentarily.

‘Now.’

Seizing the opening, Lion brought the axe down squarely on the vulnerable node.

*Grrrr!*

A horrific shriek akin to splintering timber pierced his hypersensitive ears.

Perhaps it was merely another defensive reflex.

Simultaneously, black bile geysered outward, splattering across his face and attire.

Viscous droplets clung to his cheek, slowly sliding downward.

Lion planted a booted foot firmly against the plant’s body to anchor himself and wrenched the axe free, delivering another brutal blow.

Speed remained paramount now, requiring the deliberate suppression of all personal revulsion.

‘Got it. The target is visible.’

Deep within the blackened interior of the plant lay the objective.

Wedging the axe to hold the vegetation apart, Lion plunged his hand bare into the cavity without hesitation.

His pristine robes instantly blackened upon contact.

Even the flame-resistant gloves turned a sickly dark shade.

The tactile feedback inside the mass was thoroughly repulsive, but…

‘Secured.’

Muttering under his breath while ducking to keep the dripping fluid out of his mouth, Lion gripped the hidden item.

Then, *ssuuk*. He pulled.

However.

*Clunk.*

“…!”

It refused to budge.

Worse still, a counter-force pulled inward.

It felt as though an entity lurking within the deep abyss beneath was anchoring the object, fighting desperately against extraction.

A final, desperate struggle, yet surrendering was entirely out of the question.

‘Should have brought extra Holy Water.’

Though in truth, had he carried more, the heavy concealment would have prevented him from ever locating the weak point.

‘Or deployed Divine Power overwhelming enough to silence it permanently.’

Meanwhile, the relentless suction dragged his hand past the wrist, swallowing his arm clear up to the elbow.

Corruption ate through the fabric of his sleeves, bridging the gap between glove and tunic.

“Lion!”

Grandfather’s distant roar echoed from far above.

-Lion. Swap places with me right now.

-Isn’t your goal simply retrieving that object?

-At least let me assist!

“I appreciate the gesture, but…”

Your primary role is maintaining our transit route, so you’ll have to hold on a moment longer.

Switching positions now might trigger a catastrophe if a true emergency strikes.

‘…Though technically, this qualifies as a crisis.’

Ha.

Spitting out a drop of the toxic fluid that had breached his lips, Lion muttered.

Alternative options still existed…

‘If I summon Elvia…’

The environment posed too high a risk, dropping the success rate of the objective drastically.

While Elvia loved witnessing chaotic spectacles, self-preservation always took top priority for her.

The vital clue currently in his grasp would likely shatter into pieces during the chaos.

Shifting gears instantly, Lion weighed the next alternative.

A specific system notification hovered silently in the periphery of his vision.

『Whenever desired, you may walk the path of a Priest.』

The path of a Priest.

Accepting Anyatras’s standing invitation.

Direct intervention from a deity would guarantee an immense surge of unconventional Divine Power.

Still.

‘Tch, this still isn’t the right path.’

Lion shook his head without a second thought.

The associated risks were simply too high.

That left… a final resort.

‘A Fragment of the Spirit Sword.’

A one-time miraculous lifeline capable of cheating death.

Employing it would likely neutralize both the physical object in his grip and the surrounding corruption simultaneously.

Just as he reached this conclusion and began loosening his tense grip.

A diminutive, translucent palm brushed lightly against his forearm.

-You…!!

Tiamatrak’s startled shriek rang out concurrently.

It belonged to the Grand Duke’s young son.

Lion glanced down at the spectral hand.

While the spirit child was already faint in his normal state, his outline had grown drastically more transparent.

Forcing his way across dimensions into this location must have drained a staggering amount of energy.

Considering he existed purely as a soul, the cost would undoubtedly be…

“You really never listen, do you!”

Gritting his teeth, Lion funneled more strength into his grip.

The tearful son of the Grand Duke flinched slightly at the reprimand, yet stubbornly wrapped tiny hands around Lion’s arm, pulling alongside him.

Miraculously, a distinct sensation resonated—echoing Tiamatrak’s presence—and…

-…!

A faint, childish murmur reached his ears.

The tone was far too youthful to belong to a typical wandering spirit.

The voice repeated a singular, desperate call over and over.

-Father, Father!

Whether other phrasing was lost or filtered out by sheer intensity of intent remained unknown.

Yet one undeniable truth anchored the moment.

The Grand Duke’s son was frantically calling out toward something buried deep within the black fluid.

Realization dawned instantly.

‘Could this massive concentration of corruption pulling me inward actually be the Grand Duke’s son?’

Contextually, suspicions pointed this direction, yet accepting the reality proved difficult.

Lion’s perceptual faculties were currently operating at peak efficiency.

Every underlying principle lay bare to his senses.

Which meant the spectral essence of the Grand Duke’s son was currently…

Damaged far beyond standard repair thresholds.

Total dissolution of the soul might genuinely prove a more merciful fate.

The child undoubtedly recognized this grim reality as well.

Even so, the boy continued calling out.

Father. Father.

Dad.

Clinging to the absolute conviction that the very father who ended his life remained the person who loved and cherished him most above all others.

An unyielding, absolute faith.

Perhaps fueled by that overwhelming emotional resonance.

The resistance pulling against Lion faltered, loosening by a fraction of a hair’s breadth.