"Is this really the best we've got?" Wilford exclaimed in disbelief.
[Currently, yes. This technique is the most viable one for the moment. The others, though better, require conditions that are impossible to achieve.]
Despite hearing this, Wilford was still in joyful disbelief. Who would've thought that creating the technique would take so little time?
"With this, I'll reach the Deity Stage in no time!" Wilford was ecstatic.
The Five-Headed Aether Dragon Technique — Tiamat!
This technique revolved around the creation of an ethereal dragon, similar to an Animus Flower, allowing one to cultivate the four elements of Aether separately. These could then be combined to form the True Head of Aether, which could control Aether!
Although it had several drawbacks, such as the heads having to share a single Animus Flower and Soul Realm in the higher Saint stages and above, this technique focused more on the elemental energies of Aether rather than the core fundamentals and concepts of a single element.
"Even so, this technique is truly impeccable. I can easily reach the pinnacle or come close. Then, I can simply create a more perfect technique, reset my cultivation, and cultivate using that!" Wilford thought, his logic sound.
Amidst this elation, a sudden force bore down upon him.
His pupils shrank in terror as his heart quaked, gripped by the cold, overwhelming fear of death.
"Who is this!?" Wilford muttered, feeling the presence. He'd felt the presence of a Brahman before, but this was different. Weaker, yet more targeted.
If The Brahman's pressure was akin to a god's distant glance, this one felt aimed directly at him. It didn't take a genius to realize what Wilford had in that moment.
Something was after him.
In the outskirts of Akkaris, two individuals clad in bright apparel appeared out of nowhere.
"This is where Hot Pot's stationed? I thought it would've been turned into a farm considering his tendencies, but oh well, looks like he's gotten a grip on his desires, right Alisha?" Amadeus commented.
"Seems like it, but tell me one thing, Amadeus—why did you ask the Council to accompany me? You do know who my father is, right?" Alisha asked with narrowed eyes.
Amadeus waved his hands and shook his head.
"Hahaha, it's nothing like that, Senior Sister!" Amadeus laughed. "It's just that I wanted to see him this time. I was unable to see him the last four hundred times, you know that."
Alisha didn't respond and instead dashed towards one of the houses. None of its original residents stopped them.
Hot Pot sighed. "We'll meet again, Elminis." All four residents spoke at once—or perhaps... It was only one.
BOOM!
Wilford 's residence was obliterated in an instant. Yet, strangely, the surroundings remained untouched.
Nothing survived—the house was reduced to nothingness by Alisha's attack, and Wilford 's pet rabbit, once so full of life, had its flesh and bones vaporized without a trace.
"Oh come on, Alisha! Hot Pot specifically told us not to destroy anything unnecessary!" Amadeus exclaimed in frustration.
Alisha, however, stood with a deep frown on her face.
"What's wrong?" Amadeus asked, noticing her change in demeanor.
"He didn't die," Alisha said flatly. "Elminis lives."
Amadeus's expression shifted instantly. Without hesitation, he summoned a cloak of fire that enveloped the entirety of Akkaris, locking down the area. Alisha was an individual who was on the precipice of creating a Soul Realm, someone such as Wilford, whose Animus Flower was weakened, shouldn't have even gotten the chance to feel the pain. Yet not only were there no signs of his corpse, which, considering his level of power, should've survived, nor could she detect him.
"Where the hell are you, Elminis!" Alisha sped off, trying to find Wilford.
"Fuck, that was close!" Wilford exclaimed with ragged breath as he sped off towards El-Eudo.
The moment Wilford felt someone targeting and nearing him, he instantly activated a technique he hadn't used for a very long time.
Martial Ghost Fang!
Since the technique used The Library as an anchor, Wilford had turned into a one-third Acausal Being, which was better to say that he was completely invisible and undetectable by any form of existence other than the Brahman. However, that was all that Martial Ghost Fang could do. It couldn't separate him completely or even partially from the cycle of cause and effect. Yet it still was incredibly useful, as Wilford had managed to escape certain death.
He didn't know why they were after him, but he could guess. They must've been sent by The Council after all. Aside from them, who would attack one of the border towns of El-Eudo?
"Fuck" Wilford cursed as he saw the greenish barrier in front.
All of a sudden he tripped and fell flat. Wildford cursed, clutching his head.
This was Martial Ghost Fang's single drawback. The mind couldn't bear the pressure of something made of completely different laws, now could it?
He's being able to run to El-Eudo was already the most he could do while the already wilting Animus Flower was bearing the brunt, yet now he could sense it.
It had fallen apart at last.
"No! I won't die!" He dragged himself to El-Eudo, which was just a few meters away.
Wilford, no, Carto at last felt something he hadn't felt for a long time since he'd entered this world. The fear of death.
"No! There is still a chance!" Wilfordrefused to accept.
"Tharmas! Simulate all ways I can survive and enter The Wildlands without dying!" Wilford commanded with a deep and guttural roar as his eyes reddened with the pressure of The Library.
[Assessing Current Situation
. .....
Simulation Activated.
Task: Methods of entering The Wildlands without extermination.
Commencing Simulation
. ..... ...….. ...]
As Tharmas was simulating his ways of survival, in the distance, an explosion resounded as Alisha was destroying everything she came across in hopes of catching Wilford .
Wilford gritted his teeth and continued to drag himself.
And then Tharmas's voice sounded.
[Simulation Complete.
Organizing Ways of Survival.
Choosing the most suitable one.
Optimal Survival Method Acquired!
Instructions: Reach El-Eudo and say the first thing that appears inside your head, preferably a name, and turn off Martial Ghost Fang.
Survival Chance: Guaranteed.]
"I'm already doing one of these!" He was, after all, already at El-Eudo!
As Wilford reached the unfathomably large barrier that was El-Eudo, he used the barrier as a rest to sit.
Wilford at last saw the view of the landscape.
It was all so quiet.
So quiet.
Wilford, at that moment wished to just give up and die here, his last moments being with the quiet and peaceful land.
Yet he wouldn't. He knew he wouldn't.
He was too scared after all.
"Turn it off, Tharmas. Turn the goddamn technique off," Wilford commanded as the searing pain in his head vanished.
He felt the presence from earlier lock on again.
As he felt the presence near him, a word appeared in his head.
"This." Wilford was surprised, as though he couldn't understand the word, he felt it to be familiar.
The moment Alisha's figure appeared in the distance, Wilford uttered those words without any hesitation.
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