NOVEL WEB Chapter 24: Hope for the Hunters
Dyne’s expression kept changing as he could feel a sense of anger towards everything. He took a few deep breathes and allowed the Genesis Tree to purify him as he allowed more of the Genesis Tree’s aura to heal his soul.
“Ginger's soul was corrupt. If I fed it with my soul energy, it would revive Ginger, but it would be the Ginger of the Mist! I needed to make my soul capable of resisting the Mist energy! That way, I can feed Ginger with my soul and return Ginger back!”
“You... took a portion of his soul? How?"
“Explaining the 'how' part will be difficult. But put simply, I needed to make my soul stronger! Master Tetsu! This can be your training, too! With the soul cultivation that I am going through, it will make your soul stronger! And not only me, Vahn and Uncle Val can do this as well!”
Vahn, who was nearby, was shocked at the words that Dyne explained.
Tetsu was stunned.
“Gather the Elder and the hunters again. I will be talking to them about this. This could be our training!” Dyne explained.
“Training?”
“Just gather them,” Dyne said impatiently.
Soon, the people were gathered. Most hunters were there, and even those on guard duty abandoned their posts because Dyne kept insisting. The hunters first hesitated. It was already a miracle that no one attacked them last night, but now, the same actions were to be made!
The hunters begrudgingly gathered after Dyne ensured that the meeting wouldn’t be for so long.
“Alright. The reason I asked you to gather here today is that I will be explaining something to all of you. You must have all witnessed and benefited from the soul explosion yesterday. Let me explain a thing or two that I realized when I was enlightened.”
“Enlightened?” Juno wondered.
“I fell into a trance and managed to communicate with the Genesis Tree. In my vision, I was in a blue world made of almost transparent crystals. A bald man stood up and talked to me. He said that under the guidance of a god called Rem, he was able to talk with me.”
“Rem?” Even Tetsu was surprised at those words.
“Rem, the God of time?!” He repeated.
“Anyway, the old men said that I was connected to the Genesis Tree and was brought to Noaru Valley. I couldn’t understand it as well. Anyway, this old guy taught me a lot of things. It was later that I realized I was talking to the Human God, the Enlightened Monk, Biron.”
Tetsu’s expression was serious. He deduced that this happened.
“Lord Biron told me that I was sent here to stop a catastrophe from happening. The Henchmen of the Mist are approaching. He said that Rim Elm would be attacked soon. He didn't say exactly when. But it might happen years from now. Rem has chosen me to be a Prophet and will be guided by Lord Biron. And since we are weak, Lord Biron taught me how we could be strong. And as such, the miracle of what happened yesterday occurred. Bertugo... Slimey... Come forward.” Dyne ordered.
Bertugo moved forward, and so did the Slime.
“As you noticed, my Gobu Gobu has become greener. Can anyone tell me what this is.”
“He has become a Gomboo...” Juno said seriously.
“Yes. He has ranked up. This is one of Lord Biron’s gift. But don’t rejoice yet! The Serus has a powerful magic that can easily kill monsters. As for us, who are physically weaker than monsters, we will also lose. The only way to be capable of improving our strengths is to make our souls stronger.”
“How do we make our soul go stronger?” Ipkus asked.
“By doing soul sit-ups. I’m about to explain that! Can’t you wait, you unqualified excuse of a Hunter!” Dyne answered sarcastically with a mocking expression.
“Er... Everyone... Dyne will explain it in a bit, but right now, he is under the Mist's influence. This is why he asked us to tie him up in case he might do anything stupid. Please don’t mind these angry words of him.” Tetsu immediately explained.
Dyne gave Tetsu an annoyed look but didn’t say anything.
“Right. The soul. Who here has experienced the Mist. Can you tell me what you feel when you are in the Mist?” Dyne asked.
One of the hunters stepped forward.
“It varies for every person. For many of us, it brings great fear and causes us to be paralyzed. On some cases, it makes us go mad and would even attack each other and kill each other. This is why people who have grudges never travel in the Mists together. It also makes us feel extremely sad that we wouldn’t even know what to do.”
“That’s right. I’ve learned what the Mist is. It is the product coming from an evil world. That world is known as Rogues Tower.” At Dyne’s words, he could feel a strange vibration within the Genesis Tree. Dyne’s expression changed.
“Meta? Can you hear me?” Dyne sent a powerful soul message. Sadly, there was no response from within the Tree.
“I hope what I’m doing will help you wake up faster... But your destiny is tied with the boy Vahn. You must have already been fond of him. My destiny lies elsewhere.” Dyne sent a message and turned his attention back to the crowd.
“The Mist is a powerful energy that is created by a powerful being. Conkram somehow learned how to replicate that energy and released it here. But because it is a form of power, there is a way to counter it! And this power is something that Lord Biron showed me. I’ve shown Master Tetsu one of those powers earlier. He can testify about it. If you train in it to an extent, you can walk and travel in the Mist without getting affected by it.” Dyne explained.
“Is this true?! We can have that power?” Juno reacted.
“Yes. Because... the Power... Is yours.” Dyne quoted as he gave off a killer smile.
Somehow, he felt that he didn’t do it properly as he glanced at everyone's strange expressions.
He inwardly complained and continued.
“Remember last night? Isn’t it true that you felt a sense of joy that you couldn’t explain last night?” Dyne asked immediately.
The surrounding hunters all glanced at each other and began to nod.
“That was because the Genesis Tree received a blessing from Seru-Kai. As such, this Tree has become stronger than what it was before. And although it is weaker, the Genesis Tree can now purge the Mist's effects in our souls. Although there is no mist inside the village, a thin trace of the Mist remains in the air. And yesterday, we were baptized with the pure energy of the Genesis Tree that drove away the Mist further.”
“The Genesis Tree has the power to drive away the Mist?!” The Elder repeated the last line and changed it.
Dyne smiled and nodded.
“Yes, it has. This is why we must pray every day here on the Tree. One day, Tieg, Rem, and even lord Biron will cause a miracle within this Tree and allow us to drive away from the Mist. Let us hope for that day!” Dyne announced.
The hunters all glanced at each other with hope.
“However, the visions I saw from Rem and Lord Biron tell me that there the Henchmen of the Mist are also actively looking for the Genesis Trees. And so, the moment that the Genesis Tree awakens and receives the power to drive away the Mist, the Henchmen of the Mist will be alerted. So, the day the Genesis Tree awakens will also be when we step forth into war with the Mist's enemies. And that will happen in the coming years!” Dyne explained.
The Hunters glanced at each other and had a hesitant expression.
“We are not alone, Hunters! Lord Biron has told me that there are still survivors and followers of the Biron Code around the world. He also told me that cities and towns around the world have escaped and survived the Mist!” Dyne explained.
“We will seek out those people and save them! And with them, we can gather an army that will defeat our enemies! We have been chosen by Tieg himself! Hunters! We will be Legaia’s savior!” Dyne declared with all righteousness.
The Hunters all chorused together and shouted in joy.
Dyne waited for the excitement to settle down.
“The first step that we must do is strengthen our soul. Everyone in this village should take turns praying and meditating. You experienced it last night. The soul is something unseen, but the energies are real. You need to become enlightened just as I was and allow yourself to strengthen and gather energies from the soul. For now, however, my priority falls on three individuals. Master Tetsu, Val, and Vahn!” Dyne explained.
“Vahn? Why him?” Ixis asked in surprise.
“Because he’s better than you, you jealous, arrogant brat!” Dyne shouted back.
“Erm... Dyne!” Tetsu called out.
“Right. Sorry. Not Sorry.” Dyne answered again.
“Dyne!” Tetsu called again, but this time with a firmer tone that spoke like a master reprimanding his disciple.
“Oh, alright! But what I said was true! Remember what I said? The Mist is a Soul attack. Those with strong souls can resist it! And how is it that a small child could walk in the Mist and get back home? How far did he go?” Dyne asked the question.
The hunters grew silent and realized it. They then looked at Val and Vahn.
“Of course! Vahn reached Drake Castle, and so did Val! They traveled for two weeks before returning home!”
“Two weeks?!” Dyne was stunned.
“That’s how far Drake Castle is from here?!” Dyne asked again.
“Yes. Master Dyne, you were unaware of this?”
Dyne shook his head. He didn’t expect Legaia to be this big. But then again, Vahn and Val must have tried to circle around and make detours to avoid the Mist and decided to accept that distance.
“Anyway, as I said. Even when we are here, at the furthest reaches of the Mist, we still are affected. Last night might have been the first time in nearly a decade that you’ve truly felt what it was to be out of the Mist! Remember the real joy as opposed to what you have now.” Dyne pointed out.
Most of the Hunters had contemplating looks as to what they’ve realized.
“And remember, Vahn and Uncle Val was out there! They traveled to Drake Castle and back and was exposed to the Mist for two weeks! Imagine the strength they have! Their souls are actually stronger than anyone else in this village!”
