New Eden: Live to Play, Play to Live

But his statement only brought her more curiosity.

If the gods did not favour him, then why would they even entertain a transaction with him? Gods were fickle by nature and hardly ever cared about mortals.

What made a god lay eyes on him and agree to trade something with him, especially something as important as power?

She especially wanted to know because it was the reason Leon had defeated her that time. He had grown more powerful.

They had been an equal match until that fight and had skirmished many times. Leon was the reason she held the nickname False King before.

The proper title would have been False Queen, but Leon had never bothered to find out if she was male or female before giving her the new moniker.

And he only did that after he decimated all her followers who refused to go under him.

Shaking her head, Selena shook the thoughts away.

'That is in the past. We are on the same side now. He is my leader, and this mortal is my king. No use thinking about it any longer…'

Of course, Astaroth could see the emotions changing on her face and could guess her thought process.

"If there were a way to power you up easily, trust me, I would. We'll need all the power we can get in the foreseeable future, and having another Legendary or Mythic beast under our banner would do wonders. Sadly, I don't know what I can do…"

Hearing his words, Selena snapped her head toward him.

"Do you mean it?"

"Huh?" Astaroth asked, confused.

"Do you mean your words? Would you help me become more powerful if there was a way?"

Astaroth looked at her with a confused gaze. He halted his steps, stopping in the middle of the forest.

By the look on her face, Selena already knew of a way.

"It depends. I would if I could be assured of your continued loyalty. And loyalty isn't something you buy. I don't know you or know if I can trust you."

Selena frowned slightly. Novel Fire - novelfire.net

"I assumed you didn't know Leon long before helping grow, either. What is different with me?" she asked with a bit of reproach.

"That is a good question, and the answer is simple. I made him promise before the goddess that helped me help him. He didn't have a choice. I can hardly make you promise before that same goddess, given that I don't even know if she still exists."

Selena frowned at his statement.

Gods didn't simply stop existing. They weren't mortals whose life could end at any given time.

"In any case, I assume you ask because you know a way. Is this way limited to you, or can it be applied to others?"

Selena's traits changed to worry.

'Is he going to force me to tell him and steal my chance?' she wondered, becoming guarded.

"And don't bother lying to me. I'll know," Astaroth said, suddenly expanding his aura into her.

The difference in power between them wasn't very high, but his control of magic was much higher than hers, which meant he could read her like an open book.

With a deep sigh, Selena gave up her trump card.

"I didn't want to tell anyone this because I was hoping to use it myself. But it's not a personal method. It's an item…"

Astaroth looked at her, curiosity taking hold of him.

"What kind of item?"

Selena wasn't sure she wanted to tell him, but there was no more going back at this point.

"I found it a long time ago—a cave, with inside it a root. And on the root grew a small tree that bore fruit. It has never reached maturity, though, so it hasn't attracted any other creatures to it. The fruit is stillborn."

Astaroth's eyes went wide.

'Another evolution fruit? No… It can't be. Those fruits shouldn't grow in such a short time, right?' he wondered, his thoughts racing.

"Bring me to that cave," Astaroth ordered her.

"Sir… I think we—"

"I wasn't asking."

"…"

Astaroth stared at her for a while before her shoulders dropped and her head drooped.

"Fine. But I implore you, sir. I've been waiting for this chance for decades. Please don't take this away from me…"

Astaroth didn't bother replying.

For now, he had no intention of taking the chance away from her. He only wanted to verify what the fruit was and see if there was a chance it was the same fruit he gave to Leon.

He would decide from there what to do with it.

He quickly messaged Phoenix, telling her something had come up. Something that could benefit them, the kingdom, and the guild, if it was what he thought.

She was pissed, at first, stating he was leaving her alone to do the tedious work again. But he said she could wait for him if she wanted to, that he wouldn't take long.

She took him up on his offer and made him promise he wouldn't flake on her again.

Astaroth followed the Beastwoman through the forest, reaching parts of it that he was sure hadn't been explored, given the aura of danger permeating the air.

He could feel a multitude of stares on him, like hundreds of creatures were staring at him from afar. But he could tell they feared him more than he feared them.

Luna was still recovering inside his soul, but he could feel her soul reacting to something.

'Papa. I feel a potent source of life nearby… But something is wrong with it… It feels—'

'Dead. Yes, I can feel it, too. But there is still hope. If the source gives off this strong of a signature, then there is still a chance we can salvage it.'

Luna became silent again, focusing on reforming her body, while Astaroth and Selena reached a cave entrance.

"This is the place…" Selena said, looking at Astaroth's face, trying to discern his intentions.

"Take me to the fruit. I think I know what I'm dealing with."

Astaroth could feel it, now that he was closer. A strong vein of Aether passed under this cave.

A part of the Ley lines that connected under Bastion City.

'Something is wrong with them, though. Like they were supposed to converge here and were stretched further…'

He would have to ask Aravelle if he knew about this later. But for now, it was time to find a treasure.

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