Chapter 461 Reborn Curse

The halo shrank into the tree, forcing sound and Cursed energy inside the tree. The large Yggdrasil tree continued upwards as purple, pink and green leaves sprouted.

'Is it over?' Chima questioned. 'Will that hold him until the others get here?'

'Yggdrasil should hold the corrupted energy in. We should be careful until th—' Ro'sa began to say when the tree began to bubble with purple energy.

"What's happening?" Chima asked, loudly. Giggles grew loud as purple energy pressed itself against the tree.

"Something's coming out." Ro'sa whispered. "Get away, Chima!" Ro'sa spun around and disappeared as Chima scrambled away. The purple formed a woman, pressing herself against the tree, a humanoid face appearing.

"Hahahaha!" The humanoid woman giggled. "I'm back!" The woman forced herself out of the tree, revealing her pale form for a second. The Cursed Dryaad woman smiled as she looked around. "And I have such a powerful soul to feed me! Ahhahaha!" Yggdrasil shook as the Dryad managed to pull her arms and upper body out of the tree. "LET ME FEAST ON YOUR SOULS!" Corrupted energy grew all around the tree as the Cursed Dryad wickedly smiled.

Large concentrations of corrupted energy erupted out of the ground as vines and thorns exploded upwards. Chima and Ro'sa managed to step away from the attacks, watching as the thorns shot themselves straight for them. Chima raised a shield, watching as the thorns easily passed through and embedded themselves into him. Vines sprouted, pulling him back towards the tree.

"Chima!" Ro'sa shouted as more vines and thorns fired off at her. The Priestess grunted as she was forced to dodge, leaving a husk of plants in her spot. The Cursed Dryad continued her attack, cackling like a witch as she watched the Priestess continued to dodge her corrupted attacks.

"Take this!" The Cursed Dryad lifted her hands up and focused her aim onto the Priestess. Bark and leaves flew straight for the Priestess as Ro'sa blinked. Ro'sa's form shimmered and she smiled.

"Nature vs Nature?" Ro'sa chuckled. "I guess you don't really know anything, Dryad." Ro'sa's body exploded in flowers as the Dryad's attack flew straight through. The Dryad glanced around, not detecting where the Priestess disappeared to. "You may be strong, but when it comes to Nature, the Priestess of Dahlia's Druids will always overpower Nature, itself."

The corrupted thorns and vines turned colorful, immediately turning and firing off at the Dryad. The Dryad pulled herself back, watching as the vines and thorns slammed into the tree. She quickly roped Chima in faster, draining him as Ro'sa appeared, severing the vines. Chima dropped to the ground, deathly pale as Ro'sa watched the tree.

'I need to get out of here. I can overpower the Dryad but I can't deal with the effects of the Curse. Her bloodlust is strong. I wonder what happened to get it like this.' Ro'sa thought.

"Chima, can you move?" Ro'sa asked. Chima groaned, trying to stand. He dropped to the ground.

"She tapped my energy so fast…" Chima struggled to say. Ro'sa nodded and pointed the emerald staff at Chima.

"I shall keep you in here for now then. You'll be safe." Ro'sa told him. "I fear things are going to get worst. She took Fan'r as the prime host and wants both of us. She's trapped in Yggdrasil, thankfully, and can't manipulate the properties of the Holy Tree, but we should be wary."

"Do what you must… Hurry…"

Ro'sa nodded and tapped the Emerald staff onto Chima, pulling him in as thorn pods sprouted all around Ro'sa.

"His soul is tasty! Give him back, Druid!" The Dryad shouted. Ro'sa frowned, tilting her head as she tapped her lips.

"What if I don't want to? What will you do about it, Dryad? Mmm, I don't even think you're a Dryad anymore… You're just a Curse who uses Nature. You can't win against me." Ro'sa taunted.

"I can't win against you?" The Dryad poked her head at the threshold of Yggdrasil's bark. "You can't even kill me, ahha. You think you can do damage to me? There's only one person who could possibly hurt me and they're deep underground. You've done me a service, Priestess. I can spread my corruption straight to them!"

'She can detect that far already?!?' Ro'sa thought. 'Lily's in danger! I have to warn her!' The thorn pods erupted in cursed energy, firing off into the air as the Priestess's body shimmered brighter.

"Nature's Veil: Dahlia's Cloak of Flowers." Priestess Ro'sa announced. A green cloak filled with flowers, leaves, and berries grew off of her back. Priestess Ro'sa slammed her staff downwards and disappeared, not wasting time on watching for her "subtle" attack to hit.

The earthquakes continued to shake as Lily and Mother Wang held each other. Lily's eyes watched the dim walls around them as they continued to stand.

'When would it all end?' Lily wondered. 'Something must've happened. What's—'

A green aura appeared near Lily and Mother Wang. Lily quickly put her Mother behind her in a protective stance as they watched the green aura erupt into plants.

"Lily," the familiar voice called out. Priestess Ro'sa stood in the place as she looked around. Her emerald staff lit up in light, revealing the entire place. "We don't have much time. The Curse has been reborn. I must protect you at all costs until the other Savior arrives. Get inside." Ro'sa pointed the staff at Lily and Mother Wang.

"W-what's happened, Ro'sa? Is everyone okay?" Mother Wang asked. Priestess Ro'sa shook her head.

"Fan'r protected Bright from being harmed by the Curse. He took it upon himself, drawing the Curse's energy in a split second decision, Akemi. I've ordered your sons to take refuge with the others while Chima and I dealt with Fan'r." Priestess Ro'sa explained. Mother Wang gasped, covering her mouth as the sounds of the earth shaking grew louder. "We don't have much time. Chima is currently in my staff healing as we speak. Akemi, I can keep you and your daughter safe until the Savior arrives."

"What about my husband? What do we do?" Mother Wang cried.

"Mom, Keng will come and he and I will deal with the Curse. Protecting you and the others is important. Dad would want that." Lily grabbed her mother's hands and squeezed them. "Please."

"But… But…" Mother Wang stuttered. Lily tightened her grip as the earth erupted, sending debris everywhere. Mother Wang and Lily screamed as Priestess Ro'sa lifted her staff and watched the rocks turn to flowers. She quickly swung her staff, horizontally, and turned the vines and roots into flowers.

"She acts quick." Ro'sa whispered as more roots entered the room, taking her by surprise. The roots slammed down onto Ro'sa as Lily held her mother tightly. A bright green energy erupted out of the roots, forcing them into specks of energy as Ro'sa quickly stood up and poked her staff into the shield. "I'm sorry, Akemi. Stay in here until then. Lily, contact your Savior leader."

"Wha- I'm not leaving my daughter!" Mother Wang started to scream when she vanished in Lily's arms.

"Mom!" Lily shouted.

"She'll be safe within the staff. Trust me. You've been in there many times." Ro'sa spoke, giving Lily little to no reassurance on it as she turned to see the next wave of roots and thorny vines coming at them. "You have a way to contact your Savior friend, yes?"

"I…" Lily began to stutter. The situation was getting messy, already.

'What should I do? What should I do?' Lily asked herself. She pulled her ukulele to her and let out a sigh as Ro'sa came to Lily, protecting the both of them from harm.

"Do it now, Lily. Or else I'll have to take you into the staff and run away from this place." Ro'sa ordered. Lily focused the light onto the ukulele and began to play. Her nervousness was clear in the way she played. It was stiff, short and not thought out at all.

"I don't know how to contact him. I haven't tried before!" Lily told Ro'sa. Ro'sa swiped the staff, watching the attacks as she maintained composure.

"A communication spell. A simple one used with magic. The one Chima taught you when you first started. Remember it?" Ro'sa patiently reminded Lily. "Use that one. Focus on who you want to talk to and say what you need to say."

"Right." Lily nodded, nervously. She took in a breath and managed to focus herself enough. Her lips glowed as she licked them and spoke. "Keng, the Curse has returned. Dad was taken and Chima is hurt and healing in Priestess Ro'sa's staff. We need to deal with the Curse before its too late. Come now!"

"Good, let's go!" Ro'sa grabbed Lily and the two vanished into thin air as roots and vines filled the room.

"It's been hours since he's started. Will he be done soon?" Gorrum nervously asked Jyu'so.

"We've gathered all of the information needed, correct?" Jyu'so asked, closing the book. A large amount of runic writing was in the air as the floating form of Keng hovered in his spot.

"Y-yes, Elder, but—"

? "Do not worry, Gorrum." Jyu'so looked at Keng. "It should be close to finishing."

[Notice: The Cleansing Ritual of Impurity has been finished. You've recovered from the attack from the Demon. A small percentage has been reconnected to you. Cleansing Ritual shall now end.]