"Don't just daze out! With your ability, she can still be saved!"
Melodis' panicked but uplifting voice burst in Johan's ears.
'No… I don't have any Aether left. Even talking to you is only possible by using my life force.'
Johan frowned, but instantly shoved aside the panic to come up with solutions, taking a deep breath down his dry throat.
But there was nothing he could do to activate the Amplifier. At his peak, he had to use every last drop of mana, Aether, and a ton of life force—only then could he unleash the full potential of the Harbinger of Life.
Original Johan never used it because of the toll it took, the way it drained years off his life.
But now… that was the least of Johan's concerns.
Johan didn't really mind losing a few decades if it meant seeing her again.
And even if it was the original Johan, he would've done the same—used it without a second thought.
James had no prior attachment to Kirin. She was just a stranger, a minor villain he had killed.
But now, the few hours they'd spent together… it felt like forever.
"I know. But it doesn't matter. Just start eating the Bitch Tree. It should give you enough Aether," Melodis explained patiently.
'Huh?'
Johan's mental guard shot up, turning his head sharply toward the green-haired man-turned-monstrous being—
Dark black slime seeped from his every muscle, blood clots swelling across his body.
'I'll get corrupted!!' Johan recoiled internally, suspicion tightening his chest. Is this spirit trying to kill me or something?
Crackle! Crackle!
Firewood crackled harshly on the edge of a lavish room, filled with golden throne-like chairs and a giant rectangular table.
Atop it, maids in barely any clothing danced seductively.
A peaceful and erratic atmosphere—until one of the girls twisted her ankle and fell on the man's back, who had been fully leaning on the table for a better view.
Her expression instantly twisted in fear.
"...Lord Leor, I didn't mean to…"
Her legs weakened, as if submitting entirely to the man.
Her heart thundered, waiting for his reply.
She used to be the only daughter of a high-ranking noble. Exposing her bosom and legs to a commoner like this wasn't just shameful—it was the death of everything she believed in.
But it was her father who had sent her.
She couldn't complain, so she just accepted it with a smile.
She dropped her eyebrows, expecting another beating from her lord.
Suddenly, Leor—who was being crushed by the bare back of the girl wearing only a thin brown robe over her genitals and chest—
lifted her into his arms. His face contorted in fear and panic.
Radhaan, calmly sitting on the left golden throne, sipping wine, picked up the fear and asked,
"What's wrong, Leor?"
Leor turned his sharp golden eyes toward the voice.
"Radhaan, I need you to do something for me… it's related to Johan."
The red-haired man instantly smiled knowingly, lifted the curvy young girl from his lap, and stood up.
"Just tell me where," Radhaan said nonchalantly, patting the bright blonde hair off his red suit.
"Vexely. Near the God Tree," Leor said, his expression easing, feeling the warmth of the brown-haired girl he had just negotiated.
His gaze softened further, watching his ever-reliable partner immediately preparing to leave.
"Hehe, interesting."
With that, the red-haired man vanished—blindingly fast—like he was never there.
Leor instantly laid the woman on the cold stone ground and went on her violently, unleashing all his sadistic fantasies.
'Selene! Selene! Selene!'
Leor thought of her as he poured molten gold on the brown-haired girl's face, watching her wail like a dying animal—with a smile.
"But wouldn't that corrupt me!?"
Johan's voice was low, filled with disbelief. Was he really about to commit suicide?
"Haha. Just a small price to pay for Kirin's life. I'll make sure you don't die… but your mental illness will get worse," Melodis said calmly, as if he were flicking worms off his wings.
'I don't have any mental illness!'
Johan snapped internally, then bit his lip—suppressing the urge to scream out loud.
*'The corruption in this world is too fucked up. You lose your emotional control, become like a wild animal who could do anything—like… have a crush on someone?
The corrupted person's first thought is to kidnap her. Hate someone? That person's head will be filled with bricks and glass shards the next day.'*
He sighed with relief knowing the physical corruption wouldn't affect him.
Turning into a dog with seven heads and twelve genitals of both kinds… doesn't sound that nice.
"…Master, the spell is… ready," Sebastian spoke through gritted teeth, his voice worn and tired.
Johan knew—
It wasn't casting the seal that made him tired. It was watching his daughter helplessly die.
Johan nodded.
"Seal his entire body but the right arm," he said through a twitching mouth.
'Don't judge me. Eating an arm sounds better than eating raw wood,' Johan explained to absolutely no one.
Sebastian, a bit surprised by the request, complied nonetheless.
"Aaauuuuu, Bauu, Bauuu—"
The green-haired man began barking like a dog hit by a car.
Johan bit his lips.
This was what he was going to be like if something went wrong.
*'No. No. Her life is important. Way more important.
Imagine if that was Clara.
You're the only one who can do it. The only one who can save her…'*
His eyes hardened.
"Who's Clara?"
Melodis asked, intrigued.
"You have any way to avoid corruption completely?"
Johan ignored the question and finally asked what had been gnawing at him the most.
Surely a spirit who had lived for millions of years would have an answer.
"…No. As I said, I can only protect you from physical corruption.
Mental depends on your willpower, your desires, your emotions…"
Melodis explained seriously, dropping the earlier question.
Johan nodded dazedly.
But suddenly—
The temperature dropped by several degrees.
The flames on Johan's body began to dim from the extreme energy depletion.
Even excluding saving Kirin, he still needed the God Tree's powers.
Anyway, if he could grow stronger, have a better chance against Leor…
Other risks were meaningless.
It was like offering a medieval soldier charging into an army alone—
a modern M16 rifle.
Even if he still died, at least he'd have a better chance than just charging with a sword and shield.
"Gravity Magic: Seal of Eternity."
Sebastian's jaw clenched, his body trembling as a bright purple light tore through him, entering the green-haired man's body.
"Huh?"
His muscular, slimy body began to evaporate, as if being wiped from existence.
His black irises gained clarity for just a moment.
He stopped barking—his face still twisted in agony from black flames and constant regeneration.
The body began to melt again.
But this time, it didn't stop.
It melted completely, merging with the dirt below.
Both Melodis and Johan frowned.
But then—
A silhouette both Sebastian and Johan instantly recognized began materializing out of thin air.
The dirt scattered as if fleeing from her.
A young woman, entirely naked, with pale skin and soft features, full pink lips, and long green hair—
lay with her head tilted gently to the side.
A well-rounded, curvy figure.
Her back rose from the curve of her hips, touching the burnt ground.
"Ahhhh, Ahhh. Leor. Don't. Please! I'm pregnant! Please, spare my child at least!"
Her lips parted, fanatical, high-pitched screams of pain bursting from her throat.
Johan and Sebastian's eyes widened.
A tense silence hung between them.
Sriii!
Suddenly—
"Ahhh!!"
She screamed again—
But this time her voice was deep, like a sixty-year-old war veteran.
All four of them exchanged glances, trying to confirm what they had just seen.
Her body. Her genitals. Her face.
Everything switched to the form of a muscular man—
The same one who had fought Kirin.
But it disappeared in a blink.
She returned to the appearance of a woman.
"Olivia Williams!? But… what the hell is wrong with her?"
A.N: Did you all noticed the foreshadowing? I dropped like 3-4 hints along the story, just wait to have your minds blown now. Yes I said previously that I will get to 2 chapters a day, and yes I did increased the production, but I am stockpiling them(already got 3 more) for future, either for a mass release, or on emergency to not miss uploads. When I get to a good point, I can maintain a easy schedule of 2 chapters a day without missing.