[B3]Chapter 197: Master of the Abyssal Grove

Emma, who had been frozen just moments before, suddenly moved again. She gasped, her wide eyes darting to the scene before her. She struggled to find her voice.

“What’s happening to him? What—” But her voice faltered as one of the two girls—Liliana or Lilith—vanished right before her eyes. In her place, another figure appeared, cradling Theo's head on her lap and holding his hand tightly.

The girl bore a striking resemblance to both Liliana and Lilith. She wore a dress unlike anything either had ever worn before—pure white, flowing like moonlight. Her aura exuded a regal calm reminiscent of Liliana, yet there was a bright spark in her eyes, a liveliness that could only belong to Lilith.

Emma hesitated, her brows furrowing as confusion deepened on her face. “Liliana?” she asked cautiously.

The white-haired girl didn’t answer. Her gaze was fixed solely on the boy, her eyes brimming with concern.

“Theo…” Lily murmured softly.

Emma halted, unsure whether to interrupt or stay silent. The girl before her was undoubtedly Liliana. Her familiarity with the name "Theo" confirmed Emma’s bewilderment.

Meanwhile, Theo was overwhelmed by a massive surge of fiery energy that seemed to vibrate through every cell in his body. His wounds began to writhe and heal as the energy churned within him, like a thousand whirlpools spiraling simultaneously in different parts of his body.

Each whirlpool brought an agonizing, searing pain, sharper than a burning knife, eclipsing even the torment of his previous wounds. It felt as though he was being crushed repeatedly, the energy points within him igniting with relentless intensity.

Then, a thunderous boom reverberated through his mind, signaling a sudden shift. The unbearable pain slowly began to ebb away, giving way to a soothing, cooling sensation that spread like a balm across his body.

At the same time, messages flooded his vision, scrolling upward in an endless stream of glowing text. Each notification appeared briefly before fading into the next, forming a flowing log of updates that left him struggling to keep pace.

<<<<

[Congratulations! You have uncovered the 'Treasure of the Heart'.]

[A warm resonance fills your soul as the Treasure of the Heart integrates into your being.]

[Quest Completed: Break the Origin Master's Seal]

[The Origin Master's seal has been lifted, unleashing your latent potential.]

[Your absorption limit for Ring Essence is now unrestricted.]

[Ring Essence Accumulated: 276,240 points.]

[You've absorbed 276,240 Ring Essence points.]

[Ring Power strengthened by 276,240 points.]

[Ring Power is at 40/14,050 points.]

[Your fifth, sixth, and seventh rings have evolved to Rank 10 and have reached complete evolution.]

[Your eighth ring has evolved to Rank 8!]

[You've reached Circle Rank 78.]

[You have received 114 free stat points.]

[Your Demonic Farm has advanced to Level 78.]

[You have unlocked thirty-eight additional acres of land.]

[Congratulations! You have completed the Class Advancement Quest.]

[Class Advancement Unlocked!]

[Your class has evolved from "Novice Shadow Farmer" to "Master of the Abyssal Grove."]

[This class is now bound to your soul, solidifying your dominion over the Abyssal Grove and its secrets.]

[Master of the Abyssal Grove]

[~ Wield unmatched control over demonic flora, summoning devastating forces of nature to protect, destroy, and conquer.]

[You have acquired a new skill - “Summon Sentient Trees.”]

[You have acquired a new skill - “Gigantic Bloom.”]

[You have acquired a new skill - “Abyssal Dome.”]

[You have acquired a new skill - “Harvest of Souls (Passive).”]

[You have acquired a new skill - “Bloom of the Fallen.”]

[You have acquired the third, fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh fragments of the quest, 'Whispers from the Past.']

[Quest Progress: Fragments Found - 7/7]

[Quest Completed: Whispers from the Past.]

[You have acquired a Celestial-Grade Treasure Chest for completing 'Whispers from the Past.']

[The item has been stored in your inventory.]

>>>>

Theo was aware that the imposed seal would be lifted after meeting the old man and regaining his past memories, but he never imagined he would leap in strength from an Overlord Rank warrior to a Monarch Rank warrior.

The sudden surge was overwhelming, sending his hormones into overdrive. His heart pounded fiercely in his chest as he felt a new, intoxicating strength coursing through his veins.

***

Outside the barrier, the sky had already turned pitch black, and from the clouds, demons had begun to descend. The fighting stopped upon their arrival, and every demon on the battlefield fell to their knees.

Malachor’s gaze swept over the battlefield, lingering for a moment on the barrier before locking onto Linwe.

"Halt the sacrificial ritual," he commanded.

At his order, Linwe ceased his chanting, and the black fire that had been dancing above the magic circle began to flicker and slowly die down.

Linwe knelt before him like the others, asking, "Ascendant Malachor... why... why have you ordered the ritual to be stopped?"

"Do you truly believe such a crucial ritual could be conducted in this wretched realm? The binding forces here are weak and pathetic. Sovereign Thanatos and I have been charged by the higher powers to transport them to the upper realm for the ritual."

"But... the Demon Lord... himself?"

"Yes, the Demon Lord. Do not think for a second that you’re worthy of completing this ritual on your own. Your part is done here."

Saying those words, Malachor turned toward the barrier, his face hardening at the sight before him.

A crimson barrier had formed around the pre-existing one. Unlike the original, this crimson dome was thicker, radiating an overwhelming energy that Malachor could feel emanating from someone inside.

Before his eyes, the massive outer barrier began to crumble as the crimson dome expanded, enveloping the entire periphery where the Canorians had been sitting safely.

With the malefic barrier dissolving, the once-drained Canorians began to stir. Mana flowed back into their bodies, and a wave of hope rippled through the crowd as they rose hesitantly from their seats.

Emma, too, felt her power returning. Her gaze immediately shifted to her friend, expecting Lily to be the one responsible for the miraculous change and the protective dome.

Lily’s hand was enveloped in a golden light that shimmered like sunlight on a flowing river, its radiant energy streaming into the boy and engulfing his entire body in a soothing brilliance.

Her intentions were clear. The moment the restrictive barrier crumbled, she had cast a powerful healing spell on Theo.

Unlike the effects of a healing elixir, her holy magic was incredibly potent—its purity the nemesis of negative energy. Even the darkness element wielded by demons cowered before the overwhelming strength of holy magic.

Theo, who had been lying motionless and feigning unconsciousness, began to stir as the radiant light mended his wounds. Slowly, he rose to his feet, his form now bathed in the residual glow of holy magic.

The daggers embedded in his body clattered to the ground, as though gravity had only just reclaimed them. The blood that had once poured from his wounds was gone, and the injuries appeared to have healed completely.

He shifted his gaze slightly, and with a thought, his status panel materialized before him, hovering in the air like a glowing projection.

<<<<

[Name: Theo Leywin]

[Race: Half Human - Half Sylvorian]

[Class: Master of the Abyssal Grove]

[Elemental Affinity: Abyssal]

[Elemental Affinity Grade: ???]

[Bloodline Ability: Leywin's Gaze]

[Special Ability: Magic Nullification]

[Circle Rank: 78]

[Evolved Rings: 7]

[Ring Rank: 8]

[Abyssal Energy: 100,000]

[Strength: 20+(72)]

[Defense: 120]

[Agility: 20+(72)]

[Stamina: 30]

[Intelligence: 4]

[Precision: 211]

[Mental Power: 21]*

[Perception: 216]*

[Wisdom: 11]*

[Charisma: 22]*

[Luck: 18]*

[Unused Stat Points: 114]

>>>>

He paused for a moment, considering his options carefully before assigning 90 points into defense and 24 points into stamina. For him, the other stats were already well-balanced, leaving little need for adjustment.

As for intelligence, Theo dismissed the idea entirely. That stat, he believed, was crucial for mages—those who relied on mastering spells and wielding magic. But he was someone who nullified magic altogether, rendering it irrelevant to his abilities.

While intelligence was often said to aid in understanding complex concepts and enhancing learning, Theo understood it referred to the study of magical circles and spell formations—things that had no place in his path. For him, it wasn’t just unnecessary; it was entirely incompatible with the kind of power he wielded.

Once he finished assigning the points, Theo’s gaze shifted downward. His clothes were the only things left battered and tattered, but he no longer cared about their state. Taking a deep breath, he looked up, his eyes meeting those of the audience.

He quickly realized he was the center of attention. Everyone present on the battlefield—friends and foes alike—had their eyes glued to him, their expressions filled with awe, confusion, and wariness.

The demons, seeing the barrier crumble, bristled with fury. Many of them seemed ready to lunge forward and tear apart the lone figure standing so defiantly—the one responsible for this disruption. Yet, they held back, their instincts tempered by Malachor’s presence. The demon leader had yet to issue any commands, and his silence kept them rooted in place.

Theo met Malachor’s gaze in unwavering silence. The tension between them thickened like a storm cloud, drawing the attention of everyone on the battlefield. The sight of the boy standing fearlessly before the Ascendant Vice Demon Lord was inconceivable to most.

Even the Monarch Demon, who had nearly killed Theo before, watched with a flicker of surprise in his cold eyes. The enemies began to sense it—something about Theo and Lily’s presence was different, their strength no longer the same.

As they were busy with this realization, Theo’s gaze shifted past the crowd of enemies. His attention fell on a peculiar sight in the distance—a massive flower bud, nearly two meters tall, glowing with an ethereal golden hue.

“Keep them safe…” Theo murmured.

Emma’s brows knitted in confusion. “Why would you—” she began, but before she could finish, Theo’s figure blurred and vanished before her eyes.

At the same time, Lily raised her hand, and a radiant golden light began to spiral around her fingers as a new protective dome materialized, expanding outward until it engulfed the crimson dome within its embrace. The layered barriers shimmered with divine brilliance, forming an impenetrable shield around the Canorians.

She didn’t need any explanation. Theo’s words were clear, and she had no intention of letting anyone disturb what was about to happen.

Malachor’s eyes darted across the battlefield, searching for Theo. He spotted the boy on the far side, standing near the glowing bud.

The golden light of the bloom intensified as Theo approached, casting a radiant glow over the broken earth. Suddenly, a series of notifications began appearing before Theo.

<<<<

[Abyssal Eternal Bloom has absorbed a massive amount of accumulated life essence.]

[Alert: Abyssal Eternal Bloom is undergoing evolution.]

[Transformation Complete: Abyssal Eternal Bloom has evolved into a Diamond Grade Beast and advanced to Rank 10.]

[Alert: Abyssal Eternal Bloom is undergoing evolution.]

[Transformation Complete: Abyssal Eternal Bloom has evolved into an Obsidian Grade Beast.]

[Alert: Abyssal Eternal Bloom is undergoing evolution.]

[Transformation Complete: Abyssal Eternal Bloom has evolved into a Mythic Grade Beast.]

[Abyssal Eternal Bloom has advanced to Rank 1.]

[Abyssal Eternal Bloom has advanced to Rank 2.]

[Abyssal Eternal Bloom has advanced to Rank 3.]

>>>>

As the last notification faded, the brilliance of the golden bud began to dim. Its petals trembled slightly before they started to unfurl, revealing the figure within.