NOVEL NEXT Chapter 324: Is that… a cocoon?
Noan frowned, thought for a moment, then decided to speak up: "Accept!"
[🔔 Please prepare yourself.]
Immediately after, the system information panel displayed a special symbol identical to the one atop the dragon's skull.
Noan followed the instructions of the System, placing both hands on the digital screen, activating the 'Almighty Fusion' talent.
Right after that, the three arrows within the circular symbol slowly vanished, replaced by a concentric circle inside the larger ring.
Looking closely, the smaller concentric circle was formed from the three arrows, now bent and fused together.
[🔔 Unlock successful. You have obtained the first arrow, Dark Arrow.
Dark Arrow has been placed inside the 'Storage Space'.]
"Dark Arrow?" Noan frowned, wanting to see what it was, when suddenly the roar of a dragon echoed out.
GRAOO!!!
A terrifying sound, as if it had come from ancient times, carrying an aura of power and majesty that could not be profaned.
Crack! Crack! Crack!
A sound like massive gears beginning to turn resounded nonstop.
Aldric also started, not expecting the gate to suddenly behave abnormally.
"That dragon roar… why do I feel like I've heard it somewhere before?" Aldric muttered.
…
At this moment, in the Empire.
Catherine sat on her chair, frowning at the crystal ball radiating blue light.
"Aldric's life force is fluctuating?" Catherine muttered, brows knitted, as she watched the flame within the orb start to writhe violently.
"How strange… could it be… is he in danger?"
Just then, the flame suddenly extinguished, only to flare up again, even fiercer than before.
"Ah!" Catherine exclaimed in shock: "The flame went out, which means Aldric died, but… why did it blaze up even stronger?"
"Could it be he encountered some danger, then obtained a tremendous stroke of fortune?"
Catherine was baffled, immediately calling her maid: "Summon the Grand Elder here."
"Yes!" The maid standing behind her quickly bowed and left.
Less than five minutes later, the Grand Elder hurriedly entered.
He was about to kneel when Catherine spoke up: "No need! Come and look at Aldric's life flame first."
"Yes!" The Grand Elder bowed, then slowly approached the crystal ball.
"This is…" The Grand Elder frowned as he saw the fiercely blazing flame. "It seems he's encountered some great fortune, but… there is also something very strange."
"Explain clearly," Catherine said with a frown.
The Grand Elder carefully examined the crystal ball once again, then said, "Empress, Aldric's life flame burning this fiercely means he has indeed encountered some tremendous opportunity."
"However, within that flame, there are several black ashes, and they're increasing. This seems to mean that this fortune is not truly destined for him."
"If he stubbornly claims this opportunity, I'm afraid… his life could be in danger."
"It's that serious?" Catherine asked, frowning.
The Grand Elder nodded, "Your Majesty, I'm not certain of the details, I can only…"
GRAOO!!!
Suddenly, a sound like a dragon's roar thundered out, making both Catherine and the Grand Elder jump.
"Did you hear that sound?" Catherine immediately asked.
The Grand Elder only nodded, unable to speak because every hair on his body was standing on end, sweat pouring down like rain, and his body trembling violently.
"You…" Seeing the Grand Elder's expression, Catherine realized that she alone was unaffected, while everyone else had been impacted by the earlier dragon's roar.
Dragons were among the most legendary creatures, not only of the highest rank but also bearing the blood of emperors.
When the dragon's roar sounded, all things must bow their heads.
Luckily, Catherine also possessed the blood of a legendary creature, so she wasn't greatly affected by that earlier roar.
However, she was not entirely immune. The energy in her body had become a bit chaotic, and her heartbeat had quickened slightly.
"It seems… something has happened," Catherine said, her brow furrowed.
She waved her hand, and a stream of energy enveloped the Grand Elder's entire body.
Only then did the Grand Elder let out a sigh of relief and bow his head, saying, "Thank you, Empress."
"Hurry, gather all the Sages, and begin investigating what has happened. See if it's related to the seal of the King and Queen of Insect."
"Yes, as you command, Your Majesty." The Grand Elder bowed, then quickly hurried out.
Catherine let out a long sigh, suddenly feeling something was off.
"No, why was the Grand Elder able to sense that dragon's roar? Could it be that he is also connected to the seal of the Insect Kingdom?"
Catherine frowned in thought, but then shook her head: "Perhaps the Grand Elder is simply worried about the seal being broken, so he deliberately linked his life force to the seal."
"Let's hope… the seal isn't destroyed. If not, humanity will…"
Outside, after leaving the room, the Grand Elder gave instructions to the servants to carry out Catherine's orders. Then, he hurried to a secluded place.
He waved his hand, creating a magical protective dome. Unless someone reached level 10, no one outside could see what was happening within.
Now, the Grand Elder trembled violently, kneeling on the ground, his face beginning to twist into a strange shape.
Then, his face suddenly transformed, turning into the face of a giant insect.
Two eyes as large as a fly's, countless tiny fangs sprouting from his mouth like little spikes, and his neck splitting into small crevices.
From his back, two pairs of transparent wings sprouted like those of a dragonfly.
The Grand Elder shook his head, sighed, and muttered, "The seal is about to break… Why has that one appeared at this moment?"
"Could it be… the Fate Hunter has truly entered the wheel of fate?"
…
Elsewhere.
In an icy cave.
Carlotta was sitting on a rocking chair, leaning back in an extremely relaxed and comfortable manner.
From time to time, she would take a candy from the table and pop it into her mouth.
The sweet taste of the candy enchanted her, her eyes half-closed as if she were sleeping.
GRAOO!!!
Suddenly, a sound like a dragon's roar echoed out. However, unlike the Grand Elder, Carlotta wasn't frightened or startled at all.
She just lay there, unmoved, as if nothing had happened.
After a while, she took another candy from the plate on the table, put it in her mouth, and muttered, "Looks like… the wheel of fate has started to spin faster."
…
In a small cave.
Zeka was sitting inside, facing him were Violette and Elara.
Elara, just as before, sat silently, her eyes filled with contempt as she looked at Zeka.
Violette, on the other hand, showed a bit of concern, softly asking, "Are you alright?"
Zeka felt the warmth coming from Violette, which only made him more certain that she definitely liked him; otherwise, she would have left long ago.
Zeka smiled and said, "I'm fine, I just ran into a few dogs out there that wouldn't stop chasing me, that's all."
"But don't worry, I definitely won't be defeated by those bastards."
"Ah! Violette, can you cast a spell to 'buff' me?"
Violette hesitated a little at his words, but still pretended to be apologetic, saying, "Of course I can, but… I don't have much energy left. Right now, if I use my magic to buff you, my energy will be depleted."
"In this kind of extreme weather, if I run out of energy, I'm afraid…"
Although Violette didn't finish her sentence, Zeka clearly knew just how terrible the consequences would be.
"Ah! I understand. Sorry, Violette." Zeka smiled.
Violette shook her head, her expression incredibly gentle: "No, I should be the one apologizing. I'm… I'm too useless."
"No! You're not useless." Zeka shouted, "Violette, you are an angel, the light in my heart."
"Huew!" Elara pretended to retch, pouting as she said, "Oy! I don't want to throw up what I just ate, so… please shut up."
"You…"
GRAOOO!!!
"Ack!" Suddenly, a terrifying roar made his head throb with pain.
What followed was even more horrifying.
Vines pierced through his skin, bursting out like living snakes.
"AGH!!!" Zeka screamed in pain. Inside him, Vinelord was also screaming in terror and despair.
"What the hell is happening?" Vinelord shouted, but Zeka didn't answer, because at that moment Zeka was clutching his head, his face contorted with agony.
Suddenly, tentacles shot out, wrapping around Zeka's body.
"That…" Violette stammered as she saw the enormous thing in front of her: "Is that… a cocoon?"