novelraw Chapter 354 - 355: Vera’s Inner World
Chapter 354 - 355: Vera’s Inner World
However...
Even though Vera was completely controlled by the Insect Emperor’s Will at this moment, plunged into a frenzy of slaughter and devouring desire.
A subtle yet crucial phenomenon allowed Aster Grant’s tense nerves to relax somewhat.
And that was...
From beginning to end, no matter how violent Vera’s aura became, she never showed even the slightest hostility towards him.
Those blood-red eyes, when sweeping over Aster Grant, though filled with chaos and obsession...
Still revealed a faint, indelible, twisted attachment.
Even if her consciousness was submerged, her deepest instincts still firmly excluded Aster from her list of targets.
Therefore, Aster had no obstacles as he approached Zane Drake and the others.
At this moment, in the sky above the Kratosium, Lazuli was in fierce combat with Vera, whose power had surged once again.
The dissipating energy shock waves were rampaging, the situation critically dangerous.
"Drake, Uncle Whitaker, quickly lead everyone and exit the Divine Realm!"
Zane Drake looked at the young man before him who had created miracles time and again and then at those two terrifying figures in the sky.
He knew very well that staying would not only be of no help but would also distract Aster Grant.
He clapped Aster on the shoulder heavily, saying in a deep voice:
"Alright! Be careful! We will wait for your return outside!"
Soon, under Zane Drake’s command, everyone swiftly exited the Divine Realm.
Just as Zane Drake was leaving, he seemed to remember something and turned to remind Aster:
"Oh! The Beast Taming Contract is a bridge of the soul!"
"If external means can’t awaken her, perhaps you can try a consciousness link to directly enter her inner world!"
"Ancient texts vaguely mention that when a beast descends into extreme chaos, a Beast Tamer might awaken its true self on a conscious level through a deep contract connection!"
"However, this method is extraordinarily risky, requiring close contact, and your consciousness might be eroded by her chaos, be very careful!"
It was witnessing Vera’s abnormal state that Zane Drake suddenly thought of this solution.
As Aster heard these words, he was instinctively taken aback.
A consciousness link?!
Entering her inner world?!
A spark of light flickered in Aster Grant’s eyes.
Perhaps this method could be attempted!
Watching Zane Drake and the others leave, Aster took a deep breath, his gaze returning to the battlefield in the sky.
At this moment.
Facing the bizarre, endless vines released by Vera like a tide.
Lazuli swung the Sword of Destruction with all her might, the golden-red sword light sweeping across, severing, and obliterating the advancing vines.
Each swing of the sword made her arms feel a wave of numbness.
Lazuli gritted her teeth, her delicate body trembling slightly from the sustained high-intensity output, crystalline sweat continuously sliding down her forehead and dripping along her cheeks.
"How can this Verdantsprite under the control of the insects be so powerful!"
She was using all her strength, pushing the Destruction and Guardian Laws to her limits.
However, in the face of Vera, whose power had surged madly again after devouring the Frost Serpent, the Demon Clan elites, and a massive number of residual Deadbeast Clan...
All of her attacks seemed somewhat feeble and ineffective.
Vera’s power was not only immense but also carried the unique devouring and void characteristics of the Insect Emperor, making her defense overwhelming.
At this moment, she was relying almost entirely on the powerful defense provided by the Guardian Law, coupled with the Destruction Law for limited counterattacks, barely holding her ground.
Defeat seemed only a matter of time.
"Lazuli!"
In this critical moment, Aster Grant’s voice clearly transmitted into her mind through the Soul Link.
"Find a way to create an opportunity for me to get close to Vera! I need to be at close range!"
While struggling to counteract an almost silently appearing void rift, Lazuli’s heart tightened upon hearing this.
The master wants to get close to Vera in her current state?
It’s too dangerous!
But out of absolute trust in and obedience to Aster, this worry was instantly suppressed.
She bit her silver teeth, a resolute gleam flashing in her eyes!
There’s no choice but to fight on!
Having made up her mind, Lazuli no longer hesitated, unleashing the Guardian Law to an unprecedented extreme!
"Divine Protection!"
A brilliant golden light exploded around her, completely enveloping her body.
After casting Divine Protection...
Lazuli completely gave up defense, channeling all remaining power into the Destruction Law!
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Vera’s attacks fell like raindrops on the golden light shield.
But the defense of Divine Protection was invincible.
Seizing the moment of Vera’s assault, a fierce glint flashed in Lazuli’s eyes!
"Destruction... Bloom!"
She condensed the Destruction Law to the extreme and, in an almost self-destructive manner...
transformed it all into the purest, most explosive Destruction Law, erupting with a thunderous force!
A destructive crimson-gold shockwave, centered on Lazuli, rapidly spread outward in all directions!
Sizzle——!
The dark red vines that twined around, attempting to breach the "Divine Protection" light shield, were instantly cleared and vaporized in a large area under this indiscriminate destructive impact!
Even the dark red energy field surrounding Vera was shaken by this sudden burst, causing temporary disorder and gaps!
It’s now!
Aster Grant’s eyes sharpened, power burst from within him, and his figure shot forward like an arrow, hurtling towards the frenzied silhouette in the air without hesitation!
He pushed his Speed to the limit and called out to Vera with the strongest urgency:
"Vera!"
Vera, who was frantically attacking Lazuli’s defense, seemed to sense Aster’s approach, hesitating for a brief moment.
Her blood-red eyes turned to the rapidly approaching Aster, a mix of confusion and struggle flashing through them, causing her frenzied attacks to pause momentarily.
This momentary hesitation gave Aster his final opportunity!
Whoosh!
Aster’s figure seemed to teleport, piercing through the chaotic streams of energy, precisely appearing in front of Vera.
Under Lazuli’s tense gaze, he opened his arms wide, and tightly, without hesitation, embraced the elf radiating a terrifying aura...
Time seemed to stop at that moment.
The anticipated backlash of violent energy did not occur.
At the moment Aster embraced her, the rampant energy around Vera stilled momentarily.
Her body stiffened, blood-red eyes swirling with chaos and a longing frenzy.
She could tear apart the power of a Totem warrior, yet now she cautiously restrained herself, afraid to harm the one in her arms by even a fraction.
"Vera... it’s me..."
Aster gently rested his chin on Vera’s icy strands of hair, his voice deep and tender.
"Don’t be afraid, I’m here!"
At the same time, Aster closed his eyes, sinking his entire spirit into the Beast Taming Contract!
He poured his spiritual power without reservation, through the bridge of the contract, reaching towards the depths of Vera’s consciousness, shrouded in madness and darkness!
Buzz!
Aster felt his consciousness traversing a long and twisted passage, filled with dark red thorns and void fissures!
Countless screams filled with negative emotions, the cold whispers of the Insect Emperor’s Will, and Vera’s own painful sobs surged over his Perception like a tide!
But he did not retreat, relying on the Link of the contract and his trust in Vera’s true self.
His consciousness resolutely moved towards the deepest part of that darkness!
He aimed to enter her inner world, on the ruins occupied by the Insect Emperor’s Will, and personally awaken his elf...
The impact of the journey through consciousness made Aster’s body tremble slightly, yet his arms around Vera remained firm as a mountain.
In the outside world, the dark red and crimson-gold energies continued to clash,
but at the core, the two seemed ensnared in an eerie stillness.
Lazuli maintained the Guardian barrier with tense focus, not daring to relax for even a moment.
She knew that the final outcome, even their very lives, hinged on Aster’s seemingly reckless gamble!
Aster’s consciousness kept falling, delving deeper, as if descending into boundless hell...
Finally, after piercing through an extremely viscous, malice-filled dark barrier, he "saw"...
A shattered scene.
The once lush green forest symbolizing Life and Nature had withered and decayed, its clear rivers choked with foul dark red energy, the sky webbed with void fissures.
And at the center of this world, a massive Life Ancient Tree, initially towering and majestic...
was now tightly entwined and corroded by countless dark purple Insect Emperor tendrils, like blood vessels.
The tree’s leaves withered, its trunk etched with twisted, agonized faces.
And under that corroded ancient tree, a curled silhouette emitting a faint green light.
was bound by countless dark red chains, trembling helplessly—
It was Vera’s original consciousness, being consumed and suppressed by the Insect Emperor’s Will!
"Vera!"
...
...