Chapter 620: The Land Where the Winds Rage
After attending Grandfather Paorul’s lecture, I borrowed some books and returned to my House.
I learned a lot, but to pick out only what I need this time, the ghosts of the Land of Ruin cannot be dispelled. First, I need to deal with the black ones entwined with the King’s Branch; without that, purification or sublimation is impossible.
Typically, the King’s Branch is found at the center or deep within a Castle or Temple. Since I only need to collect stones, I have no intention of venturing into such central areas.
However, I can temporarily draw back the Light Attribute, Fire Attribute, Wind Attribute, and even the refreshing types of Water Attribute Spirits.
I also borrowed a book that explains how to create Magic Circles using these elements. In fact, it seems the author is none other than Grandfather Paorul himself.
He constructed it by poring over a vast amount of historical documents since he cannot see Spirits. He did achieve the desired effects—though he isn’t entirely confident that the Spirits acted as he intended.
Orlando-kun passionately asserted that the techniques used by Priests in various Temples are “reliable!”
It seems there’s no need to worry about the results. Since Grandfather Paorul cannot see Spirits, his lack of confidence likely stems from concerns that he might be overworking them or from the Spirits themselves.
Still, it’s impressive how he provides exactly what I need without any excess. There are at least ten books he selected for me. The reasons behind why they cannot be dispelled get increasingly complex and difficult the more I dig into them.
For the next few days, I read the borrowed books, tended to the mountain, played tug-of-war with Rishu, and spent time brushing him.
Grandfather Paorul’s lineage seems to primarily involve Light and Wind. The Temple of Anoma worships the Light Spirit, and Nakahara still bears the influence of the Wind Spirit, so there were likely many materials related to those.
Having served the Light Spirit for many years, he possesses its influence, but he doesn’t lean toward any particular attribute. With Zabuton’s presence nearby, I think the Light Attribute will be more versatile for me.
Now then.
If I’m going to use Grandfather Paorul’s Magic Circle as a foundation, I should aim for a dome that harmonizes well with either the Light or Wind Spirits.
I don’t really understand the Light Spirits; they seem to be everywhere, but because they are so widespread, it’s hard to pinpoint where the significant ones are. There are Spirits of the Midnight Sun, but they also embody the night.
As for the Wind Spirits, they can be found where Dragons roam. There are howling Wind Spirits, frenzied Wind Spirits, and screaming Wind Spirits. The Magic Stones of the Demonized Dragons are pitch black, but since Demon Beast Magic Stones come in various colors, I believe there are also transparent ones.
If there were crystal veins around, that would be the easiest option, but I doubt anyone is mining in such places… Well, I could always ask the Earth Spirits to check if they exist. For now, I’ll search in areas where the Wind Spirits are strong.
And so, I have arrived at the land where Dragons stride. Most of the ones flying around are ordinary Dragons, so I’m aiming for those lumbering on the ground.
I wonder if the Wind Spirits will distance themselves if they become Demon Beasts? Since they fly with the help of the Wind Spirits, I think they would lose that ability if they drift away. However, some have become Demonized along with the Wind Spirits, so it’s not a certainty.
…Upon closer inspection, those lumbering creatures that resemble dinosaurs seem to be more influenced by the Earth Spirits or Rock Spirits? The Demon Beasts on the ground likely target things that are also on the ground, so it’s natural for them to be biased.
I wander around, hoping to find another fallen Dragon. With the presence of the Tempest Spirit and the Gale Spirit, I need to be cautious of sudden gusts.
I’m diligently naming the surroundings to weaken their presence, but the winds are raging too fiercely; it’s impossible for the same Spirits to be around. The wind is just too strong here.
With no other choice, I create a protective sphere of the Atmosphere Spirit around me, much like entering the sea. The strong winds brush over the surface and blow past without affecting me inside.
Occasionally, the Atmosphere Spirit gets pulled away by the Wind Spirits and rushes past, or conversely, the Wind Spirits cling to the surface of the sphere, assisting the Atmosphere Spirit.
As I wander, a Wind Spirit approaches and persistently tries to catch my attention.
What is it? It doesn’t seem to be one of the Spirits I named during my last visit. Should I follow it?
Compared to the enthusiastic Wind Spirits around here, this one feels more serene. I proceed cautiously, keeping an eye on the surrounding Dragons and their Demon Beasts.
I think I could defeat them, but the sheer mass of these large carnivores evokes memories or impressions from before I came here, making me feel a bit scared. I’d be fine if they were smaller than the Spirits.
The Wind Spirit leads me into a large crack in a rocky mountain. Moving from the bright area into the dark, I feel a slight dizziness, but my vision quickly adjusts.
Once I can see, the air vibrates with a crackling sensation. A Dragon’s roar follows, accompanied by the sounds of birds and the deep growls of lions.
As I venture deeper, I sense a bit of humidity and a hint of the Fire Spirit’s presence. At my feet, there are traces of something large having passed by. Is that a tail that brushed over the footprints? Could this be a Dragon’s nest?
—But the walls on either side are cracked and crumbled. They look relatively new.
Ahead in the passage, I see a short tail lined with protrusions. From the sound, it seems a Demon Beast Dragon is likely battling a Dragon?
This must lead to a wider area, probably a nest. It’s too big to see because the passage is blocked.