Chapter 489 - Taming the Probing Roots

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Chapter 489: Chapter 489 - Taming the Probing Roots The destruction of the first core had been a masterstroke. "Now it shouldn’t be able to expand as it should," Coleoran explained, rising from his throne to walk toward them, looking at Kassian with special interest. "Its complete form can no longer be. The other cradles no longer make sense without the main core that would coordinate them." It was a victory that compensated for many of the recent ’small’ losses. Without the golden light’s ability to coordinate and expand systematically, their enemies had lost one of their most dangerous weapons. And what had once been a network of interconnected threats had become isolated pockets of resistance, each vulnerable without the central coordination that would have made them so formidable. Kassian nodded with approval, but Ravenspire remained more cautious. The enemy had used the light in the war, and his refined instincts were detecting other nuances in his king’s mood. He was right... "But there’s a problem," Coleoran admitted, his expression hardening. He turned toward them, and for the first time since they had entered, they could see the real frustration he had been hiding behind his political confidence. "The damned fool King has returned." Coleoran could feel Dragarion’s power from here, a presence that pulsed on the horizon like a distant but inevitable storm. The sensation was both familiar and unsettling. It had been years since he had felt that particular signature of overwhelming power, and its return changed every calculation he had been making about the war’s trajectory. "I had almost forgotten how it felt to perceive that power," he admitted bitterly, "but without doubt he’s a formidable rival despite our new potion, despite the new level we’ve reached." It was an honest assessment that spoke both to his respect for his enemy’s power and to his own understanding. Underestimating Dragarion had been the mistake of many previous kings. "Unfortunately, he arrived just before we could obtain their castle and the vein beneath it," he continued, walking back toward his throne. "The timing couldn’t have been worse for our soldiers." Kassian exchanged a glance with Ravenspire. Both could feel the tension in their leader, the frustration of having been so close to the main objective only to see it escape at the last moment. Capturing Yano’s castle would have given them control not just of territory but of the mana processing systems. Now that opportunity to have it easily had vanished like smoke. "But not everything is lost," Coleoran declared, recovering his commander’s composure. "We’ll continue creating powerful tamers with six golden beasts." His eyes turned toward Ravenspire with specific intention. "Although Dragarion made Venmont’s energy signature disappear and they still haven’t reported finding his body," he continued, "at least his battle didn’t end instantly." It was a small but significant detail. If Dragarion had completely vaporized Venmont without effort, the implications would have been disastrous. "Which gives me hope that several warriors of that level could perhaps defeat him together," he concluded, looking directly at Ravenspire. "You will receive the potion now." Ravenspire had proven his worth, and more importantly, had demonstrated his loyalty during situations where others might have wavered. The enhancement would transform him into something at Venmont’s level or better, creating another piece on the board capable of challenging even that legendary opponent. "Then other doubles from important families who have supported the war with men will have it too," Coleoran continued, expanding his vision. "If we can gather more... a few more..." His words were interrupted by the sound of hurried footsteps in the corridor. Selthia entered running, her usual casual demeanor completely abandoned. The girl rarely showed such urgency, which immediately put everyone on alert. "Bad news," she declared without preambles, her breathing labored from running. "The crystal wants to speak with us." The silence showed the concern of most except Kassian. When the crystal summoned an audience, it was almost never good news. It was an entity that operated on scales of time and purpose that rarely aligned with the immediate needs of the mortals who served its objectives. Coleoran felt how his plans would probably suddenly become complicated with variables he couldn’t control or completely predict. "Now?" he asked, though he already knew the answer. "Immediately," Selthia confirmed, her eyes showing the type of concern that only came from certainty of problems. Coleoran straightened, mentally preparing to face whatever revelation or demand the crystal might have. "Very well," he declared, heading toward the door. "Let’s see what our benefactor wants." ♢♢♢♢ Dragarion studied Ren’s eyes with the intensity of someone who had learned to read hidden truths in the most subtle expressions. What he saw there convinced him immediately. It wasn’t the look of a child inventing fantastic stories, but that of someone who had seen too much and understood the implications of every detail. There was a depth in those young eyes that spoke of knowledge. He had many questions for this strange boy, but... "Questions can wait," Dragarion said to himself without taking his eyes off Ren. "Undoubtedly we must first focus on what’s happening in Yino." He moved closer, his commanding presence filling the space. The corruption wasn’t just a distant threat; if it was actively draining the system that kept their civilization functioning... The implications were staggering. They weren’t dealing with a military threat that could be countered with traditional tactics, but with something that attacked the very foundations of their existence. After a moment of reflection, he formulated the question that mattered more than any other. "How do we stop the core, the heart of all corruption?" Ren hesitated, his new expanded consciousness struggling against limitations he hadn’t anticipated. "I’m not entirely sure," he admitted, frustration evident in his young voice. "The enemy defends itself from my beast’s attempts to analyze it too closely." It was like trying to examine a hole that closed every time he tried to peer inside. His amplified perception could sense the corruption’s roots extending through the mana network, but when he tried to follow them to their source, something deliberately obscured them. The defensive mechanisms were sophisticated and adaptive, suggesting an intelligence behind the corruption that was far more complex than he had initially assumed. "I can sense its roots," he continued, closing his eyes to concentrate better. "And now most of its range of influence, which is already very large in Yino’s unexplored territory." His consciousness extended beyond the castle’s limits, beyond the kingdom’s borders, reaching until it was lost in the depth of the sea section that corresponded to Yino and some distant parts that remained beyond his reach. The scope was overwhelming. What they were facing wasn’t a localized threat but something that had spread its influence across vast territories, creating a network of corruption that spanned a now relevant part of the world. "The roots seem to nourish it faster and faster and I don’t know exactly how far they reach," he reported, opening his eyes with growing concern. "But I do know where the ’control center’ is." Dragarion nodded immediately. "Surely it’s the crystal that’s just outside Yino," he said with the confidence of someone who had seen the structure personally. "It has surely grown a lot by now, and it’s probable that I still can’t destroy it with only my power, since it resisted my best attack from both Platinum Rank beasts even before I left... When it was small." The memory was bitter. He had thrown everything he had at that crystalline abomination, and it had shrugged off his assault as if it were nothing more than an inconvenience. If it had grown stronger in his absence... "You’re half right," Ren responded, surprising the king.

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