From Sumeru…
The beast that ran all the way into the deepest den?
Oh, that one who guarded the promise of the Lord of the Trees.
The Grass Dragon, Apep?
That thing had its uses, albeit clumsy.
But unlike Azhdaha, its condition was much worse.
Even if usable, he couldn't be at ease.
Besides, Taro also needed to run a little experiment on it.
Previously he had about eighty percent confidence, but with Belldandy's emergence…
Yes, decision made. When he had the time, he'd turn that creature into a test subject.
"Beruru, can I take the Seed with me?"
Taro looked at the Zanmalan's transformed body—now in Seed form.
Since Beruru was already his dependent, and Seeds could continue birthing,
then naturally this one also fell under his command.
Seeds had respectable self-defense,
but the Chasm was not safe, and Teyvat was not safe either.
Too many deranged zealots roamed this world.
Leaving the Seed here would only worry him.
"Of course I'm willing!"
Beruru's eyes filled with joy.
"Zanmalan, willing… follow… Wisdom Lord."
The gentle voice of the Seed echoed in Taro's ear.
He looked back and forth between the Seed and Beruru,
then smiled again.
He needed to cleanse it with a second baptism.
Now, he was ninety percent confident.
He had no intention of leaving it behind here.
"Good."
"Come to my world and continue to grow."
Taro reached into his personal storage and pulled out—
World-Class Artifact: Azure Sky Small World!
Inside was a fully self-contained miniature world, roughly the size of one-fifth of Jotunheim from the World Tree's Nine Realms.
It came with almost twenty supreme functions:
binding, suppression, concealment, shielding, nullification of physical damage, nullification of magic damage, and more.
One of the topmost world-class artifacts, just a step below the legendary "Twenty."
He had paid dearly to acquire this.
"Zanmalan… likes it."
Soft light wrapped around the Seed.
Every root, every branch shimmered.
With the artifact's activation, the Seed vanished—
leaving only a deep pit spreading across the ground.
"Magnificent, Wisdom Lord."
Beruru's eyes sparkled as she gazed inside the vision sphere.
Within the Azure Sky Small World,
in the hollow heart of a vast mountain,
the Seed flourished without restraint.
In mere moments, the barren peak was lush with life.
"Beruru, can you still sense the Seed?"
Taro granted her entry rights, then retracted the crystal sphere.
Inside, faint silhouettes of mountains and rivers shimmered.
"Mm-hmm! I can see, hear, and feel the Seed. Wonderful! Wisdom Lord, I love it!"
She flitted about in the air excitedly.
Truly like a spirit… though no, she was a spirit now.
Taro shook his head slightly, then turned toward the deepest part of the Chasm.
There, Abyssal and Celestial Demonic auras coiled most densely.
Whoosh~
A faint sound whispered.
A starry black portal opened before him.
A tall figure in a water-blue robe stepped out.
For a moment, both sides stared.
"Human?"
"Abyss Herald."
Taro smirked. "What an unexpected catch. Perfect. Go fetch your prince. I want him in front of me within ten minutes. Reason? His sister is in this Chasm right now. That's enough."
Translation: Your sister is in my hands. You don't come?
"You… arrogant cur, die!"
The Herald roared in rage.
Streams of water gathered on his arms, forming blades.
To dare insult the Prince, threaten his blood kin—
death!
"Foul monster, take this!"
Taro didn't move.
But Beruru instantly grew furious.
How dare a mere beast raise its blade against the Wisdom Lord?
Ignorant fool, begging to die!
She raised her staff. Thorned vines burst forth,
snaring the Abyss Herald and hoisting him into the air,
binding him tight in an instant.
"Ahhh—!"
His scream tore through the cavern as the thorns nearly crushed him.
Not being a super-beast, he still felt every shred of pain.
"Tsk tsk tsk~"
Taro looked him over.
"Loyalty is fine, but shame you've no brains. Couldn't even sense danger? Such an obvious gap, and you rush headlong? Foolish."
The Herald, barely conscious, still spat:
"Pitiful… human, you—"
"Hey!"
Beruru puffed her cheeks.
This monster dared insult the Wisdom Lord?
She bonked him on the head with her staff.
Thud~
A nice sound. A nice hit.
The Herald's head drooped, dazed.
"Yah…"
Beruru stuck out her tongue, then lifted the staff again.
"Wake up!"
She forced him conscious once more.
"…Really? Not even allowed to faint? You humans are cruel."
"Hmph! Monster!" Beruru planted her hands on her waist.
"How dare you not accept the Wisdom Lord's grace?"
Grace?
What grace?
He thought of how she had nearly crushed him, then beat him senseless… and now called it "grace"?
In his heart he cursed every profanity, but not a word left his lips.
For some reason, the word felt oddly familiar.
Grace? Feel grace?
Even as an Abyss Herald, this was too much!
Tears welled, but he dared not cry.
"Hmm?"
Beruru frowned.
The monster stayed silent.
She thought he was scorning the Wisdom Lord.
So she raised her staff again—
Sensing true death, the Herald shrieked:
"Wait, stop! Let's talk! Please! I'll do anything, just put me down!"
(End of Chapter)
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