Chapter 250: Barrier Around Blessed Land
As those terrifyingly loyal thoughts crystallised within her soul, Tasmin took a deep, shuddering breath and clenched her right fist.
The pitch-black shadow mana coiling around her wrists didn’t just flare... it condensed, darkening into a light-swallowing void that pulsed in sync with her very heartbeat.
At that exact second—
PING!
A bright translucent blue system notification tab violently materialized directly in front of Vespera’s vision as she rode toward the Keep.
[Notice: Territorial Subordinate Achievement Unlocked!]
[Your Subordinate, ’Tasmin’ (S-Rank Shadow Commander), has taken the first step toward condensing a ’Shadow Heart’!]
[Effect: Subordinate’s shadow mana affinity, mental resistance against mind control, and growth ceiling have expanded permanently!]
Vespera’s violet eyes widened in utter surprise. She pulled back slightly on Valkyrie’s reins with her head tilting to the side in genuine bewildered confusion.
"Shadow Heart...?" Vespera murmured aloud in her raspy voice with her eyebrows furrowing.
Inside her mind, Silas was frantically searching through his memories of magical lore and system encyclopedia entries.
’What the hell is a Shadow Heart?’ Silas thought, thoroughly puzzled. ’I’ve read through hundreds of class-advancement books back at the Valoria Academy library, and I’ve never heard of a mortal shadow-user condensing organ-type stuff like that. Is that some kind of precursor trait for divine ascension...?’
Silas paused, his thoughts taking a sudden wry turn as he contemplated the future.
’Man...’ Silas mused internally with a sweatdrop forming behind his female disguise. ’It would honestly be a huge help if we managed to recruit or summon an actual Goddess of Shadow into the territory eventually. Someone who could guide Tasmin’s shadow cultivation directly...’
However, the second that thought formed, Silas instantly shot it down in his own mind with a shudder of pure dread.
’Wait... what the fuck am I thinking?!’ Silas scolded himself mentally, rubbing his temple. ’Right now, I can barely handle managing Eluned and Morwenna! One is an ancient Nature Goddess who constantly kisses me crazy while I’m sleeping, and the other is a feral Pirate Queen who uses my earlobes as a chew toy when she’s drunk! If I add another high-maintenance divine being into the mix at the Keep... it’s going to be hell on Earth!’
While Silas was silently panicking over his divine harem management, Valkyrie trotted smoothly through the inner gates of the Keep’s central plaza.
The various guards who were moving about the sunlit courtyard looked up, seeing their single-armed, black-haired female Lord returning from the outer woods.
They immediately paused their work, bowing respectfully with bright, affectionate smiles.
"Welcome home, My Lord! Your disguise looks amazing!"
"Good afternoon, My Lord!"
Vespera offered them a warm, charming smile, waving her single right hand gracefully.
"Good afternoon, girls. Carry on with your work."
WHOOSH!
Before Valkyrie could even bring her heavy paws to a complete halt in front of the Keep’s grand stone porch, a streak of brilliant emerald-green light dropped directly down from the high roof eaves above.
Eluned landed lightly on Valkyrie’s broad silver back right behind Vespera with her bare delicate feet making zero sound against the leather saddle.
The ancient Nature Goddess immediately wrapped her slender arms around Vespera’s waist, burying her face into her black-clad shoulder and sniffing deeply with a happy contented purr.
"You’re back, My Lord!" Eluned squeaked out happily, her silver-green hair spilling over Vespera’s back like living vines.
She pulled her head back slightly with her bright green eyes scanning Vespera’s altered physical form with playful fascinated curiosity. "Mmm... it’s still so strange seeing you in this lightweight female body! Where did your muscular shoulders go? And your left arm is completely gone!"
Vespera chuckled softly, reaching back with her single right hand to gently pat Eluned’s knee.
"It’s just a temporary magic disguise, Eluned," Vespera explained smoothly.
"How did the negotiations go with that rolling fortress man?" Eluned asked eagerly, tilting her head. "Did he try to disrespect you? Do I need to go out there and turn his iron vehicle into a flower pot?"
Vespera let out a short amused laugh, shaking her head.
"No need for flower pots," Vespera replied warmly. "The negotiations went remarkably well, actually. We secured high-tier Central City alloys, luxury spices, and a massive trade deal. However... we did officially agree to engage in an official Lord War one week from today."
Eluned’s eyes lit up with sudden competitive excitement as she puffed out her chest, pointing a delicate finger into the air.
"A Lord War?!" Eluned asked eagerly. "Am I participating, My Lord?! Am I going to be deployed on the frontline?!"
Vespera turned her head, offering the Nature Goddess a soft and incredibly alluring smile that made Eluned’s heart skip three beats.
"Of course you are, Eluned," Vespera answered softly, her voice filled with trust. "You are my strongest asset. What on earth would we ever do without you?"
"Eeeek~!" Eluned let out a high-pitched adorable squeak of pure bliss with her cheeks flushing bright crimson as she squeezed Vespera’s waist even tighter. "I knew it! I’m your favorite... not that pirate."
Vespera smiled, but her expression quickly changed.
"Eluned," Vespera spoke, her voice turning serious. "I need to ask you for a very important favor right now."
Eluned sat up straight on the saddle, her green eyes shining with readiness. "Anything, My Lord! Just name it!"
"Lord Sky’s mobile fortress is equipped with advanced, long-range broadcast drones that stream live footage directly back to Earth," Vespera explained clearly. "Even though they are camped at the outer clearing miles away, I don’t want his camera drones or any high-altitude recon spells catching even a tiny glimpse of what goes on inside our territory over this next week."
Vespera looked into Eluned’s eyes, asking directly.
"Can you construct a high-tier barrier? Something that completely covers the entire Blessed Land in an opaque impenetrable optical and spiritual dome? It needs to block all outside vision and scanning spells, but still allow our own field troops like Morwenna, Brida, and Tasmin to pass through freely when they return from their hunts."
Eluned puffed out her cheeks, offering a confident arrogant smirk that only a primordial deity could pull off.
"Is that all?" Eluned giggled softly, waving her hand dismissively. "My Lord, you are asking a Goddess of Nature to manipulate the environmental spirit mist... Creating a one-way isolation barrier around a mere two-mile radius is child’s play for me!"
Vespera smiled warmly, reaching out with her single hand to gently pat Eluned’s head, stroking her soft silver-green hair.
"Thank you, Eluned," Vespera said softly. "You’re a lifesaver."
"Hehehe~" Eluned giggled happily, leaning into the head-pat like a spoiled kitten.
She had always been like this when Morwenna wasn’t around, if Morwenna saw her acting like this, Eluned didn’t know what she would do.
Eluned swung her delicate legs over the saddle and hopped down off Valkyrie’s back, landing lightly on the courtyard cobblestones.
She turned around to face the vast expanse of the Blessed Land, her gentle playful demeanor instantly hardening into an awe-inspiring divine authority.
FWOOSH!
A dense suffocating wave of pure divine nature mana erupted from Eluned’s slender frame.
Her long, silver-green hair lifted off her shoulders, floating in mid-air as glowing emerald leaves and golden spirit particles materialized around her dress.
An intoxicating mind-soothing aroma of fresh forest lilies, crushed pine needles, and morning dew instantly flooded the entire central area.
Eluned raised both of her pale hands toward the sky. Vespera could not hear most of what she was saying but she sure could hear the last part.
"...Canopy of the World Tree!"
BOOOOOM!
She slammed her right foot against the cobblestones and a massive intricate emerald magic circle spanning over fifty meters in diameter instantly burned itself into the earth beneath her feet.
From the outer perimeter of the giant magic array, thousands of luminous, emerald-green vines and translucent spirit roots erupted violently out of the ground.
The roots shot skyward at blinding speed, soaring hundreds of feet into the air before curving outward in a massive breathtaking arc that completely encompassed the entire territory of the Blessed Land.
RUMBLE... FLASH!
High above their heads, the soaring green roots fused together, weaving a dense impenetrable dome of swirling emerald mist and shimmering floral light.
From the inside looking up, the sky appeared perfectly clear and pleasant, bathed in a gentle warm spirit glare.
But from the outside world looking in... the entire Blessed Land had completely vanished from physical space, replaced by an opaque swirling wall of dense un-scanable green mist that completely repelled all camera drones, optical spyglasses, and spatial radar spells.
Eluned let the divine mana fade from her hands with her hair settling softly over her shoulders.
She turned back toward Vespera, dusting her pale hands off with a satisfied proud grin.
"All done, My Lord!" Eluned proclaimed happily. "The barrier is fully active! Nobody outside can see a single blade of grass inside our walls, but all of our girls can come and go as they please!"
Vespera looked up at the shimmering dome above, impressed by the speed and perfection of the spell.
"Fantastic work, Eluned," Vespera praised warmly.
She reached up with her single right hand, grasping the dark black disguise ring resting on her ring finger, and pulled it off.
FLASH!
A brilliant blinding burst of golden Gold Core light erupted around her frame!
In a fraction of a millisecond, the slender single-armed female vessel of Vespera dissolved completely into fine golden dust.
Standing atop the stone steps was Silas Graves... restored to his full six-foot-two height, his broad, muscular shoulders, his dark hair, his glowing golden-ringed eyes, and both of his calloused powerful arms.
Silas let out a long satisfying breath, stretching his broad arms out wide as his joints cracked loudly in the warm afternoon air.
"Man, it feels good to have my left arm back," Silas muttered in his deep voice, flexing his left fingers.
He looked down at Eluned, offering her a genuine affectionate smile. "Thank you, Elu. Seriously."
The second Silas transformed back into his true male form, Eluned’s green eyes turned completely round and sparkly.
She didn’t hesitate for a single microsecond as she launched her slender body straight through the air like an eager puppy leaping into her owner’s arms.
"MY LORD!" Eluned squeaked out happily.
PLOP!
Silas instinctively caught her out of mid-air, wrapping his broad, muscular right arm around her slender waist and lifting her effortlessly off her feet.
Eluned immediately wrapped her arms tightly around his neck, looking down at his sharp face with hungry affectionate eyes, pouting her soft lips dramatically.
"Hold me close, My Lord!" Eluned demanded cutely, wriggling against his broad chest. "I used a big divine spell for you! You have to reward me properly right now!"
Silas chuckled warmly, shaking his head at her shameless demand.
But seeing how hard she had worked today to protect the Keep, he had zero intention of denying her.
Silas tightened his grip around her waist, pulling her flush against his chest, and leaned his head up to capture her soft lips in a deep passionate kiss.
"Mmmph~!" Eluned let out a soft surprised gasp into his mouth with her green eyes fluttering shut as pure dizzying ecstasy exploded through her veins.
She immediately wrapped her legs around his waist, reciprocating the kiss with fiery breathless passion, burying her fingers deep into his dark hair.
Inside her mind, the Nature Goddess was practically floating in a cloud of pink hearts.
’Ahhhhh~! I love being rewarded so much! His lips are so warm and masculine! Mmmm~!’
After a long, breathless moment that left Eluned completely panting and red-faced in his arms, Silas gently broke the kiss, resting his forehead against hers as both of their breaths mingled in the cool air.
Silas let out a soft quiet sigh, looking into her glowing green eyes.
"I know it’s annoying having me switch back and forth," Silas explained softly. "But that Lord Sky outside is streaming live to tens of millions of people back on Earth. I need to keep my real identity as Silas Graves completely hidden from the government and the World Council for as long as possible... that’s the only reason I’m wearing Thora’s disguise ring when I step outside."
Eluned looked into his golden-ringed eyes, a serene breathtakingly sweet, and utterly devoted smile spreading across her divine face.
She reached up, gently cupping his cheek with her soft hand.
"You don’t ever have to apologize to me, My Lord," Eluned whispered lovingly, her voice dripping with unshakeable devotion. "Whether you appear as a tall handsome man, or a beautiful one-armed black-haired woman... my soul belongs to you entirely. I will gladly accept your kisses regardless of what body you wear."