Chapter 60: OMG, What Happened To Me?
Chapter 60: OMG, What Happened To Me?
Far to the Eastern Wastelands, clinging to the jagged border of the Demonic Beast Forest, a rickety wooden cottage sat alone on the highest peak of the Beastmaster Sect. Though it looked fragile enough to collapse in a stiff breeze, the ancient structure possessed an uncanny, unnatural firmness—much like the infamous Demonic Sect itself.
Inside, is a heavy haze of a tension filled room. The Sect Master, a handful of high-ranking Elders, and Holy Maiden Baihu were huddled around a large table, engrossed in a high-stakes game of "Make Nine." The game was a brutal test of wits and luck, played with four dealt wooden tiles etched with paired numbers, which the players split into high and low hands.
Clack! Clack!
The sharp sound of wooden tiles echoed through the room. Among the players, Long Aotian—the self-proclaimed "Demigod of Gambling" within the sect—stared down at his newly dealt hand. His complexion looked downright sickly. In the center of the table, a glittering, multi-colored mountain of monster cores shifted back and forth with every aggressive bet.
The players surrounding the hoard were a terrifying assembly of the sect's peak power:
The First Elder: A woman of elegant, deadly beauty, universally feared as the strongest Beastmaster and Summoner in the east. Right now, her sharp eyes were narrowed in deep suspicion at Baihu.
The Second Elder: A refined, serene woman. She was an Immortal Physician and a master of the Wood element, serving as the sect’s premier Pill Refiner. She was currently wearing a knowing smile, thoroughly amused by the Sect Leader’s miserable expression.
The Third Elder: A Demonic Tiger in human form. A pure Body Cultivator built like a fortress, he was letting out a low, menacing growl at Baihu, his eyes locked on her rapidly growing pile of beast cores.
The Sect Leader: A massive, imposing man carrying Half-Vampire heritage. He possessed piercing yellow eyes and pale skin, but wore his black sect robes with a thoroughly sloppy, disheveled carelessness.
The Sect Leader scratched his messy, long black hair and peered at his tiles, looking thoroughly stressed. With his unshaven face and a heavy scent of booze radiating off him, anyone passing by would seriously doubt this man was the leader of a legendary cultivation sect. He looked more like the leader of a local tavern's afternoon nap circle.
Then there was Baihu. Historically known as the sect's most notoriously unlucky gambler, she had suddenly transformed into a ruthless card shark over the past two weeks. No one in the room could fathom why—except for the vague knowledge that her streak began right after she formed a formal summons contract with a strange western male named Loki Sky.
"Nine!" the Sect Leader suddenly roared, slamming his tiles down. "Eat that, Baihu!"
"Oh my~" Baihu purred, a teasing smile playing on her lips as she flipped her tiles. "Sect Master, it seems I also have a Nine?"
The Sect Leader’s jaw dropped. "Dammit! My low hand is only a six!"
"Wow, that almost beat my seven, haha!" Baihu laughed softly.
The other three Elders let out collective groans of defeat, their shoulders slumping. With a smooth, casual sweep of one of her fluffy white tails, Baihu slid the massive pile of winnings across the table toward herself.
The First Elder leaned forward, her eyes flashing. "Hey, wait a minute. Did your new Beastmaster somehow give you gambling skills?"
Baihu paused. She had managed to keep it a secret for two whole weeks, but it seemed her luck was simply too blatant to ignore anymore. She demurely covered her lips with a delicate hand and giggled.
"Oh my, First Elder, you finally noticed? Hehe. Yes, my Holy Son Loki has bestowed unparalleled skills upon me. Some of them haven't even been seen in the Eastern Wastelands before... I'm just so happy!"
Bang!
The Third Elder slammed his massive fist onto the table, making the remaining tiles jump. "Sect Leader, that has to be cheating, right? I want my beast cores back!"
The Sect Leader looked heartbroken, staring at his empty side of the table. He had fully intended to challenge this new Holy Son to a game himself, but if Baihu's terrifying luck was just a fraction of the kid's power, the Sect Leader risked losing his entire mountain peak in a single afternoon.
"Cough! Hey, old tiger, calm down," the Sect Leader grunted, rubbing his temples. "It isn't cheating if the power comes directly from her Master, sigh. But honestly, I really want to meet this kid even more now."
The Second Elder, always the practical alchemist, turned her elegant gaze toward Baihu. "Should I send him some high-grade pills as a welcoming gift?"
Baihu smiled, keeping her answer transparent but adjusting a few key details to protect Loki's secrets. "He already learned all of the knowledge you taught to my Junior Sister. He is a genuine prodigy and learns incredibly fast."
The Second Elder’s eyes widened in genuine shock. Shehuang was one of her brightest, most talented students. To think a westerner had absorbed that depth of medical knowledge so quickly was mind-boggling.
"I see... Then next time you venture out, bring Shehuang back with you," the Second Elder instructed gently, a hint of sorrow bleeding into her voice.
"She has been gone for quite a while. Especially after her clan was slaughtered, sigh."
Baihu nodded respectfully. "I can't bring Loki here physically until we can cover the massive energy cost of his return trip. But bringing Shehuang back for a visit is no problem at all, since he can easily summon us both right back to his side."
The First Elder smiled warmly at that. As a fellow Summoner, she deeply appreciated the unprecedented level of freedom and respect Loki granted to his summons. "I still find it fascinating how his soul naturally aligns with the entities of our Demonic Sect, despite him having no prior knowledge of us. And as a western man, his complete lack of prejudice toward us is incredibly refreshing."
Baihu’s expression softened, a genuine, warm glow illuminating her features. "Loki's past life was deeply intertwined with Shehuang, Taki Tsuki, and myself. That is why his soul found us... Perhaps we were past lovers, or family?"
The Sect Leader grunted, lifting a flask and taking a heavy swig of premium Immortal Wine. "Old Qinglong told Baihu to accept the kid. Said his soul was vital for our future. A prophecy, maybe? He claimed Loki Sky would save our Sect one day."
At those words, all the Elders turned their heads to stare intently at Baihu. To their absolute astonishment, the notorious, seductive Kyuubi actually blushed crimson. She waved her hands frantically in front of her face.
"No, no! I didn't choose Loki for some grand prophecy!" she stammered, her voice dropping into a breathless, enamored whisper. "I fell completely in love with him the very moment our souls connected... And when I finally saw him in person, my only thought was that I wanted to mate with him right then and there, hehe."
The gathered Elders and the Sect Master stared at the flustered, love-struck fox beast, completely speechless. For the first time in a long time, a collective wave of worry washed over them—not for the enemies of the sect, but for the chaotic future of the Beastmaster Sect under this wild new dynamic.
Meanwhile, in a vastly different corner of the world, Loki was trapped in the clutches of a profoundly bizarre, exhausting nightmare.
He felt as though he had spent an eternity buried beneath a literal mountain of different women. The dream was a relentless, hyper-accelerated cycle of intimacy. Every single time he was with one of them, the moment she stepped away to let the next woman take her turn, her belly would instantly swell into the late stages of pregnancy.
It was an endless, surreal rotation: Shade, Sylvia, Shehuang, Taki Tsuki, Yin Meng, Lisa Swallow, Ayala, Lana, Angelica, and Baihu.
Even within the haze of the dream, Loki’s conscious mind was screaming that this had to be an illusion. The biggest giveaway was the inclusion of the First Queen, Angelica Cross—Lana's wicked, deceitful mother. When her terrifying form crawled into the bed and mounted him, Loki fought with every ounce of his willpower to wake up.
But the nightmare refused to release its grip. He failed to stop himself from succumbing to the illusion, trapped in the clutches of the wicked witch. He internally wept, thinking he would have infinitely preferred the MILF Elf, Breeze, or literally any other woman over Angelica.
By the time the cycle repeated for the third time, Loki simply went numb. He dissociated, ignoring the chaos and pretending the Queen wasn’t even there. There was so much frantic activity and an overwhelming abundance of pregnant women that Loki mentally vowed he wouldn't be able to look at romance for at least a week. How was it even possible to feel this physically and mentally exhausted inside a dream?
Eventually, the frantic movement ground to a halt. The women lined up, each holding a newborn baby out for him to see. Though the infants' faces were blurred and indistinct, he could clearly discern the defining traits of his lineage: his children with Shehuang and Baihu were unmistakable Lamia and Kyuubi babies.
Finally, a final, breathtakingly gorgeous woman stepped forward. She possessed slick, long black hair and brilliant, piercing blue eyes. She cradled her child close to her chest, her face contorted with a profound, shattering heartache as she looked at Loki.
"This is our son, Nari..." she whispered, her voice trembling. "But Vali will kill him, Dear!"
"Oh my god?! Eh?!"
Loki bolted upright, gasping for air as he tore himself out of the clutches of the nightmare. His chest heaved as his eyes darted frantically around the dim, rocky enclosure.
The moment he tried to move, he realized he was entirely naked, sitting atop the absolute ruin of what used to be his sleeping bag. A wave of intense nausea hit him as he took in the sheer physical aftermath of his hyper-realistic nightmare.
"What... What the hell happened to me?"
He attempted to stand up, but the ruined fabric of the sleeping bag was completely fused to his skin. It functioned exactly like industrial velcro. When he forcefully pulled away, the material tore off his body with a sickening, crunchy pop.
"Lana? Hey, Lana, where are you?" Loki called out, a sudden pang of worry hitting his chest.
He dialed into his superhuman senses, throwing an invisible radar sweep across the entire span of the cave. Nothing. Lana was completely gone. Just as panic began to tighten its grip on his throat, his eyes caught sight of a neatly folded letter resting on a nearby rock ledge.
He snatched it up and read the contents, letting out a long, slow breath.
"So, Thorin actually managed to track down this place, huh?" Loki muttered to himself. He stared at the empty cave, a bittersweet smile touching his lips. "I don't know if I'm more sad that she had to leave, or incredibly proud of how decisive and smart she’s becoming."
A sudden, foul whiff of the ruined bedroll hit his nose, breaking his train of thought. He looked down at the crusty abomination and narrowed his eyes.
He knew exactly how to handle this crime scene.
"Kill it with fire. Minor Scorch Utility!"
With a sharp flick of his wrist, a violent torrent of magic erupted from his fingertips. Scorch was his newly developed hybrid element—a flawless amalgamation of Fire and Air magic. Instead of a standard reddish-orange flame, it manifested as a roaring, ethereal blue fire. It burned with a terrifying, concentrated heat, operating less like a standard campfire and more like an industrial blowtorch.
Poof!
In a matter of seconds, the haunted bedroll that had birthed his worst psychological nightmare was entirely incinerated, leaving behind nothing but a light dusting of ash. With the evidence destroyed, his crushing sense of shame finally evaporated.
Loki thoroughly cleaned himself up, took a moment to check his pocket watch, and calculated the remaining time. He had roughly twelve days left before the Secret Realm closed.
"That's more than enough time to fully absorb the Primal Air," he resolved, his gaze shifting toward the shimmering, invisible currents of ancient energy fluctuating deeper in the cave. "Think about it... then just do it."
Stepping forward, he walked right into the heart of the invisible vortex and sat cross-legged on the stone floor. As he closed his eyes and began to draw the primordial energy into his mana channels, he sent a silent, desperate prayer into the universe that an Elven Breeze wouldn't decide to invade his dreams this time.
Outside the barrier of the Secret Realm, the atmosphere at the Royal Academy base camp was heavy with military precision.
Yet another student had exited the portal ahead of schedule. Gondul, one of King Owen’s trusted Valkyrie summons, escorted the exhausted young man directly through the camp and into the King's private command tent.
The young warrior, sporting short brown hair and sharp yellow eyes, immediately dropped to one knee and bowed his head respectfully toward the monarch.
"My King, I bring news. The Princess has been located safe and sound. When I departed, she and her personal summons were... seemingly waiting for Sir Thorin and his vanguard to catch up to them."
When King Owen had initially received the scout report that his beloved daughter had plummeted into the treacherous abyss, he had nearly flipped the heavy command table in a fit of absolute, unbridled rage. Hearing this confirmation of her safety finally allowed a wave of calm to wash over him—a shift in aura that his three bonded Wolf and Valkyrie summons immediately felt and appreciated.
"She was waiting alone?" Owen questioned, his eyes narrowing. "Was there any visible sign of Loki Sky at the scene?"
"No, my King," the scout replied diligently. "However, it appears a contingent of Elves and two separate Eastern Righteous Sects were completely wiped out near that location. The rumors indicate they were eliminated by Count Loki and his summons. It seems the Elves are actively hunting Loki across the realm, so his decision to remain hidden makes perfect tactical sense."
Owen's eye gave a involuntary twitch. He knew for a fact that all of Loki's primary, known summons were currently resting right here in the royal camp.
If Loki was wiping out entire squads inside the realm, he was doing it with powers the kingdom hadn't even categorized yet.
"And how did the reunion between Lana and Sir Thorin play out?" Owen asked, leaning forward.
The scout hesitated for a fraction of a second, an uncomfortable expression crossing his face. "My King, it was... incredibly awkward. When Sir Thorin attempted to aggressively question her regarding Count Loki's whereabouts, the Princess lit into him with terrifying intensity. She sounded exactly like her mother, Queen Angelica, berating a disappointing knight. It was utterly ruthless, sire."
Owen felt a cold sweat break out on the back of his neck. A sinking feeling settled into his gut; his daughter had entered this dangerous realm as a naive, sheltered young girl, but it seemed she was going to emerge as a fierce, uncompromising woman. Still, he was an old hound of politics and war, so he pressed on to his primary concern.
"What about her combat metrics? Has she made any quantifiable progress over these past two weeks?"
The scout’s eyes flashed with genuine awe. "She is easily at the peak of the 4th Circle, sire. In fact, she is rapidly approaching the threshold of the 5th."
Owen's breath hitched. "Incredible... Outstanding work, soldier. Go get some rest. At your current 5th Circle level, you won't be permitted to re-enter the realm anyway."
"I obey, my King!" the young Royal Knight shouted, saluting sharply before turning on his heel and exiting the tent.
Once the flap closed, Gondul stepped up behind Owen's chair. She already knew the answers to the questions she was about to ask, but she wanted to hear her master voice them. "She was barely advancing to the 3rd Circle when she entered, and in a mere two weeks, she is practically knocking on the door of the 5th? Do you truly believe she spent that entire time isolated with Count Loki?"
"Without a shadow of a doubt," Owen sighed, rubbing his temples. "He clearly utilized an advanced Summons to pull her from the abyss when no one else could... likely that lightning beast, Blitz. Gondul... what on earth am I supposed to do if I’ve completely lost my little girl to him?"
Gondul reached down, playfully ruffling the King's hair before her expression turned serious. "If she is genuinely happy, do not overstep your bounds, Master. If she was ever harmed, we will handle the boy for you. You must accept that she is an adult now, and take pride in the fact that you raised her well."
Owen let out a heavy, world-weary groan. "Dealing with Angelica is going to be an absolute nightmare if it turns out Loki actually compromised Lana... Though, if it was Thorin who suffered her wrath, Angelica will probably be ecstatic. She loves a happy little she-devil."
Skogul, standing by the weapon racks, couldn't help but let out a dry chuckle. "Master Husband, reminding me of that... why did you ever agree to marry that toxic woman in the first place, sigh?"
"Well, she was exceptionally beautiful, possessed that dangerous, villainous archetype allure, and most importantly, she is the South Duke's sister," Owen explained, his voice tinged with the cold reality of royal duty. "I had to tie her to the crown to ensure the Duke kept his massive armies stationed firmly on the southern borders. It was pure geopolitics. Just like why I married my Vampire Princess, Alice—it was the single thread holding that northern peace agreement together."
Princess Alice was now officially Queen Alice, her son Prince Blade Balder is currently presiding over the western Principality and Owen's firstborn son.
"A pity the First Prince was born a Dhampir," Gondul noted dryly. "And it was Angelica who weaponized that Half-Vampire bloodline to get him permanently disqualified from the position of Crown Prince, correct?"
Owen nodded grimly. The cultural prejudices regarding Half-Vampires and Dark Elves were absolute, undeniable facts in the West. If a Dhampir ever ascended the throne, the Elven nations would instantly declare a holy war.
"And she didn't stop there," Owen added bitterly. "She also engineered the rejection of my second son, the one I had with Holy Maiden Xia Bing, simply because he carried half-Eastern heritage. Another political execution, sigh."
Skogul smirked, walking over to join the conversation. "And then, she sneakily got you thoroughly intoxicated on premium Elf Wine, dragged you straight into her bed, and ended up giving birth to Vali. Truly disappointing, Master."
Owen grimaced. He had spent years actively avoiding giving Angelica a male heir, but fate had played a cruel joke on his kingdom. With his other wives, including his Mermaid bride, he had only managed to sire daughters. Because Vali was his only purely human son, Owen was left with zero viable options for an heir that the xenophobic populace would actually accept.
"As long as the true nature of Lana's birth can be kept a absolute secret from the high courts, she can technically inherit the throne as Queen, but..."
Owen trailed off, the heavy silence hanging in the air.
Gondul finished the thought for him. "Would Angelica ever allow a daughter from another bloodline to take what she believes belongs to Vali?"
Owen didn't answer. He simply reached out, pulling his Valkyrie Queen Gondul down into his lap, wrapping his arms tightly around her waist as he buried his face in her shoulder, desperately seeking comfort for his exhausted soul.
One week later, deep within the subterranean depths of the Royal Secret Realm...
Thud!
Loki’s heavy leather boots impacted the solid stone floor, kicking up a small cloud of ancient dust.
He had just officially concluded his intense, uninterrupted cultivation of the Primordial Elements inside the hidden chamber, and the raw, tangible gains surging through his meridians were nothing short of monumental.
"Just shy of Vanguard 4th Circle... and just a hair away from Summoner 6th Circle," Loki murmured, clenching and unclenching his fists as tangible arcs of elemental mana flickered across his skin. "I might not have unlocked any specific spells past the 4th Circle yet, but overall? I am a total badass. I am officially the very first creature in the entire history of Myst to safely wield three wildly conflicting primordial elements inside a single human body without instantly blowing myself to pieces... cough!"
He paused, clearing his throat from the sudden dramatic declaration, and pulled his ornate gold pocket watch from his vest. He checked the ticking hands and gave a firm, satisfied nod.
"Perfect. Just enough time left to navigate out of this place, track down my woman, and maybe track down my dear brother to slap him across the face once or twice just for kicks, hehe."
With a confident smirk plastered across his face, Loki turned on his heel and strode purposefully forward, picking a random exit tunnel and venturing out into the wider realm to reclaim his princess.
Review, Comment, and light up Favorite Buttons...