CHAPTER 278: THE DEVIL'S SMILE

"Mm. The taste really is remarkable."

Upon sensing the life-rich blood surging through the new space within his body, Wang Yu didn't hesitate. He reached into his pouch and pulled out his half of Moira's golden apple, which he chewed leisurely.

It was crisp, sweet, and overflowing with juice—the fresh flavor filled his mouth, delighting him even as he felt a trace of regret that he could only enjoy it once.

"It's not like I learned a technique or anything this time. Rather, my body simply optimized itself. My physique's at the level of a grand knight, but it hasn't plateaued. In fact, the stronger my body becomes, the more I seem to be able to accomplish."

As the golden apple's unique essence dissolved into his body, Wang Yu could feel his body growing noticeably stronger. He had sensed his body's hunger for it before, but had held off—he had been waiting for the right moment to make the most of its effects.

With this new development, he knew that this was the moment he'd been waiting for.

The golden apple enhanced his talent as a knight. Instead of dispersing fully throughout his body, its peculiar essence gathered around that nascent organ and began filling in its deficiencies.

Formless channels extended from his bloodpool and weaved themselves into Wang Yu's circulatory system, integrating seamlessly into his bloodflow.

The blood produced within his body now flowed into the pool, where it surged and churned before being drawn back into circulation, now infused with life force. The pool acted as an immense reservoir throughout this process.

His Blood Tempest secret art fused blood and fighting spirit. This meant that Wang Yu's blood now held not only immense vitality and regenerative properties, but also the capacity to store fighting spirit—bypassing the need for traditional fighting spirit vortices.

The blood pool could hold nearly five times the volume of blood previously in his body—more than double the capacity of his now-destroyed Bloodbite Ring.

Not only did this vastly increase the blood he could manipulate in combat, it also expanded his relatively limited reserves of fighting spirit.

"With this setup, I'm practically a tank now. My defenses haven't changed much, but my regeneration is on another level entirely..."

His body quickly absorbed the golden apple's energy. Wang Yu didn't feel anything particularly dramatic, but he was certain that his body had changed for the better.

The change came from the combined impact of the life force that had surged through him earlier and the golden apple's strengthening effect. What exactly this enhancement meant for his "talent" remained to be explored, but some of these changes were immediately evident.

Extending his hand, Wang Yu willed blood to appear at the center of his palm. It churned and twisted, dancing at his command under the influence of Blood Tempest as it formed various shapes.

A moment later, he activated Material Shaping. His blood hardened and lengthened into a sharp crimson sword, which he caught. Then, with a flick, he tossed it into the air—where it vanished.

That crimson sword had plunged back into the swirling liquid of his bloodpool and dissolved, returning to his body's internal circulation.

He no longer needed physical wounds to control his blood. That space—the bloodpool—was both a reserve armory and a backup health bar. Brimming with both fighting spirit and vitality, the blood was equally useful for offense and rapid regeneration.

"Maybe... if I keep growing stronger, I could one day do what the World-Eater did."

A satisfied smile crossed Wang Yu's lips. He waved off the thought with a hint of self-mockery. It was a fanciful dream, nothing more.

"Well, all that's still a long way off. Right now, my blood can only heal wounds or temporarily replace damaged organs. Rebuilding an entire body isn't going to happen anytime soon."

Muttering to himself, he turned toward Sieg, who was busy examining the inner sanctum of the Life Tree. The professor was jotting notes onto enchanted parchment crafted from the runes of his draconic body.

"Hey, Professor, how are we getting out of here again? Do we have to wait for the elven elders to guide us out? Technically, this place is sacred ground... but we did just take out the World-Eater. I doubt they'll hold it against us."

Wang Yu glanced around the chamber carved into the Tree of Life's heart, but saw no obvious exit.

"Was that giant worm called the World-Eater?" Sieg chuckled softly. "No need to rush. It's dead. I doubt we'll be trapped here forever."

"True..."

Wang Yu scratched his head. Sieg was right, but something still bothered him. This catastrophe hadn't resulted from the World-Eater alone. The true culprits were the devils who had orchestrated it all behind the scenes.

"Damn it. Ever since I lost the key, I've had no way of even reaching the devils—let alone fighting them."

He sighed. Right now, he couldn't touch the devils. He couldn't see them. He couldn't even confirm a devil's presence unless it were to possess someone. And if it did? At most, he could kill the host—but the devil would simply vanish unscathed.

As Wang Yu stood in thought, a section of the wall before them slowly slid open, revealing a corridor beyond. It seemed that the Tree of Life had overheard their conversation and was offering them a way out.

"Let's go," Sieg said, snapping his spellbook shut and stepping toward the opening. Even his brief time spent studying this remarkable space had given him a trove of knowledge.

"Hold up."

Wang Yu paused, then suddenly seemed to remember something. He pulled out several large vials from his belt and rushed back to the Heartpool, scooping up the luminous liquid and sealing it tight.

"I'm pretty sure the elves strictly forbid drawing water from the Heartpool," Sieg said, eyebrows raised.

Wang Yu's actions, under ordinary circumstances, were punishable by expulsion from Liaheim.

Wang Yu shrugged. "This is for Madam Moira. If anyone deserves it, it's her. If not for her Wishing Coin elixir, we couldn't have brought you and that iron giant back. If saving Liaheim still isn't enough to bend the rules a little, then what's the point?"

He tucked the sealed bottles in his belt. "Besides, the Tree of Life didn't object, did it? I doubt the elves will make a fuss."

"Hah, fair enough."

Sieg nodded, knowing full well Wang Yu wasn't wrong.

The two followed the corridor and emerged into the courtyard of the Eden Plain. The moment they stepped out, an overwhelming presence startled them—there were several legendary auras present, as well as numerous grand knights.

Colossal war-trees approached from all directions. Standing on their shoulders were silver-armored elves wielding massive greatswords. No doubt about it—these were the legendary guardians of the Tree of Life.

The strongest of all elven warriors, they had been bound the most severely during the World-Eater's assault, shackled by the corrupted Tree they were sworn to protect.

"Thank you both for your aid," said one of the silver-armored elves, leaping down from a war-tree's shoulder. He gave them the deepest gesture of respect he could, his voice resonant with sincere gratitude. "You are saviors of Liaheim. The help you've given will not be forgotten.

"Please give us a little time. We must first put Liaheim to rights. Once we've done so, once we have the means, we will reward you richly."

Around them, the enormous war-trees dipped their heads. In acknowledgment. The elven guards followed suit in a gesture of heartfelt admiration.

"We only did what we could," Wang Yu replied with a smile and a wave. He hadn't acted out of noble ideals. He had simply done what he was capable of, fueled by a deep loathing for devils.

With the elven warriors leading them, Wang Yu and Sieg made their way up to the Tree of Life's canopy platform. As expected, it was in ruins, scarred by corruption and fire alike.

Along the way, every elf they passed stopped and bowed in their own way, offering thanks in whatever human manner they knew. Sieg could keenly feel the sincerity in their gestures.

Scanning the area, Wang Yu spotted his mentor, Moira, standing with Gewen. With a nod to Sieg, he walked over.

"Madam Moira, this is for you," he said, handing her the vials from the Heartpool. "I've got to find Avia now, so I won't stay long. I'll come back later for more herbalism lessons!"

With that, he waved and turned away, his figure vanishing into the distance.

"If you're thinking of returning to my place to study herbalism, you'll have to wait. My home was smashed to splinters by that damned giant worm," Moira grumbled crabbily, clearly upset over her destroyed dwelling. "Even with the Tree of Life's help, rebuilding my treehouse will take time. And whatever you gave me—"

She cut herself off mid-sentence as she glanced at the vials Wang Yu had handed her. Her words froze in her throat. It was water from the Heartpool, which she had once brought up with her two students.

Moira instinctively looked up at Gewen, who stood beside her. He clearly noticed what she was holding, but had quite deliberately turned his gaze elsewhere, pretending not to have seen a thing.

A smile tugged at her lips. Even the strict and rigid Gewen was finally starting to change. Rules, after all, were sometimes meant to be bent.

"These two disciples really might be the greatest reward I've had all these years. More so than completing the Wishing Coin elixir, or even watching Gewen squirm..."

She carefully stored away the Heartpool vials. They would allow her to extend her dwindling lifespan. She would have more time to push past the bottleneck that had stalled her craft in herbalism, and more time to teach her two extraordinarily promising students.

Nearby, Sieg gave Gewen a light pat on the shoulder, clearly amused. For someone as rigid as his old friend to turn a blind eye like this—well, it was a rare and curious thing indeed.

A great eagle descended from the skies, ferrying Wang Yu back to one of Liaheim's remaining transit platforms. He and Avia had agreed via Perfect Fractal to meet here once his business was done.

"Wang Yu!"

The girl waved with a bright smile.

"Coming."

Jogging up beside her, Wang Yu bumped fists with Avia.

"Mr. Holo's sacrifice wasn't in vain!" Avia spoke with quiet sincerity.

"It wasn't," Wang Yu agreed. He nodded, lifting her onto his shoulders as they walked. "It was very meaningful. His homeland, the Sorenson Mountains, will remember the name Holo. I'll make sure the elves of Liaheim know his story. And that bard Yaslan, too."

They headed toward the temporary quarters Liaheim had prepared for the non-elves. Only when they were halfway there did Wang Yu belatedly remember that those had likely been destroyed in the chaos, too.

"Looks like... we don't have a place to stay. Madam Moira's home was blown apart too."

He scratched his head somewhat helplessly.

"It's fine. At worst, we'll sleep under the stars. Remember our first night together? Just a fire and the open sky."

Avia tapped his head lightly, unconcerned. Though still a young woman, given Wang Yu's influence, she was unfussy and adaptable.

"Good. Hmm? Wait—that's Sif, isn't it?"

Wang Yu cut off as he spotted a familiar figure in the distance. His keen eyesight identified her immediately—Sif, their elven ranger friend, was approaching.

"Looks like her... but how'd she know we'd be here?"

Avia summoned a Perfect Fractal as she zoomed in on the figure. It was indeed Sif, but something about the situation nagged at her. How did she know where they were?

"Something's off. That's not Sif—or at least, not entirely."

Wang Yu's brow furrowed. Now that he focused, he began noticing subtle discrepancies—minute changes in posture, expression, and gait. There were no physical differences in terms of her appearance, but to a knight's attuned senses, the incongruities were glaring.

"The body is Sif's... but the one controlling it, isn't."

He gently lowered Avia from his shoulders. Fighting spirit and blood surged in tandem, ready to be unleashed. There was only one sort of creature that could possess another's body like this...

"A devil," Avia said grimly. Black spheres floated silently around her, twitching with latent power, ready to strike.

"My, my—what keen instincts, Miss Avia Dovan. And this is your... partner?"

"Sif" had come close enough for her voice to carry clearly. Her words made both Wang Yu and Avia frown.

Avia had told others her name—but never her surname. How had this devil come to learn of it?

"For someone as gifted as you, blessed enough to become a vessel for the Key, it's rather baffling that you chose such a vile, worthless thing for a partner. Truly puzzling.

"You'd be better off choosing me. At least I'm a talented wizard—and quite dashing too. Ah, apologies. I forgot I'm wearing your friend's face. You can't see my true form.

"Do you know what your beloved looks like to us? A soulless lump of rotten meat, disgusting and devoid of any nutrition. Worthless. Choosing him is like coupling with an alchemical doll. What's the point?"

The thing that wore Sif's face droned on and on, taunting them with dripping sarcasm and mockery. But Wang Yu and Avia only stared coldly at it, refusing to dignify its words with a response.

"Tsk. So dull you lot are. Won't you even react to my provocations?" The devil gave an exaggerated sigh. "Very well—allow me to introduce myself. I'm a devil. You may call me Five. I've currently taken up residence in your friend's body.

"Don't worry, I'm not here to fight. I came to deliver a much more... interesting message. You, after all, are the ones who managed to foil our plans—indirectly, yes, but effectively. So, I'm very curious as to how you'll respond to what I'm about to say."

Despite the silence, Five continued speaking theatrically.

"Curious how I know your surname, Miss Avia Dovan? It's no mystery. Your mother's entire bloodline is quite the topic of conversation among my siblings.

"Your ancestors made pacts with devils, allowing us to dwell within them in exchange for immense magical talent. That inheritance passed down through the generations, drawing the Key's favor to each new heir.

"This business used to be Four's domain. He'd share tidbits about the Svein family from time to time. And then one day, your talent flared before me like a blazing sun. The name matched the next heir of your line. Avia. What an unlikely coincidence... or so I thought.

"My brother seems to have left your body. So tell me—where is he now?"