Act 2: World Beyond - Chapter 433: A Primaere Arrives

Act 2: World Beyond - Chapter 433: A Primaere Arrives

Seeing the shocked look on Avril, Oscar heartily laughed while patting his chest, his anima prancing around with the undulations of grade-six powers. Her shock was understandable, according to the common knowledge that all Exolsias were set and fixed from their awakening. Not even the Divine Essence held the miracle of upgrading his grade-four Exolsia core.

However, no one ever tried to use the Pools of Ascension. Oscar nodded to Erden; he owed this chance to their Blood Transmutation. Few humans ever entered Blood Transmutation, and none ever entered the pools, only allowed for beasts. To be the first in history to upgrade their core in such a manner and to be the first human to enter the pools made Oscar feel a little lost. He never imagined his life would turn out this way. Through all the twists and turns, his life somehow ended up in such a wild place, surpassing the common sense of Talos.

"She feels happy for Oscar, but she looks at herself, wondering if there's any use for her anymore." Avril laughed nervously, tilting her head down with worried eyes.

Oscar sighed and flicked her forehead, a slight caring smile lifting from his lips. "Why do you always put yourself down? Have I ever said you were useless? No. We're equal partners, aren't we? That's how it's always been. Besides. If you do feel left behind, train harder."

"...." Avril rubbed her red forehead. She didn't say anything, but her expression said enough. No doubt she would ask him for a spar later to train.

Glad to her mood uplifted, Oscar turned to Hons and Almos and bowed.N/nêw n0vel chap/ers are published o/n n0v/e/(lb)i(n.)co/m

"I thank the King Exalts for allowing a human like me to enter the Pools of Ascension," Oscar said in a humble, respectful voice, losing his earlier teasing and intimate tone with Avril.

"A whole week you were in the waters. I even tried to pull you out, only to get hurt again." Hons massaged his large palm, his deep black eyes piercing into Oscar. "There is no more doubt in my mind. The Ancients ferried you to the Lands of Zeret for a purpose."

"Right. It can't be just to make a human and beast stronger. Many times the Ancients may do things in strange ways. Right. Often an expectation is set, so what are they expecting from you?" Almos breathed out twinkling motes of light like stars. He fell silent, clearly waiting for Oscar's response.

Gazing at the waters, which Metures said were the tears of Esteres, Oscar opened his mouth, ready to speak, when a strange feeling descended on him. The others, Avril, Erden, and the two King Exalts, all suddenly staggered and slumped, sweat beading down their faces.

Oscar strained his thoughts and tried to make heads or tails out of this presence. Although it permeated all over him, he could not grasp it, like trying to grab mist with bare hands. He couldn't even say it was like staring into the jaws of death. This presence was too alien, too inconceivable that any attempts to understand it dissipated in his mind, and any attempts to put a word on it failed to escape his mouth. Nothing but a deep discomfort embedded itself in every fiber of his being, like something was out of place, an earworm that never left, a pit in his heart. Dizzy and feeling uncomfortable to the marrow of his bone, Oscar nearly lost control of his flight, dropping several feet.

"A man, a woman, and a beast find themselves in the Lands of Zeret where only beasts roam freely. Quite an amusing trio. Something this unexpected and interesting hasn't happened in...how long has it been? Two thousand years?" The voices returned, echoing from all directions. Oscar glanced around, unable to see anyone, the ends of his hair standing. Two thousand years? The Primaere mentioned it so casually, like it wasn't a big deal, but that was four times the lifespan of a King Exalt. Oscar felt his head hurt from the gravity of those words.

"Compared to me, your lives are so small. Merely forty, thirty-five, and thirty years old. Little children of humanity and our beastkin. To ease this conversation and for being interesting, I shall bestow upon you an opportunity to see my form." The voices halted after the last word. A place in the air distorted and ruptured into chaotic streams of spatial distortion. Oscar narrowed his eyes to keep them open from the fierce gusts, peering into the cracks.

A large divide formed, and a figure flew out, its wings blazing through the air and burning with flames of all colors. Its wings spanned from mountain to mountain, its entire body was set aflame with the rainbow of colors, burning fiercely and longer from the beak down to its spine and tail, and two large talons, with skin like strange magma flowing on its surface, seemed capable of gripping the entire trunk of this great tree.

No one would ever believe him back home. He had seen many beasts, some mythical and some not, through his life. But rarely did a person ever see this one, the beast that Isabella's anima was based on.

The grand and regal phoenix soared above.

"Maybe a human form would wipe the looks of awe on your faces and allow you to speak without your jaws wide open." The phoenix's melodious voice, her true voice, came from her beak. She flew high into the air and swooped straight down, her flames burning a trail behind her.

She landed into a wave of flames. Oscar flinched as the flames reached him, but he felt no pain. Instead, his body never felt better, the flames refreshing and rejuvenating through his veins.

Out of the flames, a woman stepped out, her face the picture of grace and motherhood, a caring smile with nicely rounded eyes containing a natural lull of gentleness. Both her pupils and long braided hair shone with rainbow colors. Her dress fluttered around, the colors swirling around the fabric like sunlight in shallow waters.

"Oscar Terr. Avril. Erden. I am the Phoenix Primaere of the Wildernia, Solara. Tell me about the Ancients and what happened in the Pools of Ascension." Solara smiled faintly.

Oscar exhaled and decided to do something he thought was idiotic and foolish. He questioned her instead. "May I know what will happen to us afterward?"