From the time Adhara left until past midnight, Rex has been cultivating his curse source.
Unlike cultivating mana and reaching a higher realm, the process of binding and fortifying cursed energy into his cursed source is more painful and slower. A snail's speed compared to absorbing mana.
It felt as though he was a builder, breaking his own body, and reconstructing it back.
Most cursed creatures that have a cursed source would be painstakingly slow in becoming stronger, the curse that empowers them dictates that speed heavily, similar to the affinity to an element for an Awakened.
Rex has a very strong curse empowering him, the Eternal Curse.
The Unbinding Cursed Technique that he used to unlock his curse source allows him to completely connect with the Eternal Curse, providing a wide pathway for cursed energy circulation equivalent to eleventh-epiphany and greatly increases the speed of absorbing cursed energy.
However, circulating the cursed energy is still rather slow, and one mistake would be costly.
But with the aid of a few focus elixirs, he adapted to it quickly.
Sensing another burst of cursed energy from within him, pushing a subtle gush to the surroundings, Rex slowly opens his eyes and blinked a couple of times to adjust to the room he was in.
<Jar of Malice content: 86%/100%>
<Fourth-epiphany process: 2%/100%>
"Only the third epiphany, this is not fast enough" Rex uttered softly.
Despite his focused meditation, he wasn't even able to absorb a quarter of the Jar of Malice.
It's rough, reaching the ninth or even eighth epiphany would be a difficult climb.
"At this point, I really need Calidora. But how could I get her? Coming to the Vampire Kingdom and asking to meet with her? Elder Nolacula would definitely take notice of my needs for her if I do that" Rex ponders aloud before sighing lightly.
Rex massaged his forehead, he couldn't get Calidora's presence out of his head.
More so now that he realized the chances of him achieving the necessary cursed epiphany is quite low without her help, and this puts him in a predicament. "Whatever. If I see no chance of achieving it, I'll have to suck it up and visit the Vampire Kingdom personally"
Shaking his head, he stands up and left the room.
Nearing the time of his meeting with Flunra, he decided to end his training session for now.
As he courses through the silent hallway with only the sound of his muffled footsteps, Rex pauses when he saw a door on the left. It was Kyran's door, and he decided to check on him and see how he progresses.
Knocking on the door lightly, he entered and finds Naela sleeping.
Naela is sitting on a chair beside the bed with her head cradling on top of Kyran's stomach.
Taking a closer look at Kyran, he finds that he was looking fresh, almost as if he was not in a coma. "It seems like she's taking care of him very well..." Rex commented softly, acknowledging Naela's efforts.
It seems the Dark Elves take fate seriously for Naela to be this diligent and caring.
"Well, if she's doing this much, I need to at least try something"
Rex reaches out his hand and feels Kyran's forehead, scanning his body with the System.
<Calculating the time until waking up...>
<Time until waking up: 96 Years 283 Days>
Upon seeing the notifications from the System, his eyes flared in surprise finding that it was already reduced by more than three years. Once again, Calidora's presence flashed inside his mind.
Despite not being here, she still supplies her blood energy to Kyran.
Pausing for a second to ponder, Rex then takes a seat on a plushy sofa before he steadies his breathing. Settling the thoughts in his mind for a minute, he then eventually whispers.
"Countess, can you hear me...?"
"Yes, I can"
An astral voice replies back from the void, it was the Countess from another dimension.
"Do you know intimately about the other Lunirich Gods?"
"I am but another facet of their essence, yes, I am well-acquainted"
"In that case, what are your impressions of the Ice and Snow Lunirich God?"
"Cold, indolent, and supremely arrogant. One who shuns the burdens of interaction"
Rex could only frown when he heard this, it seems the probability is going to be very low.
But even then, he would need to try to somehow make this work. If he wanted to do that then he would need to know about the Ice and Snow Lunirich God, his interaction with it must be planned carefully.
"What do you think the probability will be for me to gain a favor from that Lunirich God?"
"Practically close to nil"
Hearing this only makes Rex sighs dejectedly, the Countess is not confident.
Initially, he assumed the Ice and Snow Lunirich God wouldn't harbor significant grievances, given it wasn't among those who assailed him a couple of nights ago. However, it became apparent that its personality is a hindrance in this situation.
The Ice and Snow Lunirich God didn't attack him just because it was too unbothered.
"Do you have any idea what I could offer?"
"Her champion is still in hibernation, waking the Princess up would delight her"
"That would only make things worst for me"
"No, the Princess of Ice and Snow doesn't get along with the Storm Prince"
Upon hearing this Rex's eyes flashes before he eventually decided to go with it.
Naturally, he intended to attempt his own methods first before extending the ultimate offer of awakening the Princess of Ice and Snow. Doing so would enhance its perceived value, and increases the tendency of the Ice and Snow Lunirich God to accept his offer.
If he played it extremely right, he might gain his third King Mark from her.
'System, use the Confide of Ice item...'
<Affirmative, teleporting the user to the realm of Ice and Snow Moon>
Rex started to feel sleepy after the notification, and he lets the sleepiness drowns him.
Moments later, he could feel his mind being pulled away.
All remained cloaked in inexplicable darkness, but soon his body began to shiver uncontrollably as a bitterly cold wind swept across his skin, freezing his nerves. It had been a considerable amount of time since he last experienced such an intense sensation of cold.
Werewolves are very warm and resistant to cold air, but this pierced beyond that.
Gradually, he regained the ability to open his eyes, only to find himself standing on a frozen expanse with a relentless snowstorm raining from the sky and blanketing the surroundings. Much like the desolate Banished realm, this place offered nothing in sight except for a solitary hill at its center.
In addition, a sense of suppression is also present here.
Despite his powerful bloodline and strength, his presence seems to be being rejected here.
Rex gazes at the horizon and finds the shining Ice and Snow Full Moon above the solitary hill, the source of all the energy inside this realm, 'Just like Kaiser, she must be on the hill' he mused to himself before he began tracing onward.
Since this is not a Trial, there were no obstacles along the way.
ραndαsnοvεl.cοm Upon reaching the foot of the hill, he looks up strugglingly as the suppression increases.
Although time works differently here, he doesn't want to waste his time being here and unhesitantly transformed into his Werewolf form before he started clawing his way up to the hill to meet with the ruler of this place.
Iseldra of the Frost Heart, that is her name.
Reaching the flat top of the hill, Rex pull himself up with quite a bit of a struggle.
Stronger than the fierce cold wind below, the snowstorm on the hill was even harsher, and the force of the cold wind is even strong. It takes a huge amount of his strength to actually stand at the top of the hill.
Fixing his eyes to his front, he saw a figure sitting on a huge ice throne.
"Hmm...? Iseldra takes the form of a human?"
Catching Rex completely off guard, Iseldra didn't assume the form of a Werewolf like Kaiser. Instead, she transformed into a humanoid figure with silvery hair and a torso resembling dark blue ice and limbs akin to a fair maiden with the most exquisite smooth skin.
Ice spikes can also be seen adorning her hair, back, and thighs.
Each served as a reminder of her dominion over the frozen elements, a pinnacle of power.
Defying the expectations of her appearance, there was one feature that couldn't be overlooked, a magnificent red crystal shimmering in her chest. This fiery gem stood out as a stark contrast to her otherwise cold and wintry domain.
Overall, Iseldra is a sight to behold.
"No, Iseldra possesses an ever-adaptive form. She's indifferent but held herself in very high regard, maintaining an aura of utmost reality. To all who lay eyes upon her, she manifests as the embodiment of the beauty and allure that the person held"
Upon hearing this, Rex couldn't help but cough awkwardly a little.
Based on what he heard, then that means the figure that Iseldra is taking is his dream figure.
'It's like she's the fusion of the three of them combined. Her appearance reminded me of Adhara, Evelyn, Gistella, and... that's not right' Rex thought wryly, surely he could've guessed that she has that kind of ability from this resemblance alone.
Soon enough, sensing a mysterious presence, Iseldra slowly opens her eyes.
A pair of deep blue eyes appeared from behind her eyelids.
Iseldra's eyes gleamed like the cerulean depths of the untouched ocean as she shifted to look at Rex who was standing before her, but she soon tilts her head when she sensed another presence inside his body.
"Countess...?" A melodic voice seeped out of her mouth but she then frowned.
Realizing that Iseldra notices that he has the Countess within him, he decided that he needs to say something right now. It would've been bad if he couldn't intrigue Iseldra with his first few words.
But before he could even mutter anything, a tight force gripped his body.
Gazing down, he finds an astral projection of a blue hand grabbing his body firmly. In the next second, Iseldra's eyes glisten with a peculiar light before she whispers lightly, "You don't belong here, mortal..."
Upon saying that, Rex got pushed hard before his vision started to spin.
Just before he could realize what had happened, his eyes jolted awake once again.
"Heughhk!"
Rex panted heavily while clutching his chest, he looks around and finds that he was back inside Kyran's bed chamber once again showing that he utterly failed. He couldn't even let a single word out before he got kicked out.
"Damn it, she didn't even let me say anything!"
Feeling annoyed that a valuable item was wasted because of Iseldra's arrogant demeanor, Rex stormed out of the bed chamber. It was when the door was closed, Naela woke up due to the loud noise.
Looking at the door, she tilted her head in confusion, "Was someone here?"
Meanwhile, on the balcony of the castle.
Evelyn is looking down at the city whilst feeling the night breeze swaying her fiery hair, she finds comfort in seeing some of the people outside and doing about their daily normal lives without worry.
It was a luxury that she couldn't afford too much, and in truth, she missed having that.
Back in Ratmawati City, she lived free of worries like that.
"Then again, I couldn't picture myself living without Rex. So I'm more than willing to give up those luxuries for always be beside him" Evelyn mused inwardly, closing her eyes with a smile to take in the moment.
Just as she did that, her eyes jolted open when her Luna energy suddenly burst out.
Out of her control, the Luna energy inside of her came out and swirled around her stubbornly. Despite her attempt to suppress it, the Luna energy didn't listen and does its own thing.
Evelyn was confused, she didn't know what was happening.
Suddenly, the Luna energy that swirled around shoot into the sky. It feels like her breath was taken away, and it was not a pleasant feeling. After a portion of the Luna energy shoots to the sky, she stumbles and fell to the ground.
Grabbing her chest while panting, her eyes widened as she felt a sense of loss inside of her.
"D- Did my Luna energy get weaker...?"
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