Re: Evolution Online



Liam, still wary but sensing the sincerity in the colossal whale's voice, hesitated for a moment before reluctantly releasing his hold on the guardian beasts just a little. 

As he did so, he felt the oppressive grip of the nether prison dissipate, freeing the guardian beasts from their confinement momentarily.

He could immediately see the beasts stand still as if they were lost in another world. Their crimson eyes were now pale white and they remained docile even if they were no longer under Liam's control.

"Now do you believe me?" The whale-like being spoke again. "I owe you an explanation but that can wait another time. I am sure you noticed it but these beasts are not themselves. They are corrupted. There is a complex magic at play here."

"It took me this long to wash off the evil that plagued me and my mind and I managed to do that only with the help of this world's blessing and the world seed fragment in your hands."

"I am afraid my fellow guardians did not have that advantage. They were consumed by corruption, their minds twisted and controlled by dark forces. It is a tragedy that they do not even realize they are standing against the very world they were created to protect."

"I haven't overcome it fully either but right this moment I have the clarity to hold them back. So hurry it up. What are you waiting for?"

Liam was at a loss for words. He could understand everything that was going on, at least the crux of it but there was still one question nagging him.

"Do you know what to do with this seed?" He knew this was a silly question to ask at this critical juncture but… what exactly was he supposed to do with the seed? 

It surely did not come with a manual. With everything going on, he did not know if there was an elaborate way to do this or if he could just simply plant the damn thing anywhere he wished?

The colossal whale let out an annoyed gurgle and then spoke with a hint of impatience in its voice. "You hold the world seed, and yet you still question its purpose? It is a simple matter of planting it anywhere you wish. Where the seed touches the ground, it becomes a sacred land."

Liam nodded. He immediately shot down to the ground to do the deed. He had no idea whether what he was doing made sense but he did not see the draconian princess around and he had no time to do anything else.

He knelt down, holding the world seed in his hands, and pressed it gently into the ground. Now what?

As soon as the seed made contact with the earth, a soft glow emanated from its core, spreading outward in a radiant wave. He watched in awe as the ground beneath him transformed. 

Lush vegetation sprouted forth, vibrant flowers bloomed, and the air seemed to hum with new life. It was as if the very essence of the world responded to the presence of the seed, embracing its power and regenerating the land.

The corrupted energy that had plagued the surroundings began to recede, replaced by a renewed vitality. 

The guardian beasts, still under the influence of the colossal whale's spell, stood witness to this transformation, their pale white eyes filled with a mixture of confusion and relief.

"If you want to, go ahead and dribble your blood onto it. Then it will bind with you forever."

Liam stared at the magnificent creature for a moment.

"What are you looking at, brat? I am not that selfless but I can feel the pain that you are sensing at the moment. For all you have done for this world, you deserve this. You deserve to be the lord of this world."

Liam was taken aback by the colossal whale's unexpected words, but the fox standing on his side vigorously nodded her head. Her master did indeed deserve to be the lord of the world! Her master was the best!

Taking a deep breath, Liam extended his hand and allowed a small cut to form on his palm. A few drops of his blood fell onto the seed, mingling with its power.

As the blood touched the seed, a surge of energy coursed through Liam's body, intertwining his essence with that of the world seed. He could feel a connection forming, a bond that tied him to the land and its well-being.

For a second, it felt as if an enormous cocoon of warmth enveloped him. It was as if he was teleported to an entirely different world. He did not know where he was, and what he was sensing. There was only an endless void and boundless power.

But there was something beyond that which was within his grasp and just as Liam extended to grab it, suddenly everything was black.

Dark lines appeared on the cocoon and the shell of energy was starting to crack. Liam opened his eyes in shock. What was happening?

This time the huge beast in front of him remained silent. It seemed it also did not have an answer to this question.

Liam's heart raced as he once again tried to probe his connection with the seed. However, he only watched the cracks in the cocoon of energy grow wider. Panic surged within him, and he frantically tried to understand what was happening.

The colossal whale's voice broke through the darkness. "This... this was not supposed to happen. The corruption, it has found its way even to the world seed."

As the cracks in the cocoon continued to spread, a surge of dark energy burst forth. The corrupted essence seeped into the surroundings, twisting the newly formed landscape with its malevolence.

Liam's mind raced, trying to comprehend the situation. He knew that this was happening because of the nether array, but he did not know what he could do now?

He had hoped the world seed would cleanse the nether infected world and not the other way around. However, now it looked like the nether array was also influencing the world seed.

Had the divine temple high priestess already foreseen him obtaining the world seed? Had she already taken countermeasures even for this?

Liam shuddered at that thought. If so then their world was truly doomed. What was he supposed to do now? His control of the nether was near perfect so could he do something about this?

He tried to reach into the seed or the cocoon once again and this time he forcibly willed for the black lines to stop spreading.