Chapter 486: Ethereal Deer

Stella stood before the desolation portal with a knot in her stomach. Despite being asked to leave Moros, she had been meditating next to Ashlock's trunk, intently listening to the pulse of his soul to get an idea of how the battle was going. The amount of Qi gushing out of his soul into his root network and out into the land was concerning enough, but the sudden immense presence shocked her out of her meditation.

There was no doubt about it—that was the presence of a Monarch Realm being. For a while, she feared Ig'Zal had managed to take over Ashlock.

Nymeria, who had followed her back to Red Vine Peak, assured her that she had nothing to worry about, but Stella was too restless. Desperate for an answer, she had questioned the other demonic trees on Red Vine Peak about what was going on, much to Nymeria's confusion. By rustling their leaves, Stella was able to discern that everything would be fine.

Returning to her bench, she sat with Nymeria in silence and awaited the verdict of the battle. What she hadn't expected was for it to be over so soon. In less than an hour, Ashlock had returned, telling her Ig'Zal was dead and that it was time to meet her sister.

My sister... a monster made from the World Tree's sap, just like me. A failed experiment by those bastards from the Celestial Empire to try and craft the perfect cultivator. She bit her lip. Would Zephyrine be happy to see her? Could they get along? Did Zephyrine even know she had siblings?

"Are you okay, Stella?" Nymeria asked, the corner of her vaguely serpentine eyes lifting ever so slightly in concern.

Stella gave the dragon girl a weary smile. "Yeah—just overthinking things as usual." Hardening her expression, she turned back to the portal. With a quick breath, she took a step forward and felt the chill of the desolation rift embrace her. All around her was swirling corruption like a yawning portal to hell, kept at arm's length but threatening death as it violently tore through reality. She walked through it, her mind racing and heart pounding with every step. What would she find on the other side?

The smell of burnt charcoal hit her nose first, followed by the feeling of chaos. As a relatively high-level cultivator, she was attuned to the Qi around her. While reality was usually orderly and calm, this was anything but that. Dozens of different Qi types crackled violently through the air, competing for domination over one another.

Stella turned off her spiritual senses and focused on what was before her. She stood on the bow of Moros, under the shade of Akasha, looking out over a ruined landscape. Pillars of smoke rose from wildfires in the valleys. Mountains had collapsed into crumbling landslides, rivers steamed, blanketing the land in fog. It was utter destruction, and looming over it all were a few giant monsters.

A bone-plated hydra with six rotting heads stood atop a ridge, each maw leaking pale death Qi mist. On the opposite ridge stood a scarab, its polished platinum shell reflecting the destruction under the sunlight. It stared back at her with deep emerald eyes. With the aura of peak Nascent Soul Realm radiating off them, they were no doubt Primal Overlords, as was the basilisk at the bottom of a ravine, being tied up by Veylorak.

Stella didn't need to guess why they weren't daring to attack. Between Moros and the Primal Overlords was a vague spider-shaped cloud of shimmering silver ash. It was Larry, the Monarch Realm guardian of the Ashfallen Sect. He floated in the air, his crown of ash spinning, and even from here she could feel the immense soul pressure radiating off Larry, pinning a very injured-looking Astralis to the ground below. There was also a swarm of ash spiders covering Astralis's body, seemingly devouring any Qi the dragon tried to manifest.

Why is Larry restraining Astralis like that? Stella wondered, but looking closer only raised more questions. Just an hour ago, Astralis had been our ally. Did something change? Perhaps a betrayal?

Nymeria mirrored her confusion as she furrowed her brows and stepped up to the edge, shouting in a panic, "Father! What happened?!" Astralis didn't answer his daughter's plea; instead, he kept trying to fight the soul pressure like a feral dog.

Anubis rose from the shadows behind them, and Ashlock gave them an explanation.

"Astralis had fake memories planted in his mind by Ig'Zal and went feral on us. Larry easily restrained him and is now keeping tabs on most of the other Primal Overlords while we wait for Zephyrine to awaken."

"What is going to happen to my father?" Nymeria asked with deep concern on her face.

The shadow lich looked down at the restrained dragon, who could barely raise his head under Larry's immense soul pressure. "Once he calms down a little, I will take him to my Inner World, where his soul and mind can heal. In time, he should recover to what he once was. But I have to warn you, the damage done to his consciousness by Ig'Zal was severe. Memories were wiped and altered, which might cause a change in his personality if they can't be restored."

Nymeria winced at the explanation, but she still bowed deeply. "Thank you for your kindness," she said, while her hair hid her expression.

Ashlock waved Anubis's hand dismissively. "It's the least I could do."

"Where are the others? Are they alive?" Stella asked Ashlock.

The shadow lich nodded and gestured behind them. "Kaida, alongside Elysia and the Redclaw Grand Elder, are holding off the Primal Overlords on that side."

Stella followed the lich's hand, and her attention was captured by something else entirely. Below Erebus, an ethereal white-furred deer was peacefully curled up in a nook between Erebus's roots, sound asleep. The translucent grass around Moros, which was in front of her snout, swayed rhythmically with her soft breathing. The scene was so peaceful, in stark contrast to the destruction and tensions that were now behind her.

"So that's Zephyrine," Stella whispered, as if afraid of waking her. "My elder sister."

Anubis nodded, and Ashlock further explained. "Ig'Zal discarded his body and forced himself into her dream realm to dodge our assault, putting her into a dazed state that he could briefly control. Once he fled her mind and tried to enter mine, I thought she would reawaken. But it seems she's quite enjoying her nap instead," he chuckled quietly.

"What's so funny?" Stella asked, raising a brow at the shadow lich.

"Nothing much, it's just that despite looking so different, her slothfulness seems to mirror yours. I can see you two being sisters."

Stella smirked, and some of the tension left her stiff shoulders. "That's rich coming from you. If not for the beast tide being on our doorstep, you would happily sleep all the time," she pointed out.

"True. I'm hoping once all of this is over, I can sleep as peacefully as Zephyrine is right now."

"I hope so too," Stella said, smiling at him. "You've worked hard, Tree."

"Now, now, let's not get too ahead of ourselves," Anubis shook his head. "We can only rest if an agreement can be met with Zephyrine over there, and I sure hope one can, because if she decides to fight us, this is going to get bloody."

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"Wasn't Ig'Zal quite easy to defeat?"

"Ig'Zal was a fool. He thought I was easy pickings and faced my entire forest. Zephyrine is a different story. Not only is she many stages into the Monarch Realm, but she seems to possess storm affinity, which, as we have seen already, is a great counter to Larry, who would be one of the only ones in our sect that stands a chance against her."

Stella slowly nodded as she continued to watch the softly sleeping deer. At a glance, Zephyrine looked like a fragile flower, but turning on her spiritual perception again, Stella confirmed that it was anything but a facade. Zephyrine radiated an all-encompassing aura like she had never felt before. It resembled a heavily restrained storm, ready to explode out and devour the world at a moment's notice.

"I was hoping you could wake her up," Ashlock said. "I don't know how long the Primal Overlords will stay put before attacking, and I want to know Zephyrine's thoughts about them before killing them all."

Stella bit her lip and clenched her fist. The tension from before was back, rising from the pit of her stomach as questions weighed on her mind. "I'll do it," she said, her confident words masking her true feelings. Deemed not strong enough to participate in the fight, this was her moment to redeem herself.

Walking forward with careful, quiet steps toward Zephyrine, she could feel her heart pounding in her chest like a drum. The blood rushed past her ears, and she could hear her own restrained breathing. Instead of approaching a peacefully sleeping deer, she felt like she was encroaching on the cave of a slumbering god.

Stopping two meters away, Stella slowly crouched down as if she were trying to catch a skittish animal without scaring it off. Zephyrine's ear suddenly twitched, and one of her eyes opened.

Stella froze.

There was no hatred in Zephyrine's gaze, just peaceful curiosity. Stella stayed deathly still and quiet as Zephyrine's other eye opened and she slowly raised her head. It wasn't until Zephyrine's head was far above her, looking down, that Stella realized that Zephyrine was no ordinary deer—she was huge

. She had hidden it well while curled up and nestled among Erebus's exposed roots. Not only was her body over twice the size of any deer she had seen before, but the antlers on her head were like a tree canopy with how large they were.

Stella gulped, any attempt to speak failing horribly. She felt like a fly caught in a spider's trap, awaiting judgment.

Zephyrine's ears perked up, and her snout twitched. Never breaking eye contact, she leaned down and sniffed Stella's hair. She was so close that Stella could feel her warm breath. Slowly pulling back, Zephyrine seemed to scrutinize her up and down once again.

"Child," she said, her voice calm and pleasant like a spring breeze, "why do you smell so familiar?"

"I—I'm Stella Crestfallen," she stammered and internally cursed herself. Why did she usually have no problem speaking to higher beings, but when it was someone whose opinion of her she cared about, she froze up like this?

"Crestfallen?" Zephyrine tilted her head. "That long-lost human bloodline?"

Stella nodded, but it was the first time she had heard it referred to as a human bloodline. "From your reaction, it sounds like you don't possess the Crestfallen bloodline?" she asked.

"I do not," Zephyrine said.

"But there is something I believe we share in common," Stella said, fidgeting with her cloak. "We were both born from the World Tree's golden sap, right?"

Zephyrine paused, her eyes narrowing.

Stella felt her heart skip a beat. Had she said something wrong?

"You're right," Zephyrine muttered, her voice filled with a sense of wonder. "I couldn't pin down what that smell was as it's been so long, but you smell like Mother."

Before Stella could reply, the storm she had feared before exploded out of Zephyrine and tightly surrounded her form. Stella stepped back and stared at the vortex of wind that was dense and chaotic; she couldn't even peer into it. As fast as it came, it subsided, revealing Zephyrine in a new form—that of a humanoid woman.

Smaller now—no taller than Stella—Zephyrine remained unmistakably herself. Her antlers still curved from her brow, commanding the elegance of an empress, and long, snow-white hair cascaded around pointed ears tucked flat against her head. Her eyes met Stella's; they were an all-too-familiar, rich pink in color.

Stella felt like she was staring into a mirror, except Zephyrine's gaze was calm and pleasant, unlike her own crazed glare. Their similar features aside, Stella could feel a connection with Zephyrine that was unmistakable.

"We really are sisters," Stella said, a tear freely running down her cheek.

Zephyrine smiled and stepped forward. "I never knew I had a little sister." She embraced her in a slightly awkward hug, likely because she wasn't used to a human form. They stayed like that for a full minute, enjoying each other's embrace.

"How is Mother?" Zephyrine said out of nowhere.

"Still suffering," Stella said, her chin resting on Zephyrine's shoulder. She was warm, and her white hair was far too soft and comforting.

"Don't worry," Zephyrine said, a sudden ruthlessness edge to her voice. "I'm going to kill them all—every last one that has harmed and abused Mother for power. Will you help me, sister?"

Stella nodded, tightening her hug.

"Good. I knew any sister of mine wasn't going to be afraid of a fight," she paused, her voice regaining its softness. "You can call me Zeph moving forward."

Stella smiled. "That's a cute name."

Eventually, Zephyrine released her and stepped back. "Honestly, what a surprising thing to wake up to after the deepest sleep I've had in centuries. I should thank that moth sometime." Yawning and stretching her back, she glanced at the shadow lich that had been patiently waiting close by. "I assume you are the one behind this, or should I say the one controlling you?"

She switched her gaze to Erebus, where Ashlock's soul fragment was. A flash of realization appeared on her face, only to be quickly concealed. "Desolation Qi," she muttered, "you're the one who's been making things difficult for me."

"I suppose that's one way of looking at it," Ashlock said through Anubis, chuckling. "Though I'd argue you're the one making life difficult for me. The name is Ashlock, a demonic spirit tree to the south, and I've come in hopes of a peaceful negotiation."

"Mhm? What is there to negotiate?" Zephyrine said, crossing her arms under her chest and keeping her gaze firmly locked onto Erebus.

Stella debated stepping in but wanted to let Ashlock handle it first.

"The beast tide is your creation, is it not?"

Zephyrine nodded. "While the World Tree manages the spiritual springs, I created a structured hierarchy of monsters that help nurture as many strong ones as possible, all for my goal of invading the Celestial Empire one day."

"Then we share the same goal, you and I: To free the World Tree and topple the tyrannical Celestial Empire," Ashlock assured Zephyrine.

Zephyrine seemed suspicious. "Why do you want to overthrow the Celestial Empire?"

"My personal reasons aside, Stella is my adopted daughter. Freeing her mother has been a long-term goal for both of us, and I've even spoken to the World Tree. She was the one who recommended I come to seek you out."

Zephyrine's entire demeanor softened. "I see. Well, I will never say no to the help of another Monarch Realm being."

"I'm actually at the fifth stage of the Nascent Soul Realm," Ashlock corrected her, stunning Zephyrine.

"What? Your words carry the weight of an Inner World, and you have been holding back the advance of the beast tide for weeks by yourself. I refuse to believe such a thing."

"He really is," Stella said, backing up her dad.

"Terrifying," Zephyrine whispered, her eyes flashing with curiosity. "Is there a way I could meet you? I've always been obsessed with how to grow stronger, and I would love to exchange pointers."

Anubis gestured to the desolation portal that was still open. "Feel free, but first I must ask. What do you plan to do with the Primal Overlords?"

"Why do you ask?"

"I was hoping to devour them or turn them into Ents under my dominion as they tried to fight me," Ashlock explained. "However, to be fair, their minds were overtaken by Ig'Zal and should recover with time. Hence, I wished to ask you first."

Zephyrine surveyed the Primal Overlords who awaited in the distance. A breeze passed by, likely an information-gathering technique.

"Would it be possible to let them live?" Zephyrine asked carefully. "If one misbehaves or goes against the goal, I don't mind if you eat them. But I've basically raised them like children until now, and we will need them to fight against the Celestial Empire, as each one isn't that far from reaching the Monarch Realm."

"That is possible, assuming you grant my request."

"What is your request?"

"Have the beast tide avoid my lands," Ashlock said. "I agree we need the monsters to attack the Celestial Empire, but millions of mortals live under my rule, and as a demi-god, I require their worship for divine energy. A fight between me and the beast tide benefits neither of us and brings us further from our goal. So, what do you say? Can you reroute the beast tide away from me?"

Zephyrine fell silent and mulled over Ashlock's request for a long time.

"You don't want to do it?" Ashlock asked, breaking the silence.

"It's not that I don't want to do it," Zephyrine said, sighing. "It's that I can't."

"You can't do it?" Stella asked with confusion. "Aren't you the leader of the beast tide?"

"In theory, yes... but there's someone who sits above me."