Lackey's Seducing Survival Odyssey

Chapter 1481: Ending the Ritual

Shhh~

A curtain of long blond hair fluttered behind the tree. Two crimson eyes peeked through the leaves, fixed on the humongous tree that had erupted out of nowhere, its roots tearing through stone. In mere seconds, it had twisted the happiest moment into a crawling nightmare, one breath away from total annihilation.

Lia stared at the tree without blinking, her gaze distant, unreadable, carrying neither panic nor awe. A low hum slipped from her throat as she tilted her head slightly.

”This... this wasn’t something we had expected”

She muttered, her brows knitting together. Ethereal motes clung to the leaves like drifting stars, glittering softly as the branches swayed with an almost deliberate calm, as if the tree itself were breathing.

Something strange settled in Lia’s chest. Her heart felt unnaturally still, like a lake untouched by wind, soothing thoughts that should have been screaming.

The sensation disturbed her more than fear ever could. Like a moth drawn to forbidden light, her body leaned forward before her mind could object.

Crack!

Her step cracked a fallen branch.

She flinched hard, eyes snapping wide as her breath hitched.

”That’s seriously fucked up... ”

She whispered sharply, retreating behind the tree again, fingers digging into the bark as a chill crawled up her spine.

Her gaze dropped slowly toward the base of the massive trunk.

There he stood.

A man wreathed in pure white flames, the fire curling around his body without heat or smoke.

Lia stared openly now.

His face carried a calm sharpness, refined and dangerous in equal measure. His eyes, impossibly white, held no judgment, no arrogance, no hunger. Just presence, steady and absolute, as though the world had already been weighed and found acceptable.

’Damn... he’s stupidly cool,’

She thought, irritation flaring alongside reluctant admiration. As much as she despised the thought, there was no denying it.

He didn’t just look impressive, he looked untouchable, the kind of man people trusted before they understood why.

”So that’s it, huh?”

She murmured, lips curling slightly.

”Now I get it. Now I understand why she fell so hard. This asshole doesn’t even try, and still pulls people in like gravity. That kind of calm is dangerous... especially to women who think they can handle it.”

Her fingers tightened around the tree as she watched him smile gently at the crowd, people kneeling as if instinctively compelled. They looked at him like a god that had finally bothered to answer.

”Tch... I really hate that bastard,”

She muttered. Her eyes shifted, narrowing when she noticed it. The empty left sleeve. A slow, sly curve formed at the edge of her lips.

Back to Aether’s side.

[+1000]

[+4000]

[+2000]

[+1000]

[+1000]

[+3000]

[+4000]

[+4000]

...

....

The log flooded relentlessly.

Aether slowly opened his eyes, the blinding white fading back into their familiar ice blue. His gaze swept over the kneeling crowd. The white flames surrounding him shimmered once more before thinning, dissolving into harmless sparks that vanished into the air.

When he had fallen into the crack. Spectral Phantom activated instantly, his body slipping between moments as he leapt from one collapsing rock to another.

Then he saw the child... Falling down.

His heart had skipped. He moved without hesitation, caught the baby mid-fall, cradled it close, and pushed off into the sky in one fluid motion. And when his eyes caught sight of the massive tree pressing toward the barrier, destruction was seconds away.

He appeared before the tree in a flash, palm raised, every ounce of will condensed into a single, burning thought that drowned out everything else.

Protect everyone.

That’s all!!

Anyway,

His remaining hand slowly lifted the child from his shoulder, the small body stiff at first, confused by the sudden absence of the white flames that had surrounded everything moments ago.

”Here,”

Aether said softly as he leaned forward and passed the child back into his mother’s trembling arms.

The woman flinched at first, as if afraid the moment might shatter, then clutched her child tightly. Tears streamed freely down her face as she broke into sobs, her whole body shaking while she hugged him close.

”My babbbbyy!!”

”Maaa~ Pufff... Ma... Puffff~”

The child pointed toward Aether with wide, curious eyes, babbling excitedly about the flames as though nothing frightening had happened minutes ago.

”Y-Yeah... my baby,”

The woman cried even harder, raining frantic kisses across her child’s face.

Aether gently placed his hand on the woman’s head, his touch light and reassuring rather than commanding, and spoke quietly so only she could hear.

”Don’t cry. Your child is safe.”

She nodded repeatedly through her tears, clutching her child even tighter as if the world might try to take him again.

”T-Thank you,”

She whispered, bowing so deeply that her forehead nearly brushed his feet.

Aether flinched immediately. He shook his head and stepped back. Turning his attention to the people before him, he spoke again, his tone gentle but firm.

”Everyone... stand up.”

No one moved. Not a single head lifted. Their bodies remained bent low, shoulders tense, as fear and reverence pinned them in place more effectively than any command.

Aether let out a quiet breath and offered a weak smile. His eyes caught Dora’s gaze, and she subtly pointed toward his left side.

He glanced down.

The illusion vanished.

Aether stiffened for half a heartbeat before calmly folding his arm back, gripping the empty sleeve behind him as though both hands rested there naturally. At the same time, he reached out through the connection, contacting Nightfire without a word, while continuing to speak as if nothing had changed.

”I don’t know what just happened, but... as I said before, I will do my best to protect those who are innocent in the grand scheme of gods,”

He said,

”So please lift your heads and look at me. I am not a god. I am just like... you.”

The words sent a visible ripple through the crowd. People flinched, then slowly began to look up, one by one, eyes widening as they met Aether’s calm gaze and generous smile. He motioned gently for them to rise.

There was hesitation at first. But when Kaelen, Aria, and the other Elders stood, the rest followed.

One Elder stepped forward, the same man who had convinced the masses during the engagement talks in the Naiadae Empire.

”Lord Aether, you might not understand the grand significance of what you have done, but...”

He gestured toward the humongous tree behind Aether, his breath hitching.

”This is not normal. This is... I... I don’t know what to say.”

His voice shook as tears welled in his eyes.

”We have only heard of this in legends. A myth we never believed could exist. Yet here it stands, grown all the way to the sky, and... held back by your hands.”

His composure finally cracked.

”T-This is... I... I am sorry. I truly don’t know what to say anymore. This is too much.”

Aether listened quietly. He nodded once and smiled softly.

”It’s alright,”

He said.

But,

”No, it’s not,”

Kaelith stepped forward, his expression serious. His eyes never left Aether as he spoke again, slower this time, as if choosing each word with care.

”Haven’t you felt it? You are... connected to the tree. The Sacred Seed of Zephyra, the Origin of our Ancient Empire... it accepted you as its Master and obeyed you.”

As he looked between Aether and the towering tree, confusion and awe tangled within his gaze. There was an undeniable aura surrounding both of them, something ancient and profound, as if invisible threads bound man and tree together into a single existence.

They did not merely stand side by side. They felt whole, unified, alive in the same rhythm.

Kaelith clicked his tongue softly.

”Tsk... if only a Wood Tribe member were here, they would have understood what kind of miracle just unfolded.”

He exhaled slowly.

”Do you know that only Wood Tribe members possess the ability to truly connect with trees? They were once ancient Guardians, Masters chosen by the forests themselves. Even our own tribe struggles to earn the acknowledgement of the spirit dwelling within a sacred tree.”

His voice lowered, disbelief creeping in.

”And yet... you. A human. An outsider. Not only acknowledged, but accepted.”

He nudged his nose slightly before drawing a deep breath, a faint, helpless smile touching his lips.

His son-in-law truly was a strange one!

Kaelith approached the tree slowly, reverently, every step measured. Before moving closer, he glanced at Aether as if seeking approval.

Aether chuckled lightly, waving his hand with ease.

”Please.”

As Kaelith drew near, his eyes traced the thickness of the trunk, the hardened surface that looked as though it had existed for centuries. It was impossible to reconcile that image with the truth, that this colossus had emerged within seconds.

His fingers brushed the bark gently, almost fearfully, and he muttered under his breath,

”The Yggdrasil... it told you its name.”

Then he froze. Something about the surface caught his attention.

A dent?

No.

A palm!

Kaelith stared blankly at the imprint where Aether’s hand had once rested, deeply etched into the trunk as though pressed into softened clay rather than wood.

Aether blinked, mildly surprised, before letting out a quiet hum.

’Yeah... the word just came to me out of nowhere,’

He thought, a faint frown forming. His mind wandered... Was it related to that skill?

The King of Woods, he had taken from Alaric?

But it was locked.

He couldn’t use active skills right now.

Right?

His gaze shifted to his right hand. He stiffened slightly when he noticed it. The chain bracelet around his wrist had small cracks running along the edges, faint but unmistakable.

’Hmm...’

He hummed inwardly.

Aether shook his head gently and motioned for Aria and the others to come closer.

As they approached, Ashara quietly walked alongside him, passing behind Aether while he spoke to the group, his voice steady and reassuring.

”Since everyone is safe now... don’t worry. Nothing will happen as long as I am here.”

A soft smile touched his lips.

”Let’s end the ritual.”

A ripple of confusion passed through the crowd. The ritual... wasn’t it already over?

Ignoring the murmurs, Aether stepped in front of Aria. Slowly, deliberately, he brought both hands from behind his back and placed them gently on her shoulders.

Aria’s eyes widened instantly, her breath catching as heat rushed to her cheeks. They turned beet red as she instinctively mirrored his gesture, her hands resting against him just as softly.

Their foreheads leaned together, the world narrowing to that single moment. Aether lowered his voice,

”I will protect you and never let you worry about me again. I love you~”

He rubbed his nose lightly against hers.

Aria’s blush deepened as she smiled shyly, closing her eyes while rubbing her nose back against his, her heart pounding loud enough that she swore everyone could hear it.

The younger members of the crowd erupted into cheers, laughter, and joyful shouts, their excitement spilling freely into the air. Some of the older, more stubborn figures frowned at first, but even they did not object.

In the end, acceptance settled quietly among them.

Maelona and Kaelith watched the scene with warm smiles. Seeing Aria so shy, so openly happy before everyone, stirred something gentle within them.

She looked unbearably cute~!

Aether then turned toward Liora, who was staring at him with a pouting expression, clearly annoyed that he had not told her about waking up or even coming here. She had been sensing his scent ever since he entered the Empire, which only confused her more. She had kept wondering why his presence lingered so vividly when she knew he had not even awakened yet.

Aether chuckled softly, his gaze gentle as it rested on her.

”Please forgive this husband of yours,”

He said as he reached out, took her hand, and pulled her firmly toward him.

Liora stumbled into his embrace, her breath hitching as her eyes fluttered. The man she loved stood before her again, alive and warm, something subtly different shining in his eyes now, a tenderness that overflowed without restraint.

Her tail swayed slowly behind her as she stared at him, mesmerised, before her lips parted on instinct. Aether smiled faintly and leaned in, pressing his lips against hers with quiet affection.

”Hmm~”

The moment their Darkfang Queen was claimed so openly, the entire tribe erupted into howls, voices rising in wild celebration.

”HHHWwwhoooo~”

Kaelen’s face turned red instantly as he covered his eyes, though he still peeked through his fingers, shaking his head in embarrassment.

”Get a room, you two!!”

He complained loudly, clearly flustered at seeing his mother behave like this in front of everyone.

Dora shot him a deadpan look before sighing and shaking her head.

Aether slowly pulled back, nodding lightly as he spoke,

”I guess... that ends the ritua-”

Before he could finish his sentence, Liora suddenly grabbed the back of his head and kissed him again, far more fiercely this time. Her tail spun wildly behind her, swirling like a helicopter blade fueled by pure emotion.

”Hmmm!!!”

A collective gasp rippled through the crowd as Liora pushed him down onto the ground without a shred of hesitation.

Aria stepped forward immediately, reaching out as she tried to pull the woman away.

”You bitch! Stop!!!”

Aria shouted.

The people watching could only smile awkwardly, unsure whether to cheer or panic.

Whoever said marrying two women was luck?

The men shook their heads in silent pity for Aether, imagining the life that awaited him. Dealing with this much passion and chaos for the rest of his days did not look easy at all.

That was exactly why, they thought, secret families were best kept secret.

Like most men would do~