The Oracle Paths

Chapter 1010 Relax, Guardian

Saros sneered with distaste, viewing the Brain-Eater pitifully squirm in hollow promises.

Any Evolver whoʼd dealt with Digestors as much as he had would know their words held no weight, no credibility.

Even if the Digestorʼs promises held sincerity, a miracle born from fear, their natural tendencies – rooted in their nature and origin – would persist, continuing to shape their behavior and character fundamentally. Once fear faded, these two Brain-Eaters would naturally start their plots anew.

Of course, how could a wise and seasoned Rank 3 Aetherist like Cekt be deceived?

Much like the Oracle Guardian, the old alienʼs lips curled downwards in disdain and aversion, coldly pronouncing, ”And why should I believe you?”

A chill of terror raced along the spine of the Gorgonite, perceiving the hostility seeping from the voice of his former master. Aware that his life depended on what heʼd utter next, he began sweating large droplets of mineral oil, soon coating him like engine oil – the smell was all too similar.

Rigel racked his brain for an adequate response. His counterpart Syrbarun, peacefully floating in his glass cage, took a perverse pleasure in his current inability to answer.

With walls designed to block sound and telepathic signals both incoming and outgoing, the imprisoned Brain-Eater could easily lip-read, yet his predicament spared him the existential pressure his comrade was facing.

It wasnʼt that he fancied himself safe from Wendokʼs wrath – he knew heʼd soon face the same interrogation – but for the moment, he savored the spectacle of his fellow Brain-Eater enduring a dreadful grilling.

When Cekt and the others started losing patience, the Gorgoniteʼs frantic eyes suddenly stilled, and, prostrated before the old alien, he looked up and proclaimed with newfound confidence, an eureka moment, ”I-I am ready to sign an Oracle Slave

Contract!”

He anxiously awaited the green gremlinʼs response, only to be met with collective laughter. Even Jake couldnʼt help but sneer, retorting with a biting tone, ”Did you really think we would let you live without signing one? Thatʼs not enough.

Oracle Slave Contracts donʼt work well with your kind. And I know what Iʼm talking about as one of my Oracle Slaves is a Trojan Digestor.”

Of course, he was referring to Ruby. He had firsthand experience with the limitations of the Oracle Slave Contract when it came to these creatures.

Cekt nodded, arms folded, hearing his discipleʼs words. His icy gaze then landed back on Rigel and he snapped sharply, ”You heard him. Iʼm giving you a second chance. Know this, if the answer doesnʼt satisfy me, I wonʼt hesitate to kill you.

Because even though I can force you without asking your opinion, I have no good reason to. Whether you live or die is up to you.”

The Gorgoniteʼs face contorted in despair and anger at the ultimatum. With his intelligence, he knew precisely what the old Wendok meant.

The Brain-Eaterʼs features soon furrowed into a horrid grimace faced with the terrible dilemma. Jake could tell by the chaotic spiritual fluctuations how hard the choice was. Even if he didnʼt know what Cekt planned exactly, he knew it boded nothing good for the Digestor.

The Brain-Eater was likely choosing between dying now and surviving, regretting every day he was still alive. In other words, the Gorgoniteʼs choice would hinge on how much he valued staying alive, or rather, how much he dreaded his own death.

Jake had his hunches about this aspect, and, unsurprisingly, Rigel didnʼt disappoint him. ”I... want to live. Whatever the cost. Alright, brainwash me. But please, donʼt manipulate too much with my personality or alter my memories too much. I want to know that Iʼve been brainwashed and that I accepted this change willingly.” ʼAs expected.ʼ Jake nodded inwardly, hearing the Brain-Eaterʼs decision.

Brainwashing was indeed the only real way to influence a Digestorʼs behavior. The only unknown was what kind of brainwashing they were referring to?

If classical hypnosis-based brainwashing was an effective remedy for Corruption, the Oracle and Mirror Universe wouldnʼt have made such a fuss.

Therefore, logically, Cekt and Rigel were referring to a deeper, more permanent type of brainwashing, the kind that directly affected the soul. If he was not mistaken, it was something akin to the hereditary Soul Slave Seal that Brain-Eaters could innately use by sacrificing some of their Soul Power.

The only thing that still bothered him was that he didnʼt know his master was capable of such a feat. Wasnʼt it only Rank 5 or above Aetherists who had the level and experience required to manipulate the Soul Code?

In this case, it was likely a perk of his bloodline, a Soul Class, or some sort of Soul Cultivation Technique. Otherwise, it could only be made possible with a one-time-use item like the invaluable Phasing Scroll used earlier by Saros.

And indeed, Cekt immediately proved his last supposition correct when he summoned a peculiar red scroll that resembled a sheet of congealed blood, adorned with a complex design suggesting a large gold-inked blotch.

Jake found nothing of note about the scroll based on its aura or its materials, yet the reaction of Saros and Rigel proved quite the opposite. ”H-how?! How did you get this?” Saros stammered out, his face contorted in shock, while the Gorgonite started trembling with horror, bowing without any hesitation. ”Anything but this, I beg of you!” the Brain-Eater whimpered, weeping copiously and shaking with terror.

Even Syrbarun, who was gleefully twitching in his cage, turned stiff, his terrified gaze pinned on the crimson scroll. His enjoyment of his fellow creatureʼs misery was long forgotten. ”Oh? So, you know what this is.” Cekt chuckled at their stunned reactions. ”Good, itʼll save me some time.” ”What is it, master?” Jake asked with curiosity, the only one seeming indifferent to the scrollʼs appearance. ”Something that even works on Digestors because it originates from the same source,”

Cekt explained solemnly. ”Donʼt bother looking for this item in the Oracle Store, you wonʼt find anything. Even in the Mirror World, itʼs pricey just to get information about it. In our Mirror Universe, only the Oracle, the Ancient Designers, and some exceptional elites can lawfully acquire it.”

His masterʼs explanation only made Jake more doubtful, raising new questions. If it was so hard to acquire, then why did he have one of these rare scrolls in his possession?

More importantly, why waste it on a lowly Brain-Eater?

Even without reading his discipleʼs thoughts, the gremlin could guess his concerns, and he answered with a shrug, ”What I can say is that I obtained a fair number of these legally.”

Sarosʼ pupils narrowed at his ambiguous response, and he instinctively gripped his four blades tighter, as if preparing for a fight for his life. ”Relax, Guardian.” Cekt scoffed, rolling his eyes, ”Iʼm not so petty as to silence you after summoning this scroll in your presence.

However, youʼre right about one thing. Now that youʼve seen this scroll, I have to ensure your silence. Letʼs sign an Oracle Contract.”

The four-armed alien immediately relaxed upon hearing this order. On the surface, it was humiliating for him, but considering what he had witnessed, he got off remarkably lightly. ”Do I need to sign one too?” Jake asked, his brow furrowing. ”No need.” Cekt dismissed him with a wave of his hand without looking his way. ”You donʼt know what this is, and Oracle

Contracts no longer hold much sway over you. Let me handle them while you take care of your infected companions. Weʼll discuss the rest later.”

Jake didnʼt protest, but pointing at Epsilom, Hade, and Lyra, who were standing apart from their group, he inquired, ”What about Epsilom and Hade? I donʼt think theyʼre fully under the virusʼs influence.”

Cekt momentarily turned away from Rigel at his remark, taking time to inspect his favored student and then Hade. After a quick mental scan, he confirmed, ”Youʼre right. Thereʼs a Soul Slave Seal in their souls. The

Sinewshade Virus isnʼt as effective on inorganic etheric races, and Epsilom, with his powerful and near-unfaltering spirit due to his powerʼs nature, isnʼt an exception. As for your friend, itʼs more surprising, but itʼs due to his high Spirit Body level and decent Soul Strength. He mustʼve also used a technique at the time of infection to protect his soul from the virus.”

Turning back to Rigel, he bluntly growled, ”Your handiwork?”

The Gorgonite quivered like a leaf under his scathing gaze, but knowing denial was futile, he quick ly announced, ”Iʼve just removed it.” 64a4499883e41362e4a34f7b