The Oracle Paths

Chapter 1219: The Price of Cowardice

Millions of kilometers to the east, three pets abruptly reappeared amid the armed group they’d left behind just moments ago. Their sudden emergence caused the Players to brake hard, weapons drawn, suspecting an enemy ambush. However, upon recognizing the famed mascots, Cho Min Ho nodded in acknowledgment.

”You’re already back? I assume everything went smoothly?”

The chihuahua and the lizard guiltily averted their gazes, prompting several skeptical scowls. Taking charge, the marmoset stepped forward to deliver their report, acting as their de facto spokesperson.

”...And that’s pretty much how it went down,” the monkey finished darkly. ”We’re ready to accept our punishment.”

Domingo, the unkillable death-row convict, already trembled with excitement, eagerly sharpening his machetes. But the Korean’s reply immediately crushed his enthusiasm.

”Good job, you two,” he praised, flashing a kind smile at the lizard and the marmoset. Turning to the reptile, he added consolingly, ”You lost, but you dragged out the fight as long as you could. Good enough.”

The marmoset, too, was let off the hook despite never actually fighting. His willingness to step up and his attitude alone were enough to boost their credibility in the eyes of the Myrtharian Nerds.

Just when the bloodthirsty criminal had resigned himself to a disappointing peace, Min Ho’s icy stare landed on the anxiously fidgeting chihuahua.

”As for you... The King’s Idol Alliance doesn’t tolerate spineless cowards who can’t follow orders. Time to repent!”

Guessing what was about to happen, Domingo and the other ruthless Players handpicked by the Korean shuddered with a mix of dread, respect, and anticipation. With nothing more than a commanding glint in his eyes as a signal, Min Ho delivered his sentence instantly.

It was a power stranger than a curse, more inescapable than fate, and more binding and permanent than an Oracle Slave Contract. Instinctively, the chihuahua bolted, but this time his opponent was no mere mutant pitbull-gorilla.

The little dog had barely taken three steps before his eyes turned gray, robbing him of sight. The sounds of his frantic breath and racing heartbeat faded, leaving him deaf. The vibrant ocean of scents that guided every canine dried up completely, his sense of smell reduced to a distant memory.

Already nightmarish for the one experiencing it, this was sadly only the beginning. The worst was yet to come.

Long before his senses of touch and taste were stripped away, even more essential attributes were snatched first. His strength evaporated, muscles shriveling as his Aether and Body Stats plummeted. Then went agility, constitution, vitality, intelligence, the ability to think and feel, and finally... his very consciousness.

Reduced to a hollow shell, the skeletal dog collapsed like a marionette with its strings cut—still alive, yet not much different from death itself.

For Players who’d witnessed their leader’s power before, this magic was as unfathomable as it was unbeatable. They didn’t understand how it worked. Only those with razor-sharp senses vaguely guessed that as the chihuahua’s abilities drained away, their leader’s own grew proportionally stronger.

Yet they didn’t question it. Despite its horrifying cruelty, this punishment wasn’t permanent. Cho Min Ho had resorted to this discipline with disobedient subordinates before, typically reversing the effects after they’d served their time, offering a second chance. Up until now, he’d never had to punish the same offender twice.

”So, what do we do with the dog now?” asked a muscular, bearded Player, lifting the emaciated chihuahua by the scruff.

Usually, the ’punished’ were safely tucked away since their fragile condition made them more vulnerable than newborns—a chilly breeze could cause hypothermia or even stop their hearts.

Normally benevolent, Min Ho had no intention of killing them outright, just teaching them a harsh lesson. But this time, his command was indifferent.

”We’re on a mission. Lustris is right ahead. Drop him somewhere. If he survives, good for him. If he doesn’t, tough luck.”

Many loyal Players furrowed their brows uneasily, but their collective brainwashing swiftly quieted their doubts. Amy and Lee Yoon were no exception.

Nevertheless, perhaps because their kindness and sense of free will hadn’t entirely vanished, the two women discreetly scooped up the unconscious, skeletal dog, stashing it away in a backpack. Min Ho saw it clearly but couldn’t have cared less.

”Let’s move out!”

Far ahead, the immense canopy of the titan tree Anthace already pierced the clouds, marking the horizon. Their destination, the capital of Lustra Plain, was finally within reach.

It wouldn’t be long now...

*****

The unforgettable sight of the king of the savannah towering over the ruined arena, gripping the colossal skull of a bat-like titan dripping gore from his jaws, left a lasting impression on every soldier and Player who witnessed it—far more intense than even the previous gruesome duels.

His dense mane was soaked in gore, massive droplets of black blood, each as large as tennis balls, dripping steadily from his fur. The fact that the beast stood over a kilometer tall at the shoulder, and his decapitated victim was equally immense, did nothing to ease the stunned crowd.

Of course, one side appreciated the spectacle considerably less than the other...

”We’ve lost this round too...” Master Eldrion sighed, slumping disorientedly into his seat. This outcome wasn’t something he’d foreseen.

”I don’t know where Anthace was hiding that winged monstrosity, but it was nearly as strong as the Featherfall Titan,” Lord Calyx grimly commented, his expression darker than ever. ”Who would’ve thought these Players had beasts of such caliber on their roster...”

The Players representing the Lustra Plains were left speechless. They had a few formidable beasts and familiars of their own, but those capable of standing toe-to-toe with this lion weren’t so quick to show their strength, let alone follow orders.

Still... At least the beast duels were finally over. They would reclaim control during the upcoming single duels.

”Now it’s time for the single combat duels between Corebearers,” Lady Lyria announced, shifting gears. ”At this level of cultivation, our warriors’ physical prowess and vitality grant an advantage practically impossible to counter without artifacts or summoned creatures.”

The faces of the other Radiant Conclave members brightened considerably at this reassuring fact. The ’single duel’ specification naturally forbade using vengeful souls as cannon fodder or fuel for Soul Spells—a condition they’d explicitly demanded.

”Jake didn’t even flinch when he heard this rule,” Lady Faye warned carefully, having learned firsthand how tricky the human could be. ”Don’t underestimate these outsiders. They possess many abilities we know nothing about.”

Master Eldrion silenced her with a gesture. ”Relax. We haven’t shown all our cards either. The accumulation of a millennia-old conclave like ours is beyond their imagination. Besides, our combatants have already been chosen! Come!”

With a sharp tap of his staff against the ground, three roots burst forth, each ending in a large bud. Faster than the blink of an eye, the buds blossomed, then fully opened, revealing two men and a woman, asleep.

As soon as their bodies, armored entirely in white wooden plate, were fully exposed, their eyes snapped open. A murderous aura and a dark, ominous Lumyst surged forth with overwhelming vitality, testifying to their terrifying battle prowess.

”Such power!” Faye exclaimed in awe. ”Are these really just Corebearers? And what’s with this dark Lumyst? Those beasts earlier had the same...”

”...The secrets of Anthace and the Celestial are not for us to pry into. They will reveal the truth if they deem it necessary. Right now, all that matters is winning these duels,” the old man sternly admonished, ignoring her questions. ”All I’ll say is not all Corebearers are created equal. These warriors have been carefully cultivated and trained by the Titan Tree itself.”

Lady Lyria raised a skeptical eyebrow but kept her thoughts private. It might be true, yet the sinister aura of that dark Lumyst disturbed her deeply. Its malevolence was nearly tangible, stirring indescribable emotions in their hearts, urging them toward unspeakable acts. If they succumbed to these impulses, there would be no turning back.

As for Lord Calyx, his lingering doubts finally resolved. ’So Eldrion and I are indeed on the same side.’

There was still the possibility that the old man was being manipulated, but that seemed unlikely. In that case, their true plan stood an even greater chance of success.

None of their enemies would leave this battlefield alive. Both the true Soulmancer King and his replacements would dig their graves here.

Thus would the Blade Spirit’s will be fulfilled.