The Legendary Mage (Alavin)
Chapter 37

After leaving the Botanic Haven, the Shadowbringer was once again enveloped in silence, but the great monolith left Alavin feeling deeply unsettled. He could not fathom the connection between the stone and the Shadowbringer. Was the Shadowbringer on guard against it, or was it somehow drawing the Shadowbringer in?

"Best to steer clear of that place from now on, lest the secrets of the Shadowbringer be revealed."

Alavin returned to the storeroom and took out the Viper's Berry, smiling as he examined it. The berry was much larger than any he had seen before, a vibrant crimson that seemed to drip with juice and emitted a hauntingly sweet fragrance. Held up to the candlelight, one could almost see the lifeblood within it, circulating in a slow dance.

A typical Viper's Berry was of the Advanced Novice class, but this one seemed to possess at least double the potency. It would be perfect for solidifying his mastery of Stage V.

Satisfied, Alavin sat cross-legged in the storeroom and began to absorb the essence. The rich elixir seeped into his being, caressing each cell. The Advanced Elixir Fruit contained not only abundant magic but also myriad wondrous properties.

The night was tranquil, with most people asleep, while a few practiced their skills tirelessly in the forests or the Arena.

Alavin was fully immersed in the absorption, channeling the pure magic to nourish his Channels of Energy, when suddenly an intense tremor swept through the thirty-some peaks of Cobalt Strike. It was as if an earthquake had struck; mountains shook, the earth rippled, and thousands of buildings trembled noticeably. Many Protégés woke from their slumber in alarm.

What had happened? They opened their eyes in confusion.

Then came another quiver, and before they could grasp the situation, a fearsome roar swept across the vast domain of Cobalt Strike, like the howl of a demon or the cry of a prisoner, filled with deep-seated resentment, bringing an indescribable terror to the dark midnight.

Thousands of Protégés were now wide awake, rushing out of their dwellings to locate the source of the sound.

Deep within Botanic Haven, thunderous noises deafened the ears as the earth cracked open, and malevolent fissures spread wildly. Boulders were hurled about, dust clouds billowed, and ancient trees were uprooted whole.

A surge of dark energy shot up into the sky, shattering the mists above Botanic Haven and piercing the heavens. The clouds above roiled tumultuously, and a massive vortex was formed by the relentless force of the dark energy.

With a clattering sound, golden chains pierced the night, rising heavenward like a host of golden dragons, their writhing forms casting a breathtaking glow. They collided with the dark clouds above, entwined with the dark energy.

A hoarse roar came from deep within the dark energy, as if something were struggling. The sound was terrifying, chilling to the bone.

The chains blazed with increased brilliance, illuminating the land and mountains with a cascade of golden light.

All eyes were fixed upon Botanic Haven, stunned by the sight of the dark energy and the fierce golden chains.

What had happened? What creature was this?

Atop Botanic Haven, an old man with gray hair stood against the wind. His wild mane danced, and his gaze burned with intensity. With arms spread wide as if embracing the sky, he roared a sound that shook the heavens. The mists of Botanic Haven churned tumultuously, like the surging tides of a great river. He summoned all the magic of Botanic Haven, channeling it into waves of magical force that swept into the stone garden deep within and fused into the golden chains.

The golden chains in the high skies flared even brighter, tightly coiling around the dark energy and tearing it back into Botanic Haven.

With a series of thunderous booms, Botanic Haven shook, the golden light faded, and all returned to calm...

Elders appeared one after another, gazing towards Botanic Haven with grave expressions. How could this be? Who had awakened it?

Standing on the roof of the storeroom, Alavin's brow was furrowed. At the moment of the roar, the Shadowbringer within his Energy Core had also vibrated as if responding to something. The golden chains! Could it be the stone garden within Botanic Haven?

That night, the Elders and Protégés of Cobalt Strike lay awake. The sudden upheaval left many feeling uneasy. Alavin, too, was sleepless, staring out from the rooftop, and his brow creased with worry. Before dawn, a strict edict from the Commander spread throughout Cobalt Strike. No one was to speak of the incident at Botanic Haven; any transgressors would be shown no mercy.

What should have been a sensational event vanished like smoke the next day. No one dared defy the Commander's direct order, and all sensed that the matter was far from ordinary, daring not to speculate wildly.

In the following days, despite frequent visits by the Elders to Botanic Haven, Cobalt Strike appeared normal on the surface.

Alavin knew he might have caused a misfortune and kept to his duties, delivering goods and practicing his craft, staying well away from Botanic Haven. The Viper's Berry's effects were indeed potent; it took three full days to fully absorb, and his mastery of Stage V gradually stabilized.

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