Though subtle, the sound was immediately detected by the vigilant Karina and Enzo, who turned their gazes toward its source. There, they beheld an elderly man with flowing white hair and a long, white beard, clad in a tattered robe. His eyes, though clouded with age, emanated a remarkable wisdom.

“Master Mau!” Karina exclaimed, a note of surprise in her voice.

Enzo looked up instantly.

Could this truly be the Mau?

A sense of unease washed over him. The figure before him exuded an ominous aura.

At that moment, Mau turned his gaze to Karina and gently inquired, “Karina, how did you find your way here? Is there something you seek this time?”

Karina replied candidly, “Master Mau, I wish to request your assistance.”

With that, Karina nudged Enzo forward and continued, “My friend here has his elemental powers sealed. I implore you to help lift the ban.”

“Lifting the ban…”

Mau murmured, his beard twitching slightly. He then regarded Enzo, his expression still benevolent and unperturbed. After a moment of contemplation, he gently shook his head and said, “The elemental seal within him is beyond my ability to lift. It is a highly sophisticated binding spell, altered by unforeseen circumstances. The only path to liberation lies within himself.”

Karina’s anxiety was palpable.

Karina’s choice to betray Cornelius and escort Enzo away stemmed from her belief in his potential and strength to confront Cornelius.

This current predicament was utterly unacceptable to Karina.

At that moment, however, Enzo turned to Mau and asked, “Master Mau, what must I do?”

Mau had not declared the situation unsolvable. Rather, he implied that the resolution rested upon Enzo himself, suggesting there was indeed a means to resolve the issue.

This, in turn, sparked Enzo’s suspicion.

In the humble abode where Mau once resided, the peculiar individual they encountered had distinctly voiced a desire to resolve the confinement of elemental power within himself. Even the discovery of Mau would not suffice to address this issue. Yet, the present Mau claims to possess a solution.

The conflicting assertions of these two individuals suggest that one of them is surely deceiving the other.

Enzo, leaning towards the latter—this current iteration of Mau—despite the suppression of elemental power, finds his own formidable soul endowing him with acute perceptive abilities. Within Enzo’s perception, the Mau before him radiates an aura of peculiarity.

He undoubtedly harbors secrets!

Upon hearing Enzo’s inquiry, Mau smiled and remarked, “Some assert that elemental power originates from the world, from the Starry Sky. It is the essence that constructs all things, the very foundation of existence. However, after extensive research, I have concluded that elemental power emanates not solely from the cosmos but also partially from within oneself.

In fact, even in an utterly mundane world devoid of any supernatural traces, it is conceivable for supernatural beings to emerge.”

“And these supernatural beings possess the ability to generate supernatural power autonomously.”

“Upon encountering the Starry Sky, these individuals can rapidly ascend to great strength, often transforming into formidable immortal deities in a remarkably brief span. The term ‘immortal’ is ascribed to them not merely for their immense power, but also because they can independently generate elemental energy within.”

“This is the quintessential essence of every immortal deity!”

Mau earnestly elucidated.

Clearly, Karina’s earlier claims regarding her profound understanding of elemental power were not mere idle words.

Mau paused momentarily before continuing, “The elemental power within you is sealed. The situation is intricate. It is not merely that your body is deprived of the channels to perceive external elemental forces, but also that your own senses are shrouded in obscurity. To once again perceive elemental power, you must rely solely on your own soul.”

“How do we accomplish that?” Enzo inquired once more.

“The Elemental Reconstruction Ritual!” Mau replied, lifting his gaze slightly, his eyes shimmering with light. He then elaborated, “This is a unique ritual that harnesses powerful soul energy to analyze elemental forces, allowing the body to independently coalesce elemental power, thereby endowing one with certain attributes of an immortal deity.”

Such a notion seemed quite extraordinary.

Even Karina, who held great trust in Mau, felt a flicker of doubt.

Mau merely smiled, saying, “This ritual carries certain risks. The decision to proceed rests entirely with you.”

Without hesitation, Enzo declared, “Let’s begin.”

Enzo’s decisiveness took Mau by surprise. The first moment of astonishment flickered across his kindly, wrinkle-laden face, but it was fleeting. He soon nodded with a smile, “Follow me.”

Mau led the way, guiding Enzo and Karina.

At that moment, Karina sensed something amiss and pulled Enzo aside, saying, “Something is wrong. This ‘Mau’ before us is suspicious.”

Enzo nodded in agreement and countered, “We have no other options at present.”

Karina, puzzled, extended her mental energy to sense the surroundings, and her expression changed dramatically.

Mau was leading them towards a metallic Node Temple.

At this moment, in Karina’s perception, the metallic Node Temple seemed to come alive, extending countless tendrils that reached into every corner of the jungle. This meant that upon their arrival, they had already fallen prey to the embrace of these appendages.

Meanwhile, Mau too was ensnared by a mass of writhing tendrils.

This bizarre sight immediately conjured a grotesque image in Karina’s mind—a scene reminiscent of a Fierce Beast’s carcass, decaying and teeming with maggots.

Flee!

Karina made a swift decision.

She hurriedly reached for Enzo, but found herself unable to budge him. The very air around her pressed in, weighing down upon her with a suffocating force that rendered her immobile.

Mau turned to her, speaking gently, “Karina, do not panic. We are almost there.”

Karina forced herself to steady, declaring, “You are not Mau!”

“I am not Mau…” At her words, Mau fell into a prolonged silence, refraining from rebuttal. His tone turned somber as he replied, “Indeed, I am not Mau. I am merely a creature born from his remains, uncertain of my own nature. But thankfully, your arrival grants me the possibility of an identity I can call my own.”

Karina’s expression shifted to one of alarm, her elemental powers surging violently within her.

Mau shook his head, urging, “Do not resist.”

Then, extending his hand, Mau pressed down in the air, and in an instant, Karina’s elemental powers dissipated completely, rendering her as ordinary as Enzo.

This left Karina engulfed in despair.

Yet Enzo appeared unfazed, pressing, “Master Mau, how much longer?”

Mau smiled and replied, “Not long now.”

In short order, under Mau’s guidance, the two entered the metallic Node Temple.

The structure known as the Node Temple resembles a uniquely crafted prison, housing within its confines a colossal statue of an unsightly man. This figure boasts a singular horn protruding from his forehead, a visage of a sickly green hue, and jagged fangs that jut from his mouth, all bound by thick chains that ensnare its limbs.

The other ends of these chains are firmly anchored to the metallic walls of the Node Temple.

“Is this the monster that the Node Temple contains?” Enzo inquired of Mau.

Mau shook his head, responding, “He is not a monster, but a man. Moreover, this inquiry is of little consequence. The elemental reconstruction ritual must commence.”

As soon as Mau’s words echoed, a peculiar wave of energy surged through the Node Temple, causing the heavy chains that confined the statue to shift and subsequently ensnare Enzo. In that instant of being wrapped by the chains, Enzo felt as though his entire being, even his very soul, was inextricably bound.

Yet, he remained unperturbed.

Karina’s plight was similarly dire. She seemed trapped in an ethereal dreamland, her eyes brimming with tears as she cried out, “No, spare me!”

At that moment, Mau slowly exited the Node Temple.

As he crossed the threshold, the metallic doors of the Node Temple descended with a finality that sealed the entire structure.

In that instant, Enzo shouted, “Maude, you rascal, why don’t you hurry out!”

His voice reverberated within the enclosed space, but aside from the echo, nothing else materialized.

Noticing this, Enzo called out again, “Maude—”

Just as he spoke the name, a young man clad in robes appeared before Enzo. He lacked a corporeal form, resembling a specter, hovering in front of him with a faint, elusive smile. He then addressed Enzo, saying, “Enzo, at last we meet.”

“So, was all of this your design?” Enzo’s expression revealed no joy in their encounter. Instead, it was marked by impatience and even anger.

Had it not been for Maude, he would not have set foot on the Fierce Beast continent.

Maude recognized the excessiveness of his actions, yet at this moment, only Enzo could offer him assistance. He forced a smile and explained, “I sincerely apologize. I had no other choice. However, the world of Fierce Beast is far from straightforward, concealing even greater secrets. The benefits derived from these secrets could grant you tremendous advancement.”

“What secrets?” Enzo inquired, irritation evident in his tone.

Maude’s response only fueled Enzo’s fury. “The investigation is ongoing. Yet, as you can see, my soul is barely a whisper now. To unravel the mysteries of the Fierce Beast world, I may need your help!”

Enzo let out a cold laugh.

Although Maude had aided him in the past, this time he had undeniably plunged him into peril.

As Enzo approached the Node Temple, an instinctive sense of unease washed over him. It was at that moment that Maude’s lingering spirit appeared, covertly communicating with Enzo, prompting him to follow the enigmatic Mau into the Node Temple.

“What should we do now?” Enzo asked directly.

“Enzo, your soul is incredibly powerful—so powerful that you cannot even fathom its true essence.” Maude lamented.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep