sonovelo Chapter 277: Departure for the Snow Kingdom!
Chapter 277: Departure for the Snow Kingdom!
Aster Grant’s gaze tightened—
Lilith’s level had unexpectedly fallen back to Monarch Tier Five, and all her attributes had drastically declined to around ten thousand points.
He frowned deeply, quickly scanning Lazuli, Vera, and the other Beastbonded creatures, discovering that without exception, they were all in the same weakened state.
Lilith seemed to see through his confusion and gently explained:
"This is the aftermath of forcibly using the Divine Pattern. For a long time to come, your Beastbonded creatures will likely remain in this weakened state."
Hearing this, Aster was taken aback.
He had also used the Divine Pattern, but had not experienced a similar condition.
But when his gaze fell on the floating World Tree Leaf in the Beastbond Space, he suddenly understood.
The World Tree Leaf not only maintained his body from collapsing during battle but also cleared his body of negative status.
"Lilith, is there any way for them to recover quickly?"
He had too much on his shoulders now, with the third Divine Realm unknown as to when it would open; he dared not afford any delay.
If several of his main Beastbonded creatures remained weak, his situation would be extremely perilous.
He must restore fighting power as soon as possible.
Lilith pondered for a moment and gave an answer:
"Snow Kingdom, Snow Maiden."
Back then, when she first suffered a decline due to Divine Pattern backlash, it was the Snow Maiden who treated her.
However, at that time, she was already at Totem Level, and the Snow Maiden was unable to fully restore her.
But now that Lazuli and the others were not at such a high level, the Snow Maiden could fully help them recover their status.
Upon hearing the names "Snow Kingdom" and "Snow Maiden" again, Aster couldn’t help but pause.
He had not forgotten—that Crystal Winslow had been sent to the Snow Kingdom by Lilith.
As of now, he still did not know whether Crystal Winslow had recovered.
And now, Lilith brought up the Snow Kingdom once more.
"Can the Snow Maiden cure Lazuli and Vera?"
Lilith nodded.
However, she immediately remembered the rule set by the Snow Maiden:
She never liked the Human Race, although Lilith herself didn’t know the reason why.
But this time, on her account, the Snow Maiden shouldn’t make things difficult for Aster, right?
After hesitating for a moment, Lilith ultimately chose not to bring up the Snow Maiden’s unwelcoming nature towards humans.
Seeing Lilith’s affirmative response, Aster instantly made up his mind.
To head to the Snow Kingdom.
Whether it was to confirm Crystal Winslow’s recovery or to heal the injuries of Lazuli, Vera, and other Beastbonded creatures—
This journey was necessary for him.
With this thought, Aster made the decision in his heart.
Despite his worries, when he saw the states of a few Beastbonded creatures gradually stabilizing, Aster withdrew his spiritual power from the Beastbond Space.
He walked up to Summer Gardner. With the help of the Seraphs, Summer’s injuries had temporarily stabilized.
Seeing Aster approach, she managed a faint smile.
Looking at Summer’s weak yet spirited appearance, Aster felt heavy-hearted yet helpless.
He had no healing abilities, nor had he contracted a healing-type Bonded Beast.
Celestial Grace could dispel negative status, but it couldn’t heal injuries.
After pondering for a moment, Aster finally advised:
"Have you considered leading the Angel Race to temporarily withdraw from this place?"
His gaze swept across the battlefield—
The former habitat of the Angel Race had turned to ruin, the top fighting forces among the Seraphs were almost all lost, with most of the survivors gravely wounded.
The Angel Race’s combat power was down to less than one-tenth!
If they continued to stay here, facing potential assaults from the Demon Clan at any moment...
They might not be able to withstand it!
However, Summer slowly shook her head, rejecting his suggestion:
"Aster, the Angel Race has guarded this place for generations; we cannot leave."
"You should know that the Ghost Race has its own forbidden land, and we of the Angel Race—"
"also bear the duty of guarding a forbidden land."
"We must stay and continue to guard this place."
Upon hearing this reasoning, Aster opened his mouth but didn’t know how to persuade further.
Summer, seeing his difficulty, softly continued:
"Do not worry about us. Although the Angel Race has greatly reduced combat power now, still..."
"we have the ability to protect ourselves."
"Even if the Demon Clan attacks again, even if we can’t hold it, we still have a way out."
"You just need to take care of Lazuli and ensure her safe growth; the Angel Race will be content."
Upon hearing these words, Aster abandoned the idea of further persuading Summer.
He turned his gaze towards the nearby Lava Clan.
On the previous Monarch Level battlefield, this group of Lava Clan members showed strength that far exceeded their level—
Though only at Monarch Peak, their true combat power was close to Totem Level.
After some thought, Aster decided to let the Lava Clan remain and assist the Angel Race in guarding this place together.
And these honest and passionate firelings did not hesitate at all to Aster’s arrangement, immediately accepting it with solemnity.
...
Meanwhile, at the peak of the Snow Kingdom.
The Snow Maiden was unaware that she had been "remembered" by Lilith.
At this moment, she was leisurely reclining on an ice bed, enjoying a peaceful and pleasant time.
Crystal Winslow stood silently by her side, with slight helplessness, reading stories from the Human World to the Snow Maiden.
At the end of a passage, Crystal Winslow softly asked again:
"Lady Snow Maiden, may I ask when I will be able to leave here?"
Upon hearing this, the Snow Maiden lazily crossed her legs and leisurely replied:
"I am your savior. Since I saved your life, you should obediently stay here."
She had no intention of letting Crystal Winslow go.
Since Lilith liked that human...
How could she possibly send this "competitor" back?
Moreover, she discovered that this human had contracted a Rimefrost Phoenix—
Its attributes perfectly matched hers.
When this Phoenix grows, it could become another powerful guardian under her command.
Therefore, she was even less likely to let Crystal Winslow go.
Faced with such a response, Crystal Winslow was filled with helplessness.
During this time, she couldn’t count how often she had begged the Snow Maiden, yet every time she failed.
Now, she was consumed with worry:
Why was she here? Was Draconia safe? How was Aster doing now?
...She had no way of knowing any of this.
She had tried to leave the Snow Kingdom.
But every time she hadn’t even left the snow mountain range yet, she was blocked by the Snow Maiden’s guardians and "kindly" invited back to the Ice Palace.
During these days, her only "duties" were to read stories to the Snow Maiden and...
answer the Snow Maiden’s endless questions.
For example:
"What kind of person is Aster Grant? What does Lilith see in him?"
But she didn’t even know who Lilith was, so how could she answer?
Soon, the Snow Maiden’s voice rang again, with a hint of teasing:
"Little Crystal, keep reading me stories. Maybe when I’m in a good mood one day, I’ll let you go?"
Crystal Winslow sighed softly.
The situation was beyond her control; she could only agree once again.
...
...