When the plot-skips players into the game world

Chapter 779: Chapter 160 [Enchantment Card: Tree Demon·Moon Spirit] Chapter 779: Chapter 160 [Enchantment Card: Tree Demon·Moon Spirit] “If possible,” Anastasia’s voice came without hesitation, yet it became dull, “I would like…

to leave with you.”

As she spoke these words, she was still growing.

Her original form had been completely covered by the tree—or rather, her body had completely turned to wood.

When Aiwass looked at her now, he could no longer see any trace of the young girl she once was within the gradually growing outline of the Great Tree.

Even her voice had “matured,” as if covered by a thick layer of leather, becoming dull and distorted compared to before.

Perhaps it was out of trust, or perhaps it was due to affection.

Or maybe it was because of her desire for the world and her anticipation of the unknown that she gave her answer directly without even asking what Aiwass was going to do.

Aiwass’s lips curved into a slight smile as he picked out three Tarot Cards and wedged them between the fingers of his right hand.

—”The Fool.

Ignorant and fearless, revering the future, pursuing dreams, advancing freely.

Knowing it’s meaningless yet still proceeding obstinately.

—”The Empress.

Carefree and leisurely, nourishing and gentle.

A great loving selflessness, enjoying taking care of others.

Yet overly indulgent, lacking principles.

—”The Hermit.

Seeking to enlighten the world but trapped in place.

Content with solitude, closing off voluntarily.

Lighting themselves, enlightening others.

Arrogant, insecure, distant in demeanor, lacking passion.”

Aiwass slightly fanned out the three cards, showing them to Anastasia: “Which one do you prefer?

And which one do you think suits you more?”

Upon hearing this, for the first time, Anastasia fell into hesitation.

It was like taking a psychological test, feeling that each option seems more or less the same.

Knowing that these choices all held significant meaning, yet she was unable to discern the inclination of her own heart.

Looking at Anastasia, who had turned into wood and was still growing swiftly into a towering Great Tree, Aiwass smiled easily: “It seems for you, they’re probably all about the same…

aren’t they.”

“…

Any of them will do.”

Anastasia gave her answer: “They all seem like me.”

“Then let me choose for you.”

Without any hesitation, Aiwass picked the first card.

A card number zero, in yellow.

It signifies the beginning of life, and also the end of something in life.

—[The Fool].

“Compared to motherly love and dedication,” Aiwass whispered, “a child like you is more suited to this card.

“Consider it…

my blessing to you.

Go forth with dreams in your heart and courage in your steps.”

For a common Phantom Demon like a Tree Demon, the conditions to become a Great Sin Beast were not yet met.

But to create a minion card, there was no problem.

Aiwass didn’t lack such a commonplace spot for a card—nor did he lack the materials.

Even if there was no use for it once made, at the very least it allowed Anastasia to not be bound by her own destiny.

Being destined to become a Phantom Demon or such was what…

—Aiwass now disliked the most, this kind of “predetermined destiny.”

If he had no power to change it, that would be one thing.

But he had the strength.

So how could he look away and do nothing?

“Give me a piece of jade.”

Aiwass instructed Sherlock, the ritual assistant quietly waiting in a corner.

Sherlock gave a wry smile but obediently opened the ritual pack and came over: “Do you need anything else?

I can go find it.”

“As a beginning of everything, this card doesn’t need too many complicated transcendental materials.

Just a feather from a female vulture, a pair of well-preserved butterfly wings, a naturally dried pine cone, a traveler’s pack used for at least twenty years, and…

a bottle of mead.”

“I will go get it right away!”

Lady Grace came to her senses and hurriedly took her leave.

Maxim was slightly stunned for a moment but then caught on and approached Aiwass and Sherlock, asking, “What else is missing?”

He did not ask Aiwass what he was going to do or how he would do it.

“Everything is missing.

I only have the ritual materials here.

Feather from a female vulture, pine cones, traveler’s pack—”

Sherlock replied: “I’ll go shopping with you—Will there be enough time to make a trip to the First Ring, Aiwass?”

“No need.”

Maxim immediately said, “We almost have all of it at home, except for the vulture’s feathers—I’ll go find some right now.”

“…I have the feathers.”

Suddenly, the silent Yunus spoke up, taking a feather from his own hat.

His expression was complex, “This should be the feather of a female vulture.”

——This was Yunus’s most cherished hat, which was why he had always preserved it well.

Aiwass nodded, “Many bards will use the feather of a female vulture.

“Because the Horus People believe that vultures are a species without males.

They think that female vultures are impregnated by the wind…

From this perspective, female vultures can be considered as the ‘Wife of the Wind,’ and bards worship the freedom like that of the wind.

They call themselves ‘Son of the Wind,’ hence they wear the mark of the mother.”

As Aiwass spoke, he reached out and took Yunus’s hat.

He smiled slightly, “This is the last thing he left for you — it must have a special symbolic meaning for you, are you willing to part with it?”

“…If it can be of help, to save others.

I think that is the greatest meaning.”

Yunus said.

“That’s the only thing you’ve said since I met you that sounds manly.”

Aiwass chuckled softly, offering a low commentary.

As he spoke, he removed the feather.

The wind attribute mana, provided by the “Essence of Erinyes,” flowed out from Aiwass’s right index finger.

The pale green mana instantly shredded the feather and then infused it into the piece of jade.

Then, the piece of jade also suddenly exploded —

Under Aiwass’s meticulous control, the wind carried the mana and debris to encase the Fool Card layer by layer.

——Yes, though the Tree Demon appeared quite stable and immovable as a mountain, it was actually a Phantom Demon with attributes of wind and light.

Therefore, if the Fool Card was used to make it, it could only be the choice of wind attribute.

Maxim and Grace quickly returned with their items as well.

Aiwass placed the pinecone into the bag, then added the card.

Next, he opened the honey wine and began to chant:

“I call upon the Gemini Mirror!

The holy number two, the god with neither eyes nor ego, the god of pure and unblemished beauty —”

As Aiwass chanted, he poured out the wine while continuously pouring his mana into it.

The wine did not directly drip onto the bag.

It spread out in the air all of a sudden, like a droplet falling onto water.

The golden aroma of the honey wine expanded downward, enveloping the bag like mist.

The bag visibly began to shrink at a pace visible to the naked eye, finally retaining only a palm-sized mass, wrapped in golden honey.

Aiwass placed the wrapped package under the still-growing Anastasia tree, quietly watching her continue to grow and enlarge under the moonlight.

Before Anastasia achieved sublimation, she was still a mortal and hardly a Phantom Demon.

However, the moment she fully transformed into a tree in the Material Realm, she already became a Phantom Demon — not after entering the Dream Realm.

That’s why it’s possible for Phantom Demons in the Material Realm to exist without ascending successfully, and why burning the tree’s body ensures her smooth ascension.

Soon, Anastasia had stopped moving.

And the group waited quietly there.

The latter part of the night passed by like flowing water.

At Aiwass’s request, Yunus played a soft and melodious tune on his new lyre.

And in the gentleness of the music, careful to the point of tentativeness, the sun rose.

Under the first ray of the morning sun, the giant tree suddenly turned into a dazzling gold — and then shattered like fireflies, all flowing into the bag.

When all the radiance had dissipated, Aiwass stepped forward to open the now normally colored miniature package.

Inside lay another Fool Card, completely different in design.

It was a person in green attire with bull’s horns atop the head, not looking particularly intelligent.

The curved crystal staff with twin serpents ended in a pinecone, wrapped around his neck like a rope.

With a slight gesture from Aiwass, the card flickered between light and dark, moving instantly into Aiwass’s hand, revealing its attributes.

[Enchantment: Tree Demon·Moon Spirit (Fool)]

[Level: 40]

[Path of Devotion, Wind Attribute]

[Requirement: Wind 3]

[Action, Chant, Summon, Immediate Effect]

[Effect: Transforms a tree into the Tree Demon·Anastasia.

The Tree Demon is considered a summoned entity.

When the Tree Demon is present, it continuously heals all allies within range and manipulates plants to periodically control enemies within range.]@@novelbin@@

[Effect: When used again while Tree Demon·Anastasia is present, summon Moon Spirit·Anastasia.

The Moon Spirit is considered a summoned entity and can exist for ten minutes.

When the Moon Spirit is present, the effect of the Tree Demon changes to ‘gain a protection barrier centered on the Tree Demon that lasts indefinitely.’ The barrier is considered a force field, ritual, shield, and has resistance against all types of damage except ‘Divinity,’ ‘Fire,’ and ‘Filth Evil.’]