Without alerting anyone, Ivan returned to Shadow Ant Fortress with a few people.
After his examination, Justine and Pearney did not seem to be seriously harmed; with the methods he had taught them, they could transfer the curse’s power to the insects they were raising on their own.
Upon arrival at Mongna Ant Land Cottage, Pearney had also learned the magic Blackbeard Crown spell and embarked on the path of raising and controlling insects, and by now, she had achieved a certain level of success.
“The curse mark has indeed become deeper, and it has developed a hierarchical connection with the curse marks on Justine and Pearney.”
In the meditation room, when only Ivan was left, he meticulously examined the curse mark on his arm.
The pattern had doubled in size from before, turned a deep cyan, and the lines looked like intertwined venomous snakes, exuding a different kind of hideousness.
The curse mark also gave him an unusual feeling, making him very uncomfortable.
“Damn it! It’s subtly transforming my body.”
After a while, Ivan couldn’t help but curse.
His earlier hunch hadn’t been wrong; the curse mark had advanced by at least two levels, meaning his curse mark was now higher than Toyennes’s had been initially.
In matters of curses, this was certainly not good news.
He also sensed the curse mark constantly eroding his body, unable to be sealed, and he suspected it could no longer be transferred using the original method.
He then proceeded to concoct Level 1 Ginger Summer Water, which no longer worked as expected.
The curse mark had gained a new effect – locking the cursed power firmly onto his body, allowing entry but not release, not even his previously comprehended Secret Technique ‘Summer God Chain’ could take effect.
“No need to rush, maybe the methods are just too low-level. With some more exploration, it should be fine,” Ivan said without panicking, knowing full well that panic was pointless and that with time, he would always find a solution.
Thinking of something, his expression darkened.
If he couldn’t find a permanent solution, after finding a temporary relief this time, he didn’t know what tricks the other party would play in the next five-year period.
This way was far too passive. When would it all end?
Ivan sighed lightly and with a casual wave towards the door, the protective layer opened, revealing a figure waiting there.
“Sorcerer Ivan, I have something to report,” Scented Butterfly said after announcing her presence.
“Come in,” Ivan said offhandedly.
“Sorcerer Ivan, someone sent a message through me to you,” Scented Butterfly reported in a low voice, seeing his serious expression. “She said she could help you.”
“Be more specific,” Ivan said, startled and puzzled.
“Just now, an image appeared in my mind of a very beautiful woman, who instructed me to bring you a message, saying she could help you,” Scented Butterfly explained.
“A very beautiful woman?”
“Yes, I don’t know her, but she felt familiar to me.”
“Never mind, I’ll see for myself.” Ivan allowed Scented Butterfly to come closer and used a special technique to see a beautiful face, feeling a surge in his heart.
It was that woman from that place.
He had almost forgotten that Scented Butterfly had transformed into an intelligent creature due to a probe into the unknown. He hadn’t expected the other party to have left a contingency, which was likewise unfathomable.
One uncontrollable event after another was truly frustrating.
Waving his hand, Scented Butterfly left the meditation room, leaving Ivan alone with his thoughts.
“Let it be. It’s unavoidable, whether fortune or misfortune, so I might as well take the journey,” Ivan thought, knowing that the other party had shown no malice from the beginning. After much deliberation, he decided to meet her.
Not for any other reason, but to see if there might be a permanent solution on her side, and if that meant taking a risk, so be it.
…
Two days later, Ivan left Mongna Ant Land Cottage with the two ladies, all three riding on swamp ants.
“Ivan, where are we heading?” As they moved further from the academy, Justine couldn’t help but ask.
“To a somewhat desolate place, right on the border of the academy’s territory,” Ivan replied.
“Could it be Lake Nichols?” Pearney guessed, based on their direction, recalling a place she couldn’t forget.
Seeing Ivan nod slightly, Pearney’s expression changed; she had almost died there and was saved by Ivan, which was why she had started to fall for him.
It was undoubtedly a strange place.
Now that Ivan was heading there, even though Pearney felt uneasy, she didn’t say much.
Justine looked at them with suspicion, wondering if there was something special about that place, why both seemed to have been there before, and what had happened.
Soon, the swamp ants carried the three to Lake Nichols, flying over the lush reeds, and continued onward for a distance.
Under Ivan’s guidance, the group ventured deep into the lake, entered the underground Dark River through the water, and eventually arrived at an underground cavern bathed in faint light.
“Something’s not right about this place; it’s as if— as if someone is singing,”
Emerging from the water and reaching the shore, Justine felt an eerie aura that involuntarily drew her a step closer to Ivan, to be nearer to him.
Pearney didn’t speak, merely nodding at her, indicating she had heard correctly—this place indeed resonated with the sound of singing, ancient ballads.
“You two wait here, I’ll take Scented Butterfly and swamp ant to meet them,” Ivan glanced at the glowstones on the mountain wall and the passage leading deeper within, then commanded.
“Am I not going?” The Silkworm Queen was somewhat displeased.
“Be good, if things look bad, take them and retreat first. I’ll give you instructions,” Ivan continued to instruct, without waiting for others to speak, and he headed straight into the depths of the cavern.
Amidst the uncanny yet captivating song, he advanced, soon catching sight of the area where Toyennes had set up his formation, with traces from that time still visible.
The closer he got, the clearer the song became, as if a pure maiden were singing in worship and praise to her deity.
Ivan didn’t pause, but entered another passage, stepping towards the depths of the cave that Toyennes had been extremely wary of.
He could feel it—the closer he got, the more active the curse mark’s power became, like a fish returning to the ocean.
Soon, the view opened up before him. He had entered a larger cave where an unknown force exerted a formidable pressure.
“Whoosh whoosh whoosh.”
With soft sounds, one lamp after another lit up on its own, illuminating everything inside the cave more clearly.
One could see that there was a simple plaza in the cave, made of bluestone with columns standing all around, topped with antique brass lamps full of ancient charm.
The most eye-catching thing, of course, was the eight- to nine-meter-high humanoid statue that bore an eighty percent resemblance to a woman he had seen before.
This must be a place to worship a deity.
“Your Excellency, I have come for the appointment,” Ivan walked slowly to the center of the plaza, looking up at the humanoid statue and called out.
“You’ve finally arrived. I’ve been waiting for you for a while, human sorcerer,” after a three- to four-second pause, the face of the humanoid statue came to life and began to speak.
“Your Excellency, not showing your true face is quite insincere,” Ivan furrowed his brow and pondered for a moment, then said, “I presume you have some matters to discuss with me; please show a little sincerity.”
“You are quite bold.”
Without seeing any other movement from the statue, Ivan immediately felt an intense oppressive force upon him; it felt like he was going against the very world. The pressure came from all directions, omnipresent.
No change appeared on his face, but his heart was filled with turbulent waves.
If he wasn’t mistaken, this must be the power of a domain, something only a Level 4 being would possess. No wonder Toyennes fell so easily into a trap.
“Why the silence?” the humanoid statue inquired.
“I am not the equal in strength, there’s nothing much to say, nor to discuss. I overestimated myself; do with me as you will,” Ivan replied coldly.
“If you hadn’t secretly mustered your power, I would believe your words. You are indeed a cunning sorcerer,” the humanoid statue said with interest, lifting the pressure off Ivan completely.
In response, Ivan inwardly heaved a sigh of relief.
He was gambling on the fact that the other party had expressed goodwill by assisting with Scented Butterfly’s metamorphosis. He was betting that the other had something to request of him.
“How should I address you?” asked the humanoid statue.
“Ivan Marichadon,” Ivan replied bluntly.
“Mavis Margaret, that’s my name. You must be curious why I sought you?” The voice of the humanoid statue was delightful to the ear, “There’s a rhythm of wisdom about you, a very rare trait.”
Hearing these words, Ivan’s heart skipped a beat.
“Those who possess such traits are destined to be powerful. You haven’t disappointed me.”
“Thank you for the praise, but what can I do for you?”
It was a test just now, Ivan thought with inner criticism, and he quickly pressed for an answer.
“I need your help to free me from this entrapment.”
“What?”
Ivan’s composure shattered, and the corner of his mouth twitched involuntarily.
Considering how the statue had just easily subdued him and now was asking for help, the contrast was so stark that he almost thought he had misheard.
“I will help you, aid you in dealing with the curse’s power. You help me, assist me in breaking free from this seal. It’s that simple.”
As she spoke, wisps of ethereal aura fluttered out from all over the statue, converging together and descending to the ground, transforming into an enchanting silhouette.
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This figure exuded a natural charm that seemed divine and untouchable.
Ivan had never seen such a woman. In her presence, Justine and Pearney seemed pale in comparison.
Even as someone with a strong mind, he couldn’t help but take a few extra glances.
This couldn’t be anything but a daughter of the gods, or perhaps a goddess herself.