The Exalt [Cultivation Fantasy]

Inside the relaxing chamber carved within the trunk of the great tree, Oscar poked at the small pool of golden sap with a stick. Wary of the raw Ein within, he scooped some with a spoon and applied it to Erden's wounds. The sap seeped into Erden's body and began to smoke up. The deep gashes and injuries sealed up at an astonishing speed, as if an invisible hand was sewing them shut.

'Definitely needs to be refined for human use.' Oscar noted the fierceness of how the sap healed the wounds, the flesh twisting around until it settled. Rubbing his stomach, he was reminded of when Fred and Emily used the Night Raptor's blood to bring him back from the brink of death. The results of the sap fared better than the blood but looked quite painful.

'I have the physique of a beast now, so maybe it can work for me.' Rubbing the golden sap on his wounds, Oscar felt the sap enter through his wounds, his skin wriggling and flesh burning. Surprised, Oscar scanned the closed injuries, feeling unbelievably refreshed. It was a shame the sap was painful even to him, so it certainly wouldn't be a good use for Avril.

Her exposed back underneath the rags of her torn clothes was not a pretty sight. Carefully, Oscar placed a blanket over her, relieved to see her complexion improving from the warmth of the fur. He leaned back and rested on the carved-out wall, placing Avril to rest on his shoulder as she always said it was comfortable.

With his eyes closed, the world shifted into darkness until a bright blue core welcomed him warmly. Inside, his deer anima pranced in joy and nuzzled its nose against his head. Laughing, Oscar petted his anima and let it wander about as he walked to the figure sitting down.

"Demon. Did you just wake up?" Oscar sat down, shocked at Demon's current state, cracks spreading around his alter ego's astral body.

"Took too long to wake up. Both you and I." Demon sighed, lifting his arms to show the cracks like a statue nearing its end. "Those icy chill of those waters and ice also impacted the mind, not just physical wounds. If not for me taking on the brunt of them, you might have died or been incapacitated for much longer."

"What a monster. Even more surprising is that you're still holding on. Erden must be in far worse condition since he took on the same damage as I did." Oscar stood up and faced the blue core. The magnificence and grandeur of this core never lessened in the slightest in all his long years.

"The Lands of Zeret….right after Shattirma, we ended up in another foolish place." Demon scoffed. "What's your plan for this time?"

"Rest up and leave…is what I want to say, but I am sure Almos won't let us go that easily. The Ancients are also a mystery." Oscar considered the facts and found he knew too little. He had no clue where to go. The most reliable way would be to gain Almos's favor and find safe passage to a human continent.

"Oh? It seems like the woman is waking up. You should leave." Demon said.

"Hmm. You don't hate her that much. How surprising you would tell me to care for someone else." Oscar grinned, glad to see Demon had some flickers of empathy.

"She's useful until a few I could mention, and I told you to leave." Demon's voice dropped to a frightening chill, but Oscar was unaffected. Oscar rushed out of his inner world and turned to Avril right as her eyes strained themselves to open.

"Where are we?" Avril groaned as if she was hungover. She looked around, darting her eyes confusingly, and had a coughing fit.

"Have some water. Just keep resting." Oscar placed a bottle to her lips and tilted the water down to her mouth. Again, a strange urging in his heart weighed in his chest as his eyes traced her lips. Gulping down his saliva to quench the dryness in his throat, Oscar craved more and drank from the same bottle, wiping his mouth after. But the dryness remained. 'What is going on with me?'

"Oscar…where are we?" Avril's strained and pained words knocked him back to reality.

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"The King Exalt Almos took us to a giant tree with a network of tunnels and chambers carved within its trunk. We're resting here for now. Erden is still out of it. It may take a long while." Oscar answered.

"So…are we safe now?" Avril asked, lifting her head off of his shoulder. Her hands, which used him for support, began digging their nails into his skin. Oscar supported her to lean against the wall. Her condition was alarming, the wounds inflicted by the beasts persisting through the elixir's healing due to their lingering Ein.

Looking at the golden sap pool, Oscar considered using it on Avril. The healing effects surpassing the elixirs they had would do a great job. The only issue was the pain that followed. He scooped some up and presented it to Avril, explaining the healing properties and side effects.

"Ok. It's only pain, right? I can take it." Avril didn't hesitate in lowering the blanket draped around her to expose her back, the wounds festering on her scarred skin. She looked back with a flush on her cheeks. "Hurry up. These wounds need to be shut."

Oscar nodded, swiped his fingers on the golden sap, and neared Avril's back. Worried about the pain she might have to endure, Oscar pulled back slightly. He fought the urge to back away, not wishing to go against her decision, and applied the sap onto her first wound.

Avril let out strained yelps of pain, forcibly held down by her clenched teeth. Her back tensed and quivered as veins formed around her neck. Oscar applied the sap to the remaining wounds, and Avril's shouts became muffled, held behind her hands clasped on her mouth. After several minutes, the wounds had sealed shut, leaving no scar on her sweat-drenched back except the original scars from her past. Oscar wished it could have healed those scars, but the only things that could do so were grade-four elixirs.

"Are you alright?" Oscar wrapped the blanket around her as her body fell backward to him.

"Told you. I can take the pain. It's nothing." Avril's pale face formed a smile, her indigo hair stuck to her skin from the sweat. "Now we only need to wait for Erden."

"I'm awake now," Erden rose from the ground, his voice tired, contrary to his usual forceful and lively tone. "I'm freezing."

"Erden!" Oscar and Avril called out. Oscar patted his friend's head, sending a rush of warm Ein. "I'm glad you're ok, old friend."

"Me too. It's good to see we all survived that monster." Erden cracked his neck and stretched his legs. "I got the gist of it from your memories. So, we're in the Lands of Zeret. Tort mentioned it many times and said I should visit here if I ever had the chance."

"Really? Tort told you?" Oscar handed Avril a handkerchief to wipe off her sweat. His attention remained on Erden. "Is it like seeing your home for the first time?"

"No. Not that." Erden shook his head. "He mentioned that, if possible, I should attempt to enter Pools of Ascension. I am very limited due to my origin in Ashen Grove, but the Pools of Ascension can elevate me to a newer being."

"Pools of Ascension. How exactly can you get there?" Oscar shrugged. He could infer that these pools weren't easy to enter if Tort mentioned it was an attempt. "If it takes too long, then we might have to skip it."

"Skip? Right. What beast would want to skip out on the chance to enter the Pools of Ascension." Almos entered the chamber, flexing his mightly muscles. "Since you are all awake, you can move. We are ready for you. Follow us." As fast as he entered, Almos left the chamber, leaving Oscar and the others no room to speak.

Oscar carried Avril again in his arms and followed together with Erden. Almos delved deeper into the great tree's trunk, a sprawling series of chambers carved from the wood itself, lit up by strange plants that shone like the two suns. Many Exalt Beasts growled and stared at Oscar and Avril with icy gazes, not welcoming at all.

'If not for Almos, we would have been torn apart.' Oscar shifted his feet, drawing closer to Almos to avoid any mishaps. Though he was under the protection of a King Exalt, he had enough experience with bad apples in the group. Ahead of Almos was a great opening. Oscar slowed his feet, seeing the light of the two suns spilling forth between the gaps between the thick blue leaves. Layers of thick branches spun around, acting as seating for many Exalt Beasts staring down at them. The entire place resembled a stadium back home, and he was on the stage.

"Almos. These are the outsiders? The human male smells like one of us, but the female does not. Why haven't you killed her?" A large crow expanded her large wings, enveloping Oscar and Avril in a dark shadow.

"Enough, Ness. She also crossed paths with the Ancients and ended up here. Also, she's with them." Almos grunted, a radiant light spilling from his body to counteract the shadow.

"The two of you have done enough. So unpleasant. Just fight and eat one another." A large gorilla pounded the ground, his eyes sparking with lightning. "We must discern the intent of our intruders." He pointed at Oscar. "Human, retell your crossing of the Ancients and how you ended up here."

Three King Exalts surrounded him. Oscar tried to find a way out of this place, but the rows of Marshal Exalt Beasts dampened his hopes. He racked his mind for what he could do. He needed to befriend them and let Erden get this opportunity.

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