Reborn as a Demonic Tree-Chapter 381: Mythical Grade

Nox was unsure if she should trust the words floating before her. It claimed Ashlock needed her to make a decision, but it used too many terms that she had never heard of.

SSS-grade? Mythical being? Netherworld Wraith? Nox raised her hand, and it effortlessly passed through the floating golden words, but they did shimmer in reaction to her Qi, meaning they were likely carved out of divine energy. Is another diving being trying to tempt me away from Ashlock? It just seems too suspicious.

"Nox, accept the system message." Ashlock's voice, along with his presence, surged through the ethereal roots connecting her tree body to the root network. His tone was filled with urgency. Whatever this system message thing was, it seemed important.

"Oh—okay! I accept." Nox said without another thought. If Ashlock needed her to do something, she had no reason to protest.

The golden words swam through the air to rearrange themselves into a new message.

[Which soul do you wish to sacrifice?]

"Sacrifice?!" Nox's eyes widened. Was she talking to a demon? She was willing to do almost anything to repent for her past life's sins, but while she was lonely, she still enjoyed living. Sacrificing her soul was a bit...

[You have two souls of comparable strength. While your memories are linked, you are essentially two separate entities. Pick which one to sacrifice]

Nox glanced at her tree. It was true; she had used her family's most difficult technique, Shadow Soul, to divide her soul in two so she could create this dryad form to give herself mobility and the ability to talk to people. While being a tree had advantages, she had lived too long as a human to not desire a humanoid form. By using Shadow Soul, she could live the best of both worlds.

But as the message had said, her memories were linked. While possessing two distinct vessels, she was still one. If either her dryad or tree soul were to perish, she would become half of the person she once was. Memories would be lost, and her personality would completely change.

"What exactly do you mean by sacrificed?" Nox understood Ashlock seemed in a hurry, but this was still a big decision, and considering she was given a choice in the first place, maybe she could say no?

[On the scale, your soul is currently at the level of an S-grade being. The reason I say sacrificed is because I will be trying to implant your soul into an SSS-grade being, which is incomparably stronger than you, and Netherworld Wraiths are known to devour souls... it's their only food source. So there is a high probability of failure, resulting in the Netherworld Wraith consuming your soul]

"Right..." Nox nursed her head as she re-read the words floating before her three times. "If it's so incomparably stronger than me, do I even have a chance of success?"

[A slim one, yes. The Netherworld Wraith is egoless, meaning the vessel acts purely on instincts. If it had an ego, taking it over and achieving soul dominion over it would be utterly impossible for you. Also, it's currently in the process of manifesting, meaning it's in a weakened state]

"You're our best bet," Ashlock added, "The Netherworld Wraith seems to have aspects of shadow Qi, meaning your shadow Qi law can overpower it. You also have a good grasp of soul dao, and your cultivation level is among the highest in the sect."

"I see..." Nox sighed and looked at her peaceful field of flowers, "And dare I ask, what happens if I say no?"

"We might all die. If the Netherworld Wraith finishes manifesting without an ego I can control, it will begin feasting on any soul within range. Even if we all came together, I'm not sure we could stop it. SSS-grade is a level of power that is likely beyond Monarch Realm..."

"Meaning nothing on the 9th layer of creation can defeat it," Nox bit her lip. "So, hypothetically, if I succeed at taking control of this Netherworld Wraith, would that make me the most powerful being in the realm?"

[Potentially, yes. Though it's unlikely that you will be able to unleash the full potential of a Netherworld Wraith from the start. While the vessel will be at the Mythical grade, your soul will still be at the S-grade. A soul can't jump multiple realms of power and not implode]

Nox nodded in understanding. So I will have the body of a super powerful being, but I will be limited to outputting whatever level of techniques my current Nascent Soul Realm soul is capable of. That's crazy... with Tartarus and Ashlock's ability to invade pocket realms, I can cultivate my soul to catch up to the Netherworld Wraith quickly. But I still don't understand just how strong I can be...

"What does Mythical grade mean if SSS grade is so powerful that nothing in the realm can stand against it? Does that mean I'll be like a god once my soul can utilize its full potential?" Nox asked. She assumed these strange terms Ashlock and these floating words were using were some kind of knowledge or way of categorizing things only known between divine beings. It was relatively intuitive, but she did have to wonder if a snake god came up with the naming scheme, considering how many S's were being thrown around.

[Mythical grade is undefinable. However, it would be impossible for a Mythical grade being to use their full strength down here on the 9th layer of creation without earning the ire of the heavens]

Nox was starting to get the full picture. They wanted to put her soul into an egoless vessel that had a high probability of eating her. But should she succeed, she would gain a new body at a level of strength unreachable for another on the 9th layer of creation.

If I can wield such power, I can keep my promise of protecting the Ashfallen Sect from almost any threat. Nox's eyes flared with determination. If I'm so valuable to the sect, there's no way I will be left alone to guard an empty pocket realm anymore.

"Okay," Nox balled her fists, "You can take my soul inhabiting this dryad body as I assume a soul used to a more humanoid body will fare better?"

[Netherworld wraiths aren't known to have any fixed shape. They are soul-devouring spiritual beings that exist on a plane between realities that shouldn't even exist, so either of your souls would be fine, but I agree the dryad one is the better choice]

Nox thought about it for a moment but was sure she wanted to keep her tree soul around. It was the body Ashlock had given her, and she wasn't about to sacrifice it.

"Alright, I'm ready," Nox said after sitting down cross-legged in the field of white flowers.

[This will be an excruciatingly painful experience, and it will take all your willpower to hold your ego together. You will be walking a thin line between success and soul death. There is no margin for error]

Nox glared at the words, "I already said I was ready. How is this supposed to motivate me?"

[I will now begin. First, I am going to melt away your vessel and free your soul]

"Wait, what—AHHHHH." She threw her head back as the most unfathomable pain shot up her spine. Through her blurring vision, she saw her tree body blazing with lilac soul flames and dozens of void tendrils piercing her back. Black thorn-covered vines had also erupted between the white flowers and pierced her body. She was being eaten alive.

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[I'm going to need you to hold still...]

An immense force locked her body in place, and she was unable to even close her eyes. All she could do was stare at the words floating before her face and howl through the pain.

I understood this would be painful, but I thought that would begin later! I haven't even seen the Netherworld Wraith, yet I'm already experiencing so much pain.

[Almost done]

Nox couldn't see the state of her body as she couldn't even switch her view to her tree body, but from the floating words, she discerned that there wasn't much left of the dryad body she had spent so long meticulously crafting. It was a shame to see it go, but she wouldn't achieve much if left here in a pocket realm. It was time for Ashfallen City's guardian to reclaim her position.

Suddenly, the telekinetic force locking her in place pulled her free. She was an intangible ball of black power floating in the air for a split moment before she hurtled toward the ground, only to go through the flowers and end up inside an ethereal root. Her world blurred as she was dragged through the tunnel at immense speed, and not even seconds later, she erupted out and was now overlooking a vast city.

"Is this Nightrose City?" Nox wondered as many bad memories resurfaced. She had gone here many times as a Hunter to sell items at one of the many auction houses littering the Blood Lotus Sect's capital city. Looking around for the city's most famous landmark, her spiritual gaze landed on a half-destroyed castle. It looked like a dragon's fierce breath had melted the structure from the top. She could also feel an intense sense of death radiating from the place as tainted divine energy swirled around the place.

"The Netherworld Wraith is still manifesting in the center of the castle," Ashlock said in her mind, "Unlike the system, all I have to tell you is good luck, and if you succeed, consider all your past sins forgiven. You will have saved us all."

Nox sighed. Despite the more positive tone, Ashlock's words made her even more nervous than what the golden words had said.

"I'll try my best," she said while looking up at the giant eye gazing down through reality. Ashlock really is starting to feel like a genuine god. While his true strength is only a few stages in the Nascent Soul Realm above mine, the difference between us is staggering. I'm not even sure that taking over the Netherworld Wraith will close the gap between us.

It's not that she wanted to surpass Ashlock. She just wanted him to deem her helpful to whatever schemes he devised.

Nox didn't have any more time to contemplate her goals as she was once again flying—this time right toward the swirling chaos of tainted divine energy in the castle. As she closed in, she could see the vague outline of a figure, and it was this being that she was hurtling toward. The tainted divine energy burned her, and she felt like she was drowning in boiling water as the telekinetic force that had been dragging her ceased.

She was on her own, floating through the chaos. Pushing through the pain of having her soul boiled alive, she tried to keep herself together and sought out the forming Netherworld Wraith.

***

Ashlock watched through his Evil Eye with bated breaths as he saw the flickering ball of darkness that was Nox's soul merging with the Netherworld Wraith. It was not a joke to say this moment defined the future of the 9th layer of creation and possibly the entire nine realms.

"Now I remember why I held back from saving up ridiculous amounts of credits in the past," Ashlock said as he recalled his failed summoning of Maple back when he was still basically a sapling. "Who's to say an SSS-grade skill wouldn't tear my soul apart if I tried to use it, or what if I received an SSS-grade cursed item with an ego of its own? While the system is my golden finger in this world, power comes with responsibility, and if I get greedy and aim above my capabilities, we end up with a situation like this. If Nox fails, I might have just invited my own demise."

A Netherworld Wraith was a spiritual being able to phase through reality, meaning physical attacks would be useless, and due to its ridiculously high cultivation level, it was unlikely that any Qi attacks anyone on this layer of creation could conjure would leave a lasting wound on the thing.

"System, how do you even summon things?"

[I offer up a bounty of divine energy and capture the first being that answers the call. In this case, we offered so much that it seems our reach extended to the space between realms, and it just so happened for a Netherworld Wraith to be nearby, which is incredibly unlucky. They are as rare as finding a star in the cosmos]

There were a lot of stars in the cosmos, but compared to the vastness of space, Ashlock understood what the system was saying. There are a lot of Netherworld Wraiths out there, cleaning up wandering souls that somehow escaped the cycle of reincarnation. But the chances of opening a random portal in space and being next to a star were near zero.

"What would you say is the percentage chance of Nox succeeding?"

[5% at most? I'm unsure if it's even possible to transplant an ego into an egoless vessel. I don't think it's ever been done before]

Ashlock gazed down at the swirling chaos with newfound fear. There wasn't any bloodlust radiating off the forming Netherworld Wraith like he would experience from an enemy with an ego. It was simply the cold feeling of certain death. Bloodlust was like being faced down by a hungry tiger, snarling and drooling as it circles you with deep hunger in its eyes. Meanwhile, the feeling coming from the Netherworld Wraith was like standing there and watching a star system's sun exploding in the sky. No weapon, prayers, or hope could save someone in that situation. All they could do was wait for certain death.

"Let's say Nox fails... do you have any ideas on ways we could kill it? Would my void tendrils work?"

[No, it can phase through realms and is therefore immune to the void that lies between them]

"What about Larry? Can he decay it?"

[The Netherworld Wraith has no tangible form to decay. It's a spiritual being]

Ashlock sighed. "This is cheating."

[That's an SSS-grade summon lured here with an insane amount of gathered divine energy for you. In a twisted way, we should be glad we didn't accidentally summon another deity. I don't think they would have taken your attempts to control them lightly]

"I guess there is some good to be found in every bad situation," Ashlock was now even more glad he had given Nox a second chance at life, and he began to wonder if karma existed. He would be facing doom if he had simply devoured her for credits.

Nox was, ironically, his ray of light in the darkness right now.

"Come on, Nox. I believe you can do it." Ashlock quietly cheered as he intently watched. Minutes passed, and he began to lose hope. The tiny ball of darkness that was Nox's soul began to flicker like a dying flame.

[We should start preparing for the worst. If the Netherworld Wraith finishes forming without Nox being in control, its soul pressure alone will lock everything in place, including Larry and Anubis. There will be no way to save them]

"Not yet," Ashlock replied. "Nox is still alive, if barely."

[Ashlock, if she fails...]

"She won't." Ashlock dared not take his eye off her, "Besides, if she fails, it's over for us." As a tree, he could not move. He was stuck here, and if there was an undefeatable foe, it was only a matter of time before the Netherworld Wraith floated to Red Vine Peak and killed him.

A house near the castle suddenly exploded. It happened so fast that Ashlock hadn't caught the shadow tendril that was now jutting out of the swirling chaos. The destroyed house's tiles hadn't even finished shattering on the ground when another shadow tendril shot out and took out two multistory buildings this time.

"Is that Nox's doing?" Ashlock sure hoped so.

[I don't think so...]

The system trailed off as more shadow tendrils emerged from the chaos with dead mortal maids skewered on them. There were... hundreds. The shadow tendrils extended into the sky, putting them all on display.

"What is happening?"

[The Netherworld Wraith is preparing for a Soul Harvest]

"A what—" All at once, the corpses withered to dust that fell and drifted off in the wind. The shadow tendrils that had once supported the corpses slammed down, obliterating the surrounding area, including what was left of the castle. The swirling, corrupted divine energy began to condense, and something rose from the chaos.

It was a tall, wraith-like woman with a body made of twisted roots and ghostly branches. Even through his Evil Eye, Ashlock struggled to keep her in focus. Her form shimmered between reality and somewhere else. The woman looked around with translucent, glowing white eyes. Atop her head was a crown of dark wooden antlers that radiated the chill of death as she rose into the air, giving Ashlock a better look at her ethereal body that trailed a cape of shadowy tendrils as if she needed to stay connected to the ground that was now far below her.

The Netherworld Wraith continued to rise until she was right below his Evil Eye, gazing through a rift.

"I can finally see what you truly are." The wraith cracked a smile.

"Nox?" Ashlock asked apprehensively. The voice certainly didn't sound anything like her.

The wraith nodded, "It's me."

[SSS-grade summon deemed successful]

[What was once an egoless being known to devour wandering souls between realms has become capable of critical thinking. In light of this, a new variant of the Netherworld Wraith has been registered as Netherwood Wraith due to Nox's unique appearance and given the grade of Mythical]

[Summons list updated...]

{Netherwood Wraith: Nox [Mythical]}

{Herald of the Divine Ash: Larry [S]}

{Midnight Ink Lindwyrm: Kaida [B]}

Ashlock dismissed the system messages. They had avoided the worst-case scenario, but he wasn't out of the woods yet. He wasn't sure what Nox had seen, and more importantly, was Nox still an ally?