Level Up Legacy-Chapter 1417: World of Redemption

Arthur and Tiara began interrogating the seekers that somehow managed to contract an abyssal spirit. After several rounds of threats and Arthur releasing a fraction of his spiritual energy, they began talking in hopes he wouldn't kill them.

Once the seekers began revealing the truth, Arthur and Tiara were shocked. According to them, a group of seekers had managed to learn how to contract abyssal spirits using their souls as the price.

Abyssal spirits did not only feed on spiritual energy, but they also integrate themselves into the souls of the seekers. This makes them more powerful but leaves the seekers vulnerable to soul damage if their spirits are destroyed.

"That's what happened to my men," the leader said while tied by Arthur's chains. "What you destroyed was not my main spirit."

"Do you want to fight using it?" asked Arthur with a challenging tone.

"No… that won't be necessary…" the leader said with fear. "I sensed the earlier explosion of spiritual energy… but I didn't think it was you."

"How did you learn to contract abyssal spirits?" asked Arthur while sitting down away from the other seekers. The others were sitting far away with Tiara, afraid of approaching but not afraid enough to run.

"They did something to our Soulbinds, and the abyssal spirits began approaching us for a contract," said the leader. "We truly have no more information regarding it."

"I find that hard to believe. After all, why would they do it to members outside of their group?" Arthur asked, his spiritual energy slightly leaking to intimidate the group. Except for the leader, the rest of the seekers were in too much pain to talk.

"They told us that… we can grow stronger by killing other seekers," said the leader. "That's all they demanded in return."

"And you were fine with killing others?" Arthur asked, his tone sharp and filled with rage. The leader gulped down, his form shrinking under the unforgiving gaze of the golden figure.

"It's not different from the outside world. If we want to grow stronger, we have to kill others," said the leader with a defensive tone. "It's a dog-eat-dog world. Morals and righteousness look easy when you have power."

"I never hurt anyone when I was at the bottom," Arthur said, his tone sharp. "You can justify it however you like… but killing is killing. If you kill others, then you need to prepare to suffer the same fate."

"…we are," the leader said, surprisingly dignified as he puffed out his chest. Arthur was silent before raising a hand. A black flame appeared, shedding an ominous shadow on the sand beneath them. The powers contained within the flame seemed to swallow the spiritual energy around them.

"What is that?" asked the leader.

"A proper fate for those who haunted others," Arthur said as he looked at them. "You will not rest until the souls you wronged deem it appropriate. Take them away, Raheem."

[Yes, my lord,] a voice answered from within the flames before it burst out and engulfed the group. They screamed as their souls were touched by darkness that rapidly spread. Then, they were sucked into the flame.

A shadowy figure appeared in front of him, reminding Arthur of the man he met in Sourna. Raheem was a general of Sourna, tasked with conquering the towns that refused to pay their taxes for the Council, led by Deluge at that time, to build an army of construct creatures.

"You have changed a lot since we last met," Arthur said with a little pride. "How do you like the kingdom of wrath?"

[I have never been more fulfilled in anything,] Raheem answered, [than to serve in your kingdom as its gatekeeper.]

"You are more than that," Arthur said. "If you work hard enough, you can become its acting lord while I'm in the physical world."

[I would not dare,] Raheem said before bowing. [Take care, my lord.]

Raheem then disappeared back into his body, his shadowy form dissolving into the flame that created him. Arthur let out a sigh before turning back toward the group of seekers who were watching in horror.

"Are they alright?" Arthur asked as he walked over with large strides.

"Yes, they are," Tiara answered, trying her best to look nonchalant while introducing Arthur to the rest of the seekers. "This is my friend, Arthur."

"Good to meet you, everyone," Arthur said with a nod. The seekers let out audible gulps. "I'm sorry that you had to witness that. Rest assured that they were not killed, but simply transported to… a world of redemption."

"That didn't look like it," one of the seekers said. "From our perspective, you are just as scary as they were, if not more."

"Actions speak louder than appearances," Arthur said with a nod. "And I don't care how you see me. You are free to leave now."

The seekers looked at one another before they began to leave. Tiara floated beside Arthur as they disappeared behind one of the dunes. Then, she turned toward him, who was still looking into the distance.

"Power is alienating, huh?"

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"Complaining about that would make me look rather complacent," Arthur said as he turned toward her. "What information did you manage to glean from them?"

"Nothing other than that they were a group of seekers trying to ascend to a higher layer before they were attacked by the abyssal seekers."

"Abyssal seekers? They have a name for such people?" Arthur asked with surprise.

"It seems their numbers are a growing threat to the safety of the realm," Tiara said. "No one understands how they do it, but abyssal spirits are stronger and less limited than regular spirits."

"Is there a specific location for them?" Arthur asked.

"They populate the mountain range just beyond this desert," Tiara said as she pointed into the distance, where the green dragon was roaming around a mountain range. "The terrain makes it easier for them to ambush seekers trying to reach the higher layers."

"We are going to be quite the surprise for them, huh?" Arthur asked with a chuckle.

"You will be, not me," Tiara said. "I'm just happy about my ability to float for now. If I can learn how to make others float, I can help you a little in future fights."