Prime Originator

Looking at the mental state of his men, Leon shook his head with a sense of helplessness. Although he had given his explanation, it did not help resolve the current situation. Knowing the problem and solving it were two different matters entirely.

Even if the group knew the hidden formation was causing them problems, if they cannot identify the source and defend against it, then it did not make much difference from not knowing.

"We will take a break here. Sit down, steady your minds and do your best to resist being influenced by fear." Leon told the group as he scrunched his brows together and worked his brain to think of a solution.

"Yes, Your Highness."

Everyone took their seat on the staircase of vines and leaned against the stump of the elder tree.

While he could keep going without the group, he did not know what dangers lie at the top and may not be able to face it alone. Considering their predicament, he might have to reconsider their current course of action.

It was clear that these formations exist to stop others from reaching the top, but by forcing their way forward, they are intruding upon the intelligent beings' territory and may not be welcomed kindly.

However, they didn't have any other choice but to brave the unknown. They were already marked by that powerful creature, who had command over the ants. It was impossible to go back the way they came.

Since they have no choice but to press onwards, Leon began pondering the bewildering formation. He guessed it was a bewildering formation because it was affecting the minds of the group.

Leon also faintly guessed that he wasn't affected because the level of the formation was too low to invade his mind and had nothing to do with his mental fortitude. His abundant mental energy acted as a natural barrier that guarded his mind for the bewildering effects.

If he wasn't a Divine state practitioner in his past life and didn't strengthen his soul with a Soul Enhancing Pill, he would've most likely succumbed to the same fate as the others.

Leon's brows creased together tightly as he pondered harder. The bewildering formation affected their minds, but how was it doing so?

Formations required a medium to form the runes that would invoke the desired effect. Typically, Formation Masters would carve it on formations plates as they were portable and easy to use. The only limitation of formation plates is its scale.

Although it was possible for formation plates to generate a large-scale effect, it had a very high demand for energy and grade of material used in the construction of the formation plate. Considering the scale of the bewilder formation's effect, Leon directly ruled out the possibility of a formation plate being hidden somewhere. Only a wastrel would use high-grade formation plates to invoke a low-level formation.

Since it wasn't a formation plate, it can only be a natural formation.

Natural formations are when the environment becomes the medium for the formation itself. It can either be formed by nature itself or under the specific arrangements of a Formation Master.

But generally, chances of finding a formation naturally formed by nature is much harder than finding a needle in a haystack blindfolded. Also, one would have to be careful not to be pricked by it after finding it.

Leon extended his senses to the atmospheric surroundings. Nothing out of the ordinary could be spotted except the ant holes, crevices, and passageways in the distant edges. Closing his eyes, he could only hear the haggard breathing of the group, the swaying crimson leaves of the elder trees and the occasional rustles of the wind from the four directions.

Leon's eyes suddenly snapped open and narrowed in on the ant holes and crevices that produces the rustling wind. Most likely, some of these entrances were part of the large-scale formation, or they formed sets of smaller formations that link or resonate together to create a large one.

Leon did not know much about formations. What he knew was only general knowledge. It was impossible for him to find out which ones were part of the formation and destroy it, but nor does he need to.

Destroying these openings only would anger the person who set it up, but also it required them to leave the protection range of the elder tree. It was both unwise and dangerous. No one knows if the ants were lurking in the darkness of these openings waiting to assault them.

He only needs to understand how the formation was affecting the group's mind and provide a preventative solution to it.

"I see."

Leon's eyes soon flashed with enlightenment as he figured out the source of the problem, sound. The problem lies within the rhythmic sound created by the rustling wind traveling towards the elder tree in the center through these open entrances.

"Everyone, block your ears."

Among the five senses, the only sound could penetrate a person's mind easily and resonate with a person's soul when left unguarded. It was subtle, but there was a certain low frequency within the rustling of wind that possibly induced their anxiety, fear, and dread.

The group immediately complied and blocked their ears with both hands, before steadying their breathing.

Ba-dump, Ba-dump… Ba-dump…

Their quickened heartbeat began to reduce its tempo, which confirmed the effectiveness of the method as everyone was able to regain their calmness after a short period.

Seeing everyone had finished regaining their composure, Leon said, "Let us continue then." But after taking a few steps, he did not hear any following footsteps behind him.

Turning around, everyone had blocked their ears so tightly, they simply didn't hear him. Leon waved his hand in front of Lilith's face to catch her attention and gave her the wide-eyed look.

'What are you doing? Daydreaming? Let's go!' was what Lilith seemed to have derived from his look and became upset.

"What? I can't hear you!" Unblocking her ears, Lilith pouted and gave him a nasty look.

"I said, let's… go…" Leon became speechless. Lilith had quickly blocked her ears again and overtook his lead before he could even finish speaking. He could only shake his head wryly and turn to the rest.

He signaled the group to keep going and received quick responses in return from Zorbek and a few others who could see him in their field of vision.

"At least I have the others' attention." Leon murmured while following behind Lilith.

If Lilith heard him, she would have rolled her eyes and snorted. "Who'd want the attention of a few smelly men?"

The group was silent throughout the remaining flight of stairs on their way to the top. Without any further difficulties or any unsuspected surprises, they soon arrived at the end of the staircase.

Lilith stopped in her tracks as the end of the staircase was walled off by a layer of dense crimson leaves and branches.

"Why did you stop?" Leon nudged her.

"Can't you see that it's a dead-end?" Lilith said with slight annoyance. What does he want her to do? Walk into it? If she had actually voiced these thoughts, Leon would have responded with one word, "Precisely."

"Did I say it might be an illusion formation?"

"Might? You want me to walk forward on a might?" Lilith frowned with doubt and glanced at the dead end. "It looks pretty real to me."

"Looks real, but does it feel real?" Leon chuckled and continued with a smile, "Haven't you noticed that these crimson leaves to sway like the rest? In fact, it's as still as a rock."

Lilith gave Leon a long stare filled with suspicion and doubt. The longer she stared, the more pressured Leon actually felt as his smile becomes increasingly forced. Although he was confident in his inference, nothing was correct until it was proven true.

"Aha! I knew something was up! You are trying to embarrass me, aren't you?" Lilith said confidently with narrowed eyes when she noticed his forced smile.

Leon froze for a moment before he erupted in laughter. He found her especially cute and funny with the alternation of blocking and uncovering her ears like a careful mouse while they were exchanged words. "Hahaha! You are thinking too much."

With those words said, he strolled past her and disappeared into the wall of crimson leaves, much to everyone's surprises.

On the other side, Leon heaved a big sigh of relief, before quickly inspecting the surrounding. It would have embarrassing if he was incorrect about the illusion formation and made a fool of himself.

The others made it through the illusion one after the other and became awed by what they saw.

"This is amazing! Who knew that inside the treetop of the elder tree would be such a beautifully large village?" Lilith exclaimed with wide eyes as she took the beauty of the village into her sight.

"Is this the fabled elven village in the stories?"

The others similarly tried to engrave the image into their memory as they had never seen a more beautiful village. It was a complete contrast to the grim and eerie atmosphere outside. The inside was well lit with a shade of green luminescent light.

Caw…

The group turned the heads towards the source of the sound, which was made distinctly close to their sides and found a group of grotesque bird-like creatures nestled on branches in half squatting positions staring straight back at them curiously.

"What the hell is that…"

Willy commented.

Although they were described to be bird-like creatures, other than its form, nothing else about it was bird-like. Its entire body was composed of a barky wood-like substance with green moss overlaying.

Occasionally, white-greenish substances dropped from their rears. Looking down, the group was surprised to have a clear view of the ground, unobstructed by the illusion. Even more surprisingly, the gooey substance dropped to the foot of the staircase, where they had been!

A few dumbfounded stares were directed at Scott, while his face turned green and subconsciously rubbed his helmet to see if it was still stained.

"Damn birds, how dare you shit on me!" Scott stared daggers at the bird-like creatures grudgingly.

Caw! Caw! Caw!

 Startled, the bird-like creatures began flapping its wings and crying. Whether they were capable of the flight was a question for another time.

Their cries were alarming, and many shuffled noises could soon be heard coming from the village, before the group evidently found themselves surrounded, not by the beautiful elven race disappointingly but by small trees with human-like mobility.

In responses to the wooden spears pointed at them, the palace guards all drew their swords and watched them vigilant poses. What are these creatures? Mini treants?

"Don't attack!"

Leon halted the group with one hand while gripping his black spear with the other. He watched the treants carefully for any sudden movements. He had strictly told the group beforehand that they should not attack unless attacked first.

Both sides were suddenly caught in a delicate faceoff that could potentially erupt into an all-out conflict at any time with a single misstep. Such a situation was unfavorable for them as they were greatly outnumbered in the hundreds.

Leon was about to test his luck by attempting communication with the other party in the ancient language when someone from their own group fired an earthen spike and pierced one of the treant's head.

Both sides froze and stared blankly as the impaled treant slowly dropped to the floor, lifeless and deader than dead. Leon's expression turned ghastly at this moment.

"Fuck."