Cyber Era Witch
Chapter 1057 - 827: Luring Out the Spirits

Chapter 1057: Chapter 827: Luring Out the Spirits

Kanako doesn’t like Xu Cheng, but there’s nothing she can do about it. Xu Yang is acceptable; after all, Xu Yang’s love is abundant enough to share with everyone.

Outside the city lies the domain of the Forest Master.

In the Middle Ages, people hunted white deer and searched for auspicious signs in nature, though in truth, they were all manifestations of the Forest Master.

Xu Yang left his coat on the branches, feeling closer to nature this way, as if two incompatible liquids were slowly mixing.

The Forest Master is as omnipresent as the air itself; as soon as one steps out of the steel-and-concrete prison, they can breathe it in.

Xu Yang wandered into the cold, silent depths of the dense forest, where it seemed as if he was alone with heaven and earth.

"... My daughter possesses plant magic power. I want to find some blessing or ornaments for her," Xu Yang said as he glanced around. The forest resembled an endless, self-replicating mirrored maze; the deeper one walked, the more they encountered an unchanging alternation of trees, wilderness, hills, and streams.

"You’ve earned my promise. I can forge a demi-divine artifact for her," the voice of the Forest Master was faint and elusive, at times making Xu Yang wonder if it was an illusion.

"Then I thank you in advance. Also... Farosa is looking for a phoenix," Xu Yang said, gazing at the surrounding trees.

The towering trees stood like vigilant guards, ready to punish any trespasser.

He didn’t need to search deliberately for the Forest Master, for it was omnipresent.

The rustling leaves introduced a tranquil, vast, and untamed aura; as the breeze stirred, Xu Yang felt his heart beat more powerfully, as if racing toward the pulse of life’s common ancestor.

"A phoenix... It’s a powerful creature," the Forest Master’s voice was sharp and lingering, like mountain wind slicing through narrow crevices.

"If she rides a phoenix into battle, she might become overwhelmingly strong."

"I can fly as well, only my wounds are too grave. Perhaps Farosa won’t consider me," the Forest Master seemed apprehensive of Farosa.

Xu Yang gazed intently at the forest, as if seriously contemplating taming the Forest Master.

"... Don’t emulate her ways."

"Regardless, she wants to fight, wants to win. So do I. We must fight to the very last moment, not only to prove our rightness but also to strive for a better ending for everyone," Xu Yang said.

"They think the same way," the Forest Master remarked. "Those who oppose you, they think the same."

"... Them..." Xu Yang sat down on the grass.

"All Dilnai wants is to reclaim the Throne stolen by Orcian. Idith only seeks vengeance on the Witch who destroyed Old Civilization. Easter is merely terrified by endless hostility. And those of the Seven Seals—they’re cautiously guarding the power of the Giant Tower plan. They also dream constantly of toppling the Nestor Corporation and Farosa to win a better ending," the Forest Master explained.

Indeed—they wouldn’t just surrender to Farosa, would they? Xu Yang shook his head.

The story of the past eight years, viewed from their perspective, all began with Farosa’s awakening, the fragments of the Throne of God, and Xylophia’s thousand-mile delivery of the Godslayer Blade. Gradually, they became aware of Farosa’s threat and embarked on a journey to pursue their ultimate goals, ultimately opposing her.

They were resolute—determined to crush Farosa beneath their feet and erase the Nestor Corporation’s existence from history.

"... Neither side will retreat..." Xu Yang said.

"Or perhaps, it’s already too late," the Forest Master’s voice lingered softly. "All communities define themselves through opposition. If you weren’t so strong, they wouldn’t set aside their prejudices to collaborate. Dilnai and Idith, who waged war for years, are now unshakable allies. Perhaps even more Mystics stand with them—all unwilling to witness Farosa’s triumph."

Two powerful forces spanning the world.

The Dragon Summit’s projections had been like a prelude to the final battle, unintentionally exposing both sides’ true strength. Xu Yang reflected. To help Princess Yao Tang heal, Kunxu had already shifted its location; no one knew when or where it might reappear, making gaining its support exceedingly difficult.

"... Do you know, what exactly is the Giant Tower plan?" Xu Yang asked, looking at the Forest Master.

"As far as I know, Yao Guang and Keyshadow Sisters are a pair of keys to unlock the Giant Tower. In a moment of desperation, they can transform into the ’Tower Key.’ Only they know all the answers, and only they are qualified to determine the Tower’s fate. This responsibility was bestowed upon them decades ago," the Forest Master revealed, materializing into its avatar—a white deer with golden, massive antlers, slowly strolling through the forest.

The corporate alliance under the Skydrive Agreement—Yao Guang and Keyshadow Sisters!

Their names were peculiar, as if they were inherently meant to be a pair of keys.

The Forest Master’s words clarified the truth: they would ultimately become the "Key to Pierce the Giant Tower"; the destination they were meant to unlock is the Tower itself.

But the Key Sisters are the corporate alliance’s final trump card, and Xu Yang had failed to even locate them. They’d only appear during catastrophic events like Pan Yuan’s "frenzy"; otherwise, they’d remain hidden.

"How can I talk to them and uncover the truth about the Giant Tower plan?" Xu Yang asked.

"Over a century ago, I was pursued by the corporate alliance. At the time, Yao Guang and Keyshadow had hunted me," the Forest Master said.

Of course—the Skydrive Agreement was established early on, during which Yao Guang and Keyshadow were ordinary operatives and didn’t yet bear these twin-like names. After all, they weren’t true siblings, just magical powers that coincidentally aligned and proved formidable. Xu Yang silently speculated.

Yao Guang could bend light, move at light speed, and transmit through light waves, whereas Keyshadow could create shadow domains and directly manipulate others via shadow control.

"At that time, they were merely High-Ranking Witches and weren’t strong enough to defeat you, were they?" Xu Yang asked.

"Naturally, they weren’t powerful. I defeated them but spared them. They were stranded in the deepest forest, crushed by branches, rocks, and fierce beasts, cold and bleeding on the ground. I don’t kill, but I don’t easily forgive either. In the end, I tasked them with a vow—a life-and-death debt." The Forest Master raised its head.

A faint green light flashed in the air, and a stone fell to the ground.

"This is..." Xu Yang walked toward the grass.

"The ’Pledge Token,’ to remind them of their debt. Now I entrust the token to you. Perhaps they’ll serve a purpose in the future," the Forest Master explained.

The stone bore two faded traces, seemingly left by Yao Guang and Keyshadow.

"Thank you!" Xu Yang accepted the Pledge Token and nodded to the Forest Master.

Now he had something to say when confronting the Key Sisters.

"... Then, I hope you can help me find those mutagens," the Forest Master suddenly said.

"Gene mutagens..." Xu Yang nodded.

Mutagens—they’d been seen in Zanges on the Hot Tree Continent, Xu Yang recalled.

They could drastically alter human genes, granting additional physical mutations, resulting in rapid transformations or evolution.

The outcome of drinking mutagens was entirely random, often turning people into grotesque hybrids of animals and humans, like a nightmare fusion creature, exhibiting diverse shapes.

Claws, tails, night vision, spiked skin, gills—even hands and feet transforming into tree roots or developing a bloodsucking habit.

Despite the risks and the fact that Zanges’ pharmaceutical stockpile had been leveled, mutagens gained global popularity.

Anyone desiring to exceed human limits yearned for the power of mutagens to alter their fate.

"I need mutagens to aid myself but also to help you. I know there’s a Phoenix Gate on the Taixi Continent, leading to an extraordinary small world where some phoenixes still live. However, the key to unlocking the Phoenix Gate is a personal appearance by an elf. After all, only an elf’s touch can open the Phoenix Gate," the Forest Master explained.

Elves!

The now-extinct humanoid species, still alive in Farosa’s era.

Yet in modern times, due to air and soil pollution combined with the collapse of natural mountain forest habitats, elves had gone entirely extinct.

Could the Forest Master use the power of mutagens to bring elves back to the mortal realm?

Mutagens hadn’t yet launched in the Northern Archipelago due to their unstable effects, which could easily lead to disasters.

Xu Yang left the forest to retrieve some from the research department and handed them over to the Forest Master.

Leveraging its power, the Forest Master extracted the mutagen’s essence, transferring it into a magnificent small vial.

It appeared as though this vial was pre-prepared by the Forest Master’s Secret Ritual Group, adorned with intricate gold and silver lines and ornate, ancient runes, resembling the rebirth of an ancient elf artifact in this era.

"A special mutagen is ready—who will consume it?" Xu Yang asked.

"My Environmentalist Female Knight—she’s becoming stronger and prays to regain her slenderness while achieving eternal life, forever communing with nature’s greenery," the Forest Master said, pacing across the grass.

Its Environmentalist Knight, a strong, blonde woman, under the witness of other serene attendants, injected herself with the mutagen blessed by the Forest Master.

Xu Yang noticed that she had indeed grown significantly more robust since their first meeting years ago—was this the power of vegetarianism?

She appeared in pain but could still endure the strain. The mutagen seemed to warp her genes, visibly generating new mutant traits.

The others stepped back, clad in simple natural fabrics, praying for the Environmentalist Knight’s success.

These people hailed from all over the world, a majority originating from the Taixi Continent, participating in the Secret Ritual Group to pursue the eternal tranquility of the woodland.

Time ticked by, and the Environmentalist Knight’s body gradually shrank.

Xu Yang was astonished. What would have caused chaotic genetic mutations seemed to align into targeted elf-like changes under the Forest Master’s influence.

Her skin became delicate and smooth, radiating a refined and subtle sheen. Under the mutagen’s effect, she acquired extraordinary new abilities, greatly enhancing her aesthetic appeal.

After overcoming initial pain, her voice grew melodious, akin to the elegant calls of songbirds.

"She’s... become an elf?" Xu Yang murmured.

"... Gene mutagenics, as manufactured by human biological labs, is a dangerous invention. It can produce endless human subspecies, with ancient elf lineage revivable through such means," the Forest Master remarked.

The Forest Master drew Xu Yang back as other members of the Secret Ritual Group gathered to celebrate the Environmentalist Knight’s elf transformation.

"This process is both perilous and irreversible," Xu Yang felt affirmed in his view that gene mutagens were a dangerous invention.

Humanity had already modified itself with implants and prosthetics to resemble machines. Now, mutagens introduced a new wave, capable of transforming humans into elves, beastfolk, dwarves, or halflings.

Xu Yang increasingly felt the need to restrict or prohibit the circulation of mutagens.

"You don’t like it?" the Forest Master asked.

"The mutations it causes are highly dangerous," Xu Yang responded.

"—What about developing Witch Mutagens?" the Forest Master proposed.

Witch Mutagens?

"Mass-producing witches from humans..." Xu Yang shook his head. "That’s even scarier. The current trend of witches is already that they’re multiplying, almost like a spreading ’Witch Plague’ threatening Old Civilization. Every birth yields barren witches, dooming civilization."

"Or, conversely, transform witches back into humans?" the Forest Master suggested.

"Purification serums?" Xu Yang pondered.

"You’ve witnessed the immense power of these gene-mutated serums. Witches can be created via experiments, and thus witches could also be destroyed. Someday, human bioengineering will render witches returnable to normalcy, allowing their existence and extinction to be entirely dictated by humanity. Cutting-edge technology lies before you—would you, simply ban it altogether?"

The Forest Master’s voice grew more ethereal and deep, tapering into silence.