Chapter 123: A Conversation with Akara (Midnight New Year's Extra)

Having convinced himself he understood the situation at hand, Liu Zong's demeanor noticeably shifted when facing Akara. Though still cautious, the tone of his voice had changed. When recounting the events outside, Liu Zong remained relatively honest but couldn't help weaving in some of his own conjectures.

Akara observed these changes keenly. She bore no strong resentment toward Liu Zong for mixing truth with speculation. Once he finished sharing all he knew, Akara spoke, “What is it that you want?”

“What?” Liu Zong looked at her in surprise, not expecting such a question.

Akara replied casually, “You brought those children here specifically and told me everything. Don’t say you came just to help them. Outsiders like you aren’t so generous without reason. You must have a motive. Tell me, what do you want?”

Liu Zong was momentarily speechless but recognized this as an opportune moment. Without hesitation, he produced the amber.

Upon seeing it, Akara exclaimed softly, “So you represent the Locust Clan, seeking to reclaim their amber. No wonder—they are mortal enemies of the Goat Clan. Over the years, the power that once divided them has nearly faded. When these two tribes meet again, one will surely be wiped out. Recovering their strength now is a chance for the Locusts. Now tell me, if I help you restore the Locust’s power, what can you offer me in return?”

This question put Liu Zong in an awkward position. He initially wanted to say that Akara, as a wise woman of the Kurast dwarves, should understand how this conspiracy in the forest could harm her. Liu Zong and his companions were trying to dismantle this plot; if successful, Akara would be safe.

Yet on second thought, Liu Zong dismissed this notion. If Akara truly cared for the forest and the Kurast dwarves, she wouldn’t have asked such a question. He even suspected that Akara harbored ambitions herself. Otherwise, how could a Kurast woman have ascended to the position of a sorcerer? The throne was sacred to the Kurast dwarves, and no woman was permitted to become their king. That was why she had to merge with the ghost grass and transform into what she was now.

If she had accepted this fate willingly, it would be impossible. Liu Zong surmised that she must have her own demands and plans to forge her own path.

With this in mind, Liu Zong lowered his voice and asked, “You want… to go further?”

At these words, the ghost grass surrounding Akara rippled outward like waves, and the white mist hovering over the meadow thickened. Moments later, everything quickly returned to normal. Akara smiled and said, “Outsider, you guessed correctly. I want to be the one, the maternal totem of Kurast. You can help me, can’t you? I see a single gleam of hope in you. If you help me take this step, I will tell you where the amber and the Great Goat’s Head are.”

Liu Zong was about to agree when a fragment of his soul stirred deep within, a cool sensation flashing through his mind. He looked up at Akara.

“I can help you, but the price here is no longer equal. We must start anew. Now it is my turn to ask: what do you need? Don’t be surprised. After all these years at this level, you must have considered your own future. You know what you want, what you wish to become. So state your demands. Now I am not begging you—it is you who must ask me.”

Akara was taken aback by Liu Zong’s words and paused briefly before laughing softly. “That is true. So tell me, what do you think I want from you?”

Without hesitation, Liu Zong returned the question. “You want to advance further, and there are three obstacles you cannot avoid. First, although your power has reached a kingly level, you are not a true king. You have been confined here all these years, unable to move, so your growth remains incomplete. Before becoming the one, you must reclaim all that was lost.

“Second, when you became a sorcerer, your female nature meant you had few warriors under your command. Over the years, your original followers have likely perished. Even if you have aided many warriors as a wise woman, they might not remember your kindness nor serve you as loyal followers. This is something you must also rectify.

“Lastly, you are not the only one in this forest with kingly power. At the ancestral camp, there is another king, and several others eyeing his position. They see the same opportunity you do, so you must eliminate them or at least prevent them from discovering your moves.

“Among these three points, we can help you with the first and third without alerting others. However, you must offer something worthwhile in return—at the very least, ensure we do not suffer losses.

“As for the resonant amber, that goes without saying. To take your final step, most likely toward this place, I don’t know what you’ll need, but I must take the majority of the resonant amber.”

After Liu Zong’s analysis, Akara nodded confidently. “It seems you have seen through much. You are right on all counts. I still have a long way to go before ascending, but this is my only chance. I won’t let it slip away. If I miss it, the next such opportunity may not come for a thousand years.”

She sighed deeply. “Originally, I had a plan—about three years to restore my strength, two years to eliminate those adversaries, and another three years to open that place. Using the amber and the Great Goat’s Head, I would ascend and become the maternal totem of Kurast.

“Don’t look at me like that. This is the most reasonable estimate. The old guard in the ancestral camp and those scheming behind them would take roughly the same time to become totems.

“The only thing you could speed up is eliminating those enemies. But I won’t let you strike first. If you do, you will become the Kurast’s sworn enemy, and I don’t think you want that.”

Liu Zong considered this. Eight years coincided perfectly with the critical moments of the Second and Third Middle School battlefields. Had he not come here, the resonant amber and the Great Demon appearing at the last moment would become the deciding factors by sheer luck.

But if he arrived early, secured all the resonant amber, and destroyed the Great Demon, even if the situation at the Third Middle School worsened, there would still be a chance to turn the tide.

Understanding this, Liu Zong smiled at Akara and said, “No problem. Then let us talk about what I need.”