The Herb King

The Level 5 Espers carefully followed behind Aethelwolf while memorizing each of his steps. They could sense the fearsome power of the runes around them and a single misstep would gravely injure everyone.

"There are actually so many ancient runes here and the weakest of them is at least a Level 4 Rune!"

"Why are there so many ancient runes inside this spatial artifact?"

No one knew the exact origin of the Frigid Snow Dimension and even Aethelwolf who has an appraisal skill couldn't tell exactly what it was.

This was what he saw when he attempted to use the skill [Appraise].

[Glacial Breeding Ground] Level ???

- ????

'So this pocket dimension is actually a breeding ground, but what kind of creatures are being bred here? Could it be the Ice Demons?' Aethelwolf had so many questions, but he knew that no one could answer them.

After some time, the group finally entered the chamber where the ancestor of the Ancient Fairies is sealed. At the center of the chamber was an ice coffin with multiple seals and runes.

"Ancestor, are you here?" Estes called out expectantly while walking towards the coffin. The four Holy Generals followed him with hopeful gazes.

"Don't move too close! There is a Transcendent Rune right there! You might be sealed if you are not careful." Aethelwolf warned them in a low voice.

Estes and the others quickly halted when they heard his words.

"Sir Aethelwolf, please start making the rune!" Estes said in a serious voice.

Aethelwolf nodded his head and replied. "Alright. You guys should stay away from the rune. I need half a day to create the Seal Weakening Rune so everyone should preserve your world essence until I make this thing."

Everyone nodded their heads upon hearing his words. They then sat cross-legged and silently absorbed the world essence in the surroundings.

Meanwhile, Aethelwolf took out the materials needed to create the Seal Weakening Rune. After sorting them out, he cleared his thoughts and calmed his heart. He needed to be absolutely focused when inscribing the rune. He couldn't afford to make a mistake since this involved the fate of the entire continent.

When he felt that he was ready to start, Aethelwolf grabbed a runic pen, it was an item used the draw the runic patterns. Upon imbuing the runic pen with world essence, a golden ink called enchantment mark would be produced at the tip of the runic pen.

At this moment, Aethelwolf was drawing a runic pattern on a mysterious metal cube. His movement was refined and filled with gracefulness. It looked as if he was painting a beautiful image as multiple golden symbols emerged at the tip of his pen.

The people who were watching him were fascinated by his expertise in drawing runic patterns.

"So this is how a Level 5 Engraver draws a runic pattern. It is so beautiful!"

"No. Each Engravers has their own style when it comes to drawing a runic pattern. I'm also a Level 5 Engraver, but my technique is different compared to Sir Aethelwolf's technique. We are both Level 5 Engravers, but I can't compare to him when it comes to drawing runic patterns. Sir Aethelwolf moves like a grandmaster painter. Each movement of his is filled with elegance and charm." An old man who looked to be in his seventies muttered in admiration. He was also a famous Level 5 Engraver, but his attainment was nothing compared to Aethelwolf.

More than five hours soon passed by since Aethelwolf started drawing runic patterns on the mysterious metal cube. The surface of the cube was now filled with multiple golden patterns. A huge portion of the Seal Weakening Rune was now completed and Aethelwolf only needed to draw some crucial parts before the rune would be completed.

His world essence was almost depleted and he had to eat some Recovery Pellets to quicken the restoration of his energy.

Beads of sweat slid down his face, but he didn't even stop to wipe them off. His focus was entirely on the runic patterns he was drawing.

Seeing the thick perspiration on his face, Empress Shiphra stood up and walked towards him. She grabbed a clean handkerchief from her storage ring and gently wiped Aethelwolf's face. Everyone stared with envy as they watched the most beautiful goddess on the continent wipe off Aethelwolf's sweat like a gentle wife.

Aethelwolf was absorbed in drawing the runic patterns and he couldn't care less about what Empress Shiphra was doing. He was actually aware of her actions, but he didn't want to break his focus.

Soon, a few more hours passed by and the rune was now half complete. The most important runic patterns have already been drawn. He only needed to connect the final patterns to perfect the Seal Weakening Rune.

Empress Shiphra was still sitting beside him, wiping off his sweat. She even helped him recover his energy by sending her world essence into him.

"I should have trained how to draw runic patterns back then..."

"If only I was an Engraver..."

Some people sighed in envy as they glanced at Aethelwolf.

After a little more than twelve hours, the mysterious golden cube in Aethelwolf's hands suddenly released an overwhelming power that stunned everyone.

"It's finally done! I made it! Although this Seal Weakening Rune hasn't reached the Transcendent level, it is just a step away from it!" Aethelwolf smiled joyfully as he stared at the golden cube in his hands. It was the final product, the Seal Weakening Rune!

"Good job, Sir Aethelwolf!" A pleasant voice suddenly drifted into his ears. He turned his head and saw Empress Shiphra looking at him with excitement. When he took a closer look at her, he noticed that her energy was weak. He then remembered that she was helping him recover his energy earlier.

"Thank you." He muttered to her. He then handed a Recovery Pellet to the Empress before he shifted his gaze to Estes. "Sir Estes, I have made the Seal Weakening Rune."

Estes' eyes lit up upon hearing this and he quickly leaped towards Aethelwolf. He grabbed Aethelwolf's hand and muttered excitedly. "Where is it? Show it to me!"

"Here. We just need to send our world essence into this after activating it. The rune will automatically disrupt the seals on the ice coffin which will weaken them significantly. I just hope that your ancestor will use the opportunity to break out of the coffin after the seals are weakened." Aethelwolf said as he handed the golden cube to Estes.

Everyone crowded over and stared at the golden cube in Estes' hands.

"Is that the Seal Weakening Rune? Its aura is so strong! Is it still a Level 5 rune?"

"It has almost reached the Transcendent level! With this rune, our hopes of unsealing the ancestor of the Ancient Faries are high!" The old Engraver exclaimed.

"Give me some time to take a rest. We will activate the rune once everyone is in top condition. You guys should be prepared." Aethelwolf muttered to the group.

Hearing this, everyone started crazily absorbing the world essence around them.

Soon, Aethelwolf has fully recovered his energy. He nodded his head at Estes and said. "Let's begin!" 𝒷ℯ𝓭𝓷ℴ𝓋𝓮𝓵.𝒸ℴ𝓶

He pressed the mechanisms of the golden cube and activated it with his world essence. "Prepare to release your world essence!" He shouted to the group.

Everyone huddled and pressed their arms forward as they slowly gathered their world essence into their palms. Once Aethelwolf gives the signal, they would release their world essence into the golden cube.

Aethelwolf tossed the golden cube into the ice coffin and shouted. "Open!"

The golden cube lit up and released hundreds of incorporeal golden hands that attacked the seals on the ice coffin.

"Now!" Aethelwolf roared.

After hearing his words, the Level 5 Espers released their world essence into the golden cube which further augmented its power!

More incorporeal golden hands appeared and attacked the seals of the ice coffin.

"Ancestor Xymera, please wake up and use your power to break free from the ice coffin!" Estes shouted.

Hundreds of incorporeal golden hands shattered the seals one by one!

Suddenly, the ice coffin shook and an oppressive aura covered the entire ice palace. Everyone felt as if a heavy boulder was pressing down on them. This aura was so powerful that it almost made them kneel in submission!

An incomparably charming voice echoed in the ice palace. "T-The seal has been weakened!"

Hearing this, Estes shouted excitedly. "Ancestor, we are here to help you escape! Quick! Break free from the ice coffin before we run out of energy!"

As if hearing his words, the coffin vibrated intensely. The lid of the coffin started shaking as it slowly opened.

Aethelwolf could already see a peerless beauty lying inside the coffin. He pushed the lid with all his might while also sending more world essence into the golden cube. He then grabbed the unconscious beauty inside and lifted her out of the ice coffin.