Kael's confirmation thrilled the Unicorn Rhinoceros beyond measure. The seal had long been its greatest torment, and resolving this issue would bring it immeasurable benefits.
To the Unicorn Rhinoceros, this human was simply too delightful—not only had he delivered food, but he could also undo its seal. It was as if the God of Light had sent him as a guiding light!
"Kael, we're friends now, right? I, the great Lord Alaric, am your closest friend!" The Unicorn Rhinoceros chuckled, its tail thumping the ground wildly, sending gravel flying in all directions—a clear display of its nervous excitement.
"I'll need to take a look first." Kael circled the Unicorn Rhinoceros unhurriedly. After all, the fish was already hooked.
Under Kael's scrutiny, Alaric grew even more anxious, terrified that Kael might utter even half a word of refusal.
As Kael completed his circuit, he reached out and ran a hand over the Unicorn Rhinoceros's body. A wisp of his internal Yuan Power unfurled, probing its condition.
As an apothecary, Kael relied on Yuan Power to diagnose ailments. Through hisexamine, the state of the Unicorn Rhinoceros's body became entirely clear to him.
"Just as I thought." Kael confirmed that the creature was indeed sealed by an unusual force—and he was absolutely certain it was caused by a spirit herb.
"It must be the Seven Luminaries Spirit Herb. You ingested the wrong thing—likely accidentally consumed one." Kael smiled faintly, stating his conclusion with confidence.
"So... can you fix it?" The Unicorn Rhinoceros asked eagerly.
Kael's eyes flickered. "There is a way. But it's quite challenging..." He trailed off, feigning hesitation. In truth, it was no trouble at all—just a minor seal.
Seeing Kael hesitate, the Unicorn Rhinoceros panicked. "What's the problem? Whatever it is, as long as you can break my seal, the great Lord Alaric will do anything for you!"
Hooked! Kael grinned.
With a troubled expression, Kael said, "Actually, undoing your seal isn't difficult for me. But lately, I've been preoccupied with a certain matter... and I might need your help..."
"Need my help? No problem! As long as you can break my seal, you'll be the great Lord Alaric's best friend! Whatever you need, I'll help! So, what's the matter?" Seeing Kael's troubled expression, the Unicorn Rhinoceros immediately spoke up.
"Well, for you, it's actually quite simple. A large number of undead have appeared in this ancient ruins..." Kael smiled faintly as he began explaining.
"Undead?! Damnable undead, here of all places?!" The Unicorn Rhinoceros seemed furious—as a light-aligned magical beast, it had an innate hatred for the undead.
Seeing its reaction, Kael inwardly rejoiced. The Unicorn Rhinoceros despises the undead too—this just got even easier.
"That's right, undead! A human Darkwing Mage has appeared in the ruins—my enemy. He's summoned hordes of undead, devouring the corpses of other magical beasts, trying to turn the entire ruins into a playground for the undead..." Kael elaborated.
Meanwhile, the Snowbear Beast, fueled by its hatred for Leif, chimed in: "Yes, yes! That damned Darkwing Mage wants to kill every magical beast in the ruins and turn us all into undead!"
With the Snowbear Beast backing him up, the Unicorn Rhinoceros fully believed Kael's words. "Such a thing is happening?! Hmph! Kael, don't worry—I, the great Lord Alaric, will help you! That damned Darkwing Mage and his undead? I'll devour them all!"
This guy still thinks with his stomach! Kael raised an eyebrow but felt reassured nonetheless.
"Then I thank you, Alaric. I'll break your seal right away!" Kael smiled. Coming to this cave by chance not only boosted my strength with lightning powers but also gained me an ally.
"You accidentally ingested the Seven Luminaries Spirit Herb. I'll prepare a 'Revitalization Potion' to restore you!" Kael declared.
"Wonderful!" Alaric excitedly clenched its claws and rolled on the ground, its beautiful scales now coated in dust—though it couldn't care less.
What could be more thrilling and eagerly awaited than having its seal undone?
Kael took out his medicinal cauldron and several herbs. Fortunately, the ingredients needed to counteract the Seven Luminaries Spirit Herb weren't rare, and Kael always carried some herbs with him out of habit—so this would be quick.
Under Kael's control, the medicinal cauldron spun rapidly, drawing the eager gazes of both the Snowbear Beast and the Unicorn Rhinoceros as he concocted the potion.
Several herbs dissolved completely under the influence of Kael's flames, their essences merging seamlessly within the cauldron.
He had to thank this cauldron—it saved him a tremendous amount of time. In mere moments, the Revitalization Potion took shape.
Before long, a vial of pale-green liquid was fully prepared, exuding a rich herbal fragrance that invigorated the senses.
The Revitalization Potion worked by maximizing the "activation" of latent potential, allowing the Unicorn Rhinoceros to swiftly regain its peak strength—precisely the potion's intended effect.
This particular batch, refined by Kael, surpassed ordinary versions in potency, ensuring Alaric's full recovery.
"It's ready? Let me try it!" Alaric eagerly shuffled forward, its massive golden eyes gleaming with anticipation—for once, something had surpassed even food in appeal.
"Here." Kael handed over the potion.
Alaric gulped it down in one go. Immediately, the potion's effects took hold—a brilliant white light enveloped its body as elemental energy from the surroundings surged into its mountainous frame. Its power rapidly rejuvenated, and an expression of pure bliss crossed its face as the energy restoration clearly delighted it.
"ROAR!" Alaric let out an earth-shaking bellow, forcing Kael to cover his ears. The sheer force of its strength made Kael realize he had underestimated this creature—it was, without a doubt, a genius among Unicorn Rhinoceroses, boasting power at least at the peak of the eighth tier, rivaling even Scarlett in her prime.
"The Snowbear Beast mentioned there are hundreds of Unicorn Rhinoceroses in these ruins. Even if each is only at the early eighth-tier, their combined strength would be more than enough to counter those undead. Still, we must be cautious—after all, the undead only grow in number the longer we delay..." Kael mused silently, already formulating a plan.
The Unicorn Rhinoceros continued its thunderous roars, the sheer force of its voice shaking the cavern as if threatening to collapse it entirely. Such was the terrifying might of a peak eighth-tier beast.
"Enough, stop that racket!" Kael snapped.
Alaric immediately clamped its mouth shut, looking sheepish. "Ah, I forgot you were still here. Got a bit carried away in my excitement..." After being sealed for so long, its exhilaration was only natural.
"Now then, great Lord Alaric, about what you promised me..." Kael smiled.
"Worry not! I, the great Alaric, favored child of the God of Light, always keep my word! Kael, you broke my seal—from this day forth, your cause is mine! Besides, I despise undead more than anything!" Alaric declared, slamming a massive claw against the ground for emphasis.
"I don't doubt you. But just you and I alone won't be enough to stand against the Darkwing Mage Leif. If you could persuade your kin to join us... You know as well as I that if this ruins becomes a playground for the undead, even your kind won't survive here." Kael's true aim wasn't just Alaric's aid—it was the entire Unicorn Rhinoceros tribe!
The real "big fish" he was angling for.
After a brief moment of consideration, Alaric nodded vigorously. "Leave it to me! Now that my strength is restored, I can return to my tribe and reclaim my place as their king. Then, I'll lead every last one of us to crush that Darkwing Mage and his wretched undead!"
"Perfect!" Kael grinned. "Once this is over, I'll prepare a mountain of roasted meat for you—as much as you can eat!"
"Yes! Yes! YES!" At the mere mention of roasted meat, Alaric's head bobbed like garlic in the wind, drool cascading freely. It practically burned with the urge to annihilate the undead and the Darkwing Mage right that instant.
Seeing Alaric's reaction, Kael smirked inwardly—Mission accomplished.