Prime Originator

Witch Doctor was another unfamiliar term to Leon. He had no idea what a Witch Doctor can do, but he assumed anything with a doctor in its name had to have something to do with treating people.

"This is… hypnotism, isn't it?" Leon asked.

"Interesting, so you can also understand this much with a glance. That is right. Master Woodrow is using hypnotism to stop my son from rampaging." The Old Shaman explained with an approving nod. If the person could not even see this much, he would begin to doubt his judgment. 

The reason he decided to trust Leon despite the person having nothing to prove he was a skilled doctor or a doctor at all for that matter, was not because the Old Shaman was crazy. 

It was because the Old Shaman had sensed a particular wavelength from Leon that only Shamans possess and decided to wager on that small possibility that Leon could do it.

"If not for Master Woodrow's help, my son would have completely demonized by now, and for that, I owe him a great favor. I have sought many doctors in the past, but they were all helpless to cure Demon Possession and only been able to delay the demonization process slightly." 

"However, Master Woodrow is different. His hypnotism also affects the Demon Core and stop the demonization process." The Old Shaman further explained.

Leon nodded thoughtfully with understanding. He could tell that it was not just simple hypnotism to put the Demon Core to sleep. Although the Demon Core was not a sentient thing, it could indeed be treated as such.

"But in the end, this is just another delaying method and not a true solution to the problem." He stated. 

"Be that as it may, it is better than my son demonizing." 

The Old Shaman was silent after saying this, and Leon understood the reason.

Once a person is demonized, the Old Shaman would be forced to kill his son to prevent his demonized son from harming others.

"Why don't you tell me more about the Demon Possession and how your son managed to contract it," Leon asked. 

"A Demon Core is naturally formed when our people are soaked in the Black Pool for the Rite of Baptism. But as you know, A Demon Core is something demons have, and humans would demonize if they have it. But thanks to the method our great ancestors had managed to develop in the past, we can refine the Demon Core, make it our own, and thereby granting ourselves the power of demons."

"However, sometimes, and under various conditions, control of the Demon Core is lost, allowing it to germinate and demonize its host. This all public knowledge, and many of these cases are recorded. But the exact cause for the loss of control was never figured out."

"All this information can be found in the tribe's central library. If you think reading them will help you treat my son, I can take you there to peruse them first." The Old Shaman suggested after a lengthy explanation.

Leon did not reply immediately fell into deep contemplation. 

Recalling how his adoptive father and the ex-disciples of the Illusory Butterfly Sect all had Demond Cores inside them upon their return from the dark lands, he figured that the so-called Black Pool must be black water collected from the Black Swamp. 

As for whether any changes had been made to this black water, he could not exactly say, but he does believe the Darkmoon Tribe would have made some changes to the black water to suit their cultivation.

He found out that the humans on the Infertile Plains are all daredevils. It was basically keeping a ticking timebomb within themselves.

In the Divine Realm, no one thought about forming a Demon Core to gain the ability to control Darkness Profound Energy. 

If it was found out, except for the Demon Divine Region, they would be mercilessly hunted down by the other three Divine Regions.

"That won't be necessary. We can begin the treatment immediately." Leon declined the suggestion and said with a shake of his head after some time. That being said, there was still a glimmer of interest in his eyes.

It would be a lie to say that he was not interested in visiting the tribe's central library. He had not anticipated there being one and was pleasantly surprised that there was indeed one. 

Libraries held a vast collective amount of knowledge. Even if the library only contains general knowledge, it was still beneficial for Leon to learn them. It will help him understand the Infertile Plains and human history on these dark lands.

"If you have any preparatory request, feel free to state them now," The Old Shaman shortly response with a hint of eagerness.

Leon nodded and said, "In that case, please ask the Witch Doctor to end his hypnotism and retreat from the patient. I do not wish to be interrupted during the treatment process."

"This…" The Old Shaman slightly hesitated. 

Leon understood the Old Shaman's concerns and shrugged, "Well, you can choose not to inform him, but I cannot guarantee that there won't be any problem during the treatment in that case."

"Then I'll leave my son in your care. Don't disappoint me." The Old Shaman said decisively with seriousness. 

The Old Shaman did not say it, but Leon understood that if he failed and cause the Old Shaman's son to demonize, he had to be prepared to face the Old Shaman's wrath.

After the Old Shaman informed the Witch Doctor, the person appeared to be disgruntled as he ended his chant and flashed Leon a displeased look. 

"I won't be taking any responsibility if something goes wrong!" Master Woodrow said.

"You don't need to worry about that," Leon said coolly. 

"You can begin at any time, but the sooner, the better, of course." The Old Shaman said ordinarily, but it was clear that he was urging Leon.

Since the Witch Doctor was no longer using his hypnotic chant, the slightest disturbance could awaken the half-demonized man.

Leon did not need the Old Shaman's remaindered and chose not to respond as he focused all his attention on the bedridden person. His divine sense was sent out and swept over the person.

… 

Meanwhile, outside the southern entrance of Darkmoon City, the hunting team had begun to gather after finishing their preparations.

"Are you setting off now?" 

"Yes, Chief," Goldeneye answered, feeling honored that Chief Valencia personally came to see them off.

"Remember, if you find the situation to be too dangerous, retreat immediately. Do not force the issue. The tribe cannot afford to lose someone like you." Chief Valencia kindly reminded.

"Thank you, Chief. I will keep that in mind." 

Goldeneye suddenly recalled something essential and said, "Oh, right. On our way back, my brothers and I noticed an unusually large number of vagabonds heading south towards our direction. I found this strange and thought that the Chief should know." 

Chief Valencia immediately furrowed her brows as she found something amiss with the intel. Vagabonds should be fleeing in the opposite direction of the Bone Calamity, not head towards it unless they were tired of living.

"I doubt they are coming to help fend off the Bone Calamity. Are you they were vagabonds?" 

"This…" Goldeneye scratched his head embarrassedly and said, "I'm actually not too sure about this, Chief. I was in too much of a hurry to study them carefully."

Chief Valencia could only shake her head after hearing his reply. She could only alert the sentries to keep an eye on their outer perimeters for suspicious movements.

"Since you don't know, then never mind. You don't need to concern yourself with this issue any longer."

"Understood." 

Goldeneye did not question the Chief's decision. She would naturally know what to do with his information. 

After bidding his goodbye, he departed the city with 200 other Great Warriors on foot. They left with haste, and after three hours into their journey, Darkmoon City was already out of sight.

"Big Brother, the distress signal was sent many hours ago. Even if we rush there, they would have resolved the problem by now. Is there a need for such haste?" A Great Warrior asked. 

They had traveled a great distance back to their tribe, and before they were sufficiently rested, they were forced to set out on another long trip. 

Goldeneye shook his head and said, "This Bone Calamity is much stronger than the last one. It always has been. Don't forget how many of our brothers and sisters have fallen in battle. The fact that the Blackwind Tribe sent a distress signal clearly proves how much trouble they are having."

"Big Brother, look! It's another distress signal—No, there's two of them!" Another Great Warrior suddenly pointed in the distant skies.

"For them to send another two distress signals, the situation over there must have reached a critical point," Goldeneye said solemnly with a frown. 

Everyone suddenly realized how dire and desperate the Blackwind Tribe's situation must be in for them to send another two distress signals.

The journey to Blackwind Tribe was going to take another 12 hours, roughly at their current pace. By the time they get there, there might not be a Blackwind Tribe!

"Continue to journey. I'll head there first to check the situation." Goldeneye said decisively.

"Big Brother, are you going to…"

Goldeneye nodded. 

He brought his thumb and index finger together and gave a deafening whistle that traveled far and wide. 

Shortly after, a loud cry was heard, before the enormous shadows of a Dark Wyvern could be seen descending from the skies above them.. Goldeneye hopped on its back and took off into the distance.