Prime Originator

"Take care, Your highness." General Marquis Hendrick said from the ground. 

"Un, look after the big carcass for me and don't eat it. I'll come back for it," Leon said jokingly.

General Marquis Hendrick glanced at the smelly body of the Grizzly Bear and twitched his mouth. Unless someone wanted to become berserk, no one would be willing to eat it.

"You jest, Your Highness." General Marquis Hendrick said stiffly. 

"Loosen up a bit, general. You're too formal and upright all the time." Leon chuckled before turning his head to the top deck and barked, "Alright. Take us up, captain!"

"Aye, aye, Your Highness!"

Shortly after, the crew busily got to work under the captain's instruction before the airship steadily rose into the skies.

At the same time, Princess Faelyn made her way and curtsied, "We meet again, Your Highness."

"It's been some time, Princess Faelyn." Leon returned her greeting. 

"You've changed quite a bit since we've last met, Your Highness," Faelyn said. Naturally, she was referring to his skin complexion and bizarre equipment.

Leon smiled wryly.

After exchanging a few words with Princess Faelyn, he excused himself and pulled Aria along with him into a private cabin.

Aria observed Leon curiously as he busied himself, taking out a few spirit herbs and pill cauldron from the Worldspace, and began concocting alchemy.

It did not take long for him to finish his refinement, revealing a pasty and creamy substance.

Shortly after, he began undressing his equipment. Aria quickly blushed with a crimson shade and made her way over to help him undress.

Leon smiled gently, appreciating her considerate gesture, but then he noticed her expression and gave her a light chop on the head.

"Ah!" Aria exclaimed, looking back at Leon confusedly.

He smiled amusingly and asked, "Just what are you thinking in that little head of yours, hm?"

"I… I thought you wanted to…" Aria stuttered with a flushed face.

"Wanted to what, hm? Your mind is totally in the gutter, my dear wifey." Leon chuckled, thinking he might have corrupted her.

He shortly shook his head and said, "I am dirty and reek of rat blood. We can do it later after I am cleansed."

"W-Who wants to do it? I didn't say anything!" Aria denied vehemently with a flushed face, deeply embarrassed.

"I'm joking. We don't have time."

Leon chuckled.

"Help me rub this on my back."

"Mm, okay." 

Aria quickly accepted a portion of the white cream and began rubbing it on Leon's bareback with her hands. She was quickly surprised when the tanned skin faded, revealing Leon's original pale complexion.

Sometime later, Leon and Aria returned to the deck.

The distance between the Great Wall and the Great Forest was not far, but it was close either. It can be seen from a distance, but the exact situation was not clear.

After the airship reached the peak altitude of 600fts and began propelling forward, passing a few hills, the situation of the Great Forest became known to everyone.

Leon quickly realized the grey field surrounding the Great Forest was actually the endless tide of rats covering up the flat green grasslands!

The army of grey rats stretched as far as the eye could see, reaching deep into the Wildlands! 

Even when Leon activated [Spirit Eyes], he could not see the end of the rat tide in sight. They were simply everywhere!

"There are so many rats!" 

The crewmates were shocked after peeking into the distance. The thought of falling into such an enormous tide of rats made them tremble with fear. 

They would be devoured down to the bones within seconds! 

Supreme Elder Haldir gazed into the distance with a solemn look and said, "The situation does not look good. Even Transcendents can be exhausted fighting so many rats!"

"The Great Forest is on fire!" Faelyn suddenly exclaimed, covering her mouth with great shock.

The eruption of fire happened suddenly and quickly, running along the edges of the Great Forest like a chain reaction! 

In mere moments, the flame completely enclosed the Great Forest and formed a ring of fire! The grey field of rats immediately drew their distance from the fire right after!

"This sort of coordination… this is not an accident, but a planned strategy!" Supreme Elder Haldir stated with a heavy expression.

No matter what, the Great Forest was still his home. Seeing the Great Forest burning pained his heart.

"Burning the forest to keep the rats away… the tribe would not have resort to this method unless they had no other choice… the situation must be dire." 

"Then I guess we better hurry over," Leon said objectively, raising one hand up.

Swoosh!

The wind suddenly surged around the airship.

After Leon dropped his hand forwardly, the surge of wind immediately propelled the airship forward at more incredible speed.

"Kyahhh!" 

Faelyn exclaimed after her skirts were blown upward by the wind. She quickly held it down before flashing Leon a deadly glare.

"Did you see?"

Leon was taken aback for a moment before he immediately raised his hands up in surrender, "I swear it was not on purpose." 

"Did you see?" Faelyn stressed again with a pouted expression.

Leon shortly averted his eyes while scratching his cheeks, "Well… I might have seen a little bit."

Princess Faelyn's face quickly turned scarlet after hearing his answer and lowered her head down in silence, too embarrassed to press further.

At the same time, Aria stood beside Leon, humming a low tune with an indecipherable expression, "Hmm…"

Leon rubbed his forehead with distress, thinking things had taken a strange turn. Like, why was he singled out when others might have also seen it too.

"Ahem." Supreme Elder Haldir coughed, dispelling the awkward atmosphere before stressing, "Now is not the time for this. We have a serious problem on our hand here."

"Young Prince, the airship is not flying high enough. We will not be able to enter the Great Forest like this. What do you think we should do?" Supreme Elder Haldir asked for Leon's opinion, seeing they were quickly approaching the Great Forest.

"Hmm…"

Leon began rubbing his chin thoughtfully with a deep look.