Only God
Chapter 176 - 152: The Key to Breaking the Curse

Chapter 176: Chapter 152: The Key to Breaking the Curse

How could the Druids’ curse be lifted?

Noen had no choice but to face this thorny challenge.

He learned from the Oak Sage that the Druids’ curse was bestowed by Yikabe and had troubled three generations, making it the longest and most painful curse to date.

Over the years, generation after generation of Oak Sages had exhausted all manners of methods to no avail in lifting the curse.

"Why..."

Noen had to start pondering this question.

The Oak Sage placed the hope of lifting the curse on Noen and informed him of the methods that the Druids had tried in the past.

Like a father killing his son, consuming exotic herbs, eating hallucinogenic mushrooms, mass suicide...

Yet, the curse that tormented the entire race still had no known cure.

The efforts of three generations of Druids were nothing but exercises in futility.

After listening to the Oak Sage’s instructions and pondering for half a day, Noen suddenly realized a problem.

"Since... the Curse God Yikabe’s curse was based on the historical dying curse of Sapo... could it be that the key to breaking the curse is also related to that period of history?"

Noen had found a key point.

The Druids didn’t understand the history of the Logos people!

The Curse God Yikabe had not disclosed the entire history of the Logos people to the Druids.

However...

"I know the history of the Logos people."

Noen would never forget every story told by the dying Priest.

Even though what he knew was only recorded in the "Book of Kings and Prophets"...

But perhaps... it could still be the key to lifting the curse.

Seizing this fleeting inspiration, Noen began preparations without delay.

"According to the records... God once said that Yarlessto and Dertulian should establish a great nation."

Could it be... the key to lifting the curse lies in separating a pair of brothers, having them establish their own settlements?

Thinking so, Noen immediately sought out the Oak Sage, instructing him to order a pair of brothers, who had not yet turned on each other, to live separately.

Days later, the brothers’ separation brought no effect.

One night, under the influence of a mysterious force, they found themselves atop a blood-drenched chasm.

When dawn broke the next day...

Only one brother walked out alive.

Upon hearing this news, Noen was stunned, the first attempt at breaking the curse had failed.

The Oak Sage did not blame Noen, for he knew how tenacious this curse was.

Noen began pacing near the Druids’ altar, spending his days contemplating methods to lift the curse.

Sometimes, he would glance at the wooden box offered on the altar.

According to the Oak Sage, it was the wish stone of this Druid tribe, a holy artifact bestowed by the Curse God.

"The wish stone... no, the Oak Sage said that the wish stone cannot lift the curse... they have tried."

Noen shook his head.

In the following days, Noen made another attempt to lift the curse.

Following the records in the "Book of Kings and Prophets," he had a father of two cursed brothers tell them the story of the Swan Hunter.

But it was to no avail.

The curse remained unlifted.

The brothers still killed each other, leaving only one survivor.

Noen painfully watched this unfold.

He was nearly driven mad by the bloody curse.

What made him even more restless was...

Time was running out.

The deadline within the Slay Contract was mercilessly approaching them.

Everyone was extremely impatient, all offering ideas, yet none could lift the curse.

Casas even made a prophecy for this, using a valuable opportunity for prophecy.

But still, they gained nothing;

The Curse God Yikabe had sealed all prophecies about the curse.

Noen felt...

They were walking into a dead end.

It seemed that the only fate awaiting them was to have their souls taken by Slaier...

"There must be a way... there surely is some way to lift the curse."

Noen stood by the edge of the forest’s pond, skimming stones on the water.

Surrounded by trees, this pond was called Green Lake by the Druids.

The clear lake water reflected the dense leaves.

Noen faintly felt that the method to lift the curse didn’t solely lie in the "Book of Kings and Prophets," but also in the "Twin Kings Book" the old priest had mentioned.

However... neither he nor the old priest knew what was recorded in the "Twin Kings Book." Not even the Three-eyed Ape People knew.

"God, what should I do?"

Noen looked at the lake, suddenly overwhelmed with confusion.

He clearly knew where the answer was, yet he couldn’t solve it, couldn’t approach it.

That was the most helpless feeling.

"Noen."

Noen turned around; it was Casas calling him.

"Little master..."

"Noen... do you have any ideas?"

Casas asked, urgency in his expression.

Noen said,

"Not yet, not yet."

"Noen... there isn’t much time."

"I... I know, it’s my fault..." Noen hung his head, murmuring.

Then, Noen waited silently for Casas’s blame.

It was he who had suggested signing the contract; it was he who had dragged these people into an abyss of irreversible calamity.

Once that deadline arrived, the divine wouldn’t tolerate the slightest excuse from mortals...

The fault was all on him.

A sense of powerlessness surged in his heart, and Noen felt an indescribable guilt.

Suddenly, Casas started patting Noen’s back.

"It’s okay, Noen, it’s all right."

Casas comforted Noen, saying jokingly:

"I can understand you... Maybe our fate is to have our souls taken by Slaier."

Although Casas and he were master and servant, in reality, they were more like brothers.

So Casas didn’t blame the young man; he supported him, just as he had promised to venture onto the Path of Death to find the Ancient Elf Kingdom.

Noen, with his head lowered, heard what Casas had said.

And then... he saw the reflections of himself and Casas in the lake.

Noen’s thoughts suddenly started to drift.

A spark of inspiration flashed through his mind, fleeting, yet Noen strived with all his might to capture it tightly.

"Understand..."

Could the answer... be in understanding?

In the "Twin Kings Book"...

Did King Yarlessto understand his brother?

Had the brothers let go of their grudge against each other?

Noen suddenly raised his head; he seemed to almost grasp the answer.

...

When dawn arrived the next day, Noen came before the druid altar.

He had not slept all night.

Noen raised his head and looked at the statue of the Curse God, quietly waiting for the arrival of the Oak Sage.

"Noen... have you really found a way to remove the curse?"

Not long after, the Oak Sage arrived at the altar, asking in bewilderment.

"I... I might have found it."

Noen turned his head, murmuring.

"What does the answer involve?" the Oak Sage asked.

Behind the old druid, a pair of brothers facing the curse slowly came from the Secret Forest.

These brothers were about to come of age in a few days, and then, driven by the Curse God’s divine power, they would unbidden head to the great pit to slaughter each other.

"Come with me."

Noen spoke up.

The Oak Sage nodded and, with the two uneasy brothers, followed Noen.

Not long after, Noen led the three of them to the edge of the giant pit filled with the stench of blood.

"You will stand here,

Pick up the swords meant to kill each other."