Damned Healer-Chapter 542: Too Naive

The light coming from the book slowly took shape, forming a well-defined feminine silhouette. She was one meter ninety, but there were no extra physical details. A light covered her like a sacred mantle, hiding everything.

Two eyes opened, like two brown-colored pearls.

Darian smiled lightly; it had been more than a decade since the first time they met. Those eyes locked onto him, then a long sigh echoed.

"You’re a complete idiot." Her voice sounded dry and somewhat angry, "You didn’t follow a single thing I told you before... I told you to be discreet, rising carefully while focusing on collecting the books. But you didn’t get a single book, and here you are, with every powerful being in your universe wanting to kill you, while you haven’t even reached half of your real potential."

Darian didn’t dare talk back. His master was very strict and even a little sadistic when she trained him back then, but despite that, he felt a genuine concern from her toward him.

"Well... I saw everything. At least you tried a little, but your idiot nature won," she murmured ironically,

"You just can’t stay quiet when you see something you don’t like... that’s a very dangerous trait, but not necessarily a bad one. In the end... after meeting you, that troublesome brat learned a lesson. Thank you very much for that."

Darian sighed, remembering Remira, whom Meru was talking about.

"What’s done is done. Let’s get to what matters." She changed the subject abruptly, "Now that you have reached this book, I can tell you a few very important things I couldn’t before."

Darian got excited. He had many doubts back then, but Meru always said karma didn’t allow her to speak. Now, by reaching this book, he had earned a bit of that right.

"First of all, the reason why I told you not to draw attention before." She stared seriously into his eyes, "You read my father’s story, so you know the universe you were born in is very special. One of the nine Primordial Chaos Items ended up fusing with the whole universe. That’s what gave awakening power to the people born there, and forced my father to use that power to create the Spiritual Guardians."

"The Primordial Chaos Items are the tools of the world’s Laws, created at the beginning of everything to shape reality. Each of the nine has a unique power and a very specific function. Some exist so mortals can use them; that’s the case of the Pearl of Chaotic Imagination, whose power got diluted in your universe."

Darian’s eyes changed drastically as he realized where she was going.

Meru sighed, "Yes, since the Pearl of Chaotic Imagination is made for mortals to use, it has the potential to move easily between universes using its connection to the world’s laws. As you should know, in one of my father’s battles in the past, the entire region that connected the universes, previously called the ’underworld’, was destroyed. Currently, not even a regular immortal can enter and move to another universe using that route. But... with the power of the Pearl of Chaotic Imagination, everything becomes easier."

Darian swallowed hard. After a Spiritual Guardian becomes a full Spiritual Sovereign, they lose Heaven’s Will’s help to move between universes for missions or to travel to the training universe. They become restricted to the two universes they were originally connected to.

"That’s right, those three Spiritual Sovereigns who became your enemies discovered that some time ago. They’re studying and creating a large inscription that connects countless planets and lifeforms to be able to use that power. Of course, they’re just fools without any high-level knowledge. But... immortals live forever unless they’re killed. So eventually, they’ll find a method." Meru spoke in a harsh tone.

"Obviously, my father won’t allow that. This is the reason why I told you earlier that you were the only one who could save your universe, or I would have to destroy everything. If they touch that power, because of the universe’s karma, everything must be erased."

She stopped for a moment, staring at him with an almost bloodthirsty expression. Darian felt a chill down his spine; he was certain this woman would destroy the entire universe without thinking twice.

"That’s where you come in. My father found out you were born on Earth and felt you were ready after living many lives. You were a gamble, because if you were captured by those three... since you’re a missionary and have a direct connection with the world’s laws... using you, they could create that inscription much faster." She continued slowly.

"I didn’t ask you to stay in the shadows just to mess with you. Do you really think those three immortals you allied with can protect you? Hate to tell you this, but those other three big bastards can capture you whenever they want."

Darian widened his eyes, "What? B-but I fought them before, and they really backed off because it would be a tied fight. Right now they’re even following my rules of non-interference with Earth..."

"That’s because you’re still way too weak." Meru scoffed ironically, "Listen carefully, never underestimate an immortal. They’ve been alive for hundreds of times longer than you. Do you think they spent all those days sleeping? They created countless methods and hidden cards. As for the three immortals you allied with... that bitch Demoness did similar things and has many hidden cards. But the other two are very naïve and try to be righteous all the time. I like them... but unfortunately, the world is a brutal jungle, you can’t depend on people like that."

"As for you. They knew long ago about the existence of missionaries and dreamed of capturing one. Since after capturing you, they couldn’t let you go or let you ascend if needed; it was better if you were as strong as possible. So, they decided to let you reach nine rings, so they could attack with everything."

"B-but..." Darian stammered, "There’s still a long way to go, and I clearly already have power equal to someone with nine rings in some aspects. Waiting for me to reach nine rings would be incredibly dangerous and stupid, wouldn’t it?"

Meru sighed, "You really did get very strong. With everything you have right now, when you reach nine rings, you’ll be far stronger than those two allied Spiritual Sovereigns. You’ll also be able to fight head-on and have some chance against the two most powerful ones. Sure, your power is very abnormal, and you have many possibilities and all, but..."

"...they have no scruples. If your power isn’t way higher than theirs, you can be taken down easily. They’re watching you closely, using the Wube family to pressure you and set everything up. All they need is to hit your weak spot. What would you do if they sealed all of Earth, threatening to destroy everything? Or if they captured one of the twins? You have too many weaknesses, and with every step you take, you create a new one."

Darian froze. He had been way too naive, thinking that by having those three immortals as allies, he had actually managed to intimidate the others. If he hadn’t gone through everything he did to get this book, he’d walk right into the enemy’s trap without knowing. After all, he could only count on luck to find another book.

Meru’s estimate of his power sounded pretty reasonable. Darian’s strong point was defense; at his core, he was a healer. When he reached nine rings, not even an immortal would be able to kill him. But his offensive power... he felt his black power didn’t have the strength to go that far.

The power of his curse came from people’s karma, something given by the world’s laws to mortals. Immortals were above the world’s laws. The black power still had its uses, but it wasn’t even close to enough to truly pressure an immortal in a normal situation.

Not even his offensive technique gave him confidence. Killing a Spiritual Sovereign in a frontal fight was almost impossible. Killing one by surprise wouldn’t happen again, because those three weren’t that stupid. No matter what plan he came up with, the moment they sensed Darian nearby, they’d focus all their attention and defenses on him.

Those brown eyes stared at Darian seriously. "I have a plan. But... you don’t really like following other people’s plans, do you?"

Darian scoffed bitterly, but he couldn’t deny it. He didn’t feel safe when he wasn’t in control, so he always did things his own way.

"I’m your Master, so of course I made something that fits your personality," a light laugh sounded.

"Turns out you were lucky. This book should’ve been the last one you were supposed to get. Since you couldn’t complete that mission, my father didn’t send it to anyone else. That was what ended up pushing the Golems into their critical situation, and a whole chain of consequences and causes stacked up tragically... but in the end, you arrived in time and fixed everything."

Darian got thoughtful. He had found it strange how desperate the Golems were. Since they were connected to Heaven’s Will, he should’ve helped them earlier... that was the cause.

"I’ll get straight to the point: you got the Heart of Gaia, and with that I can teach you a new technique I created especially for you two..."

"You two?" Darian asked, confused.

"Of course, Aunt Yinou helped me, because she wanted to support her stupid half-disciple." Meru answered with a nod.

Darian understood because of that book. Yinou was the name of the Chaos Yin Dragon, the primary cause of the whole problem with the Divine Dragon, who was Niara.

Meru continued in an excited tone. "The technique is pretty peculiar, split into two completely separate parts. You’ll learn the first one, and she’ll learn the second. They seem like totally different things... but in the end, you’ll understand. I guarantee, if you manage to fully cultivate it, you’ll reach double your strength on your own when you get to nine rings. And that Dragoness won’t be far behind you. But... obviously, nothing comes for free. It has a high cost. Are you willing?"