Chapter 128: The Delicate Fragrance

Vitality—what kind of vitality? A vast, golden field of flowers, each one a radiant, blooming sunflower.

Sunflowers are a plant species in the world of Solakong. Primarily ornamental and exceptionally beautiful, they symbolize vitality, positivity, and energy. Many wealthy individuals and high-ranking officials enjoy planting them for aesthetic pleasure.

However, sunflowers require sunlight and water to grow, along with the meticulous care of professional gardeners. In this wasteland, devoid of water and sunlight, how could such a field exist? Moreover, from the intel provided by Phantom, Link discovered that the field could even be described as a "forest." Sunflowers that would normally grow to a height of half a meter to a meter in a common household had all exceeded two meters. Their stems were thick, lush, and green, appearing as robust as crops treated with magical fertilizer.

Puzzled, Link sent Phantom to investigate the field. Yet, when Phantom was still a kilometer away, it sensed something within the field so terrifying that it drained away any courage to resist. Its sturdy body trembled uncontrollably, unable to take another step forward. It was a primal, biological fear that could not be defied; even when Link tried to force Phantom to advance, it could not move an inch closer.

This caused Link to furrow his brows in astonishment. In his memory, nothing had ever made Phantom feel such dread—not even Remilia Scarlet, the strongest being he had ever encountered, had elicited such a reaction.

Knowing that Phantom was useless in this situation, Link deliberated for a moment. After having Phantom scan the surroundings, he instructed the others to wait behind while he ventured toward the sunflower field alone to assess the situation.

As he crossed the one-kilometer threshold, Link felt an indescribable pressure. However, his Holy Power kicked in, dissipating the weight upon him. Taking a deep breath, he pressed on until he arrived at the edge of the field.

Looking at the sunflowers, a sense of profound crisis welled up within him, as if stepping into the field would invite disaster.

Just then, a voice—cold to the extreme, devoid of human warmth, and slightly husky—echoed out: "This disgusting scent... is it a human? How many years has it been since a human set foot on this forgotten land?"

Hearing this, Link channeled his inner energy and shouted, "Great being, please forgive our intrusion. We arrived here by accident and do not know how to return. May we ask if you could assist us?"

The emotionless voice responded promptly, "I refuse. I despise humans. Leave at once, or you shall remain here as fertilizer for my flowers."

The cold, murderous intent behind these words made Link’s eyelids twitch. He wanted to try one more time, but before he could speak, two indignant voices rang out in succession.

"Who do you think you are? Why should we leave? We’re staying right here!" Reimu shouted, manifesting her Yin-Yang Orbs.

"Exactly! I don't care what you are. If you won't help us, we'll beat you until you agree!" Lin Xi was not to be outdone, releasing the talisman from within her body.

The two women had arrived behind Link at some point, both glaring at the sunflower field in fury. Link was frantic, unable to understand what had come over them. To provoke someone of unknown strength when their own status was uncertain—was this not suicide?

"What are you two doing? Get back!" Link scolded hurriedly. But he soon realized something was wrong; they seemed deaf to his words, staring at the field with nothing but rage and dissatisfaction, yet with a hint of confusion in their eyes, as if baffled by their own reactions.

The bizarre scene was inexplicable. Then, the mysterious voice spoke again, causing Link’s heart to leap, though the content left him stunned.

"These are... the Yin-Yang Orbs and the Dream Seal? I see. You are her successors. No wonder you were able to reach this realm." As the mysterious voice spoke, the sunflowers shifted, clearing a path. "Since you are her successors, you may stay. Come in."

The sudden change in attitude left everyone stunned. It was clear their arrival was no accident, but the work of Reimu’s Yin-Yang Orbs and Lin Xi’s Dream Seal—the name of Lin Xi’s treasure, which even she hadn't known until now.

Looking at the open path, the group exchanged glances. Lin Xi hesitated and asked, "Neil, should we go in?"

Link pondered for a long moment before gritting his teeth. "If it's a blessing, it won't be a disaster; if it's a disaster, you can't hide from it. We have no other choice. If the entity is doing this, they likely harbor no malice. Such a mysterious and powerful existence would not bother with petty tricks. We go."

The group nodded and entered the sunflower field. Along the way, Link asked the two women why they had suddenly flown into a rage, but they both stammered, unsure of the reason. They said that upon hearing the mysterious voice, their anger had flared, and they had released their sacred artifacts as if compelled by the items themselves.

Furthermore, the most peculiar thing was that their anger felt like the indignation of a superior being slighted by an inferior. It was as if the mysterious voice was a former subordinate they had defeated many times over, someone who should have been theirs to command.

This situation was deeply unsettling to Link and Altair. A defeated subordinate? Were they dreaming? The mere presence of that mysterious being was enough to strip them of all will to fight. A single finger from her could likely crush them dozens of times over, even if Lin Xi and Reimu exhausted themselves channeling the power of their sacred artifacts.

If that were the case, why did the women feel this way? Link and Altair couldn't help but connect the sacred artifacts to the mysterious being’s words. Could it be that the previous owners of these artifacts had fought this entity and won decisively, and that sense of victory was etched into the artifacts, influencing the emotions of their current wielders?

It seemed the only logical explanation. With the situation unclear, they didn't push the topic further and continued deeper along the path.

Finally, they arrived in front of a massive, three-story mansion. It was luxurious, styled differently from the Kingdom of Stars, though common in several prosperous empires. While not alien to the world of Solakong, the mansion was less interesting than the person standing before it.

She appeared to be a woman of about twenty, with flowing green hair and deep, cold, crimson eyes. Her face was beautiful yet devoid of emotion. She wore a red plaid shirt over a pure white blouse, with a matching red plaid skirt. She looked like a minor noble from the countryside, yet she radiated an air of cold, aloof arrogance that made one’s instincts scream that their life was in danger. Even meeting her gaze was heart-wrenching, making one feel that she was to be admired from afar, never approached, and certainly never offended.

"Is it you? The humans who wandered into this place?" When the two parties were about fifty meters apart, the green-haired woman spoke. Her voice was cold and emotionless—the same voice they had heard before.

Suppressing his instinctive fear, Link took a deep breath and answered for the group: "Yes, great being. We are humans who lost our way. We were hoping you could tell us how to leave and return to our own world."

The woman did not answer immediately. She scrutinized Reimu and Lin Xi before shifting her gaze to Link, ignoring Phantom and Altair entirely. After ten seconds of suffocating silence, she said, "My name is Yuuka Kazami. Since some of you are 'her' successors, you may call me by my name."

The group was taken aback. Link responded politely, "Lady Yuuka, thank you for your kindness and generosity. My name is..."

"I have no interest in your name," Yuuka interrupted him indifferently, then stared at Reimu and Lin Xi. "What are your names?"

Link felt deeply embarrassed, and Reimu and Lin Xi were momentarily flustered, but they answered. When Lin Xi answered, seeing Link's awkwardness, she added his name as well, which made Link feel slightly better, though it was unclear if Yuuka had even registered it.

In Yuuka's eyes, everyone except Reimu and Lin Xi was no different from an ant. Would a normal person care for the names of ants? Certainly not.

However, while Link was embarrassed, he was also deeply frustrated. It was the first time he had been ignored so thoroughly. Even when he had been looked down upon before, he had never been treated as mere dust. This triggered a sense of instinctive resentment and defiance.

Yet, Link understood that this happened because his strength was insufficient to warrant her respect. Only when he possessed the power to threaten her would she truly see him—just as Sylvanas had initially despised him, only beginning to acknowledge him once he showed the strength to stand toe-to-toe with her.

"Fine. This world really does run on strength," Link thought to himself. "Yuuka Kazami, is it? While I’m not the kind of protagonist in a novel who would slaughter a family over a slight, I do have my pride. Just wait. One day, when I grow strong enough to threaten you, I will make you remember how you treated me today." For the first time, he felt a burning ambition to reach the pinnacle of the Solakong world.

A tree lives for its bark, and a person lives for their pride.

In the past, Link only wanted to see the Father God Church flourish and to establish himself as a member of the elite. But as his experiences grew, along with the expansion of the Church, his ambitions began to shift. Stimulated by Yuuka, he finally found the resolve to contend with the most powerful beings in the world of Solakong.