My world-tree system-Chapter 74 - 73: Joker

Foster looked at the dragon apprehensively, but knew he had no choice. Xel’tharion slowly spread its gigantic wings, and a soft emerald light flashed between them.

Before Foster’s astonished eyes, a shape appeared in the air, slowly materializing in a spiral of light. The object descended gently, landing delicately in front of him.

It was an egg, deep green, almost translucent, covered with fine silver veins that pulsed gently like a heart beating to the rhythm of the world. The egg exuded a comforting warmth, vibrating with an energy as ancient as that of the dragon itself.

- Come closer, Foster," murmured Xel’tharion in a deep, almost ceremonious voice.

Foster took a hesitant step, his eyes riveted on the egg. He sensed instinctively that this moment was crucial, decisive, that his destiny was about to be irreversibly altered.

- What should I do?" he asked, his voice trembling slightly.

The dragon lowered its huge head slightly, its eyes fixed on him with intensity.

- To awaken the spirit within him, we need your blood. It will be the bond that will unite you forever.

Foster swallowed, but didn’t argue. He slowly drew his katana from his belt, holding the weapon firmly in his right hand. Without hesitation, he made a small cut on the palm of his left hand. A drop of blood beaded immediately.

He gently moved his wounded hand over the egg, watching the blood fall onto the smooth surface of the living jade.

As soon as his blood came into contact with the egg, a blinding light burst forth, enveloping Foster in its entirety. He felt an inexplicable force enter him, running through every fiber of his being with unheard-of gentleness and power.

A bond.

A powerful, intimate, profound bond.

It was as if a new consciousness was awakening within him, a young and curious mind, vibrant with life and energy, connected directly to his heart. He could feel her emotions, her embryonic thoughts, her warmth. He felt an absolute confidence emanating from this egg, a confidence entirely directed towards him.

Foster slowly closed his eyes, taking in this extraordinary sensation.

Xel’tharion watched with quiet satisfaction, aware that destiny had finally been sealed.

- From this moment on," murmured the dragon solemnly, "you are no longer alone. You are now two souls linked for eternity.

Foster slowly opened his eyes again, staring at the egg with renewed determination. He was ready.

Foster could still feel the strange vibration of the newly formed bond as he slowly raised his head towards Xel’tharion. The majestic creature suddenly seemed less tangible, as if gradually losing its substance.

The dragon bowed his head slightly, his emerald eyes shining with a bittersweet gleam.

- My task ends here, Foster," he murmured in a voice tinged with deep melancholy. What you see before you is but the preserved memory of an existence long gone. And that energy is now coming to an end.

Foster widened his eyes slightly, feeling a touch of sadness at the idea of losing this wise and reassuring presence.

- Wait," he murmured, almost instinctively. What am I supposed to do now?

Xel’tharion slowly raised a translucent claw, as if to soothe him.

- Now you know your path. Protect the seed, preserve the balance... and look after this last hope of our people," he said, pointing to the jade egg before him.

Foster nodded, resolute.

- I will not fail," he promised in a firm voice.

An almost imperceptible smile seemed to cross the dragon’s features, as his body slowly became translucent, gradually fading into the air.

- I don’t doubt it," murmured Xel’tharion. And know that, whatever happens, our legacy lives on in you.

Before Foster could reply, a powerful white light shot up around him, engulfing him completely. The dragon disappeared in a final emerald glow, leaving Foster alone, lost in a vortex of light that seemed to cross time and space.

Once again, he felt dizzy.

Then, suddenly, everything stopped.

He suddenly opened his eyes.

Short of breath, his body numb, Foster found himself on the ground, lying in the tomb he had left when he touched the jade stone. All around him was silent, motionless, as if nothing had happened.

He struggled to his feet, shaken by the shock and the still-burning memory of his encounter with the dragon.

- Was it a dream? he murmured.

No, it was all too real. He could still feel that link deep inside him, vibrating gently, and his gaze immediately sought out the egg.

His heart stilled as he caught sight of the jade egg on the ground before him. He touched it gently with his fingertips, immediately feeling a reassuring warmth run through his body.

Foster inhaled deeply, slowly coming to his senses.

Foster rose slowly to his feet, his aching muscles protesting with every movement. He delicately grasped the jade egg, holding it close with instinctive, protective tenderness. The gentle warmth it radiated soothed his restless mind slightly, like a silent promise of comfort in the midst of darkness.

His gaze quickly swept over the room he was in. The tomb, vast and silent, was criss-crossed by several dark corridors, all converging on this very spot. Each door, each opening, seemed to offer a different path, but he didn’t yet know where they led.

He inhaled deeply, trying to calm his racing heartbeat, when suddenly-

A sound.

A distinct, steady echo, brutally shattering the sacred silence of the tomb.

Footsteps.

Firm, determined footsteps. Shoes clacking against the cold stone, echoing clearly in the corridor directly in front of him.

Foster’s body immediately stiffened, adrenalin coursing through his veins. He clutched the egg a little tighter to his chest, instinctively reaching for the katana on his belt with his other free hand. He didn’t know who was approaching, or even what they wanted, but every fiber of his being screamed at him that this was no friendly encounter.

The footsteps drew inexorably closer, ever more audible, each clatter accentuating the tension in his body.

Foster backed away slowly, looking for a shadow where he could hide, but the tomb was vast, open, with no obvious hiding place. He had no choice but to face it.

He inhaled slowly, his fingers tightening on his weapon and his gaze fixed on the entrance to the corridor, waiting apprehensively for the mysterious visitor to finally appear.

The sound of footsteps stopped abruptly, just before he reached the entrance.

Foster held his breath.

An oppressive silence suddenly fell over the tomb, as heavy as a leaden blanket. Then, slowly, a silhouette began to take shape in the shadows of the passageway.

Foster stood there motionless, all his senses on full alert, when suddenly the figure emerged from the darkness of the corridor, bathed in the flickering glow of torches.

The man who entered the room had an appearance that was totally at odds with the tomb’s ancient and sacred character. Tall and slender, he advanced with a light, almost dancing step, his shoes clacking distinctly against the stone, each sound seemingly exaggerated by the silence.

His appearance was simply eccentric: long white hair in messy locks framed a thin face with angular, cruel features. His skin was dark, an almost ashen black, typical of the most ancient and fearsome dark elves. His eyes, narrow and blazing, shone with a disturbing mauve glow, both mocking and threatening, exuding an aura of restrained madness. An enigmatic, unhealthy smile stretched his lips, as if everything unfolding in front of him was nothing but personal entertainment.

His clothes were as provocative as his gait: a long black coat adorned with intricate purple patterns covered his slender figure, while beneath it, a half-open white shirt revealed skin covered in obscure tattoos. His dark pants and elegant boots emphasized his nonchalant, almost theatrical look, reinforcing the impression of being out of step with the solemn place he had just entered.

He stopped in the middle of the room, his blazing eyes fixed on Foster with a disturbing intensity. His smile widened slightly as he noticed the jade egg clutched to the young man’s chest.

- Well, well, well, what have we here?" he exclaimed in a lilting, mocking voice. Looks like you’ve just found something particularly interesting...

His voice echoed in the tomb, light and yet terribly threatening.

Foster tensed even more, instinctively clutching the egg to himself, as if to protect it from the stranger’s unhealthy presence.

- Who are you?" he asked icily.

The dark elf threw back his head and burst out laughing, a clear but insane laugh that echoed for a long time between the ancient walls of the tomb.

- Who am I?" he finally repeated with dramatic irony, placing a hand on his heart as if to emphasize the false innocence of his question. Come, come... I thought it was obvious.

He spread his arms, spinning around as if to savor the tension of the moment, before plunging his dark, mocking eyes directly into Foster’s.

- You’re standing before one of the Lords of the Apocalypse," he said, tilting his head slightly, his smile becoming crueler, sharper. The first to take the stage, to be precise.

His gaze slowly descended to the egg in Foster’s arms, a greedy gleam crossing his mauve irises.

- And you seem to have exactly what I need.

Foster felt an icy rage slowly creep up his spine as the stranger stared at him with that mocking, predatory expression. The young elf inhaled deeply, tightening his grip on the egg, and slowly moved away from the strange visitor, cautiously staring at the fluid, disturbing movements of the dark elf before him.

- One of the Lords of the Apocalypse," Foster murmured, clutching the egg to his chest, "HAHAHA I’m gonna cut your ass open.

The dark elf gave a short, light, almost musical laugh, tinged with perverse amusement.

- Oh, come on, Foster... Is this really the way to welcome a new friend? he said, spreading his arms in a theatrical posture. Where are your manners?

He took a few steps forward, his mauve gaze shining with an unhealthy, all-consuming curiosity, detailing every inch of Foster with thinly veiled insolence. He tilted his head slightly, flashing a smirk as arrogant as it was insouciant.

- My name is Joker. First of the Seven, Lord of the Apocalypse, ruler of the shadows... But I won’t bore you with my titles. I know you’re not much for formalities, are you?

His smile widened, becoming more sinister, almost carnivorous, as he took a few slow steps towards Foster, arms wide open as if inviting him to react.

- Joker? I’ll know what name to put on your tombstone, that’s handy. Foster replied. So you’re the one pulling the strings behind these Obscurus creeps?

Joker raised his eyebrows in comical surprise.

- Oh, I don’t just control them, you see... I create them. I shape them, I give them life. They’re charming little puppets, aren’t they? So easy to manipulate, use and then throw away, without the slightest regret. A fleeting pleasure, but so... entertaining.

Foster felt his blood boil. Joker spoke of death and suffering as mere entertainment, something amusing, insignificant. This cold cruelty aroused in him a profound disgust.

- You’re sick..." Foster murmured, tightening his grip on the egg.

Joker burst out laughing, this time genuinely amused.

- Oh no, dear Guardian, I’m perfectly sane. It’s your petty morality that’s a disease... Your pathetic dreams of peace, your futile quest for balance... What a tragic joke!

He spread his arms in a theatrical gesture, pivoting on himself, his mauve eyes shining with a fanatical gleam.

- This world is a broken toy, Foster. A toy that me and my brothers have come to remodel in our own image. And you... you, my dear, have exactly what we need to complete this wonderful picture of annihilation. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

Joker’s smile widened as he slowly extended an open hand toward Foster.

- Hand me that egg, and maybe I’ll give you a death less boring than the one reserved for your friends.

At these words, a black rage filled Foster’s entire heart. He lowered his head, his hair covering his tense face, and murmured with chilling coldness:

- You’ll pay for every drop of blood my people shed because of you, Joker.

The Lord of the Apocalypse burst out laughing.

- That’s the spirit! It’s so much funnier this way.

Foster slowly looked up at him. An implacable determination now shone in his eyes.

- You’re talking about imbalance, chaos? Let me show you what it really means to restore harmony.

He clutched the egg tightly to his chest, releasing his katana with one hand. His mana gushed forth, blazing around him in furious waves. The grimoire activated spontaneously, floating before him, its pages turning frantically under the pressure of his intent.

He stared defiantly into Joker’s eyes.

- [Authority of Judgment]!

As the words passed his lips, the whole air began to vibrate. A prodigious, almost divine power awakened in his body, pouring like a torrent into the blade of his katana. Around him, gold and silver roots sprang up from the void, intertwining to form a majestic tree, incandescent, translucent, projecting a blinding light.

Joker stepped back slightly, losing his arrogant smile for the first time, surprised by this unexpected demonstration.

- Oh... this is getting interesting...

Foster raised his head, his face tinged with absolute determination as his spell reached its climax.

His cry echoed powerfully through space. Instantly, an invisible wave swept through the room, seeming to redraw the very boundaries of reality around them. Joker was pushed back, his nonchalant posture shattered for the first time.

- Well, this is a nice surprise! Joker gloated, despite the tension in his voice. You’re finally becoming amusing, Foster...

But Foster had already stopped listening to his provocations. He felt the power of the spell flowing through him, clear and implacable. Balance had to be restored, and now he was the authority.

For the first time in a very long time, a smile appeared on his lips.

- Prepare yourself, Joker," he murmured, pointing his katana at the Lord of the Apocalypse, "for today, I am your judge.

Reminder:

[Tree of Judgment:]

[Everything that is out of balance must be brought back into balance].

[Once activated, the Tree of Judgment harmonizes the balance of power between you and your opponent for a limited time].

[If your enemy is stronger than you, his power is reduced until it matches yours].

[Activation requires a vital offering: the greater the gap in power, the greater the debt to pay].

[Effect lasts 3 minutes]

[When the power stops, the host suffers a backlash].