The Devouring Knight-Chapter 361 - 360: The Awakening Pulse

Elder Hanxu exhaled in relief. "Thank you for saving me, Grand Elder Tian," he said, then looked at Lumberling. "And you as well, Lord Lumberling."

Lumberling gave a faint smile. "It's fine. I'll leave the rest to you, see you soon."

He hoisted the unconscious Viking over his shoulder and began moving, the storm-torn battlefield still echoing with distant clashes and cries.

As he made his way across the battered field, the storm slowly faded into distant rumbles.

Soon, he found Liraeth in a quieter part of the battlefield. Around her lay fallen Vikings, likely the ones who had tried to attack her but were killed instead.

"Lumberling, you're back!" Liraeth exclaimed, rushing toward him and wrapping her arms around his chest. "Where's Aurelya?"

"Maybe she's still fighting," Lumberling replied, his voice calm and steady. "But I'm sure she'll be fine."

Liraeth's heart trembled. He could trust the others so easily, leaving them to handle things on their own… but her…

"Oh, right," Lumberling added, glancing behind him. "I brought someone for you." He dropped the unconscious Viking to the ground with a dull thud, then turned back to her, his expression serious. "Are you really sure you want to absorb him?"

Liraeth nodded, her expression firm.

Lumberling's brow furrowed. He remembered the risk when Skarn had tried to absorb an essence far beyond his level. Then, he shook his head. "No. I can't risk it. We can always find you another one for you. This is too dangerous…"

Before he could move, Liraeth grabbed his arm, holding him tightly. Her eyes wavered, but her voice stayed steady. "Lumberling… please. Let me absorb him. I-I don't want to be left behind by you and the others anymore."

Her words carried both fear and determination. Lumberling could feel the quiet pressure in her voice, the frustration of standing beside the elves and feeling powerless.

He sighed softly and met her gaze. "If something goes wrong," he said firmly, "I'll stop it immediately. No matter what you say."

"Thank you," she whispered, her tone gentle yet grateful.

Lumberling guided her to sit and meditate. For a few moments, silence settled between them, broken only by the sound of her steadying breath. Worry and doubt churned in his chest, but he kept his expression calm.

When Liraeth finally opened her eyes, she looked at him and gave a small, determined nod.

Lumberling took a deep breath and glanced once more. Her black hair was slightly disheveled, her green eyes steady and full of resolve.

"Alright," he murmured.

With a swift motion, he ended the Viking's life and activated his Essence Weave. A faint glow surrounded the body as streams of purple smoke rose, twisting before flowing straight toward Liraeth.

The moment the essence entered her body, she trembled violently. A scream tore from her throat before she bit it back as her whole body shaking.

"Liraeth!" Lumberling's eyes widened. He moved to stop the transfer, but her hands suddenly reached out, gripping his arm tightly.

She looked up at him, her green eyes filled with pain, but also determination. She shook her head, silently telling him to continue.

Lumberling clenched his jaw, forcing himself to obey her wish.

Liraeth pressed her hand against her mouth, trying to muffle another scream. Her veins stood out across her neck and arms, glowing faintly as if the essence itself was burning through her. Her body trembled, sweat dripping down her face, but she refused to give in.

"Liraeth…" Lumberling whispered, his chest tight. He wanted to stop, but he couldn't, she had chosen this. All he could do was stand close, ready to catch her if she fell.

Then, finally, a sharp cry escaped her lips. Smoke rose from her body, and the light from the Essence Weave faded. Her body went limp, and she collapsed forward.

"Liraeth!" Lumberling caught her in his arms, lowering her carefully to the ground. He placed his ears over her chest, her heart was racing fast, almost too fast.

Panic flickered in his eyes. He carried her and stood, ready to rush toward Aurelya for help. But before he could take a step, he felt it, her heartbeat slowly calming, her breathing growing steady again.

Lumberling exhaled in relief as he gently lowered her to the ground. "You really scared me there…" he muttered softly, brushing a strand of black hair from her face as her body finally began to rest.

But then his expression changed. A strange pulse ran through her body, something eerily familiar.

"Wait…" he whispered.

Boom!

A shockwave exploded outward, throwing him several meters back. He slammed into the ground, sliding across the dirt before coming to a stop. His ears rang, and the air around him trembled.

When he looked up, his eyes went wide in disbelief.

Liraeth hovered above the ground, her black hair drifting gently as if caught in invisible winds. Light rippled from her form, growing stronger with every heartbeat.

He opened his mouth to rush to her, but something held him back.

Then it came, a wave of power, divine and overwhelming. It rolled across the battlefield, forcing even the distant storm clouds to twist apart. The raging winds slowed, and for the first time in hours, sunlight broke through the clouds. A single golden ray shone down on her, as if the heavens themselves had chosen her.

"Liraeth… you're awakening…" Lumberling whispered, his eyes wide with awe.

The air shimmered around her. The divine energy pulsed and grew brighter, and for a moment, Lumberling had to shield his eyes.

The light was too blinding.

When it finally dimmed, Liraeth's body slowly descended, her bare feet touching the ground with quiet grace. Her breathing was calm, as if she had been reborn.

Then, her eyes slowly opened.

Her once-green irises now glimmered with golden rings, spinning like the hands of a clock.

"Click… click… click…"

The sound echoed softly in the air, strange and beautiful.

And as she lifted her gaze toward him, a small smile formed on her lips.