Book 19, Metamorphosis â Chapter 50, A Terrifying Tenacity
Within the quiet stone room, Linley lay there silently, four types of elemental essences lovingly swirling around his body. In the quiet stone room, aside from Linley, only Bebe was present. As for Bluefire, Reisgem, and Reihom, they didnât disturb Bebe. They knew very well how deep Linley and Bebeâs affections for each other were.
Bebe quietly stood by Linleyâs side, his little face covered in tearstains.
âBoss.â Bebe forced out a smile. âTwo thousand years. In my heart, the person Iâve always admired the most was you. Honest! When we were young, I always slept or fooled around, but, you, Boss, always worked hard to train, never relaxing at all. I know that part of this had to do with your father, and also with Grandpa Doehring, but you never gave up, right?â
âIn addition, on our journey together, weâve met with many seemingly intractable problems. That King of Fenlai was powerful, right? You were just a youth, but you ended up killing that King, right?â
âEven the then-seemingly all-powerful Radiant Church was destroyed by you. You pulled it out by the root and destroyed it, right?â
âIn the Necropolis of the Gods, when we encountered so many difficulties, and even seemingly fatal dangers, we made it all the way through, right?â
âWe adventured together through the Infernal Realm, and we never fell down. We even fought our way through the Planar Battlefield, this most terrifyingly dangerous of places! And havenât we acquired four commander badges?â
Bebe gnawed his lips, staring at the âslumberingâ Linley. âBoss, you wonât fall down now! Itâs just a soul mutation, right? After overcoming so many challenges, you arenât going to fall down on me now, right? I trust, Boss, that you will definitely succeed, becauseâŚyou are my Boss. The Boss that I trust and admire the most.â
As Bebe spoke, his tears began to well up in his eyes once more. He forced himself to not let them fall.
The more confident his words were, the more panicked he felt.
In truth, Bebe had no confidence whatsoever! This was because Linley had four major divine clones. His soul mutation would thus be impacted by four types of elemental essences. This sort of situation was very terrifying. If he was to succeedâŚLinley would be, in the course of countless years and countless planes, the one and only person to have undergone a soul mutation with four clones.
But would he be able to endure?
Not a single person had done so in all of history!
âBoss, youâll definitely succeed. Definitely.â Bebe murmured in his heart.
Everyone who knew Linleyâs situation had no confidence in Linley being able to succeed. They didnât even see Linley as having a 10% chance. Even Reisgem, Bluefire, and the others, upon learning that Linley was undergoing a soul mutation, felt their hearts sank. All they could do was to pray to the heavens and hope that Linley would struggle through.
The Yulan Plane. The Forest of Darkness. The metallic castle.
Two people were seated opposite from each other, one dressed in a long black robe, the other in a long white robe. One had drooping whiskers and small eyes; Beirut. The other had crimson eyebrows; Bluefire! The looks on the faces of both Beirut and Bluefire werenât too pleased right now.
âWhat is the situation? Is there a chance of improvement?â Beirut said, frowning.
âThe situation is very dire.â Bluefire let out a long sigh. âI really donât have much faith in a soul mutation. If Linley is able to succeed, then it will be an unexpected surprise. But if he failsâŚLinley will never be able to reach the peak again.â
Beirut shook his head and sighed. âI was too impatient to reach my goals.â
âIt has nothing to do with you.â Bluefire shook his head. âAfter my original body entered the Planar Battlefield, I originally stayed quite close to Linley, but after Linley made his breakthrough, I relaxed. Who would have imagined that Magnus would suddenly appear. Alas. It was my mistake. I didnât get there in time to save him.â
A hint of a bitter smile was on Beirutâs face. âIt was so hard to encounter an appropriate person. If Bebe were to learn the truth, he would probably hate me!â
âThis isnât your fault either. Who would have known this would be the case?â Bluefire shook his head.
âIf my plans succeeded, Linley and Bebe would have been grateful to me. But given the current situationâŚâ Beirut shook his head. âOnce Linleyâs original body and his three clones perish, then he will have lost his future potential. My plans would have completely failed as well. I will have no options but to find another suitable candidate.â
Bluefire sat there, a hint of unwillingness in his eyes.
âBeirut, donât be in a rush to render your verdict.â Bluefire frowned. âThe results arenât out yet. Linley might be able to survive this.â
âIf he really does survive it and successfully completes his soul mutation, then this will be a major cause for celebration.â Beirut lifted an eyebrow. âBut if Linley truly becomes a Soul Mutate, then Iâll have to change my plans.â
âAre you sayingâŚ?â Bluefire was startled.
Beirut nodded slightly. âRight!â
âThisâŚis this doable?â Bluefire was stunned. âIt seems as though in the countless years of the existence of the universe, no one has ever succeeded.â
âWhy isnât it doable!â Beirutâs eyes flashed with a crafty light. âTo be honest, if Linley were to succeed in his soul mutation, then my plans will have a high chance for success. And once we succeedâŚI feel excited just thinking about it. If the experiment is a failure, it wonât impact Linley much, nor will it impact me much, but if it is successfulâŚâ
Bluefireâs eyes revealed an eager light as well.
âBut of course, weâre just talking right now. Weâre just daydreaming.â Beirut laughed bitterly. âItâs still far too early. Itâll be good if Linley even manages to survive this current situation.â
âRight. Letâs see if he can survive this!â Bluefire nodded as well. âSuccess means Linleyâs future prospects are limitless! FailureâŚyou and I will have no choice but to ensure that Linleyâs future life will be a peaceful one. Heâll never be able to rise to the top again, at the level of being able to causes tempests and waves in the world.â
âNobody can help him now.â Beirut nodded slightly. âHe will have to rely on himself!â
âItâs too late for regrets. We have to face reality!â Beirutâs gaze was hard and calm. âIf he succeeds, his potential will be limitless. If he failsâŚthat will not be our fault.â
Time flowed on. The Planar Battlefield was very quiet, with a few rare major battles. Almost everyone was awaiting the final battleâs arrival.
The thirty third day of Linleyâs coma Reisgem and the others were gathered within the cave.
Bluefire walked out from Linleyâs stone room. Reisgem, Reihom, and Bebe hurriedly went to welcome him. âWhat is it, Mr. Bluefire?â Bebe was the first to ask. Bluefire glanced at them, then shook his head and said, âAlthough the Fate-type Sovereign power of Magnusâ attack is gone, it used up a large amount of the energy of the Soulstone. Today, the Soulstoneâs energy was completely used up!â
âAre you sayingâŚ?â Bebe was shocked.
âFrom today onwards, no outside force can help Linley.â Bluefire sighed. âIn the past, with the assistance of the Soulstone, he was able to hold on. But now that the Soulstone is unable to help himâŚhe will have no one but himself to rely on against the soul mutation.â
âBut the Bossâ soul is so weak. Will he be able to hold?â Bebe was so worried, he was about to cry.
Bluefire, Reisgem, and Reihom were all silent.
Not long ago, when Bluefire had investigated Linleyâs soul, he discovered that during the soul mutation, Linleyâs soul was like a tiny flame that encountered a mighty wind time and time again. Fortunately, the black stoneâs energy constantly replenished him, restoring energy to Linleyâs soul, allowing him time and time again to hold fast against the clashing powers of the soul mutation process.
âWho knows?â Bluefire shook his head.
The atmosphere within the cave seemed so cold, so gloomyâŚ
The thirty fifth day of Linleyâs coma.
Bluefire emerged from the stone room. He shook his head somewhat disbelievingly. âI didnât dare believe it. Linleyâs soul, even without the assistance of the Soulstone, has been able to endure for three full daysâŚbut it seems as though the process is still quite early. Who knows how long the soul mutation process will take!â
Bebe, however, knew.
Originally, when Olivier had undergone the soul mutation process, he had been unconscious for multiple months. And Olivier had only two types of energy; there was no way his soul mutation could be compared to Linleyâs. A soul mutation involving three types of divine clones was far more complicated than Olivierâs. As for a soul mutation involving four divine clonesâŚ
It probably wouldnât end in just a matter of a few short months.
Bluefire and Bebe, along with Beirut, Delia, and the others in the Yulan continent, had been prepared all along, but the amount of time Linley spent in this coma surpassed their expectations.
Olivier had succeeded within a few months, but Linley would probably need several years.
Several years?
Linley remained in this comaâŚand quite quickly, more than ten years passed.
The eighteenth year of Linleyâs coma.
Within the cave in the Planar Battlefield. Bluefire inspected Linley once every seven days now. Linleyâs long coma had caused Reisgem and Reihom to no longer be as constantly worried about Linley as they had been; they were able to calm their minds and train and rest. As for Bebe, he paid attention to Linleyâs situation every day..
âThe situation is not good. Over the past eighteen years, Linleyâs soul has been weakening slightly this entire time. Although heâs been able to resist this entire time, the weakening process has never slowed.â Bluefire said with a frown. âAlthough Linleyâs soul is incredibly tenacious, and has never given up and has continued to endureâŚhis soul is now too weak. I have the feeling that if this continues, he wonât be able to last for more than three more days.â
Bebeâs face instantly turned ashen.
âThree days. Just three days. Either the situation will improve, or he will die if it does not. Letâs see how things are these next three days.â Bluefire said, shaking his head.
Bluefire had the feeling that eighteen years ago, if Linleyâs weak soul could be described as an âtiny flameâ, then now, it was barely an ember.
âHe definitely will be fine. Definitely.â Bebe said repeatedly.
These three days were quite hard for Bebe to endure. Originally, Bluefire thought that Linley would only be able to resist for three more days, but who would have imaginedâŚthat despite his soul having been weakened exceedingly, he was able to hold for eighteen days. Bluefire, too, felt that this was inconceivable.
On the eighteenth day.
âBebe, come quickly, quickly.â Bluefire called out.
Bebe, Reisgem, and Reihom immediately entered Linleyâs stone room. Bebe, terrified and nervous, looked at Bluefire. âWhat is it? Whatâs going on with my Boss?â
Bluefire turned his head, staring at Bebe and Reisgem in disbelief. âInconceivable. Inconceivable! Linleyâs soul is now beginning to strengthen. To strengthen! It is like an infant which is growing up. It is strengthening at a speed that I can palpably sense! It is growing!â
Bebe, Reisgem, and Reihom had looks of amazement in their eyes.
âAhhhhhhh!!!â Bebe jumped up violently, so high that his head smashed into the stone roof, so hard that several rocks were knocked loose. Bebe hurriedly stretched his hand out, moving it in a blur and preventing the stones from falling.
âWonderful, wonderful!â Bebe was utterly overjoyed.
The Yulan continent. Dragonblood Castle.
Delia and Sasha were together.
âMother, is Father alright?â Sasha said, rather worried. âIt is quite rare for Father to go into solitary meditation. Why is it that this time after he went into solitary meditation, he didnât come out?â
âHeâs fine.â Delia forced out a smile.
Linleyâs situation was something he and Delia had not told their children. They didnât want their children to worry.
âHuh?â Delia suddenly saw a figure emerge from the courtyard gate and walk towards them. It was the fire-type âLinleyâ.
âFather.â Sasha said hurriedly.
The fire âLinleyâ smiled and nodded, and Delia looked expectantly towards Linley. âAre you done?â The nearby Sasha, hearing this, was puzzled and confused.
âI can senseâŚthat things are improving.â The fire âLinleyâ had a rare smile on his face. Divine clones could sense each otherâs souls. Although the other four souls had lost consciousness, Linley was still able to sense that they still existed. Over the past eighteen years, they had constantly weakened, weakened to the point where even the fire-type soul was almost unable to sense them. But today, however, the four souls were growing stronger.
Linleyâs souls had been weakening for eighteen years, and were extremely fragile. Now that they began to strengthen, however, the strengthening speed was far greater than the previous weakening speed. They rapidly gained in strength.
The Planar Battlefield. The cave estate. Linleyâs thirty fourth year in a coma.
âMr. Leylin, why hasnât my Boss woken up yet?â Bebe was rather impatient now. Bebe was now no longer too worried, because he could clearly sense how powerful Linleyâs soul had become. It was far greater than Linleyâs soul had been prior to his injury. If Linleyâs soul, prior to his injury, could be described as a lake of water, his soul now was a fathomlessly deep ocean.
His soul was so powerful, but Linley still didnât wake up.
âDonât be impatient!â Bluefire laughed. âHe will definitely wake up.â Actually, Bluefire had a hint of worry in his heart as well. Linleyâs soul was already so terrifyingly great; would it actually suddenly collapse at a critical moment? No one knew what a soul mutation with four divine clones would be like.
That same point in time, within the stone room.
Outside the room, Bluefire and the others were chatting. Within the stone room, Linley lay there quietly by himself. He had already quietly lain there for thirty four years, and his body no longer had elemental essences surrounding it.