Chapter34-Symbiosis of Light

Upon hearing Daniel's words, Ranch's expression became nuanced, falling into deep contemplation.

Evidently, the leader of the Dream elf tribe had misunderstood the origin of the dreamfruit Ranch had consumed. 

In reality, those dreamfruits did not come from the external world but were purchased by Ranch from the system store, unbeknownst to Daniel.

With this thought, a spark of insight flashed through Ranch's mind: "Perhaps, this could be an opportunity to earn a substantial amount of gold coins."

As a merchant, one must possess the exceptional vision to identify business opportunities.

Of course, Ranch hadn't forgotten his true purpose for this journey. 

Vera had brought him into the Dream Realm to find a way to lift the Curse of Chaos, not to conduct business.

At this moment, Vera also woke up from her slumber. 

Surveying her surroundings, she immediately sensed something was amiss and cautiously said to Ranch, "Ranch, this place is different from the Dream Realm I remember."

Daniel, having heard Vera's observation, felt compelled to explain the current state of the Dream Realm once again.

Meanwhile, Ranch was formulating a response to Daniel's inquiry in his mind.

Taking a deep breath, he turned to Daniel and said solemnly, "Chieftain Daniel, I indeed know where to find the dreamfruit, but acquiring them is no easy task. Therefore, the price might be quite steep."

This statement instantly brightened Daniel's eyes.

"As long as it can be purchased, that's no issue," he said with a hearty laugh. 

"Esteemed guest, you need not worry about the price. Although our land has been polluted, we had already securely stored away all our precious items beforehand. To save our homeland, any price is worth it!"

With that, Daniel promptly ordered his subordinates to bring forth numerous treasures. 

These treasures were dazzling and spectacular, each one of immense value, causing a long list of treasure alerts to appear in the system, impressing Ranch with the wealth of the Dream elf tribe and making him realize the value of the dreamfruit.

This thought made Ranch somewhat regret giving a dreamfruit to Biso to taste. 

However, there were still seven left in his storage ring, which should suffice to fulfill Daniel's request.

Ranch probed again, "Chieftain Daniel, these treasures are certainly more than enough. However, I'm currently facing a bit of a situation, and my visit to the Dream Realm is also in search of a solution."

Daniel frowned, sensing the curse fluctuations on Ranch. 

As the chieftain of the Dream elf, Daniel was far more powerful than other elves, but his expression remained grave as he said, 

"Mr. Ranch, the curse on you is no ordinary curse, and I cannot solve it. However, I can use a unique method of the Dream elf tribe to reverse the effects of the curse."

"What method?" Ranch asked curiously.

"Divine Blessing!" Daniel stated directly.

Ranch was not very knowledgeable about magic. 

However, Vera, standing by Ranch's side, understood well and asked in confusion, "Chieftain Daniel, do you mean to have Ranch complete his magus advancement now to obtain the blessing of the gods and thereby eliminate the curse?"

Daniel nodded, looking at Vera and confirming, "Exactly."

After confirming, Vera also nodded towards Ranch, signaling that the plan was feasible. 

"Esteemed guests, follow me," Daniel said, leading the way. 

Soon, the trio arrived at an altar made of coral fragments. 

Daniel positioned Ranch on the altar and began chanting a spell that sounded almost like a song, filled with a dreamy essence. 

Ranch felt the mana within him start to stir agitatedly.

As the mana became restless, the effects of the curse manifested, subjecting Ranch to a tormenting sense of being torn apart. 

Daniel, undeterred, continued with the process of bestowing the magus advancement blessing. 

Vera, though worried, remained silent, not wishing to interrupt.

After four or five minutes, a vast aura emerged from the altar, compelling those around to kneel in reverence. 

Ranch, however, felt as though he had fallen into a soft embrace, his mental anguish soothed, and the Curse of Chaos slowly dissolving. 

But just at that moment, an unexpected change occurred. 

Daisy's apparition appeared before Ranch, screaming in anger: "Ranch, you think you can escape the curse this way? It won't be so easy! A few strands of divine power... do you really think they can erase the curse I've left?"

At this moment, Daisy unabashedly showcased her immense power. 

Ranch felt like a mouse being toyed with by a cat, unable to escape. 

However, the silver lining was that Daisy seemed to have no immediate intention of killing him, which allowed Ranch to breathe a sigh of relief. 

He spoke in a gentle tone, "Miss Daisy, it's very possible that this is all just a misunderstanding between us."

"A misunderstanding?" Daisy chuckled. 

The Divine Blessing intended for Ranch was interrupted, and Daniel, the ceremony's conductor, fell into unconsciousness, while Vera was struck with a severe mental blow and was ejected from the Dream Realm. 

Now, only Daisy and Ranch remained at the altar.

Daisy looked at Ranch, licking her lips as if reminiscing. 

"Over the years, you're the first one to enter my body, even if it was just an avatar. I must say, it felt quite pleasant, so I've decided to let you off the hook. But from now on, you can only be my slave."

Under the oppressive force of Daisy's powerful mana, Ranch found himself immobilized. 

Then, Daisy initiated a Soul Contract. Damn it! 

Ranch screamed in his mind, wishing to refresh the system store's inventory, hoping to find an item to counter this peril. 

But he quickly realized that, in his current state of consciousness, even if he refreshed the store, he couldn't use any items. 

Was he truly without options?

Daisy, sensing Ranch's inner turmoil, smiled even more radiantly. 

"Ranch, I won't make the same mistake twice," she said. With those words, the contract was branded.

Ranch felt his consciousness being implanted with certain thoughts. 

Looking at Daisy, his gaze filled with adoration and violence, as if he wished to violently tear off the clothes of this beautiful lady and then pierce through her body in the most primal act of reproduction. 

In this moment, Ranch understood why Daisy hadn't killed him. 

This woman was utterly addicted.

As the contract neared completion, Daisy's smile faded to a serene expression. 

"Ranch, from now on, you will call me queen, do you hear?" 

Ranch opened his mouth, cursing loudly, "Enslave me? Impossible! Holy Light Judgement!" 

A colossal sword of holy light sliced through the water surrounding the altar, slashing towards Daisy, while chains of rainbow light emerged on the altar, entwining towards Daisy.

Daisy's expression turned exceedingly grim as she glared at Ranch before reluctantly departing. 

The crisis was averted. 

At that moment, Ranch felt the mana within him surge again as various magical elements converged upon him, successfully advancing him from a magic apprentice to a junior magus. 

Moreover, the status of the Curse of Chaos underwent a change. 

The curse vanished, replaced by a Symbiosis of Light.

[Symbiosis of Light: You have formed a pact with the queen of the Radiant Emperor Butterfly, sharing life states until one of you perishes.] 

Seeing this status, Ranch was utterly dumbfounded. 

What in the world was happening? 

However, in the Dream Realm, it was clear that no one could answer his question, not even Daniel, who had awakened and was incessantly proclaiming, 

"This must be the goddess manifesting herself!" 

With the problem resolved, Ranch, worried about Vera, had no desire to stay any longer. 

As Ranch was leaving, Daniel once again reminded him to bring back dreamfruit and shared with Ranch how to open the pathway to the Dream Realm. 

"Chieftain Daniel, rest assured, I will return," Ranch promised. 

Then, his consciousness left the Dream Realm.

In the bedroom of Viscount Layne's castle, where Vera was, Ranch opened his eyes to see Vera lying on the bed, her complexion pale, holding the Blessing Necklace, its light now faded. 

Ranch spent gold coins to re-identify it. 

[Blessing Necklace (Damaged): Once a divine gift of blessing, now rendered useless.] 

Understanding the origin of the rainbow light at the altar, Ranch was moved. 

He softly called Vera's name, and as he called, Vera awoke. 

Ranch breathed a sigh of relief. 

At that moment, the sound of conversation between Butler Haren and Viscount Layne drifted in from outside the door.