224 The Pleading Eyes
Selma Payne’s POV:
This was going to be troublesome. It took time to absorb the curse, and I couldn’t make all the roots disappear instantly.
I had no choice but to withdraw from Shrek’s spiritual world and seek help from the outside world.
Master Kevin helped me maintain the unstable spiritual world of my soul fragment, so he was the most sensitive to its changes.
“Frank’s condition is getting better,” he said. “But it’s only for a while. Since just now, his condition has continued to deteriorate, accompanied by the dissipation of part of his soul.”
As he said this, there was a commotion outside.
“Silence! We’re doing a soul surgery right now. This isn’t a market!”
Master Mary couldn’t bear it anymore and roared. The voices outside quieted down, but the whispering still didn’t stop.
“Frank’s curse is rooted in his soul like a tree. I tried to devour the curse, and I succeeded. However, this curse is very cunning. Once I’ve devoured it to a certain extent, it will use its root-like tentacles to absorb Frank’s soul as nourishment and replenish itself. I don’t dare to take the risk, so I had to stop temporarily.”
“It seems that the curse’s resurrection isn’t that fast,” Master Kevin said. “Captain Frank’s condition is much better than before, but he’s still getting worse.”
“Unless there is a way for me to devour all the curses instantly, letting go of any trace of the root system can promote its resurrection.” I continued, “Before we knew it, part of Captain Frank’s soul had been consumed by the curse. Yes, its desolate and broken spiritual world is the embodiment. But I dare not bet on who is faster, the curse or me, once the soul power is lost too much…”
“Then, this soul fragment will be completely shattered,” Master Kevin added.
However, neither Master Mary nor Master Kevin had a way to make New Flow wrap around the entire curse.
As we were at our wits’ end, Dorothy said softly, “Why don’t you let me try?”
We subconsciously looked at her.
She continued, “I have a guess. Since the curse is the same as the pine forest, they’re both sealed demons’ creations. Also, the curse in Captain Frank’s body sounds like it has intelligence. In that case, could it be like the pine forest, that the curse we thought of was also a piece of the demonic fragment? However, it was too small and weak, so it was mistaken for a curse.”
I was taken aback. I had to admit that this was a possibility. Demonic shards and curses came from the same source, so they were essentially the creation of a type of power. I could not trace the differences in their roots, so I subconsciously used the smell to distinguish them.
If it were a demonic fragment, then it’d be easy. Dorothy pointed at the core of the Soul Model. “Even the pine forest has a heart that coordinates the entire situation. Then, could the so-called ‘curse’ in Captain Frank’s body also have such a thing? It’s this ‘heart’ that controls the ‘curse’, allowing it to paralyze our vision to live in the host’s body like a roundworm.”
This sounded like a fantasy, but it was possible in theory. Whether it was the similar appearance or the power from the same source, it showed that it was very likely that a tiny demonic fragment had been implanted into Frank’s soul fragment.
As long as I could see it, finding the ‘heart’ would be as easy as taking something out of my pocket.
Dorothy did not say it, but everyone in the room knew what she meant.
“No, your body is weak.”
“My body is already done for!” Dorothy interrupted me. This girl, who had always been kind and friendly, was now so unyielding. “I’ve said it before. If there’s no way to save everything, then I’d rather throw away my remaining value than die in a cowardly manner. Selma, I know that you understand me. If it were you, would you be willing to watch a warrior with outstanding military service, who has been injured, live on in pain?”
“I…!”
Of course, I wouldn’t want that, but if it were Dorothy, I’d rather she live for as long as she could.
Perhaps this might sound a little cold, but Dorothy was my best friend, my emotional tie. I respected Frank and saw this great warrior as a friend. But between him and Dorothy, I would choose Dorothy without hesitation.
However, looking at Dorothy’s pleading eyes – not asking, but pleading – I was at a loss for words.
I knew she was begging for an acknowledgment that she could take responsibility and a promise that I would always believe in her.
What else could I do?
I gave in. Dorothy said happily but shamefully. “I’m sorry. Let’s start.”
She closed her eyes, and I felt those clear eyes surveying everything. I held her hand and brought her into Frank’s spiritual world.
The situation here was worse than before I left. New pine trees and roots had taken up most of the wilderness, and the land was drier, with cracks appearing.
In the spiritual world, Dorothy’s eyes were silver. They were as soft as the moonlight and also as bright as ink made of silver.
She only took a casual look and smiled determinedly.
“I’ve found you, little rat.”
