The Guardian gods-Chapter 251

For a while, a huge motion of unease hung over the barracks. This intense emotion was felt by the realm consciousness of the spirit world.

The spirit consciousness, which was already adapting to the cursed spirit by having a part in the spirit realm grow for each arch curse to match their cursed spirits, looked over the arch curses. The realm consciousness presented the situation to them. Only the Despairing Virtuoso had a reaction, which the realm consciousness acknowledged with a nod as a portal appeared in Virtuoso’s small realm space.

Virtuoso, holding his painting brush, walked through the portal. The sun was still up, so the soldiers were training when, all of a sudden, the space was torn open, and a giant, weird-looking painter walked out.

In the presence of the Virtuoso, an overwhelming sense of despair descended over the barracks and quickly spread out into the kingdom.

Erik, in his tent, shivered when the sensation came over him. Summoning his spear, Erik walked out of his tent, the spear covering him in an ethereal glow.

The soldiers, seeing Erik’s appearance, immediately washed out the despair they were feeling. Erik didn’t notice this, but Virtuoso did, and a smile came upon his face as he stared at Erik.

Erik felt each step he took closer to the giant was overwhelming. If not for the help of the spear, he wouldn’t have made it close. Finally, walking to the giant, a giant phantom of Erik appeared, staring at Virtuoso, who smiled as he reigned in the despairing aura, causing everyone to take a deep breath they were holding as they all fell to the ground, breathing heavily.

Virtuoso looked at Erik. "Tell me your story." Erik looked at the unknown giant in front of him. Looking behind at his heavy-breathing soldiers, Erik motioned for the giant to follow him.

Erik walked into his tent with Virtuoso, who noticed how small the tent was before finally going in, only to be surprised as the tent adjusted with him in it.

Erik presented a seat for the arch curse, who this time had no hesitation as he sat in it, only for the seat to adjust itself.

"Who or what are you?" Erik finally asked after grabbing a jug to quench his dry throat.

"I am nothing of mystery, Your Majesty. I now go by the name ’The Despairing Virtuoso,’ a servant and child of the god of nature and curses, Ikenga," Virtuoso said.

Erik’s eyes widened. "You are one of those disgusting cursed beings?" Virtuoso’s eyes narrowed at that, but he didn’t mind.

Erik knew he had said something wrong, as this was no ordinary curse, especially after proclaiming to be the son of the god Ikenga. "I apologize, I have greatly misspoken."

Virtuoso smiled. "I don’t mind. I know we have been quite a bother to the human race and its leaders, so your opinion, while offensive, is valid."

Erik nodded before looking seriously at the cursed being in front of him. "Why are you here?"

Virtuoso tilted his head in confusion. "You called for me to be here, so I came to hear your story."

Erik frowned as he looked doubtfully at Virtuoso, who shook his head. "Your Highness should know why the cursed spirits exist and why cursed beings are created after the calling of cursed spirits."

Erik nodded, as he too was troubled by the presence of the cursed beings. Thankfully, he noticed they weren’t being born as much as they were in the beginning. After the good governance of his people, the birth of cursed beings was limited in his territory.

Looking around the tent, Virtuoso said, "There is a heavy scent of despair hanging over this whole barrack. You should be thankful for the creator and the advancement of the arch curses, else half of your current army would have been turned into the monsters you find so disgusting."

Erik, hearing that, almost stood up from his seat, but he soon calmed down when he remembered his situation. Virtuoso noticed the brewing despair that called out to him around Erik, so he asked once again, "Tell me your story, King, and I might be of help to you."

Erik hesitated, but having no other option, he began speaking. Virtuoso had a look of interest on his face hearing Erik’s tale and was very much intrigued when he heard about the war.

When Erik began telling of the war, Virtuoso pulled out a paper for painting. In Erik’s eyes, the paper was untouched and empty, with no drawing on it, but in Virtuoso’s eyes, it had the picture he painted with his father and his siblings.

In Erik’s eyes, the more he talked about the war, the more Virtuoso began painting. Soon the picture was perfect, depicting every moment in the elf war that Erik remembered.

The drawing paper was small, but the more Erik looked at it, the more scenes he saw, like he was taking a walk in his memory.

Standing up, Virtuoso said to Erik, "Come with me, Your Majesty."

Erik stood up, following Virtuoso as they walked out of the tent. The soldiers by this time were all clad in their armor, looking at the tent like they were waiting for something to happen, but they were soon taken aback when Erik walked out with Virtuoso.

In their eyes, Virtuoso the giant threw out the painting paper he was holding. As the paper left Virtuoso’s hand, it began unfolding. Soon the whole sky of the barrack was covered by the huge painting.

The soldiers and the generals all looked up and immediately they were drawn into the picture. Erik’s eyes widened when the elves drawn in the picture began moving and the picture came alive.

Roland and his fellow generals were confused as the last thing they remembered was looking at the giant and the unfolding drawing paper when all of a sudden they were pulled into war, fighting unknown monsters.

Erik watched as his soldiers were entranced by the living painting, their eyes wide with shock and confusion. The sounds of battle echoed around the barracks, blending the real and the surreal.

"Virtuoso, what is this?" Erik demanded, his voice tinged with awe and fear.

Virtuoso remained calm, his demeanor unchanged. "This, Your Majesty, is a memory come to life. I have captured the essence of your war and brought it forth."

Erik clenched his fists, feeling the weight of the situation. "Why? Why are you showing them this?"

Virtuoso’s eyes met Erik’s, filled with a deep, sorrowful understanding. "Despair is a powerful force, Your Majesty. It shapes, breaks, and sometimes, it forges strength. Strength you need at this moment."

Within the painting, the soldiers experienced the chaos and horror of the battlefield. The air was thick with the scent of blood and the cries of the wounded. The monstrous enemies were relentless, unending, their attacks fierce and unyielding. Fear gripped the soldiers’ minds as they began retreating, some dropping their weapons to run away and hide.

Erik looked around, seeing his men struggling against the phantoms of his past. "What must I do?" Erik asked, his voice steady despite the turmoil around him.

Virtuoso gestured to the painting. "Lead them, Erik. In the past, you were a soldier like them, not a leader. Show them that they can conquer their despair, that they are stronger than the shadows that will haunt them."

Taking a deep breath, Erik nodded, letting go of his will and sinking into the picture.

In the picture, amidst the chaos, a figure moved with grace and purpose. It was Erik, his presence a beacon of hope. Coincidentally, Erik in the picture looked like he did when he walked out of his tent to confront Virtuoso. He fought alongside them, his spear glowing with ethereal light. Inspired by their king’s bravery, the soldiers found strength within themselves.

In the real world, Virtuoso looked at Erik, who had a smile at the edge of his lips. His voice reached into the picture, to Erik’s ear and said, "This is the time, Your Majesty."

Erik in the picture nodded as he shouted, "Formation!" The generals and soldiers who had been training for a long time followed Erik’s command as they got into formation.

In the picture, runes for healing, speed boost, and toughness appeared. Each general represented a rune, and the runes worked perfectly with each other. The soldiers became faster, their skin tougher to penetrate, and even if injured, they were immediately healed.

In the outside world, Virtuoso noticed a change in the energy of despair around the barracks. Opposite the deep purple color of the curse, this energy was golden. This energy was small compared to the other despair energy around but it arouse something in him that he thought he had lost after become a cursed being "Hunger"

Taking a deep breath, the golden energy was absorbed into him, some part was shared with the realm consciousness, who absorbed the energy to grow the spirit realm.