Wizard: Starting from Escape from the Thorn Garden

Chapter 129 Ashe

Kate slowly revealed himself from the void. He did not release any hostility or pressure. The realm of the Heart of Reincarnation remained in a gentle and inclusive state, and the breath of life blew towards the strange magical plant like a warm spring breeze.

He gazed at the trembling, starlight flowing more rapidly through its branches and leaves, and conveyed his thoughts with a peaceful yet clear spiritual fluctuation that directly affected the soul: "Hello, wondrous Child of the Void. I mean no harm. I have witnessed your wisdom and uniqueness, and I understand that you draw energy for survival and growth. But stealing is not a sustainable path, and it will only create unnecessary enemies for you."

The three star fruits at the top of the demonic plant flickered with light. A spiritual wave, a mixture of vigilance, curiosity, and a hint of stubbornness, responded, as clear as a spring dripping onto jade, yet carrying an ethereal quality: "Who are you? My name is Aisha, a powerful being—your power is complex, very—contradictory. It has a life force that makes me feel comfortable, but also a coldness that makes me wary."

What do you want to do? Like other intruders, try to steal my harvest?

Its intelligence was clearly not low; it was capable of clear communication and instinctively felt uneasy about the aura of death emanating from Kate.

Kate smiled slightly, her mental state remaining calm: "My name is Kate, a wizard who explores the mysteries of life and its rules."

I did not come for your fruit, but for yourself.

Your potential and wisdom amaze me. Stealing energy is ultimately not the right path, and it is inefficient and extremely risky.

I hope we can get along in a different way.

Aisha's branches swayed gently, as if in thought, her mental fluctuations carrying obvious doubt: "Another way? You creatures always say that—the ultimate goal is nothing more than to enslave, exploit, or uproot us and turn us into materials!"

I sense a resonance within you of a similar spatial power to mine, but the icy coldness at your core makes it impossible for me to trust you.

You are too weak, and the composition of your power makes me uneasy. I can't believe you can offer me a better option instead of ultimately devouring me.

It sensed the mental strength level of Kate, a first-ring wizard, and also keenly perceived the coexistence of the rules of life and death within the Heart of Reincarnation, especially the death aspect, which made life forms like it naturally wary.

Kate understood that conventional arguments would not sway this cautious and wise magical plant.

He needs to demonstrate genuine sincerity and sufficient strength to convince the other party.

His expression became incredibly solemn. He raised his right hand, a pure light of soul energy swirling around his fingertips, and swore an oath with the very essence of his soul. His spiritual energy surged like a resounding bell, solemn and dignified: "I, Kate, swear by the essence of my soul to the endless rules:"

Before I formally establish an equal contract with you, Aisha, I will never intentionally harm you, imprison you, or forcibly take anything from you against your will in any form.

If I break this oath, may my soul be tainted and my path as a wizard severed!

This is an extremely strict oath of the soul, which has a very strong binding force on wizards.

A noticeable ripple appeared in Ashe's mental state; she seemed surprised that Kate would make such a resolute vow.

The light of the Star Fruit froze for a moment.

Immediately afterwards, Kate had a thought, and the phantom of the Heart of Reincarnation slowly appeared behind her.

This time, however, he suppressed the power of death and space, amplifying the aspect of the Seed of Life to its extreme.

Then, the illusory image of the Immortal Root fragment, lush and vibrant, pulsating with the patterns of profound life rules, appeared, emanating a vast, pure, and infinitely vital life force.

This aura was warm and expansive, possessing an irresistible attraction for Aisha, a magical plant that needed the nourishment of life energy, as if parched earth had encountered sweet rain.

"Feel it, Ash." Kate's voice carried a guiding tone. "This is an essential part of my power, the creation and nourishment of life."

What I seek is not destruction and plunder, but circulation and symbiosis.

I possess the ability to provide a stable and continuous supply of high-quality life energy, far exceeding the sporadic energy you can steal by commanding those Void Aphids.

Ashe's branches involuntarily tilted slightly towards the phantom of the Seed of Life, and the Star Fruit emitted a wave of longing.

It instinctively knows that if it can be nourished by this level of life energy, its growth rate will increase countless times, and its fruit will ripen faster and be of higher quality.

But it still hadn't completely let its guard down, struggling with its inner turmoil: "It's very tempting. But your vow only lasts until the contract is signed."

If the contract you propose is one of enslavement, I still cannot accept it.

And—I need to know if you are truly qualified to speak with me as an equal, not just based on external things and vows.

It needs to confirm that Kate's own strength is sufficient to protect it in the void, and sufficient to make it recognize its status as a partner, rather than just a simple "energy supplier".

Kate understood what it meant.

It needs a friendly competition, a contest that doesn't hurt feelings but showcases each other's strengths and characteristics.

"As you wish, Ashe." Kate withdrew the illusory image of the Seed of Life, her aura suddenly changing, becoming refined and sharp. "Let's use the void as our stage for a simple spar. I will show you that I am worthy to stand shoulder to shoulder with you, and I will let you personally experience my path."

Before she could finish speaking, Ashe launched the first attack.

It knows that the void is its home turf, and space and spirit are its strengths.

Its crystalline amethyst trunk flashed with light, and the surrounding space instantly became viscous and folded. Dozens of invisible spatial rifts, like extremely sharp blades, silently cut towards Kate from all directions.

At the same time, a powerful mental wave, carrying a sense of confusion and drowsiness, surged into Kate's consciousness like a tide, attempting to interfere with his judgment and spellcasting.

A very clever coordinated attack.

If it were an ordinary wizard of the same level, they would instantly be put at a great disadvantage.

But Kate just smiled slightly.

"Spatial anchoring".

hum!

The Heart of Reincarnation rotated slightly, and silver-blue spatial ripples spread out from him. Those originally unpredictable spatial rifts were instantly stabilized and smoothed out, as if they had hit an invisible dam and could not advance an inch.

He didn't even bother to defend against the mental shock. The Samsara Heart Domain flowed naturally, and the drowsy fluctuations collided with his incredibly resilient soul barrier and domain force field, like a gentle breeze brushing across a hill, failing to cause the slightest ripple.

"Life is drawn from it."

Kate pointed her fingers forward like a sword.

An invisible force, targeting the very essence of life, instantly enveloped Aisha.

Aisha immediately felt the energy within the branches and leaves stagnate slightly, as if it was about to break free. Although it was immediately stabilized by its powerful source, she was still taken aback.

The opponent could also cast similar spells that stole energy, but in a more direct and domineering way.

"Void Flash!"

Ashe's main trunk became blurry for a moment, then reappeared a hundred meters away, trying to create distance.

But almost at the same time it appeared, Kate's figure appeared like a ghost not far in front of it.

"My spatial awareness is just as strong," Kate said calmly.

Aisha was somewhat unconvinced. The Star Fruit shone brightly, and countless silver threads made of pure spatial energy appeared out of thin air, wrapping around Kate like a net. This was a restraint formed by her mobilization of void energy.

"Death resists: annihilation."

A dark force field flashed around Kate, and the active spatial energy threads instantly dimmed, withered, and eventually disappeared upon contact with this force field, which contained the meaning of death and annihilation.

Using the rules of death to suppress energy activity is an extremely skillful technique.

Ashe was finally somewhat shocked.

The opponent's control over space is no less than its own, its application of life energy far surpasses its own, and it also possesses this strange death power that can restrain its various energy methods.

What's even more terrifying is that these three completely different forces of law coexist perfectly within him and operate with ease.

Its most powerful mental attacks seem to be completely immune to the opponent!

It realized that if it were to truly fight to the death, it probably wouldn't be a match for this seemingly only first-level wizard.

The opponent's foundation is too strong, and their rules are too bizarre!

That concludes our discussion.

Ashe withdrew all her attacks, her branches drooping slightly, her mental fluctuations carrying a complex mix of emotions and recognition: "—I understand. You do indeed possess extraordinary power and potential. Your path—is peculiar, and powerful. I acknowledge that you are qualified to speak to me as an equal."

Kate immediately composed herself and regained her composure: "So, can we talk about the future now?"

'

He extended his hand, and a complex and exquisite scroll of contract, composed of pure soul power and rule runes, slowly unfurled in his palm. The scroll radiated soul energy of equality, justice, and reciprocity, its core terms clearly visible:

Soul Symbiosis Contract (Improved Version by Plant Wizard)

1. Parties: Kate (Witch) and Ashe (Void Core Spirit).

2. The essence of the contract: equal coexistence and mutual growth. Not master-servant, not enslavement.

3. Obligations of both parties: Kate shall provide Ashe with a stable and sufficient supply of high-quality life energy to help her grow.

Ashe needs to open up her own understanding of the rules to Kate, help Kate improve her spatial abilities, and provide support such as void concealment and spatial jump when necessary.

Both parties must respect each other's will and must not force the other to do anything against their nature or that endangers their own.

When encountering an enemy, help each other as needed, but prioritize self-preservation.

4. Power sharing: Limited sharing of perceptions and joint exploration of the mysteries of the rules.

5. Contract Guarantee: Both parties swear an oath with half of their own soul essence and infuse it into the contract.

If one party unilaterally and maliciously violates the core terms (such as causing harm, enslavement, or betrayal without cause), half of the soul essence injected into the contract will be immediately annihilated, suffering severe damage, and the contract will be automatically terminated.

6. Contract Termination: With the mutual consent of both parties, they may jointly cast a spell to terminate the contract and each reclaim their original soul essence. Alternatively, the contract may be automatically terminated upon the natural end of one party's lifespan.

The terms of this contract are fair, with equal rights and obligations, and are highly binding, yet they also give both parties sufficient respect and freedom.

In particular, the pledge of the soul's essence ensured the seriousness of the contract.

Aisha carefully "read" every clause of the contract. Its mental fluctuations went from vigilance to scrutiny, then to gradual acceptance, and finally revealed an irrepressible desire.

This contract not only guaranteed its safety and freedom, but more importantly, it secured a stable supply of Kate's pure life energy.

This is a thousand times better than it anxiously driving the Void Aphids to steal.

Moreover, one can explore and grow together with a wizard with boundless potential and unique rules. Sharing spatial insights can also help the wizard organize its own rules, rather than it being a one-sided effort.

It could find no reason to refuse.

"I agree." Ashe's expression was tinged with relief and renewed anticipation. "Your sincerity and strength have earned my trust. Kate, I hope that our future path will be one of mutual assistance and symbiosis, as the contract states."

The next moment, its crystal-clear trunk lit up with dazzling starlight, and a ball of light, like a miniature nebula, containing half of its soul essence and spatial rule imprints, slowly floated out and merged into the contract scroll in Kate's hand.

Without hesitation, Kate separated half of her soul essence, mixed it with the rules and imprints of her own life, death, and space, and injected it into the scroll.

Buzz—! ! !

The contract scroll burst forth with a dazzling yet not blinding light, splitting into two streams: one intertwined with emerald green and gray-blue, the other a brilliant silver-purple, like two intertwined serpents. Ultimately, they perfectly merged into one, transforming into a complex mark that split in two and disappeared into the core of Kate and Ash's souls respectively.

A wonderful spiritual connection was instantly established.

Kate could clearly sense Ash's yearning for life energy, her love for the void, and the purity and curiosity in her nascent wisdom and spirituality.

Ashe sensed the resilience of Kate's soul, the vastness and complexity of the Heart of Reincarnation, and her unwavering pursuit of power and her deep commitment to promises.

A wonderful feeling of mutual trust and reliance flowed between them.

"Welcome, Ashe." Kate smiled sincerely. "From now on, you won't need to command those Void Aphids anymore."

Ashe's branches swayed joyfully, the Starfruit shimmering with light, conveying waves of joy and anticipation: "Hmm! Kate! It feels—wonderful. Is this symbiosis? That nursery in your soul—it feels so warm, so comforting—"

It felt the attraction emanating from the life aspect of the Heart of Reincarnation.

Kate, with a thought, enveloped Ashe's entire form with her mental power: "Relax, I'll take you home."

Spatial fluctuations enveloped Ashe and the small fragment of the void island where she was rooted.

Back in the treehouse, Kate immediately created a special area to place Ashe along with the fragment of the Void Island, and guided the energy of the life aspect of the Heart of Reincarnation to slowly nourish it.

As if parched land had finally received rain, Aisha greedily absorbed the life energy, which was countless times purer than anything it had stolen itself. It emitted satisfied mental fluctuations, and its branches and leaves became more translucent at a visible speed, while the luster of the Star Fruit deepened.

It has finally bid farewell to the days of sneaking around and living in constant fear, and has truly embarked on a bright and hopeful path of growth.

Kate also got her wish and gained a Void Plant partner with great potential, which not only made up for the shortcomings in spatial rules, but also added a powerful and intelligent core member to the Reincarnation Nursery.

Their symbiotic journey has only just begun.

This equal contract will lead them into a wider unknown.