Healing

Ugo Bloodclaw was clearly put on the spot by Jinli; his copper-bell-sized eyes bulged, his chest heaved violently, and he was on the verge of erupting again.

Kalei, who had remained silent on the side, could no longer watch. He cleared his throat and said loudly, "Everyone, what are you arguing about? I see a patient here; why not let me treat him first?"

As soon as he spoke, the four tense figures in the room fell silent instantly, all turning their gazes toward him.

Ulu took heavy, excited steps toward him and asked, "You can heal?"

Seeing such a massive creature with a mouth full of fangs so close, Kalei felt a genuine tremor of nervousness. However, his dignity as a Night Elf suppressed the urge to flee. He feigned indifference and said, "If it were any other Furbolg with such injuries, it would indeed be troublesome. But your chieftain is powerful, so I have some confidence."

Ulu said happily, "Good, the Chieftain is powerful. Come here. As long as you heal the Chieftain, Ulu is willing to fight for you." As he spoke, he reached out a massive claw to pull Kalei.

Good heavens, Kalei felt as if he had been clamped by a giant pair of pliers, wincing in pain.

Fortunately, Chieftain Ugo noticed Kalei's discomfort and quickly spoke up: "Ulu, do not be reckless."

Ulu realized his actions had been too blunt, hurriedly released Kalei's arm, and apologized.

Kalei knew it wasn't intentional—just a misunderstanding caused by their different races—so he didn't say much and walked toward the chieftain.

As he passed by Arenia, she gently pulled him aside and asked, "Kalei, are you truly confident you can treat him? If you aren't certain, don't attempt it lightly, lest you make matters worse."

Kalei understood her concern and whispered, "Rest assured, I have a plan."

Seeing he was prepared, Arenia let him go and stopped blocking his path.

Kalei walked quickly to the chieftain's side and looked up. Good heavens, it hadn't been as obvious from a distance, but up close, this Furbolg was like a living mountain of flesh, exerting immense pressure.

Ugo likely sensed Kalei's tension and said in the gentlest voice possible, "Young man, do not be nervous. I once interacted with your kind, the Night Elves, when I was young. I will not be as reckless as Ulu."

Young man? I might be older than you, so don't try to pull rank on me.

Thinking this, he suddenly felt much more relaxed, as if he had shifted from a junior to a senior. It was a strange sensation.

He cleared his throat, calmed his nerves, and looked at Ugo. "Pardon the intrusion, Chieftain Ugo. I need to carefully examine your physical state to determine if the subsequent treatment will be effective."

Ugo wheezed and said, "We Furbolg always listen to the Shaman. You are the Shaman, so you decide."

I am not a Shaman, I am a Druid. Oh well, no point in arguing about that.

Kalei sat cross-legged on the ground, gently pressing his Crescent Staff against Ugo's arm. A soft, emerald-green natural energy flowed out, enveloping Ugo's body. As the energy seeped in, Kalei gradually mapped out the condition of his body.

After a long while, Kalei slowly opened his eyes.

Ulu, standing nearby, immediately stepped forward and asked, "How is it, Shaman?"

Arenia and Jinli also cast questioning looks his way.

Although the two were dissatisfied with Ugo's attitude earlier, for the sake of the bigger picture, they hoped Kalei could heal him, as it would be beneficial for the upcoming battle.

Ugo, however, showed no reaction. Over the past few months, he had been tormented by so many Shamans that he had long since abandoned hope.

Kalei pondered for a moment and said, "I will attempt the treatment, but I do not have absolute certainty."

Ulu was somewhat disappointed to hear this, but he had calmed down and remained silent.

Kalei glanced at them and said, "You all go out first. I need a quiet environment."

Arenia and Jinli gave Kalei an encouraging look before leaving the room.

Ulu wanted to stay, but Ugo dismissed him.

Once the three had left, Ugo said, "Speak, Shaman. How do you intend to treat me?"

Kalei picked up his staff and asked, "Chieftain Ugo, if I may ask, I sense a powerful life force lurking within you. Does this come from the legacy of the Wild Demigod Ursoc?"

Ugo's eyes widened in surprise. "It seems you have discovered it. Indeed, I have awakened a portion of my ancestor's power, but it is too potent for me to control. Years ago, a descendant of Ursol, a powerful Shaman, helped me seal this power."

Kalei nodded. "I see, that explains it. To be honest, Chieftain Ugo, with my current power, I cannot dispel the shadow energy within you."

"To treat the shadow energy, you must rely on your own capabilities."

"However, because your body has not received proper treatment for so long, your internal life force has been severely eroded by the shadow energy."

"Therefore, I have devised a method: to activate the dormant life force within you and use that power to purge the shadow energy."

"The result of this will have both pros and cons. The benefit is that your life force will be successfully activated, purging the shadow and granting you a stronger body. The downside is that you may be consumed by the violent life force and fall into madness."

Ugo was silent for a long time before asking, "What are your odds?"

Kalei said, "During the treatment, I can use natural energy to help you suppress that violent force. If the treatment goes well, I have a seventy percent chance of success."

"Seventy percent..." Images of the tribe's elderly and children flashed through Ugo's mind, followed by the expectant gaze of his son, Uerga. Finally, he gritted his teeth, made up his mind, and said, "Then let us begin, Shaman."

Kalei praised, "Very well, Chieftain Ugo. You have proven your courage."

Ugo grinned. "The Furbolg race has never lacked courage, Shaman. It is just that as a chieftain, I must consider more factors."

Kalei nodded. "I understand. I am starting now. During the treatment, lie still and do not offer any resistance."

Ugo said, "Begin, Shaman. No matter the difficulty, I will endure it."

Seeing his agreement, Kalei sat cross-legged and meditated for a moment to reach his peak state.

To be safe, he didn't start the treatment immediately. Instead, he took out a seed and cast Entangling Roots, wrapping Ugo's entire body.

Ugo was bound tightly, but sensing Kalei had no ill intent, he merely let out a muffled grunt and did not struggle.

With his preparations complete, Kalei raised his staff and cast Rejuvenation on Ugo twice in succession.

Ugo immediately felt his body lighten significantly, and the wound that had been tormenting him was finally improving, though the shadow energy within him remained stubbornly entangled.

Kalei had anticipated this; he lowered his Crescent Staff and focused his spirit on two emerald-green glows, guiding them deeper into Ugo's body through his mental control.

As the two spheres of life force entered, the legacy power of Ursoc, which had been sealed within Ugo, stirred like a giant beast waking from slumber and began to ravenously devour the energy.

As the two spheres of life force gradually vanished, the legacy power within Ugo instantly shattered the seal and erupted throughout his body.

Under the influence of this legacy power, Ugo's body underwent a drastic transformation; his flesh, blood, and bones began to grow and regenerate at a visible rate, his withered fur regained its luster, the skin over his wounds healed rapidly, and even the wrinkles on his face faded significantly.

However, as his body recovered, a violent aura began to stir within him. Affected by this presence, Ugo's entire body emitted a faint red glow.

Ugo, who had been as limp as a dead dog moments ago, found his body fully restored and surging with explosive power. He felt an urgent need to vent this energy, completely forgetting Kalei's instructions.

He let out a wild roar, attempting to sit up, but fortunately, the Entangling Roots Kalei had cast upon him were still active, stopping his movement immediately.

Yet, in the face of such a powerful Furbolg, the Entangling Roots could hardly hold him for long.

Seeing that Ugo was about to go berserk again, Kalei hurriedly shouted, "Ugo! As a descendant of Ursoc, defeating enemies is nothing to boast about; you must defeat yourself. Summon more courage—the courage to conquer your own nature! Think of your children, think of your kin!"

Upon hearing Kalei's words, Ugo quieted down significantly. However, as his size continued to swell and the red glow on his body intensified, he grew increasingly irritable.

He slowly stood up, and as he rose, the vines wrapped around him snapped like straw.

His towering frame brushed against the ceiling of the stone chamber, his eyes were blood-red, and white jets of air puffed from his nostrils. His powerful feet stomped against the ground periodically, creating a rhythmic thud-thud-thud.

Kalei felt that once this guy started moving, he was like a rhinoceros five times his size, creating a sensation that shook the very earth.

Arenia and the others outside heard the commotion and poked their heads in to investigate; seeing the dire situation, they hurriedly urged Kalei to leave.

But Kalei knew that if he left now, not only would his previous efforts be wasted, but he would also offend the Furbolg here, making matters even worse.

With no other choice, he took a desperate gamble, focusing his mind to commune with the surrounding natural energy in an attempt to strip away the violent life force from Ugo.

The night-pearls in the stone chamber, the moss growing in the crevices, and even the dust motes floating in the air became the objects of his communion.

Unexpectedly, this tactic had a miraculous effect; a Druid naturally possesses the ability to use gentle natural energy to soothe violent natural energy.

The life force within Ugo was not fundamentally different from natural energy, merely more refined and condensed; as long as there was enough natural energy, the violent life force could be calmed.

However, since the life force originated from within Ugo's own body, it could not simply dissipate. Kalei had no choice but to use the natural energy to draw out the violent life force and gather it upon his staff.

As the red light gradually coalesced on the Crescent Staff, Ugo's condition improved at a visible rate.

After a while, Kalei noticed Ugo's gaze beginning to clear, and only then did he stop the extraction.

Exhausted by the ordeal, Ugo collapsed like a boulder.

Ulu rushed forward to support Ugo, looking back at Kalei with anxiety, "Wizard, how is the Chieftain?"

Kalei was mentally drained from the continuous spellcasting, but for the sake of caution, he stepped forward to check on Ugo's condition.

After finishing his examination, Kalei offered a strained smile, "No problem. The Chieftain has merely fallen into a deep sleep. He is completely healed, perhaps even better than before. Let us not disturb him; he will wake up naturally after some rest."

Upon hearing this, Ulu let out a joyful howl. Fortunately, he wasn't reckless enough to give Kalei a bear hug, opting instead to offer endless thanks.