The Queen's Embrace

"Big brother, you're back!" Starr exclaimed as she jumped into Karsha's embrace the moment he descended from the flying boat. They had spent just five days completing the entire task.

"Yes, I am back," Karsha replied, lifting the adorable little snake child. For some reason, he had grown more attached to the little snake child than he had anticipated. This newfound connection seemed to be a positive change for him; unknowingly, he was becoming more lively than he had been back on Earth in the Human Kingdom.

The snakes were becoming his family, although he was not yet aware of it. While he felt a bond with Lady Illo, the same couldn't be said for the rest of the purple-tailed anacondas; to them, he was simply a human who would one day become a behemoth feared by many.

"You look stronger and more handsome than you did five days ago. What happened to you?" Lady Illo asked, her gaze curious.

"I have no idea, Lady Illo. It just happened, and I have a feeling you'll ask the same question 18 days from now," Karsha replied casually, causing the snake lady to arch an eyebrow.

"Do you plan on going anywhere in the next 18 days?"

"Yes, I will need a quiet and isolated place to cultivate for the next 18 days to make final preparations," Karsha announced. Originally planning to face the Overlords in 30 days, acquiring the Subspace had altered his strategy.

With such a valuable treasure at his disposal, Karsha intended to maximize his training and master his techniques. Once he felt sufficiently confident, he would embark on his mission. Twenty days would be ample time for his preparations.

"So, you haven't given up on the idea of confronting the Overlords," Lady Illo remarked, sensing Karsha's determination. Despite this, her maternal instincts urged her to at least attempt to dissuade him from any rash decisions.

"How could I abandon my quest, Lady Illo? I've come too far to turn back now," Karsha replied with a smile. "Besides, I am the Annihilator. Facing opponents stronger than me shouldn't be an issue," he added confidently, prompting the gathered snakes to nod in agreement.

Truly, he was the Annihilator, and eliminating the Overlords seemed like the next logical step. Though he was still on the path to fully embodying that title, vanquishing the Overlords would mark a significant milestone.

"If you say so. But if you ever decide to abandon that quest, know that none of us will think any less of you," Lady Illo said earnestly, and Karsha nodded in understanding. If not for his promise to June, he might have seriously reconsidered the entire endeavor.

"Ayarr, take him to the place. I have a feeling he will appreciate it there." After a few more exchanges and tousling the hair of the young snake child, Karsha and Ayarr headed towards the cultivation site where Karsha would spend the next 18 days.

"Dhaka, tell me, do you think he can defeat the Overlords?" Once Karsha and Ayarr were out of sight, Lady Illo turned to Dhaka, the leader of the Five Shadow Guards.

"I believe he will handle the Overlords with ease, My Lady," Dhaka replied with a sly smile, recalling how Karsha had fearlessly acted as bait to ensure their escape. Observing Karsha's rapid growth, Dhaka, who had lived for many years, was confident in Karsha's abilities to dispatch the Overlords without much difficulty.

"You seem quite certain," Lady Illo remarked, intrigued.

"I am, Milady," Dhaka affirmed confidently. Lady Illo smiled and then walked away. Karsha remained a mystery she had yet to unravel. She knew understanding him would take time, but for now, she would observe his progress. Soon enough, she would discover who exactly this young man was.

After a twenty-minute walk, Karsha and Ayarr arrived at their destination. It was not what Karsha had expected. Instead of a cave-like abode similar to where he had spent time by the small river, he found himself surrounded by something entirely different.

Despite the presence of a waterfall, the place was lush with greenery. The air was remarkably pure, calming Karsha's soul as he breathed deeply.

Towering trees formed a canopy that filtered the sunlight into shimmering rays, casting a serene glow. Strangely, the Mana here felt denser than in other parts of the island.

"What is this place?" Karsha asked in awe.

"We call it the Queen's Embrace. This place has been here since before the Purple Tail Anaconda appeared on the island," Ayarr explained.

"This is just the outer area of the Queen's Embrace. The place we're heading to is behind the waterfall," Ayarr added, a smile playing on his lips. The astonishment on Karsha's face spoke volumes."Another area?" Karsha asked with curiosity.

"Just wait until you see what's behind the water," Ayarr replied cryptically, guiding Karsha deeper into the waterfall. As they ventured further, Karsha's interest grew more intense.

With each step, the air thickened with Mana and gained a noticeable purity.

"This place is truly magnificent," Karsha exclaimed, unable to contain his wonder any longer.

Ayarr smiled serenely as they continued deeper into the waterfall. Despite the cascading water around them, they moved effortlessly as if unaffected by the flow.

"We've arrived," Ayarr announced after another ten minutes of walking. Emerging on the other side of the waterfall, Karsha and Ayarr were greeted by a scene of such breathtaking beauty that Karsha could only stare in awe, completely captivated.

The trees, though not towering, formed a dense canopy that enveloped the entire area, creating a tranquil atmosphere. Their branches and leaves intermingled, casting soothing shadows over the ground.

The Mana here was exceptionally dense, even more so than in Karsha's Subspace. He also felt an inexplicable pull towards something deep within the place.

"What's in that direction?" Karsha asked, pointing southwest.

"We call it the White Tablet. We don't know much about it; the closest anyone has approached is 500 meters. No one has been able to surpass that mark," Ayarr replied, adding to Karsha's intrigue.

Karsha was eager to explore further, but before he could inquire, Ayarr spoke again, "You'll be cultivating in that area since it offers greater benefits than this place."

Karsha grinned knowingly and followed Ayarr. As they moved 700 meters closer to the White Tablet, Karsha felt his mind opening up. Strangely, more memories and knowledge from the legacy of the Divine Alchemist began flooding into his consciousness.

'This sensation is incredible. But why do I feel so familiar with this place? In fact, why does this entire island feel familiar?' Karsha pondered silently.

Since arriving on the island, Karsha had been experiencing a peculiar sensation. Somehow, he felt an inexplicable familiarity with the island, a connection akin to someone who had lived there their entire life.

Instinctively, he recognized this sense of familiarity, yet despite his efforts, he couldn't recall the reason behind it. It was as if something was blocking his memories.

'Well, time will reveal all,' he sighed inwardly. "For now, I need to get closer to that tablet. Perhaps I'll find some answers to these inexplicable attractions."

"We can only go this far," Ayarr announced when they reached the 500-meter mark. Her steps halted abruptly as if an invisible barrier prevented her from advancing any further.

Meanwhile, Karsha felt a compelling tug emanating from the tablet 500 meters away. Instead of resisting, it drew him closer irresistibly. He attempted to resist but found the pull too strong to resist.

"How are you moving?" Ayarr asked incredulously as she watched Karsha proceed beyond the 500-meter limit.

"I'm not sure how, but I don't feel any resistance," Karsha replied, bewildered. Before he could receive a response, he was pulled further away, leaving Ayarr behind.

After soaring through the air for a few moments, Karsha found himself standing before a monumental stone tablet standing 30 meters tall, adorned with intricate runic symbols.

The stone's surface was smooth yet its edges were jagged. Atop the tablet, a phrase written in blood-red ink caught his eye: "The Arcane Time Tablet."

<Ding! You have discovered a Time Tablet.>

The system message flashed before Karsha's eyes as he gazed upon the 30-meter-tall tablet emanating a strange aura and temporal fluctuations. Recognizing its significance from its name alone, Karsha was about to inquire further with the system when another message appeared, bringing a satisfied smile to his lips.

<Ding! 12 You are under the influence of a Time Tablet. The time flow here has been slowed by 1.5X. A day spent equals hours outside.>

<Ding! You are under the influence of a divine item. Your comprehension speed has been increased by 3X. can now comprehend any skill or technique at three times your normal speed.>

Karsha absorbed the messages with growing excitement. The implications of the Time Tablet's effects were profound, promising accelerated learning and extended time for cultivation. He felt a surge of determination to make the most of this newfound advantage in his quest to master his skills and prepare for the challenges ahead.

Karsha smiled cheerfully, settling into a relaxed position right in front of the Time Tablet. With deliberate care, he retrieved one of the five items they had discovered across the island with the Shadow Guards. Instantly, the temperature around him plummeted.

"Thirty-two days, huh? That translates to 768 days inside the subspace," he muttered to himself, then burst into laughter. "This is perfect! Whoever left this here, you're the best!" he exclaimed, before taking a bite of the Ice Queen Fruit.