"Unbelievable…"
Greater Lord Rukkhadevata looked at her hands in disbelief. Her previously ethereal and ghostly body had now become incredibly solid, filled with the warmth of life.
The forbidden knowledge pollution that had entangled her for hundreds of years, constantly corroding her will and existence like a persistent disease, had actually… vanished without a trace! Not even a hint remained!
This feeling was like having a heavy mountain, which had pressed on her heart for centuries, lifted; her entire soul became light and clear.
"Clearing the pollution isn't enough."
Jesse stepped forward, pulling out a runic stone carved with a horse pattern, emitting a gentle healing glow, from some interdimensional pocket—the Horse Talisman.
(From "Jackie Chan Adventures," it has the ability to remove all negative effects and restore one to a perfect state.)
He aimed the talisman at the still somewhat bewildered Greater Lord Rukkhadevata and activated its power.
"Buzz—"
The Horse Talisman immediately responded, emitting a gentler yet more vibrant emerald green light than before, enveloping Greater Lord Rukkhadevata completely like warm spring water.
Bathed in this life energy, Greater Lord Rukkhadevata's body, which had been identical to Nahida's, like that of a young child, began to grow at a visible rate!
Her figure became slender, her limbs stretched out, and her long white hair fell like a waterfall to her waist. Her previously slightly oversized clothes were now filled out by her ample figure, becoming more fitting. Her entire being exuded a mature, wise, and benevolent maternal glow—
This was the form that the fully realized Greater Lord Rukkhadevata, who once ruled Sumeru, should have!
The light slowly faded.
Greater Lord Rukkhadevata dazedly raised her hand, looking at her now slender and strong fingers, feeling the surging vitality and complete divine power within her body.
She even found it hard to believe, subconsciously pinching the skin on the back of her hand.
A clear, slight pain came through.
This was not a dream! Nor was it an illusory consciousness!
This was a real body of flesh and blood! She… she was… truly resurrected?!
"Welcome back, Greater Lord Rukkhadevata."
Nahida stepped forward, looking up at this "sister" (or mother) who was of the same origin yet completely different from herself. Her face was radiant with a heartfelt, brilliant smile as she extended her small hand to her.
"We… have all been waiting for you."
Nahida's voice was soft, yet full of power.
Greater Lord Rukkhadevata looked at Nahida's sincere smile, then at the group of strange yet miracle-creating "reinforcements" behind her. Her heart was filled with a myriad of emotions, which finally transformed into a relieved and gentle smile. She reached out and gently held Nahida's small hand.
"Mm!"
She nodded vigorously, tears sparkling in her eyes.
"I'm back."
At the exact moment the forbidden knowledge was thoroughly purged, its effects swiftly reverberated throughout the real world of Sumeru.
In Sumeru City, at Dunyarzad's home.
Dunyarzad, who was reading a book, suddenly felt a slight itch on the back of her hand.
She looked down to see that the gray-black, scale-like Eleazar marks, which had accompanied her for many years and were considered a symbol of an incurable disease, were now emitting a faint white light, then, like ice and snow illuminated by the sun, they gradually faded and disappeared!
In just a few breaths, the back of her hand became smooth and new, with no trace of illness remaining!
"This… this is…"
Dunyarzad incredulously stroked her completely normal hand, the immense shock and joy leaving her speechless for a moment.
After a long while, she finally trembled and murmured, "The Eleazar… it's gone? It's really… gone…"
In Gandharva Ville, at the Forest Watchers Outpost.
Tighnari was carefully changing Collei's arm bandage.
When the old bandage was removed, both of them froze.
The once hideous Eleazar marks on Collei's arm were now enveloped in a warm white light, then visibly receded and smoothed out, revealing healthy, tender skin underneath!
"Mr. Tighnari… I am…"
Collei's voice trembled with disbelief, and tears instantly welled up in her eyes.
Tighnari tightly grasped Collei's fully recovered hand. He, usually so calm, could not hide his excitement, his large ears twitching slightly with joy: "Collei… you're cured! Your Eleazar is completely gone!"
"Mr. Tighnari! Collei!"
Just then, a group of excited Forest Watcherss ran over, the leader even forgetting etiquette and shouting loudly, "The Withering! It's gone!"
"We just confirmed it! All known withering zones, whether in the rainforest or on the edge of the desert, have just dissipated on their own! The pollution and decay in those areas have disappeared, and vitality is rapidly recovering!"
This news, like a final surprise, heavily struck everyone's hearts.
Tighnari took a deep breath, trying to calm his surging emotions.
He looked up, his gaze piercing through the layers of leaves in the rainforest, towards Sumeru City.
He absolutely did not believe that the Eleazar and the Withering, which had plagued Sumeru for hundreds of years, would disappear simultaneously without reason.
Only divine power could achieve this.
He lowered his head, placed his right hand over his chest, and in a tone of unprecedented reverence, whispered:
"Thank you… Lesser Lord Kusanali, and… Supreme Being."
He knew that it must have been those two beings who created today's miracle.
Not only did they heal Collei, but they also removed a huge cancerous growth that had persisted for five hundred years for all of Sumeru.
Warm sunlight filtered through the gaps in the leaves, illuminating Collei's joyful tears and the smiles on the faces of all the Forest Watcherss, along with the light of rebirth.
Sumeru had truly embraced a new beginning.