After Scáthach's explanation, Asher roughly understood what she meant.
When the human body absorbs dragon essence blood, if one pushes oneself to the limit during battle, it is easy to trigger a "combat power overload." At that time, combat power will increase significantly, but similarly, one will also lose reason.
Therefore, Scáthach brought him the blessing of the sun god. Even if he accidentally entered combat power overload in the future, there would be a way to return to normal. However, to receive this blessing, he also needed to accept a corresponding restriction, or rather, a curse.
Asher spent a whole day thinking about what kind of restriction he should ask Scáthach to place on him. Even his sparring with Artoria seemed absent-minded, so much so that he was hit several times by the wooden sword in her hand, resulting in bruises.
It wasn't until the next evening that Asher came to the main hall.
"Have you thought about it?" Scáthach sat on the throne and asked calmly.
Asher nodded. "I hope to stay in the Land of Shadows forever. Please, Shishou, place a restriction on me so that I can never betray the Land of Shadows."
"Why?" Scáthach looked at the boy below. "The Land of Shadows has natural defenses and various giant birds. If you graduate in the future, many tribes will be willing to accept you."
Scáthach had taught too many disciples. Most of them were elites from various tribes or countries. It was normal for them to leave after completing their training, and she had no objections to this.
But Asher actually said he wanted to stay...
"But there's no Shishou outside, and no Big Sister," Asher said.
"And I am a citizen of the Land of Shadows, I am now, and I will always be in the future. If it's this kind of restriction, it won't have any impact on me at all."
Scáthach hesitated.
This restriction seemed simple, but in reality, it bound Asher to the Land of Shadows. The geis involved too many things, and some kind of mystery would make this restriction impossible to undo forever. Once the restriction was set, even she couldn't undo it.
Knowing this would be the case, Asher actually made this request, which surprised Scáthach greatly.
"With you here, the Land of Shadows won't decline," Asher said, shaking his head. "Moreover, I never originally planned to leave the Land of Shadows. Setting a restriction will only make me guard the Land of Shadows with all my strength in the future. Going out can still be done, so there's no impact."
In other words, as long as Asher didn't betray Scáthach, the restriction wouldn't take effect.
As the price for receiving the blessing of the sun god, this level of restriction was nothing.
"Is this what you think?"
Scáthach slowly closed her eyes.
After a moment, she opened her eyes again, her red pupils staring at Asher.
For a split second, Asher subconsciously wanted to look away.
Just looking at those eyes gave him a strange sense of inferiority, wanting to escape his Shishou's gaze, but in the end, he endured it.
This was also thanks to Morgan le Fay. One of the things that high and mighty goddess liked to do most was to tease Asher, often saying things like, "Look at me, don't look away." Over time, Asher had gradually become immune.
Therefore, Asher was able to silently stare back at Scáthach.
"You win," Scáthach said after a moment of silence. "Come to my room."
Asher was stunned. The firmness he had just shown wavered slightly at this moment. Then, he nodded lightly and followed Scáthach out of the main hall, walking along the corridor into a certain room.
"Sit on the bedside," Scáthach's voice rang out.
Asher was slightly taken aback before obediently sitting on the bedside. Then he saw Scáthach take out a slender staff... no, rather than a staff, it looked more like a baton from an ancient court.
If he remembered correctly, this should be the staff held by Skadi.
As expected, Shishou has quite a connection with that person...?
Asher looked at the staff in Scáthach's hand, a thoughtful look in his eyes.
It was really a bit strange. Why would Scáthach have Skadi's weapon?
Asher really wanted to ask about his doubts, but he held back.
Scáthach walked up to Asher, raised the staff in her hand, and finally chanted some strange incantation.
Asher suddenly thought of something and subconsciously moved back.
"What's wrong?" Scáthach stopped chanting and looked at Asher strangely.
"Nothing... nothing..." Asher shook his head, but his expression was a bit unnatural.
He almost forgot that four years ago, Morgan le Fay had placed a restriction on him. Now his Shishou was going to place a second restriction on him... he wondered if she would notice anything.
Had Shishou known all along?
When Asher thought of this possibility and looked up at Scáthach again, she had already raised the staff.
As the chanting sound from her mouth rang out, it seemed as if some kind of runes were surrounding Scáthach.
Whoosh!
Several light rings floated up from around her, shining with golden light. This was the blessing of the sun god, and also a curse. When Morgan le Fay had placed a restriction before, black ink-like light rings had surrounded him. From this, it could be seen that the light effects were completely different when different gods placed restrictions.
The light rings fell around Asher's body, slowly encircling him. Three light rings, each containing special runes. The complex characters became brighter and brighter as Scáthach chanted.
Finally, those light rings completely entered Asher's body.
The blessing of the sun god was now complete.
Asher raised his hand and moved it slightly. Although it didn't look like anything had changed, in reality, it was already a world of difference.
In previous battles, he always had to limit his power to prevent combat power overload, but after the blessing of the sun god, such restrictions were completely unnecessary.
"How do you feel?" Scáthach asked.
"I feel like I can take on ten guys now!" Asher stretched his muscles and bones, feeling a sense of rejuvenation. He was increasingly grateful that he had appeared in the Land of Shadows back then. If it hadn't been for Scáthach, he would probably still be sickly.
"Take on ten guys, huh...?" A hint of a smile appeared in Scáthach's eyes. "It seems you're very eager now. How about going back to the training grounds for some more practice?"
Asher quickly shook his head. "It's already very late. Let's do it tomorrow!"
What a joke! Even if his physical problems were cured now, he definitely wasn't Shishou's opponent! If it were that easy to defeat Scáthach, she wouldn't feel lonely at the top.
"Then go back and rest," Scáthach said.
Asher nodded and looked at Scáthach again.
He suddenly thought of Aife, whom he had seen that day. Had Scáthach not noticed her sister's visit yet...? Or had she known all along?
Also, he had another restriction on him. Had Scáthach discovered it?
"What's wrong? Don't tell me you still want to stay here and rest tonight?" Seeing Asher still sitting on the bedside, Scáthach glanced at him.
"It's not like I can't," Asher said subconsciously.
Then, the two stared at each other for a moment, and Asher stood up. "Sorry, never mind what I said..."
Scáthach said calmly, "You've grown up. You should learn to be independent and not always want to sleep with others like you did when you were little."
Scáthach had taken in Asher when he was exactly ten years old. At that time, he went from being very afraid of her at first to clinging to her every day later. Occasionally, he would run to her room because he was afraid to sleep alone.
But now it was different. He had grown up and should learn to be independent.
Asher nodded silently and then left the room.
Watching Asher leave, a faint smile appeared on Scáthach's lips. It wasn't until his figure completely disappeared that a thoughtful expression appeared on her face.
That woman... what exactly does she want to do?
Giving her disciple the blessing of the goddess of death, and slowly transferring that thing to him... although it is a vile thing, if it can be used for one's own purposes, it is also a righteous path.
Helping her disciple so wholeheartedly... what does she want to gain?
But from the current perspective, it is still more beneficial than harmful for her disciple. In any case, he will not leave the Land of Shadows, let alone be abducted by that woman—
Scáthach paused slightly.
Such a flirtatious old woman, who knows how long she has lived. Her disciple is inexperienced in the world, perhaps there is a possibility of being seduced...
She should talk to him a bit more tomorrow and give him some safety awareness measures.
--------Every 300 power stones = 1 Bonus Chapter