The Will of the World Tree
What's this, the clear condition popping up all of a sudden now?
Clear Condition: Kill the Dark Elves.
No matter how many times I checked, the Status Window floating before my eyes remained unchanged.
Kill the Dark Elves to escape this place?
What the hell did that even mean? Not only had the Status Window, which I'd always controlled at will, suddenly revealed itself without permission, but now it was forcing my hand by displaying the clear condition outright.
Just then, Nairak's voice shattered my thoughts.
"Dad, please snap out of it!"
Right—Barkan was collapsed behind me. Nairak was desperately trying to rouse him, and I could see it clearly. Despite those desperate cries, Barkan showed no sign of waking.
It's not just Nairak and Barkan.
The other elves were in no better shape. Looking around, I finally grasped the effect of the Elder's magic.
All the elder elves are down, one after another. They look like they've exhausted every last drop of their life force.
I already knew the Elder could manipulate the elves' life force. But I never imagined he'd absorb it from them this quickly.
My conclusions about the Elder's magic lasted only a moment. A sudden thought hit me, and without time to hesitate, I whipped my head around.
Where's Rune?
Please, let Rune be okay. Clinging to that impossible hope, I searched frantically for her among the elves.
Golden blonde hair that stood out even among them. Silleia knelt there, quietly shedding tears. And beside her lay someone peacefully.
That had to be Rune.
As I unwittingly took a step toward them, the Elder addressed me.
"Human child, surely you can understand my sacred will for the World Tree?"
"How the hell is this for the World Tree?!"
What nonsense. Even if saving the World Tree made the sacrifice of its follower elves inevitable, what meaning could there possibly be in such an act? Fury at the Elder's sophistry boiled over, and I shot back.
"Very well, so the World Tree you lot prattle on about is that pitiful, wretched tree over there."
"And you dare call it wretched with that mouth of yours."
"But surely the World Tree isn't just that one sapling."
"What did you say?"
All this time, the elves had bowed before the World Tree. They'd used its byproducts to craft gear and consumables. And none of it referred to that pathetic tree in the village center?
I wasn't the only one baffled by his words. Even the elves, dazed by the sudden turn of events, fixed their gazes on the Elder.
Why's he grinning like that? What's so damn satisfying about spilling the beans?
The Elder smirked unpleasantly at us, a stark contrast to his usual archaic speech and stern demeanor. Pointing at all the elves with a sinister smile, he spoke again.
"Have you truly forgotten that the World Tree's seed resides within vessels like you?"
"?!"
"I merely returned the life force bestowed by the World Tree to where it rightfully belongs."
The more I hear, the more it pisses me off.
As if he had any right to use other elves' life force however he pleased. Elder or not, that was obviously bullshit.
Then, Bellis, who'd been silent until now, shouted at him.
"You think the World Tree will forgive you for doing something like that?!"
"That grotesque form marks you as elves who have strayed from the World Tree's providence. I had intended to leave the task to humans, but that fool's stubborn defiance ruined all my plans."
Noticing Bellis, a Dark Elf, belatedly, the Elder glared sharply at me.
So the clear condition on my Status Window was his doing, after all.
His original goal must've been to instill fear of the outside in me, then use me to eliminate the Dark Elves. But I'd led the Dark Elves into the village instead, foiling his scheme.
I thought he'd blame me and stop there, but the Elder's words continued beyond my expectations.
"The World Tree's forgiveness? It seems you fools haven't grasped my words at all. I am the World Tree's ego. I am its will."
"What the hell does that mean?!"
"Exactly as I said. The mighty World Tree, seeking to surpass its limits, molded elves infused with its own ego."
His typical convoluted speech, twisting words like pretzels, made it hard to follow. Still, the info on the Elder swirling in my mind clicked perfectly into place with his words.
I get it now! Finally figured it out.
I'd guessed from the handwriting that all the previous Elders were the same person. That was half right, half wrong.
Unlike other elves, the Elder had inherited the World Tree's ego, along with its habits. That explained why his speech felt generations apart from the others—because he was as ancient as the World Tree itself.
Excitement at uncovering the truth aside, the situation was utterly hopeless. According to him, he was the World Tree's proxy. Fighting him meant fighting the World Tree.
And the magic that felled the elder elves was the World Tree's will.
Bellis, her lips trembling unlike before, hurled a question at him.
"Why the hell did you leave us alive?! You should've just taken everyone's life force!"
"I devoted my life to the World Tree's well-being. Yet even that devotion hit its limit. The World Tree's vital energy was depleted, showing no further improvement."
"So you're just giving up on the World Tree?"
"No, did I not say you are its seeds? My final calling is to send you out to plant new World Trees far and wide."
"No way..."
I knew something felt off.
In typical fantasy settings, the World Tree was some transcendent being revered by elves. Here, it was just a special tree that birthed them—nothing more.
My intuition upon first arriving in the village had been spot on. The World Tree was merely a tree that scattered seeds. Elves grown from those seeds walked on their own to spread the lineage far away—that was the goal.
As if answering my thoughts, the Elder raised his staff toward us and commanded.
"I poured the World Tree's last energies into crafting seeds superior to any before. Now is the time for you to carry on its lineage and depart."
"Ugh, my head!"
"Someone's whispering in my mind."
"If we don't get out..."
With his declaration, the remaining elves clutched their heads in agony. Were their own reason battling the Elder's whispers to leave?
Of all things, now he's brainwashing the other elves too.
The elders were already down. The young ones were losing their minds to his command to spread the seeds.
The only sane ones left were me and a handful of Dark Elves. Seeing the unharmed Dark Elves, the Elder clicked his tongue.
"Tsk tsk, those rotten seeds truly can't obey my command. Whatever shall I do with you?"
His words were followed by the Status Window reappearing in my vision.
Clear Condition: Kill the Dark Elves.
Is there really no other way now?
The Status Window blinked temptingly before me. In the end, what the Elder wanted was for me to deal with the Dark Elves.
Follow its demand, and clearing 2F would be instant.
What’s Bellis doing?
Her shoulders slumped in clear defeat. She clasped someone's hand, praying silently. That guy must be her dad—the one who'd eyed us warily when we first arrived at the Dark Elf hideout.
Nairak? Same story.
He too knelt silently by Barkan, head bowed.
Is there truly no hope left for us?
The Elder, quietly observing me, spoke up.
"Human child, though your interference vexes me greatly, did I not also summon you to my will? Shall we call it even and part ways amicably here?"
Once more, the 2F clear condition lit up in my vision. My grip tightened on my staff—
"Mom, please wake up! I'm sorry for not listening all this time. I won't run away anymore."
"..."
"World Tree, no—not the World Tree, anyone, please help us!"
A familiar voice pierced the silence from afar. Hearing it, my heart plummeted.
The voice that chattered nonstop beside me all day. The one I'd wished would quiet down amid the chaos.
Why does it shake my heart more than ever right now?
Even the hopelessly immature Silleia wept by Rune, tenderly stroking her face with her small hands. Regret for the past and poignant sorrow filled her eyes.
Silleia isn't immune to the Elder's command either.
Everyone writhed in pain from his order to spread the seeds. The other elves either screamed on the ground or staggered mindlessly toward the exit.
An inexplicable frustration choked me at the sight. Unthinkingly, I shouted into the void.
"This changes nothing!"
If I escape 2F like this, I won't be able to face myself!
Silleia endured the pain to show her love for Rune. And here I was, ready to run just because there's an exit.
I'd sworn to change after entering the tower. To forget the old me and start anew.
But look at me now—empty words. Not even three days' resolve; worse than someone who gives up New Year's resolutions on day one.
I can't live a life of avoidance and regrets forever. At the very least, show some change now—for Silleia, for everyone, for myself.
I raised my tightly gripped staff toward the Elder.
"There is no paradise in the place you fled to!"
"Ho, so you've chosen that path after all."
And then.
Dawn of Ashes
Flames several times more powerful than any I'd cast before engulfed the Elder.
The reason? Only one. My resolve to shed my past self and be reborn burned clearer than ever.
Bellis, Nairak, Silleia—all froze, halting what they were doing. They simply stared, dumbfounded, at my inferno.
"No way it ends like this...?"
As my flames slowly died down, nothing remained in their wake—not even ashes. Not a single trace of the Elder.
The Elder, who'd absorbed all the elder elves' life force, and that's all he's got?
I couldn't relax yet. Surely this wasn't the end for him.
Looking around, the Elder's influence lingered. All elder elves down, young ones writhing in pain.
As I'd feared, the Elder reappeared leisurely at the village center.
"Pleased to meet you. Strictly speaking, this is our first encounter. I am the thirtieth Elder, after all."
"..."
"I put such effort into my jest, yet you don't laugh—how disappointing. Fire mages and elves don't mix well, it seems."
"How the hell are you reviving?!"
"The World Tree has birthed me anew, of course. It now brims with vitality like never before."
Glancing at the village center, a massive tree stood where none had been before. That must be the World Tree, restored with the elves' life force.
Hill-sized and towering, it sapped my fighting spirit. No matter how many Elders I felled, it could just birth more.
The Elder knew that, taking my magic calmly.
"Even rotten seeds can birth a new Elder, but at great cost to its life force. Return peacefully to nature's embrace."
No hope left at all.
No way to beat that endless vitality. Still, I'd fight to the end. Swearing to change, only to quit in less than a day? Even the grim reaper would laugh.
"Until my last breath, I'll keep standing in your way!"
"Admirable resolve. Challenging the impossible—something this old one favors. We've overcome the World Tree's trials countless times together."
"You knew that and still... the elves..."
"That too is part of overcoming its trials."
The fully serious Elder was no joke. Fire affinity gave me an edge over elven magic, but his millennia of experience and my frail body held me back.
"Flames burn what they must and fade naturally. In my 22nd incarnation, a mana-infused wildfire raged."
"I didn't ask!"
"We felled surrounding trees to contain it—a strategy of sacrificing flesh to preserve bone."
Meaning he'd blocked my fire magic. My flames sputtered out harmlessly on the sand.
"Well met. Even I grow hazy on which incarnation this is. Thirty-seventh, perhaps?"
I'd toppled him multiple times, yet he revived instantly. My mental strength was at its limit now. Mana refused to obey.
"Human child, what is your name? In all our trials, none threatened like you. Before the World Tree and I crumble, let me take your name with me."
"..."
This really is the end. Did Sol clear 2F safely? What will she think of me not returning? If my last words could reach her...
I acted without regrets.
As I resigned to death and lowered my staff, a brilliant flash flooded my vision from afar. My own flames had long extinguished. I instinctively scanned for the source.
"Seha, I finally understand what you meant."
"That voice—Silleia...?"
My eyes were blinded white; I couldn't even make out her face. Ignoring that, she spoke to me.
"Firm your image and borrow mana's power to manifest it in reality—that belief you taught me, I remember every word."
"That was just a quick lesson on magic basics?"
"Yeah. Wanting to save Mom—that was enough for me."
As we talked, my vision cleared. Silleia drew in surrounding mana with all her might. Elves around her magic began regaining their senses.
"This can't be—my life force is being stolen! My life force, my dream!"
"It's not being stolen. It's just returning where it belongs."
Taking it himself, then calling it theft. The Elder was consistent, at least.
I naturally averted my eyes from his ugliness and looked aside.
"Silleia? Is that really my daughter?"
"Mom, I'm so glad you're okay!"
Rune had awakened, staring at Silleia in confusion. Seeing that, my lips curved up naturally.
Never thought I'd live to see Silleia save Rune.
Yesterday's me would've scoffed. But today's me could accept it.
I feel reborn today too.
I'd learned to repay those who believed in me, not abandon them. I'd faced a crisis head-on without turning away.
"Silleia, we've all taken a step forward. Leave the Elder to me."
"Gaaah! Return my life force at once! H-how dare you defy me!"
The Elder's bloodshot eyes bulged furiously. Hard to believe this was the same poised Elder.
Yeah, the tables have turned.
Before, I'd fought his infinite life force. Now, he was on a timer.
Mimicking his sinister smirk, I slowly opened my mouth.
"Hey, time for round two."