The Oracle's Protagonist... Was That!
Lillia's steps quickened.
It was definitely a powerful divine power.
An overwhelming surge of potent divine energy had gathered there. With strength like that...
It can't be an ordinary being.
She hurried along until she reached a certain spot and stopped dead.
"It's here."
Ashelia frowned at Lillia's words.
"...Here?"
And well she might. There was nothing here at all. Just a forest thick with trees.
Ashelia's expression hardened, but Lillia simply stared silently into the empty air, offering no reply.
It's definitely... here.
She could sense the divine power precisely from this spot in the void. Lillia slowly raised her hand toward it.
Hummm—!
A brief resonant hum echoed out.
"What was that just now...?"
As Ashelia recoiled in surprise, certainty flashed through Lillia's mind.
This space was hidden—layered with multiple barriers to conceal a secret realm.
Lillia examined it carefully. Gradually, the invisible barrier in the air revealed itself.
The knights and mages behind her gaped in astonishment. Ashelia was no different.
"That's... a barrier."
A highly complex one at that, responsive only to divine power.
Lillia closed her eyes and released her divine energy. White light bloomed from her fingertips, seeping slowly along the barrier's surface. Like tracing woven threads, she carefully unraveled the knots.
One layer. Two. Three.
Each time, the air vibrated faintly.
A little time passed. Sweat beaded on Lillia's cheek.
"It's done!"
As the barrier dissolved, a slender rift tore open in the air.
"I'll go first."
Ashelia stepped through, followed by Lillia and the expedition team.
Inside stretched a long cavern. Mana stones embedded in the walls and ceiling glowed softly in various hues. Their lights mingled, creating an ethereal spectrum, as if the illumination itself were alive, rippling with every step—like entering another world.
Ashelia murmured in awe.
"This place... it's an artificial space."
The knights gasped.
"You mean someone created a space like this on purpose?"
"Is that... even possible?"
One of the trailing mages swallowed hard.
"It's possible... if it's a dragon-level being."
Dragon.
Everyone froze at the word. There had been talk that the oracle's protagonist might be a dragon—the world's mightiest creature, pinnacle of mana.
Dragons were most vulnerable as eggs, so mother dragons hid them away meticulously. No one had ever found one. Could there really be a dragon egg here?
Ashelia said gravely,
"We can't be sure yet. Let's press on."
As they advanced slowly, something came into view ahead.
Lillia's eyes widened.
"That's...!"
A colossal temple-like structure loomed, crowned by something perched atop it.
A round, enormous egg.
One mage cried out,
"A d-dragon egg!"
Everyone's eyes bulged. A real dragon egg?
The mage exclaimed excitedly,
"The mana purity confirms it!"
Ashelia's eyes widened too. So that egg was... a dragon. The oracle's protagonist?
Lillia whispered the same thought.
"The oracle's protagonist... was a dragon."
Ashelia nodded. As she moved toward the egg—
Something before it caught her eye. She'd thought it was just a rock.
No.
A golem. A massive stone golem, so enormous it defied comprehension—far larger and thicker than the entire imperial palace. Just one dangling arm evoked crushing pressure.
Yet the core in its chest wasn't glowing. It hadn't awakened yet. Likely the egg's guardian.
A knight asked cautiously,
"Shall we charge?"
Ashelia couldn't answer. Mana poured from the golem like a flood, even in slumber—proof of its overwhelming power. They couldn't win with this group.
She thought quietly,
Confirming the oracle's protagonist is enough for now.
Next time, we'll bring the elite knights.
Smash the golem and claim the egg.
With that, she declared,
"We're heading back."
The expedition beat a swift retreat from the space.
Ashelia and her team were exiting Pirel Forest to return to the capital.
"Finally getting out."
"I'd heard of Pirel Forest's notoriety, but I never imagined it like this..."
The knights and mages spoke with weary faces, though hope of home sparkled in their eyes.
Then Ashelia, at the front, raised her hand.
Everyone halted.
"I hear something."
Mana surged nearby—sign of a battle. But it wasn't just mana.
This is... demonic energy?
Demonic energy, thick and distinct from ordinary. Ashelia glanced at Lillia, who nodded, sensing it too.
Something serious was afoot.
Ashelia ordered firmly,
"Approach quietly."
They muffled their presence and moved toward the noise.
A short distance away, battle raged as expected. Five figures hurled magic at a man hovering in the air.
Ashelia's eyes widened at the five.
Those are...!
Elves—the ones she'd sought so desperately.
But they looked vastly different. Their elegant beauty remained, but their bodies were gaunt, clothes ragged, skin and hair coarse. Clearly, they'd endured great hardship. And they could barely counter the man's onslaught. Their occasional spells were futile.
Ashelia eyed the airborne man. Silver hair, black eyes, upturned corners, red horns on both sides. No ordinary human.
He grinned and said,
"The elves' reputation seems a far cry from the old days, huh?"
His chuckling heh heh was like a cat toying with prey. The elves sensed it and raged.
"Shut up!"
"We won't let you get away with this!"
He smirked sourly.
"Hah... This is why I hate elves. You never accept your limits."
Demonic energy swirled in his hand.
Pure demonic energy. A being wielding such dense power...
A demon.
Ashelia's face hardened. The demon's eyes curved gently.
"Playtime's over. Let's end this quick. Just a little sting~?"
Black demonic energy swelled ominously.
Ashelia signaled her mages urgently. Just before the demon struck—
Whoosh—!
Fireballs hurtled in. The demon dodged back swiftly.
"Whoops... Mice in the shadows, eh?"
He giggled, spotting Ashelia's group.
Ashelia drew her sword and stepped forward.
"What? Want to try me too?"
Lillia, knights, and mages followed.
She aimed her blade at the demon.
"I'm confident I won't lose. You?"
The demon scanned them: swordmaster, saintess, imperial mages and knights.
His eyes widened theatrically.
"Aw~ You brought the whole pack. That's no fair~ Cheating!"
He flitted about, giggling heh heh.
"What to do? Hmm?"
Ashelia swallowed hard at his cackling. She'd bluffed boldly, but victory wasn't assured. She could win, but protecting everyone...
The demon, darting around, finally said,
"Mm. No helping it. Guess I'll bail today."
He glanced at the elves.
"Too bad~ Next time, then."
With a soft-eyed smile, he vanished.
Silence fell.
Then—
"Urk..."
One elf crumpled forward.
"Elder!"
"Are you alright, Elder?"
The others rushed to support him. The elder elf looked gravely wounded from the barrage.
"Lillia! Check his condition—!"
Ashelia began, but—
"No need!"
A nearby elf snapped sharply. Lillia halted.
The elves glared hostilely at Ashelia's group.
Lillia pleaded urgently,
"I understand your resentment toward humans, but right now, he needs treatment..."
The elder caught his breath laboriously.
"Hah... huff... No..."
His gaze fixed steadily on Ashelia.
"We've already crossed paths with your kind once."
Not a flicker of doubt.
"We're grateful for the save, but make that the end of it."
The elder turned and shuffled away. The others followed.
A knight scoffed at their retreating forms.
"We help, and all we get is attitude."
"Her Highness only acted out of goodwill."
Ashelia smiled bitterly.
"It's understandable. Considering the harm humans have done them."
Still, finding the elves was a major achievement.
She turned back the way they'd come.
"Let's move. Back to the capital."
Tat-tat-tat.
One elf raced desperately through the woods. Wavy golden hair cascaded wildly. Pointed ears. Violet eyes like violets. Young, yet hailed as the next elder candidate for her prodigious talent.
Delris.
She ran frantically.
Not here either!
She'd sensed spirit energy nearby. But the elder's life force was fading fast. He wouldn't last the day.
Should I have accepted help from those humans?
No. Snap out of it.
Can't trust humans.
Find a spirit instead. She dashed on.
If she could just find a spirit. No—meet one and locate the World Tree...!
Scanning as she ran—
"Whoa!"
Her foot caught, and she tumbled. Her legs were already bruised and bleeding.
But Delris staggered up.
No time...!
She read spirit energy better than any elf. She had to find one.
Please, any spirit at all...!
As she reached out with her senses—
"...An elf?"
A low, heavy voice froze her solid. She turned slowly.
A massive goblin loomed. No ordinary goblin. Piercing red eyes. Murderous aura. Hulking, armored frame—the strongest among goblins. Perhaps unmatched in all Pirel Forest.
Goblin King...
The elder's warning echoed.
"Delris. One being you must never encounter in Pirel Forest is the Goblin King. If you meet him, run without fail. Understood?"
Delris trembled. What now? Die here?
Cold sweat poured amid the killing intent. Her heart nearly stopped—
No!
Something burst forth. A young girl with fairy wings. Blue hair, clear and vibrant aura.
A spirit? For real?
As Delris stared blankly, they conversed.
Don't kill her!
"Wasn't planning to."
You were radiating killing intent!
"Just 'cause she's an outsider."
What if she collapses!
"Then that's that."
No, it isn't!
Delris was moved. A spirit protecting me! Maybe it'd reveal the World Tree's location?
"Um..."
As she spoke—
The spirit pointed at Delris and shouted.
She's precious—she'll help bloom my friend's flower!
Delris blinked in confusion.
"Me?"