The Corrupted High Elf and the Bow of Light

Before the eyes of Kim Jehyun, the mage of Oma, information about the high elf Soruk appeared.

'S-rank.' As expected, a high elf. A powerhouse who had crossed the second wall.

But something else caught his eye first—the garbled text. That could only mean one thing.

'Infected by the purple energy.'

It was astonishing. To infect even an S-rank high elf.

Even among S-ranks, a high elf was different from a dark spirit. High elves possessed attributes like divinity and purification, after all.

—It seems she's suppressing the purple energy as much as possible.

As Alkasha said. Soruk was indeed holding back the encroaching purple energy from the sphere. But she was clearly reaching her limit.

'What happens if she's fully consumed like this?'

—She'll probably end up like the forest spirits.

Jehyun's face hardened at those words. If the high elf before him succumbed and rampaged under the purple energy's control, even his own safety wouldn't be guaranteed. S-rank was a realm of such lofty power.

—However, with the racial imprint on the elves' souls, I'm not sure if she'll turn hostile toward you. The soul's racial imprint takes precedence over all else.

Indeed, he wondered if that racial imprint would hold when this high elf was overtaken by the purple energy.

'Too risky to test it.'

Jehyun pondered how to handle Soruk right now. He still needed to figure out how to deal with the dark spirit, and if Soruk turned against ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠him too, it was game over.

Perhaps sensing his intent, Soruk's complexion grew even paler.

"Great One... to show you... this sight... Hoo. I apologize..."

Soruk's labored breathing and pitiful appearance tugged at the heart. Fundamentally, she was a woman of otherworldly beauty. Seeing such a being in this wretched state naturally evoked sympathy.

'That's the normal reaction... but I'm viewing this more objectively than I thought.'

Human emotions stirred pity, yet his draconic rationality sought the most logical path in this situation.

—Regrettable, but the rational choice is to eliminate her before she's fully consumed.

Jehyun agreed with Alkasha. Letting emotions sway him could endanger his own life. But he had a little time to explore alternatives.

'Alkasha. Can Absorption still not work?'

—No. Absorption doesn't manifest at all in this forest.

The Absorption authority Alkasha had gained devoured purple energy. After returning here, he'd tested absorbing it from the spirits, but it failed. Absorption only worked on the dead to begin with. Even after slaying spirits, it hadn't worked. Normally, he'd consume the lingering purple energy from corpses, but here, it seeped into the ground and vanished upon their dissipation.

'So Absorption is out... Hmm. No other options, then.'

With no clear solution, Jehyun's expression darkened. Truth be told, killing this high elf with his own hands didn't sit well.

'Let's at least hear her story first.'

Jehyun asked Soruk about the circumstances and how she'd become infected.

The events matched what Seranti had told him.

"...That's when Seranti and I... Hoo. Were residing here... That's when the dark energy began gathering in the forest's center... Hoo. Along with the purple energy..."

Soruk explained how it happened. The central dark spirit was the cause. Its initial power was immense—even top-tier among advanced spirits. If it fully descended, this already chaotic place due to the purple energy would be beyond saving.

So Soruk stepped up. Using her divine artifact, Yggdrasil's Bow, she prevented its full manifestation.

However, in the process, both the dark spirit and Soruk were consumed by the pervasive purple energy in the forest.

'That's why it was just sitting in the center... It was still being assimilated.'

—From what she says, that seems likely.

'Then isn't now the chance to take it down?'

—It's not that simple. As you felt, your current power can't one-shot it. A reckless attack could cause it to rampage, and we couldn't handle that.

Jehyun nodded. It made sense.

'This is a headache.'

If Soruk were normal, she could've helped eliminate the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠dark spirit.

'Maybe I should abandon fully clearing this place.'

Worst case, that was an option. No need to risk it for the dark spirit. Dealing with the remaining polluted spirits and saving at least Seranti would be more efficient.

As if reading his thoughts, a system window suddenly appeared before Jehyun.

'...!'

Jehyun blinked at the sudden quest. He hadn't expected one here.

His eyes widened again at the rewards. A whopping 150,000 points. The treasure chest was a given. But that wasn't the main prize.

'World Tree Bow?'

The World Tree, root of the elves, also called Yggdrasil—an ancient tree so sacred even dragons acknowledged it.

Jehyun inferred the World Tree Bow was crafted from its branches. He already owned a World Tree-related item: World Tree Bracelet (Fire). He knew better than anyone how potent items infused with the World Tree's power were.

'No choice now.'

He could've refused a burdensome quest. But with these rewards, passing it up was impossible. Plus, the system kindly provided a hint: use Soruk's help.

Jehyun gazed at Soruk. Despite her deathly pallor, she held the key to this ordeal.

"Soruk."

At his call, Soruk replied in a strained voice.

"Yes, Great One..."

"I'm thinking of taking on that Dark Spirit. Anything that could help?"

"...!"

Soruk's eyes widened at his words. Though a great dragon, Jehyun was only hatchling-level. Defeating the Dark Spirit wouldn't be easy for him either. Yet here he was, volunteering.

This young dragon was utterly different from the one she'd served.

"Th-then... this... should help."

With profound respect, Soruk extended her left hand. The thin bracelet on it dissolved into light, forming a bow.

Fwaaah!

Dazzling light burst forth, and in her hand gleamed a meter-long bow radiating white light.

"This is... the divine artifact our tribe guarded: World Tree Bow (Light)."

One of the elves' treasures. The Divine Artifact: World Tree Bow revealed itself before Jehyun.

* * *

Chandelier lights cast a soft glow over the room. Back in his world via portal, Jehyun lounged on the sofa, examining the white bow in his hand.

"She handed it over so readily."

Soruk had insisted it would help, giving him the World Tree Bow (Light).

'Light attribute is indeed the perfect counter to darkness.'

No matter how advanced an S-rank Dark Spirit, a direct hit from the World Tree Bow (Light) would be fatal.

"The problem is, it requires light spirit power to activate..."

Jehyun couldn't use it yet. Drawing the string yielded only a system message.

It was no different from a regular bow.

—In the end, you need to handle light spirits first, as she said.

"That's the issue."

He needed light spirit power within 10 days, but where to get it?

Jehyun rummaged through his memories. Leveraging his regressed knowledge from 16 years ago might yield a breakthrough.

As he delved deeper, one memory surfaced.

'...!'

Jehyun bolted upright.

"Right, that exists."

He hurriedly searched recent news on his smartphone and grinned. It felt like spotting a lantern in thick fog.

"Time to contact the Tower Master."

* * *

"I was just about to reach out. Didn't expect you first."

Tower Master Choi Hanseom wiped nahn leaves with a cloth and continued.

"So... you want to join the Haejeongsan incident resolution?"

"Yes, exactly."

Choi Hanseom smiled warmly, set down the cloth, and sat across from Jehyun.

"Our minds align so well."

"...Pardon?"

Jehyun tilted his head at the abrupt remark.

"Remember the proposal I mentioned?"

"Yes, you wanted me to handle a mission on behalf of the Tower."

"Right. I was going to ask you for this very case."

"Ah...!"

Jehyun stared in surprise.

"Now you see why I said our minds align. Heh heh."

"Indeed, great minds think alike."

Jehyun replied wondrously, mirroring Choi Hanseom's pleased smile. He hadn't expected the Tower Master to request his help for this.

—Hah, your luck is beyond even a dragon's.

Alkasha sounded incredulous. Jehyun had braced for refusal. The incident had blown up in the news.

Dungeon break at Haejeongsan. Oma, a pig-faced bipedal monster stronger than orcs—a C-rank—had escaped.

Civilians panicked. Though only one rank above D, C-rank crossed the first wall, an invisible gulf. Low-rankers couldn't handle it. A single C-rank could massacre civilians.

As it happened in Tower territory, the atmosphere had been tense.

—But are you sure you can gain light spirit power there?

'Yes. The dungeon boss, Oma the Mage, holds an orb embedded with a Light ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Stone.'

Unproven, but Jehyun knew how to process and consume the Light Stone. Combined with his golden mana blessing, it would enable a light spirit contract.

Light spirits were rare, top-tier attributes. But with high elf spirit arts, golden mana blessing, and Light Stone, it was feasible.

—Heh heh. With that prep, failing a contract would be absurd.

'Exactly.'

Jehyun nodded. All set. With the World Tree Bow, he could take down the Dark Spirit. Beyond rewards, it'd spur massive growth—a step to the next stage.

'I'll smash through the second wall soon.'

His resolve blazed. Choi Hanseom inwardly marveled.

'Truly wondrous. Even with possession powers, this growth speed...'

He sensed Jehyun's further progress since last time. Like bamboo shoots—close your eyes, open them, taller.

'Never thought I'd witness such potential in my later years.'

Choi Hanseom admired him repeatedly. But suddenly worried.

'Pairing him with that guy... hope no incidents occur.'

He clicked his tongue thinking of Jehyun's companion.

Knock knock.

A knock at the door.

"Tower Master, disciple Song Jiseok. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠May I enter?"

'Speak of the devil.'

"Come in."

A stern-faced man entered, greeted Choi Hanseom, then eyed Jehyun unexpectedly.

"You're..."

Tower Master's fifth disciple, Song Jiseok. Their first meeting.

"The famous one lately."

Song Jiseok muttered.

—Why's that guy's gaze like that?

'...'

As Alkasha noted, Jehyun studied his eyes. Seemingly indifferent, yet swirling emotions churned within.

"Pleased to meet you. Song Jiseok, fifth disciple of the Tower Master."

Song Jiseok extended his thick, frog-like hand. Jehyun stood and clasped it.

'Well now?'

Jehyun smirked amusedly. A grip strength most 4th Circle mages couldn't withstand.

—Tsk tsk. Picked the wrong target.

Alkasha tsked. Jehyun's strength stat was 39 with bonuses—D-rank physical level.

Jehyun chuckled inwardly and squeezed harder.

Crrunch.

"...!"

Song Jiseok's face crumpled under the terrifying force from Jehyun's hand.