Chapter 204: They Really Don’t Listen (1)
Chapter 204: They Really Don’t Listen (1)
“So, you’re saying you want all the elves to follow me now?”
“Yes. That is correct.”
“How do you know I’ll even treat them right? To put it bluntly, what if I make them my slaves, work them to the bone, and do all sorts of terrible things?”
“Then do so.”
“Pardon?”
As Patrick looked on in shock, the World Tree spoke calmly.
“I am entrusting them to you because I believe in your character. If you were to abuse and exploit my children, then it simply means I was a poor judge of character.”
“Hmm…”
“In exchange, I ask for only one promise.”
“What is it?”
“When the time of choice comes, please, for my children…”
It was then.
Crackle! Zap!
Cracks began to form in the space where Patrick and the World Tree stood. It was as if something powerful was attacking from the outside.
The World Tree’s beautiful face contorted. She shouted, “How dare you intrude here!”
“…”
Simultaneously, a massive surge of power erupted from her body. Feeling that overwhelming, untouchable force from such a close distance, Patrick thought to himself:
Good thing I didn't try to scrap with her.
He had held back because she had been so humble, but would he have even stood a chance if they had fought? Honestly, it was doubtful.
The World Tree approached Patrick and held out her hand.
“Take this.”
“What is it?”
A small light was coalescing in her palm.
“It is to ensure my children follow you in the future.”
“…”
“I wish to explain in detail, but there is no time.”
She pressed the small light into Patrick’s hand. The light dissolved into his palm, soaking into his skin. Patrick tried to say something, but—
Boom! Rumbllle!
The attacks pounding on the world from the outside grew increasingly violent. She stared at something visible beyond the cracks and said, “It was an honor to meet you. I pray you achieve what you set out to do…”
“Hey. What on earth is—”
“Farewell…”
With that, Patrick was flung out of that world.
Left alone, the World Tree gazed steadily in the direction Patrick had vanished before turning her head back.
Creeeak! Crack!
The thing attacking from the outside finally burrowed into her world. It was a substance like viscous mud. Its mere existence radiated a foul, hideous energy that was utterly repulsive.
It seeped into the world, rapidly flooding and devouring the space. Staining everything black and turbid, it clung to the World Tree, attempting to swallow her whole.
The World Tree raised her hand and stared at the black energy clinging to her body. She spoke in a cold voice.
“So, you think you’ve found an opening?”
Skree… skreeeeek…
The entity manifested its will. Though it produced a peculiar noise rather than words, its intent was clear.
I finally have you.
You’re finished.
Howl. Entertain me with your pain and despair.
Despicable joy and filthy hatred—all of it was transmitted vividly.
The World Tree looked at the energy with a steady gaze.
“I showed only the tiniest gap to summon him to my world, and yet you didn't miss it. Should I call you impressive? Or merely persistent?”
Skreeeeek… skree…
“But it is already too late. I have already done what I needed to do. Therefore, I no longer have any reason to hold back.”
The pupils vanished from the World Tree’s eyes. Her eyes turned pure white, emitting a brilliant radiance as she gathered her energy. A majesty that none would dare approach began to flow from her body.
“How dare you…”
The purest energy in the world began to overflow from her.
“Think you know…”
That power resolutely pushed back the black sludge that had been defiling her world like sewage. And then—
“Who I am!”
Her energy erupted like an explosion.
SKREEEEEEEEEE!
Only then did the entity writhe and shriek in agony. It hurriedly tried to flee, attempting to return to wherever it had come from.
Watching it recede like a ebbing tide, the World Tree shouted with divine authority.
“Do you think I will let you leave so easily?!”
An arrow of light appeared in her hand. The brilliantly shining arrow glowed holily, imbued with a massive amount of Natural Qi. It looked like a candle flame right before it burns out.
“Go!”
As she extended her hand, the arrow of light flew across space to punish the being that had dared to invade her world.
*
“Aaaaaagh!”
The man clutched one eye and let out a scream of agony.
“Jonsa!”
“Jonsa, are you alright?”
Figures draped in black robes rushed from all directions to check on his condition. They were met with a horrific sight.
“Jonsa, your eye…”
The eye of the man called Jonsa was burning black.
“Urgh… damn it…”
He gritted his teeth and thrust his fingers into his own eye.
Squeltch!
“Guaaaah… Aaaaagh!”
Crunch. Snap.
Enduring the excruciating pain, he ripped his own eyeball out. After checking the forcibly removed eye, he hurriedly threw it away.
Immediately after—
Boom!
The eyeball that had been removed from his body exploded. Jonsa’s blood ran cold at the sight. If he had been even a moment later, it wouldn't have been just his eye; his entire head would have been blown off.
“Quite impressive for a damn rotten old tree.”
He had narrowly escaped death and lost an eye. However, Jonsa’s lips curled into a smirk.
“Regardless, this is the end for the World Tree. A major obstacle to achieving His Great Work has vanished.”
“Oh… Ooooh…”
“Finally.”
“Jonsa, we offer our congratulations.”
The surrounding figures marveled. Jonsa lifted his blood-streaked face and spoke.
“Everything will proceed according to His plan. The time of glory is near, so all of you must devote yourselves heart and soul to following Him.”
“Yes, sir!”
“Yes, sir!”
In an unnamed underground temple somewhere on the continent, the most wicked conspiracy in the land was being hatched.
*
“Haaah!”
April lunged forward with a powerful battle cry, unlike her usual self.
“N-Noooo!”
Her sword, transformed into a streak of light, sliced through the neck of a terrified dark elf.
“Huff… huff…”
That was the seventh one. Seven out of the ten dark elves had fallen to her blade.
“Damn it, kill her!”
“Kill that bitch first!”
The dark elves charged at April as she tried to steady her ragged breathing. However—
“Not a chance!”
“How dare you!”
“Get lost!”
Riman, Matthew, and Isabella desperately blocked the dark elves. All three were in poor condition. They were battered all over, and Matthew, who was the least skilled among them, was quite seriously injured.
Yet, even in pain that made him feel like he would collapse at any moment, Matthew gripped his sword and fought back. His body was a wreck, and his opponents were stronger than him.
But…
That’s no reason for me to give up.
Courage was not backing down when facing the strong. That was the chivalry Matthew pursued. His skills might be severely lacking, but to call himself that bastard’s friend, he at least couldn't let his convictions be broken.
“Uwaaaaaah!”
Matthew fought with all his might, unleashing more Aura than his skill level should have allowed. The wounds inflicted by Demonic Energy burned like fire, but Matthew’s fighting spirit did not flicker.
Those who couldn't just stand by and watch the trio’s struggle shouted out.
“What are you doing? This is our home!”
“Fight! The pride of our tribe isn't something to be shouted with words, but proven with actions!”
“Fire!”
Inspired by their struggle, the elves also fought back with burning fighting spirit. Ordinary arrows shouldn't have worked against dark elves shrouded in Demonic Energy, but they stood their ground and fired anyway.
In this moment, there were no factions. There were only those who wished to show a will that wouldn't shame the fighting spirit they were witnessing.
“These damn pests…”
Kantaros shouted in a fit of rage. Even small bee stings can take down a lion if there are hundreds or thousands of them. With many of their comrades already dead, the situation grew increasingly dire as the elves and humans joined forces to attack with lethal intent.
And most decisively…
“Move.”
The blonde human woman, having caught her breath, took her stance again. And this time, her target was—
“Noooo!”
The moment he sensed the flash of light coming, Kantaros grabbed the comrade next to him and shoved them in front of himself.
“Wait, wha—”
Slash!
The comrade couldn't even finish their sentence before their head was sent flying. The one responsible for taking that head stepped on the comrade’s head—which was filled with betrayal and terror—and spoke.
“Two left.”
At that sight, Kantaros felt a chill run down his spine and muttered, “You monster.”
Her breathing was much heavier than before. Maintaining an Aura Blade constantly while fighting seemed to have taken a significant toll on her stamina.
But did that offer any hope?
“Damn it, where did a monster like this come from…?”
Not a chance. No matter how he looked at it, she seemed to have plenty of strength left to fire that damn flash a few more times.
April pointed her sword at the despairing Kantaros and took her stance again, as if he wasn't even worth talking to.
And just before she swung her sword—
“Ho, quite an impressive human.”
A voice drifted down from the sky.
“No matter how I look at it, you seem to have far surpassed the 7-Star realm. To slice through the Demonic Energy of a dark elf so easily.”
The one where the voice came from was a man wrapped in black clothes with a mask covering his face. As soon as he appeared, Kantaros shouted loudly.
“H-Help me!”
“Help you? Why should I?”
When the man countered nonchalantly, Kantaros said, “If you just deal with that human girl, we can capture Elione. After that, we can take hostages or use torture to get to the World Tree…”
“Ah, right. I did approach you because of that.”
The being in the sky chuckled, descended to the ground, and landed. He walked toward Kantaros as if the others didn't even matter.
“Heh… hehehe… Help me. I’m still useful—”
“Not anymore.”
Crunch!
His hand plunged into Kantaros’s heart without hesitation.
“Guh…”
With a look of disbelief, Kantaros clutched the man’s sleeve and gasped, “W-Why…?”
“The situation has changed.”
“W-What…”
“A thing like you can just die. I was getting sick of you playing both sides and testing the waters anyway, so this worked out well. Right?”
“N-No…”
Explosive Demonic Energy erupted from the man’s hand inside Kantaros’s chest, incinerating Kantaros’s body instantly.
He had betrayed his tribe.
He had betrayed the World Tree.
He had betrayed his own pride.
The end of the man who had betrayed everything was, ironically, met with betrayal.