Chapter 229
Chapter 229
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 229
Chapter Title: World Tree vs Death Lord (1)
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“Crazy…”
“Is this for real?”
The entire expedition fell silent at the sight that unfolded after cresting the hill.
An undead army so vast that the word “great army” fell short stretched out before their eyes.
At least hundreds of thousands strong.
And not a single one was low-level. Most were what they called “Master-rank.”
In modern times, this force would outmatch not just one race, but an entire faction—no, all factions combined.
“What about the enemy?”
Someone suddenly spoke up, as if the thought had just hit them.
All eyes turned in the opposite direction.
If they’d prepared a force like this, their opponents had to be on a similar level, right?
Far in the distance, a group came into view.
“That’s…”
“The World Tree!”
The most obvious thing was the massive tree.
It radiated a vibrant green and vitality that instinctively repelled the undead.
A sacred power, beyond any recovery or enhancement spell, emanated from the tree as its roots slowly advanced.
There was only one conclusion. It was the World Tree, the elves’ religion and mother.
The elves striding confidently beneath it turned their guess into certainty.
“Real elves!”
Even more shocking, they weren’t half-elves, but pureblood elves.
As ancient texts recorded, they’d mingled with humans to preserve their race after losing the World Tree—but here, they still had it, and pure elves dominated.
“Elves versus undead, huh?”
People often thought of humans as undead’s natural foes, but it seemed half-elves’ bad blood with them stemmed from this.
“That means…”
Everyone finally grasped the situation. Elves versus undead. They could vaguely predict the outcome.
Mutual destruction.
Thus, the elves lost the World Tree, and the undead lost the Death Lord.
‘So what are we supposed to do?’
Then what was their role? Help the Death Lord defeat the World Tree and elves? Save the Death Lord?
Ridiculous.
Even with all those Masters and High Masters, they couldn’t touch it. How could they?
They weren’t guaranteed to be stronger than the forces there, and jumping into a clash between two at least Grand Master level? No way.
They’d just die pointless deaths.
“What are we supposed to do?”
Finally, someone couldn’t hold back and asked the leader, the Death Knight.
No matter how they thought about it, they couldn’t influence this battle.
“That’s…”
The Death Knight no longer hid it and revealed the plan.
“Damn it, then we just need to survive first.”
The undead Masters who heard it out looked grim.
They’d suspected as much, but they really had nothing to do—or could do—here.
To achieve their goal, surviving came first.
The undead’s numbers and quality were beyond imagination, but the elves’ level was astonishing too.
High Masters everywhere, and Masters numbering in the tens of thousands. Everyone seemed at least Master level.
‘The real problem is the World Tree buff.’
But the true terror was the effect from being near the World Tree.
World Tree buff.
Unknown exact effects, but their aura showed abilities boosted nearly a rank higher.
“…You’re right. So we don’t join the fight. Not until it ends—not even while the World Tree and Death Lord clash.”
With that, the undead expedition, including Rokan, fled to a spot safe from the battle’s fallout.
But that wasn’t easy either.
-Risen dead, charge!
The moment the Death Lord’s incantation rang out, several accompanying NPCs’ eyes changed.
They were the ones who’d lingered, still attached to the battlefield.
“Plug your ears! Protect your minds!”
The belated shout came, but it was useless.
Those exposed to the incantation left like they were possessed.
Drawn by the Death Lord’s command, they charged as his soldiers toward the enemy—elves and World Tree.
“Wh-what! Why won’t my body obey?!”
It hit users too. The moment the incantation hit, they lost control, like under a status ailment.
“Hide your bodies! Don’t let the Death Lord seize your minds!”
No one moved to save them.
Breaking the Death Lord’s mental domination was impossible, and drawing his attention in the process? Terrifying.
-Interesting ones here.
But it was already too late.
They’d scrambled for cover and hidden their presence, but the Death Lord had spotted them.
Still, with a massive foe right there, he didn’t care.
Unless he needed every hand, it was just mild interest. Battle had already erupted at the front.
“We’re pulling out of the battlefield.”
“Summon skeletal horses!”
Relieved by the stroke of luck, the expedition tried to flee fast.
‘Incredible.’
Knowing they were made, no need to hesitate or hide.
Everyone summoned mounts and rode off without looking back.
‘What now?’
Rokan pondered. Follow them, or hide and wait for an opportunity?
-Seize their undeserved lives!
The Death Lord’s voice boomed across the field again.
Among those fleeing on skeletal horses, the weak-minded turned and charged.
‘Stealth.’
This could doom the expedition to revive the Death Lord, but Rokan saw opportunity.
In this chaos, one or two vanishing wouldn’t be noticed—so he chose stealth over flight.
Extremely risky, but backed by the recent system alert.
[Exposed to the Death Lord’s incantation.]
[Title ‘Unyielding Will’ negates all effects.]
Title: Unyielding Will!
Epic rank had him slightly worried, but it nullified even the Death Lord’s domination.
Maybe the command, absolute on the dead, weakened or failed on him—but it granted freedom.
“Digdog.”
Rokan didn’t get cocky. In a battle this big, he could still get caught, incantation or not.
He summoned Digdog and burrowed underground.
Clashes of such power would shake the depths, but deep enough, he’d lose only potion-manageable HP.
Thud thud thud thud thud.
After burrowing deep, Rokan half-closed one eye.
Relying on ‘Eyes that Pierce All Creation,’ he peered above.
‘I can see.’
This was the hidden power of Eyes that Pierce All Creation.
Normally just rock and dirt in a tunnel, but now he could vaguely watch the surface.
The great battle had begun.
“This confirms it… mutual destruction, just like I thought.”
Undead don’t fear death.
Elves would throw lives away like pebbles to protect the World Tree and their home.
Such desperate resolve clashing? Mutual destruction was inevitable.
That explained why both races were so weakened now.
They’d fought with no holds barred.
“Crazy bastards.”
The Death Lord’s Death Aura corrupted not just life, but even inorganic matter with death.
The World Tree blessed, letting elves endure.
He’d thought undead would overwhelm at first, but elves were chillingly capable.
Summoning spirits to double forces was baseline; under the World Tree’s blessing, Masters fought like High Masters.
Quantity versus quality.
A mythic battle tearing skies and flipping earth raged on.
“They’re natural counters.”
Normally, undead win attrition—turn enemy corpses into allies.
But World Tree-blessed elf corpses wouldn’t undeaden, a privilege that wounded both in the brutal grind.
When the fight peaked, both bosses moved.
“Here it comes.”
World Tree and Death Lord.
Dwarfed by the giant-plus World Tree, but size meant nothing to the realm-attained.
The Death Lord, mighty swordsman and death-raising necromancer, drew his greatsword, scattering death energy.
Each swing shook the World Tree’s leaves and branches, making it scream.
But it didn’t just take it.
Swooooosh. Thwack!
Its countless branches were hands, roots feet.
Branches and roots even High Masters couldn’t scratch assaulted the Death Lord.
To him, it must’ve felt like facing a thousand-armed goddess.
He’d started aggressive but soon went defensive—Rokan memorized it all.
How the World Tree attacked, how the Death Lord countered. He’d use it someday.
Rumble rumble boom.
“Insane.”
Watching their clash drag over dozens of minutes from underground, Rokan could only click his tongue.
They casually unleashed what others saved for ultimate moves, reshaping the terrain each time.
The transcendent duel seemed endless.
The one to go all-in? The Death Lord.
His aura invaded the World Tree, but it had endless vitality and regen.
He recovered from surrounding deaths, but it wasn’t enough.
Knowing long war favored the enemy, he decided.
-Crush it!
His incantation dominated undead minds again.
All undead ignored foes and swarmed the World Tree.
Clinging to roots and branches, they sacrificed, spreading death like poison.
“Death, come to me!”
Not done. He turned himself to death, pouring all power into his greatsword.
Spreading death across the world, shattering bark, he burrowed into the World Tree’s body.