Chapter 243
Chapter 243
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 243
Chapter Title: Essence of Corruption (1)
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The elves and high elves did not appear on the half-elf faction's side. They had approached the World Tree in their own way but had been repelled by its attacks and forced to retreat—this much had been confirmed.
Even though their group consisted entirely of Masters and High Masters, numbering in the hundreds, they had been utterly unable to deal with the Grand Master-level World Tree.
‘Of course, they probably didn’t go all out.’
Since the World Tree was like a religion to them, it was possible they hadn’t committed fully.
But even if they had gone all out, would anything have changed?
Rokan didn’t think so.
There existed a gap between a Grand Master and a High Master greater than that between a Master slaughtering Class Experts or a High Master cutting down hordes of Masters.
That was precisely why Rokan hadn’t even considered properly challenging it himself.
‘The current World Tree might be worth a shot, but…….’
If it was a High Master equipped with as many titles as himself and geared to the teeth, and if the opponent was a Grand Master only just stepping into the realm, unable to properly wield its power, then maybe he could mix it up somehow—but even that, he wasn’t certain.
“I’ll have to make contact.”
Having roughly pinpointed their location, Rokan moved immediately. Aftereffects like those from Gale Incarnation meant nothing right now.
World Tree’s Blessing.
Before that power, which no elf could possibly overlook, faded, it was most important to meet them and gain their favor.
‘Forest terrain, a place where hundreds could hide, and near the World Tree’s activity radius.’
With just those three conditions in mind, there weren’t many places they could be hiding.
They wouldn’t be out in the open, of course, but neither would they set offensive traps that turned people hostile, so Rokan searched with a relaxed mind.
[You have been exposed to Illusion Field.]
[Title effect of Truth Seer resists the illusion.]
Unlike Unyielding Will, it was a magic that showed mere illusions, but Rokan resisted it easily.
However, he didn’t force his way further in.
If elves were truly here, they would find him first.
“Who are you?”
After a short wait, a crisp voice rang out from beyond the dense forest.
“A human duke here to meet the forest kin—Master Berserker Rokan.”
“How do you…… have the World Tree’s Blessing?”
But even with his polite introduction, the elves did not lower their guard.
It was only natural for those who had lived isolated from the world for ages.
Thus, Rokan proved it with action.
“That’s……!”
Death Rod.
The moment he pulled it out, the elves disarmed. With entranced eyes, they walked toward Rokan.
Swoosh.
But he had no intention of just showing it off.
As the saying goes, seeing stirs desire—they might try to take it by any means.
Elves were known as a race without greed, but look at the half-elves; they weren’t much different from humans. Rokan’s experience was too vast to trust public opinion.
“Ahh…….”
“How did you obtain that?”
“That’s our elves’ treasure, so…….”
And his prediction partially hit the mark. The elves showed signs of claiming ownership of the Death Rod.
“This is mine. If you want it, pay a fair price.”
At his cold words, the elves finally came to their senses.
They knew full well that claiming ownership of something lost long ago was absurd.
And they had no means to pay a fitting price for the Death Rod.
“……You’re right. We couldn’t even protect our own, so claiming ownership now would be unreasonable. Very well, bearer of the World Tree’s Blessing. Why have you sought us out?”
Fortunately, they showed no signs of forcing the issue.
If they had, he would have smashed them.
“To enlist your cooperation in restoring the World Tree.”
“……The World Tree?”
It was a topic the elves couldn’t help but find intriguing. After all, they wanted to restore it most of all.
But Rokan’s statement held something even more interesting.
He wasn’t offering to help them—he was asking them to help him. Didn’t that imply he had a method?
For elves who hadn’t found a way after one attempt, this was impossible to ignore.
“Will you cooperate?”
Rokan laid out his plan. The points he had discovered, some of his abilities, and a simple outline of the strategy.
Including the roles they would have to play.
“……Very well. Let’s do it.”
After a moment’s deliberation, the elves readily accepted the proposal.
It might be a trap, or it might not guarantee purification, but they were desperate to cling to even a sliver of hope.
Truthfully, they had no other options.
If they spent too long consumed by corruption like this, the World Tree might become impossible to restore.
And so, the alliance between Rokan and the elves was formed.
* * *
Corrupted World Tree.
Wherever it passed, a death worse than the undead domains shrouded the land.
In the case of undead, their deathly aura tainted the earth, allowing life-rich things to survive somewhat, but the World Tree’s path was different.
It stripped away life force as life force, death as death, leaving nothing but barren land. The earth turned into a void.
No plants or animals, not even monsters or undead, could survive on such transformed terrain, warping the entire field.
Eventually, something adapted to that environment would emerge, but if left unchecked, the Central Continent would transform into an entirely new landscape.
Thus, the World Tree’s rampage was no longer just one race’s problem. Like the ancient emperor’s emergence, it required all eight races to unite.
“Things are turning out strangely.”
But this time, that wasn’t possible.
Each had their own thoughts.
For starters, the Golden Lion faction was content to watch from afar as the World Tree rampaged toward the Black Dragon Legion, like spectators across the river. The Black Dragon Legion, having failed to revive the Death Lord, was passive with their undead, while orcs and trolls focused on defense as they searched for their divine artifacts.
They too believed that obtaining their divine artifacts would let them exterminate the World Tree and turn the world upside down.
The most pitiful among them were the goblins.
Having completed their race quest and even summoned the Goblin High Priest’s power into the present world, their disadvantageous matchup left them pushed back unilaterally by the World Tree—could there be an unluckier race?
But Rokan considered it fortunate in one way. Since everyone shunned and avoided the World Tree, he could monopolize it.
‘If things go well…….’
Succeed in hunting the World Tree, and he might power-level straight into the High Master realm.
“Are you prepared?”
“Just give the signal.”
The elves, being the desperate ones, faithfully followed Rokan’s demands.
They revealed every detail of their forces, items, and skills, and resolved to stake their lives under his command.
If they could restore the World Tree and take root in this land, the forest kin scattered across the world would gather, and they could reclaim their former glory—that was their belief.
“Let’s begin.”
After observing the World Tree’s movements for a moment, Rokan gave the signal.
Elves and high elves unleashed their powers, drawing the World Tree’s attention.
“Nature Control!”
“Spore Rain!”
“Energy Drain!”
Truthfully, the elves’ skills weren’t suited for fighting the World Tree.
As a race called its children, they used many similar skills, which the World Tree could absorb to grow stronger or recover.
Thus, Rokan had individually interviewed them and replaced all their Master skills.
At least ones the World Tree couldn’t absorb.
Grrrrraaaaaah!
That was why the Master skills used by elves and high elves all restrained it or drained its life force.
Since half-hearted attack skills couldn’t pierce its ironclad defense anyway, they targeted the life force itself.
The ‘Life Drain’ property, ignoring attack power or resistances, took effect, and the World Tree quickly reacted, rampaging in fury. Then the game of tag began.
It chased the elves steadily draining its life force, thrashing about wildly.
“Bind!”
“Whip!”
“Twist!”
In response, the elves bustled about.
Dodging attacks while using magic to disrupt its steps.
Even with survival as their top priority, it wasn’t easy. Its roots and branches, numbering in the thousands or tens of thousands, assaulted them simultaneously.
Fortunately, each one’s power was far weaker than a Grand Master’s attack, allowing them to dodge or restrict movement—what would be impossible against another Grand Master.
“Kai, let’s go.”
As its gaze fixed on the elves, Rokan began to move.
But this time, he didn’t bother shrinking.
It might turn into a prolonged battle.
Using Gale Incarnation too early could end in anticlimactic defeat by timeout.
“Legend Rider.”
However, he did use Legend Rider.
Kai didn’t transform into a great peng but kept its size, though its movement and reaction speeds surged dramatically.
It was essential for evading the hundreds of branches extending at once.
‘A shame.’
One regrettable point: he could barely benefit from title effects.
The titles Tyrant, Mass Murderer, and First Conqueror that dramatically empowered Rokan against groups didn’t shine against a single foe.
But without them, he’d have to grit his teeth and endure.
Skilledly controlling Kai through their bond, Rokan approached the World Tree and made a change at the final moment.
“Grow!”
Kyuuut!
At the same time, Elemental Barrier arose.
The skill, strengthened upon reaching Master level and evolved once more, temporarily blocked the World Tree’s attacks.
It cracked and shattered under the relentless multi-thrusts like drizzle soaking clothes, but Kai’s defense was no joke either.
Kiyuuut!
Blade Gale. The gale skill generating One Blade Gale added formless wind blades, slicing and snapping branches.
In the meantime, Rokan activated wing mode. Frenziedly using charge skills, he closed in on the Fruit of Corruption.
“World Tree’s Blessing.”
If it were solely focused on him, maybe, but with elves, high elves, and now Kai drawing aggro, it couldn’t easily redirect the Fruit of Corruption as before.
In that gap, he produced the Death Rod and unleashed the World Tree’s Blessing from it!
But this time, the target wasn’t Rokan.
Kiiiiiaaaaaah!
Fruit of Corruption. As the life-rich blessing’s power poured into the Fruit of Corruption, the World Tree screamed.
Its absorption of death to recharge life force backfired, delivering considerable shock.
“Strike of Ruin.”
Boom!
And it didn’t end there. Strike of Ruin, which dealt bonus damage to corruption, smashed into the Fruit of Corruption.
Rumble rumble.
But it didn’t shatter. It shook violently, its energy fragmenting finely, yet its form remained intact.
“Death Drain!”
Finally, Death Drain was added.
Rather than trying to absorb the tightly packed energy directly, he shook it loose first, then drained.
Vast dark mana began flowing in, enough to burst his body like a balloon.