Chapter 71
Chapter 71
Chapter 71: Special Arena - Nature's Fall (2)
Translation: godtl
A dark clearing.
In the center, where the only light shone down, a woman sat slumped.
To be precise, she was bound.
The beautiful woman, entangled in vines sporadically covered in reptilian scales, struggled to open her eyes.
Within her field of vision, just like the vines restraining her body—
She could see enormous tree roots covered in reptilian scales scattered everywhere.
'Even the Elder has reached their limit...'
No matter how revered the Elder may be.
There was nothing to be done against this vile corruption.
Because it wasn't something an ordinary being could withstand.
Creeeak.
"Ugh..."
Even screaming was a struggle.
As the vines gradually tightened around her body, the beautiful woman felt her consciousness fading.
This was truly the end.
"Elder... Please forgive this unworthy one..."
With a faint murmur,
the woman's body went limp.
And across her pale skin—
Sssssk.
Reptilian scales began to sprout.
"It's ridiculously huge."
A tree so massive that he had to crane his neck at a right angle just to see part of it.
And even that was only a fraction.
The entirety couldn't be taken in at a glance.
Above all else—
'It's utterly vile. There's no need to search for the cause of the decay.'
The skeletal tree, withered beyond recognition, was riddled with grotesque scales and tumors.
Even without activating Odin's Eye,
the foul energy radiating from the World Tree blatantly advertised itself as the source of the surrounding decay.
Si-mun, who had been studying the skeletal World Tree intently, slightly furrowed his brows.
"But how am I supposed to deal with this?"
It was too big.
Impossibly so.
How could anyone destroy a tree so tall it pierced the clouds?
'Even if I spammed Astrapē without using Achievement Points, it'd take at least a full day.'
Or perhaps he'd need to find another Mythic-grade weapon related to fire, given that this was a tree.
Just as he was pondering his options—
I do like how tough you are, thinking of wrecking the World Tree's main body. But you don't necessarily have to destroy the whole thing.
A voice echoed from the center of his chest.
The Philosopher's Stone.
'What do you mean?'
The World Tree has a main body and a spirit body. Think of it like the relationship between body and soul. Though the real one is the spirit body.
'So this enormous tree in front of me is the main body—a kind of shell?'
Exactly. Not that the main body is unimportant. The World Tree needs it to properly wield its power.
The Philosopher's Stone continued in its clear, ringing voice.
But if only the spirit body remains, it can always recreate this main body. It just needs time to grow.
'Ah. I see.'
As long as the spirit body exists, it can create as many shells as it wants.
This form wasn't uncommon among monsters either.
'Then destroying the shell would be pointless, so I need to deal with the spirit body instead?'
That must be the source of this decay.
Right. And the spirit body has traditionally been... entrusted to the High Elves.
'High Elves?'
High Elves.
An extremely rare variant among elves.
In his past life, Si-mun had encountered various demi-human races, including elves, but—
He had never seen a High Elf.
It was only natural.
'Aren't High Elves supposed to be extinct?'
High Elves simply didn't exist anymore.
In fact, this was something the elves he'd met in his past life had confirmed themselves.
The High Elves had vanished long ago.
Or so they'd said.
That may be true, but this is the Arena. Judging by the state of the World Tree, there must be one inside.
'There's a High Elf in here?'
Si-mun's eyes widened in surprise, and the Philosopher's Stone affirmed it.
Yep. Look at that. The main body's actively functioning. That's impossible without the spirit body. Naturally, there must be a High Elf managing it.
At those words, Si-mun turned his gaze back to the colossal tree.
The massive tree emitted an aura befitting its size.
Though it was an aura of decay and Death Energy, it was undoubtedly emanating from the World Tree itself.
Si-mun's expression hardened slightly as he stared at the World Tree.
'Wait. That means the World Tree is still alive, doesn't it?'
A skeletal, rotting tree.
In human terms, it looked no different from a corpse.
Yet the World Tree was steadily corrupting its surroundings.
Doesn't this look no different from an undead?
'Ugh... how vile.'
Truth be told, even as a regressor, Si-mun didn't know much about the World Tree.
Just like with the High Elves.
The elves in his past life had said the World Tree no longer existed either.
Having suddenly learned the World Tree's secret, Si-mun took a step forward.
'Then if I eliminate the spirit body inside, I can remove the source of this corruption too, right?'
'That won't be much of a problem.'
After all, even if this is a Special Arena, the rank limit is Gold.
For Si-mun, who already ranks among the upper echelons of Platinum players, this difficulty level poses no threat.
Crunch.
The gnarled, protruding roots of the World Tree.
As he stepped between them, the unpleasant and vile energy grew even more oppressive.
'Average players wouldn't even be able to breathe properly here.'
At minimum, you'd need to be upper Gold-rank.
Or have substantial support from a skilled healer's magic just to withstand entering.
The Death Energy inside the World Tree was absolutely vile.
Si-mun circulated his Transmutation Power as he walked through the World Tree's interior.
Before long.
"Here we are."
Si-mun reached the epicenter of the foul energy.
A wide clearing.
Surrounded on all sides by the twisted roots of the World Tree, the place resembled an ancient prison.
At its center.
Si-mun walked toward the only spot where light filtered through in this cavernous space.
The reason was simple.
'That must be the High Elf.'
Pointed ears, faded hair, and even just the glimpse below her mouth radiated natural beauty.
Without a doubt, she looked exactly like the elves he'd seen in his past life.
However.
'She's bound by vines?'
It was quite unnatural for an elf—known for their affinity with nature—to be restrained by vines.
Then.
Rustle.
The elf, who had been bowing her head like a prisoner, suddenly raised it.
"That's—!"
Si-mun's eyes widened when he saw her face.
Not because of the inhuman beauty characteristic of elves.
'Why does a High Elf have scales?'
The distinctive scales of reptilian creatures.
They covered half of the High Elf's beautiful face.
Even one of her pupils was elongated like a reptile's slit eye.
Soon.
Keeeen.
'I see.'
With Odin's Eye activated, Si-mun could perceive it.
'Is this the work of whoever caused this catastrophe?'
The same corrupted energy emanating from the dark green scales covering half of the High Elf's body—identical to that of the Corrupted Forest.
And.
'This is the doing of the dragonkin.'
Because the source of that energy was undoubtedly Dragon Power.
"Intruder..."
A low, resonant voice.
Before he could even be entranced by its beauty—
Dragon Body Transformation.
Crack.
Si-mun immediately activated Dragon Body Transformation, channeling Dragon Power to its peak as he swung his transformed right arm.
Kwaaaang!
A violent shockwave traveled through his right arm with a deafening explosion.
Si-mun further infused the Dragon Power coursing through his circuits with Demonic Energy.
Then.
Papat.
With fluid ease, he deflected the High Elf's rapid strikes—far surpassing those of the Cockatrice.
It was a breathtaking display of superior physical prowess from Dragon Body Transformation combined with the Heavenly Demon Divine Art.
Separate from this reality—
'Elves really are elves. Their movements are no joke.'
Si-mun couldn't help but marvel inwardly.
Elves were already classified as a superior race among demi-humans, but...
The woman before him, true to her title as a High Elf, unleashed a barrage of attacks imbued with technique.
However.
'Her form is too simplistic.'
Si-mun strolled leisurely through the torrent of strikes.
This wasn't just due to his overwhelming stats, the Heavenly Demon Divine Art, or the confidence from Dragon Body Transformation.
'Probably because she's not in her right mind.'
A High Elf who'd lost her sanity.
Since she was attacking purely on instinct, it was easy to evade.
'If I wait for an opening and finish her off with the Annihilation Cannon, that should do it.'
If he eliminated the High Elf housing the Spirit Body of the World Tree...
He could remove the cause of the Fall—the objective of this Special Arena.
"Too easy."
Was it because my stats had improved?
This Special Arena was so easy it almost felt undeserving of the "special" label.
Hmph.
As Si-mun snorted and gathered his Demonic Energy—
'Wait.'
He paused mid-motion, halting the descent of his Annihilation Cannon.
The high elf seized the opening, her leg lashing out—
But Si-mun dodged effortlessly, immediately putting distance between them.
Si-mun's gaze locked onto the high elf's unfocused eyes.
A single question rose in his mind:
'Do I really have to kill the high elf?'
The objective of this Special Arena was clear: "Eliminate the cause of the fall."
The corrupted Spirit Body of the World Tree, which had brought ruin to nature.
Logically, killing the high elf who carried it was the most straightforward solution.
Hell, wasn't she attacking him outright?
But—
'What if I save the high elf and only destroy the corrupted Spirit Body?'
No.
Going even further—
'What if I save both the high elf and the corrupted Spirit Body?'
Wouldn't the end result still be the "elimination of the cause" either way?
As if reading his thoughts—
The Philosopher's Stone spoke up first.
'Why?'
'What is it?'
The name was filtered, muffled—but Si-mun instantly understood.
'You mean the thing that sent me back in time?'
'So, in other words, it's impossible.'
Back then, he had exhausted the Elixir—the Philosopher's Stone's origin—and pushed himself to the brink of instability just to synthesize that thing.
With no guarantee he could even recreate the Elixir now, synthesizing the artifact that sent him back was out of the question.
'Then I have no choice but to save just the high elf.'
The Philosopher's Stone continued as if waiting for this moment.
'She won't live long, will she?'
Damn.
Rubbing his temple in frustration, Si-mun sidestepped the high elf's spinning kick.
Whoosh.
The threatening sound of splitting air grazed his ear.
With a regretful expression, Si-mun synthesized a few stone pillars to widen the gap between them.
"So I have to kill her after all?"
It felt like a waste to end it like this.
As he clenched his fist, reactivating his Demonic Energy—
"Wait."
His eyes flashed.
In an instant, he closed the distance and—
Thud!
Buried his fist into the high elf's solar plexus.
Fortunately, he hadn't gathered enough Demonic Energy to unleash a Heavenly Demon Divine Art technique.
"......"
The high elf was sent flying without so much as a scream.
Flicking his fingers, Si-mun synthesized chains of earth from the ground, binding her tightly before asking:
'What if I make a new Spirit Body of the World Tree?'
'No, but I can make one.'
The Philosopher's Stone sounded baffled—and for good reason.
'Yeah. A Broken World Tree Seed Fragment.'
Though it was, as the name implied, a broken fragment—
He had already dissected its structure completely.
'Well?'
'That's enough.'
After what happened with Marnel in the last Special Arena, he'd learned something.
Even if he only saved the high elf—who seemed to be this arena's boss—
The clear rewards would change drastically.
'I've got an idea for that.'
A faint smile curled on Si-mun's lips as—
Crash!
The high elf shattered the thick earthen chains in an instant.
"Intruder... eliminate..."
Her voice was toneless.
As she lunged at him—
Si-mun poured Dragon Power into his Death Eye and commanded:
"Stop. Right. There."
And then—
Thud.
The high elf froze mid-air, as if time itself had stopped.