Chapter 102

As they approached the location of the World Tree, the dark energy grew stronger and stronger.

The once fresh branches lost their vitality and drooped limply, and the once green leaves fell powerlessly to the ground.

The Elf’s Forest, once filled with the laughter of elves, was now enveloped in a desolate silence.

“……”

Silvan trembled slightly as he looked at the transformed forest.

He couldn’t help but feel anxious, wondering if this was truly the end of the Elf’s Forest.

Just yesterday, it wasn’t this bad, but now the forest felt like it was dying day by day.

“Don’t worry.”

At that moment, Riana, who was walking beside him, tightly grabbed Silvan’s hand.

“Everything will be fine.”

“Riana…”

“Even in the darkness, we must hold onto hope, rely on each other, and move forward. That is the way of an elf warrior.”

“……”

Silvan looked at Riana for a moment.

Riana, the strongest warrior of the elf tribe.

She had always been a reliable pillar of support for the elves. Her words were something he could trust.

“Thank you, Riana…”

Silvan spoke with a determined voice.

The fact that he was with Riana at this moment was a great comfort to him.

Moreover, Greenheart was also with them.

Greenheart would protect Silvan safely from the darkness.

So there was no need to be anxious or afraid.

They just had to hold onto hope and move forward through the darkness.

With Riana and Greenheart…

Just as he thought that, Riana suddenly lunged at Silvan.

“Kyaa!”

Riana knocked Silvan down and began to strangle him.

“Kyaa! Kyaa!”

Riana’s eyes had turned black, and dark smoke was seeping out from her skin.

She had been corrupted again.

“Kk, kkeuk…”

Silvan flailed his arms and looked at Greenheart.

‘Help me, Greenheart…’

But Greenheart, too, had turned black and was striking Silvan’s face with its branches.

“!”

Fear spread across Silvan’s face.

It was Ariel who saved Silvan.

“Purification.”

With a soft voice, a dazzling light enveloped Riana and Greenheart.

Soon after, Riana and Greenheart returned to their original state.

“…Silvan!”

Riana, with a shocked expression, released Silvan’s neck, and Greenheart quickly retracted its branches.

“Sorry, I attacked you again.”

Riana tried to hug Silvan, but Silvan, with a pale face, stepped back.

He also avoided Greenheart’s branches, which were trying to comfort him.

“……”

It was good to hold onto hope and move forward through the darkness, but it seemed he couldn’t rely on Riana and Greenheart anymore.

He never knew when they might attack him again.

…He thought he could only trust himself now.

*

The dark energy in the forest continued to grow stronger, and now it was impossible to see even an inch ahead.

Perhaps because of this, Riana and Greenheart were frequently corrupted.

Each time, they attacked Silvan without fail, and now Silvan stayed close to Ariel, not leaving her side.

Silvan’s eyes were filled with fear and distrust when he looked at Riana and Greenheart.

“I’m sorry, Silvan… I didn’t mean to… I’m really sorry…”

No matter how much Riana apologized or Greenheart waved its branches, Silvan completely ignored them.

Just moments ago, Riana had hugged Silvan, saying she was sorry, but then immediately pulled out a dagger from her thigh and tried to stab Silvan in the back.

“Don’t come near me, both of you…”

Silvan, who had nearly died several times in a short period, had every reason to close off his heart.

Meanwhile, Ariel thought she needed to take action.

At this rate, their progress was too slow.

Purifying Riana and Greenheart wasn’t difficult, but if they continued like this, it would take a long time to reach the World Tree.

Ariel cast a sacred magic.

“Holy Light.”

A dazzling sphere of light rose above Ariel’s head.

The sacred light pushed back the darkness and illuminated the surroundings.

Sacred magic, Holy Light.

Holy Light had the effect of protecting against dark energy.

As long as they stayed within the range of Holy Light, Riana and Greenheart would no longer be corrupted.

“Now you won’t be corrupted.”

Ariel spoke, but Silvan just stared ahead with a resolute expression.

He seemed to think, “Who knows? I won’t trust anyone now.”

In any case, as Ariel said, Riana and Greenheart were no longer corrupted.

Instead, other corrupted Ents and elves began to gather around them.

They couldn’t enter the range of Holy Light, but occasionally an elf would shoot arrows.

Swish!

Each time, Riana would swing her dagger to deflect the arrows, or Greenheart would extend its branches to protect Silvan.

“The situation seems more serious than I thought…”

Riana said as she looked around.

“It seems the elves from the refuge have also been corrupted. Seeing Faelen and Zaras over there, they’ve changed too.”

Faelen and Zaras were elves who handled meals and took care of children at the refuge.

Now they were wandering the forest, corrupted.

This meant that the refuge was no longer safe.

Moreover, the children were nowhere to be seen. There were no corrupted children among the elves.

Silvan’s case was the same; it seemed that children were not being corrupted, but that was even more dangerous.

The children would be attacked by the corrupted elves and Ents.

“We need to hurry.”

At Riana’s words, Ariel nodded and quickened her pace.

It wouldn’t be difficult to purify the Ents and elves gathered here, but for now, purifying the World Tree was the priority.

They needed to eliminate the source of corruption as quickly as possible to ensure everyone’s safety.

“That way.”

Riana pointed ahead with her hand.

There stood the World Tree.

*

The World Tree, which should have been a majestic sight reaching towards the sky, filling the surroundings with vitality, was not what they saw before them.

Instead, it looked like a rotten old tree, withered and shriveled.

All its leaves had fallen and withered, the surrounding spring water was polluted black and flowing down, and it was emitting a disturbing dark energy.

“Ah…”

Riana and Silvan sighed as they saw it.

The faces of the two elves were a mix of shock, sorrow, and despair.

Tears welled up in their eyes, and their hands clenched tightly into fists.

It was unbearable for them to see the World Tree, a being as precious as life itself to the elves, in such a ruined state.

Meanwhile, Ariel continued forward without stopping, quietly observing the World Tree.

It seemed that ordinary sacred magic wouldn’t be enough to purify it.

A much higher level of sacred magic would be needed…

“Stop!”

At that moment, a voice called out from the side.

Turning around, they saw a group of elves approaching.

It was Nameria, the leader of the elves, and the elders.

They were wearing armor engraved with sacred symbols, shields that repelled darkness, and bracelets that glowed mysteriously, which seemed to have protected them from corruption.

However, their clothes bore the marks of battle.

Torn sleeves, bloodstains here and there, and small wounds were visible.

It was clear that the journey from the refuge to here had been perilous.

“What are you trying to do now?”

Nameria, the leader of the elves, stepped forward and asked.

She was an elf who, despite her age, gave off a strong impression.

Her wrinkled face revealed deep wisdom and experience, and her sharp eyes showed determination and resolve.

In her hand was a staff made from a branch of the World Tree, and a faint light emanated from the tip of the staff, pushing back the surrounding darkness.

“We are trying to purify the World Tree.”

Riana answered respectfully, pointing to Ariel.

“This young elf can use sacred magic…”

“What!”

At that moment, one of the elders exploded in anger.

“What are you saying, Captain Riana! Are you not following the prophecy now!”

“That’s not it, but…”

“The prophecy states that on the day of destiny, a hero will appear and save the elf tribe! He will bring light and hope and restore peace! Are you saying that this young, small elf is that hero?”

“……”

Riana couldn’t answer.

Deep down, she thought it might be possible, but given the atmosphere, she couldn’t bring herself to say it.

“Don’t do anything foolish and wait quietly for the hero! He will appear and fight against the power of darkness!”

“But, as it is now, it’s impossible…”

Riana pointed at the World Tree with a sad expression.

Everyone looked at the World Tree, and their expressions darkened.

Even the elder who had shouted at Riana had tears in his eyes.

“Still, we must… believe and follow the prophecy…”

As the elder muttered those words, Ariel stretched out her hand and softly uttered,

“Pure Soul.”

Instantly, the air twisted and began to vibrate.

A dazzling white light surged like a wave, centered around Ariel’s hand.

The light was so intense and radiant that it was as if thousands of stars had gathered and exploded.

Everyone around was overwhelmed by the brilliance and couldn’t keep their eyes open, forced to step back.

The surrounding darkness melted away in an instant, and the waves of light grew stronger, swirling around Ariel.

The wind rose, and the earth shook.

Everything was engulfed in light.

Ariel stood at the center, shining so brightly that she seemed like the incarnation of a god.

It felt as if everything in the world was kneeling before Ariel’s light, being purified and renewed.

Then, a blinding flash shot out from Ariel’s hand.

Kwaang!

A pillar of sacred light enveloped the World Tree.