Chapter 103

Ariel’s ‘Pure Soul’ shot towards the World Tree was the ultimate Sacred Magic that only a handful of high-ranking priests could cast.

Concentrating vast divine power, it erases the curses and karma embedded in the soul, restoring the soul to its purest form.

Among purification-related Sacred Magic, Pure Soul is the most effective, but it was designated as forbidden magic in the Cathedral.

This is because casting it consumes an immense amount of divine power in an instant, potentially leaving the caster crippled or even dead.

However, Ariel had no issues.

Ariel’s mana was infinite, and converting that mana meant her divine power was also infinite.

Even after casting Pure Soul, Ariel’s face remained serene.

Soon, the pillar of holy light enveloping the World Tree began to fade.

A reverent silence fell over the forest.

Not even the sound of the wind or the rustling of leaves could be heard.

The Elves held their breath as they watched the World Tree.

Soon, the light completely dissipated, revealing the World Tree.

“…!”

The World Tree had returned to its original form.

The once blackened bark had returned to its emerald green color, and the withered branches stretched out vigorously.

Lush blue leaves grew on every branch, and the surrounding spring water filled with clear liquid.

The dark energy that had lingered around disappeared, replaced by a vibrant natural energy.

A warm ray of sunlight gently bathed the World Tree.

“The… the World Tree has returned…”

An Elf elder fell to his knees, tears of gratitude streaming down his face.

“Ohh…”

One by one, all the Elves present slowly knelt.

Riana and Silvan, as well as the Elven leader Nameria, all offered prayers in a reverent posture.

The scene resembled devotees praying to a god in the Cathedral, which was only natural.

The World Tree was the object of worship for the Elves.

The restoration of the World Tree spread throughout the forest in an instant.

Withered trees regained their vitality, dead grass turned green again, and the corrupted Elves and Ents were purified, returning to their original forms.

After finishing their prayers, the Elves rose one by one and approached Ariel.

“Thank you… for restoring the World Tree to its original state…”

Neither the elders nor Nameria had thought Ariel was the hero prophesied.

Because the prophecy stated that the hero would be “one who does not inherit the blood of the Elves.”

Ariel’s appearance was undeniably that of an Elf.

But that no longer mattered.

Ariel had purified the World Tree and saved the Elf’s Forest.

Even if she wasn’t the prophesied hero, thanks to Ariel, everyone was saved, and the Elves expressed their deep gratitude to her.

*

Everyone began to celebrate the revival of the World Tree, enjoying a time of blessing.

Some Elves sat under the shade of trees playing harps, while some Ents danced merrily.

Elf children ran around the World Tree, laughing, and Ents slowly chased after them.

Riana led her troops to organize the refuge, while Ariel and Silvan climbed onto Greenheart’s back to share a cake.

Nameria, the Elven leader, watched all this with a content expression, but suddenly her face stiffened.

‘Come to think of it…’

A thought had briefly crossed her mind.

It was the first line of the prophecy.

[…From the distant darkness, the time will come when the power of the evil god Nakshis awakens.]

The evil god, Nakshis.

Nameria, who had entered the Eternal Archive, had also researched Nakshis.

Nakshis was an ancient fallen god.

He sought to destroy the world using the power of darkness, and the Elves fought against him.

But unable to withstand Nakshis’ immense power, the Elves suffered great losses and eventually faced a crisis.

At that time, the great Elven hero Althea came up with a plan.

It was to seal Nakshis using the power of the World Tree.

All the Elves agreed. After all, they couldn’t just let Nakshis destroy them.

And on the day of the final battle.

Althea fought Nakshis before the World Tree.

The fierce battle lasted three days and nights, ending in Althea’s victory.

Althea succeeded in sealing Nakshis using the power of the World Tree.

But there was a problem.

The seal wouldn’t last forever.

It was fine for now, but after a long time, Nakshis’ seal would inevitably break.

But Althea wasn’t worried.

Althea was the only Elf who could communicate with the World Tree.

According to the whispers of the World Tree that Althea heard, a hero would appear to save the Elves when Nakshis’ seal broke in the distant future.

That hero wouldn’t inherit the blood of the Elves, but they would defeat the darkness and save the Elves…

Nameria’s gaze turned to Ariel.

Ariel was undoubtedly an Elf.

She had purified the World Tree and saved the Elves, but she wasn’t the hero from Althea’s prophecy.

‘If the seal of the evil god Nakshis breaks now…’

Just as Nameria thought that.

BOOM!!

A deafening roar shook the heavens and earth, and a dark energy covered the sky.

*

“Wh-what’s happening…?”

The Elves looked around in shock.

The purified energy of the World Tree was overshadowed as darkness enveloped the surroundings once more.

A massive rift split open before the World Tree, and black energy flowed out from within.

“Ahhh!”

The young Elves playing nearby screamed, and the Ents slowly extended their branches to shield them.

“……”

Nameria bit her lip.

She had a feeling she knew what this was.

It was certain. Nakshis’ seal had broken.

From the black smoke, a massive figure slowly emerged.

Glowing red eyes, sharp bones protruding like horns from its head to its back.

Its skin was tainted black by the dark energy, and a corrupted aura emanated from its surroundings.

The evil god, Nakshis.

“…The Elf’s Forest hasn’t changed.”

Nakshis slowly raised his head and looked around.

Massive black wings rested on his back, and in his hand was a massive sword with a sharp, split tip.

“But now, it ends.”

Nakshis turned his gaze to the World Tree.

His eyes burned with deep anger—anger towards the World Tree that had sealed him for so long.

“The Elf’s Forest shall face destruction.”

Nakshis raised the sword in his hand.

Dark energy swirled and gathered at the tip of his sword.

The black mist-like darkness rose and began to swirl around Nakshis at an increasingly rapid pace.

The darkness swallowed the forest, and even the sky was obscured, plunging the world into darkness.

Nakshis, towering like a nightmare risen from the abyss, raised his sword towards the World Tree.

The Elves turned pale and trembled, none daring to think of standing against him.

No, there was one.

The wise leader of the Elves, Nameria.

“Stop!”

She pointed a staff made from a branch of the World Tree at Nakshis and shouted.

“I won’t allow you to harm the World Tree!”

Nakshis slowly turned to face her, his eyes reflecting Nameria as nothing more than an old, frail Elf.

Wrinkled face, thin limbs, and a body far too small compared to Nakshis.

A sneer formed on Nakshis’ lips.

“Do you think you can stop me, old Elf?”

“…I am Nameria, leader of the Elves. Descendant of Althea, who sealed you, Nakshis.”

“Hahaha!”

Nakshis suddenly burst into laughter.

“So this frail, pitiful Elf claims to be Althea’s descendant.”

Nakshis glanced around.

The Elves stood far back, trembling.

No hero like Althea was in sight.

“The once mighty Elves who sealed me have fallen to such a pitiful state. Althea would lament if she knew.”

Nameria’s face flushed with anger, but she knew it too.

The ancient Elves were strong.

Strong enough that no other race dared to challenge them.

Strong enough to stride proudly across the continent.

But now, the Elves lived secluded in the Elf’s Forest, hiding to avoid being sold as slaves to humans.

The glory of the past was gone.

But still, they lived peacefully in the Elf’s Forest.

Children played happily in the forest, and the Ents quietly tended to it.

That peaceful daily life was enough.

Even without glory, they wanted to maintain that peace.

Nameria glared at Nakshis with a determined gaze.

“…Even if the Elves’ power has weakened, our will remains. We will never let you harm the World Tree.”

At that moment, something approached Nameria’s side.

The old Elf elders. Riana and her troops, who had just arrived. The massive Ents.

All stood by Nameria’s side, ready to face Nakshis.

Nakshis stopped sneering and quietly observed them.

“Fools, do you think you can stop me? Your era is over. The World Tree, this forest, the world—everything will disappear into my darkness.”

The black energy emanating from Nakshis’ sword surged into the sky, forming a massive darkness.

A terrifying force that seemed ready to swallow the world.

Fear of death appeared on the faces of Nameria, all the Elves, and the Ents.

Yet, with unwavering resolve, they all wore determined expressions.

“Everything shall kneel before my power.”

Nakshis swung his sword down.

And in that moment, Nameria saw it.

A small Elf with silver hair fluttering, stepping in front of her.