Chapter 53 – The Elf and the Dark Elf (3)
Nothing is absolute. One must be willing to change boldly if necessary. From my point of view, it was enough for them to receive just that.
I don’t know what the right answer is, whether we should stay still or take risks.
Having completed a grand departure ceremony, I instructed the earth spirit to lower the towering stone pillar and stepped onto the flat ground.
“Let’s get going. I don’t know what will happen there, so stay tense.”
The elves’ gazes upon me were varied. Many were in shock, while others offered more fervent support.
There were quite a few who seemed completely detached, like Elder Elnar.
“Didn’t we commit a grave mistake?”
“I didn’t say anything I shouldn’t have.”
Patrick whispered cautiously, but I stood confidently. After all, the loss of the bond with the spirits was clearly a mistake made by the contemporary elves.
In such a situation, my words, related to the spirits, couldn’t help but be right. It was as if the sword’s hilt was given solely to me.
Given that they also understood this, it was obvious they wouldn’t dare cross the line with me. If they did, they would ultimately betray the very justifications they held most firmly.
“Now let’s think about what might happen ahead.”
After enjoying some delightful moments with the elves, as I exited their city and stepped back into the vast forest, I smiled bitterly at the ominous feeling that I could still sense from afar.
The spirits, who had been cheerful, felt their mood suddenly dampen until they nearly stuck to me, as that foreboding had already begun to erode this land.
“Since a few who first discovered that place have gone missing or died, we have merely been watching from a distance.”
“That’s probably for the best. We’d have a hard time solving things even if we did go directly.”
Arisa reported with a tense expression about what they were doing at that location.
In fact, I needed to hear the results of Renia’s investigation, which was targeting the entire continent, but for now, the only power capable of responding to the erosion was the strength I possessed.
The elves likely had a high probability of being unable to eliminate it, even if they reached the heart of the erosion.
“This is a bit extreme.”
And upon reaching the site of the problem, I bit my lip at the surging ominousness.
Contrary to the elves’ claims that it had been quiet for quite some time, the foreboding began to stir as if it had been waiting for my arrival.
“Everyone, form up!”
The panicked elves hurriedly organized their defensive lines, aiming shields and spears, while archers raised their bows to target the front.
Just as the erosion site had unleashed goblins to annihilate adventurers and placed the city’s defenders in crisis, the defenses activated.
“—, —!”
“Are those elves?”
I was taken aback as I heard the spirits describe the enemies. The countless incoming foes were dark-skinned, rampaging elves.
“T-they’re Dark Elves!”
Corrupted elves, Dark Elves. The elves were horrified to see them charging in with weapons drawn.
In a way, they faced enemies more formidable than humans.
“These are not the Dark Elves you know. Don’t let your guard down!”
I shouted urgently, recalling how the goblins that had burst forth from the erosion site had rampaged with strength beyond comprehension.
“Hold the line!”
The elves rained arrows and held their formation as they engaged in battle, but the scene quickly descended into chaotic confusion.
“Damn…”
I gritted my teeth and had no choice but to call upon the spirits’ power to its maximum. I knocked down numerous charging foes, causing arrows to drop or go astray with strong winds.
The power I borrowed from the spirits was indeed strong enough to face dozens on my own.
“Ugh!?”
However, the rampaging foes were not to be underestimated. The mana-clad spear pierced my wind barrier and flew straight toward me.
The stone pillar raised by the earth spirit barely blocked it.
“Rina, stay still!”
Hurriedly checking on others, I saw Patrick wielding a sword to protect Rina. Arisa was also battling the Dark Elves alongside other elf warriors.
“Go and help Lila.”
I urged the wind spirit that had shown interest in Lila to aid her.
Having drawn her sword in haste, Lila, still lacking experience in real combat, trusted the wind enveloping her and barely swung her sword.
‘This is insufficient. I need to face more myself.’
Yet, despite these desperate efforts, I judged the situation to be unfavorable.
If it continued like this, even if we were to win, our side would sustain too many injuries and casualties. The spirits were actively fighting even now, launching sharp stone spears and wind blades, but more strength was needed.
‘How long we can keep fighting is uncertain, but it can’t be helped.’
I ultimately made a decision. I didn’t know how long my mana, which still needed to grow, could endure, but I needed firepower for myself.
“I-Iriliana!”
Rina, who had been anxiously fidgeting, looked at me with wide eyes. A brilliant light coalesced and began to take shape in my hand.
“Is that…!?”
Patrick recognized it and gasped in astonishment. Holding what had drawn everyone’s attention, I swiftly braced the stock and aimed my sights at the enemy.
“Eat this.”
As the earth spirit turned the ground into mud, causing the trapped enemies to struggle, I grinned and pulled the trigger in rapid succession.
The fragments of the bygone era, which I had previously converted and absorbed through mana, consumed chunks of my power with each shot fired.
“—!”
But its power was substantial.
The gunfire, accompanied by a deafening noise, resembled the forcibly resurrected relics of the past. It ignored all contemporary powers and pierced the enemies’ bodies with pure physical force.
Seeing them collapse, spilling blood, it seemed that at least the Dark Elves had no means to withstand these bullets.
*
“…”
While the main force of the elves led by Iriliana was engaged in a fierce battle, those who had circled around took advantage of the commotion to stealthily infiltrate this area.
They found themselves in a position where the elves’ city was clearly visible.
“Conquer the city.”
An intense will to incite them directed their operation. While the main forces of the elves were entering, they would send a separate unit to attack the nearly deserted elven city.
A multitude of Dark Elves, armed and ready, began to charge toward the city that was lacking troops. By the time the elves realized it, it was already too late.
“Elder! Enemies! Dark Elves from the northern forest!”
“What… what?!”
Elder Elnar, who had been frozen in shock since morning, rushed out with his staff, alarmed. Outside the city, elves left in the city and Dark Elves were locked in a fierce struggle, staining the beautiful city with blood.
“No! How dare these wicked beings!”
Elnar joined the battle alongside other elves.
Though his frail body was aged, the strong mana cultivated over many years remained within him.
He swung his staff, casting spells to enshroud himself with crimson energy and attacked the rampaging Dark Elves.
As expected of an elder, he fought valiantly, taking down multiple enemies, but with all the main forces absent, the elves couldn’t help but be overrun by the rampaging foes.
“Struggling, are we, Elder?”
“Who are you!? Where did you come from!”
At that moment, a Dark Elf spoke to him. Unlike others, he was a bald man with a glimmer of sharpness in his eyes.
“The great end has already begun. Why not join us instead of struggling? This world must once again… vanish.”
“Shut up!”
The audacity of the Dark Elf proposing defection made Elnar’s blood boil, and he shouted as if he were about to spit blood.
“How dare you suggest such a thing to me, the elder of my clan!”
“Still stubborn, I see. But look at yourself. And look around. Elves are only regressing, day after day. It’s because stubborn fools like you refuse to accept change. If you’re confident, why not try using that pride to stop us?”
The smirking Dark Elf pointed his bow at somewhere.
A chill ran down Elnar’s spine, and he turned to see his daughter, Eluria, rushing forward with a bow to help him.
“Eluria!”
He shouted urgently, but the arrow infused with dark magical energy was already released. Eluria noticed it as well and threw herself to the side, but in that moment, the arrow, cutting through the air, grazed her arm and left a long wound.
“It’s too late. Your daughter will not escape the curse.”
Elnar rushed over in desperation, but her arm, which he held, was already turning black.
