Chapter 191
“Graaah!”
“Kill... them!”
“Full assault!”
Pitch black silhouettes screamed. They were slender and had pointy ears, resembling elves. However, they were not elves; they were Dains, an Invasive Chaos of elves, commonly known as dark elves.
[Dain of the race Chaos, discovered.]
There were Dains of various ranks: Shen, Segal, Adora, and Uluhatu. Those who had experienced their stealth and speed in the forest knew how much of a nightmare they were in such a terrain. However, the screams echoing throughout the forest belonged only to the Dains.
A man jumped from tree to tree like a pinball; it was Seong-Hwi. He moved like a streak of darkness, and a hole was punctured on the solar plexus of every Chaos monster he passed, regardless of their rank. The Dains’ os were located in their solar plexus, and a simple swing of the Titanic Tide Kris’s wavy blade stripped off their flesh, their ribs along with it, destroying their os.
Seong-Hwi stopped, standing horizontally on a tree, defying gravity. He smiled in satisfaction as he stared at the Pressurizing Leather Boots and said, “These sure are handy.”
The soles of these boots were made from the hooves of an ircus, a goat, and could freely absorb and release air. They allowed him to travel from tree to tree faster and more agile than a monkey.
Two Dains remained—the Armed Uluhatu-rank ones leading the group. Seong-Hwi threw the Titanic Tide Kris so fast that the Chaos did not even see the dagger piercing its solar plexus. A dagger thrown with A(92) Strength and S(4) Magic was far too powerful for a Uluhatu-rank Chaos to block.
“GAAAH!” the attacked Chaos screamed.
“You’re an idiot to throw your weapon!” the remaining Chaos shouted as it charged at Seong-Hwi, its fist growing to twice its original size and filling with Chaos Mana.
However, Seong-Hwi, having no intention of dodging, activated a skill.
[Activating Item Skill: Shadow Control.]
“Gurgh!”
The charging Chaos suddenly stopped in midair like a fly caught in a spider web. It looked down and saw the edge of the Titanic Tide Kris protruding from his solar plexus.
“What... just...” the Chaos mumbled as it fell to the ground and looked behind it.
There was the corpse of the Dain who had died instantly from the dagger throw. A branch-like shadow had risen from the corpse and thrown the dagger.
Seong-Hwi outstretched his arm once he confirmed that the second Uluhatu-rank Dain was dead. The branch-like shadow rose from the second corpse this time; it pulled out the dagger in the corpse’s torso and threw it at Seong-Hwi, who caught it and sheathed it behind his back.
He smiled and remarked, “Using Shadow Control for surprise attacks is pretty good, too. It could serve as an unexpected critical strike if combined with the Foul Play trait.”
Shadow Control was the skill built into the item, Archane Hoodie.
Leo, covered in the Dains’ blood, walked toward Seong-Hwi and asked, “Why does it feel like you’re even more agile in the forest, Seong-Hwi? You’re more like an elf than the dark elves.”
Wang Chen, standing beside Leo, mumbled, “I understand all the hype around RB now... What a monster.”
Excluding the bizarre surprise attack skill he activated at the end, Seong-Hwi had hunted over a hundred Dains purely with his basic stats. Wang Chen couldn’t see Seong-Hwi as a fellow human.
Wang Chen remarked, “I did mention we should keep the combat noise down since we have to keep a low profile, but... I didn’t expect you to fight completely bare.”
Leo placed his hand on Wang Chen’s shoulder and said, “I understand how you feel. You should just stop trying to understand him.”
Seong-Hwi jumped down from the tree and asked Wang Chen, “Are we heading the right way?”
“We are. We’ll come across a swamp soon. It used to be naga territory.”
“Nagas, huh? No wonder the dragons are advancing from the southeast.”
Nagas were highly amicable with the dragons. Although they weren’t a subordinate race, their relationship was very close to that level.
“It’s called the crescent swamp because the swamp is shaped like a half moon,” Wang Chen explained.
“Yes, I remember you talking about it before. If I were a dragon, I would set up a defense line at that swamp,” Seong-Hwi replied.
He remembered thinking the swamp was the optimal terrain when Wang Chen had mentioned details.
“I think so, too. We’ve been able to advance while staying out of the dragons’ sight until now, but it will be difficult to do so from here on out.”
Seong-Hwi fell into thought. Not only will a swamp reduce our mobility, but the lack of trees also increases our exposure.
If he were by himself, he could have used the Hermit’s Robe and the Wings of Evolution to pass without being detected, but Leo and Wang Chen were accompanying him.
I miss Chaya, he thought.
Just then, his senses detected a bizarre, blazing presence rapidly approaching them.
He unsheathed the Titanic Tide Kris and shouted, “Prepare for combat!”
Leo and Wang Chen prepared their respective weapons. Flames surged before them, and a woman made of white flames appeared, seemingly impatient.
She looked back and forth among the three and asked, “Are you humans? How did you use the power of the dark spirits?”
“What... in the world?” mumbled Leo, sweating buckets from the sudden heat rise, as he stared at the mystical woman in flames.
He had never seen a spirit, but Wang Chen, a former guide for Clan Spirit Tours, recognized the woman instantly.
“Fire spirit, Saleana?”
***
Cherec was a hidden floor, even higher than Peri, of the inside world of the World Tree, Sefirot, located in Elvenheim, the capital city of the elves. The entire space shone with an emerald light, and a warm, golden light shone down from above.
The voice of an elderly man echoed inside the private space restricted to most. “Master Keter. It’s Chokmah.”
The well-built old elf had a white beard reaching his belly button. Anyone would feel bare naked before his shining, dreamlike white eyes.
The entire Cherec shook, and the tree bark on the wall turned into a mask-like, expressionless face with no distinct features. The face’s mouth moved, and a voice of indecipherable gender or age echoed.
“How is it out there, Chokmah?”
“Not good. Gevurah, Netzach, and Malkuth of the Sefirah, accompanied by ten of the superior bloodlines, including Alef, Mem, and Shin, have gone to the fourth zone to stop Insectum’s advance, but... They are having difficulty,” Chokmah reported.
“Thirteen bloodlines together cannot stop him? Was Insectum always that powerful?”
“There is that, too, but conflict with the dragons, angels, demons, and other races also played a part.”
“The First Lord... has no intention of mobilizing the Sēmen. Does he think the forces gathered around Forestis can handle this crisis?” Keter mumbled.
Chokmah, the wisdom of the elves, continued, “They are all targeting Insectum—or more specifically, the Entomancy Stone he possesses. If there is an anomaly, it would be the spirits.”
“The spirits?”
“Yes. The four spirit monarchs, who rarely show themselves, have appeared on the front lines to stop Insectum.”
“I recall making a pact with them, but... From what I know, they are not obligated to help us. Why now, all of a sudden?”
“I was curious about that as well, but all we can say for sure is that Insectum must also be a threat to the fairies.”
The mask-like wood face remained silent momentarily and continued, “Whatever the case, it is good for us. Has there been a response from the Union?”
“Yes... They responded by... killing the child of House Qof, whom we had sent as an envoy. They also stated that they want us to send a negotiation team that includes a Sefirah, not a spy.”
Keter remained silent, seemingly lost for words because of the highly unexpected result. “The gall of a mere inferior race... They must be insane.”
“They are likely thinking our hands are tied, and they are right. We do not have the leeway to divide our forces to retaliate against them.”
Humanity had cleverly taken advantage of the elves’ circumstances, proving even an inferior race could struggle if trampled on.
“But this makes it certain. We don’t know what they have, but... There is a high chance that it is real.” Chokmah’s white eyes shone as he continued, “Whatever they have that can stop the World Tree’s rampage, if it is important enough that they are willing to give up on Lee Kang-San to keep it hidden...”
Keter finished Chokmah’s sentence. “Meaning they are trying to obtain from us something that is of greater value. Then, it must be real. Now that it’s come to this, it’s truly a shame that we let Lee Kang-San slip through our fingers. I did not expect the Tortoise Emperor to have such an item.”
The expressionless bark face crumpled for the first time.
Keter continued, “But no matter. He will not be able to come out of there. What of the pursuit party?”
“Binah and Hod of the Sefirah, and four of the superior bloodlines are chasing him as we speak.”
“Hod? Lapsus’s great-great-grandchild, huh?”
Lapsus was the former Hod, the Seventh Fiend, and a traitor to their race. The crisis would not have escalated to this extent if he had remained in Sefirot.
Keter recalled what Lapsus had said when they separated.
“I, Lapsus, declare that true glory (Hod) will no longer exist in Sefirot, Keter—no, Rafina.”
Keter continued, “Tear off the skin of Lee Kang-San’s face when he is captured, and send it to the Union.”
“Yes, Master Keter. However... Are you not aware of the solution to all of our problems?” Chokmah asked. One did not require wisdom to solve this problem, which was simply a matter of power. “Master Keter... Why are you not taking charge of the situation? If you do, neither Insectum nor Lee Kang-San could—”
Keter interrupted, “The state of the World Tree is worse than you think. I must tend to her extensively.”
“But—”
“Enough. The World Tree’s next rampage will begin soon, so tell the others to use that opportunity. You may leave.”
“Master Keter—” Chokmah shouted, but he was expelled from Cherec with the flash of emerald light.
The mask-like bark face slowly began to disappear from the wall.
“You’re sorely mistaken... if you think you can steal my Fruit!” Keter’s furious voice echoed throughout the emptiness. “Come if you dare. I will not let my guard down, Curiositas!”
***
“I see,” Saleana said as she stared at Seong-Hwi’s Archane Hoodie in disappointment. “It wasn’t... a dark spirit.”
“A dwarf artisan crafted this item. You are more than welcome to examine it,” Seong-Hwi said as he stuffed his hand inside his hoodie pocket and pulled out the sleeping Bulgasal by its trunk.
Pwoo! the startled Bulgasal trumpeted as it squirmed.
“It’s... okay. I can tell from just a glance. It contains the trace of Master Archane, the dark spirit monarch. There is no way he is still with us... What was I expecting?”
Leo stared at the sighing Saleana and said to Wang Chen, “It’s my first time seeing a spirit. She’s quite strong. She could easily defeat a Semi Ranker.”
“Not all spirits are as strong as she is. She is Saleana, a super-grade fire spirit.”
“Saleana, huh? Is that her name?”
“No, the spirits are a little unique. None of them, besides the spirit monarchs, have names, but not even I know why,” Wang Chen answered.
Saleana woefully stared at Seong-Hwi’s hoodie, then turned around with a sigh, saying, “Having the dark spirits’ help would have made rescuing the fairies much easier... Please excuse me.”
As she was about to vanish with the flames, she felt a hand grab her shoulder.
“Kyaaah! Let go of me!” Saleana shouted.
Grabbing a super-grade fire spirit with one’s bare hand would not only burn off the flesh of their hand, but also destroy every cell of their hand, leading to necrosis. However, the human man’s hand was fine.
“Huh?” Saleana expressed.
She thought, Does this human’s Magic stat caliber exceed that of my flames?
“Rescuing fairies?” asked the man with black hair and eyes, smiling with great interest. “Could you tell me the details?”
Seong-Hwi thought, I didn’t expect to meet a spirit by pure coincidence! I can’t let this chance slip past. I should be thankful to the dwarves!
He had to meet Elementum at all costs.
***
Explosions echoed as the jungle was pushed back, the trees were obliterated, and cliffs were penetrated. Such outrageous destruction was being carried out by none other than Insectum, the Insect King, wearing black armor resembling the exoskeleton of a beetle.
He leisurely walked along the path he had pierced through the jungle. His surroundings were covered in black flies and disgusting caterpillars. The insectoids residing in Forestis had gathered and were becoming one with their king. The caterpillars endlessly crawled into Insectum’s black armor, and the flies flew into it as if being sucked in.
Insectum outstretched his arm, his hand covered in a dark green aura. It used to be a combination of mana and Erosion Force, the secondary force of insectoids, but the green energy had become dark green after being mixed with Chaos Mana.
[Activating Race Skill: Extermination Wave.]
A dark green energy wave, filled with insects so small that they were barely visible to the naked eye, began from Insectum’s hand and pulsed forward. The insects devoured everything in their path.
“Block it!”
“Haaaaah!”
“We won’t let you get any further!”
“I’ll kill you!”
Four individuals appeared before the Extermination Wave that relentlessly destroyed the jungle. They were the fire, water, earth, and wind spirit monarchs.
Sallion, the fire spirit monarch, burned even hotter and shot a pillar of golden fire. Ellaim, the water spirit monarch, sent down arrows of rain from the sky. Gnoass, the earth spirit monarch, lifted the ground, and Sylphid, the wind spirit monarch, created hurricanes to blow the insects away.
Their combined attacks stopped the Extermination Wave, but the four spirit monarchs suffered great damage in doing so.
“Gurghhh!”
“Kurgh!”
“In...sectum!”
Sallion’s golden flames turned white, Ellaim became fainter, half of Gnoass’s body was gone, and Sylphid panted heavily. However, Insectum showed no signs of fatigue and gathered the Extermination Wave around his hand again.
The difference between their caliber was almost despairing, but they couldn’t retreat. The Spirit Land would be in danger if the spirit monarchs did not stop Insectum’s advance.
An individual looked down at the spirit monarchs’ desperation from above and chuckled mockingly.
“Foolish.”
“Inferior races.”
“But still of benefit.”
It was a woman with three heads: of a young woman, a middle-aged woman, and an elderly woman. She was covered in red scales, and her hair was a fiery red. She was the leader of Clan Incendio, one of the pillars of Echion. She was the three-headed dragon of crimson destruction; the sixty-ninth World Ranker, Adi Dahak.
“A pointless effort.”
“But an inferior race’s service.”
“Is commendable.”
The three heads took turns speaking. Behind Adi Dahak was a line of Incendio’s dragon army, polymorphed as humans.
“But the packs of wolves.”
“Waiting for an opportunity.”
“Are an eyesore.”
Adi Dahak’s three heads each looked in different directions. The young woman’s head looked up at the northern sky, where an army of pure white was standing by; they were soldiers of Orbis. Although not an archangel, the first-grade angel with nine pairs of wings, Raziel, led them.
The middle-aged woman’s head looked up at the eastern sky, where several demons worked hard to flap their wings as they held up a golden couch. A naked woman with colorful eyes all around her body was lying on it. She was Andrealphus, the Beautiful Marquess, a renowned World Ranker of Necrophilia.
The elderly woman’s head looked forward at the individuals hiding inside the bushes. A giant, drooling bear beastfolk with a crescent mark on his chest stood at the forefront. He was Ursi, the Rotten Bear, fourth in the beastfolk ranking, and a World Ranker of Barbaria.
“Opportunist.”
“Vulgar demon.”
“Stinky bear.”
A few other skilled individuals were also observing Insectum’s every action, reading the atmosphere as they watched the spirit monarchs’ desperate struggles, since the one who engaged in battle first would be at a disadvantage.
Just then, they felt a vibration that shook Forestis as a whole. It was so strong that even Insectum stopped his advance.
Adi Dahak’s three heads spoke simultaneously.
“Could it be?”
“Is Sefirot.”
“Rampaging again?”
Tens of thousands of giant roots sprouted from the ground before the heads could even finish their sentences. The roots moved like snakes searching for their prey, piercing all life regardless of friend or foe.
“GAAAH!”
“URGHHH!”
“Help... me!”
The ones stabbed by the roots were sucked dry instantly.
“Fire!”
“Right!”
“Now!”
Not only the dragons, but the other races attacked the World Tree’s roots that stretched toward them. The roots were destroyed after being struck by focused attacks, but more roots sprouted from the ground to take their place. It was like an abyssal monster sprouting countless tentacles from the depths of the sea.
To make matters worse, the elves of Sefirot, who had been standing by for an opportunity, executed an ambush. They were led by the three Sefirah: Gevurah, Netzach, and Malkuth.
“How dare you hurt the Mother Tree?!”
“Kill them all!”
“Exterminate the intruders!”
“Haaaaah!”
“Kill them!”
An individual in this colossal current of the era was but a raindrop falling into a tsunami.
***
Seong-Hwi felt the vibrations shaking the entire Forestis as he said to Saleana, “I will help you, but in exchange, you spirits must help me, too.”
“Pardon?” Saleana remarked, blinking in confusion.
Seong-Hwi thought, I will acquire as much as I can here!
Every crisis was an opportunity. The relatively weak had to be more clever and move faster than the absolutely powerful to survive.