Ch.113World Tree (3)

“It seems the early eastern region was a barren wasteland without forests.”

In a world shrouded in darkness, the hero’s party remained seated around the table in the cabin where Durin had disappeared.

They had little role to play while the epic narrative unfolded. Yet, unable to sit still with restless bodies, they had thoroughly searched the World Tree’s home.

“The World Tree seems to have hidden its power shortly after being born.”

“Wasn’t the great tree a seed left by the Creator God? Is there even a question of strength?”

“This world was created by the Creator God’s whim. You might ask how we know the god’s intentions, but we elves only know what our mother World Tree recorded. We don’t know the actual truth.”

“Explain how that relates to the World Tree’s strength.”

In response to the hero’s question, Eliya examined an ancient book and answered.

“Mother World Tree was ultimately just one of the beings created by the Creator God to introduce variables into the human realm. She wasn’t born with special powers or any such intention.”

“Then this great forest…”

“It’s the direction Mother chose according to the flow of fate. By creating a quaint forest, avoiding contact with humans, and establishing an independent force, she ended up not belonging to the faith of the God of Light.”

*Sniff!*

Eliya sniffled. She had managed to control the intense emotions that arose from meeting Mother World Tree. In this space tested by darkness, she tried her best to maintain composure.

“Is that also related to having a fragment of the Forgotten God? Creating variables?”

“We don’t know that either. There’s no recorded information about it.”

The elf shook her head. It was something she couldn’t find in any of the numerous ancient texts. That’s why it was so perplexing. The fact that a sacred relic of the Forgotten God was given to someone seeking it. Moreover, Durin was, in a way, a ruler of the current era who defied the heavens. For the preservation of her race, she should have rationally judged whether he deserved to be entrusted with the sacred relic, but his previous behavior suggested otherwise.

“So that’s why you could quickly regain your composure after sobbing with emotion earlier?”

The hero looked at the elf with a giggle. Eliya cleared her throat in embarrassment. The momentous occasion of meeting the object of her faith had been marred by a great demon, leaving her with much to contemplate.

“I wonder what happened in the past.”

Eliya muttered as she turned the pages of the ancient book. Ancient elven characters densely inscribed on yellowed paper. It was a diary written by the World Tree herself. While it didn’t contain detailed content, it roughly described what had happened at that time.

They had found it immediately in the cupboard when they began searching the cabin, suggesting no intention to hide it. Rather, it seemed like an invitation to read. According to the diary entries examined so far, there was a period when the flames of war engulfed the forest while it was being cultivated after the Creator God’s blessing.

This was likely the starting point of all these events.

The scripture preserved by the Dark Order dealt with the time when demons were driven from heaven by angels. On that day when the entire human realm burned. The World Tree would not have escaped the disaster either. She must have taken measures to survive somehow amid the conflict between angels and demons.

“But…”

What were those emotions shown when facing Durin? The words and actions reminiscent of an old love. Those tender eyes were unforgettable. Yet demons were clearly on the side of destroying the human realm.

*Saaaa-*

“Huh?”

It happened while she was lost in thought. Suddenly, light began flowing from the ancient book. The hero, the elf, and the inconspicuous dwarf warrior who had been nodding off in the corner all snapped to attention.

“Eliya. Did you touch something strange?”

“N-no. I just turned a page.”

“Was that some kind of trigger?”

The hero stood up, gripping his sword. Since Eliya had pulled the bowstring, so to speak, he raised his tension in preparation to respond.

That moment was the moment of change.

“Whoa.”

Darkness descended. The torches lighting the cabin suddenly went out. A darkness close to the abyss crept over their vision. They couldn’t resist. It felt like being dragged beneath the surface of water. Eyes gradually closing, breathing slowing.

“This is too sudden…”

That was the last memory.

#

“General! The heavenly army has killed several of our scout beasts.”

“They’re right on our heels now. At this rate, we won’t reach the forest.”

The demons’ situation was deteriorating. The angels, emboldened after recovering one sacred relic, had split their forces and begun pursuit. Moreover, communication had been cut off with the commander’s army heading south, completely blocking information. With only 500 troops, there was nothing they could do against this tide.

The scent of defeat grew stronger.

“We’ll distance ourselves as much as possible. If they predict our route and block us, we’ll break through.”

“If necessary, we’ll be the bait. Please succeed, sir.”

Dantalos’s unit calmly accepted death. Fate was forcing them toward their end, and they faced it without fear. They were always ready to sacrifice themselves for the future.

“Erase a village that worships angels! Kill them as cruelly as possible so they’ll focus on us!”

*Buuuuuu-*

With the sound of a horn, his subordinates departed. Riding on war horses, they raised black smoke throughout the eastern continent. They killed everyone, leaving no one alive. It didn’t matter if their sins shocked the Creator God. They took all the blame for the sake of others.

Already cast out from heaven, they no longer followed the flow but sought to twist it.

“General. Now’s our chance. Hurry.”

“…”

Dantalos didn’t follow their retreating figures. He knew better than anyone what their deaths were for. He gripped the reins firmly and moved forward. To avoid the miserable fate of the detachment captured and killed by angels in the north, he needed to hurry toward his destination.

The dim silhouette visible in the distance. If they could just reach that place, they would overcome the first hurdle.

No matter how powerful the angels who had seized heaven were, they couldn’t surpass the rank of the Creator God. Or perhaps they might reveal their ambitions in madness, not knowing their place. But there was no time to set up contingencies for negative scenarios.

Time built upon death was far too precious.

“We’re almost there. Hurry.”

The cavalry, reduced from five hundred to two hundred, raised dust clouds.

Leaving behind the final moments of countless burning settlements.

…

Seven nights passed like that.

Praises to heaven echoed from all directions, and curses against demons covered the world. Fear of death and hostility coexisted. This was both excellent nourishment and poison. The power engraved along Dantalos’s path gave strength to move forward but also guided the angel pursuit squad’s direction.

“General. Over there!”

Fortunately, Dantalos was able to arrive one step ahead. The small forest before them. It seemed ridiculously unimpressive for a sanctuary housing the World Tree created by the Creator God, but the demons understood as soon as they arrived.

“Come this way.”

“The injured first, hurry!”

“God, please save us.”

A group of trembling refugees had gathered in the forest. They too had chosen the best option to survive the war. They clung to the slender hope that they wouldn’t die if a high-ranking being created by the Creator God was nearby. Though they had to live in a tent village rather than a comfortable town, they seemed satisfied. At least they could escape a hellish death.

“Here’s water. Quickly, for the injured…”

“What’s wrong?”

“Th-there…”

A girl in a blood-stained apron, who had been busily running around, broke the peace with her shock. The gradually approaching black shadow. The moment she saw the demon flag proudly fluttering toward the sky, she collapsed. All the refugees watched the scene in horror. The death they had so desperately wanted to avoid had found them.

“Dear God!”

“Is nowhere safe?!”

“Help us! Save us!”

Those who were uninjured screamed and ran into the forest. The wounded shed tears and prayed to God. They hoped those demons who had burned their villages wouldn’t thrust swords into them. Though they knew the future wouldn’t change, their desperation for life was too great.

“Please. Please…”

Their quiet wishes manifested in reality. Life force was carried on the wind blowing from the forest. It was particles with an emerald light. A power unseen in heaven. The powerful forest entity stood before the demon army.

“Don’t worry, everyone.”

She was a woman with pointed ears unlike humans. Blue eyes visible beneath green hair were like dewdrops. This mysterious transcendent being, possessing both the beauty of an archangel and the vitality of humans, blocked the army of death.

“They will never harm this land.”

The World Tree. A variable in the human realm created by the Creator God.

Having made choices according to the flow of fate, she seemed to have decided on protection this time. Demons were evil beings oppressing weak humans and the main culprits of the war that had dyed the world in blood, so the decision was natural.

“Demon! You’ll have to get past me to fulfill your ambitions!”

The transcendent being stepped forward confidently. A wave of life struck the black army. It was a shock that swept across the earth, difficult to withstand even for warriors who had crossed thousands of battlefields.

“General! What should we do?!”

“If you command, we’ll prepare for battle immediately.”

The demons steeled themselves. With nowhere to retreat, the black army immediately drew their swords.

“Stop.”

Dantalos did not want battle. Not only could they not win, but even if they somehow pushed back the World Tree, there was no suitable place to hide. They needed to stick to the initial plan of using the Creator God’s rank for protection of the sacred relic.

“World Tree.”

“Are you preparing for a major battle? Good. Let’s see what you’ve got.”

The green transcendent being growled. Her hostility was considerable. Of course, it was useless before Dantalos, who was like a calm water surface.

“We are not at war with you. There is no reason to fight.”

“You’re planning to harm humans. As the Creator’s daughter, I have a duty to protect my father’s creations.”

“I swear that no battle will take place here. I vow on my mother’s body to you.”

Dantalos opened his hand. Red fighting spirit gathered in the empty air. The World Tree raised her power as well in case of any situation, but reached a futile result.

“What? Was it real?”

Above the demon’s hand floated a delicate ankle. Divine power flowed from the bloodstains that had not yet been erased. The Creator’s daughter clearly saw the faint trace.

“This isn’t right…”

Bewilderment flowed from her wide-open eyes. She couldn’t properly respond to the flow that differed from her expectations. That was the opportunity. Dantalos closed the red fighting spirit and approached the World Tree.

“We want only one thing. Permission for the black army to stay here temporarily.”

“Is that all? I feel like there must be more demands.”

“Only that you take care of this sacred relic in case of emergency. We desire nothing more.”

The World Tree’s eyes fixed on the sacred relic. It was pure curiosity. With divine power before her eyes, it was natural. Perhaps someone else would have tried their hardest to obtain it. It was only because she was a transcendent being born in the human realm as the Creator God’s daughter that she showed no particular reaction.

“If that’s the case. The forest welcomes anyone who doesn’t shed blood.”

“If you welcome us, I express my gratitude.”

“It’s not that much. I’m just curious about you bringing such an impossible item.”

The feared clash did not occur. The World Tree opened the way first. The humans who had been trembling in fear gasped and hid in the bushes again. The black army passed them by. As promised to the World Tree, they didn’t touch anyone. Carefully holding the sacred relic, they headed deep into the forest.

“This is strange. They must have some scheme.”

The World Tree swallowed an uneasy aftertaste as she watched their retreating figures.