Chapter 254

The World Tree.

It was a colossal tree,

Said to have existed since the dawn of time.

Its height soared into the heavens, and its trunk was so thick it seemed to belong to another world.

Its countless branches were adorned with lush, verdant leaves.

A sight that inspired awe.

Any being in the world, upon seeing the World Tree, would be filled with a sense of reverence.

Even the Red Rain group, who had invaded to burn it down, felt the same.

“Whew, that’s the World Tree? It’s truly magnificent.”

Kalkus exclaimed in awe.

“Huh, is that a tree or a castle? It seems even bigger than a castle.”

“Wow, it’s like a mountain, not a tree.”

“I could chop at it with an axe until I die of old age and wouldn’t even make a dent.”

“Obviously. Even our entire tribe couldn’t bring it down with axes.”

The Gray Dwarves murmured amongst themselves, their eyes wide with wonder.

“…”

Natasha closed her eyes and clasped her hands together in a gesture of prayer.

She was paying her last respects to the great being that had sown the seeds of countless lives since the beginning of time.

However,

The Messenger only sneered.

“Ha, it’s just a relic of the past that we’ll burn to ashes.”

“You insignificant creature! Don’t you dare speak of Mother with such disrespect!”

Hiwyn glared at the Messenger and raised his spear.

The Messenger glared back, his eyes filled with malice.

“Disrespect? It would be an honorable end for this relic of the past to serve as the foundation for a new world.”

A certain phrase caught the elder’s attention.

A new world.

“A new world? What do you mean?”

“Haha, a new world is literally a new world. We’ll wipe out everything old and rotten, and start anew in a pure, cleansed world.”

“You’re insane. Completely insane.”

The elder frowned in disgust.

They were madmen.

There was no other way to describe them.

The problem was that these madmen truly believed in their twisted vision and were determined to make it a reality.

They were a grave threat to the world.

They had to be stopped.

Here and now.

*Thud!*

The elder slammed his staff on the ground and chanted a spell.

Earth golems and wood golems emerged from the depths of the forest.

Dozens of them.

They were combat-ready golems, but he didn’t hold any unrealistic hopes that they could defeat the intruders.

They were outmatched.

The golems were merely a means to buy time.

Until the princess arrived.

That’s right.

The princess was their last hope.

“Come at us, invaders!”

The elder shouted, his voice filled with determination.

“Hmph, what can you do with those toys?”

The Messenger scoffed.

“Boys! Destroy everything!”

Kalkus roared.

“Waaaaaargh!”

The Gray Dwarves roared in response.

Natasha opened her eyes.

And so, the battle began again.

* * *

“!”

I stopped abruptly.

Because Hiresia had raised her hand, signaling me to halt.

Her eyes were narrowed, focused on something ahead.

I couldn’t see anything.

Our eyesight was different.

She reached out and touched my eyelids.

A cool, refreshing energy flowed into my eyes.

I felt a slight tingling sensation, and then my vision suddenly became clear.

She removed her hand.

‘This is…’

I didn’t know what kind of ability it was.

But now I could see clearly.

The situation unfolding ahead.

The first thing that caught my eye was the colossal figure of the World Tree.

But that wasn’t important right now.

I quickly shifted my gaze downwards.

To the battlefield.

My eyes quickly assessed the situation.

Two high elves and golems.

Gray Dwarves, a dark elf, and…

‘That bastard too?’

A ghostly human figure.

I knew him.

The Messenger of the Red Rain.

Not an executive, but someone suspected to be a close confidant of the Heavenly Lord, their boss.

I hadn’t fought him directly, so I didn’t know his true strength, but he was definitely dangerous.

This wasn’t good.

The Gray Dwarves and Natasha were already formidable opponents, and now this guy was added to the mix.

‘…This is bad.’

The high elves were fighting desperately alongside the golems.

But the situation was dire.

Shattered golem fragments lay scattered across the battlefield.

Only a few golems remained.

The high elves were covered in blood.

They were heavily injured.

On the other hand, the Red Rain group was still full of vigor.

It was clear that the high elves wouldn’t be able to hold out much longer.

They needed help, urgently.

I turned to Hiresia.

“Senior, we need to…”

“Didn’t you say we need to come up with a plan, even if we’re short on time?”

Hiresia was calm.

Even though she must have been desperate to rush in and save her people.

Her composure filled me with respect.

I calmed myself down.

This wasn’t a crisis that could be overcome by relying on Hiresia alone.

I had to do my part.

I had to make the best possible decisions.

This was a life-or-death situation.

It wasn’t my first time facing death, but I had never felt this much pressure and tension before.

Perhaps it was because I was now responsible for the life of someone precious to me.

‘It’s okay. It’s normal to feel this way.’

I reassured myself.

It was okay to acknowledge my feelings.

The important thing was to stay focused.

“A surprise attack only works once. And that one time…”

“We have to inflict maximum damage. On the most vulnerable target.”

I said, understanding what she was trying to say.

“Yes, exactly.”

“Then.”

I quickly eliminated Natasha from my mind.

A surprise attack wouldn’t work on her.

And I also eliminated the Messenger.

He was an unknown factor.

It was better not to take any risks if I wasn’t sure whether it would work or not.

That left only one target.

A strong and organized military force that was more dangerous the larger their numbers.

If I could reduce their numbers with a surprise attack…

“The Gray Dwarves. They’re our target.”

“I agree. If you think so too, then there’s no need to hesitate.”

The decision was made.

“Let’s use that.”

“We will.”

“You should strike first, senior. I’ll follow after.”

Using an Invisibility Scroll didn’t completely erase my presence.

There was still a risk of being detected, even with a surprise attack.

So it was best for Hiresia, who could approach faster and minimize her presence, to strike first.

And I would follow up with a second attack, taking advantage of the chaos.

I couldn’t think of a better plan.

She seemed to agree.

Hiresia nodded silently.

She spoke softly.

“Be careful.”

“Ah… Yes, you too, senior.”

I replied, a bit late, surprised by her words.

I hadn’t expected her to worry about me in this situation, when she was under so much mental stress.

My heart ached.

*Rip.*

Hiresia tore the scroll and moved.

I also tore my scroll.

And I followed her.

* * *

*Crack!*

A wood golem split in half.

*Thump!*

It collapsed to the ground.

That was the last golem.

The Gray Dwarf who had smashed the last golem with his axe laughed triumphantly.

“Hahaha, now all those pesky toys are gone.”

Two high elves remained.

The elder and Hiwyn.

Both of them were on the verge of collapse.

Blood dripped from their battered bodies.

“Now, who gets to finish them off?”

Kalkus said, grinning, his teeth bared.

“Do as you please.”

Natasha stepped back.

It didn’t matter who killed the walking corpses.

“Alright? Then I’ll take the one who’s still somewhat alive…”

“Wait, Chief. I have an interesting idea.”

The Messenger interjected, a sly smile on his face.

“Oh, what is it?”

“Killing them like this is too merciful. We can’t let them die so easily after defying us until the very end.”

“Hahaha, that sounds like you, Messenger. So what do you suggest? Draw and quarter them?”

“Sometimes, mental anguish is far more painful than physical pain. And it will definitely be the case this time. If we burn their mother right before their eyes… What do you think? Doesn’t that sound like fun? Hahaha.”

The Messenger’s eyes gleamed with madness.

His cruel nature was evident in his words and expression.

Natasha frowned.

Even though they were on the same side, his sadistic tendencies were hard to stomach.

But she didn’t intervene.

It was best to just ignore him.

On the other hand,

Kalkus and the Gray Dwarves chuckled, finding his idea amusing.

There was a reason why they, a tribe of valiant warriors, were ostracized by other dwarf tribes.

Their temperament was too violent, rough, and cruel.

That was why the Gray Dwarves, outcasts of dwarf society, had joined the Red Rain.

“Khahaha, good! Let’s do it!”

“As expected of the Chief and the warriors. Then…”

*Poof!*

The Messenger suddenly vanished.

He reappeared in front of the elder, who was gasping for breath.

The Messenger’s hand shot out and grabbed the elder’s arm.

*Crack!*

“Ugh!”

The elder’s left arm was ripped off, flesh and bone separating with a sickening crunch.

It was barely hanging on by a thread.

The Messenger smiled cruelly.

“I think I’ll tear off your arms and legs first.”

“You bastard!”

The elder roared, his eyes bloodshot, showing his will to resist until the very end.

“?”

Natasha’s eyes widened, and she turned her head sharply.

A faint sensation.

Something was approaching.

It was a sensation she could have ignored, but her instincts whispered to her.

That something was wrong.

The moment she realized it, she tried to warn the others.

But.

It was too late.

*Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!*

Arrows rained down from the sky, seemingly out of thin air.

From behind the Gray Dwarves.

They didn’t even have time to react.

The arrows, fired from behind, pierced through the backs of their necks with deadly accuracy.

Through the gaps in their armor, where their helmets and armor couldn’t protect them.

Each arrow was chillingly precise.

*Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!*

*Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!*

Ten arrows in total, each one finding its mark.

“Gah… Gah…!”

“Ugh… Ugh…!”

“G-Gurk…”

Their death throes were cut short.

Blood gurgled out of their mouths.

Kalkus was the first to react, being the quickest among the dwarfs.

“S-Shit! Enemy! Enemy, you bastards!”

“E-Enemy?!”

“Enemy?!”

But the other Gray Dwarves were still in shock.

They were vulnerable to another attack.

Fortunately for them, Natasha’s invisible sword was already slicing through the air where the arrows had come from.

*Whoosh!*

Her elongated invisible sword ripped through the space.

She sensed a presence retreating.

A second volley of arrows didn’t come.

She had stopped them, for now.

Meanwhile, the Gray Dwarves who had been pierced by the arrows collapsed to the ground, like rotten trees.

They were dead.

“Damn it!”

“A surprise attack? Who the hell was that?!”

The Gray Dwarves were in disarray.

“Behind you, behind you! You idiots!”

Chief Kalkus roared in fury.

The Gray Dwarves finally turned around and assumed a defensive stance.

Natasha frowned and shouted,

“Messenger, Dispel!”

“Oh… R-Right.”

The Messenger, who had been stunned by the sudden turn of events, hurriedly tried to cast a Dispel spell.

But.

At that moment.

“?!”

Natasha’s eyes widened.

Another presence.

…She had missed it?

Could it be that while she was attacking…?

“Damn it, one more…”

…Before she could finish her sentence,

*Bang!*

A loud thud echoed through the air.

And then.

A powerful wave of energy tore through the air, this time from the side, engulfing the Gray Dwarves.

(TLN: KILL THEM ALLL)