“So, this was your plan from the very beginning, wasn’t it?”
Once the illusion in the sky vanished, the temporary theater where Isabella was located was surrounded by the Aaron Kingdom Army, who had been teleported there via a teleportation array.
Only two 7th-tier magic users and Aaron, who had lost his Douqi, remained by her side.
Even so, Isabella’s gaze toward the leader held no trace of fear.
“You used Wendy’s characteristics to destroy the Sacred Tree, then teleported Aaron’s army here to eliminate us. If you got lucky, Leah, who had just become the Elven King, would also be slain by you. The entire Natural Forest would fall into your hands.”
“What a good plan.”
“Since you could see through it at a single glance, it means my plan wasn’t that good after all.”
Olivier looked up, watching the white meteor that descended beside Isabella.
Her peach-blossom eyes narrowed dangerously.
The Empire Marshal, Ao De Xiu Si.
It was said he was the strongest Saint Realm in the Empire.
She never expected him to arrive so quickly.
His stationed location, Yalan Fortress, was at the northernmost point of the Empire, tens of thousands of kilometers away from the City of Emerald Shadows.
Although a Saint Realm could cover that distance in a day, how had he received the news that fast?
Even if Isabella had sent word the very night she arrived, he shouldn’t have come this quickly.
Olivier couldn’t figure it out, but that didn’t change the fact that Ao De Xiu Si’s arrival had completely shattered her plan, even putting her in extreme danger.
“But unfortunately, I thought the same.”
Isabella raised a slight smile.
Olivier certainly couldn’t figure out how she had done it, because the messenger she sent hadn’t gone to Yalan Fortress—it had gone to Windwhisper Fortress, which was much closer to the City of Emerald Shadows!
Ever since Winnidith invented sound transmission magic, the Three Major Forts installed highly reliable “earphones” and “microphones” every ten li.
They passed Isabella’s cry for help from Windwhisper Fortress to Yalan Fortress, one after another, allowing Ao De Xiu Si to reach the City of Emerald Shadows so quickly.
And now, it was her turn to counterattack.
“Ao De Xiu Si, kill her.”
There was no need for complicated orders.
Isabella wanted Olivier dead.
She had to die!
No matter how many guards surrounded her, no one below the Saint Realm could stop a Saint Realm!
“As you command, Princess.”
Ao De Xiu Si’s figure flickered.
The next moment, his sharp sword edge was at Olivier’s fragile neck.
It moved so fast that even the magic she had placed around her didn’t detect it.
But Ao De Xiu Si’s sword could advance no further, because a staff blocked his attack.
“Hehehe, young girls shouldn’t be so focused on killing and fighting all day. It would make people laugh if word got out.”
An old man stepped out of a spatial rift with a chuckle.
It was his staff that had blocked Ao De Xiu Si’s blade.
Isabella recognized him.
He was Aaron Kingdom’s only Saint Realm, and the longest-living human magic user on the continent—Hector Acalos.
“Sigh, I’m old, old. This old bones of mine can’t keep up with you youngsters anymore~”
Seeing Ao De Xiu Si’s blade pressing his staff further downward, a look of deep emotion appeared in Hector’s eyes.
Even with enhancement magic, a magic user’s strength couldn’t match that of a warrior.
“But if you insist on taking our princess’s life, then by courtesy, I’ll accept the Imperial Princess’s life in return.”
Ao De Xiu Si’s expression tightened.
He leaped back, instantly returning to Isabella’s side, watching them warily.
“Sigh, that’s better. I’m old. I don’t like to see killing and fighting.”
Hector’s staff touched the ground, and three layers of defense magic immediately surrounded him and Olivier.
He looked at the angry Isabella and said kindly:
“How about we both take a step back and leave?”
Ao De Xiu Si did not respond.
With royalty present, he had no decision-making authority.
“Fine.”
Isabella was grinding her molars.
She really hadn’t expected the King of Aaron Kingdom to be willing to send their only Saint Realm out to rescue Olivier.
But this also showed one thing—Olivier was extremely important to the Aaron Kingdom!
“Then it’s settled. Time for us to go, Princess.”
“Okay, Grandpa Hector~”
Having reached an agreement with Isabella, Hector turned and led Olivier and the kingdom’s army away.
But before leaving, Olivier elegantly bowed to Isabella.
“It seems this time, we’re tied again.”
The corner of her mouth lifted into a beautiful yet dangerous smile.
“But next time we meet, there won’t be an option for a tie~”
***
On the second day after Winnidith and the others left, the delegation from the Kingdom of Baierston finally arrived at the border of the Natural Forest.
They prided themselves on being the Natural Forest’s most important neighbor and had always looked down on these expressionless long-eared folk.
For the Elves’ most important Holy Tree Festival, they figured showing up was enough, so they delayed until the last few days.
As a result, they didn’t even see the gates of the City of Emerald Shadows before Leah drove them back.
Furious, the kingdom’s third prince returned to the capital, ready to complain to his father about the new Elven King’s rudeness, when he heard an astonishing statement.
“No need to concern yourself with the Elves anymore.”
The King of Baierston, a man whose eyes were nearly squeezed shut by the fat on his face, lay on his throne, ignoring his third son’s shocked expression.
“Aaron has proactively proposed an alliance with us.”
***
In the underground prison of the City of Emerald Shadows, an Elf was imprisoned.
She had long black hair that reached her calves, seductive bronze skin, and a flawless, beautiful face.
She knelt alone in the pitch-black cell, silent as if she had merged with the darkness.
Suddenly, her gaze shifted to one spot.
A warm red light illuminated the darkness underground.
She saw the face of the visitor and revealed a calm smile.
“Have you come to execute me in the King’s stead?” she asked.
“If I were still just Leah, I would have done exactly that.”
Leah set down the lantern and calmly gazed at Elaril.
With Slaanesh’s death, the mind control that had been imposed on her had long vanished.
She could have shifted all the blame onto Slaanesh and claimed innocence.
But she didn’t.
She accepted all of herself openly and willingly submitted to any punishment.
From a personal standpoint, this woman had caused her to lose her father and her best friend.
Even if she were hacked into a thousand pieces, it wouldn’t compensate for the pain she had endured.
“But I am now the Elven King. I must consider the entire Elven race, not personal grudges.”
Leah said.
The Natural Forest was now more dangerous than at any point in history.
The situation on the continent was unpredictable, and a massive storm was about to break.
And at this very moment, all the power in the Natural Forest was paralyzed.
Only she, a newly ascended Elven King, could be considered a reliable fighting force.
Under these circumstances, Elaril, as a Saint Realm, could not die under any circumstances.
“The Elves need your combat power. The chaotic City of Emerald Shadows also needs your mind and experience.”
Leah took a stack of papers nearly three palms thick from her bosom and placed them in front of Elaril.
“These are all the problems I’m facing right now. I want you to devise solutions and their justifications within a day. I will consider whether to adopt them based on the actual situation.”
Elaril looked down at the papers and suddenly asked:
“Is this atonement?”
“No. This is part of your punishment.”
Leah denied it.
“Isabella told me that the Empire’s prisons make prisoners labor to compensate for the harm they have caused.”
“So this is your job.”
“As for how your sentence will be decided, we’ll talk about that after Father and Vilda are resurrected.”
A job?
That was fine.
Looking at the messy handwriting on the papers, Elaril made her first request.
“Give me a pen.”
***
In the dungeon of the Aaron Kingdom, another unknown prisoner was being held.
His status was even more revered than Elaril’s in the Natural Forest.
Because he was Olivier’s brother, the next successor to the King of Aaron Kingdom—Cecilian Aaron.
His arms were suspended by two thick iron chains; a red-hot iron nail pierced through his chest; his body was immersed in a cauldron filled with rotting flesh and bloody pus, constantly emitting crimson steam.
If it weren’t for the chain hanging around his neck that marked his identity, no one would have connected him to that gentle, jade-like man, hailed by the Empire as Aaron’s last conscience—Cecilian.
And the ones who had reduced him to this state were his younger brother, his teacher, and his father.
“Hm~ hm~ hm hm hm~”
Olivier, wearing a pretty short skirt, skipped down the steps one by one to the deepest part of the dungeon.
She had put on makeup.
Her already beautiful face was even more dazzling today.
She turned into the only cell with practiced ease, looked at the miserable boy hanging there, and revealed a radiant smile.
“Hi, big brother~ Miss me?”
Gurgle gurgle~
The only response was one bloody bubble after another bursting.
But Olivier wasn’t surprised—after all, the first step of the plan was to erase Cecilian’s will and turn him into the perfect vessel.
Then came the second step—Yin-Yang Fusion.
She shed her thin short skirt, revealing her unadorned white body, and resolutely jumped into the cauldron.
ROAR!!!
The fire beneath the cauldron surged the moment she jumped in, even swallowing both their figures.
But that alone wasn’t enough.
Bathed in sweat from the heat, Olivier raised her right arm, and a pale pink mist filled the entire cell.
Cecilian finally reacted.
His muscular body struggled incessantly, his eyes behind the iron mask already bloodshot, even his heavy breath reeked of lust.
Seeing this, Olivier smiled even more happily.
She opened her arms and wrapped them around his neck.
Her soft, delicate body ignited the flames of desire in an instant.
“The Lord of Pleasure whispers in our ears:”
The excruciating pain of her body being torn apart reached her brain in an instant, but it only made her smile more insane.
“Mankind was always meant to chase infinite desire!!!”
“Has it started?”
In the Aaron Kingdom, King Lucas and Grand Tutor Hector sat face to face, observing a world map together.
“Judging by the turbulence of mana, the Yin-Yang Fusion has already begun.”
“Yin-Yang Fusion? Hah, troublesome conditions.”
Lucas let out a contemptuous snort.
“If it weren’t for these conditions, Cecilian and Olivier, as perfect vessels, would have become the kingdom’s fighting force long ago. Why wait until now?”
“But the outcome hasn’t changed, my king.”
Hector comforted him.
“Thanks to the secret art mastered by the Dark Elves, Princess Olivier has successfully become a complete woman, allowing this step of Yin-Yang Fusion to proceed normally.”
“But it’s too late!”
Lucas angrily pounded the table.
“That little girl from the Trenton Family has already started to show her prowess! She even killed a god! With her around, can the Aaron banner still be planted across the continent?”
“Of course it can, my king.”
Hector reassured him.
“She was only able to kill a god because of the special relationship between gods and this world.”
“But we are different. We are the natives of this world. The world will not actively reject us. Her special qualities become null and void.”
“Once the rituals of the two princes are completely finished, we will obtain an ultimate weapon that simultaneously possesses the Triple God’s Blessing.”
“At that time, who on the continent can oppose us?”
“Please believe me. The future of the continent is destined to bear the name of Aaron!”
***
“The continent is destined to be the world of us orcs!”
When Gareth brought the awakened Forge back to the tribes, countless orcs howled at the top of their lungs.
The sun was obscured by dark clouds that carried thunder.
Flames rose from brass vessels.
The leaders of the Three Great Tribes crowded around Forge as he ascended the altar, vowing to welcome the War God’s return with a war that would sweep the continent.
***
“My king, Aaron has sent us an alliance proposal, intending to redraw the continent with us.”
Within the Kingdom of Karan, the Assistant Minister of the Kingdom reported Aaron’s intentions to the king.
The First Prince, Sekalen, who had already taken part in state affairs, firmly refused as soon as he heard the word “alliance.”
“We absolutely cannot agree! The surname Aaron represents capriciousness and betrayal! Allying with them will only leave Karan Kingdom as the loser!”
“But if controlled properly, the Kingdom of Karan might yet be the final victor, gaining the highest power on the continent! This is the only opportunity we’ve seen in a thousand years!”
“Opportunity? What opportunity?! An opportunity for Karan to be destroyed?! Aaron betrayed the very emperor they swore loyalty to. What makes you think they would abide by an alliance treaty?!”
The hardliners, led by the First Prince, and the conciliationists, led by the Assistant Minister, argued fiercely in court without backing down.
But on the throne, the King of Karan simply stared at the letter sent by Aaron.
One word on it caught his particular attention.
Saint Vein’s Remnants
***
“The Sacred Tree’s influence has vanished. It seems she truly has the power to slay a god.”
The Demon King Morjarty sat by the Styx River, watching the “blessing” flowing from the depths of the Abyss as it washed every corner of the Demonic Abyss.
“Then perhaps our god can also…”
“No, no, no. She is still too weak now. The situation of the Demon race is different from that of the Elves. Perhaps I can wait a little longer.”
Wait a little longer…
The Demon King’s figure disappeared at some point.
All that remained was a completely burned envelope.
***
“Caw!!!”
The nun cleaning The Sanctuary looked up in confusion.
She thought she had heard a crow’s cry.
Was it an auditory hallucination?
She lifted her head and looked around.
The azure dome above remained pure and flawless.
The noon sunlight streamed through the stained glass, warm on her body.
She lowered her head and continued cleaning The Sanctuary.
Yes, that sound just now must have been her imagination.
“The Sanctuary is the cone of light where heaven projects onto the mortal world. Within the stone altar echoes the prayers of angels; on the stained glass is frozen the blood of saints…”
Inside the shrine, the bishop, who was chanting the Holy Scripture, suddenly saw a deep blue crow land on his shoulder, affectionately pecking his cheek with its beak.
The bishop understood its words.
He gently closed the Holy Scripture in his hands and murmured softly:
“Then it’s time for the story to enter a new chapter.”
The moment he closed the book, the sun’s rays shone through the dome, falling upon a girl dressed in a white-gold clerical robe.
The girl, who was praying devoutly beneath the holy statue, paid no attention to the sunlight’s heat.
Her hands were clasped, the light clearly outlining each of her eyelashes, but also stretching her shadow especially long.
Countless conspiracies were surfacing.
Countless ambitions were converging.
Countless characters were taking the stage.
In the near future, they would decide the continent’s fate.
Would it be continuation?
Or destruction?
It all depended on a single girl sleeping in a carriage, a girl as silver as platinum.