Chapter 796 Eat I (1/2)
In the distant past, when the zerg wreaked havoc upon the Far Southern forests and the elves of the continent were yet unified—when the Nature's Magister was still Aydril Galanoud, she once traveled across the continent, exploring, discovering, adventuring, battling… doing the same things every adventurer did.
Within that era which was sometime away from now, Galanoud had culled evil dragon provocateurs, rejuvenated barren lands devastated in the battle between champions, standing against human nations and creating a grudge against the orcs, not to mention combining with various races to seal lands of Chaos hand-in-hand.
However, Galanoud rarely collaborated or worked with any ally whether she was fighting, adventuring, exploring, or sealing Chaos. She was alone most of the time, completing one laudable achievement after another.
Her solo movement had thus left people of that time in fervent debate over her reasons, dissecting her hubris, ego and the ancient traditions of the elves, lauding that as an excuse when Galanoud's actions were ever so simple: She could not unleash herself if there were too many people around her occupying most space.
Being one of the most powerful druids in Starfall Era history, the Nature's Magister was not proficient in the way of 'transfiguration' early on. She was instead a master in controlling substantial plants, altering various living parts that would in turn subjugate the enemy—most of which were used entire forests as targets.
When the Nature's Magister unleashes her full power, the forests would grow and broil as if one collective creature. Both ally and foe in that boundary would be subjugated by profound Nature Power, and given that shockwaves from her battle against the enemy would leave anyone helpless, they could only stay far away.
As time moved on, she became a pronoun for soloist.
***
Now, in the Sealed World at the edge of the galaxy.
Watching as the blast of Chaos that rapidly spread to cover an entire world, the Nature's Magister could not help recalling distant memories, complicated emotions arising within her.
”A few centuries past, and it's now my turn to get caught in another's shockwave, huh.”
But this was not surprising because it was alongside that fellow.
The vines extended from the Nature's Magister thus curled into a sphere against the oncoming Chaos blast, wrapping around Hub Accrafa. Then, as dark green Nature Power flashed in the basin of roots to form a perfect defensive circle as if reefs beneath seawater, withstanding the incessant blows.
”Kids, I'm going to help Count Radcliffe, can't spare the power to protect you.”
The dark green fluorescence distinctly and mildly seeped out of the main roots, floating in the air, even igniting the Chaos forces around it. That radiance soon gathered and formed the appearance of a long-haired female elf, although her face was vague as the radiance lit. ”All of you just have to stay inside this circle.” The Nature's Magister's voice could be heard from within. ”Do not leave. As long as the Evil God does not attack you directly, the shockwave from its corruption would not penetrate my defense.”
The withering presence had kept weakening the surface of the root formation, enfeebling and reducing the organic substances into ash although it had been energized and augmented to withstand even star fires. Nonetheless, the roots were regenerating and rebirthing as well, abandoning the affected and weakened part while keeping those parts that incidentally withstood and stayed unaffected by Chaos, incessantly evolving into parts more suitable to handle Chaos erosion.
Such was Nature's Power.
***
Inside Hub Accrafa, the five members of the Elite Part and the elven girl Sol stared blankly at the trees, trunks, and roots that kept breaking and closing their ranks outside the observation windows, and that fluorescent figure which was quickly leaving.
”…What are Legends?”
Caster muttered to himself at the sight. ”I could imagine Gold-advanced or Supreme-tier powers, futures I envision… but the power of Legends escapes my imagination.”
There was silence in the control room. All of them should have been rejoicing in escaping the clutches of death, and yet a sheet of gloom hangs over the room.
Although the Elite Party are helpless against the Black Fog and powerful otherworld beings, their strengths were different—just like the Tyrant Squid they encountered previously, they simply needed one amongst them to ascend into Supreme for an overwhelming victory and dice it into squid balls. Meanwhile, the Black Fog was certainly much more powerful, but it remained in the boundary of their comprehension, even encouraging them to strive in their cultivation so that the day they could avenge themselves would come.
But the battle between Legends and Evil God they witnessed today surpassed that boundary.
If the power of an Evil God which had just awakened after being sealed over millennia was already so horrific, what if it had been in perfect condition? What if stronger Evil Gods had come? Would the fate of Mycroft fare any better than the Sealed World if multiple, stronger Evil Gods invaded their homeworld?
”Is there enough power?”
Priest asked, interrupting the wandering thoughts of the others. By interacting with the Hub through his clearance, he swiftly obtained the data. ”Yes… Ah, my mentor had handily charged the hub when he carried us away!”
Having seen the line of text which read 'Allied Legend energy providence: 47%, Priest's somber mood turned well considerably. ”The Hub itself and Her Eminence's spell circle would make a double-layer defense. At least our safety is assured.”
Everyone else nodded and sighed in return—having hovered between life and death situations while enduring great horrors at every second, even the Elite Party who had been trained well enough to not fear death felt their legs go soft, the despair of inability reverberating in their hearts.
As for how Sol, who never experienced the Northern specialty training could stay conscious while going through the same horrors such as themselves… the only explanation was that the elven girl truly did not fear her own passing.
After all, having profoundly suffered Chaos corruption, she had already accepted her fated death.
”What is it, Sol?”
Priest asked, noticing that the elven girl was looking blankly out of Hub Accrafa's observation window. ”What are you looking at?”
”Ah, um…” Sol was surprised at his question, but she soon relaxed, biting her lip as she stared dumbly at the Void that was now filled with black Chaotic mist. ”It's just that we're so far away now. I wish to see where the Mother Tree could be…”
To the elves, the Mother Tree was home. Even if Sol did not rely upon the Mother Tree to connect herself with the other elves, she would still subconsciously seek the Mother Tree in times of anxiety or loneliness.
But now, the world was all darkness and Chaos. Nothing could be seen, and there was no distinction.
Therefore, Priest's expression turned complicated at the question.
'Your home… hard to say now.'
Priest was rather aware of his mentor's capacity for destruction. He was a powerful being who could devastate a continent at a lift of his hand, and fed upon a planet's crust—and this time, he had crashed onto the planet while fighting someone.
Priest doubted whether there was anything recognizable left on the planet's surface, or if there was a surface for that matter. The raging Chaos had already consumed everything even before that, and Sol's home would have long been destroyed.
”It's by fortune we forcefully evacuated the Overwatch tribe… Or they would all be wiped out.”
Slightly glad at the thought, Priest breathed a sigh. ”At least we did something and rescued some people… Though there might have been other elven tribes, we're no gods—we can't save everyone.”
It had taken all that they had to just help the ones right in front of them, and accomplish what they were capable of.
”Take a look at the elves,” Alchemist said from a corner. He was still sitting on the floor, his legs that felt like jelly having yet to recover. ”We've arranged them on gondolas beforehand and they probably would not be affected by the bumpiness, but injuries might prove unavoidable. They might not die by Evil God, but could crash each other to death.
Clergy rose in response. ”Will do. I'm going to have a look.”
Priest hurriedly grabbed Sol's hand and followed Clergy, even though the elven girl still appeared to be in a blur. ”We'll go too.”
***
”Priest, what do you think our future would be like?”
Sol had suddenly asked as they walked over a corridor. Clergy, who was walking ahead, turned so quickly that he could have snapped his own neck, but between his curious expression and the astonished Priest, they quickly caught Sol's meaning and the other 'meaning'.
”In the future, you might be relocated to the Far South,” Priest said softly after considering the present state on Mycroft. ”That's the home of Mycroft's elves, which hosts the Elven Court and the most powerful Mother Lifetree tribe. There's no need for worry—they are a unified race, and they would view you as their own if your tribe is willing to join their ranks.”