Chapter 335: Conquering A Realm - 4
"Oh no! Elaris, run fast!" the other one suddenly exclaimed, turning back in alarm. The next moment she sped up, her feet pounding over the forest floor as the other followed close behind.
"What happened, Elirin!?" Elarisâthe one who had previously sensed the wolfâs deathâasked, breath quickening.
"They found us, and are already at our previous location!" Elirin replied, panic lacing her voice.
Elarisâ eyes widened as they both began running faster, but the heavy steps they made only gave them away. In the distance behind them, 4 silhouettes appeared in the air.
Elirin glanced back and saw Leo and his group already within 200 meters, though much of the view was broken by the dense trees. Still, she could clearly see the bright pink-haired woman leading them.
"Oh no, no no no..." Dread flooded Elirin as her throat went dry.
"Elaris! Run as fast as you can! I will hold them back!" she said, grabbing her longbow and notching an arrow. The metal arrowhead gleamed faintly as stray sunrays slipped through the canopy above. It seemed they saved metal only to craft arrowheads for their personal use.
"No! You run away. I will hold them back," Elaris insisted, repeating the same motion as Elirin as she readied her own bow.
They were twin sisters. Neither would ever allow the other to be captured.
"Elaris! Elirin! What happened?! Say something! Why do you feel so panicked?!"
Sylraelâs voice echoed repeatedly in their minds as the thought transmission worked at full force.
Elirin gritted her teeth and thrust her hand forward. A tree nearly 100 meters away suddenly glowed faintly. A vine burst through its bark, coiling around Elirinâs waist before violently yanking her toward it. As she was pulled away, Elirin twisted midair to face Leoâs group, who were now within just 100 meters.
"Noooo..." Elirin heard her sisterâs fading cry.
But she forced her focus forward. Bluish wind energy gathered around her arrow, poison coating the arrowhead as she drew the string tight and fired straight at Lily.
Whistle!
Lily casually ducked to the side and, to everyoneâs surprise, caught the arrow in her hand.
"So this is how elves look?" she said, examining Elirin with interest.
"Hmph. Not any better than me. Though I admit they are very beautiful." She had seen photos of elves on her phone before, but this was the first time she was seeing one in person.
Another arrow came whizzing toward her, but this time she simply dodged.
"Leo!" Lily called out.
At once, the wind propellers beneath Leo and the others vanished. Leo dropped straight toward the groundâright where Elirin was notching another arrow while leaping from branch to branch.
Meanwhile, Lily herself chased after the other elf who had been yanked 100 meters away.
"Human girl! Leave her behind!" Elirin shouted, firing yet another arrow toward Lily.
When the arrows missed, Elirin slammed her hand onto the ground. Vines burst upward across Lilyâs path, twisting through the forest floor. Lily effortlessly weaved through them and continued the pursuit.
"Donât forget us."
Leoâs voice rang directly in Elirinâs ears. She snapped around just in time to dodge a hand that had been reaching for her shoulder.
Leo hadnât actually intended to harm her. Why would he? The girl was barely a High 3-starâhe could knock her out with a single punch.
But Elirin misunderstood completely.
"You lecherous human, I know what you want," Elirin spat, quickly creating distance as she hopped onto another branch.
But a powerful gust of wind suddenly shoved her sideways, nearly throwing her off balance.
She turned sharply and saw Miho casting another wind spell. After a quick glance, Elirin dismissed her entirelyâMiho was far too weak to be a real threatâand turned her focus back to Leo.
"You even brought a weak girl as a meat shield. How can a person fall so low?" she sneered, firing another arrow.
Leo dodged it with a simple sidestep.
"Tsk." Elirin clicked her tongue.
Then suddenly she snapped her head toward Elaris.
"NO!"
Wow... Lily is fast,
Leo thought. She seems to have already caught the other elf.
"Looks like I canât fall behind," Leo murmured.
[Vine Estranglement]!
At once, 2 thick vines burst from the branch Elirin was standing on. Distracted as she was, they wrapped tightly around her body before she could react.
Leo pulled the vines downward, dragging her straight off the branch.
Elirin struggled fiercely, trying to tear free, but the vines were unusually strong. To her horror, she saw Elaris bound in the same wayâexcept Elaris was suspended in the air.
Lily landed softly beside Leo, bringing the bound elf down beside her sister.
"2 successfully captured," Leo said calmly.
Lily nodded happily and hopped over to the elves.
"You 2, answer my one question," Lily said with a bright smile.
"Human! Free us, or it will not be good for you!" Elirin shouted back.
But Lily behaved as if she hadnât even heard the threat.
"Were those houses that we came across in various places built by you?" she asked.
"Fuck off!" Elirin spat angrily.
She alone seemed hot-headed. Meanwhile, Elarisâcaptured by Lilyâstared ahead with wide, terrified eyes.
Lily frowned slightly and seized control of Leoâs vine binding Elirin, pulling the elf closer until their faces were at the same level.
"Listen," Lily said quietly. "If you keep behaving like this, I canât promise you a good life as our slave. So behave and answer. Were those houses built by you?"
Her voice had turned menacing. She knew a little fear was necessary to make them cooperate.
Hearing Lilyâs cold tone, a shiver ran down Elirinâs spine, but she forced herself to stay strong.
"I-I wonât be suppressed by your threats! Speaking as if any life is better when becoming a slave. I would better prefer to die!" Elirin shot back.
"Is that so?" Lily replied calmly. "Then so be it."
Their faces were so close that Lilyâs words didnât sound like a joke at all.
The next moment, the vine binding Elirin began to tighten.
"Arhhhhhh!" Elirin groaned.
Crack!
An audible bone-cracking sound echoed as her screams intensified.