Chapter 497

Chapter 497

A massive crater had formed where Tamulana crashed.

She was embedded deep in the sand pit, her body twitching.

Protected by the relic, she wouldn’t vanish or die from a shock like this. But she had clearly taken significant damage.

—Grrgh…!

A groan escaped Tamulana’s mouth.

However, the disaster that awaited her was only just beginning.

“Sand Mixer!”

Kwaaaang!

The moment Zeon’s voice echoed from above, the sand inside the crater began to spin violently.

The swirling sand particles scraped away at the darkness mana that shielded Tamulana.

—Kraaaaagh!

Furious, Tamulana tried to leap out of the crater. But Zeon didn’t allow it.

“Fire Rain!”

A rain of fire filled the sky and poured down.

Flames clung to Tamulana’s body.

“White Phosphorus!”

Zeon followed up the Fire Rain with White Phosphorus.

Once it stuck, White Phosphorus flames could never be extinguished, burning away the darkness mana that had protected Tamulana.

—Kraaagh!

As the darkness mana burned, Tamulana experienced unbearable agony.

She rolled across the ground, trying desperately to extinguish the flames, but once lit, the fire refused to go out.

And with Sand Mixer added on top, her suffering deepened.

Zeon had seized the advantage, but he had no intention of stopping here.

“Sand Gehenna.”

Once again, the entire area was turned into a blazing hellscape.

The sand melted instantly, bubbling and flowing like molten lava as it engulfed Tamulana.

Weakened by the burned-away darkness mana, the lava-like sand seeped through and touched her actual body.

—Kyaaaagh!

An agony unlike anything before overwhelmed her.

As Tamulana screamed until her throat nearly tore, Zeon unleashed skills in rapid succession.

Boom!

The sand exploded from a Claymore blast, and the thick, molten sand spun violently, striking her with even greater force.

Under the continuous barrage, Tamulana couldn’t regain her senses and flailed helplessly.

But Zeon’s expression as he watched her was far from bright.

He had finally gained the upper hand, but he still hadn’t delivered a decisive finish.

Tamulana was receiving a constant supply of darkness mana from Bark’s relic.

Her darkness mana had diminished noticeably, yet she was gradually regenerating.

The wings that had been torn apart began to regrow, and her grotesquely melted body slowly returned to its former shape.

Attacks like these only consumed Zeon’s mana needlessly.

He had used powerful skills in succession, and his mana reserves were running dangerously low.

Using Elura’s Tear would restore his mana at once, but it could only be used once per day.

Once consumed, recovering mana again that day was impossible.

He needed a more certain strike.

An absolute, fatal strike.

His eyes drifted toward the ring on his hand.

The Ring of Purification.

An item crafted from the scales of the ancient dragon Arkaid.

Arkaid’s power in life had rivaled that of the gods.

If a ring forged from Arkaid’s scales held such power… perhaps it could deliver a mortal blow to the evil god Bark’s relic.

Without hesitation, Zeon used Elura’s Necklace to fully restore his drained mana.

There was no reason to hesitate.

Even now, Tamulana was regenerating.

Zeon immediately channeled mana into the Ring of Purification.

Fwoooosh!

A blinding light burst from the ring.

Even though it came from a small ring, the radiance was unbelievably intense, swallowing not only Tamulana, but the entire high elf village.

The high elves gathered around Latricia couldn’t even dare open their eyes against the overwhelming brilliance.

Like a tidal wave, the light engulfed everything in the area.

Even sound seemed to vanish, silence stretched on and on.

The first to break the silence was Brielle.

As she carefully opened her eyes, a transformed landscape spread out before her.

The pitch-black land had turned into orange sand.

The land tainted by corruption had been restored by the Ring of Purification.

No trace of darkness could be felt anywhere in the high elf village.

Warmth brushed their skin, prompting the high elves to open their eyes one by one.

They stared in disbelief at the purified village.

Latricia was just as shocked, but more than that, she wanted to know what had become of Tamulana.

Her gaze shifted to the crater where Tamulana had fallen.

Tamulana was standing there.

The darkness mana that had wrapped around her was completely gone. She stood rigidly like a wooden statue, staring down at the base of her neck.

The Bark necklace that had hung there was shattered beyond recognition, vanished without a trace.

Destroyed by the Ring of Purification.

Bark’s will and power, which had consumed her, had also turned into a liquid form and pooled at the bottom of the crater.

Tamulana’s face, once twisted with madness, now showed a look of utter disbelief.

Her awareness had fully returned at last.

“N-no…!”

Tamulana fell to her knees in the liquid and cried out.

Memories of what she had done to her kin under Bark’s control surged back.

Tamulana had devoted her entire life to Ciela and the high elves.

Because she had lived with such devout faith, the shock struck her even more severely.

“Uaaah…! How… how could I have done something so horrific to our children with my own hands?!”

Tamulana sobbed.

Zeon stood at the edge of the crater, silently watching her.

He couldn’t begin to imagine the torment she was experiencing.

—Piiiii…

Beside him, Gaia let out a sorrowful cry, and then spat something out.

Seeing the round object Gaia produced, Zeon’s eyes widened.

“This is… a World Tree seed?”

—Piii.

Gaia nodded.

The World Tree seed had changed greatly since Zeon first found it. Back then, it looked like an unknown mineral, now it had taken on the form of a plant seed.

“Why are you showing me this?”

Zeon frowned, unable to guess why Gaia would bring out the World Tree seed at a moment like this.

The one who answered wasn’t Gaia, but Tamulana.

“The World Tree seed grows by absorbing divine power.”

The Tamulana who had been wailing moments ago now looked calm as she gazed at the seed.

“What do you mean?”

“Exactly what it sounds like. The World Tree is, as its name suggests, the tree that sustains the world. Ordinary power cannot make it sprout. Only the corpse of a god can serve as nourishment for it.”

“Then…?”

“Yes. The place where I stand right now is the ideal environment for a World Tree to grow. Now I understand. Why Lady Ciela gave me such a trial… why she led our people here. She intended for us to raise a new World Tree in this land.”

Tamulana wept again.

High elves gathered around the crater.

Latricia spoke to her.

“Tamulana… please, come out.”

“No. I will not leave.”

“What do you mean…?”

“My lifespan has already run its course. Even if it hadn’t, how could I walk out? How many children died or were wounded because of me?”

“It was Bark’s relic, it wasn’t your wrongdoing.”

“No matter how deeply Bark consumed me, my sins do not vanish.”

With a bitter smile, Tamulana looked at Zeon.

Standing with Gaia, he looked like a divine messenger.

“You are the messenger Lady Ciela has sent for us.”

“That isn’t true. I’m just an ordinary human.”

“No ordinary human could shatter the will and power of an evil god. Lady Ciela’s will has connected you to us.”

“What… are you planning to do?”

“Give me the World Tree seed. I too wish to become part of the World Tree.”

“But that, ”

“Unless it is the full corpse of a god, the remnants contained in a relic are not enough.”

At her words, Zeon looked at Gaia.

Gaia nodded sadly.

, Piii.

Confirming Tamulana was right.

“…Haa.”

As Zeon sighed, Tamulana turned to Brielle.

“Brielle.”

“Yes?”

“Bring me the World Tree seed.”

“I will.”

Brielle carried the seed into the crater.

Wading through the knee-deep liquid, she approached Tamulana, who pulled her into a firm embrace.

“I’m sorry for all the pain and hardship I caused you, Brielle.”

“It’s okay.”

“Now that I look back… all the trials you endured were arranged by Lady Ciela for the sake of the high elves.”

“What…?”

“Only those who grow through hardship can truly become great. You are the sole bridge between humans and us high elves. So treasure yourself always.”

“I will.”

Brielle nodded.

“From this moment on, you are the High Priestess of our people.”

“What?”

“The fact that Ciela’s relics flowed to you is no coincidence. Lady Ciela has chosen you, to carry her will onto this Earth. Therefore, you must be the one to take up this role.”

“B-but…”

The unexpected declaration made Brielle hesitate.

Her gaze drifted up toward Levin, who stood at the edge of the crater. Following her gaze, Tamulana looked at him, then whispered with a gentle smile:

“Becoming a priestess does not prevent you from marrying.”

“That’s not…!”

“It’s just a saying. Keep it in mind.”

“Yes.”

“Now, give me the seed, and you may leave.”

Tamulana gently pushed Brielle out of the crater.

Once Brielle emerged, Tamulana bowed her head to Zeon.

“Thank you. And forgive me, for I cannot ease the heavy burden on your shoulders. Please… protect our people and the World Tree.”

“I will do everything I can.”

“That is enough. May Lady Ciela’s blessing always follow you…”

With those final words, Tamulana closed her eyes.

“Tamulana!”

“High Priestess!”

The high elves called out to her, but she did not respond.

‘World Tree… using my body and Bark’s power as your nourishment, grow tall in this land. And share your warm strength with all life on Earth…’

Crack.

As if answering her wish, a fracture spread across the World Tree seed.

Holding the seed close, Tamulana lay down in the liquid pooled in the crater.

The cracks widened.

The liquid seeped into the fractures.

As the liquid diminished, the crater collapsed naturally.

Sand and earth cascaded down, covering everything in an instant.

“Tamulana!”

“Hhngh…!”

“Uwaaaah!”

Witnessing Tamulana’s final moments, the high elves wept.

Latricia and Brielle cried with them.

But their sorrow soon turned into astonishment.

Fwoooosh!

From the buried seed and Tamulana’s resting place, a massive shoot pierced up through the earth.

A sprout as large as a person’s torso emerged, and all the high elves fell to their knees.

“The World Tree… has sprouted.”

“Ooh… Lady Ciela has sent the World Tree to this land.”

The high elves knelt before the newborn World Tree.

Zeon looked at it and muttered:

“A real World Tree.”

Not the remnants of a destroyed world like the World Tree in Elharun, but a true World Tree, born on this very Earth.