Reign of Exiled

Chapter 108: The Revelation of the Lost Queen

The Sylvan Elder, his features carved from living bark and his eyes like cold jade, stood resolute, demanding proof. The Elder's Glade, Valeria's rightful sanctuary, lay just beyond, pulsing with a life force that Kael now knew was subtly twisted. Aelisa's distant, chaotic symphony of Lilin protest still reverberated through the ancient trees, buying them precious moments. Lilith's omnipresent observation, though silent, sharpened the edge of every decision.

Kael's gaze flickered to Valeria. This was her moment, her realm. His Charm was potent, but the Elder's skepticism was deeply ingrained. Direct revelation was the most impactful path.

"Proof?" Kael's voice was calm, yet it resonated with an authority that commanded attention, pushing against the Elder's guarded aura. "The proof stands before you, Elder. She is the very imbalance you claim to guard against. The lost Queen, whose bloodline flows with the true Verdant essence."

He stepped back, gesturing to Valeria. Her face, usually so gentle, now held a fierce, regal determination. With a deep breath, Valeria's Mythic Bloomborne Sovereign essence surged. Her hair, woven with glowing moss, seemed to shimmer with an inner light, and her eyes, once merely verdant, now pulsed with the deep, vibrant green of ancient forests awakening. A wave of pure, untainted nature magic, resonant with the primordial life force of the Sylvan realm, emanated from her. It was a stark contrast to the subtle, sickly aura that tainted the air around the Elder and the forest itself.

The Sylvan Elder's eyes widened, the chilling vacancy replaced by a flicker of genuine shock, then disbelief, and finally, a dawning horror. He recoiled slightly, recognizing the authentic power, the true Verdant Windborne Queen essence that had been absent from their realm for centuries. The controlled, cold mask he wore fractured, revealing the fear beneath.

"The… the Queen?" he stammered, his bark-like skin seeming to pale. "But that is… impossible! The council declared her lineage… vanished."

"Vanished, or made to vanish?" Valeria's voice, though soft, carried the weight of history and betrayal. Her eyes pierced through his facade. "Elder Morwen's lies run deeper than you comprehend. He orchestrated my exile, and my mother's, weaving deceit into the very fabric of the court. The corruption you feel, the subtle drain on this realm's vitality, is his legacy. He twists the very essence of the Sylvan Courts to fuel his false reign."

The Elder staggered back another step, his gaze darting between Valeria's radiant, undeniable presence and the glade beyond, where he could now feel the foreign corruption more acutely in contrast to her purity. The very natural defenses of the Sylvan Courts seemed to subtly acknowledge Valeria, the glowing runes on the trees pulsing with a renewed, clearer light around her, and fading slightly around the Elder himself.

Just then, a ripple of movement emanated from within the Elder's Glade. Not Sylvan guards, but figures of starkly different origins. A hulking Stone Golem, its form carved with crude runes, lumbered into view, followed by a trio of shadowy Demons, their eyes like burning coals, and a gaunt, skeletal Necromancer with eyes glowing with faint green light. A flash of scales in the deeper woods suggested a Dragon might be nearby, though unseen. These were not the typical inhabitants of the Sylvan Courts.

"Intruders!" roared a new voice, harsh and guttural, belonging to a muscular Orc chieftain who strode out of the glade, followed by several heavily armored Dwarves carrying axes and a single, haughty Dark Elf with a cruel smile. "The Lilin diversion failed, it seems! And you brought a lost pet! Kill them!"

The Sylvan Elder who had spoken to them previously, now utterly terrified, made to flee, his loyalty swaying under the weight of revealed truth and overwhelming external forces.

"No, Elder," a voice like dry leaves scraping over stone echoed from the depths of the glade. A figure emerged, hunched and ancient, yet radiating immense, twisted power. It was an elder Sylvan, his once-noble features contorted into a mask of bitter jealousy and corrupted ambition. His eyes glowed with the same sickly green Kael had seen in the Maw. This was Elder Morwen.

"You will stay, and you will witness the true power that now rules these woods!" Morwen's gaze, filled with venom, settled on Valeria. "So, the little princess returns from exile. A pity your bond with this… mortal... has only strengthened your bloodline. No matter. I merely need to drain it from you here, in the heart of your ancestral power!"

Kael felt a chill that had nothing to do with the cool air. The presence of Demons, a Necromancer, an Orc, Dwarves, and a Dark Elf confirmed Morwen's deep and perverse alliances, proving his utter corruption. This wasn't just a Sylvan coup; it was a pact with dark, foreign powers, an unholy alliance to maintain his usurped crown.

"Elder Morwen," Kael's voice was cold, lethal. "Your deception ends here. The Sylvan Crown will be reclaimed."

Lilith's presence, though still distant, subtly intensified. This was the true test she had been waiting for.

STATUS WINDOW: KAEL VIREN

System Level: 49

EXP: 2,522,850,000 / 80,000,000,000

Realm: Worldpiercer Realm — Tier 2/9

HP: 105,000 / 105,000

Mana: 118,000 / 118,000

Stats (with buffs applied):

Strength: 980 × 2.8 × 2 = 5,488

Endurance: 950 × 2.8 = 2,660

Willpower: 970 × 2.8 = 2,716

Charm: 1080 × 2.8 = 3,024

Intellect: 870 × 2.8 = 2,436

Dexterity: 980 × 2.8 × 2 = 5,488

Sin Points: 30,480,000 / 100,000,000,000

Sin Tier: Warlord Rank

SKILL WINDOW

Active Sin Skills:

• Sovereign Flame Crush [+Max]

• Wrathflare Lance [+Max]

• Flamebind Chains [+Max]

• Infernal Domain [+Max]

Passive Traits:

• Crown of Dominion → Throne of Ascendancy [+Mythic]

• Sovereign Union [+Enhanced]

• Nullfire Core [+Enhanced]

• Phoenix Mantle [+Enhanced]

• Worldpiercer's Will [+New]

• Vision Beyond the Veil [+New]

Bloodline / Physique Traits:

• Carnal Sovereign Core [+Enhanced]

• Sin Catalyst Matrix [+Enhanced]

[Skill Upgrade Available — Spend Sin Points to enhance or evolve active/passive/bloodline skills]

[Bonded Partner Skills Eligible for Sin Point Upgrade]

Bonded Wives (Mythic Bloodlines/Physiques Active):

Selene — Skyshatter 9/9 → Worldpiercer 2/9 (Mythic Eclipse Matron)

Evelyne — Skyshatter 9/9 → Worldpiercer 2/9 (Starlit Ember Empress)

Thalaria — Skyshatter 8/9 → Worldpiercer 2/9 (Stormheart Valkyrie — Advanced 11 tiers)

Nysera — Skyshatter 9/9 → Worldpiercer 2/9 (Scarlet Hexmistress)

Valeria — Skyshatter 8/9 → Worldpiercer 2/9 (Verdant Windborne Queen)

Aelisa — Heaven's Echo (Peak Rank) (Lilin Duskkissed Queen)

Pet Panel:

Emberfang — Infernal Flamebeast Cub (Tier 5)

Vira — Sky Serpent Hatchling (Tier 2)

Cultivation Realms:

Initiate → Essence Drawn → Veinwoven → Soulroot → Starforged → Sunbound → Moonglade → Skyshatter → Worldpiercer ← Current (2/9) → Heaven's Echo → Celestiaflame → Worldbreaker → Eternal Crown → Primordial Ascendant

Next: Heaven's Echo (Unlocks at Worldpiercer Tier 9/9)

With Elder Morwen and his diverse, corrupted allies revealed, what will be the opening move in this battle for the Sylvan Crown? And how will the presence of these varied races impact the fight?