NOVEL WEB 21. Uncertainty(3)
The elves look at each other and nod. A handsome young elf jumps down and says "Put that...thing...back. We will inform the patriarch about this."
The Life Tree is a simple cup of pure water, a drop of contamination like demonic energy corrupts the entire solution. Elves use the Life Tree to manipulate nature and thus take down or chase away large waves of monsters from their hometown. Without the Life Tree, elves are essentially powerless.
Soulstones of high-ranking demons have a tendency to absorb every demonic energy around them and are the perfect solution for such trouble.
The rest escorted us while pointing their sharp arrows at our heads through the forest.
Soon, the fog cleared up and we got out of the illusion barrier.
My skin tingles from the cool and refreshing air. My eyes widens and my brow raised. I've seen the elf kingdom many times through my computer monitor but to see it with my own eyes...it's mesmerizing.
Tall and large trees as big as a skyscraper are scattered. On each tree are windows, doors, flower decorations and among other antiques.
Some bridges connect each tree tower to another. Platforms are also built between trees high up in the sky. On one platform is a market where elves sell various things.
I feel miniature.
"Hey! What are you doing?" an elf breaks me out of awe.
"Sorry."
After walking past the shades of the tall trees, a tree as big as Mount Everest can be seen. Its roots above land lay as gargantuan dividers between buildings and facilities. That must be the Life Tree.
Surrounding elves gather around us, some scorning, some curious but definitely not welcoming.
We walk to the base of the trunk where a large golden door is at the bottom. Once the elves give us the signal, the door opens and we enter.
"Woah..." Lena mumbles in awe at the majestic interior presented to us.
Intense mana floods the atmosphere as nature twists and reforms into beautiful stairs to the upper level. We walk up the stairs. Some fairies or spirits fly around us, curious or sceptical about our purpose in the sacred land.
The stairs lead to a throne room, many guards are orderly stationed at the sides of the room. One large throne chair made out of the tree's branch is at the end and a beautiful elf with white moonlight hair and sapphire eyes rests on it. It's queen Elsa.
Lena immediately turns her head to see Radz's reaction.
Radz and Lena bow by bending their body down. However, I place my left foot forward and throw my right hand up before bending my body, the proper way elves bow to their queen.
"That human..." an elf mumbles in surprise.
"Rise," Elsa says. "I've heard the situation from my fellow kin. Show me that...stone."
I take Jared's soulstone out as requested. The roots near me start to tremble and wilt, elves in the room panic and move back yet with one swipe of Elsa's arm, the aura is dissipated.
...
Well, Jared is the weakest among his brothers.
Elsa nods and stands up. A few elves behind us pushing us forward, asking us to follow the queen.
The branches forming the throne chair retract, leaving a hole in the world.
Within the hole is a long hallway. We start to stroll through the corridor.
...That's all? Anyone can smell something fishy. Radz looks anxious.
"Your highness...I want to ask a question." I say.
"Speak."
"If we can extract the demonic energy out of the Life Tree, what will we get?" I ask.
"Is protecting your city and your life not sufficient?" Elsa looks back.
"Of course not. Humans are notorious for their greed." I say with a pleasant smile.
...
"You may receive a blessing from a fairy."
!!!!!!!!
That's...impossible. The reward is too good to be true. Receiving a blessing from a fairy puts the human on par with elfen royalty.
What are they planning?
We reach the end of the hallway into a broad space inside the Life Tree, something similar to a heart beating mid-air with many spots of black scar scattered around the heart.
The two elves that followed nod to Elsa and Elsa gives way to me.
"Wait...Something is off." Lena mumbles.
Once the three of us step through, the illusion immediately dispels revealing a deep hole.
!?
A burst of wind came from behind. Lena tries to erect a mana barrier but the ferocious blizzard immediately throws all three of us into the hole.
"ARGHHH!!??" Radz and Lena scream as they fall.
Elsa places her hand at her ears, and a thread of mana connects between her ear and another recipient. "The humans have been eradicated. Keep your promise, Ikoreyt," says Elsa.
"Pfft...How underhanded!!" says the man on the other end, Ikoreyt.
Elsa grits her teeth and furrows her brow. "You are not one to talk, bastard. Now keep your end of the promise."
"Sure sure. we will spare your kingdom for one month, decide whether to aid the demon lord by then," says Ikoreyt and the magic cuts off.
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Entering The Void of Blindness.
Tip: Knowledge is Power.
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*THUD!*
"ACK!... Damn it..." says Radz.
"Idiot! W-Where are you touching?!" says Lena
"Sorry! I didn't do that purpose. Anyways, it's dark."
Nothing can be seen and we can only feel a cold cobblestone beneath our feet.
Lena tries to cast light magic but it was instantly consumed by the void.
"Don't bother. This is the dungeon of blindness, we have to rely on other senses." I say.
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Welcome to the land of darkness where hope is consumed by despair.
Fulfil one condition to leave the dungeon:
1. Eliminate the monster in the dungeon. (0/1)
2. Find the exit portal. (0/1)
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I sigh. I didn't expect I would meet this dungeon so soon.
Well, whatever.
"W-What are we going to do?!" says Lena. I can hear her trembling tone.
In the darkness, I grab onto Radz and Lena.
"EEK!"
"AH?!"
"Calm down, it's me," I say. "From now on, do everything I say no matter how illogical it sounds if you want to live, understand?"