In the High Ger Empire, although the elves have never been in conflict with humans, ever since the Tower collapsed, these elves have started to step into the human world instead of solely relying on the rangers who left the empire to gather intelligence.
Aivelia stood atop the tall treetops, overlooking this human realm.
Even for many long-lived elven elders, the First Continental War is now a vague memory, let alone Aivelia, who is viewed as still a little child in the eyes of the elven elders.
The elves are completely unskilled in warfare, because since their creation, they have borne the responsibility of being observers and maintainers, so their mainstream belief has always been in their own God; the elves were not born for war— at least, not in comparison to humans.
Fortunately, like in the last Continental War, there is still a group of humans who have chosen to stand on the side of the elves, and this group is even stronger than the humans of the past, allowing the elves not to have to engage directly in battle but to assist this group of humans with logistical issues.
However, the challenges the elves face this time may be even more severe than the last.
Generally speaking, as such wars approach, the faith among humans becomes more active; yet this time, as the storm clouds gather, the elves have been tight-lipped about their long-held belief in their own God. In the surrounding areas, let alone spreading the faith, they have even begun to disallow other races from believing in their own God.
If one were to ask why, it would relate to Aivelia’s recent prayer.
After the Tower was cloaked in black rain, the elves have been observing the state of their own God.
Aivelia has taken on duties similar to a saintess, praying daily to their God.
Aivelia will never forget that day when she rarely entered a meditative state, witnessing the Divine Kingdom that many believers long for; the Divine Kingdom is just as everyone imagined: an eternally green forest.
Within the Divine Kingdom, their own God was bound by lines woven from black mud, those lines intricate as if constructing an ovary completely enveloping the great God.
In this illusion of the Divine Kingdom, a massive stag slowly opened its eyes, looking at Aivelia, and in the language of the Golden Age, asked her: “Anastasia? Wasn’t I supposed to let you escape?”
Although Aivelia couldn’t understand this language, for some reason, she could completely grasp the meaning of the stag before her.
“Great Nature God, I am Your subject, the current elven queen, Aivelia.”
Aivelia reverently bowed; this was the Divine Kingdom, and it was also Aivelia’s first time here in a meditative state. Let alone her consciousness being so clear, even Aivelia felt something was amiss and unbelievable.
It was as if the boundary between believers and the Divine Kingdom had thinned.
Especially those lines of black mud entwined around the God, which only filled Aivelia with fear and despair, suffused with various negative emotions; just looking at it made Aivelia feel breathless.
“Oh, a descendant of Anastasia? No wonder the aura is so similar.”
After saying that, the massive stag stood up, using its utmost strength to shake off the lines woven from the mud, but the mud seemed infinite, once again entangling the great stag.
Aivelia could distinctly feel the pain of their own God, a pain that directly reflected on her as a loyal believer.
“I can feel that my state is getting worse.”
“The Outer God utilizes the power from sacrifices, tightly binding us.”
The massive stag did not speak but instead directly conveyed its consciousness into Aivelia’s mind.
“I shouldn’t possess emotions, yet now, I find myself reminiscing about past matters.”
The Nature God is a great stag, and it shouldn’t be able to display a self-mocking smile, yet Aivelia clearly felt this emotion.
“Descendant of Anna, listen carefully, my functions are damaged; afterwards, I may not be able to respond to your prayers relying solely on my consciousness. I might be devoured, possessed, or sealed, so from now on, do not pray to me, absolutely not.”
“Even if I issue a new Divine Revelation, do not trust it under any circumstances.”
The stag’s tone was calm, yet Aivelia felt an undeniable authority.
Once again entangled by the black mud, the stag gathered its last strength to stand and said: “Otherwise, the ones who pray will fall into the depths of the Sea of Consciousness like you now, perhaps never to return, just like those who can no longer return and have become members drifting within the Sea of Consciousness.”
Watching the stag in pain and struggling, Aivelia anxiously asked: “Great Nature God, is there anything we can do for you?”
The black lines entangled on the stag were torn apart by a powerful force; ultimately, the stag stood completely, shaking off the black mud, and shone with a sacred radiance just like what all believers imagined the Nature God to be.
“Live on, descendant of Anna, live on with the humans and elves.”
This was the last Divine Revelation Aivelia heard from the Nature God, clear, bright, free of any ambiguity, and full of hope.
At last, under the immense brilliance radiating from the stag, Aivelia emerged from the depths of the Sea of Consciousness.
Upon waking up, Aivelia felt a distinct fluctuation in her emotions, unclear whether it was pain or sadness.
Afterwards, the elves of the High Ger Empire held a conference; no one knew what was discussed among them, but after that assembly, the High Ger Empire quickly passed a bill to suspend all prayers and offerings to the Nature God by all elves, with the specific date for resumption waiting for further notice.
……
When Herbert sent a message through a simple communication device, stating that a girl modified by An Zhu claimed to see the Divine Kingdom and the report was placed on Lind’s desk, Lind was actually scratching his head.
Setting aside the truth or falsehood of the matter, the intelligence Herbert brought about the War God Church was genuinely valuable. Moreover, a girl modified by An Zhu would allow Lind to see how far An Zhu’s technology has progressed.
Yet, as the encirclement within the iron ring was still ongoing, Lind found it difficult to spare extra effort to forcibly bring Herbert alone.
Until Aivelia’s handwritten letter arrived in Lind’s hands.
Lind felt his palms sweating.
The Nature God truly has problems.
Then regarding Herbert’s speculation about the War God…
Can the elves unite and suspend their prayers and offerings to the Nature God? Can humans do the same? Can An Zhu stop offering to the War God?
“Lucanus, notify Judith, find a way to bring that Herbert and the Caged Girl here.”
