Chapter 2: New Century (Epilogue)
Chapter 568: A Desperate Gamble
The undead were fully prepared for this military operation against the elves.
The entire Emerald Forest was a peninsula bordering the mainland, surrounded by the sea on three sides and riddled with numerous reefs.
These reefs became the staging grounds for the Undead Legion to gather its forces in advance.
First, the Legion of Ruin, led by the Emperor of the Undead, crossed the Northern Territory, traversing the Mermaid Trench to launch a frontal assault on the southern part of the Emerald Forest.
Meanwhile, the progenitor of vampires, Cain, led the Vampire Legion from the Naga Sea to the west of the Emerald Forest, landing on the shores. Additionally, a force composed of Ghost Dragons and Specter Dragons launched a surprise attack from the Ossen Strait, north of the Emerald Forest.
In the blink of an eye, the entire Emerald Forest was completely surrounded.
However, Cain and the Ghost Dragon contingent had not yet appeared. With only the Emperor of the Undead and his core undead army, the elves were already on the verge of collapse.
The Emperor of the Undead’s original plan was to draw attention and create an opportunity for Cain’s surprise attack.
Now, all attention was focused elsewhere. Looking down from the sky, there was virtually no military force left in the elven hinterland. Although the few Oakwood Guardians holding their ground were powerful, they were no match for Cain and the Vampire Legion.
“Elice Frost, your nine-ring magic is indeed potent. Your comprehension of ice rules is unmatched on the entire continent, but what good is it? You have a weakness: you must protect your kin. This is why you are destined to fail!” the Emperor of the Undead, Audoin, sneered.
He had been battling Elice Frost for a long time. Apart from the time her shield shattered and he suffered magical backlash, he had been unable to do anything against her. Conversely, Elice Frost was also unable to kill him. They were both veteran legends who had begun to touch upon the rules, and their strength was evenly matched. It would take at least ten days to half a month to determine a victor.
But if the battle dragged on for ten days to half a month, the Emerald Forest below would be reduced to ruins. Audoin was indifferent to this; the undead could survive anywhere, and they even preferred desolate places.
“I will not fail!” Elice coldly watched Audoin. “I will expel you all, even at the cost of my own life!”
The divine light in her eyes grew increasingly brilliant, and even Audoin, as an undead, felt a chill. “What are you trying to do?” His complexion changed slightly.
“Revered Mother Goddess, I will atone for my sins and hope you will protect the last of the elven race.” Elice clasped her hands together. The Codex of Nature floated beside her, its pages rustling open until they settled on one particular page.
“Buzz—” A golden aura spread from the Codex of Nature. A twelve-star formation flashed and vanished beneath Elice Frost’s feet. The ice energy gradually dissipated, replaced by a vast, all-encompassing power. This power was of a higher caliber, causing flowers and trees to sprout around Elice.
However, the conversion efficiency from frost elements to higher-level power was very low, and the process was accompanied by a great commotion. Audoin immediately understood what the Elven Empress intended to do. She was going to sacrifice herself. She intended to offer herself to the World Tree in exchange for its momentary awakening.
This was undoubtedly a gamble, as no one knew if the World Tree would truly awaken. But if it did, what would happen when it saw the undead swarming the land and the ruins of the elven homeland? Would the undead be the ones facing extermination?
The World Tree was the most unique of deities. When the Divine Realm first appeared, it was supported by her crown. Only then did the Supreme Dome gradually form and become a subspace. The Supreme Dome allowed the Divine Realm to exist independently of the World Tree, but the World Tree’s collapse would also lead to the shattering of the Divine Realm, much like the current Supreme Dome, which was merely fragments floating in the void.
Therefore, the World Tree was the only existence that could disregard the barriers between the Divine Realm and the Material Plane. Or rather, the formation of that barrier was closely related to the World Tree. If the World Tree awoke, even ten thousand Auduins combined would be no match for her.
In ancient times, when the World Tree was at its peak, the elves did not dominate the world due to their reclusive nature and the World Tree’s immobility.
“You are a madwoman!” Audoin panicked. He hastily extended a skeletal arm, attempting to intercept Elice Frost, but a majestic power formed a thorn-like shield that enveloped Elice, repelling the giant skeletal hand. No matter how Audoin attacked, whether by slamming or smashing with his skeletal hand, his immense power shattering space and creating explosions, or by casting top-tier curses and even banishment spells, he could not move Elice in the slightest. Her sacrifice was being protected by divine power.
“Rumble!” The ground shook, and countless vines surged upwards, cutting through the Undead Legion. The branches of the “Golden Tree” swayed, and amidst thunderous tremors, Audoin could feel a majestic will gradually awakening.
“We must stop the Elven Empress’s sacrifice!” Audoin saw the Elven Empress, protected by the thorn shield, aging at a visible rate. The sacrifice was nearing its end.
“Cain!” he roared.
“Whoosh—!” The sound of beating wings echoed from the west of the Emerald Forest. Giant bat wings rose like two pitch-black crescent moons as the Vampire Ancestor, Cain, flew rapidly towards the roots of the World Tree. Audoin had already transmitted his command to him: to destroy the World Tree’s roots at all costs, as this was the only way to prevent its awakening.
The World Tree’s only weakness was its roots. Apart from these subterranean root systems, she was virtually an indestructible being. This was why the Black Dragon Níðhöggr had chosen to gnaw on the World Tree’s roots and devour its heartwood, rather than attacking its trunk directly.
***
Center of the Emerald Forest.
Xi Wei also sensed something unusual. The ground was churning, and countless tiny vines were emerging from the soil. However, they were not attacking the players; they were merely wrapping around the surrounding trees. The trees enmeshed by them would grow taller at an accelerated rate, sprouting eyes and noses, and pulling their roots from the soil to become powerful treants. These mighty treants joined the battle, immediately easing the pressure on the elves fighting the undead. Coupled with the continuous emergence of players from the underground tunnels, spreading out across the land, the undead could no longer advance towards the World Tree. In fact, they were beginning to show signs of a rout.
“The Elven Empress is quite formidable,” Xi Wei remarked with emotion as he watched the figure locked in a stalemate with the Emperor of the Undead in the sky.
“Master, the Elven Empress is fighting for her life,” Loli said to Xi Wei with a slight frown. “The Empress’s vitality and elemental power are draining away. the power protecting her comes from the World Tree.”
In Loli’s eyes, she could see a faint green divinity connecting to the Elven Empress. The power emanating from the Elven Empress was dissipating in all directions, scattering like willow catkins in the wind, gradually being absorbed by the roots and vines emerging from the battlefield. While they appeared to complement each other, in reality, the Empress was unilaterally sacrificing herself.
