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"Okay, so let get this straight... You died, spent ten years in a dark pit surrounded by bizarre undead, and sohow mastered a forbidden farming art that uses netherworld mushrooms and moss?!"
"Yeah, pretty much, Gardenia. It’s... really nice to hear your voice again!"
"And Mark was brainwashed into a giant, monstrous skeleton?! Oh my god, Elayne! How am I supposed to adjust to all of this? Ugh, and this realm is so cold—I can barely stay conscious."
"I don’t expect much, but please guide . I need to dismantle this barrier to escape," Elayne said. "Can you help ?"
"A Netherworld Barrier? Tch, easy." Gardenia’s aura surged from Elayne’s skeletal hand, spreading circuits of divine spirit energy.
Within seconds...
Crack, crack...
CRASH!
The entire barrier shattered like glass, revealing chaos beyond. Hundreds of undead and Netherworld races scread, scrambling to flee or hoard the moss and mushrooms growing over them.
"I’ve got to say, you’ve mastered sothing truly lethal! Who would’ve thought you’d reverse-engineer these mushrooms and moss to absorb nether and ghostly energy—and weaponize them?" Gardenia laughed. "Even in death, you’re still a Farr, Elayne!"
The Great Spirit of Harvest and Nature seed pleased, praising Elayne’s perseverance despite her suffering and loss.
"It’s not over yet," Elayne said, scanning the area. "I’m starting a rebellion. Join and escape! I’ll grant great power to those who truly wish to fight back. In return, you must swear loyalty to the Demon Tree Religious Order!"
The na, Demon Tree Religious Order, had been suggested by Norman. He told Elayne that forming a religious order would attract followers, giving them sothing to believe in.
It was strange and didn’t suit Elayne at all.
But it was the only path forward, and she wasn’t backing down.
Her voice echoed across White Bone City, resonating through every mushroom and patch of moss.
"F-Freedom?"
"A religious order?"
"No more torture...?"
"No, not trustworthy..."
"What if they sacrifice us too?"
"I swear to everyone here, through a soul vow, that I will never sacrifice you or turn you into pills. I will feed you, treat you with dignity, and ensure you have shelter. In return, I ask only for your help and cooperation to build a better world for us—the oppressed and abused undead!"
"...!"
"Really?"
"She made a soul vow!"
"If she lies, her soul will explode!"
"What nonsense is this?!"
"Who would believe it?"
"Soul vow, my bony ass!"
Many doubted her. But so believed. And those who didn’t speak—those who simply desired to join her—were heard.
FLAAASH!
From the Domain Core, Little Hope released threads of green and blue ghostly nature energy, reaching their souls.
Those who chose Elayne regained their strength. The plants no longer drained them; instead, they nourished them.
"Ooh?!"
"W-What is this?!"
"We’re no longer affected!"
"Is this the Demon Tree Religious Order’s blessing?!"
Those who refused Elayne’s offer remained unchanged, unable to stop the slaves and soldiers from escaping.
So commanders and nobles stood firm, unleashing soul flas and weapon techniques to destroy the mushrooms and moss.
"Don’t let those bastards escape!"
"Chase them down!"
"Ugh, damn Blazer! This is all your fault!"
Three undead commanders roared at Blazer, who was still locked in combat with Mark.
Blazer glanced at Elayne, expecting his hound to have torn her apart by now.
Instead...
"Good boy."
Elayne was petting the demonic creature’s three heads. Blazer’s jaw dropped as he watched her ta the beast with ease.
The three-headed hound wagged its tail, thrilled by her affection.
Elayne had heard its intentions—its inner voice.
It was easy to convince the creature to switch sides. Once connected to the Domain Core, the hound received a surge of energy, revitalizing it while others remained drained.
"YOU EVEN STOLE MY DOG?!"
Blazer roared, leaping over Mark’s head with blazing swords aid at Elayne. She remained calm.
"I’LL KILL YOU!"
CLASH!
Elayne swung her sword, eting Blazer’s dual blades. Her glitching strike spread a strange, decaying energy through his weapons, weakening the flas.
Blazer retaliated with a kick to her stomach, sending her crashing into the arena floor.
BOOOM!
"As you can see, everything is under control, great nobles! P-Please wait a minute or two—everything will return to normal!"
Blazer tried to calm the crowd, but chaos had already spread. Half the undead soldiers and slaves were fleeing.
"Tch, where do you think you’re going?!"
Blazer targeted a group of escapees, invoking pain through their soul contracts.
But then...
A shadow erged, severing the curse that allowed him to torture and control them.
"What is that thing?!"
Blazer glared at the shadow, which helped the undead escape.
Nearby stood a zombie, a tall skeleton, and a ghost.
"You’re... those damn misfits!"
It was Shade, Sailor, Norman, and Dorothy.
Their mission wasn’t combat—it was rescue.
Little Hope worked tirelessly, guiding escapees into the dark pit. One by one, they jumped, despite the guards’ attempts to stop them.
"GRAAAHHH!"
Mark roared, swinging his massive sword at Elayne. She dodged, and ghostly flas erupted around them.
The three-headed hound growled, barking at Mark. He glared back, eyes glowing red.
"DIE!!!"
Mark swung again, but the hound leapt over his arm and bit into his skull with all three jaws.
"GRAAHHH!"
Mark’s flas barely hard the beast, which gnawed at his head relentlessly. The brainwashed skeleton struggled to shake it off.
"Well done, Cerberus! Keep him pinned!"
Elayne had already nad the hound as she rushed forward.
BAAAM!
A blazing knight descended. Blazer swung his swords, and Elayne barely blocked the blow.
CLAASH!
She was sent flying again, crashing into a wall of bones and vomiting miasma.
Groaning, Elayne stood once more.
"You really don’t know when to quit, do you?"
Blazer charged, his aura surging with nether and ghostly energy, fused with fla.
Within that aura, Elayne saw the truth.
"So you grew this strong by devouring the souls and bodies of fellow undead... is that it?"
"That’s just the natural order of things!" Blazer roared, attacking again.
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