Endings and Beginnings
Unbeknownst to them, another two days had already passed. During these two days, Serea had not gone out to hunt, because the blood slaves were now able to generate fresh blood Crystals for Serea, and in these days Serea had also stopped producing Blood Spring (Purification). She had stored up a large amount of Blood Spring (Corruption) to supply the blood slaves, which was enough to support them through this operation.
Standing on the steps of the Queen's wooden house, watching the tribespeople below who were fully prepared to depart, Serea turned and asked Lola.
"Is everything ready?"
"Mm. Aside from so food we can't take with us, all the other valuables have been packed."
As Lola responded, Serea glanced at the wooden carts in the camp pulled by direwolves. These carts were loaded with the crucial supplies for starting over again.
That's right, Serea was preparing to lead everyone in leaving this place, because with human troops ahead and a zombie outbreak behind, this area was clearly no longer suitable for developnt—relocating the camp was a necessity.
"I'm really sorry, chief Aruka, but I need you once again to use your direwolves to help with transportation."
"Haha, it's just a trifle, no need to ntion it. Besides, I originally wanted to invite the Queen to migrate together. After all, this place truly is no longer suitable for our survival."
"Mm. Then, according to our previous plan, we'll move toward the jungle near the Otto Kingdom, and together, we'll build a new ho there."
"We've been waiting for your word, queen Serea."
Aruka replied heartily.
As for why they needed to migrate in that direction...
The northern edge of the Corrupted Jungle, from east to west, bordered four nations in order: Tawu Ishihara, the Ailera Empire, Otto Kingdom, and the Holy Dragon Empire.
The border with the Ailera Empire was not an option, and although Tawu Ishihara was a tribe of non-humans, they were extrely "xenophobic"!
This "xenophobic" attitude was easy to understand: if you wanted to develop there, you had to either join them or beco their enemy. Additionally, tawu Ishihara had an alliance with the Ailera Empire, so being a friend of their enemy was not an option, going there would only trigger another conflict.
If they kept heading toward the Holy Dragon Empire, they would step right into the dangerous heart of the Corrupted Jungle. So Serea could only compromise and choose to develop in the southern part of the Corrupted Jungle near Otto Kingdom.
Furthermore, the Ailera Empire and Otto Kingdom were currently at war. If they went there, the influence of the Ailera Empire on them would be minimized.
However, even though they were heading toward the Otto Kingdom, Serea had no intention of exposing her identity as the second imperial princess of Otto Kingdom. That would bring her nothing but harm; peacefully developing their own power was the sure road.
But before departure, Serea needed to confirm one more thing...
Serea summoned Flosa and asked,
"Confirm again, our intel hasn't been sent back to your front lines, correct?"
"Yes. Because we were only operating as a small detachnt, although we had short-range magic communication gear, using it for long-range communication would cost too much mana, so we usually only communicated once every other day—unless there was an ergency. The last communication was yesterday, and only included news about expelling the elves and occupying the camp, not about today's battle."
"So, it's not too bad. As long as we destroy the evidence, all the human troops will know is that their vanguard detachnt was annihilated by so enemy. Even if they suspect the Elves, the vast forest makes it impossible to know exactly who we are, correct?"
"Yes."
Controlled by the Blood Spring (Corruption), flosa could not lie. After being Appraised by Dogsius, it was confird he hadn't lied.
"Good. Then, Vina, have the human corpses been dealt with?"
"As you ordered, Your Majesty, I placed them outside the jungle, and most have already turned into zombies and left."
"Nicely done. With that, as long as we destroy the evidence here, we can leave without worries."
As she spoke, Serea looked back at the Elven village with a bit of regret in her eyes.
Seeing this, Lola tried to comfort her:
"There's no need for regret, Your Majesty. Once we leave, we'll surely build an even stronger and greater tribe than this."
"Yes... to build a stronger, greater tribe!"
At this thought, Serea issued her final orders.
"Relay my command: the Undead army will split into four squads and move out first to clear the way. But Little Red, stay behind—I've got sothing for you."
"At your command, Your Majesty!" x4
Little Black, Little White, eighty, and Little Red responded in unison. With the exception of Little Red, the other three skeletons divided Serea's Undead army into four squads, moving out into the jungle first.
"The convoy and the tribe will follow close behind. Rember, don't fall behind the team—the zombies in the jungle are very dangerous."
"Yes, Your Majesty." x2
Vina and Doluka accepted the command and assembled the convoy and tribe to transport the supplies. They closely followed the Undead army.
"Chief Aruka, please lead your wolf riders to guard our rear and flanks."
"Leave it to us."
With that, Aruka went to assemble the wolf riders. Although most of the direwolves had gone to transport supplies, as wolf riders, they could still unleash formidable power without them. Not to ntion, among them was the epic tier-four direwolf king, "Hidden Fang."
"Lola, follow in a while, and have the Elven rangers and archers act as scouts ahead. Relay any intelligence imdiately. If you encounter zombies, leave them to Little Black and his squad."
"At your command, Your Majesty."
"Then, let's move out."
With orders issued, Serea led the departure. Following her was a unit of thirty-two humans clad in black battle armor—otherwise known as the "blood slave" army. Under the control of Blood Spring (Corruption), they had to obey Serea's commands, and leading them was—
Maro!
Though he was only a gate guard, his strength wasn't bad, so Serea put him temporarily in charge.
The migration column set off, but after leaving the Elven village, Serea, Lola, and Celia did not imdiately catch up. Instead, they remained outside the Elven settlent.
Looking at the red "blood stone" in her space ring—an evolved form of a tier 3 mana crystal—Serea knew that with it, she could quickly establish a Blood Well at the new camp.
"Alright, Lola, I'll leave this to you now."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Lola answered and then climbed atop the camp's wooden palisade, gazing at the many Elf Trees within the village, bowing slightly out of deep respect.
"My apologies, friends of nature. Forced by circumstances, we must take our leave—so please, sleep for now."
As Lola spoke, it was as if the Elf Trees understood her. A rich surge of natural power burst forth from them, compressing and gathering. Then, from the imnse trees, pale green seeds rained down.
With great care, Lola collected these seeds in her hands and stowed them in a cloth bag.
The Elf Trees withered and collapsed, but their hope was now entrusted to Lola. As the trees turned to re deadwood, the Spring of Life in the village also beca an ordinary spring.
"It's done, Your Majesty."
"Mm. Then let's say our final farewells to this place."
Saying this, Serea gave Little Red a command. As the order went out, an enormous fireball fell into the heart of the village. A second one, a third one...
Boom! Boom! Boom!
After the explosions, the flas rapidly spread out, forming successive rings of fire.
Fire Ring!
The area affected by the flas was vast, and the temperature far higher than ordinary fire. Within minutes, the Elven village was engulfed in a sea of fire.
Crackle crackle!
The settlent beca ruins, and with Little Red's control, the fires ceased to burn further. The charred destruction was both an end and a beginning...
(To be continued...)
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