"Then, as soon as I find the next Tree, I will pass on to them everything I learned and am. I’ll go back to being a World Sapling and forfeit my powers and knowledge. This way, the new Yggdrasill will be untouched by madness and filled with the optimism of youth.
"I trust them to follow my example and learn from the mistakes of our ancestors. I owe you much, Lord Verhen. Not only my life, but also the future of the Yggdrasill bloodline. As I see it, you’ve saved us. You saved Mogar."
"That’s it?" Solus turned to Aalejah, who once again confird the sincerity of those words. "Well, then. You’re welco. You can leave now."
She had agreed to participate in the eting to face her fears and not let her trauma dictate her actions, but the re voice of the Yggdrasill made her stomach twist into a knot.
"I also ca to apologize to you, Lady Verhen." The Tree/Chronicler lowered his head further. "And to offer you my help against this foe. Or rather, the help of my Chroniclers. World Trees are not supposed to interfere with the course of history, but true apologies require actions, not cheap words."
Everyone looked shocked, but Lith more than the others.
"Has relinquishing the power of the World Tree and reverting to a Sapling always been an option?" He asked.
"No one has ever tried to reverse the process, but yes. I’ll do it, even if it costs my life." The Tree/Chronicler nodded. "Why?"
"Because that ans that the lineage of the World Tree is even madder than I thought." Lith replied. "I appreciate your effort, but that’s not enough for to trust you, let alone erase the pain you inflicted upon my companion.
"I don’t need or want your help. Your presence is enough to trigger Solus’ trauma, and I won’t compromise her ntal health, no matter how helpful you might be. Solus at the top of her ga is worth a thousand of your Chroniclers."
"If that’s your will, I will respect it." The Yggdrasill replied. "Lady Verhen?"
"I couldn’t have said it better." She swallowed hard, glad that Lith had taken that burden off her hands.
"One last thing." Lith said as Zak’Nar stood up and the vines started retreating into the wooden staff. "If I spot a single Chronicler anywhere near the battlefield, I’ll consider them hostile and react with extre prejudice.
"This is my final notice. You and your people are not allowed to spectate the fight. Stay away from Solus and I."
***
Vladion’s Headquarters, a few minutes later.
The First Vampire had arranged a large tent to host the leaders of the allied forces and share his attack plan with them.
"First of all, let explain the powers at the disposal of our enemy." He looked his guests in the eyes one by one. "All lost cities are dangerous, but Ruugat of the Earth poses a threat to Jiera like no other.
"I know because I was there when he rose from the ground for the first ti and contributed to sealing him. The mad mages who built him based their work on the assumption that an indestructible body was the key to achieving both immortality and invincibility.
"Ruugat was made of stone when he was Forgemastered, but he quickly turned into sothing more. He possesses the power to refine the materials that comprise his body infinitely.
"Given enough ti, Ruugat can turn the most porous of stones into gold-veined marble and any tal into Davross. Think of him as a giant, living mine. Of course, to do it, Ruugat’s enchantnts need a stable power source.
"That’s why he needs a mana geyser. Without it, the refinent process is so slow that it would take him centuries to turn even one drop of silver into Orichalcum. On top of that, the better the starting materials available, the less ti he needs.
"He took residence in Deter to exploit its mines. Adamant turns into Davross faster than any other tal, and solid granite doesn’t take long to beco gold-veined marble."
At those words, Lith and Solus turned toward nadion, who stared back at them and smirked.
’I didn’t know about this.’ She said via the mind link. ’It’s the first ti I heard of this Ruugat.’
’Then why the smirk, Mom?’ Solus asked.
’Because your mother is such a genius that in less than 300 years, she achieved the sa on her own and without Forbidden Magic. That’s why.’ nadion replied, puffing her chest out with pride.
’And I’m willing to bet your version is even faster since you employed modern magic and split the task among several specialized floors.’ Lith nodded. ’The word genius doesn’t make you justice, Ripha.’
’Keep going.’ nadion’s smile had beco so wide that everyone stared at her in confusion.
"What’s the reason for your hilarity in such dire tis, Ruler nadion?" Vladion asked. "Do you know how to defeat Ruugat?"
"No, I’m sorry." Ripha blushed in embarrassnt. "I spaced out for a minute. Please, continue."
"As I was saying, the longer we wait, the more powerful Ruugat will beco, but it gets even worse." The First Vampire said. "Ruugat is called ’of the Earth’ because his makers believed that defense was the best offense.
"That if their child could endure enough of a beating, even Guardians would tire themselves out and be defeated. For this reason, those crazy yet genius mages used Forbidden Magic to give Ruugat the sa ability as Davross to channel the earth elent."
"Are you telling us that the lost city has a power almost on par with Mana Body?" Milea Genys, the Magic Empress, considered the matter important for the future of the Gorgon Empire enough to attend the eting in person.
"I wish." The First Vampire shook his head. "Ruugat’s enchantnts create a protective aura almost on par with Mana Body, but that’s not all. The precious materials he collects and refines not only strengthen his body, but they also multiply the effectiveness of his impenetrable aura.
"To make matters worse, since it’s an enchantnt and not a bloodline ability, Ruugat can freely cast any spell he knows and use all of his magical abilities while conjuring the power of the earth elent."
The room burst into a series of worried conversations as the generals assessed the power of their enemy.
"Let get this straight." Raagu Drerian, Human Representative from Garlen, said. "Ruugat has a body stronger than an Awakened Divine Beast, since even they are made of flesh and blood.
"Also, the lost city constantly refines himself, can cast spells and activate enchantnts while shielding himself with a nigh-invulnerable aura. Am I forgetting sothing?"
"No, Milady. All you’ve said is correct." Vladion nodded.
"Then how are we supposed to win?" Syrah, the Hati Queen, asked. "I’m not going to throw away the lives of my people on a wish."
Elves, rfolk, plants, and humans from all countries agreed with her assessnt.
"It’s not a wish, Milady." Vladion smiled at Syrah, his face a mask of confidence. "Mana Body has a weak point. Origin Flas. That’s why I invited Supre Magus Verhen to join us. With Great Mage Tista’s help, things will be easier than I planned."
User Comments
0 comments from readers