The Amber Sword volume 3 - Chapter 206 – Race?

=========== The Green Tower ==========

The darkness was fading.

The first ray of light was like a sharp blade that sundered the heavens, turning into a blinding pillar of light that exploded within that single moment, and the surroundings seemed to dim because of the contrast between darkness and light.

The Wall of Clouds was being pierced by additional rays of light as if was a coc.o.o.n being lit up from within. The dark night was turned into a shade of light purple, then to blue, and the land was lit up from the receding veil of illuminated clouds. The Dark Forest displayed a vivid green that the Druids had never seen before, with light piercing through the holes between the leaves to reach the ground.

The mist lifted and shadows formed with clarity; it was as if dawn had arrived.

Someone had pulled off the black cloth that covered the mountains. Golden hues spread across the dense vegetation, and the first ray of light reached the Green Tower’s walls, washing away the fatigue of the warriors.

The battleground was completely silent. The cold fallen ancient Treants’ bodies stood tall with countless dead wolves in front of it, almost like statues that were deliberately positioned. The rays of light continued to move and illuminate the city, revealing the various battlefields and murky figures.

The heroic Tree Elves defended their positions with every corner they could find, but many were killed after they exhausted all their strength. The monsters at the frontlines were also collapsing from fatigue, but they were reinforced by even more of their numbers.

The major blockade was at the Elven Great Hall. The Tree Elves and Centaurs were forced back and forth from the incoming storm of wolves, but they still secured the position miraculously. Almost every Druid was locked into battle, with a staggering amount of spells sailing through the air. The two Archmagi from the Silver Alliance were standing at the back, forming the strongest barriers in their defenses.

Nordas, who was from one of Aouine’s southern army, blinked his unfocused eyes. His muscles went rigid when the rays of light reached the wolves’ back and he stared in surprise. Beside him was a row of centaurs who also could not believe what they saw.

It was morning…… and the wolves were burning.

The steel-like hides of the wolves burst into flames, and the monsters screamed in pain as they scrambled to flee from the light, though even the ones hiding in the shadows were not spared. Very quickly, the entire Green City seemed like a sea of fire had been poured down onto the monsters.

The wolves that were directly in the light seemed like they were being pierced through; holes started appearing in them with flames bursting out from their wounds.

Even the bravest person in the Green Tower could not help but feel lucky for surviving this ordeal. The frantic a.s.sault was completely dismantled in an instant as the monsters disintegrated into ashes.

Just exactly what kind of power was invoked?

But everyone believed in one thing.

“It’s just as I have predicted. He succeeded.”

William turned to his companion with a faint smile.

“Hah! It seems like a remarkable youth has appeared in our kingdom,” Tulman responded with a grin.

“My old friend, Erik, founded Aouine as the kingdom of hope within this darkness. I understand his beliefs, but they have been twisted by his descendants for far too long. I wonder if he ever hoped to see something like this happen today…… Perhaps someone is finally able to pick up the flag that had been dropped onto the ground for far too long.”

“Indeed. It is a pity that I am unable to partic.i.p.ate in restoring my homeland’s former glory, since it is forbidden for a member of the Silver Alliance to do so,” Tulman said.

“But at least you won’t see it crumble completely, yes?” Wisdom twinkled in William’s eyes and he recited an old adage: “The young will develop a new era, and the old era should be left in the past.”

While the two wizards of the Silver Alliance were exchanging their opinions, the Druids and Elves were descending into sorrow after a short period of intense delight. The people who were standing survived, but even more of them who were lying on the ground left this world forever. Every one of them had one or more loved ones leave them. Even the long-lived Tree Elves who did not display much of their emotions could not help but cry softly.

There was a layer of sadness over the courtyard.

Nordas and the centaurs stood on one side, watching the Elves hugging each other and crying. The centaurs viewed dying on a battlefield differently. Nordas had spent enough time crying over the Madara War, though his heart still felt a little heavy.

“I think I can understand their emotions.” The tall Centaurian leader spoke: “Death should be glory for those who died on the battlefield, but this battle only brought sorrow and loss.”

Nordas nodded. Aouine’s battle creed was similar to the Centaurs, but the reasons as to why the kingdom fought might not give her soldiers a satisfactory answer.

He looked at the Elves and Druids, feeling a little pensive.

============ Brendel’s POV ================

Light poured from every corner of the great hall, and its scale and mysterious appearance were revealed. There were a hundred pillars that supported the ceiling—

Everyone’s eyes were however on the Fire Seed that was dyed in a divine color. It was emitting pure white flames, appearing like a divine fire, but those flames were actually Laws of Order, binding every single type of Element Powers and Mana from the Sea of Chaos into silence as they ebbed under Marsha’s Divine Order.

A still calmness of purity pulsed and extended outwards from the Fire Seed. Everyone’s body trembled, and the weak Mana within their bodies were cut off from the Mana Wave.

“Hmm?” Brendel muttered.

He suddenly realized there was a difference in how the Primeval Fire Seed functioned. The Fire Seeds created by mortal hands rearranged the Laws, while Marsha’s Fire Seed separated Laws, Elements, and Mana. It was as if it was wiping away everything on a blackboard and writing new Laws on it. During this period, the Laws that were allowed by the Administrator could be written down onto the Fire Seed.

Due to the separation of the various Laws, Elements, and Mana in its initial stage, Chaos could hardly affect the land of purity. Every single person within the Dark Forest would have their strength suppressed.

The youth’s mind was working quickly as he clenched and unclenched his fingers.

[We’re too close to the Fire Seed’s suppression. Mephisto’s strength is probably no stronger than the typical adult male fighter right now…… If I calculate things, this process will last for a week. Hmm, although the people at the Green City are affected, I doubt they will run into danger since the suppression towards monsters is probably a hundred times stronger. At worst, they can’t get used to it.]

Mother Marsha was already gone.

Brendel suddenly frowned and turned to the right as he heard footsteps. The people who were within the Loop of Trade Winds should only be Veronica and her group.

Were there unknown natives in this underground city?

But it was certainly Veronica who appeared, bringing along Andesha and Faena. She had followed the Crystal Circuits that had suddenly lit up on the ground, and she eventually made her way to the Fire Seed.

The Combat of G.o.ddess’s eyes was attracted by the bright light in the center of the hall. She was surprised when she saw Brendel and the others but recovered quickly.

“A Primeval Fire Seed?” Her eyes had a look of reverence just like Mephisto when she looked at it: “The legendary blessings given to the mortals by G.o.ddess Marsha. I have seen it in Marus.”

Marus was a city within the Kirrlutz Empire. A primeval Fire Seed sat in a temple that worshipped Marsha. The power of the Fire Seed was strong enough that it deterred monsters for thousands of miles for many centuries, and not even one person had reported news of their appearances. It was because of that reason that Marus and the surrounding cities were the most thriving cities.

Brendel knew what Veronica was insinuating, but Andesha paid no attention to the latter’s words. Her diamond-shaped eyes narrowed as she gasped:

“A primeval Fire Seed?”

She was able to recognize it immediately. None of the people around her matched her knowledge, excluding Brendel. The Mistress of Withering Decay had a strange expression. The suppression of the primeval Fire Seed was just too powerful. It meant that a new territory with the strong Laws of Order would be formed if it was built well. A new Empire that could rival the Kirrlutz Empire was not something impossible.

The Kirrlutz Empire became strong because of the Fire Seed in Marus.

Andesha’s eyes were glinting with danger. She wanted to gamble everything on her plan. If she succeeded, it would mean that the Tree Shepherds would need not to worry about a second Kirrlutz Empire appearing in the future…… It was the right time to strike, especially when it was still new. Leaving it alone meant that it would eventually grow with va.s.sal states.

“Andesha, what are you scheming?” Veronica felt that her ‘prisoner’ was acting strangely.

Even though Andesha’s injuries were great, she was in a stance and ready for battle. Mephisto and Veronica pulled out their weapons at the same time.

“Hehe, isn’t this the best chance?” Andesha licked her lips. Even though she was in a fervor, she did not lose her rationality: “Under the suppression of this Fire Seed, we’re only capable of pulling the strength of our races. Even though my strength is suppressed greatly because I’m a half-monster, the blood that runs in my veins is much stronger than yours, you weaklings. Even if it’s one against all of you, it doesn’t mean I don’t have a chance.”

Everyone shuddered, with the exception of one person.

“Are you serious, Andesha?” Brendel pulled out Halran Gaia and snarled: “Have you forgotten what you have given me? You know very well that I’m not your typical G.o.d Acolyte when you fought me earlier!”

There was an awkward moment of silence with plenty of blinking eyes.

Andesha recovered quickly and drew out a thin whip that was coiled around her waist. No one noticed this hidden weapon on her, but it was too late. She swung it at Veronica and Mephisto who retreated to the walls. Brendel leaped off from the platform and thrust his sword at Andesha, but the latter somersaulted a few times back and swung her whip in mid-air.

Because the youth had Bahamut’s Grasp, he managed to catch it with his hands.

[Power B— No, that isn’t it.]

Brendel nearly pulled the whip with all his strength before a certain memory of someone being flung away flickered into his mind, and he swiveled around where he was instead. Andesha opened her hands and had allowed the whip to slip out of her hands, completing the same action that she did to the vampire trap, Morpheus.

Even though Brendel had reacted with his combat experience backing him, he was still late by a second. Andesha had started to flee. If she was unable to defeat them, then she could just simply run away and wait for a better chance to strike in the shadows.

[I can’t let this b.i.t.c.h esc—]

Suddenly there was a loud smack that interrupted Brendel’s thoughts. The Mistress of Withering Decay was flying in the air with a scream of pain, and she ended up smashing into a pole and destroying it.

There was someone who was not suppressed by the Fire Crystal? Mephisto and Veronica’s minds had the same question.

“Impossible! Someone from the Dragon race!?” Andesha screamed.

[Dragon Race!? That proud loli dragon is here?! Even if she’s done with her things, how did she track us down? Considering the timing, it’s unlikely…… Erm…… It’s Scarlett? W-what’s going on?]

Brendel’s mind felt like there was a system error happening in his mind and he stared at Scarlett with an opened mouth.