Chapter 92: No Home
"Either we reforge El's Light, or we search for the Elves' Holy Authority Sword, Atos. We have no other choice," Norn said carefully.
He had already guessed what Kurtz intended, understanding the strategic implications of such a decision.
In the future battle against the gods, Kurtz would use this magic to completely sever the connection between the Demon Clan and the gods, ensuring that all demons and monsters would turn to ash upon death, leaving no corpses behind.
This move could also weaken the false gods' power significantly, preventing them from giving orders to the Demon Clan at will.
"Where is the Holy Sword Atos usually kept?" Kurtz asked Serie.
"Basically, it's in the Elf Forest. Atos is the source of power for the Elf Forest's barrier, possessing the world's strongest defensive magic. But given the current situation, I can't be sure…" Serie's voice was uncertain.
The ongoing battle between the allied forces and the Demon Clan was in full swing, which meant the current Elf King might persuade the Elf Forest's Elder Council to take the Holy Sword Atos out so the allied forces could deploy defensive barriers anywhere they needed them.
To draw the Holy Sword Atos, a true saint among the Elves was required, though over the years, the Elves had found ways to use a small portion of its power without drawing Atos completely. This small portion alone constructed the most powerful magic barrier in the entire world.
"If the Holy Sword Atos was taken to the front lines…" Serie realized something, her voice suddenly solemn. "Wouldn't the Elf Forest be without any defense?"
As soon as she thought this, anxiety arose in Serie's heart—an emotion she hadn't felt in centuries.
When Kurtz heard her concerns, his expression turned grim as the implications became clear.
According to Olivia, the remnants of her Skywing Clan had encountered a Demon Clan God Strike on their way back, which was a terrifying attack capable of annihilating all existence, with destructive power no less than their Skywing Clan's own God Strike. So what if the Demon Clan used God Strike on the Elf Forest?
Kurtz dared not think further, afraid his guess would become reality. Without the protection of the Holy Sword Atos, the Elf Forest would be completely exposed to the Demon Clan's threat.
He immediately stood up with urgency: "We can't delay any longer. We must act quickly and head to the Elf Forest as soon as possible."
"Going to the allied forces first is also an option," Olivia said softly. "The Skywing Clan and the allied forces have an alliance. I can directly contact the Elf King through my identity as a member of the Thirteen Council."
"Good! That works too," Kurtz clapped his hands with relief. "Then it's settled, we'll depart first thing tomorrow morning."
The night before departure arrived quietly.
Kurtz found Serie sitting alone under an ancient tree outside the village, gazing contemplatively at the starry sky above.
He walked over and settled beside her, sensing her troubled mood.
"What are you thinking about?"
"Looking at the stars."
"You can't fool me. Are you worried about the Elf Forest?"
Serie didn't answer immediately, lost in thought. After a long while, she whispered, "Yes! That place, after all, is my home."
Though the stubborn elf had claimed she would never go home again, after several years of wandering, she still missed the warmth of home deeply.
Kurtz understood this feeling completely. Even now, he often missed many things back on earth, so he could relate to her homesickness.
As an elf from the Elf Forest, that place held hundreds of years of her memories and experiences. Even if she had chosen to leave, this bond still existed strongly within her heart.
"No matter what happens, I will be by your side to face it together. Besides, you should always think positively."
Kurtz reached out and stroked Serie's small head gently. This time, she neither dodged nor complained about the gesture. She just turned her head, hugging her knees, and looked at him with vulnerable eyes.
"You're really an optimistic fellow," she said, but she was smiling softly.
"Am I? After all, I'm an optimist!" Kurtz smiled back warmly. "Besides, I just firmly believe that there's always a solution to things."
The next morning came swiftly, and Kurtz and the others packed their luggage, ready to leave the elf village behind.
To thank the elf physician for taking such good care of them during their recovery, Kurtz left two magic books from the Dwarf Treasury. He and Serie had already learned the magic contained within them.
"This is too precious." The elf physician shook his head, wanting to refuse the generous gift. He felt he hadn't been of much help to them.
He had thought this human wouldn't survive his injuries, but he never expected him to receive help from the Skywing Clan. Moreover, the man who had escaped death now had an aura he couldn't quite describe or understand.
He was clearly just a human, so why did he see the shadow of legendary heroes from the past reflected in him? He didn't know the reason behind this transformation.
"Please accept them!" Kurtz pushed the magic books into his hands insistently. "All magic should be passed down. Consider it my request that you teach the magic within to more people."
"I understand." The elf physician nodded heavily, agreeing to Kurtz's heartfelt request.
He would do exactly as requested. Whether elves or humans, as long as they had the talent to learn magic, he would teach them these valuable spells.
Under the villagers' watchful and grateful eyes, the group embarked on their journey back, heading towards the distant Elf Forest.
The journey back proved smooth and uneventful. They took only a short time to travel the path they had originally come by, making good progress. Just by crossing the mountain in front of them, they would finally see the outline of the Elf Forest.
At first, everything around them appeared the same as when Kurtz and Serie had left weeks ago. However, as they reached the mountaintop and looked ahead, the scene became eerily disturbing.
Many trees had withered completely, as if their life force had been directly exhausted in an instant. Branches had blackened and twisted, while leaves had withered into ash that scattered in the wind. The entire forest seemed to have aged overnight in some unnatural way.
"Something's wrong!" Serie stopped abruptly, her fingers gently touching a dry leaf that crumbled to dust at her touch.
"The Elf Forest is the place with the most concentrated life force in the world. Even if this is the edge, it shouldn't appear so withered."
Kurtz squatted down and picked up a handful of dirt, examining it closely. The soil contained grayish-white, sand-like particles that felt wrong in his palm.
"Strange! Even the land has turned to desert."
When Olivia noticed this devastation, her golden pupils suddenly widened in recognition. This scene reminded her vividly of when she had encountered the Demon Clan's God Strike.
At the very core of that God Strike, everything had been completely destroyed without exception. She had not been at the core because her injuries were relatively light, and she had been serving as the vanguard during that battle.
Thus, she had narrowly escaped the worst of it.
It was then that she had witnessed the aftermath. At the edges of the God Strike's impact, trees had also begun to wither rapidly, just like the ones stretched out in front of them now, and even the soil had taken on this same sandy texture.
"Ku... Kurtz." Olivia spoke, trembling with the terrible realization, "These are traces left by the Demon Clan's God Strike."
Kurtz cursed inwardly, his worst fears confirmed. The thing he least wanted to see had still happened despite all their efforts.
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