Shadow Court: The Hall of Eternal Night
Under Moras's watchful guard, the group arrived at the core territory of the Dark Elves—the Shadow Court.
This was not like the tribes or fortresses on the mainland, but the entrance to an immense natural underground cave system that had been hollowed out and transformed. The massive cave mouth resembled the throat of a monstrous beast, profoundly deep, emanating a cold, damp aura and faint, firefly-like ethereal blue glow. The surrounding rock walls were riddled with countless large and small caverns, stacked like a beehive, flickering with faint dark purple lights—clearly the dwellings of the Dark Elves. Steep rock faces were lined with complex wooden walkways and platforms, connected by thick vines and iron chains, where Dark Elf warriors patrolled silently.
Most striking was the vast, relatively flat black rock plaza directly in front of the cave entrance. At the center of the Shadow Court plaza stood a towering totem pole, seemingly carved from a single block of obsidian, covered in intricate reliefs depicting lunar shadows, twisted forests, and dark rituals, radiating a heart-palpitating magical fluctuation.
And at this moment, two piles of eerie green flames burned in the center of the plaza! The fuel for the flames was shockingly two charred and twisted bodies, still recognizable in outline—none other than the other two Doomsday Rebirth clone warriors! Their metallic skeletons were exposed in the eerie green flames, glowing with a molten dark red hue, emitting faint crackling sounds. Some Dark Elf priest-like figures surrounded the bonfires, chanting obscure incantations in low voices, causing the flames to dance eerily with the spells. The air was filled with the stench of scorched flesh, molten metal, and a sickly sweet scent of dark magic.
"The remnants of the blasphemers shall be thoroughly purified in the flames of eternal night," "Shadowblade" Moras explained coldly, his tone laced with a hint of cruel satisfaction.
Under the gaze of countless icy stares, the group crossed this execution-ground-like plaza and headed toward the profound cave entrance. Inside the cave, the light was even dimmer, illuminated only by fluorescent minerals embedded in the rock walls, emitting ethereal blue or pale green glows. The air was cold and damp, mingled with the scents of moss, underground water, and some peculiar incense. Massive stalactites and stalagmites jutted like monstrous fangs from the ceiling or pierced up from the ground. The cave walls were carved into grand halls, temples, and council chambers, with a rugged and sinister architectural style, heavily incorporating bones, beast horns, and black stone as decorations.
Finally, they were led to the deepest and most magnificent hall in the cave—the core of the Shadow Court: the Hall of Eternal Night.
The hall was extraordinarily vast, with a soaring dome vanishing into darkness, its top unseen. Supporting the dome were several massive stone pillars, each requiring ten people to encircle, covered in natural patterns and artificial carvings. The floor was polished smooth black rock. At the far end of the hall was a throne elevated on dozens of black steps, carved from a single enormous piece of dark purple crystal! Within the crystal, liquid-like darkness seemed to flow slowly, emanating a soul-shuddering pressure.
Seated upon the throne was the ruler of the Dark Elves.
The Dark Elf King: Thorn Crown · Malagos
Malagos's build was not as burly as Gorg's, even appearing somewhat slender, but the pressure he exuded was like the abyss itself, so heavy it made breathing difficult. He wore a battle armor "Shadow Scale King Armor" woven from countless tiny, shimmering black metal scales and some smooth deep purple beetle shells, with sleek yet ferocious lines, and shoulder plates shaped like snarling wolf heads. His face was painted with intricate dark gold totems symbolizing kingship and thorns. His eyes were pure, unadulterated abyssal black, as if capable of devouring all light and souls. Under his helmet, a cascade of ink-black hair like flowing night spilled over his shoulders. Most notable was the crown atop his head, twisted from countless pitch-black, sharp thorns that seemed still growing—"Soul-Devouring Thorns," with tips flickering dangerous dark red lights. In his hand, he held a long-handled war axe "Soul Cleaver," its blade like a crescent moon, forged from some light-absorbing black crystal, the handle wrapped in living thorns of black hardwood. Merely sitting there, he embodied the will of this dark forest—cold, majestic, filled with destructive power.
Slightly behind the throne stood two female Dark Elves. One was the queen, Nightdew · Starscar, dressed in a deep purple robe edged with silver, exuding noble and icy elegance, holding a slender staff topped with a constantly color-shifting obsidian gem—"Night Dreamer." The other was a girl who appeared only in her teens, Ilya · Twilight, the Elf King's daughter. She wore a relatively simple ink-purple dress, her face unusually pale with a sickly frailty. Her delicate features held the characteristic elven beauty, but her purple eyes, which should have been lively, appeared dull and lifeless, even somewhat unfocused. She clung tightly to the queen's side, her body trembling slightly, as if even standing was a struggle.
Moras stopped ten paces before the Thorn Throne, placing his right hand over his chest and bowing slightly: "Dark Elf King Malagos, the outsiders who disturbed the soul of the dense forest have been brought. They claim to pursue the Star Covenant, heading to the Light Feather Dome, and have awakened the ancient oath-keeper 'Lin Ya.'" He briefly reported the situation, including fa and the others' claims and the events at the ruins.
Malagos's abyssal black eyes slowly swept over fa and his group, finally landing on Lin Ya. His gaze was like eternal ice, devoid of any warmth, yet containing a power that pierced through everything. When he spoke, his voice was deep and magnetic, with a metallic grating quality and supreme authority, each word hammering into everyone's hearts:
"The Star Covenant? Oath-keeper?" His gaze turned to fa, "Thy right eye indeed flows with power not of mortal realms. But this is insufficient as a warrant for thy group's reckless actions in my domain." He pointed to the two clone remnants in the plaza center, "The blasphemers from seven days ago also possessed eerie powers. They arrogantly claimed to conquer the dense forest, trample sacred grounds, unleashing foul shadows and mechanical constructs... In the end, they became dust nourishing the forest."
He paused, dark currents seeming to surge in his abyssal gaze, recalling that battle: "That worm hiding behind a silver mask, commanding four steel puppets unafraid of blades and possessing immense strength. They destroyed along the way, awakening sleeping root guardians and stone sentinels... The battle destroyed two ancient woodlands, disturbing the tranquility of the Moonshadow Pool." His voice carried a trace of icy anger, "Their powers were indeed bizarre—steel bodies hardy, shadow magic venomous. But in this forest that rejects them, their powers were suppressed, and they paid for their arrogance."
"The final battle was in 'Sigh Canyon.'" Malagos's tone was flat, yet laced with blood, "Three puppets were torn apart by the guardians' roots, crushed into iron pancakes by stones. The remaining strongest one protected its master in an attempt to flee." A cruel arc curved his lips, "While crossing the 'Light-Devouring Thorn Forest,' that puppet chose to self-destruct to shield its master from my clan's 'Soul-Rending Arrows.' The violent energy blast destroyed a large swath of thorns, giving that masked worm a sliver of escape. He fled toward the forest's edge, leaving a hiss filled with resentment: 'The shadow of Doomsday Rebirth shall eventually cover this land! I shall return with destruction!'"
"Look," Malagos pointed to one of the remnants, its chest pierced by black ice crystals, "This is the fate of having its core frozen by 'Eternal Night Gaze.'" Then to the other, torn apart, "This one was ripped open from within by the 'Root Strangler' Balsas. Now, tell me," his gaze like tangible pressure enveloped fa and the group again, "What essential difference dost thou have from them? By what right dost thou believe I would permit thy passage?"
The pressure of the Thorn Crown descended like a mountain, his icy words revealing the Doomsday Rebirth organization's惨败 here and the masked man's venomous parting words upon escape. Fa and the others faced the Dark Elf King's cold questioning, the atmosphere tensing to the extreme once more. Lin Ya's existence was their only hope.
At that moment, the pale-faced little princess Ilya, who had been standing quietly beside the queen, her gaze piercing through the crowd, landed on Lin Ya, who emanated a warm glow of life. Her originally dull and lifeless purple eyes, upon seeing Lin Ya, miraculously lit up with a faint but genuine spark! She subconsciously took a small step forward, her weak voice carrying a childlike curiosity and longing, softly resounding:
"Father... that... green... tree person... it... it feels so warm... so comfortable... like... like before I got sick, listening to stories under the moonlight..."
Her voice, though faint, was clearly audible in the deathly silent court.
Queen Nightdew · Starscar's eyes flashed with excitement and disbelief in an instant. She sharply looked at Lin Ya, then at her daughter, her hand gripping the staff trembling slightly. Malagos's abyssal black eyes also showed intense fluctuation for the first time, his sharp, blade-like gaze instantly locking onto Lin Ya!
On Lin Ya's "face" formed of emerald branches, a gentle and compassionate expression flowed. It slowly "stepped" forward toward the throne. The Dark Elves' royal guards instinctively moved to block, but were halted by a gesture from Malagos.
Lin Ya stopped not far in front of little princess Ilya, its emerald glow like a warm spring breeze, gently enveloping her. A clear, life-filled intention once again flowed in everyone's minds:
"The young sprout eroded by ancient shadow poison and the unbalanced forest's curse... Descendant of the Thorn Crown... Thy suffering stems from the forest's wails and external shadow pollution. This poison penetrates deep into blood and soul, beyond the power of ordinary flora to cure."
Lin Ya's words caused Malagos and Queen Nightdew's hearts to sink instantly. But immediately after, Lin Ya's intention carried firm hope: "I am the forest oath-keeper, born of the Star Covenant and ancient natural alliance. My power stems from the source of life, able to commune and purify the root veins of all things. If granted trust, I am willing to try, connecting to the earth's veins with my roots, guiding the forest's remaining benevolent thoughts with my vitality, dispelling the shadow affliction, repairing the marks of imbalance."
Its emerald "gaze" turned to Malagos, with sincerity: "Thorn Crown · Malagos, this act is also a soothing of the forest's rage. Healing my daughter is healing a rift in this land shrouded in sorrow. In exchange, I beseech permission for us to pass."
Malagos's abyssal eyes stared fixedly at Lin Ya, then at his daughter's eyes, which held that faint but real longing for the life glow on Lin Ya. Queen Nightdew tightly gripped her daughter's cold little hand, her eyes filled with plea. This ruler of the Inkdark Dense Forest fell into an unprecedented silence. The thorns on the Thorn Crown seemed to dim slightly. In the entire Shadow Court, thousands of eyes focused on this decisive moment.
After a long while, Malagos's deep and majestic voice resounded again, carrying a trace of imperceptible hoarseness and... resolution:
"Very well. I pledge in the name of the Thorn Crown. If thou canst dispel the 'Eternal Night Soul-Devouring Miasma' entwining my daughter Ilya, reviving her bloodline and relighting her soul... Thou and thy companions shall gain permission to traverse the Inkdark Dense Forest, and earn a promise from the Dark Elf clan—in times of future hardship, my clan shall aid thee once!" His gaze sharp as a blade swept over fa, "But if thou failest... Thou shalt join those blasphemers, becoming eternal nourishment for the forest!"
The healing ritual unfolded in the center of the Shadow Court. Lin Ya's emerald body emanated an unprecedented soft glow, like a small sun of life. Countless fine, hair-like emerald roots (mycelial network materialized) shimmering with star points spread from beneath its feet, probing out like living things, carefully and gently wrapping around little princess Ilya's wrists and ankles. Ilya's body trembled slightly, but her face showed no pain; instead, a relieved comfort appeared.
Lin Ya's intention guided vast life energy, gently yet firmly surging into Ilya's body, while communing with the faint remaining natural benevolence and purifying power deep in the entire Inkdark Dense Forest. Visible to the naked eye, strands of black smoke-like substances emanating cold auras began to be forced out from beneath Ilya's skin, melting like ice in Lin Ya's emerald glow! The little princess's pale face visibly gained a healthy flush, her dull purple eyes growing brighter, filled with vitality!
The entire process lasted about three hours. When Lin Ya retracted its roots, its glow slightly dimmed, its emerald body appearing somewhat faded, clearly greatly expended. It withdrew the mycelia, a gentle intention conveying: "The root injury is profound, not healable in one session. The erosion of decay has been temporarily suppressed by star life force, the depleted spring nourished. Afterward, she requires rest and continued guidance of life power. I can leave a 'Star Glow Spore' within her, to slowly nurture."
Ilya's face bore a long-absent, childlike bright smile as she threw herself into her mother's arms: "Mother! Father! I... I don't feel bad anymore! It feels... so light! So warm!"
"Thank you! Great soul of the forest! Thank the guidance of the stars!" Queen Nightdew tightly hugged her daughter, weeping with joy. She repeatedly nodded thanks to Lin Ya and fa.
The Shadow Court fell into dead silence, then erupted in suppressed exclamations and incredulous whispers. On Malagos's face, like eternal ice, intense emotion appeared, a flash of relief and... complex gratitude in his abyssal eyes.
He took a deep breath and descended the Thorn Throne. Coming before Lin Ya and fa, he gazed deeply at Lin Ya, then turned his eyes to fa. He extended his hand covered in black scale gauntlets, in his palm quietly lying a token about palm-sized, irregularly shaped. The token's material was like purest obsidian, yet permeated with subdued emerald sheen, as if countless fine roots flowed slowly within. The front was carved with thorns entwining a crescent moon; the back, a simple star symbol.
"Star Guide, thou hast earned passage rights and my clan's promise." Malagos's voice remained deep, but lacked that bone-chilling cold, gaining a touch of solemnity, "This is the 'Shadow Moon Root Token.' Bear this token through the Inkdark Dense Forest, and the forest's guardians and all Dark Elf warriors shall no longer view thee as foes." He paused, his dark eyes sweeping the group with a hint of profundity, "Pass through the 'Sigh Canyon' ahead, and thou mayst leave the Inkdark Dense Forest, entering the Eternal Frost Tundra. May thou find what thou seekest." And within the token lies a sliver of my will; when thou facest need of my clan, no matter where, crush this token, and my clan's promised aid shall arrive."
He solemnly placed the token in fa's hand. The token felt warm and smooth upon touch, carrying the forest's aura and a weighty promise power.
"As for thee," Malagos's gaze turned to Lin Ya, his abyssal eyes rarely revealing a hint of elder-like gentleness (though still faint), "Oath-keeper Lin Ya, for healing my daughter, thou art forever a friend of the Inkdark Dense Forest." His tone sincere: "If in future days thou hast need, the Dark Elf Court shall repay today's grace."
"Thank you for your trust and gift, King of the Dark Night." Fa solemnly accepted the Shadow Moon Root Token, warm with a trace of coolness, feeling the unique magical imprint within.
Lin Ya nodded slightly: "Protecting life is the meaning of my existence. May the Inkdark return to peace, may Princess Ilya recover soon."
The Guardians' Farewell
Leaving the somber and grand Hall of Eternal Night, under the lead of the Night Shadow Knights and "Shadowblade" Moras, the group returned to the plaza outside the cave entrance. The two piles of eerie green flames burning the clones had extinguished, leaving only two scorched marks and twisted molten metal remnants.
As they were about to step onto the path leaving the court, a shocking scene occurred.
Rumble... The earth transmitted low, rhythmic tremors.
On both sides of the path, those massive stones that had stood like dead things, covered in thick moss and vines, slowly "came to life"! The moss sloughed off their surfaces, revealing rock bodies etched with arcane patterns below. These boulders, like living colossi, clumsy yet with unmatched strength, slowly adjusted positions, facing the group, then... performed actions resembling a bow of respect! Though slow and stiff, the silent reverence was utterly clear. These were the "stones" guarding the forest!
Simultaneously, ahead on the path, the most ancient and massive trees, their dangling air roots and branches like curtains, began silently lifting upward and parting to the sides! As if the forest itself formed a solemn passage for the group! Some branches even bloomed with small flowers emitting faint silver-white light, like stars in the night, dotting both sides of the passage. This was the "wood" guarding the forest expressing goodwill!
The Night Shadow Knights, including "Shadowblade" Moras, seeing this, had eyes filled with shock and disbelief. For these ancient and powerful guardians to actively show respect was extremely rare in Dark Elf history!
Lirian, looking at this passage formed by stone colossi bowing, ancient trees parting branches, dotted with star-glow flowers, her emerald eyes shimmering with excited tears: "Nature witnesses... The ancient alliance, after all, has not been completely forgotten..."
Under the silent escort of the stone colossi and guardian ancient trees, guided by the dotted star-glow flowers, the group, with complex and exhilarated emotions, finally stepped onto the last stretch leaving the Inkdark Dense Forest—the path to "Sigh Canyon."