Chapter 15: Journey into the Unknown and the System's Message
Following the collapse of the Sacred Tree, the Elven capital was no longer the shimmering beacon it once was. Dust and ash coated every surface, and the haunting cries of the Elves echoed through the ruined streets. Volt stood in the center of the city square, gazing at his hands, which still bore the faint, flickering traces of the black flames he had unleashed.
Suddenly, an automated, synthesized voice exploded within Volt's mind. It was the voice of the Bundle System, which had remained silent during the heat of the battle. [NOTIFICATION: Quest "Liberation of the Capital" Completed. Rewards are ready for collection: 5,000 Experience Points (EXP), Skill Unlocked: "Shadow Sovereignty," and the Key to the Treasury of the Gods.]
Volt allowed a cold, calculated smirk to cross his face. Those experience points and the newly acquired skill were exactly what he needed to prepare for a direct confrontation with the Higher Gods. "Sai, Aki, get ready. Our work here is finished. Our next destination is the Human Continent—the very place where all the lies and deceptions first began."
Sai, who was busy bandaging a minor laceration on his forearm, looked up with a serious expression. "My Lord, the human armies are not like the Elves. They have evolved. They utilize a fusion of advanced technology and forbidden magic. Our journey through their lands will be far from easy." Sai was right; in this new era, humans had learned to forge magi-tech weaponry capable of slaying even high-ranking demons.
Aki, meanwhile, was happily munching on a roasted fish he had managed to scavenge from the palace kitchens. With his mouth full, he chimed in, "Let's go! I've heard the humans have the finest wines in the world. Plus, rumors say the Human King possesses a blade forged from the beating heart of a fallen star. I want that sword for my collection!"
Volt turned his gaze toward the horizon, where the sky was beginning to bleed into a deep, ominous crimson. He could feel the weight of powerful eyes watching him from behind the veil of the clouds. "Let them watch," Volt whispered to the wind. "Let them witness as I tear their world apart, piece by piece."
Their new odyssey toward the Human Continent began—a journey where Volt would not only have to face vast armies but also uncover the true nature of the mysterious system that had granted him a second life. Was this system created by an ally, or was it another elaborate trap set by the gods? This question burned in Volt's mind as he stepped onto the deck of their new vessel, ready to sail into the unknown.