Chapter 1082, The Discarded Piece

Translator: Silavin

 

“Such a simple matter. Was there truly any need for all of this much effort?” Not far from Felletin, the young man of the Incubus Race tossed that severed arm casually to one side, turning the Life Scepter, that symbol of the Elf Queen’s authority, over in his hands with an idle, amused smile.

 

The Blood Beastman standing nearby showed only a thin, playful smile at this, with not the slightest trace of surprise.

 

It was evident that in their plan, they had never truly counted Felletin as anything. At most, he had been a single piece on the board, and now that piece had served its purpose and was effectively useless.

 

“Your Majesty…”

 

Fellian and the other brown-haired Elf were also trembling with fear and shock. The methods the bewitching young man had displayed moments ago had stirred within them a profound, bone-deep sense of helplessness.

 

The feeling that they could not possibly resist him was overwhelming.

 

They supported Felletin, staring with terrified faces at that young man carrying an air of sinister intent. Even Felletin was no match for that man. Their own cultivation was no more than that of a Deacon. How could they possibly stand against him?

 

“I shall give you a little time to deal with him. I would not advise the two of you to help me in taking control over the Elf Race.”

 

The bewitching young man gave a light smile, not even sparing a glance for the three of them. Gripping the Life Scepter, he stepped forward towards the area above, thick with dense green light.

 

Behind him, the Blood Beastman and the other figure followed at an unhurried pace.

 

“Insolent creatures…” To be so thoroughly disregarded, Felletin trembled with rage through his entire body.

 

Already in a state of decline to begin with, having now lost a great measure of his Blood Essence alongside such a crushing setback, his physical condition had deteriorated even further.

 

The way he trembled made one genuinely wonder whether, in the very next moment, he might fail to draw another breath, and die consumed by hatred and regret.

 

The two Elves supporting Felletin did not dare raise their heads.

 

In truth, when facing that bewitching young man, they could find no Will to resist him whatsoever. Even more troubling was the fact that his mocking words had stirred at the desires lurking within their hearts.

 

However, fortunately, they still retained a measure of self-awareness. Even with the latter’s support, there was simply no possibility of them ever bringing the Elf Race under control.

 

Unless the entire Elf Race had already been destroyed, and they rebuilt from nothing, assembling some so-called Elf Race of their own.

 

*Hmmm…* As the young man of the Incubus Race and that Blood Beastman stepped into that expanse of luminous green, the originally tranquil green radiance suddenly began to tremble and shudder. It was evidently in sharp opposition to these two, who stood in absolute contrast to the peaceful nature of the Elves.

 

It was as though the light itself was driving them out.

 

Yet, this resistance did not succeed in halting the advance of the Incubus Race youth or the Blood Beastman. They walked forward with measured, unhurried steps, and those sparks of green light were kept entirely at bay, blocked at a distance of one metre from them, unable to draw any closer.

 

In no more than a moment, those three figures had already arrived within a hundred metres of where Avril sat.

 

“Are these things being stirred up by that little girl?”

 

The Blood Beastman stared at the silhouette before them, and spoke with low, irritated displeasure.

 

Though this energy saturated with vitality had not caused him any tangible harm, as a Blood Beastman he felt an intense and visceral aversion to it.

 

*Heh heh…* The bewitching young man only offered a light, quiet laugh in response. Born of the sea of corpses, the Incubus Race’s aversion to this kind of energy was even greater than the Blood Beastmen Race’s. This energy could, in fact, be counted as the mortal enemy of the Incubus Race.

 

“Just kill the little girl.” The Blood Beastman frowned and spoke in a low voice.

 

“Idiot. Kill her, and we can forget about entering the Tree of Life.” The bewitching young man gave a light smile, and the corners of his mouth curled into a cold, savage grin.

 

“Right here is fine,” he said.

 

As those words fell, the bewitching young man drove the Life Scepter in his hand sharply into the ground before him.

 

*Swish! Swish!*

 

Immediately after, the bewitching young man’s hands emerged from his sleeves, and his slender fingers began forming one after another complex and arcane seal without pause.

 

*Hmmm…* As those seals were formed, the Life Scepter shuddered violently.

 

The energy filling this entire expanse of space erupted into sudden, violent agitation in the same instant. Countless rays of green light came surging in from every direction, converging upon the Life Scepter in a great torrent.

 

“Worthy indeed of being the Young Heir of the Incubus Race, to be so thoroughly versed even in the secret techniques of the Elf Race!” Watching this spectacle unfold, the Blood Beastman’s expression shifted, and he followed it with a cry of genuine admiration.

 

The bewitching young man’s expression did not change in the slightest even with all his flattery. His hands continued to weave one after another mysterious, abstruse seal without interruption.

 

*Hmmm…*

 

As the boundless green radiance converged in a great wave, before them upon the Tree of Life, what appeared to be a green gate of light gradually took shape, forming from the convergence of that torrent.

 

“Oh?” The young man of the Incubus Race’s gaze fell upon the interior of that gate of light, and he seemed to detect something. He gave a soft sound of surprise, his brow drawing together in a sharp furrow.

 

“What is it?” Seeing his expression shift, the Blood Beastman frowned and asked immediately.

 

“Something is quite right.” The young man murmured under his breath.

 

“What is not right? Has something unexpected happened to that thing?”

 

The Blood Beastman asked with a furrowed brow. His own perception was far less keen than this young man’s, and beneath that thick, surging green radiance, he had barely enough energy to protect himself. He had no attention to spare for observing anything else.

 

“I do not know. Going inside will tell us.” The bewitching young man shook his head and turned his gaze towards Avril.

 

The Incubus Race held the hidden secrets of the Myriad Races. Even many Techniques that had long since been lost by those Races were preserved within their Race’s records. It was because of this that he had been able to activate the power of the Life Scepter.

 

Yet even though he could manage to operate the Life Scepter with some effort, he was not of the Elf Race. Without the guidance of an Elf Royal, no matter how great his ability, he would be unable to enter the Tree of Life.

 

“With your blood, open the path before me!”

 

The bewitching young man murmured a string of obscure, arcane incantations under his breath, and then, abruptly, his expression turned grave. He let out a great shout, and a streak of cold, piercing light shrieked through the air, shooting towards the distant Avril with tremendous force.

 

At this moment, Avril sat in meditation. Her tightly shut eyes showing not the slightest intention of opening.

 

Perhaps, in the midst of her baptism, she had not yet perceived what was unfolding in the world outside at all.

 

At this, the Blood Beastman’s face broke into a savage grin.

 

Though he coveted that thing deeply, he had no intention of contending with the Incubus Race over it. His most central purpose was to bring the Elf Race to ruin, to tear out by the root the very Race that had once nearly annihilated his own kind.

 

The blood of a Royal Elf, to him, was a temptation beyond all power to resist.

 

Once the Incubus Race’s man had accomplished what he wanted, that delicate tender silhouette before him was just another delicacy waiting for him to savour.

 

*Whoosh!* That streak of cold light cut across the distance between them at tremendous speed, and in an instant it had arrived before Avril.

 

The fierce keen edge of its wind had already sliced through the fabric at Avril’s waist, leaving a long gash, exposing the snow-white skin beneath.

 

By the look of it, that attack was about to cleave Avril in two.