Note: If you didn't understand this chapter completely, it is totally normal, things will be cleared soon.
2/4
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-Forest Alliance.
Under the protection of the World Tree, this place is an isolated paradise untouched by the world. It's rumored that just by inhaling the fresh air in the Forest Alliance, people can rejuvenate by several years, and drinking the moonlit spring water here can cure any stubborn ailnt. There are also legends of magical spells improved upon by Miasma.
Blessed with all these mysterious veils, the Forest Alliance is undoubtedly a dreamlike existence that many people regard as a fairyland.
However, beneath these beautiful dreams lies sothing akin to the unseen roots of a towering tree, buried deep in the soil, vast and intricate, just like blood vessels.
-The Old Alliance.
-The Underground "Sanctuary".
Although this place is called a "Sanctuary" by the "Forgotten" there's no trace of sacredness here. On the contrary, in this underground darkness untouched by sunlight, torches emitting an eerie glow in the corners serve as the few sources of light.
Under this gloomy light, one can see that the underground sanctuary is not only vast but also majestic, resembling ancient ruins from ti immorial.
Tall pillars stand in rows around, supporting the high do of the sanctuary, and long banners with bizarre patterns hang from the tops of the pillars, draping down.
In the center of the sanctuary is the location for the round table etings, and there are currently four figures sitting in attendance.
In the center of the round table's ceiling, directly facing upward, there is a flower-like growth, and after a wriggling motion, the flower-shaped growth bursts open. Hidden inside the growth is an evil eye similar to the one on Charl's dagger, but it's much larger.
The eye, guided by the sinewy flesh, descends and stops a few ters above the round table, where it begins to replay everything Charl had reported not long ago through a shared visual interface for everyone at the round table to see. After it completes this task, the eye is retracted and closes back into the fleshy growth on the ceiling.
"I think you owe an explanation. The blood sacrifice in Sealed City was your doing, wasn't it? Without that sacrifice, the Empress would never have left the Imperial Capital, and our plan wouldn't be at such risk of exposure!"
One of the shadows at the round table, seemingly a non-human, speaks up, addressing the figure diagonally opposite, a mber wearing a gentleman's hat.
The mber with the gentleman's hat chuckled and pointed at the table with his finger. "Relax, Baal. At this point in the Dragon Nation's progress, the situation is set. Even if the plan is exposed, that Empress won't have the power to change things. The lifeline of the Dragon Nation is firmly in our hands, isn't it?"
"Hmph, don't make it sound like you've contributed to this. The gathering of the Dragon Nation's decline relied on sacrifices from our demi-human kind!"
"Yes, yes, but I have to admit, Baal, I admire your determination for revenge against that Empress. You were willing to curse the entire demi-human race and drag them down for hundreds of years just for your revenge. Do you really hate her that much?"
"She took what was rightfully mine! How is that brainless woman better than ! Hah... hahaha, just because she's a woman. Just because she's a woman! Otherwise, she would never have beco a Calamity Rank!"
The beastman shadow beca emotionally charged as he spoke. The elegant gentleman shadow, upon hearing this, glanced at the beastman's prominent chest and laughed even harder.
"So, is that why you decided to change your gender? Are you still holding onto feelings for that 'Great Emperor,' hoping that by becoming a woman, he will favor you again?"
This remark seed to hit a nerve, and the beastman shadow bristled with anger. Just as the argunt threatened to escalate, footsteps echoed in the sanctuary, and the room instantly fell silent. The gentleman shadow's excited gaze, filled with various emotions, shifted imdiately.
Because, among all the attendees who appeared as shadows, the one who had just erged was the only 'woman'. She wore a dark green dress, and her silky golden hair seed to shine. Her amber eyes were captivating, and the pointed ears on either side of her head indicated her noble "elven" identity.
"Children, this is not a place for quarrels. I believe that each one of you sitting here has your own pains. We are here to help each other, not to reopen old wounds, am I right, Hero?"
"Yes, Mother!"
Not only Hero, but also the remaining few shadows at the round table made the sa respectful expression towards the elven woman, although perhaps not as fervently as Hero.
With the elf's presence, the atmosphere around the round table improved significantly.
"Hero, so what are the results of your blood sacrifice experints?" the third shadow asked. His appearance was intriguing, shrouded completely beneath a cloak.
"It's entirely feasible so far. I've almost mastered the technique to create a 'Well Zone' but to engulf Sin City, I need to reach at least the 'Ring Zone' or 'Abyss Zone' level. I still need ti."
"Kai, how about your progress with the chanical Alliance? I recall you were working on the [Dream Infiltration] project?"
"Just one last step to go" Kai responded.
The four figures at the eting each represented a different nation, except for the one responsible for the Holy Kingdom of Suthia, whose shadow was very faint and did not attend the eting.
The discussion returned to the Dragon Nation. Bal asked, "Since the Empress has appeared in the southern region, can I trigger the explosion ahead of schedule?"
"There's no need to rush. Let the ritual absorb more energy for a while. Let that puppet minister last a bit longer. He's lived long enough with the power we gave him. Besides, I'm quite curious to see if the Empress will discover sothing. Wouldn't it be more interesting if she inadvertently triggers the spell in her rage, causing the destruction of her own Nation?"
The beastman shadow fell silent, then nodded in agreent. They had to admit, when it ca to revenge, none of them could surpass Hero.
The round table eting in the sanctuary didn't last long. Soon, everyone paid their respects to the elf Won, who had remained silent and observant during their discussions, and left one after the other.
Hero was the last to leave.
He cast several longing glances at the elf Won at the head of the table, as if wishing to etch "Mother's" image permanently in his mind. Without "Mother," there would be no them. They would have perished with ti, but "Mother" had given them rebirth, showing them how foolish they were to follow Emperor Ashen.
Despite being one of "The Emperor's Personal Guardian" Mother's kindness shone uniquely, unlike the falsehood of the other 4 guardian.
For "Mother," he was willing to sacrifice everything. With this thought, the reluctant Hero finally left, many plans for "Mother" yet to prepare.
In the end, the dim sanctuary was left with only the elf Won, alone in the quiet dark abyss.
After her "children" had left, she raised one hand, and with a twist of her wrist, a faintly visible miniature version of the Forgotten Spirit appeared in the palm of her hand. This was none other than Karl, who had been summoned using the ancient ritual's secret magic in the Sealed City, although now he resembled an unconscious duplicate.
What followed was a horrifying scene. The once noble elf Won suddenly leaned forward like a puppet on strings, and then a tearing sound ca from her back.
*Squish! Squish! Squish!*
In the blink of an eye, her once pristine back was riddled with nurous bloody holes. From these wounds, writhing masses of corrupt flesh, resembling mud, oozed out and quickly covered her entire body.
Soon, the elf's appearance vanished, replaced by a figure still resembling the elf Won, but now engulfed in a vast shadow erging from her back — dozens of grey-brown tentacles.
The elf's once fair skin turned dark grey. The many tentacles, wrapped in a slick mucus, waved chaotically in the air, emanating a terrifying and massive aura of Tainted Miasma.
One of the slick tentacles wrapped around the miniaturized Forgotten Spirit of Carl and attached it to the elf's abdon. Her stomach writhed as the spirit seed to be consud, gradually absorbed into her flesh, until the elf completely "ingested" it.
At the sa ti, from the mass of tentacles on her back, a new slick tentacle erged, wriggling in the air.
"This is the essence... Foolish children who borrowed my power, now return to my embrace, along with your strength."
After completing all of this, the elf's face showed a satisfied, indulgent expression. She touched her own belly as if she were a mother-to-be and, with her words, the tentacles behind her seed to sway in response.
"I understand. I will reunite that person with you very soon. I will fulfill your desires" the elf reassured the tentacles, placing many of them against her face and rubbing them as if listening to their pleas.
"After all, he was once soone who could surpass . He is my most outstanding child~"
"I will suck his blood, rge his genes, and make him a part of us, completely rging together. There will be no distinction between us."
It was as if she could visualize that scene.
The elf opened her mouth, and her salivary glands, stimulated by desire, had already secreted a large amount of sli, making her entire oral cavity sticky and moist. Her tongue, now grayish-brown, extended outward, continuously licking the corners of her mouth.
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