Chapter 148 : Chapter 148

Chapter 148

The deepest part of the Forest of Fairies.

A place inaccessible to anyone but royalty.

Serena, catching her breath, looked around.

Before her was a giant tree.

“Yggdrasil……”

The trunk and branches of the tree, soaring towards the sky, felt like pillars supporting the world.

The barrier surrounding the tree emitted a faint light, like an invisible wall.

“To cut something like this. The Captain is……”

Serena, who had been complaining without realizing it, shut her mouth.

The orders of her superior, the Annihilation Squad Leader, were absolute.

The voice of him, who had spoken nonchalantly just before they parted, vividly came to mind.

"Serena. You'll have to be the bait."

"Bait, you say."

"Yes. You will have to cut down Yggdrasil."

“……”

Grip.

Serena, having made up her mind, tightened her grip on the Aether.

Killian had said.

If she cut the barrier, he would take care of the rest.

She didn't know what lay beyond the barrier surrounding Yggdrasil, but.

'The Captain has foresight.'

He had performed numerous miracles that were unbelievable even when seen with one's own eyes.

This time would be no different.

‘Hazard, just wait a little longer.’

Serena steeled her resolve, thinking of Hazard who must be suffering in the Head Apothecary's Office.

“Hoo.”

Taking a deep breath.

She walked beneath Yggdrasil.

"If you fail to cut it down in one blow, the shik engraved on the barrier will be activated."

Rundel’s advice suddenly came to mind.

Yggdrasil was a divine tree that affected all the territories of Elvenheim and was the spiritual pillar of the elves, he had said.

The shik engraved on the barrier was something that could cause a reflux even in a superhuman's Mana Heart, so it would be a bit much for Serena, who had not yet reached 7-star, to withstand, he had said.

But.

‘It is only a matter of cutting down a barrier.’

Rundel had let her in here, and Id was, at least formally, being pursued.

'I have to do it.'

She composed her breathing and raised her sword.

“Captain, what kind of miracle are you planning to perform this time.”

As she muttered softly afterwards, the mana from her Mana Heart flowed through her blood vessels, strengthening her body.

The mana stored in the Aether and scabbard was added, clinging to her skin.

Kugugu.

She channeled Haki into the Aether.

Grip.

The hand holding the Aether, unable to withstand the compressed energy, trembled.

But she paid it no mind and focused her gaze on the barrier.

“……!!”

With a low cry.

The sword, clad in green mana, was swung diagonally.

“……”

The air trembled like a stone thrown into a quiet lake.

The trembling air began to create ripples little by little.

A clash of mana and divine power.

Deudeudeudeudeu.

A powerful vibration spread throughout the area, and the ground began to shake a moment later.

The trees around Yggdrasil moved, and a strong wind blew.

Hwiiiiiiiiii.

She slammed the Aether into the ground and gritted her teeth, enduring the wind.

The waves of divine power and mana raged around her, and the barrier of Yggdrasil vibrated more and more violently.

“What in the world is this……”

Muttering, she immediately began to detect mana.

A life form response was detected from Yggdrasil beyond the barrier.

The moment she cut the barrier, she felt as if something hidden inside the barrier had awakened.

‘The reflux did not well up in my Mana Heart.’

In other words, it meant that her sword had properly cut down the shik engraved on the barrier.

She could use the sword clad in Haki one more time.

‘Captain, not yet?’

Whether Killian had intended for a situation like this or not.

At this rate, she would not be able to survive on the trembling ground.

Kugugugu.

She once again poured all her strength into the Aether.

She released her mana while it was still stuck in the ground.

“Carpe Illusion.”

Constantine Style, Green Zone.

Green mana spread throughout the area.

Her mana, flowing along the ground, passed over the fragments of the barrier and reached Yggdrasil.

And at that moment, as if by a lie, the trembling of the ground stopped.

Sreureuk.

When the rippling barrier was completely lifted, the majestic Yggdrasil was nowhere to be seen, and a small sapling appeared.

Its size was smaller than expected, occupying a narrow space where one person could barely stand.

“This is… the true body of Yggdrasil.”

It was the moment Serena, holding her breath, touched the branch of the sapling.

[Kkiiiaaaaaaaaa---!!!]

A cry of something was unleashed inside her head.

***

Her mind was hazy.

The trembling of the earth, which had seemed to stop for a moment, resumed.

In addition to that, the sky had turned dark, and a storm was raging.

It was as if everything was twisting, as if nature itself was feeling pain.

Above all, when she came to her senses again, she had been pushed far away from her original location.

‘The Carpe Illusion has been dispelled… but there is no sign of reflux.’

Her mana was not yet depleted either.

Hwaaak.

Serena wrapped her body in green mana and ran to where Yggdrasil had been.

When she arrived after running for about 10 minutes, Rundel and Id, who had arrived first, were standing there with stiff faces.

“Is this the main body?”

In the place where Yggdrasil had been cut down was a sapling incomparably smaller than before.

And a gate that looked like one person could enter.

“It seems the barrier was cut properly.”

“Are you planning to enter?”

“I must. What the Captain wanted was to check the inside of the barrier.”

“I am the guardian who protects the laws of Elvenheim. Fairies are forbidden from entering Yggdrasil unless they are the king or a royal designated as a successor.”

“I am aware.”

Serena answered with a resolute attitude.

“Id.”

“Yes, Sir Serena.”

“You wait here too.”

“……I understand.”

Although he seemed to have something to say, Id nodded meekly.

“Serena Constantine.”

Rundel called out to her.

“Yggdrasil’s condition is strange. It must be because it has been contaminated by a Piece of Grotesquery.”

“……”

That was right.

Here, she could feel mana, divine power, and something ominous.

“Nature is running wild.”

Rundel added as if in warning.

“There is a limit to your body, which is not even a complete superhuman. It might be better to wait for Killian Eurasia.”

“Even so, nothing will change.”

Killian had wanted Serena to carry out the mission herself until he arrived.

If she went back now, she could not be sure how the barrier would work later, or if the gate would open.

The opportunity was now or never.

“I will be back.”

There was no hesitation.

The moment Serena drew her Aether and passed through the gate made by the sapling.

Hwaaak.

A new space unfolded.

It was no different from the Forest of Fairies, lush with vegetation.

The only difference was that while the power felt in the forest was closer to mana, now she felt a power like divine power.

‘Even if the elves follow the God Silvana… the source of the power they use is mana.’

Everything floating in the air was shining, but it was clearly not the property of mana.

In other words.

‘This is an illusion made of divine power.’

Kugugugu.

Serena clad her Aether in Haki and cut through the air.

The space flickered, but that was all.

Gwak.

This time, she released mana through the Aether stuck in the ground.

“Carpe Illusion.”

Tzzzzzz.

By now, Killian must be facing the chief of another tribe.

‘He said that I wouldn't be able to cut the essence of Yggdrasil anyway.’

She had not yet reached the essence of Yggdrasil.

‘Hazard, even at this moment…….’

It would take a considerable amount of time to get the Nectar and for the Head Apothecary to make the recovery potion.

To increase the success rate of the plan, she needed to reach the essence as soon as possible.

Her mana swept through the vegetation, overlaying a new domain.

[You are a human, not a fairy?]

“……!!”

When she turned around, there was an elf in the form of a child.

A girl with pointed ears, holding a bouquet of flowers in her arms.

Her mouth opened.

[An interesting one has entered.]

A low and heavy voice, unlike her appearance.

‘Not an elf. This person is…….’

[Silvana.]

The fairy answered as if she had read Serena’s mind.

[The guardian deity of the elves, whom you call the God of the Forest.]

“……”

If she were not a member of the Annihilation Squad who distrusted priests, she would have knelt.

If she were not a subordinate of Killian, who disliked Gods, she would have been in awe of facing the being before her.

But she was neither of those.

“I am an atheist.”

She quietly raised her sword.

[Hoh.]

The mouth of the God in the form of an elf twisted.

[You really were an interesting one. Is this the domain you created?]

Ahahahahahaha.

The God burst into laughter, looking at her Carpe Illusion.

[A trick using mana. It reminds me of a foolish one.]

Each time she laughed, the flowers she was holding fell to the floor.

The flowers that fell to the floor sucked up the Green Zone.

It was not only her mana that was sucked up.

[So that’s how it is.]

“……”

[Killian Eurasia… so that guy is here. ]

Ssiik.

The God smiled.

A smile that felt eerie, not benevolent or generous.

Serena realized it too late.

[You.]

The being before her, an ancient God.

[That body.]

Was not polite when dealing with a mere mortal.

[I must have it.]

Divine power surged along with the voice.

An overwhelming feeling as if a giant wave were crashing down.

Serena hastily swung her Aether to cut the divine power, but.

[You will break if you resist pointlessly.]

Soon, the God’s voice echoed in her head.

Kugugugu.

She tried to hold onto her consciousness by wrapping her body in Haki, but her mind began to grow increasingly distant.

Suddenly, old memories began to flash through her mind, one by one.

She remembered losing her mother and holding a sword for the first time.

[I will make you forget all the pain and wounds contained in your memories.]

She remembered becoming a member of the Annihilation Squad, relying on Eurasia.

[I will control you completely.]

She remembered the mission that led to the death of her father and many members of the Annihilation Squad.

[Mortals are weak, now as they were then.]

The God absorbed her revealed memories one by one, as if savoring them.

At the end of a series of countless frustrations, there was a man.

The Fourth Young Master, who had a Great Awakening and belatedly found his own swordsmanship.

Her new captain, who devoted himself only to training, as if to make up for lost time.

“Killian…… Eura……”

Serena’s body went limp, unable to finish her words.

Seueuk.

Lifting her limp body unnaturally, Serena looked down at her own two hands.

“……”

In the forest made of divine power, the corners of her mouth twisted.

Her eyes were shining with the will of a God.

“A truly interesting body.”

Just then.

“Serena.”

When she lifted her head, a silver-haired man was in front of her.

Silvana looked at Killian and smiled quietly.

“It has been a long time, Adamas.”

“……”

She moved Serena’s body and slowly approached him.

“Are you not pleased with our reunion after so long?”

“Foolishly. Were you eaten?”

“Serena Constantine no longer exists.”

“Silvana, I remember you hating humans.”

“Yes. I did.”

Humans were living beings with nothing special among the many mortals.

Only the fairy race had pleased her.

That was why she had proclaimed herself the guardian deity of the elves.

But not now.

“That girl, she’s an atheist.”

“A body with many uses.”

“Why not be satisfied with the body of a fairy, as you are now?”

“This body is mine forever.”

“I hear all sorts of interesting things now that I’m reincarnated.”

Killian tightened his grip on the Aether.

“I’ll have to get my subordinate’s body back.”

Blue mana flickered from Killian’s body.

“Try it, Adamas.”

Green mana soared from Serena’s body, which had recalled its ancient adversary.

“Our battle began long ago, did it not?”