Chapter 38 - Protagonist: You will eventually come back to me.
Chapter 38.1 – Protagonist: You will eventually come back to me.
The blood-red, human-shaped, rune-covered creature sank into the ground, vanishing without a trace as if it had been absorbed by the forest.
Xiu sat on Zaphion’s shoulder, chin in hand, and looked thoughtfully at the result. This was the fifth time that he had recalled the blood contract beast. He knew that the man he was looking for was in there and, though the blood contract beast could enter freely, the whole elf forest was like a large magical array that kept out all unwelcome visitors.
Since that is the case then all this will have to be destroyed.
The flaxen-haired gnome straightened up, looked at the lush forest before him, and patted the head of a mechanical puppet.
From now on, there will be no Elven forest on the Chaos Continent.
***
Sunlight, filtered by the interlaced branches of the trees, illuminated the open-air altar and an exquisite idol surrounded by flowers and a fence of woven branches and leaves. On the circular altar, a golden-yellow branch dangled above a small pool. After a very long time, a drop of golden liquid would fall from the branch onto the pool.
That pool was not large. Its radius was around 3 meters and it was full of the golden liquid – the sap of the Tree of Life. According to legend, one drop of this sap can restore a person to his peak condition and greatly strengthen his physique.
Kneeling beneath the altar was a beautiful elf. Her long blonde hair, elegant white robes, and glittering white gold forehead ornament proclaimed her identity. The Queen of the Elves, with her hands crossed and against her lips, closed her eyes and adopted a reverent posture. After praying for a long time, the Queen of the Elves looked up at the Tree of Life. The foliage around the altar that was emerald green, but the rest of it was completely black.
There was a rustle of leaves and the Queen of the Elves stood up. Her golden eyes flashed with displeasure. She went outside and saw her most faithful bodyguard, Simon, and the loathsome Necromancer. They brought with them a black-haired man who was pale and appeared to be in a coma. As for the last person to arrive, Ariel, she was totally ignored by the queen.
“Your Majesty, I have something important to report,” Simon politely but hurriedly greeted the Queen of the Elves. “The gnome I spoke of last time seems to have formed a blood contract with this man. He has been looking for this person and should be here soon.”
The queen was startled. Simon had told her everything that happened in the Gnome Ruins. The sudden reappearance of a gnome was a little surprising, but right now the most important thing is to heal the Tree of Life. The gnomes and the elves have never interfered with each other’s affairs.1 She believed in Simon’s ability and thought that the gnome would never find out that the elves were behind the kidnapping. But now, because of the blood contract, the gnome who controls one five-star and one six-star mechanical puppet found out and is coming?
The elves have three War Gods and two Mage Gods, so one Sword Saint and one war God can’t defeat them, but it will be troublesome. The Queen of the Elves turned her gaze to Anat: if it were not for the vampire …
Anat noticed the elf queen’s gaze and she smiled with her hand on her red lips. “Why are you glaring at me? How was I supposed to know that they had a blood contract?”
“When will you remove the pollution?”
“It depends on when you bring me the person I want. What I want is that gnome, as long as you bring him here, I will fulfill my promise.” Anat smiled mysteriously. “Anyway, a gnome is nothing to the elves, right?”
It’s true, a gnome is nothing to the elves, but even if she is the queen it’s not easy to ask the elven elders for help in this matter.
Suddenly, the ground started shaking. The queen held on to some branches for support and looked to the distance with astonishment. It seemed like a huge meteorite had fallen, it’s fiery path painting the sky red. From far away, a green ball of light emerged from an ancient war tree and flew to the queen. The elves had planted hundreds of ancient war trees in the Elven Forest. These trees protected the elves’ territory and, when they died, their souls would pass on information to the elves before they disappeared.
The Queen of the Elves reached out her hand and touched the soul orb, perceiving the information. No one could discern anything from her expressionless face. The green orb vanished.
The queen was calm, but it was the calm before the storm.
“Simon.” The Elf Queen’s voice was cold. “Please ask the elders to come.”
Simon came to attention. Anat saw that the queen was only pretending to be indifferent. Obviously, something was up. Anat snapped her fingers and a bat flew over to her.
“The children I gave you before can’t hold on any longer.” 2
From Anat’s fingers, the bat flew to the Tree of Life. It alighted and began to suck out the pollution. The queen looked at this silently. Her normally cold, impassive face showed a trace a helplessness. If it weren’t for Anat’s bat, the Tree of Life would be completely polluted.
The beautiful vampire laughed joyfully.
“Working together is good.”
(TN: I guess she means the bats are her children)
***
The Fire Phoenix flew over the forest. Wherever it’s long tail feathers trailed, strong fire elements fell onto the trees like a crimson flower. Alighting on a tall tree, the Fire Phoenix surveyed the results. The green of the forest has been replaced by red. The god beast happily spread its wings and tweeted. Then, it seemed to think of its missing “Mother” who wasn’t here to see its masterpiece and folded its wings, dejected.
“Water cage.”
Dense water elements suddenly surrounded the god beast, caging it. By the time the Fire Phoenix noticed, it was already too late and the Phoenix was unable to take off. Seeing its precarious situation, a figure jumped up to the top of the tree and grabbed the Fire Phoenix, rescuing it from its watery prison. It was Old John.
In the air, a figure gradually appeared. It was an elf wearing the blue robe of a magician. He looked at Old John, who was holding the Fire Phoenix, and the forest that was being ravaged by fire. The elf decided to put out the forest fire first then take care of the masterless god beast later.
The elf took out his staff and spit out a spell: “Rainstorm.”
In the twinkling of an eye, clouds formed above the elf forest and poured down rain. The forest fires were put out.
Xiu looked up at the elf. Advanced magic can allow a person to cast a spell without saying the entire incantation. Only Mage Gods have the ability to cast a spell just by saying its name. To the Mage Gods, casting magic is as instinctive as breathing. They can instantly cast low and intermediate level magic.
“Zaphion.”
The mechanical puppet heard the order and stopped its killing of ancient war trees. Zaphion raised its head to look at the elf.
The elf didn’t seem to mind being stared at by the mechanical puppet and continued putting out fires by manipulating the water elements in the forest.
The mechanical puppet swiftly jumped up and ruthlessly struck at the elf magician. It was like pressing a button – one moment the mechanical puppet’s hand was about to hit the elf, then the next moment light was shining through the hole in the mechanical puppet’s body.
Xiu turned back. On a tall tree behind him, another elf appeared. The elf put an arrow on his bow then shot at Zaphion, who was struggling to get up. “Don’t get in the way.”
Xiu looked at the two holes that ruined the beautiful silver white design on Zaphion’s body. Only a War God can damage a six star mechanical puppet’s body. For Zaphion to be unable to block the attack, it was clear that the archer was a War God.
The Mage God and War God were staring at Xiu, whose expression was very strange. His chin was lifted and his smile was both bizarre and dangerous.
Finally someone came to play with me. A raindrop on Xiu’s hair dripped down. It was dark red in color. He stretched out his two hands and started counting off.
“On the blue side, the elves have 1, 2, a total of two people. On the red side the mechanical puppets have 1, 2, 3, 4, …”
The bow on the hand of the elf who was standing on top of a tree began to tremble. Ever since he became a War God, he had never felt this kind of fear and despair as mechanical puppets began to appear, one after the other. The elf can feel the battle aura3 of the mechanical puppets. Their chests all had six stars and all of them are … War Gods.
“… 9, 10, a total of 10 people.” Xiu put his hands down and softly announced: “We can start the game.”
……
Xiu poked at the air in front of him. Like a burst bubble, the forest scene in front of him vanished into thin air and a beautiful fantasy scene appeared in front of him. Xiu summoned the blood contract beast once again. The red humanoid form began to run towards the distant lake.
Zaphion placed Xiu on its shoulders. Another mechanical puppet ran after the blood contract beast, leaving behind an area of burnt soil mixed with red. The terrible color looked as if someone had crushed minced meat into the ground.
They did not see any living creatures along the way. All the elves had gone off to hide somewhere, and Xiu didn’t feel like trying to find them. His brain was full of the urgent need to find that person.
The blood contract beast ran through the grass, over the lake, then finally began to climb up the tree in the middle of the lake. Zaphion ran through the tree canopy then jumped down in the middle of a clearing.
“Boom!”
The mechanical puppet fell heavily onto the flowers, and its falling wind created a rain of petals. Xiu stood up and peered at the altar.
Above the altar was a human.
Du Ze was in Anat’s hands. He was still in a coma, his face was pale from blood loss … too pale.
When he caught sight of Du Ze, Xiu’s eyes instantly became red.
“Bam!”
The Queen of the Elves and the crowd of elves around her involuntarily retreated. Even though the mechanical puppet’s attack was stopped by a light barrier, they still felt its dreadful intent to crush them into the mud.
“Bam! Bam! Bam!”
More and more mechanical puppets arrived and started attacking the magic barrier as the elves gaped, horrified. The mechanical puppets cast an intense red light onto them, as though announcing their desire to erase the elves from this world.
Fortunately, even though it looked as though it would was going to break at any time, the light barrier held. The Queen of the Elves remained calm. She walked forward and spoke to Xiu, who was still on Zaphion’s shoulder. “You cannot break it. This is the barrier of the goddess of life.”
Xiu finally turned his gaze away from Du Ze and looked at the elves. The queen saw his bright coloured eyes and suddenly found it difficult to speak.
“We … There may be some misunderstanding between us.”
Chapter 38.2 – Protagonist: You will eventually come back to me.
“Give him back to me.” Xiu’s voice was soft and sweet, but also creepy: “He is not someone you can touch.”
“My student is not someone you can kill!” Anat suddenly spoke up as her magic informed her that he was the one who killed her beloved student. Anat stared at Xiu with extreme hatred while her bright red nails pierced the skin of Du Ze’s chin. “Make your metal lumps leave! Or I’ll rip his throat out!”
Xiu was silent for a while, then he clapped his hands and all the mechanical puppets retreated from the light barrier. Anat giggled at the Queen of the Elves. “Why are you afraid of him? This man is in our hands. He will not dare to act rashly!”
“Anat,” said the Elf queen coldly, “I wish I had never met you.”
“Oh? Are you sure, my dear queen?” Anat smiled nastily: “If not for me, your Tree of Life would be long gone.”
Four of the 10 six-star mechanical puppets walked away, leaving the rest at the entrance of the altar. Xiu stood on Zaphion’s shoulder and asked: “Is that a threat?”
Anat coldly hummed but the queen did not speak. She looked at the mechanical puppets guarding the entrance and her heart was very uneasy.
Xiu gazed at the elves. “Then I’ll say this. If you don’t give him to me, you will lose the Tree of Life now.”
“Boom-”
From the lower part of the Tree of Life came a violent shock, as if someone was trying to uproot it. The force of the shock was so great that the elves’ eyes showed horror. Xiu smiled.
“If he dies, I will bury the Tree of Life with him.”
Before Xiu finished speaking, Anat had realized that the situation was bad, but she was still unable to stop the elves from taking Du Ze from her. Two elven War Gods held her back.
For the first time, the Queen of the Elves’ face showed an expression. She shouted to the devil outside, horrified: “Stop it! We’ll give him back to you in perfect and flawless condition!”
Xiu looked at this farce and patted Zaphion. The light in the mechanical puppet’s eyes flashed as a message was transmitted, then the movement at the Tree of Life’s roots stopped.
The queen almost collapsed on the ground. Simon brought over Du Ze, who was still in a coma. Anat watched as these events unfolded and she pointed out with a smile: “Do you really think that if you give him back that person he will let you all go? Don’t be daft! I can see that he is a devil worse than I am!”
Although the elf queen did not respond to Anat’s words, she was still affected. Staring at Xiu, she said: “You must swear to God or we will not believe you.”
Xiu did not hesitate. “If you give him back to me, I will not use any means to harm the Tree of Life.” Xiu lowered his head to think then smiled mysteriously. “I swear this by the god of light.”
The elf queen saw a light descend on Xiu. This light showed that the god of light had recognized the vow. Anyone who violated an oath sworn to the god of light will be punished by the god. She breathed a sigh of relief, walked towards the center of the altar, and used a leaf to take a single drop of golden liquid. She then carefully poured it into Du Ze’s mouth. Instantly, Du Ze’s face became ruddy as he woke up.
Du Ze looked around him in confusion, but his sight were blurry as though he wasn’t wearing his glasses. He took off the glasses to check if something was wrong before freezing. He could see everything clearly! His vision was better than ever before. Opposite him was Xiu, and Du Ze could even see his reflection in the gnome’s eyes. Though his reflection was tiny, it filled Xiu’s eyes so that there was no room for anything else.
Du Ze didn’t know what to think. Why were his highly myopic eyes suddenly fixed? What is this current situation? Then he heard Xiu say to him: “Come here.”
It was almost an automatic reflex for him to get up and go to Xiu. The elves didn’t block his path and the light barrier had been opened for him. He climbed up Zaphion’s outstretched hand, and the mechanical puppet placed him in front of Xiu. When some silly, cute person saw that familiar flax-colored hair and small face, he suddenly became too nervous to speak.
This is Xiu. He’s a real person.
While Du Ze was wool gathering, Xiu leaned forward to grab his neck.
“You will eventually come back to me.”1
At that moment, Du Ze’s heart overflowed. In fact, he did not panic when he was kidnapped because, subconsciously, he knew that Xiu will definitely come to find him. Some silly, cute person thought that he had forgotten what it was to have friends, but when this person held him, it made him realize that this was true friendship.
Du was about to reach out and hug him when he heard Xiu whisper in his ear: “Because I’m going to destroy everything that separates us.”
“Boom! Crash! Bam!”
The sound was that of a person’s flesh and bones crushed into a paste. It was like a man crushing a cockroach under his foot.
Du Ze later thought: if he had not turned to look behind him, would he still have seen the pool of blood under the mechanical puppet’s foot? Is it because he now sees everything clearly and differently – whether it’s Xiu or the rest of the world?2
The Queen of the Elves stared at the two mechanical puppets that dropped down from the sky. If the two War Gods weren’t fast enough to dodge, it wouldn’t only be Anat under the mechanical puppet’s foot.
The mechanical puppet lifted its foot and the blood flowed freely. Anat became a piece of bloody rags, but although her skull was flattened and her bones crushed into powder, she was still alive. To kill a vampire, you either needed to use silver or to decapitate it. The mechanical puppet picked up Anat, who made a strange “haha” sound. It was unsure if she was laughing at herself or mocking the queen who is about to suffer the same fate. The horrified elves could only watch as the mechanical puppet held Anat’s head with his thumb and forefinger – Anat’s head was only as big as its finger – before gently tearing it off.
“Crack.”
Blood rained down from the sky. The elf queen watched the mechanical puppet turn toward her. She screamed in anger and horror: “If you break your oath you will be punished by the god of light!”
“I just promised not to harm the Tree of Life.” Xiu was combing through Du Ze’s hair soothingly. “I never said anything about the elves.”
The Queen of the Elves looked at the gnome’s mocking smile. His sweet, soft voice revealed his extreme contempt and disgust.
“Hmph … who cares about the god of light?”
The queen finally realized what was going to happen and why Anat had laughed – the vampire was laughing at the elves who had foolishly trusted a devil. She was standing at the altar, lost in despair. She didn’t notice when a mechanical puppet’s hand moved towards her.
“Your Majesty!”
Warm blood dripped down the elf queen’s face and she came back to her senses as her most loyal retainer said to her: “Your Majesty, please escape.”
The Elf Queen looked at Simon’s broken arm and said nothing. The unbreakable light barrier was already open. The elven elders can’t even talk about saving the elf race because even their own lives are now unsafe.
This chaotic situation finally made Du Ze steel himself. Choking back his nausea, he tried to persuade Xiu to change his mind.
“I don’t want to kill them.”
Originally the elven race had been polluted, but now they were going to be exterminated. The difference between the two outcomes is too extreme!
Xiu loosened his hold on Du Ze and smiled.
“Those who make me unhappy should die.”
Two mechanical puppets tore an elf apart, and flesh and blood fell to the ground.
“Those who block my way should die.”
A mechanical puppet clapped its hands, crushing an elf magician into meat paste.
“Those who are worthless should die.”
Du Ze could not believe his eyes when he saw Xiu’s lips curve up as the gnome uttered the last sentence.
Why is Xiu smiling?
No, no, something’s wrong! Xiu shouldn’t be this, it’s like, like …
Du Ze was stupefied. His eyes fell on Old John who, saw Du Ze looking at him. Old John smiled helplessly and shook his head, mouthing silently: The little master is out of his mind.
Du Ze stared at Xiu’s brightly shining eyes that contained not even the slightest glimmer of sanity.
“!”
Suddenly, without any warning, Du Ze picked up Xiu. The black-haired youth jumped off the mechanical puppet with the gnome in his arms and ran to the small pool in the middle of the altar.
“Crash-”
The golden liquid fountained up then fell back down, like someone throwing water to put out a fire.3
Meanwhile, a mechanical puppet, with a wave of his hand, threw Simon to the wall. The mechanical puppet looked at the elf queen who sat on the ground and raised his fist. A slender figure rushed forward to stand in front the queen. It was Ariel. The mechanical puppet did not hesitate and smashed his fist down.
Ariel closed her eyes. The wind caused by the movement of the fist blew across her forehead, but nothing else happened. Ariel opened her eyes cautiously and saw the that giant fist was near her, but the mechanical puppet had stopped its actions and was instead looking at something. In fact, all of the mechanical puppets had stopped what they were doing, as though someone has pressed their pause buttons. They were all looking at the center of the altar.
Ariel covered her mouth with her hands in amazement. The Tree of Life’s sap had vanished, and sitting in the middle of the empty pool was Du Ze and a strange elf. The elf’s long silver hair was draped behind him and his green eyes were like the fresh, new budding leaves of spring time. His exquisite face was overwhelmingly, stunningly beautiful. Although the elves have always been known as a race of beautiful people, this particular elf’s beauty was simply beyond compare.
The silver-haired elf propped himself up on one elbow and quietly looked up at the black-haired youth.
Du Ze was sitting on top of Xiu’s body. He loosened his grip on Xiu’s torn collar and gently asked: “Have you calmed down?”
Xiu stretched out his right hand and the cloth slid down his arm, revealing white skin. He took Du Ze into his arms and his long eyelashes veiled his eyes.
“Ah.”
******
******
I will give you the sun and weave it into your hair.
I will give you the moonlight and cover your skin with it.
I will give you the flowers and paint your beauty with it.
I will give you the trees and make them into your house.
I will give you the harp and make it accompany your singing.
I will give you the bows and arrows and make it your strength.
I will give you the elf and make it your name.
– “Mixed Blood”: an excerpt from the Elves’’ song