Chapter 263 Illogical
An ear-deafening explosion reverberated through the entire battlefield.
The severely weakened Prometheus Dryx exploded, and both the half-dead Prometheus Elf and Nial were blasted to the ground with a terrifying speed that was not visible to the eye of ordinary existences.
Their impact on the ground would kill both of them as the Elf was already on the brink of death. Meanwhile, Nial's body might be strong, but it was still impossible for him to survive crashing on the ground at a speed that would easily cross 400 kilometers per hour.
It was impossible for him to react in time as well, even if the dark energy he wanted to use to protect himself from falling to death had already shrouded his body.
All of a sudden, both falling bodies slowed down. Numerous gusts of winds slowed their falling speed. The winds were spread out like wings but that was more than enough.
Nial and the Prometheus Elf landed on the ground without problem.
'Urgh, that was a weird ride.' Nial could only think before he got up from the ground and dusted himself. His legs were shaking but he regained control over his body quite quickly by circulating mana through it.
Valvian had appeared next to the Prometheus Elf, forcing him to swallow the content of more than six potions. Soon enough, the potions began to show their effects before it was clear that the severely injured Elf would survive.
Only then did he turn his head in Nial's direction. The dark energy that had shrouded Nial's body had been retracted, and streams of the surrounding mana shrouded him in exchange.
'It really works.' Nial could only think, smiling faintly as he noticed that it had been possible for him to activate the Ankh to attract the surrounding mana. Absorbing and annexing it was quite easy, which was how he replenished his mana rapidly.
"Are you stupid?" A somewhat familiar voice reached Nial but he couldn't focus on it.
Nial was just stretching his body because he felt a bit odd after having circulated so much dark energy through his body to force the Prometheus Dryx' body to implode.
In the end, it only worked out because the dark flames ignited numerous dangerous substances within the Dryx' body. The Dryx was also severely injured, and it was naturally using its entire energy to create a brand new heart and to fill the gap left by the injury.
Even if he didn't want to acknowledge it openly, Nial was extremely proud of what he had just done.
"Nial! I asked if you are stupid?" Valvian approached him while supporting the Prometheus Elf.
'Ey...who are you calling stupid?!' Nial was just about to scream out, but Valvian's expression didn't allow any room for retaliation.
"I don't think so?" He countered, hesitating a bit because he could tell that Valvian wanted to tear him apart just now.
Valvian sighed at Nial's reaction.
"You do know that you just killed a Prometheus Dryx while being at the 1st Mirae rank, right?" He asked in a slow manner so as to make sure that Nial understood him.
However, Nial just nodded his head before he waved off his hand.
"The Dryx was already severely injured because of your fight with it. This annoying beast didn't even have enough mana left to properly recreate its hard. Because of that, it was weakened, and I could pierce through the thin layer of flesh to pierce its mana core.
The explosion was not planned but it is better to make sure that your opponent is dead than to play around, right?" Nial smiled while asking the question.
He knew that it had been dangerous to intervene in the fight against the Prometheus Dryx, but he wouldn't have acted if he was not certain to emerge victorious.
The Dryx's strength had only reduced to a beast at the 3rd Advanced Mirae rank after it had been weakened due to the loss of its heart and exhaustion.
"How did you believe that....well, just forget about it. Don't repeat that ever again, okay? I don't want to listen to Master Crevian's complaints when he finds out that I allowed you to act so recklessly!" Valvian sounded visibly agitated but Nial was confused.
'What is it to you or Crevian, whether I act like a fool, let myself be killed in a fight, or end up killing all opponents? That shouldn't matter to you two!!' Nial thought while a deep frown appeared on his face. Valvian acted like he was a genius of the Elven race, who was the only one who could restore their race's former glory or something like that.
This was weird, but Nial didn't have the time to waste talking about entirely useless topics. There was something far more important going on.
"What am I not supposed to find out?" Master Crevian appeared all of a sudden. His entire demeanor screamed danger, even if it was obvious that he couldn't fight anymore.
'Does he want to lecture me as well? Please don't act like an illogical person, just like your Midnight Elf friend there.' Nial could only think, hoping for the best.
In the end, Master Crevian perceived what Nial had done against the badly injured Prometheus Dryx and that he had saved one of his people.
"Good job, Nial. You saved one of our people. Thank y-..." Master Crevian wanted to bow to Nial to thank him properly. His demeanor hadn't actually changed and it was just his voice that sounded calm.
There was something Master Crevian hadn't told Valvian about Nial. In fact, Nial probably didn't know about it either. However, it was one of Master Crevian's reasons to treat Nial with respect, and it did not matter whether he was a prodigious Elf or a human.
But even if he treated Nial with respect, Crevian's expression changed a bit when Nial interrupted the formal demonstration of his gratitude.
"We don't have time for this mess. Silvian entered the Forest of Life, and I was just about to ask Valvian to stop him when I saw that they were fighting the Prometheus Dryx!!"
Master Crevian wanted to say something to Nial, and lecture him, saying that he should respect age, and stuff related to formalities, however, he had missed out on something important.
They were still fighting a war, the battlefield was covered in corpses, and it looked like there was something even worse going on in the Forest of Life.
When he inserted a trace of mana in the Will of the Wand he was tightly holding, Crevian's expression changed completely. From the anger he felt toward Nial's reckless action, which he had witnessed, and the fact that Nial was entirely unbothered by what he did, and how dangerous it was, Master Crevian's expression turned to that of utter shock.
"He...he is almost at the Empress' portal!" Master Crevian mumbled, his voice becoming weaker with every word that he spoke.
Using more mana, he inserted it inside the wand, and the bandage that covered Crevian's eyes was soon soaked red. Blood trickled out of his nose and the Old Elf's condition seemed to worsen gradually.
He had just used his entire remaining mana to insert it inside the wand and had activated one of the well-hidden runic constellations on it.
"I activated the Miniature Dome of Defense around the center of the Forest of Life. It will take a while before he can break through it." Master Crevian's voice was weak, and Valvian was just about to approach his old master when Master Crevian lifted his hand abruptly.
"Valvian, give me Junal, and kill Silvian!" Despite his voice being weak, Crevian's order was full of determination. He didn't allow Valvian to reject his offer.
The Midnight Elf nodded his head before carefully handing Junal to Crevian. They had to support each other to prevent collapsing on the ground. It was hard to keep their balance but somehow it seemed to work out.
"If Silvian dies, the Dryx leader will lose part of their control over the rest. They only act obediently because of Silvian's presence." Nial suddenly said, his head aching heavily. He was not even sure what he was saying but Crevian nodded his head as if he was agreeing with Nial's comment.
However, Valvian had a different problem.
"But if I fight Silvian with all I have, the entire forest will get destroyed in the process, even if I were to win." Valvian was the most bothered about the destruction of the Forest of Life. He knew how important it was for the Elven race, and to expand their territory.
Without the Forest of Life, it would be near-impossible for the Elven to achieve everything they had been ordered to attain. Even their survival in today's battle would hold much less significance if they lost the Forest of Life and managed to win.
Crevian just smiled before he took an amulet out of his storage ring.
"Use this." He merely said, while sighing inwardly. 'I never thought that we would have to use this so early...You have one shot to do it right, Valvian, that's it!'
"...Isn't that...Are you sure master??" Valvian's eyes widened and he swallowed nervously after clearly understanding what kind of amulet he was holding.
"...Is that some sort of runic armament?" Nial suddenly asked, reading what was written on the amulet when his [Mana Sense] visualized it.
'He can even read the ancient elven language? Just what else are you hiding? Was she correct with her prophecy? But it cannot be him...he is not...' Crevian was dumbfounded but he didn't have the time or the energy to react. 'Well, whatever.'
"Go, go and kill this Incarnation of a stupid God!" Master Crevian screamed out loud before Valvian nodded his head and shot forward.
Valvian felt pressured from the responsibility he had just been given. However, from the moment he had been promoted to become the Midnight Elf of the Forest of Life, he knew that his life lay in the hands of the Forest of Life's survival.
From the beginning, Valvian knew that he would have to fight against the Incarnations of Gods. But even if he had known about it, Valvian would have never expected it to be so early.
They were merely at the Prometheus rank, and Jundra had yet to awaken, as well! The entire situation was a mess, but the condition might as well be in his favor.
'If the Forest of Life's condition and feelings are correct, Silvian's strength is currently not on par with a Prometheus God. He may have 9 Superior Origin rings, but I am stronger. I can defeat him... I WILL defeat him!!!'
A moment after Valvian had disappeared, Master Crevian wanted to speak to Nial. He turned in the direction where Nial had been standing before, only to realize that the young blind Original had already disappeared.
"What?!... Where is he??" He blurted out, only for Juna, the severely injured Elf to smile weirdly as he whispered as loudly as he could.
"He rushed in the direction of the Forest of Life a few seconds before Valvian to have a head start."
"This idiot!!..."