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In the Boerner Elven Forest.
Elwha Aerin was living a nightmare.
After leaving The Great Savannah and returning to the Boerner Forest, she thought that everything was finally coming to an end. She was sure that she could bring the Heart of the Forest to the elders and complete her mission smoothly.
Although there were some bumps in the way, and the news about the Heart of the Forest somehow leaked, in the end, she managed to complete her mission.
However, she never thought that the Boerner Elven Forest, the place she thought was the safest, would be the most dangerous.
Without they noticing, their group was ambushed by a team of three demigods.
Of course, normally that would not have been enough against the five demigods accompanying her. Until–
"Elder Lorya… Why did you betray us?" One of the elven demigods, an old man with a hunched back, asked the demigod in front of him with a bitter smile.
Yes, unexpectedly, one of the elven demigods turned to be a traitor.
When they were facing the ambush of the three demigods, he backstabbed them, killing one of the elven demigods and injuring another gravely.
Even the two unconscious elves had been killed due to the aftershocks of his ambush.
Elwha Aerin could not believe her eyes. She could not believe that something like that had happened.
However, Elder Lorya, who betrayed them, did not seem to feel the slightest guilt.
"You can't blame me about it." He said with an indifferent expression. "Since the start, I was a devout believer of Slaughter. Slaughter saved me when I was nothing more than an ostracized elf, discriminated due to my human ancestry. He showed me the way and guided me into becoming the elf I'm today."
The old elf smiled wryly.
"To think that you were a believer of Slaughter as well, huh... Heh, I understand now how that bastard learned about the heart. I don't understand, though. Why wait until now to make your move then?"
"Because I was the backup plan, in case the first plan failed. Do you think our Lord would give up so easily after failing once? No, that was just one of his plans. This is the second one, and even if I fail, I'm sure there is a third plan waiting for you."
The old demigod smiled bitterly. They had been played like fools by that bastard of Slaughter.
He could feel that his connection to the Great Tree had been severed. Even although they were inside the Elven Forest, they were completely isolated.
Moreover, he realized he could not use the teleportation treasures he brought with him either. This place was probably under the interference of a powerful formation that stopped teleportation.
"Just give up." Elder Lorya said calmly and looked at Elwha. "Give me the heart, princess. And I promise to give you a painless death for the old times."
Elwha gritted her teeth in hatred. She glared at the person she once thought was a very kind elder with more rage than she thought she could feel.
But at the same time, she felt hopeless.
In this situation, their chances of surviving were very low.
But at that moment, the three remaining elders gathered around her.
"Princess, don't worry. We will make sure to stop them with our lives and give you the opportunity to escape. Make sure to bring the heart to the elders and explain the situation to them." The old elf said resolutely.
"Elder!"
"Promise me, princess! Promise me that you will bring the heart to the elders!"
Elwha bit her lips. Tears of sadness escaped from her eyes, sliding down her cheeks and dripping on the ground repeatedly.
Finally, she opened her mouth and forced herself to speak.
"… I promise you…"
"That is enough." The old demigod smiled kindly, like a grandfather looking at his granddaughter. He then turned towards the enemy demigods and repeated the same words. "That is enough."
Instantly, his power and the power of the other two demigods erupted. The three elven demigods burned their mana, their souls, and their lifeforce to fight the last battle of their lives.
To protect the Heart of the Forest.
But–
"How touching…"
A playful voice sounded at that moment, sweeping their mana away as though it was dust.
Then, to the elves' surprise, a powerful will descended from the sky, falling in one of the demigods.
Immediately, the other demigods of the Church of Slaughter, including the traitor, kneeled respectfully, paying their respects to their master.
"""We greet our lord, the great Slaughter."""
The God of Slaughter had descended.
Opening his eyes, 'He' smirked amusedly, looking at Elwha and the elven demigods with a gaze full of interest.
As though looking at four interesting ants.
Elwha and the three elders turned pale.
Feeling the powerful will in front of them, their last bit of hope turned into despair.
"Impo… sible…" Elwha spat out with a look of horror.
She never thought that Slaughter would go to such lengths to get the Heart of the Forest.
You must know that when a god descended in the body of a believer, that believer was doomed to die.
Even a demigod host only meant that the god could use the host for longer, but in the end, the host was going to die all the same.
There were very few exceptions to that rule, such as Charise, the saintess of the Church of Fate, whose talent made her a perfect vessel for [God's Descend]. But even she would suffer a serious backlash if a god descended on her body.
In other words, when the God of Slaughter descended in the body of that demigod, that demigod was doomed to die.
"Are you surprised?" The God of Slaughter grinned mischievously. "Normally, I would have preferred not to descend personally. Gods are forbidden to interfere with mortals, you see, and if the other gods notice something, they will surely use this opportunity to their advantage. However, I need to get that heart, and I can't allow another failure."
He then took a step forward, releasing a bloody aura so powerful that made Elwha and the three elven demigods pale in fear!
"Unfortunately, this body doesn't allow me to show too much of my power. However, it will be enough to take care of the three of you. Now, die."
With these words, Slaughter extended his index finger and pushed it forward.
Elwha could only watch as her body and soul were destroyed by that finger.
But suddenly–
[Stop!]
Another voice came from the clouds.
Immediately, a powerful will no weaker than Slaughter descended, stopping the finger and protecting the elves.
"Axalia! What is the meaning of it!?" Slaughter bellowed in rage.
[I'm sorry, Slaughter. But I can't allow it.] A figure of light materialized in front of the elves, protecting them from Slaughter's oppressive aura. [Gods are forbidden from interfering with mortals. And I can't allow a course of fate that brings destruction to this world.]
"Axalia! Do you think you can stop me!? A mere projection is not enough to defeat the current me!"
[You are right.] The figure of light nodded softly. [However, I don't need to stop you. I just need to save her.]
With a soft smile, the figure of light extended her hand, touching Elwha's forehead.
Elwha felt a voice on her mind, soft and gentle like the spring breeze.
[Go, girl. Leave this place. Go and meet him, become into one of his wings. Only then you will be able to accomplish your mission; and perhaps one day, you will be able to make Slaughter pay for what happened today.]
"W-Wait a moment! W-What do you mean!? W-What about the elders!? Who is him!?"
[You already know who he is, after all, you two are connected by fate. As for the elders, unfortunately, I can only save you today. Don't worry, I'll give you my protection. Slaughter won't be able to find you easily.]
After saying that, the figure of light smiled silently, and pushed Elwha's forehead.
"Axelia!" Slaughter roared in rage, using as much strength as he could to attack the figure of light. However, the figure of light received the attack without faltering or interrupting her actions, as though she did not care.
The next instant, Elwha was sent flying, disappearing in the distance.
[Go girl, become into one of his wings. Show me that it's possible to change fate.]
"Axelia! Damn bitch!" Slaughter's face turned ugly. He tried to chase after Elwha but was stopped by the figure of light!
In the end, he could only rely on the demigods behind him. "What are you waiting for!? Go after her!"
"We will not allow it!" The old elf demigod roared at that moment. He and the other two demigods rushed forward, using their bodies and souls to earn time for the princess.
That day, six demigods fell in the Boerner Elven Forest, and Princess Elwha Aerin mysteriously disappeared.