"Don't panic." The Leader said, his voice carrying a relaxing tone. "We are not from this world. Of course we won't get annihilated."
Majority of the human armies breath a sigh of relief after hearing that. But some are still in doubt.
"Sire, have you known beforehand? That killing the World Tree will kill all living forms in the faery realm?"
The Leader scorned. "Of course I know. If I don't, do you think I will recklessly destroy this ancient being? "
Then what was the use of us marching on deserted plains looking for surviving faeries?
"The World Tree is the foundation of the fairy realm. It's their creator, mother and their homes. Fairies are born in accordance with the rules of the World Tree. They are created by its will. They will die and be reborn in its will. Hence, if we want to destroy the faery realm completely, ensuring that no champion will be born from their race, we must destroy the foundation itself."
The human armies nodded in understanding. Their feet are littered with bodies they did not kill. One of the commanding officers approached the Leader and asked.
"Sire, what should we do with the bodies? Should we leave them here?"
The Leader cupped his chin, pondering. After a few seconds, he ordered.
"No, gather the dead trees and create a wire fence. Hang all the bodies in the fence at the World Tree."
A small smile curved on his lips. Eyes glint with malice. The human armies were stomped at the idea. They glance at each other in nervousness.
"Sire… isn't that too cruel?" One of the soldier step forward. His eyes cast uneasy glances at the dead bodies.
He opened his mouth to say something again, but he did not get to say it in the end. A horrible bang exploded. The armies were horrified at the sight. Because the young soldier who spoke up just got his head exploded into red fleshy chunks.
He collapsed to the ground with a loud thud. Bringing fear and panic to the other soldiers' hearts.
The Leader turned off his laser beam and swept his cold eyes over the crowd.
"So... Has anyone got something to say?"
The soldiers gulped and instantly busied themselves with creating the wire fence. They cut off the rotten branches of the World Tree. Some were surprised at how sturdy it was. It can have a good foundation and a strong hold.
One unit started to dig in the ground, others started to saw the wood. Some went out to go back and prepare hundred meters wide fence for the hanging.
In five whole days, the work was finally done. Each body of the fairies is hung right in the most sacred place of the fairies. The irony it brought was something some of the soldiers found too cruel.
They wish from the deepest part of their hearts that these faeries can somehow depart to the afterlife in peace.
The only demon in the group stayed on the sidelines all the time. He bade farewell to his master and went back to his realm the next day. The Leader, seeing his assistance was no longer needed, permitted his demon to go.
The Verdant Demon saluted and left without a trace.
When he arrived in the demon realm, the sky was blood red and the surroundings were pitch black.The Verdant Demon found himself silently wishing he could stay in the sun longer.
Then again, he was not sad. He can go back whenever his master summons him. At the gigantic steel gate of the Hadean Palace, the Demon King welcomed his presence in his high blazing red crystal throne.
"How was the faery realm, Verdant?" The Demon King's voice is low and magnetic. It rippled in the throne room filled with icy cold glare, causing the Twelve Duke to stiffen in their seats.
The Verdant Demon kneeled on one knee, his eyes glued to the floor as he calmly reported.
"Yes, the siege was successful. All the faeries are dead."
The atmosphere suddenly dropped significantly. Some of the Twelve Dukes shifted uncomfortably in their seats. Morning court is really the most horrifying time of the day.
One little misspoken word can cost you your life.
"Verdant," The Demon King said, twitching his fingers. A habit everyone in the throne room recognized.
"You do know how many types and populations of faeries there are, right?" It was a warning. To not talk nonsense and waste his time. The Demon King is displeased. Verdant realized the danger he was in and did not hesitate to calmly explain.
"Your Excellency, would you mind if I let you see a real time image from the faery realm?"
The Demon King raised his eyebrows in question. Then he waved his right hand. Verdant bowed after receiving his consent and conjured a ripple of wavelength from the air, conjuring a perfect image of the World Tree.
At first, the demons did not show much reaction.
Some even murmured, "What is this? Hung bodies of fairies? Are you trying to waste the precious time of his majesty by showing this?"
Before the Demon King can vent out his annoyance, Verdant calmly explained.
"What you're seeing right now is the World Tree."
Silence hung in the air.
"Before our arrival, the fairy king was already poisoned and in an extremely dangerous state of mana self destruction. When he confronted his wife, he went berserk and spread poison across the land. The massive spread reached the World Tree, and this has caused many faeries to die instantly. When he killed his wife, it was the daughter's turn to berserk. In the end, the faery king and his daughter killed each other. The humans I contracted with destroyed the World Tree of the faery realm, to ensure not one seedling would survive. And this is what he ordered his soldiers to do with the dead bodies. "
After he explained everything that happened briefly, the Twelve Dukes of the Demon realm murmured towards each other. Unsettled glances and soft whispers filled the throne.
"Humans are really selfish."
"Killing and destroying everything without thinking about its consequences… If the Tower of Erase imposed its punishment, we're all finished. "