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Ivan shook the long spear in his hand, activating the magic rune on it. The spear automatically shrank to one foot in length and was stowed away in Ivan's carry-on package.
"Okay, Prince Nuada, now you are my prisoner. As a captive, you must act like one. Be honest with me. Lead me to the Golden Legion, and I will spare your life as a reward."
Prince Nuada hesitated until he heard Ivan's words, and then his heart stirred. It dawned on him that Ivan had come for the Golden Legion. He was about to decline when a sudden idea struck him. Perhaps this was an opportunity to turn the tables.
Prince Nuada nodded in agreement. With the belief that an honorable man would not suffer harm needlessly, he willingly led the way. Despite his hidden joy, his face remained gloomy, and he inwardly cursed, vowing to avenge today's humiliation. He silently vowed, "I'll remember this disgrace, and if given the chance, I'll shatter your body into a thousand pieces. No, that's too merciful. I'll let you live and subject you to the cruelest punishment imaginable to soothe my hatred."
Although Ivan couldn't sense Nuada's thoughts, he inferred from the other's expression that Nuada, considering himself honorable, would not easily accept defeat. But Ivan cared little for such sentiments. In his heart, he sneered, hoping Prince Nuada would prove clever and not overplay his hand. Ivan didn't mind shedding the blood of a prince from the dark world if necessary.
Unbeknownst to Ivan, the hundred giants remained seated and standing. Prince Nuada approached one of them, rhythmically tapping its abdomen. The abdomen split open, revealing a hole, and the two entered.
Inside, Ivan observed an underground space illuminated by a shimmering plant on the stone wall. The distant sound of running water hinted at a subterranean river.
As they progressed, Ivan recalled a winged man with eyes on his wings from Hellboy's plot—someone who could foresee the past and the future. Ivan hoped to encounter him but was left disappointed.
Eventually, Ivan and Prince Nuada arrived at an expansive underground chamber. In the distance stood large circular metal constructs, three or four meters in height—the Golden Legion, dormant in deep sleep.
Captivated by the sight, Ivan's attention was diverted. Meanwhile, Prince Nuada seized the opportunity to retreat. Once at a safe distance, he turned and fled.
The sound of Prince Nuada's footsteps caught Ivan's attention, prompting him to set aside the Golden Army momentarily and pursue. Ivan wanted to understand Prince Nuada's intentions.
Thus, Ivan trailed behind as Prince Nuada led him to an underground river. Prince Nuada produced a green bead-like object from his possession and tossed it into the water.
Standing by the water, Prince Nuada sneered at Ivan. "Did you truly believe I would surrender so easily? Our interaction was merely a matter of mutual interests. Now, I'll make you regret every action you've taken."
"Is that so? I'm curious to see what gives you such confidence and emboldens you to make such grand statements."
Just as Ivan finished speaking, a green rattan tentacle emerged from the water, growing thicker and larger. A green giant, over 20 meters tall, ascended from the water, sustained by thick vines. Thankfully, the underground space was spacious enough to accommodate it. Ivan realized this was a treat—a magical creature created by the dark world, a fusion of magic and plant life, designed for warfare.
Prince Nuada exulted, saying triumphantly, "Regretting it now? It's too late; I'll repay the shame you've brought upon me a thousandfold. You'll regret ever entering this world. Go, my servant, seize him"
Following Nuada's command, the treant discarded two—no, three legs, not short legs between the two, revealing an unexpected regeneration.
Ivan leaped and maneuvered around stone pillars, skillfully evading tentacles and whips. Despite the appearance of danger, he spoke casually to Nuada in the absence of any immediate threat.
"Hey! Haven't you realized the difference in strength? You're naive if you think you can handle me with just this treant."
"Don't underestimate this treant; I cultivated it carefully. It's not only ten times sturdier than a regular treant but also boasts incredible self-recovery abilities. Unless you can finish it off in one strike, it'll recover quickly and keep fighting!"
In apparent confirmation of Nuada's claim, the treant's branches, entwined around a stone pillar, were shattered to pieces. Its immense body was indeed a formidable adversary.
"Well, you've done an excellent job cultivating this treant. It'll take considerable effort to defeat it head-on with my strength alone, so I'll opt for a simpler approach."
While conversing, Ivan, displaying remarkable agility, danced around the limited space. Despite the rapid movements of the treant's tentacles, they couldn't touch Ivan. Utilizing the free moments, Ivan retrieved a peculiarly shaped weapon from his carry-on package, shouldering it with one end aimed at the treant.
Prince Nuada, having roamed the human world, recognized human weapons. At a glance, he identified that Ivan wielded firearms and other weapons.
Yet, Nuada doubted that these conventional firearms could inflict significant damage on the treants. Given the treant's super resilience, they could recover within a few breaths at most.
For some reason, though, Nuada felt uneasy. Not only did Ivan's firearms look different, but Ivan's confident demeanor also exerted immense pressure on him.
"Do you know what light is formed by tens of times the intensity of sunlight? It's the brightness of a laser, capable of cutting through most matter in this world. Do you think the treant can withstand the laser light? Or perhaps, you don't grasp the meaning of laser light at all. You've been left behind by the times, unable to keep up with the trends, destined to be engulfed in the ocean of history."
Ivan lightly pressed his right index finger, and a red light shot out from the peculiar weapon, piercing the treant's body. Following Ivan's movements, the laser beam swept through the treant, dividing it into two pieces. The treant fell backward before it could roar.
"No!" Prince Nuada, stunned by the ease with which Ivan handled his trump card, shouted in disbelief.
The treant's dismembered corpse fell to the ground, and an unusual spectacle unfolded. The two parts quickly took root and sprouted in the dark underground space, transforming into various plants. Soon, they grew into a lush landscape, with a faintly discernible human figure.
Ivan stowed the laser gun, feeling a twinge of regret. The laser gun he crafted had only one powerful shot; once depleted, its energy would be exhausted, causing considerable damage to the weapon itself. It was, in essence, a disposable item.
Approaching the foliage, Ivan marveled at the plants. He reached out, sensing the robust vitality, particularly from one plant that exuded the most vigorous life.
After a moment of contemplation, Ivan walked toward the area where he sensed the most vitality. Interestingly, it coincided with the heart of the fallen treant. Was there a mystery hidden within? He found himself holding an emerald green crystal.
"This is truly remarkable. It seems to be akin to the wood spirit crystals in Eastern myths and legends. Wearing it over time could grant near-immortality, if not the avoidance of all diseases, and a lifespan of a hundred years at least. If I can channel the energy from it and absorb it into my body, it might accelerate my healing. I should delve into this peculiar energy in the future." Ivan stashed the emerald green crystal away, in a good mood, then turned his attention back to Prince Nuada.
By now, Prince Nuada had lost all hope with the demise of the treant. Accepting this reality proved difficult for him. "How could this happen? I finally located the Golden Legion. Once I find the crown and control the Golden Legion, commanding these magical soldiers, I can utterly defeat the human race. I was only a step away from ruling other worlds. My fate shouldn't be like this—why? It gave me hope only to cruelly destroy it, why..."
Ivan approached Prince Nuada, catching the tail end of his self-pity. Almost amused, he exclaimed, "Stop daydreaming! Do you truly believe the Golden Army can conquer all foes and let you control the world? After living for thousands of years, you're still so naive. Has a donkey kicked your brain?"
Ivan's words immediately provoked anger in Prince Nuada. Having already faced defeat, he didn't expect such mockery. Was Ivan attempting to assail his last shred of dignity? The Golden Legion was his obsession and the final source of pride in his heart. Even in death, he refused to let anyone insult the Golden Legion.
Prince Nuada glared into Ivan's eyes and declared loudly, "Isn't it true? The Golden Legion can never be vanquished. Humans are no match for the Golden Legion, no matter how many stand before it. If it weren't for my father's soft-heartedness, yielding at the last moment and signing a peace agreement with mankind, we would have already ruled the world."
Shaking his head with a touch of disdain, Ivan responded, "Honestly, I feel sorry for your father. To have such a naive son like you... Though I don't know why your father abandoned the war and signed a peace agreement with mankind, I'm certain it wasn't out of soft-heartedness. It was likely a decision forced upon him."
"It's impossible!" Prince Nuada screamed, refusing to accept such a notion.