Steel torrents pioneering a different world

Chapter 180 North-South Collaboration! One Dead, One Wounded! The Explosion of Countless Little Suns! (Bonus Chapter, Extra Update)
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"My kingdom extends southward from here, and the line where the snow meets the green grass marks the beginning of its borders. Wherever the forests reach, that is the territory of my people."

The elven guard possessed by Tiara raised his chin slightly, his voice carrying an innate arrogance.

"East of this line, all the way to the Frost and Snow Forest Mountains, is not our territory. The cave-dwelling half-humans there are stubborn and savage, and do not understand human feelings. If your tribe wants to try your luck there, we will not stop you."

He paused, a hint of amusement in his voice: "As for the undead and demons of the north, if you can eradicate them, our people will sing praises to your bravery."

As soon as he finished speaking, the command center behind the scenes erupted in chaos thanks to the real-time relay of the video and audio recordings.

"What the hell is going on?!" Commander Man slammed his fist on the table, making the water glass vibrate. "This old bastard has such a big mouth? What does he mean by 'everywhere the forest reaches is his home'? Does that mean our outpost is built on his house?"

“Land has always belonged to the capable. They can’t explain how this forest became theirs, but now that we’re here, this forest should belong to us!” Professor Ji, a bespectacled scientist who looked refined, sneered repeatedly, his words sharp and cutting.

Someone nearby immediately retorted, "Professor Ji, watch your words! We're here to establish exchanges, not to engage in imperial colonization!"

"What empire? I'm not talking about imperial colonization. I'm just saying they're messing around. How can they just claim it's theirs with a few words?" Professor Ji adjusted his glasses. "Gentlemen, am I right?"

"Alright, stop arguing!" Su Mingjin's cool voice drowned out all the arguments. She rubbed her throbbing temples. "Now is the crucial moment for gathering intelligence, not for a debate. Professor Yu, continue to ask for valuable information."

On the front lines, at the negotiating table.

Yu Qiwen's smile remained unchanged, as if he hadn't heard the noisy argument in the earpiece at all. He simply nodded slightly to indicate that he understood what the other person was saying.

"Thank you for your frankness, sir, but we still have one question."

“Speak!” Tiaret’s voice was short and forceful.

"The nobles have mobilized a large army to gather at the edge of the forest, and their advance seems to be directed at our camp. Are they preparing to attack us?"

"Yes!" Tiaret said without hesitation, "If you insist on your own way and refuse to listen to advice, then only war awaits you!"

This resolute answer made some of the warmongers in the command post breathe heavily, and the thought of volunteering for battle almost slipped out.

Yu Qiwen nodded again, his fingers tapping on the table a little faster: "So, what do we need to do to get your side to stop the war?"

“Three days!” Tiaret’s voice was as cold as ice. “Within three days, all humans must evacuate the Forest Kingdom!”

Yu Qiwen's brow furrowed almost imperceptibly for a moment, then relaxed. He picked up the water glass in front of him, but didn't drink it; he just stared at the gloomy light reflected on the surface of the water.

"Before answering this request, I have one more question."

"speak!"

"Could you tell me about the celestial convergence you mentioned? As you know, we're new here and know very little about this world." Yu Qiwen's tone was very sincere, even carrying a perfectly appropriate hint of bewilderment. "Like last time, we were unwittingly drawn into a war and discovered that the nobles were actually standing with those undead Scourge from the north to attack us. We don't want to cause such a misunderstanding again because of our ignorance."

Upon hearing this, Tiara fell silent.

A moment later, his aged voice rang out again, but this time it carried a hint of scrutiny and... pity?

"It seems you are truly unaware of your own predicament. Very well, this was originally a gesture of goodwill from my people. Since you want to know, I may tell you."

"This star is called the 'Sacred Star.' From the very beginning of the Creator God's creation, the spacetime of countless worlds was frequently linked to it. Every so often, this realm would experience a 'Celestial Conjunction.'"

"At that time, the world barrier will become extremely unstable, and countless spacetime gates will randomly open, connecting all worlds. However..." Tiaret changed the subject, "It is extremely rare for someone like you to possess a permanent and stable world gate. If the Dragon Empire of the Eastern Continent finds out, or if those despicable guys find out, they will probably spare no expense to send a large army to attack you!"

Yu Qiwen listened quietly, his eyes gleaming.

The Sacred Star... the Gate of Time and Space and the Nexus... the Confluence of the Celestial Spheres...

Key words strung together in his mind, and a startling guess emerged.

He abruptly raised his head, staring intently at the elven guard, his voice tinged with urgency: "Your Excellency, could you describe what the portal you saw looked like?"

"Formless and intangible, difficult to observe!"

Upon hearing this, the command center fell silent. Su Mingjin thought about the azure blue portal she had seen, and then a look of confusion appeared in her eyes.

The command post at the rear was in complete chaos.

"Their time portal is different from ours."

"Does this elf mean that there have been many unlucky people like us who fell into this world before? If it weren't for the stable spacetime portal behind us and the support of the world behind us, they would have wiped us out long ago?"

"The subtext is pretty much what it means, isn't it?"

"The Dragon Empire? Isn't this still in the feudal era? Does this world still mainly believe in the law of the jungle?" A professor wearing glasses scoffed. "I think we should send them our love and nuclear peace!"

"Professor Ji! Do you want to become a scoundrel? To punish someone without teaching them is cruelty!" someone immediately retorted.

"I was just joking! Just trying to lighten the mood!" Professor Ji pushed up his glasses, but his words were sharp. "What, are you going to reason with them? They've already put a knife to our throats!"

"Quiet down!" Su Mingjin's voice rang out through the internal channel, carrying an undeniable chill. "We are currently in the information processing and collection phase, not the time for combat. Everyone, please continue listening."

The noisy command center fell silent instantly.

At the front line, Yu Qiwen seemed oblivious to the argument in his earpiece. After processing the other party's information, he continued to ask new questions.

"May I ask, sir, how long is the cycle of the celestial conjunction? And since the Holy Star began to keep records, how many foreign races have set foot on this land?"

"A cycle?" The elf possessed by Tiarat shook her head, a look of confusion appearing in her eyes for the first time. "No one knows, not even the Mother Goddess can observe it."

"The Sacred Star has existed for countless years, beyond calculation. Countless races, demons and monsters, have come to this world. Some turned into dust, nourishing this forest; others were sealed away for eternity, and still wail to this day."

"Of course, only a very small number have managed to establish themselves here!"

Yu Qiwen felt a chill run down his spine; the other party's words painted a bloody and cruel history of interdimensional colonization.

He said sincerely, "Respected elf sir, we are newcomers and everything in this world is completely unfamiliar to us. If you could tell us more about the 'Sacred Star' and its taboos, we would be extremely grateful and would offer you a generous reward!"

"A generous reward?"

When Tiara heard the word, she suddenly laughed, a laugh full of mockery and sarcasm.

"Among the infinite worlds and countless races, you humans are the most fond of deception. But what is the result? Nothing more than gathering enough intelligence to bring endless blood and fire to your enemies!"

His voice suddenly turned cold: "Humans, put away your seductive tricks. This world is dangerous, far more dangerous than your so-called 'forbidden magical weapons'! If you truly have the ability to survive here, then go north and wrest a foothold from the undead and demons!"

"Are there any other options?" Yu Qiwen pressed.

“Yes.” This time, Tiaret didn’t refuse; instead, she offered a more specific path. “You can head east from the Frost Snow Mountains and fight those stubborn cave-dwelling half-humans for land! Of course, there’s another option…”

He paused deliberately, seemingly admiring the focused expression on Yu Qiwen's face.

"You can build ships and sail from the terrifying Devil's Sea into the Trembling Sea. If you can make it across alive and then cross the Wall of Despair, you will reach a continent called the 'Green Lands.' There, you will find... your kind."

At this point, Tiara suddenly revealed an extremely eerie smile, the curve of which sent chills down one's spine.

"Well, if they... are willing to accept you peacefully."

That smile and those words sent a chill down Yu Qiwen's spine.

Are these all the hints you have?

“Yes, that’s all!” Tiara’s smile vanished instantly, replaced by her initial coldness and authority. “My clan will only give you three days.”

He stood up, looked down at Yu Qiwen, and announced, word by word.

"Get out of the Forest Kingdom within three days."

"Otherwise, it will be war!"

"Respected elf, you are a generous and kind person. Humans thank you for your sincere warning. The information you provided is extremely important. Your kindness and insight shine as brightly as the sun and moon. On behalf of humanity, I thank you once again for your goodwill!"

Although Tiarat did not speak, a subtle change in the light in her pale eyes indicated that her emotions were fluctuating slightly.

"Respected, kind, and generous elven sir, may we ask another question?" Yu Qiwen's voice was tinged with a smile. "Do you know of the Emperor and the Human Empire? Also, did your elven race also arrive in this world when the heavens converged?"

As soon as he finished speaking, the surrounding air seemed to freeze for a moment.

This question made everyone in the command center hold their breath, staring intently at the screen, waiting for the proud elf's answer.

For the first time, the elf possessed by Tiara showed surprise in her white-glowing eyes.

But that surprise was fleeting, replaced by a furious outburst that had been provoked.

"Human, this is not a question for you!"

The sound was like a thunderclap, shaking the leaves in the forest. A powerful aura crashed down on Yu Qiwen, carrying undisguised killing intent.

However, upon hearing this, Yu Qiwen silently pressed the call button, and then the wrinkles on his face smoothed out: "Respected elf, you don't know the Emperor, do you?"

"I don't know!"

"Thank you for informing me. Now, regarding the question from earlier, esteemed elven sir, could we speculate that you are not a native of this world, and that you actually came to this sacred star during a celestial convergence?"

He spoke these words casually, yet they were like a precise scalpel, dissecting the side of the Elven race that they least wanted to show.

In the command center, Professor Ji slapped his thigh and said excitedly in a low voice, "Brilliant! Old Yu's move to turn the tables on us was brilliant! I knew it, their arrogant attitude was definitely suspicious! They really aren't natives of this world."

"The old fox tricked the little fox out of his trap." The scientist next to him couldn't help but laugh out loud.

At the front lines, Tiara's killing intent was almost tangible, and the surrounding temperature seemed to drop several degrees.

"Humans, you are choosing war?"

"No, no, no, we love peace. What we like most is farming, raising livestock, and building infrastructure!"

Yu Qiwen's expression instantly underwent a complete 180-degree turn. He grinned broadly, looking just like a street vendor hawking his wares. He clasped his hands together, rubbed his fingers together, and grinned, revealing a seemingly harmless smile.

"Um... we hate war, we absolutely hate war. Evacuating within three days is too rushed! Can we find a compromise?"

Tiara looked at him coldly without saying a word, wanting to see what other tricks the human could pull.

“Look, we’ve already invested a lot of manpower and resources in the forest, clearing wasteland and planting vegetation. If we withdraw completely, the losses will be enormous.” Yu Qiwen looked pained. “You have so much land, and this is a primeval forest; it’s just sitting empty anyway. Could we… lease some of your country’s land?”

“Lease?” Tiaret seemed to have heard a word she couldn’t understand.

"Yes, rent!" Yu Qiwen's eyes lit up. "We'll pay the rent! The land ownership remains with you. Rest assured, we'll absolutely satisfy you! I see that the nobles' living standards... well, they're rather simple, and industrial goods are scarce. We can use refined salt, sugar, cloth, iron pots, and even various canned and self-heating foods you've never seen before as rent! We guarantee it will greatly improve the nobles' quality of life!"

These words filled the command center with anticipation.

The coldness on Tiara's face completely transformed into a condescending sarcasm and disdain when she heard about "rent" and "improving her life".

He felt as if he had heard the funniest joke in the universe.

"Humans, put away your ridiculous, mercenary faces."

"The sacred Elven Kingdom is vast, but not an inch of land is prepared for foreign races like you!"

"Three days! We're only giving you three days!"

As soon as the words were spoken, the shimmering green light on the possessed female elf suddenly went out, like a candle flame being extinguished.

The white light in her eyes faded, restoring her original pupil color, but she lost all her imposing aura, her body went limp, and she collapsed weakly to the ground.

The elven guard beside her skillfully helped her up.

As Yu Qiwen watched this scene, the smile on his face slowly faded.

In the command center, Su Mingjin's expression also became extremely solemn. Watching the people gradually disappear into the forest, she said in a deep voice, "It seems that the other side is not joking. Three days... We don't have much time left."

"Report, our magic detectors have detected strong magical fluctuations."

As the saying goes, anticipating the enemy's moves is crucial, and intelligence is king; this applies to any war.

Humans have come to this other world and have been investigating its mysteries, including a great deal of magical perception.

From the very beginning of their arrival in this world, they faced necromancy head-on. Later, through scientific verification, they finally developed a special device that could detect magic.

As scientists verified and debugged the magic detection device, its stability and reliability were greatly enhanced.

Last month, they even started producing signals that can be detected over a long period of time.

Deploying a magic fluctuation detection device in the forest, especially near the red-leaved, white-barked, human-faced tree that contains magic fluctuations, can easily detect magic fluctuations in the environment.

Moreover, the detector is designed in an elliptical shape, allowing for continuous passive detection for up to six months.

The signal transmission in the active magic signal area is severely interfered with, and drones are often needed to act as signal relays.

After confirming the arrival of the elven army, the humans immediately brought over more detection devices and deployed them in greater detail, all in order to detect the elven magic.

This time, it's time to reap the rewards!
"A strong magical fluctuation?" Su Mingjin exchanged surprised glances with Commander Man and the others. "Deploy drones to observe the area and confirm the exact location!"

"Report: The weather in the far north has changed, and extremely high magical fluctuations have also been detected!"

"Ha, they've all come together!"

"A pincer attack from the north and south?"

"They're probably trying to die and send themselves away!"

Su Mingjin squinted at the magical fluctuations in the south, then glanced at the extreme weather in the north, and a cold smile appeared on her face.

"Gentlemen, I believe this is a magical attack from the other side! What do you think?"

"President Su's insight is excellent; I agree!"

"The so-called three days is just a false signal to us; the other side will not give us any time at all."

"That's what I think too."

"Then let's get started! First, apply saturation fire to the north."

"it is good!"

Su Mingjin paused for a moment before continuing to issue the order: "Deploy the megaphones in the south according to plan, first with courtesy, then with force!"

"it is good!"

……

In the southern forest, Tiara's hand descended from the cold trunk of the sacred tree.

The negotiations were a joke from the very beginning.

The Mother Goddess's prophecy will not be wrong; those humans will definitely continue to invade their lands.

“The conversation has failed,” he said calmly. “The other party won’t leave. Prepare for the sacrifice and unleash forbidden magic.”

The adjutant Elano's lips moved as if he wanted to say something, but looking at Tiaret's undeniable profile, he finally uttered only one word.

"Yes."

He turned and left, his back view somewhat stiff.

Deep within the camp, at a gathering point heavily guarded by elven soldiers, Elano waved his hand.

The guards immediately and roughly pushed out a batch of special offerings.

Some of them were magical creatures, while others were blank-faced primitive humans dressed in simple animal skins, their eyes vacant, like a group of puppets whose souls had been taken away.

Elano's gaze swept over these lives that were about to end, and the worry in his heart deepened.

Once upon a time, the magic of elves communicated with all living things, rather than plundering lives with evil.

But now... they have no choice.

"Do it."

The command was cold and emotionless.

The elven guards raised their curved daggers expressionlessly.

Hand up, knife down.

puff!

Warm blood gushed out, splashing onto the cold earth. Heads rolled to the ground, the beautiful magical creatures and numb humans their bodies twitching in vain.

A strange scene happened.

The blood did not scatter and flow, but rather seemed to be drawn by an invisible force, converging into tiny streams that meandered and seeped into the exposed roots of the sacred tree.

Those gnarled and twisted tree roots seemed to wriggle slightly as if they were alive, and the veins beneath their bark glowed with an eerie red light, greedily sucking up the essence of life.

At almost the same time, the same bloody ritual was taking place in dozens of elven strongholds in the forest.

Meanwhile, hundreds of kilometers away, outside the elven city of New Erigian, an even larger and more horrifying sacrifice was taking place beneath the giant sacred tree outside the city.

Beneath the towering altar was a large pit.

Thousands of captured alien races and creatures were beheaded and pushed into the tunnels, their wails and screams becoming the most jarring accompaniment to the ritual.

As the sacred tree devoured a massive amount of life and flesh, an indescribable tremor began to spread across the entire land.

The air grew thick, the sweet, pungent smell of blood and rotting flesh mingling with terrified wails, all drawn into an invisible magical vortex.

The magical vortex then coalesced and converged throughout the entire forest belt, especially in the area of ​​the sacred elven tree.

This gathering power is filled with violence, slaughter, and death, and has nothing to do with the peaceful, natural magic of the legendary elves.

At the front lines, Elano closed his eyes, unable to bear the sight any longer. His mind drifted to the glorious era recorded in ancient texts.

In those days, the elves could turn forests into labyrinths and form armies of birds and beasts in the blink of an eye.

The great druid can even merge with the sacred tree, transforming into a towering, destructive warrior of the sacred tree, capable of destroying cities and fortresses with a single strike.

Those spells are now considered forbidden and relegated to the shelf. Not because they are evil, but because... the younger generation can no longer easily wield them.

Now... the path of magic for elves is becoming increasingly narrow.

Large-scale manipulation of beast hordes requires the lure of flesh and blood, and fusion with monsters requires the sacrifice of life.

The resources they can utilize are becoming increasingly costly and ineffective.

What was once a sacred ceremony has long since degenerated into a bloody massacre.

Life for life, magic for magic.

They gradually began to resemble blood elves and fallen elves.

Elano opened his eyes and looked at the corpses that had been completely absorbed by the roots of the sacred tree, leaving only withered shells. A chill ran through him.

It's all humanity's fault.

Blood debts can only be repaid with blood.

The magic awakened at the cost of blood and lives... is giving birth to terrifying monsters.

Within the roots of the sacred tree, something is being awakened in the forest.

At the same time the elves initiated the bloody sacrifice, various warnings were also frequently issued in the human command center.

Su Mingjin shifted her gaze from the magic fluctuation monitoring map in the south to another screen representing the far north.

There, the dense red dots representing the Scourge of the Dead spread like a tide under the cover of wind and snow.

"Let the purge of the North begin." Her voice carried clearly throughout the command hall. "Let the spirits of the North witness what saturation-style reasoning is all about."

"understand!"

A combat staff officer jumped to his feet and roared into the communicator: "Truth launch procedure initiated! Target: Northern undead main force area, coordinates locked! Repeat, coordinates locked!"

"Countdown!"

"Ten, nine, eight..."

The cold, electronic voice echoed, and everyone held their breath.

Outside the base, the hatches of the launch vehicles, which had been adjusted to different angles, were forcibly shoved open, revealing missiles equipped with Truth warheads.

The rocket force, having already adjusted the launch angle, slowly erected each of the "truth weapons".

These colossal creatures evaded the magical interference from high altitudes and switched to low-altitude cruising mode, like death flying close to the ground.

"...Three, two, one! Ignition!"

boom--!
The earth trembled violently, as if it had been punched hard by an invisible giant hand.

Dozens of blazing pillars of fire, accompanied by thick smoke and thunder, tore through the dim sky, trailing long flames as they roared toward the northern border hundreds of kilometers away.

Inside the command center, a young officer in charge of logistics watched as the weapons on the screen were not being released, but his mind was preoccupied with the rapidly increasing cost of supplies.

He couldn't help but sigh, "This wave of attacks has wiped out billions... The 500mm pipe is still the most cost-effective; one shot and the ground cleaning is cheap."

Su Mingjin didn't even turn her head; her eyes remained fixed on the light spot representing the missile's trajectory on the main screen.

“That’s not how you do it,” she said calmly. “A problem that can be solved with money isn’t a problem at all.”

As soon as the words were spoken, the light spot on the screen reached the designated area.

The next second, the surveillance footage from the north was instantly engulfed by an blinding white light.

There was no sound, only pure light and heat.

One, two, three... more than thirty "little suns" rose one after another on the ice field in the far north.

The violent energy was released in an instant, and the blizzard that had swept across the sky was wiped away as if by an invisible hand, and the thick dark clouds also subsided.

Its daybreak.

As the intense light dissipated, the strong and complex electromagnetic fluctuations gradually subsided, and the drones that had flown past again transmitted real-time footage back.

There, all that remains is a scorched, glassy wasteland.

The undead scourge, which once plagued countless civilizations and was known as inexhaustible, along with the extreme weather they created, has... evaporated.

The far north seemed to have returned to peace.

On the screen, the dots representing magical interference disappeared in large swaths, and eventually, except for the area closer to the human oil field, all other enemies were wiped out.

"The radiation of the third generation of truth released this time is very strong. It will be inconvenient for us to set foot there for the next six months."

At the same time, artillery positions deployed at the forefront of the oil extraction site roared deafeningly.

Thirty or sixty 500mm caliber cannons opened fire simultaneously, unleashing a barrage of specially made napalm and incendiary bombs that rained down on the remaining area dozens of kilometers away.

These shells are not the traditional type that triggers a fuse upon landing; instead, they explode more than 100 meters in mid-air when the warhead sensor detects their impact.

A single shell can easily cover an area of ​​300 by 300 meters. With a deafening explosion, tens of thousands of square meters of land are instantly engulfed in dense flames.

If the flames of the maggots on the bone come into contact with a human body, they can easily burn through the bones, let alone the undead, who are inherently weak against fire.

The flames, impossible to extinguish, engulfed countless souls lost in the wind and snow.

The blazing flames engulfed all the dead, burning them to ashes...

These types of shells are the most cost-effective way to deal with stray undead minions.

"Report... The northern threat has been basically eliminated." The communications soldier's voice was slightly hoarse and dazed.

This is too fast, it's unreal.

Looking at the completely cleaned-up map of the North on the screen, Su Mingjin showed no joy.

She calmly turned around and turned her gaze back to the screen representing the Southern Elf forces.

The magical fluctuations there gradually rose to a terrifying level.

"Now that we've taken care of the north, it's time to deal with the south."

She tapped the table and gave a new instruction.

"The microphones will be deployed as planned."

"Let's send some warmth to our elf friends."

"They didn't stop after the overture; they went straight to the main feature."

"it is good!"
-
The place of sacrifice.

The air was thick with the stench of blood and an ominous atmosphere, as sticky as an impenetrable fog.

On the earth, the cries of countless creatures seemed not to have yet subsided; they seeped into the soil and were greedily sucked up by the intricate root system beneath the forest.

The sacred tree, the symbol of life for the elves, has changed drastically.

On the trunks of several giant trees, scarlet lines wriggled like living creatures, outlining eerie human face contours.

It seems that having absorbed enough blood, some kind of sinister transformation has been completed.

"Priest, the sacrifice is complete!" Elano's voice was filled with barely suppressed sorrow.

Tiarat nodded, his gaze falling on the sacred tree where crimson patterns converged. He reached out and gently touched the cold, pulsating bark, sensing the surging, terrifying magic power within, about to burst forth.

"Wait a little longer. The magic is not enough yet. It will take some time for them to be born."

"Yes!"

A scout rushed over: "Lady Tiaret, Celine has sent back intelligence from the front lines that the humans... are trying to communicate with us again."

"Ignore him." Tiara didn't even glance at him, and sat down directly in front of the tree.

He solemnly handed over the horn, robes, and tokens that represented his identity to Elano, and then took out a dagger engraved with ancient elven runes from his bosom.

He sat cross-legged, quietly awaiting the arrival of the final moment.

"Magic will destroy all humans who disrespect the Mother Goddess."

Elano watched the priest's resolute back, gritted his teeth, and bowed as he retreated.

The surrounding elves silently dispersed, protecting their priest and showing final respect to Tiaret, who was about to give everything.

The casting of forbidden magic requires elaborate rituals, a massive amount of blood and lives, and a stable anchor point.

Tiara is the anchor point of this forbidden magic, and also its sole controller.

He will use his life and soul to add the final and most crucial touch to this world-destroying magic.

The wrath of the elves will surely burn away those despicable humans who dare to invade the kingdom.

Just as everyone held their breath in anticipation, as the magical fluctuations were about to reach their peak.

Tiara felt something and suddenly looked up at the sky.

Several iron birds painted with human symbols appeared above them at some point and were circling slowly.

The next second, the device under the iron bird's belly emitted a clear, loud, and even slightly mocking sound.

"My elven friends in the south, you are unleashing magic of mass destruction, which has seriously threatened regional peace and stability. Now, we issue this final warning."

"Please stop your actions immediately. I repeat, please stop your actions immediately! Otherwise, you will bear the consequences!"

The mechanical broadcast echoed over and over the blood-red forest.

Tiara was taken aback at first, then let out a low laugh, which grew louder and louder until it turned into a wild, unrestrained laugh, full of contempt and mockery.

"Warning? Consequences?"

He stroked the sacred tree in front of him, as if soothing a beast about to be released from its cage.

Just then, an aged voice resounded directly in his mind: "The undead of the North... have failed. Now, only we remain."

He is the high priest.

Tiara's maniacal laughter vanished instantly. He pursed his lips and said, "High Priest, the magic still needs time to condense; it hasn't reached its strongest state yet."

"We're running out of time!" The voice in my head was filled with an unprecedented urgency.

"……I see."

Tiara ended the telepathic call, taking one last, deep, wistful look at the world. Then, she raised the dagger high in her hand.

Ancient, obscure elven prayers were chanted from his lips.

Those were songs of service to the gods, and also contracts for exchanging power.

The surrounding elves stirred at the sound, and a solemn chorus followed.

The initially melodious singing gradually became solemn and sharp under the chanting of countless elves.

hum-

The veins on the sacred tree suddenly lit up, turning incredibly bright red, and an ominous and strange life force surged out from them.

The time has come!

Tiara suddenly opened her eyes, her gaze unwavering, and with all her might, she plunged the dagger in her hand into her heart!

puff!

He opened his mouth, but no sound came out.

The blood on his body seemed to have found an outlet, gathering into a stream of blood that was greedily absorbed by the human-faced sacred tree.

Vitality, soul, everything is being frantically drained.

Tiara's body withered at a visible rate, her skin losing its luster, like dried tree bark.

He weakly raised his eyes, his vision already blurring.

In the hazy light, he saw streaks of blinding white smoke falling straight down from the sky.

what is that?
……

Human Frontline Command Center.

On the giant screen, the energy curve representing the southern elven territory was rising wildly, and every time the glaring red cursor jumped, the air in the command center became more oppressive.

"Report, A-3 drone confirms mass sacrifice site discovered in target area, life signs... have all disappeared."

"Have you made contact with the departed elf messenger?" Su Mingjin's voice was calm, revealing no emotion.

"We've made contact, Commander. The response is that the priest refuses any form of communication."

Su Mingjin tapped her fingertips lightly on the cool metal tabletop, producing a rhythmic tapping sound.

What about the drone's external communication device?

"Report: No one is answering the communication equipment."

"Report! The magical fluctuations in the south have exceeded the critical threshold! They are climbing towards the energy level of the last 'Volcanic Magma Dragon' incident!"

"Report! Drones from all units have detected that the main force of the elves is gathering in the area of ​​the Red Leaf Sacred Tree. They are gathering to chant magic?!"

A young technician, watching the constantly updating data on the screen, couldn't help but mutter under his breath, "These lunatics, can't they live a good life?"

A staff officer standing nearby seemed more relaxed. He pulled up an enlarged video showing elves singing fervently around a strange tree with red leaves, white bark, and human-faced features.

"The magical energy is growing stronger; this must be a sign that some kind of magic is about to be unleashed!"

Su Mingjin looked at the red energy curve that was about to reach its peak and finally sighed softly.

That sigh was soft, yet it was like a heavy hammer, sealing the fate of countless lives.

"What a bunch of reckless fools. Isn't it better to be alive?"

She stood up and glanced across the entire command center.

"Implement the purification plan."

"Yes!"

The moment the order was given, hundreds of missile launchers at the various positions, which were already on high alert, simultaneously spewed out flames!
Dozens of menacing-looking supersonic missiles, along with over six hundred inexpensive yet plentiful rockets, trailing long plumes of flame, formed a deathly rain of steel and fire, hurtling towards the elven holy land 120 kilometers away.

The first to arrive were the supersonic missiles.

Their speed is so extreme that even their sound is left far behind. With a cruising speed of Mach 3 and a final breakthrough speed of a terrifying Mach 5, these creatures can attack targets over 120 kilometers away in less than a hundred seconds.

Just as the missile was about to hit its target, the red-leaved, white-barked tree with a human-face design suddenly unfurled a translucent, blood-red shield, attempting to withstand this divine punishment from mortals.

However, faced with the absolute speed of Mach 5 and the specially designed armor-piercing warhead, this magical shield, which had been imbued with countless lives, couldn't even last a second.

"Boom!"

With a soft sound, like a bubble bursting, the shield shattered and turned into countless points of light.

Immediately following, the high-explosive sections of the second and third missiles plunged headlong into the area where the sacred tree was located without any hindrance.

There was no earth-shattering roar, only a ball of blazing white light that expanded instantly and devoured everything.

The built-in CL-20 high explosive releases the purest destructive power.

The sacred tree, which had absorbed countless lives and was regarded by the elves as the source of hope and revenge, along with the withered priest Tiarat at its feet who had just sacrificed herself, were instantly shattered in the extreme shockwave before they could even utter a mournful cry.

After the explosion, the wildly rising red energy curve on the screen came to an abrupt halt, then plummeted vertically like a kite with a broken string, returning to the deathly silence of zero.

"Report: The reactions of the twenty-six high-energy targets have begun to decrease and are estimated to disappear soon."

Looking at the elven forces that had been mostly wiped out, Commander Man smiled and said, "This must be a coordinated attack from the north and south, with one dead and one wounded, right?"

"Who knows? As planned, we'll continue sending out signals of peace!"

"Ok!"

Just then, Commander Man suddenly exclaimed in surprise, "No, the magical energy hasn't disappeared yet!!!"

(End of this chapter)