Hello, is this a letter addressed to Demon Fortress?

After leaving Shadowmoon City, Lin Gui did not let his guard down.

The airship continued to accelerate, speeding towards the depths of the Wall of Sighs.

In just a few tens of minutes, it swept across more than ten kilometers of wasteland.

Ahead, the gray fog gradually thinned.

A dense forest, shimmering with a faint light, came into view.

A dimly lit, dense forest.

The trees are tall, with natural fluorescent moss entwined among their branches and leaves.

The entire forest area was bathed in a hazy, pale green light.

The elven-style treehouse is built against the wood, small and exquisite.

A vine bridge connects the buildings, and a winding staircase leads to them.

This is a typical small border town of elves.

Although small in scale, it exudes a natural ingenuity in every aspect.

Lin Gui piloted the flying boat and landed in a secluded corner at the edge of the dense forest.

Vines hung down all around, perfectly concealing the outline of the flying boat.

He activated his Netherworld Eyes and carefully scanned his surroundings.

They breathed a sigh of relief after confirming that no spirits were lingering.

He turned to check on Eve's condition.

She leaned against the back of the airship, her eyes closed and her breathing faint.

There are no obvious wounds visible on the surface.

But under the gaze of the Eye of the Underworld, the gaping hole in her soul at the location of her heart...

It is shrinking at a rate visible to the naked eye.

When they were in the capital of Carter, half remained.

Now, only one-third remains.

The price of Valhalla...

It was far more cruel than she described so casually.

Lin Gui frowned deeply.

What alarmed him even more was the strength of the elven assassin.

Even with her weak defenses, Eve's magic power is still a genuine legendary rank.

However, in Lin Gui's judgment, the assassin's strength was at most at the mid-level of the extraordinary realm.

Yet, with its incredibly tricky attack angles and terrifying insight into the flow of magic...

They broke through the entire barrier by focusing on a single point.

This assassination technique has reached a state of perfection.

I recall the trajectory of that wooden stick as it moved through the light and shadow...

A chill ran down Lin Gui's spine.

If Eve hadn't stalled for time...

This time, he might really die here.

I remember the look in Shia's eyes when we parted...

Lin Gui quietly clenched his fist.

Own……

Ultimately, it was still too weak.

So weak that even self-preservation requires risking the lives of their companions.

He needs strength.

A force that can truly fight back, rather than simply running away.

Lin Gui's strongest attack method at present is only the high-level magic Shadow Strike Technique.

But this magic has too many limitations.

It requires a complete incantation to activate, has a single attack trajectory, a very small range, and a slow attack speed.

Its destructive power is only average even among high-level magic.

Back then, he was short of money and couldn't afford high-quality, high-level magic scrolls.

I could only pick a few discounted "clearance sale" items.

Shadow Assassination is one of them.

To change the current situation...

The only hope is that the messenger will advance in rank.

Intermediate-level magic might not be as powerful as Shadow Strike.

However, if you can draw a type with fast attack speed, and combine it with casting without chanting.

Quantitative change may indeed lead to qualitative change.

After all, a high-level spell like "Blade Storm" is essentially a superposition of countless intermediate-level "Wind Blade" spells.

Lin Gui steadied himself and silently recited in his mind:

Use the system to check the progress of the Messenger Advanced Mission.

A light blue panel quietly appeared:

[The Messenger's Advancement]

[Requirement for receiving 10000 letters]

[Currently completed: 9970]

[Special commission requirement: 5 times]

[Currently completed: 4]

【Long-term commission requirements: 1】

[Current Completion: 1 (Completed)]

Thirty letters are still needed.

And a special commission.

Advancement... is just around the corner.

The question is whether Arya will keep her promise.

We'll be able to gather them all soon.

As for special commissions...

Sending Clotina back to Blackwater City was not difficult.

The airship can reach its destination in just a few hours by flying at full speed.

Lin Gui asked the system in his mind:

Can I return to Blackwater City to complete the special commission before continuing to deliver the remaining letters?

The system returned to calm:

The host can adjust the route and node order as needed.

The routes provided by the system are merely the safest reference based on the host's strength and capabilities.

[As long as the signing target is achieved within the weekly deadline...]

Even if one were to return to the City of the New Testament first, and then turn back to the Wailing Wall, it would not be impossible.

Lin Gui nodded.

He glanced at the airship.

Eve was carefully placed in the back seat, which was padded with a soft blanket, and her breathing gradually became steady.

Then I looked around at the quiet, elven-style treehouses.

"Alright."

He muttered to himself.

"Let's rest here."

"Wait until Arya finishes delivering the letter, and until Eve has recovered somewhat."

"After delivering the letter to the Dark Forest..."

"Let's go straight back to Blackwater City."

Complete...the Messenger's advancement.

Having decided to rest temporarily in the Dark Forest, the Forest Ghost set out to find a suitable place to stay.

Like the other cities within the Wailing Wall, the Darkwood is a desolate ruin.

Many treehouses and elf houses are vacant and could be used freely.

But the incident with the elven assassin served as a wake-up call for him.

Even among the spirits, there are still powerful individuals.

Not all ghosts are as weak as the inhabitants of Blackwater.

The surface of this dense forest is empty and desolate, but in the corners...

There must be some spirits hiding there who do not wish to show themselves.

Lin Gui didn't want to attract attention.

He piloted his flying boat to the outer area of ​​the Dark Forest.

They finally chose a secluded corner surrounded by huge tree roots.

The ground is covered with decaying leaves, and vines hang down from above, naturally forming shade.

He jumped off the flying boat and lightly touched the ground with his fingertips.

【Soil loosening technique】.

The soil churned silently, parting to both sides to form a hole about two meters deep and five or six square meters in size.

Next is the [Shengcao Technique].

Fine, dry, and faintly fragrant grass quickly sprouted from the cave walls and ground.

Lin Gui, carrying the flying boat, leaped into the underground cave.

The grass then spread rapidly, eventually covering almost the entire entrance to the cave.

After finishing everything, he began to take out living supplies from the storage space.

Two simple mattresses covered with thick blankets.

A crystal lamp imbued with shimmering light hangs from the cave ceiling.

A small stone hearth, filled with piles of dry firewood.

Several water bladders filled with clean water were neatly stacked in the corner.

There was even a small bag of dried herbs and a few clean spare clothes.

In just a few minutes, the cold and simple cave was transformed into a cozy underground cabin.

The soft light from the CD player dispelled the darkness, while the grass-covered cave walls exuded warmth.

Lin Gui walked to the airship and gently picked up the unconscious Eve.

Her body was very light, but she curled up slightly due to the pain.

Even through her robes, one could clearly feel the curves of her beautiful figure and her fragile trembling.

Lin Gui moved even more slowly, carefully placing her on the mattress at the back and covering her with the blanket.

Seeing her furrowed brows even in her unconscious state, Lin Gui remained silent for a moment.

"...I owe you a huge favor."

He said in a low voice.

The words fell.

Eve's pained expression seemed to ease for a moment.

Then, her long eyelashes trembled slightly, and she slowly opened her purple eyes.

Her eyes still held a trace of weakness, yet a faint smile had already appeared.

"That……"

Her voice was very soft, almost breathy.

"Mr. Lin Gui...how do you plan to repay me?"

Lin Gui looked into her clear and lucid eyes and was speechless for a moment.

"...Are you pretending to be asleep?"

"I just happened to wake up."

Eve blinked, her smile deepening.

Lin Gui sighed and tucked the blanket around her.

"Feel free to ask anything within your capabilities."

"As long as I can do it."

Eve's smile looked especially radiant under the soft light.

It was as if even the pain of a missing soul had been temporarily lessened.

After settling Eve in, Lin Gui remembered a certain little guy who had "deserted at the last minute".

He took the glass bead out of his pocket and weighed it in his palm.

Recalling the critical moment just now, Claudina pretended to be dead and remained silent...

His expression was a little unpleasant.

"I called you earlier, why didn't you come out?"

Lin Gui's voice was a little cold.

The glass bead lay still, motionless.

Lin Gui sighed.

Forget it, why bother arguing with a child?

"...I'm not a child anymore."

Suddenly, a muffled voice came from inside the glass bead.

"I was eighteen years old before I died."

Lin Gui stared at the beads speechlessly.

"Then why did you pretend to be mute again just now?"

"If you come out and prove it..."

"Eve might not have needed to be so badly injured."

Claudia remained silent for a moment.

When he spoke again, his voice was filled with obvious remorse:

"……sorry."

"Because... I'm scared."

Lin Gui raised an eyebrow.

"Fear?"

"Isn't the other person an elf too?"

"And it looks like they've come to rescue their fellow elves."

Claudia hesitated for a long time before whispering:

"She...didn't come to save anyone."

"At least, I'm not here to save those... 'disqualified' elves."

"She must be here to..."

Claudia paused, her voice even softer.

"Kill them."

Lin Gui frowned.

Do you know "her"?

Claudia remained silent for a longer time.

It took so long that Lin Gui thought she was faking her death again before she slowly spoke:

"Every elf... knows her."

"Her name is Lynn Celine Essel Shadow."

"The Night Elf...the first titled powerhouse in a thousand years."

Clotina's voice trembled with an almost awe-inspiring quality.

"Her talent is terrifying; she became a legend before she was even thirty."

"Even the most renowned high elf genius and the prince of the Moonlight Royal Family at that time..."

"He was also completely suppressed by her."

"In the Golden Age, the Elf Forest was not yet unified, and the various tribes were separate."

"Her status among the night elves...is as lofty as a religion."

Everyone believed that she would be the next clan leader.

"But……"

Claudia's voice lowered.

"After the demon god descended to earth... she was like a completely different person."

"From elegant, noble elven warriors..."

"Became withdrawn, stubborn, even... insane."

"Then she suddenly disappeared, by which time she had already risen to legendary status."

"The third strongest among the Night Elf tribes."

"And during that time... the night elves were facing annihilation."

"The Black Tide swept through the capital, and not only us, but other elven tribes also suffered heavy losses."

"After the catastrophe, the surviving elven tribes united and formed the 'Elven Forest'."

"But the dominant power... has fallen into the hands of ancient, native tribes such as the Forest Elves and the Moonlight Royal Family."

"Tribes like ours, who 'fled here,'...have no say at all."

"That's why the high elves left in anger."

Claudia paused.

"Just then... Lynn Shadow returned."

"When she returned, she was already at the mid-level of the Epic Realm, a strength that could shake the entire Elf Forest."

"Only the Elf King of the Moonlight Royal Family can slightly surpass her."

"All the night elves thought... that hope had arrived."

"With her abilities, she is capable of fighting for our status and rights."

"But who could have imagined..."

Clotina's voice began to tremble.

"The first thing she did was assassinate a member of the Elder Council of the Elf Forest."

"Then they set fire to the World Tree Nursery."

"Then...it was discovered that they were colluding with humans to traffic their own kind."

"In the end... she stole the only divine artifact of the elves."

"The Crown of the World Tree".

The cave was deathly silent.

Only the light from the crystal chandelier flickered slightly.

Claudia huddled inside the glass bead, her voice filled with sadness and confusion.

"Everything she did... triggered a chain of disasters."

"The Elven Forest was enraged, and the Night Elves were temporarily driven out."

"We are not like the high elves...we have no foundation, no royal capital, no World Tree for protection."

"Leaving the Elf Forest is tantamount to pushing the Shadow Elf race into destruction."

"To atone for the crimes she committed... her people paid an unimaginable price."

"The three tribes under the Shadow Elves, especially our Shadow Tribe."

Clotina's voice was almost inaudible.

"And it was at that time..."

"She turned the dagger...into us, into her own people."

"She killed too many night elves to thwart her people's atonement."

"Even those who raised her from childhood..."

"The chieftains of the night elves all died at her hands."

The glass bead was slightly warm.

The ghostly figures inside were curled up in a ball.

It's like resisting an overly heavy memory.

"Her hands are stained with too much of my people's blood..."

Clotina's voice trembled.

"She can't possibly come to save the Shadow Elf."

"Especially... those who were 'removed from the list'."

She recalled the fleeting glimpse she had seen through the cracks in the iron cage.

On the forehead of a member of the same clan, there is a clear brand.

A black mark entangled with thorns and broken branches.

It represents "sinner".

This signifies that they have been permanently expelled from the Elf Forest.

Sixteen years have passed since the three Shadow Elf city-states were swallowed by the Wailing Wall.

And the Elf Forest...

Ultimately, this branded the entire Night Elf race as "traitors."

Claudina was eighteen years old when she died.

Although young, he was already 18 years old.

She witnessed the fall of the Night Elf capital, the migration of her people, and the awakening and madness of the assassin.

She had witnessed too much sorrow among her people.

I have witnessed the blood and tears they shed in their struggle for survival.

Her soul trembled slightly, her mental state overflowing with grief:

"By Elune..."

"That's why..."

"Why did the sacrifices of the people of the Night ultimately result in such a reward...?"

There were no tears.

But the sorrow in her soul caused her spirit light to flicker and sway constantly.

Like a candle flickering in the wind, it could be extinguished at any moment.

Lin Gui listened, feeling a pang of sadness.

However, the next second, he abruptly turned his head and stared at the glass bead:

"etc."

"Lin Celine Essel Shadow..."

"Lin...?"

His pupils contracted slightly.

"You mean that elven assassin... is 'Lin'?"

"Shadow Blade Lin??!"