Chapter 185: The World Tree’s Purification

The distance closed in an instant.

Blayia thrust her dagger forward.

To be precise, she tried to thrust it.

But she could not.

Her body suddenly froze solid.

‘Bind……?!’

It was definitely Bind.

She tried to resist, but the Bind was so powerful that resistance was impossible.

That was why she could not believe it.

Blayia had been confident she could endure even an 8th-Circle mage’s Bind.

Yet she could not resist?

Blayia swallowed hard and looked at the being she had tried to subdue.

And she was even more shocked.

‘……Gaon?’

Deep black hair, snow-white skin.

It was exactly the same as the youthful appearance of Gaon she had seen a very long time ago.

“You still haven’t fixed that habit of attacking without warning.”

At the voice that followed, Blayia opened her mouth in shock.

“Is it really you, Gaon……?”

“Yes.”

Gaon nodded and released the Bind.

Having regained control of her body, Blayia set the dagger down and spoke.

“What happened?”

Gaon briefly explained to Blayia everything that had occurred in the meantime, the current situation, and his plan.

“The Demon Kings have really descended?”

After hearing the full explanation, Blayia was shocked at the news that Demon Kings had descended.

“Yes.”

“But you’re going to catch them alone?”

“Does it seem like I can’t?”

Gaon smiled faintly and asked in return.

Blayia could not answer Gaon’s counter-question.

The Gaon in her memories had been strong, but the current one was incomparably stronger.

She did not know how strong Demon Kings were, but the current Gaon seemed fully capable of defeating them.

If Gaon could not do it?

Then the Middle World would be doomed.

If Gaon could not defeat them, who could?

“Well, you must have your reasons. If it’s the Gaon I know.”

Besides, Blayia knew Gaon well.

Gaon was never a simple-minded brute.

He was not one to act recklessly.

There must be a reason for him to hunt Demon Kings—two of them—alone.

“Is there anything I can help with?”

“Hmm….…”

Gaon let out a low hum and fell into thought.

*There really isn’t anything specific……..

Blayia was special.

It was not because she was a High Elf.

Even among High Elves, she was special.

Because she was an elf who used shamanic arts.

However, there was no particular help he needed from her here.

After all, Gaon had made all his plans without even thinking of Blayia.

Even so, it felt like a waste to leave a high-value asset like Blayia idle.

What could Blayia do?

‘Oh!’

After thinking, Gaon let out an internal exclamation.

He had thought of something Blayia could help with.

Gaon opened his pocket.

He rummaged inside and took out an item.

World Tree branches, leaves, roots, and other byproducts of the World Tree.

“……!”

Blayia looked at the World Tree byproducts with a shocked face.

Then she looked up at Gaon.

Her eyes clearly asked, ‘How do you have these?’

“They were items possessed by dragons that converted to the demon world.”

“The guardians converted?”

“Yes. Not all of them, only some. And those who did have all been killed.”

“Did you…… kill the guardians?”

“Yeah, I killed them all.”

“Then I really don’t need to worry.”

She had thought there must be a plan behind him saying he would hunt the Demon Kings—two of them—alone.

Still, she had been worried.

Demon Kings were no ordinary beings.

But if he had killed the dragons known as the guardians of the Middle World?

She could stop worrying.

“So what do you want me to do?”

Blayia asked Gaon with a much more relaxed expression.

“I’d like you to purify the demonic energy with these.”

“……Purify demonic energy? With my shamanic arts?”

“Yes. Don’t worry about the Demonic Rifts. I’ll close them myself right away.”

“As you know, if I purify with my arts, these precious items could disappear. Even if their form remains, their power will be completely gone.”

“I know. But the effect is certain, right?”

“……Are you serious? Once the rifts are closed, the demonic energy will disappear anyway.”

“It’ll take too long. Humans have short lifespans compared to elves.”

“In that case, when should I start?”

“Start right here. It looks like some of the elves have reached their limit.”

“……!”

Blayia’s eyes flashed at Gaon’s reply.

She had been worried about the tribe members who had already reached their limit.

And now they would begin purification right here in the underground refuge?

They could save the eroded tribe members.

“Thank you.”

Blayia expressed her gratitude to Gaon.

“I’m the one who should be grateful.”

Gaon answered Blayia’s words and picked up a single World Tree leaf, handing it to her.

“For now, one leaf should be enough here, right?”

“More than enough. It’ll be more than sufficient.”

Blayia nodded and accepted the leaf.

Perfect.

The World Tree energy contained in the leaf was incredibly pure and powerful.

Feeling that energy after so long brought a smile to her face.

With a satisfied expression, Blayia poured her shamanic power into the leaf.

In an instant, Blayia’s shamanic power and the World Tree energy linked together, and she began chanting the incantation.

The chant soon ended.

Shaaaa!

The leaf floated into the air and began radiating golden light in all directions.

The golden light was warm.

And the warm golden light stretched outward.

It met the demonic energy that had penetrated the veil and instantly converted it into mana.

That was not all.

The demonic energy eroding the affected elves was purified in a single stroke.

Having confirmed everything through his perception, Gaon looked at Blayia with a satisfied expression.

One leaf can purify this much? Then the surrounding area won’t be a problem.

The leaf was the item with the weakest World Tree energy among those Gaon had taken out.

If he used branches or roots for purification?

Not a trace of demonic energy would remain in the vicinity.

Shaaaa……

Soon the leaf, having exhausted its power, lost its light and fell.

The moment it touched Blayia’s palm, it turned to dust and vanished.

“Sorry. I tried to preserve its form……”

“There’s no need to apologize. The leaf had already lost all its power anyway. Besides, I took them out intending to use them for this purpose.”

At Gaon’s words, Blayia’s expression grew even more relaxed.

And her gratitude deepened.

He had phrased it so gently to tell her not to feel burdened.

“Can I start heading up right away?”

Gaon asked Blayia.

“Yes.”

Thanks to the purification moments ago, the underground refuge had become an even more impregnable fortress.

Even if demons appeared now, they would not be able to breach the veil.

In other words, she could move freely without worrying about her tribe.

Gaon and Blayia moved through space to the surface.

“Hmm……!”

Upon arriving aboveground, Blayia furrowed her brows and let out a low hum.

It was because of the demonic energy.

Blayia immediately poured her power into the World Tree branch Gaon had given her.

The branch floated up and began radiating golden light in all directions.

The purifying light stretched outward, converting every bit of demonic energy it touched into mana.

At the surge of abundant mana, Blayia’s brows relaxed.

And Gaon was impressed.

As expected, her shamanic arts are incredible.

Through his perception, he could tell exactly how far the purifying light had spread.

And what had happened to the demonic energy.

If he left it to Blayia, the purification would finish much faster than expected.

Gaon spoke to Blayia.

“Is it all right if I leave this to you?”

“Of course. But can I use all of these for purification?”

“Yes. Use them all to purify the surrounding area. The range is up to you. This whole region will need to be purified eventually anyway.”

“Understood.”

Blayia answered, and Gaon bid her farewell.

“See you later.”

“Take care.”

After parting with Blayia, Gaon immediately cast Teleport.

It was time to resume his advance toward Tarun while continuing the cleanup.

In the central hall of the Intelligence Agency in the Holy Empire of Seionia.

In front of the holy relic, the Eye of God.

“The reorganization is complete.”

“And the departure?”

Currently, Adela and Rai were discussing in front of the Eye of God.

“The vanguard is scheduled to depart in three hours, and……”

Rai began answering the question.

“At the latest, all units will depart within four days.”

Rai’s explanation soon ended.

‘Four days…….’

Adela thought as she listened to Rai’s explanation.

It’s fast, but still late.

This was the Grand Holy War.

Getting every unit to depart was no simple matter.

It was an extremely difficult task.

Four days could be considered very fast.

But in Adela’s eyes, even four days felt late.

The reason for this thought was Gardion Tower.

At present, Gardion Tower was sweeping away demons and demonic beasts throughout the Coexistence Zones.

The dragons were with them as well.

We can only hope the vanguard does well…….

Adela recalled Archbishop Karkos, who had been appointed supreme commander of the vanguard.

Will he manage?

Adela knew exactly what kind of person Karkos was.

She had doubts about whether the vanguard would function properly.

But with those two there, there shouldn’t be any problems…….

The Holy Knight Order commanders Hetratos and Loteis had gone as vice-commanders of the vanguard.

She could not trust Karkos, but she could trust those two.

Adela finished her thoughts and looked at the Eye of God.

The Eye of God was currently deactivated.

I should check before the departure.

Adela raised her holy power and poured it into the Eye of God.

She activated the Eye of God.

One by one, points of demonic energy began to appear on the Eye of God.

‘……Huh?’

Adela could not help but feel bewildered.

Something was strange.

Why is there no demonic energy there?

Inside the demon world’s territory.

In what could be called the central area.

It should be filled with demonic energy.

Yet, strangely, no demonic energy was displayed there.

At first she thought it was simply displaying late.

But even as time passed, it still did not appear.

Had something gone wrong with the Eye of God?

Adela looked at the demons’ sanctuary, Tarun.

Tarun’s condition was unchanged.

It still showed an unbelievable amount of demonic energy.

In other words, the possibility that something was wrong with the Eye of God was close to zero.

Just what is going on?

Adela was bewildered.

What in the world had happened?

Adela continued pouring in holy power as she thought.

‘……Gaon?’

The first person who came to mind was Gaon.

Yes, it can only be Gaon.

No matter how she looked at it, only Gaon could do something like this.

‘How did he purify the demonic energy so quickly?’

She was incredibly curious.

How had he completely purified the demonic energy in an area that could be called the center?

Still, if things continue like this…….

Of course, she could not learn the answer just because she wanted to know.

And the important thing right now was not how the demonic energy had been purified.

The fact that it was being purified was what mattered.

Soon Adela deactivated the Eye of God and stopped pouring in holy power.

“I’ll go see His Holiness for a moment.”

“Ah, yes!”

Hearing Rai’s reply, Adela left the Intelligence Agency and headed for the Papal Office.

Upon arriving at the Papal Office, Adela was able to meet Pope Basus.

Basus was not alone.

He was with numerous archbishops, Holy Knight Order commanders, and others.

“What brings you here?”

Basus asked.

Adela answered with a faint smile.

“I have urgent news to report.”