Chapter 15: Pirates, Elves, and Hunger

“Your complexion looks off. Is it because of those bastards running wild in the Kraken Sea?”

“Not at all. It’s because of the contract.”

“To think you’d look so disheveled just from awakening the Spirit Tree. Natasha Derrael isn’t what she used to be.”

Mocking the castle Natasha had abandoned was Duke Akirif’s idea of amusement.

“To say that name in front of me…”

“So, what are you going to do? How do you expect to maintain the Black Market without my fleet?”

“I…”

“I’ll just go see the Spirit Tree.”

With a twisted expression, Natasha followed Duke Akirif.

The Spirit Tree was a massive tree towering 100 meters high.

It was a noble treasure, one of only twenty such trees even in the Elves’ dimension, Marsala.

“Forty percent have awakened. But to bait the Devil of Devouring, you have to awaken at least half. The Kraken Sea is unstable, so we need to do it within two days. Can you manage?”

“I might consider it if you pay me in advance.”

“Hmph.”

Duke Akirif waved his hand.

Demons appeared carrying chests filled with gold bars.

Natasha, reading their intentions, felt irritated.

“An elf who loves money. Quite rare. Ever thought of becoming a Dark Elf?”

“You want me to become some filthy rat?!”

“Piracy is the specialty of Dark Elves. You’re a pirate yourself. If you united the Dark Elves, you could threaten the Elf Great Council.”

“No way!”

“Stealing your own clan’s Spirit Tree but still acting all noble. Hahaha.”

Natasha’s face flushed with anger.

Duke Akirif tapped her shoulder lightly.

“If you pull this off, the Legion Commander will reward you handsomely.”

“A reward…”

“Anything you want. Money, knowledge, slaves, whatever. If the Derrael family is cast out and falls from the Great Council, those slaves could be yours.”

Sparks ignited in Natasha’s eyes.

“Don’t mess this up.”

Duke Akirif returned to his flagship.

Natasha dismissed her subordinates and laid her hands on the Spirit Tree.

Awakening the Spirit Tree was simple.

You just had to channel mana with a similar wavelength.

But “similar wavelength” meant it had to resemble the life spirit’s mana, which wasn’t easy.

That was what made this Spirit Tree special.

It attracted the elves of life most directly connected to the High Elves, and as a result, the Derrael family produced the most High Elves.

“Ugh.”

Natasha focused her mana, and the Spirit Tree slowly began to awaken.

Back on his flagship, Duke Akirif looked down on the Spirit Tree.

Though he found Natasha’s efforts trivial, the work itself was far from light.

Compared to other legions, the Greed Legion lacked in military strength, and the Devil of Devouring was a crucial means to compensate.

“If we can command the Devil of Devouring, we can break the arrogance of the other legions.”

The Ruin, Chaos, and Immortal Legions often looked down on the Greed Legion’s lack of military power.

Duke Akirif had planned this project to fix that and had nearly succeeded.

The Devil of Devouring would devour the Spirit Tree, brimming with life mana, and weaken.

At that moment, they would capture it and place the Gold Prohibition to make it a loyal servant.

Feeding it only made it grow, so increasing their numbers was no problem.

Duke Akirif imagined commanding an army of Devil of Devouring demons as he savored the Wine of Blood.

Two days later, Natasha had awakened nearly half of the Spirit Tree.

Soon, they would summon the Devil of Devouring and just wait—but then, an unexpected event occurred.

Kwah-ang! Kwah-ang! Kwah-ang!

Mana Ballista shots flew, pounding the city and Duke Akirif’s Dimension Ship.

“Derrael scum!”

Natasha glared at the Derrael family’s flagship.

Unlike Duke Akirif’s ship, it had a noble and sacred appearance.

Smaller Dimension Ships nearby fired Mana Ballista shots as well.

Kwah-ang! Kwah-ang! Kwah-ang! Kwah-ang! Kwah-ang! Kwah-ang!

“Faster! I said faster!”

Duke Akirif urged Natasha.

“Strengthen the shields and send the Dimension Ships.”

Following her orders, the pirate ships set sail.

Hundreds of small, nimble vessels swarmed out.

“You came to your grave of your own accord.”

Though the Derrael flagship and fleet were larger and stronger than the pirate ships, the pirates far outnumbered them.

The pirate ships were also faster, making escape impossible.

Natasha smirked darkly and withdrew her hand from the Spirit Tree.

Over half the Spirit Tree’s leaves glowed.

The bait for the Devil of Devouring was ready.

Suddenly, the alarm bells rang in her ears.

“Enemy spotted at six o’clock!”

“Six o’clock is where the Mana Storm is closest, you idiot! No one can appear there!”

“But look! They’re enemies!”

Natasha peered through her telescope toward the direction indicated.

From their appearance and aura, they were clearly not allies.

No, she doubted any allies were among them at all.

Only one thing gleamed in the eyes of whatever giant was approaching here.

An insatiable hunger to devour everything.

“Full combat formation.”

The drunken pirates grabbed their weapons and sprinted to assigned positions.

All Dimension Ships’ Mana Engines activated.

As the pirate ships loaded with warriors accelerated to exit the harbor at full speed—

The massive monster’s side flashed, and a thunderous firestorm struck the harbor.

Kwarrrung! Kwarrung! Kwarrung!

The Mana Storm raged violently.

Lightning struck down, and waves of mana surged.

Though the conditions were deadly for Dimension Ships, the Apocalid advanced unscathed.

“Just a bit further and we’ll reach the pirate base.”

If they could just pass through this Mana Storm, they’d reach the Blacktree Pirates’ home.

Upon reaching the edge of the storm, the Apocalid sent the Skyeye Giants ahead.

Through the eyes of the Skyeye Giants, the Blacktree Pirates’ base came into view.

A massive tree stood in the center, with a city formed near the harbor.

Thousands of pirate ships were docked at the harbor.

“What are those ships?”

Other Dimension Ships appeared.

The fleets of Duke Akirif and the Derrael family.

“That insignia on the white Dimension Ship… I’ve seen it somewhere. The Elf Great Council, right?”

The strongest one searched on his phone for houses affiliated with the Elf Great Council.

“That’s the Derrael family’s ship. I don’t know about that other one. Could it be a demon?”

No matter how much they searched, no info came up on Duke Akirif’s flagship.

Still, they understood the situation.

“They’re fighting over the Spirit Tree.”

The Derrael elves fought fiercely despite being vastly outnumbered.

They were determined to die rather than lose the Spirit Tree.

“While they’re fighting, that’s our chance. Destroy the ships docked in the harbor as soon as we exit the Mana Storm.”

Kuong and the Giants advanced and finally broke free from the storm.

Kuong turned his body as twelve Cannon Giants targeted the harbor.

Kwah! Kwak! Kwak! Kwak! Kwak! Kwak! Kwak!

A storm of fire erupted.

Pirate ships that had just set sail were destroyed in large numbers.

Some were blown into one another by the explosions.

The fragile Elf pirate ships clustered tightly, amplifying the bombardment’s effect.

Over a hundred ships were destroyed in a single volley.

“Kai, scout ahead first; Lutal, take your people and land over there.”

“Kieek!”

“Krk.”

Kai mounted an Air Scout and dropped near the Dimension Boundary, located at a ninety-degree turn from the harbor.

Lutal and the Apocalid soon took position there.

The Walkers created fire extinguishing pits, and Scouts prioritized reconnaissance of the areas Kai marked.

A small number of Fighter Warriors and Fighter Giants escorted Kuong.

If a swarm of small, fast Dimension Ships attacked simultaneously, Kuong alone would be helpless.

“Kill the pirates, gather the slaves in one place.”

“Krk.”

Lutal advanced with thousands of Apocalids.

The elves formed their formation.

Shield bearers took the front line, while Spirit Masters and mages gathered at the rear.

Suddenly, bombardment fell on their heads.

Elves standing too close together were shredded into pieces instantly.

“Scatter! Use magic and spirits to destroy the Mana Cannons!”

The pirates dispersed.

Mages and Spirit Masters rose into the air searching for the Cannon Giants.

But they did not cast a single spell.

Tututung! Tututung! Tututung!

Fighter Giants and Fighter Warriors’ chitin spikes turned them into honeycombs.

Bodies riddled with holes splattered blood as they fell.

“Damn it. Approach through the trees!”

The pirates used acceleration magic and spirits to move quickly.

The distance to the Cannon Giants closed, but the Skyeye Giants observed every move.

Scouts hid along the elves’ anticipated paths.

Concealing their presence, they were hard to spot while running.

Scratch scratch scratch scratch scratch scratch scratch.

Elves with severed legs tumbled down.

Scouts’ sickle claws, dropped from the trees, ended their lives.

Runner Scouts chased down those fleeing, stabbing their necks with sickle claws.

“What the hell are these bastards?!”

“There are too many!”

The ragtag pirates were easily dispatched by the Walkers.

Thanks to their psionic chitin armor, most attacks couldn’t penetrate.

With strength enough to easily lift logs, they tore enemies apart and sprayed acid to dissolve them.

The more powerful Scouts and Warriors were even more formidable.

“Damn it.”

The corner of Natasha’s eye twitched.

She had expected to quickly handle the Derrael fleet, but the sudden appearance of monsters complicated matters.

“Take down the ones with four claws first.”

Natasha gathered her subordinates.

They were no nobodies but elves who had long served the Derrael family.

Each was a swordsman, Spirit Master, or mage comparable to a B-Rank Hunter.

They began to run.

Fast as the wind, but they couldn’t escape the Skyeye Giants’ gaze.

Kwah-ang! Kwah-ang! Kwah-ang!

Mana shells fired by the Cannon Giants fell behind them.

Even if some were hit, their multiple shields blocked the damage.

“Krk.”

Lutal stopped the bombardment.

There was a better way.

As the elves approached, Walkers charged all at once.

Scratch scratch!

The elves’ swift blades felled the Walkers.

Unfazed by pain or fear, the Apocalids tore through the fallen and latched onto the elves.

Then mana shells fell.

Kwahkwahkwahkwahkwahkwahkwah!

Ten elves died instantly, and fifteen more were critically wounded, unable to fight.

With only a little over fifty elves including Natasha present, half were wiped out by a single barrage.

“Damn bastards!”

Furious at the deaths of long-time comrades, Natasha drew her rapier.

Aura rippled along the blade.

“Die!”

She passed Lutal, spun backward in midair, and stabbed the nape.

A strike there ignited the nerves with aura, causing agonizing death.

But that only worked if it pierced.

Ping!

‘The aura can’t penetrate this damn shell!’

Natasha was shocked.

A chilling sensation ran down her spine.

“Wind!”

The Wind Spirit twirled Natasha’s body.

Swish!

Lutal’s sickle claw passed through where she had been standing.

Natasha landed with her hair cut.

‘Not every part can be that hard!’

Natasha lunged her rapier forward.

She aimed for the monster’s eye.

Just as the rapier, cutting through the air, was about to strike the eye—

A bad premonition overwhelmed Natasha again.

Whoosh.

She twisted her body forcibly.

Three sickle claws brushed past.

Though her stance faltered, the rapier’s tip still aimed at the eye.

‘I’ve won!’

If the eyes were pierced by aura, the brain would also be damaged.

Then even this monster wouldn’t remain intact.

Scratch!

A sickle claw approached from outside Natasha’s vision and severed her right arm.

Only then did Natasha realize.

Even if all fifty elves charged alive, they couldn’t take down this one monster.

“Retreat! Fall back!”

Natasha urgently distanced herself from Lutal.

But no elf heeded her orders.

They had all been torn to pieces, dismembered, and dead.

“Damn it! Where did these monsters come from?!”

Barely escaping, Natasha surveyed the battle.

The situation was dire.

The monsters kept flooding in, and none could hold back the four-clawed ones.

To make matters worse, the Derrael elves were landing.

“Duke Akirif! Help us!”

Even when she used communication magic, Duke Akirif gave no response.

His flagship remained silent.

He was only waiting for the Devil of Devouring and had no reason to help Natasha.

“If the Devil of Devouring comes, nothing will survive. This is the only way to live.”

Natasha smeared blood on her face and hands and headed toward the Derrael elves.

Since they too were moving toward the Spirit Tree, they met quickly.

The elves clad in pure white armor pointed their swords.

One elf stepped forward and removed her helmet.

“Long time no see, Iselin.”

Iselin Derrael.

Natasha’s grandniece and heir to the Derrael family.

If the Derrael family was like the royal family on Earth, she was effectively a princess.

She wielded nearly all spirits at will and was also famous for her unparalleled beauty.

She even had a fan club on Earth that paid tribute to her.

Officially a princess, she was the actual ruler due to the early deaths of the family elders.

The throne was left vacant to honor her mother, and she vowed not to ascend until recovering the Spirit Tree.

“Are you planning to surrender now?”

Her voice was as beautiful as her appearance but extremely cold in tone.

“Your goal is the Spirit Tree. I know a way to move it to me. Before the Devil of Devouring comes—”

Scratch.

“That’s my business, traitor.”

Iselin ordered her subordinates to take care of Natasha.

The elves, who had witnessed Iselin easily cut through their kin like rotten wood, were hardly surprised.

“Monsters abound. We will protect the Spirit Tree. Even if I die, that must return to Marsala.”

The elves answered solemnly and spread out in all directions.