Chapter 90: The Northern Bear’s Blood

“If you look closely at the waterway, you’ll see there are rocks.”

Leon pointed toward the water’s flow.

“When I was in the North, I heard that if you fall into the ravine, the thing that kills you isn’t the fall itself... but the water getting into your body.”

“I dipped my foot in earlier, and nothing really happened.”

“Still, I can’t be completely sure.”

Leon scratched the back of his head, giving a sheepish grin.

“But there’s no other way right now.”

That was true.

“All right, let’s give it a try.”

Maybe it was thanks to the Dark World Tree, or maybe something else.

At least, it wasn’t as dark as he’d feared, which was a relief.

As soon as Rohan tried to step onto the closest rock—

Whoosh!

“Huh?”

Rohan’s body suddenly floated up.

“What, what are you doing?”

“It’s dangerous. Allow me to help.”

Martin had picked Rohan up and slung him over his shoulder.

Tap!

Even with Rohan on his shoulder, Martin lightly hopped from rock to rock.

“What is this now?”

Martin’s body, as seen from where Rohan was slung, shimmered with a faint blue glow.

“I’m reinforcing my body with Aura.”

Tap, tap!

Martin crossed the rocks as if it was nothing special.

‘When did he get this good?!’

Rohan didn’t know much about swordsmanship, but he did know that enveloping one’s body in Aura was a high-level technique.

Leon and Drake, as seasoned warriors, followed Martin’s path across the rocks without difficulty.

Thus, they managed to cross the waterway safely.

“We’ll cover you, Your Highness.”

Martin and Drake raised their swords, radiating Aura, and looked at Leon.

“If you have to use your sword against the tree, you’ll help His Highness,” Drake requested.

Leon nodded solemnly.

Shhhk!

Just as they crossed, shadowy vines began to lash out at them.

Swish! Slash!

But Martin’s Sunfire and Drake’s practiced swordsmanship kept the shadows from reaching Rohan.

“The shadows themselves aren’t tough opponents, but...”

The real problem was their insane regeneration—no matter how many times you killed them, they’d come back.

With the two knights protecting him, Rohan safely reached the base of the Dark World Tree.

Thump, thump.

The Dark World Tree was pulsing steadily.

Looking up, Rohan saw people trapped inside fruit-like pods high above.

“Martin, cover me. Sir Drake, rescue those people up there!”

“At your command!”

Martin alone was more than enough to keep the shadows at bay.

Drake immediately started climbing the trunk of the Dark World Tree.

“This looks like the weak spot.”

As Rohan neared the tree, the blessing of the World Tree began to burn hotter inside him.

“Here, right? Then let me try...”

Leon drew his sword and raised it high.

He struck the base of the tree with his blade.

Clang!

But instead of wood, the sound was like sword striking iron.

“This... this isn’t normal wood.”

Leon shook his numb hand and shook his head.

“Damn, maybe I need to use Aura too.”

Rohan called Martin.

“Martin! Try stabbing it with your Aura!”

“Yes, Your Highness!”

Swish, swish!

Martin cut down a few shadowy vines and dashed over.

“Here, right?”

“That’s it.”

“Hup!”

Martin’s greatsword, Sunfire, was raised high.

Whoosh!

He brought it down with all his might.

But...

Boom!

A loud crash, but the base of the tree didn’t even get scratched.

“Is your sword... all right?”

“Guh, it’s fine... but the Aura backlash is rough.”

Martin withdrew his sword, grimacing.

“Even a sword coated in Aura can’t break through?”

Rohan’s face turned grave.

Meanwhile, Kajin, who had spotted the group working at the base, narrowed his eyes.

“How dare you, before the Sacred Tree!”

His booming voice echoed through the space.

“Tch, he noticed.”

Kajin looked ready to charge at them at any moment.

“We’re out of time. Give me your sword.”

“Eh? But, what are you—”

Leon hesitated, but then handed his sword to Rohan.

“Here you go, Your Highness.”

“Hoo.”

Rohan clumsily gripped the sword upright.

I really should’ve learned some swordsmanship.

He resolved to do so when this was all over.

Being so unskilled, he risked hurting his wrist—or worse.

But for some reason, he felt this was something he had to do himself.

“Well, here goes nothing!”

Rohan squeezed his eyes shut and slammed the sword down onto the base of the tree with all his strength.

At the same time, his left chest burned as if on fire.

“...What?”

When Rohan opened his eyes again, he was standing in a dark, empty space.

---

Meanwhile.

In front of Kataka Gorge, countless soldiers were fighting back the shadows.

“Good thing we brought plenty of oil.”

Duke Malta crossed his arms, surveying the scene.

The shadows crowded the dark forest, but they were weak to fire, making them easy to repel.

Their task was to hold the line here until the infiltration unit inside completed their mission.

If things went well inside, these shadows would be dealt with in no time.

“We may have to keep watch all night, so use the oil sparingly!”

“Yes, Your Grace!”

The Duke was prepared for a long battle.

But then—

“Your Grace! The shadows are decreasing in number!”

“Really?”

How strange.

After about an hour, the relentless waves of shadows began to thin.

After two hours, they had almost disappeared.

“Seems things are going well inside.”

His adjutant smiled.

“Let’s hope so...”

The Duke tapped his fingers against his crossed arms.

In his experience, there were only three reasons for a large force to suddenly vanish.

The enemy’s surrender.

Otherwise, they were redirecting their efforts elsewhere, or preparing to strike back.

“Stay alert! We could still be ambushed!”

“Yes, Your Grace! Of course!”

“Understood!”

The soldiers, who’d nearly relaxed, straightened up and watched the front.

How much time passed like that?

“Your Grace! There’s a light ahead!”

“What?”

The Duke, who had been taking a short rest, stood up.

“I see a banner! It’s our territory’s banner!”

“What could this be about?”

Was it urgent news?

“Send a few men to check, and if they’re our people, protect them.”

“Yes!”

A few scouts approached the newcomers. After a brief exchange, they all returned together.

“Your Grace!”

A rushed voice.

“What is it?”

“Please look at the people who have arrived!”

The soldier led the group forward, and the Duke’s eyes widened in shock at the sight.

“Good heavens! Latsha!”

“Father!”

At the front was his youngest daughter, Latsha.

Latsha ran into his arms with open arms.

“Latsha, are you truly all right?”

He ached to see how thin and frail she’d become.

“Your Grace. As the shadows disappeared, those in the parlor began to regain their senses, one by one. And they returned to normal!”

“Is that so?”

“Yes. Lady Latsha especially wished to see you right away, so we had no choice but to bring her here with our troops.”

“The shadows are gone from the inner castle as well?”

The Duke’s eyebrows shot up.

‘Could His Highness truly have driven out the evil energy?’

Judging by how safely they arrived, it must be true.

“Thank you. It’s a bit of a strain, but seeing my daughter like this warms my heart.”

Everything seemed to be turning for the better.

The Duke looked down at Latsha, now in his arms, with joy.

“Latsha, my child. Now, nothing strange will trouble you anymo—”

Thunk!

“...re.”

The Duke blinked.

What just happened?

Something had pierced his side and slipped away.

Latsha whispered in his ear.

“Kurc Malta. The North will soon be ours.”

“...!”

Latsha’s face melted away.

“Gah! What is this!”

Only then did the soldiers notice something was wrong and cried out in alarm.

The figure, turning to black liquid, melted into the ground.

“Your Grace, are you all right?!”

“Guh.”

Duke Malta clutched his side, groaning in pain.

Something like a thorny spike had pierced his unarmored side.

Blood poured from the wound, and even from his lips.

“Damn it all...”

He gritted his blood-stained teeth.

“How dare they use Latsha to attack me.”

His eyes blazed with fury.

“People are coming out of the forest!”

Step, step—people walked forward slowly.

They were...

“Those who were trapped in the parlor!”

“Your Grace, what do we do?”

Like seasoned warriors, the northern soldiers aimed their spears and raised their torches at the approaching crowd.

“Cough, looks like these things are strong against fire. Forget torches—focus on killing them.”

Still gripping his side, Duke Malta spoke with effort.

The medics hurriedly removed his armor and applied herbs to his wound.

They wrapped him in bandages, but he was still barely able to move.

Yet the Duke rose to his feet.

“To think, they infiltrated us by tricking my family and me...”

“The fact that they’re here must mean the inner castle is in danger too!”

“Indeed.”

The Duke thought of his family and people left behind in the city.

Please, let nothing happen to them...

“We sweep these things away, then head for the inner castle.”

“But Your Grace! In your state—!”

“I’m fine.”

Thrum.

Standing tall, the Duke drew his greatsword.

“The people come before my own life.”

His face, shrouded in shadow.

“Half stay here, the rest with me! Let’s go! Let’s sweep them away!”

The Northern Bear charged forward.

---

“This place...”

Somehow, it felt familiar.

‘Just like when I was in the World Tree’s domain.’

But if there was a difference, it was the atmosphere.

A strange, alien energy made his skin prickle.

Clutching his burning left chest, Rohan walked forward.

As he walked through endless darkness, he finally saw something in the distance.

[Sniff, sob...]

Someone was curled up, crying.

[Don’t kill them. Please, don’t kill my children so miserably...]

That back looked all too familiar.

‘Yggdrasil?’

But something was different.

He looked like an Elphyrian, but his long hair was black, not golden.

[I hate you... I hate those corrupted souls who ignore other life...]

He was mumbling to himself.

[The world just needs to start over. Something is wrong with such a cruel world. It needs to be cleansed completely...]

“Um...”

After a moment’s hesitation, Rohan spoke.

“Are you... Nidhogg?”

At that, the other’s voice stopped.

He slowly rose and turned around.

[Yggdrasil.]

“...?”

What? Why is he calling me Yggdrasil?

[Didn’t I warn you not to stand in my way?]

He slowly approached Rohan.

[There’s no need to be impatient. Soon enough, you’ll be... my nourishment.]

“...!”

The vision of the future he’d seen in the World Tree’s domain.

Was this why the Elphyrians had guarded the World Tree so fiercely?

‘Nidhogg was trying to devour Yggdrasil.’

He couldn’t let that happen.

If Nidhogg absorbed the World Tree’s power and grew stronger...

‘That future I saw would come true.’

Now he understood why Kajin had attacked Silvaren first in his previous life.

“I can’t let that happen.”

At Rohan’s words, Nidhogg’s brow furrowed.

He sensed something was off.

[You... what are you?]

“I am...”

Rohan placed his hand on his left chest and closed his eyes.

“The one who bears the World Tree’s blessing and acts as his agent.”

Flash!

A burst of light erupted from Rohan.

“And the one who has come to kill you.”

Rohan’s eyes snapped open.