601-607

Chapter 601: Confused Heart (IX)

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

As everything had happened in the mental world, no one was hurt physically. However, their minds were drained extensively—especially Lize's. After experiencing that many stimulations in the mental world, her consciousness almost couldn't hang on any longer. The threats surrounding Emerald Valley appeared to have vanished after the elimination of the Mind Devil. Rhode wasn't in a hurry to continue their journey and he brought Anne and Lize back to Blackberry Town for the time being.

Anne was seemingly obedient of Rhode's advice. He told her not to take the fake Lizes' words to heart and she threw the troubling matters to the back of her head. She looked after Lize along their way back as though nothing had changed. On the contrary, Lize was having a tough time responding to her concerns. Even though it wasn't her actual self in the mental world, it was still part of her consciousness. It felt as though a drunk blabbered bravely and after he sobered up, he couldn't wait to hide in a hole after realizing the embarrassing things that he had said. The situation was the same for Lize now. Although Anne believed that it was the monster's fault, Lize knew it was otherwise. However, she was at a loss in responding to Anne's genuine comforts, and it was almost as painful as when she was interrogated in the mental world.

Rhode watched from the side and let out an inward laugh. No matter what, the main cause of this situation was that Lize disobeyed his orders and came to Emerald Valley. Therefore, she deserved a small punishment and since she currently wasn't fit for 'physical punishment', it was best to let her reflect upon herself using this 'emotional torture'.

After returning to Blackberry Town, Rhode made Anne and Lize return to their room, while he informed the inn owner about the situation in Emerald Valley. The inn owner was delighted that the troubles had been eliminated. He received Rhode passionately and sent out men to check on the place. However, Rhode didn't accept the inn owner's cordial reception because he had something more important to attend to.

And that was to check on the spoils of war.

After leaving the mental world, Rhode received the corresponding system prompt for the mission accomplishment. After the Frozen Lake battle, Rhode had reached level 43. As his level increased, the EXP requirement for the next level also increased. Moreover, he had often led his team to accomplish lower-level missions in order to avoid unnecessary sacrifices of men, which led to him receiving insignificant EXP. Although the completion of this mission only increased his level by one, the additional EXP from defeating the Mind Devil was rather rewarding. In the end, he increased his level by two and reached level 45.

Got to say, the Mind Devil was really 'useful', apart from its annoying and lethal mental attack. If Rhode was immune to its mental attack, this monster would be nothing more than a level 30 BOSS, which was the best EXP grinding tool for players. Rhode would surely grind out the Mind Devil's nest by himself for up to five days if it existed and perhaps he might even break through level 60 and transcend into the Legendary Stage.

But it was a pity that the Mind Devil's nest didn't exist.

However, Rhode wasn't concerned about these small details at the moment. He extended his arm and two black cards emerged in his palm. They were the 'presents' that Celestina had given him. They had the same black background and red borders as Celestina's card. However, the pattern was totally different. One of them had a massive steel coffin and it appeared to be a medieval torture instrument. Its cover was opened to the left and right sides and revealed densely packed razor-sharp thorns within. Rhode turned the card around and a line of system prompt emerged before him.

[Received the Seven Sins Deck 1/7. Artifact Card. Spell Card — Lustful Maiden]

[Lustful Maiden (Artifact Card Attribute): Use on one target. Infusible. Mental Elemental Attribute. Seven Sins Materialize. Holder can specify an individual target and summon the Lustful Maiden to restrain and extract the target's spiritual powers. Inescapable. Unavoidable. Can be dispelled]

[Extraction of Greed: Nothing can compare to the craving for greed (Extracts spiritual powers)]

[Fearlessness: Endless desires do not require restraint and reasons (Ignores level and defense. Unlimited duration)]

[Self-Destruction Tendency: Any attempt to recapture will be deemed as suicide (Automatically explodes when dispelled. AOE Spiritual Attribute Attack. Power is based on the value of the spiritual powers extracted)]

[Undaunted By Dangers: The greediest snake can't swallow an entire elephant (When the target's level surpasses the holder's, the dispelling effect will deal equal damage to the holder)]

Rhode blew a whistle. He scrutinized the card in his hand, at the same time looking at the tightly shut door subconsciously. He realized that this card was summoned by Celestina using Lize's personality fragments. But... Rhode fell into deep thoughts.

This card appeared to be a pretty decent addition, judging from its descriptions. It was also a double-edged sword‚especially its final effects. If the limitations from the [Undaunted By Dangers] didn't exist, this card would have the potential to be one of Rhode's trump cards. By then, as long as he summoned the [Lustful Maiden] when he faced higher level enemies, he could extract their spiritual powers. If the enemy forcefully dispelled it, it would also be dealt with the self-destruction damage. Afterward, Rhode could easily annihilate it. However, with the [Undaunted By Dangers], Rhode couldn't possibly do it. No matter what, the side-effects of being hurt by the damage wouldn't be beneficial for him.

Rhode shrugged his shoulders and laid down the card in his hand to pick up the other. Unlike the [Lustful Maiden], this card presented an image of a young lady tightly bound by steel chains on a circular shield. This was only a mimicry and she didn't have any facial features, fortunately. But, even so, the posture of the young lady was extremely shameful. Her legs were spread apart by the pulling chains and it displayed her most private part bizarrely. The young lady's arms were wrapped around her knees and a thick, black eye mask had covered her eyes. At first glance, this was a really obscene picture.

[Received the Seven Sins Deck 2/7. Artifact Card. Spell Card — Prison of Mad Love]

[Prison of Mad Love (Artifact Card Attribute): Use on one or multiple targets. Infusible. Mental Elemental Attribute. Seven Sins Materialize. Holder can specify an individual target or multiple targets and summon the Prison of Love for defense. Comprehensive Protection. Elemental Absorption. Can be dispelled]

[Protection Duty: Give up everything for its loved ones (Any types of attack against the user will be resisted)]

[Oppressive Tendency: Pain isn't a punishment, it is the praising song for love (When the Prison of Mad Love resists an attack, there will be a certain chance to absorb damage of up to a maximum of 5 levels above the user)]

[Love Connection: The gift bestowed by the master is the supreme enjoyment (When the Prison of Mad Love emerges in battle, the user will consume 5% of spiritual powers per hour to maintain its presence)]

Pfff!

Although Rhode wasn't drinking water, this line of system prompt almost made him spit out his saliva. He swore that he had never seen Artifact Decks with such introductions and properties without moral principles. Come to think of it, Internet games had to go through audit before publishing; after all, and such contents obviously weren't beneficial for the development of young teens... Hmm...

This card was equally impressive from its description. As a card that specialized in defense, Rhode could summon it to increase his mental strength and focus dramatically. There would be many times where he could even give up his defensive stance and launch attacks with this card around him. Besides, the [Love Connection]'s side-effect wasn't as thorny as the [Undaunted By Dangers]. This card could be considered to be really useful. But...

Rhode shifted his attention to the front of this card.

Sometimes, the binding steel chains weren't only be present on the card picture.

Rhode was sure that if he summoned this card with a licentious young lady in public, his reputation and integrity would go down the drain completely. Although there were many times when Rhode was unconcerned about the evaluations of the outside world, he wasn't a masochist who would feel excited over others' disdainful looks, after all. It would be nothing more than a disaster for him.

This is a really sinful summoning card...

Rhode flipped the two cards around and let out a hopeless sigh. No matter if it was the [Lustful Maiden] or the [Prison of Mad Love], both were considered outstanding spell cards. If they were used appropriately, their potential could be unleashed to the best of their abilities. However, there were indescribable traps hidden beneath these enormous enticements. The [Undaunted By Dangers] was still fine because it was still a special effect that came with it and he could understand it as to maintain the balance of the deck. As for the other card, it would depend on whether Rhode could abandon his pride and sense of shame.

However, as a human, abandoning his sense of shame was too difficult for him.

Chapter 602: Confused Heart (X)

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

In the end, Rhode had decided to temporarily put the two cards aside and he wouldn't use them unless the situation was extremely dire and critical. Got to say, he struggled a lot while making this decision. On one hand, the [Prison of Mad Love] was too outstanding and there were a few times when he convinced himself to not give up on such a great summoning card due to maintaining his reputation. I'm a player, so I must consider things from a player's point of view. But, on the other hand, I'm a human, after all. And as a human, is it a good idea to give up on my self-esteem in such a degrading manner?

Rhode had even suspected if Celestina was just seeking revenge and throwing him into the pit.

But Rhode didn't grumble too much. After all, what was done couldn't be undone, and he quickly arranged his frame of mind to get prepared for what was coming next. After accomplishing the Frozen Lake mission, Rhode input all the 6 Skill Points that he had gained into his newly created swordsmanship, Fantasy Daybreak. And now, he had decided to input all the 5 Skill Points that he received from accomplishing the mission and leveling up into his Talent Tree. After returning from Soraka Mountain, there weren't too many adjustments made to his Talent Tree and it was mainly because it had provided sufficient support to him and it didn't require drastic improvements. On the other hand, it was also because this was the first time that Rhode had met with the fusing of the three Talent Trees. He had to figure them out clearly before making reckless decisions.

There should have been a total of 11 Talents on the fourth layer of the three Talent Trees. However, there were only 5 Talents available after the Talent Trees had fused. There was a mission reward which Rhode could activate a Talent without inputting 1 Skill Point while the other Talents would require his 5 Skill Points. Moreover, there was also another Talent strengthening reward waiting for him.

This time, Rhode didn't hesitate for too long. After experiencing so many battles, he had confirmed his battle style and the build for his Talent. With the additional Skill Points and the various summoning cards, he didn't need to waste Skill Points on Active Skills which required consumption of spiritual energy. Instead, he could focus more on Talents which didn't require too much consumption of spiritual energy and could enhance himself simultaneously.

In the end, Rhode chose [Throne Territory] and [Silver War Flag].

The [Throne Territory] was an AOE Passive Skill. When its effect was triggered, Rhode's abilities would be enhanced by one-tenth of all his summoned spirits' offense and defense values. In other words, it could be considered an evolved version of the [Pursuit] skill. However, unlike the [Pursuit] skill, the [Throne Territory] could only stack the values, but it couldn't magnify the summoned spirits' special effects. Therefore, if Rhode wished to summon the Spirit Bird and soar into the air, it would only be effective if he chose the [Pursuit] skill instead.

It was hard to come by that the [Silver War Flag] wasn't targeted on the summoned spirits. Instead, its buff halo targeted all the creatures within its certain range. Not only could it buff the defense of all the creatures around the user, but it could also automatically cast a protective barrier of the Spiritual Attribute. This would be a useful technique in large-scale battles.

Rhode gave the Talent Attribute Enhancement Point from the mission reward to [Taboo Halo]. In the battle with the Angel in Soraka Mountain, Rhode had witnessed the benefits of [Taboo Halo] on Celia and Celestina. In the range of the halo, both of them broke through their limits and entered the Legendary Stage even though their true strength was sealed. And now, after strengthening the effects of [Taboo Halo], not only could Celia and Celestina enter the Legendary Stage, but they could also reach the level of the Legendary Stage.

Normal summoned spirits wouldn't be able to reach this standard because it would be so overpowering that the balance would be broken. In fact, Rhode had to thank his lucky stars if the other summoned spirits even reached the Master Stage within the effects of the [Taboo Halo]. Only the blessed [Holy Sword Card Deck] that exceeded basic attributes could reach such an extent.

Rhode was a little hesitant at this thought. Once he had collected all the ten Holy Swords, perhaps he wouldn't need to rely on Canary and Mini Bubble Gum anymore. As long as he cast [Taboo Halo] and transformed the ten Holy Swords into human forms, it would be equivalent to a 10-men party.

But the amount of spiritual energy required to maintain the human forms of the Holy Sword Card Deck would be a big problem.

"All settled."

Rhode closed his eyes and stood up to stretch his arms. It was already evening. He gazed out of the window and there was nothing apart from the faint radiance emanated from the moonlight plant. The little mermaid was quietly curled up in her water ball and sleeping soundly. Judging from her blissful smile and the continuous string of bubbles escaping her tiny mouth, she must be having a sweet dream.

Knock knock knock.

Someone knocked on his door.

"Come in."

Rhode twitched his brows and the door gradually opened.

"Lize?"

Rhode was slightly surprised by her visit. He thought it would be Anne; he never expected it to be Lize who should be lying and resting on her bed.

"Is anything the matter? Where's Anne?"

"Anne... is still sleeping."

Lize closed the room door and answered while lowering her head. Both of them stood quietly and the air in the room seemingly stopped flowing. After a few moments, Lize bit her lips and lifted her head determinedly.

"Today... It's all my fault. Sorry, Mr. Rhode. If I didn't act on my own accord, you and Anne wouldn't face such an accident... I'm really sorry, I shouldn't have done it..."

"You really shouldn't have done it. You should know it too, Lize. The consequences are serious for disobeying my orders."

Rhode said without moving an inch as he stood by the window. A reddish blush smeared across her face and she bit her lips, looking at the man before her with complicated emotions. Although Lize had been resting on the bed after returning to the inn, she wasn't able to fall asleep properly. Everything that had happened in the mental world including the fuzzy, perplexed phantoms, and the dreamland kept spinning in her head. The agony, wrath, sweetness, and sorrows lingered in her heart.

Besides... it's about time that I make the move now.

"I know that, Mr. Rhode."

Lize lifted her head and gazed at Rhode with her clear, round eyes.

"I know I must be punished, so... I'm here to accept my punishment."

"Oh?"

The corner of Rhode's mouth twitched. He approached the young lady while looking at her fair, delicate face.

"So then, what kind of punishment are you thinking of, Lize?"

"..."

Lize didn't respond. She simply looked into Rhode's eyes and unknotted her robe.

The snowy Cleric robe dropped gently to the floor and she displayed her youthful body entirely to Rhode. Her fair cheeks blushed as she hugged her chest. Her slender body trembled slightly, but no one knew if she was nervous or uncertain.

"Please punish me, Mr. Rhode... I guess... This is the punishment that I deserve."

Rhode didn't respond immediately. Instead, he extended his arm and made a hand gesture. In the blink of an eye, the little mermaid disappeared to nowhere and he stepped forward to gently stroke her reddish cheek.

"Is this a punishment, Lize? Alright then. As punishment, I guess you should be more active. There are some things that you haven't told me, right?"

"Yes... Yes..."

Lize's body stiffened and she gazed blankly at Rhode. She gaped but spoke nothing, as though this simple sentence required more courage than baring herself naked. But, even so she had to say it out. She sucked in a deep breath, placed her right hand on her chest as though to control her pounding heart. Then, she opened her eyes.

"I like you, Rhode... I want to be with you forever..."

"Good. That's the correct answer."

Rhode wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her into his embrace. He lowered his head and pressed his lips against hers.

"Mm—!"

Lize trembled instinctively. She pressed her hands against Rhode's chest and her reflexes tried to push him away. But, she stopped rejecting abruptly and closed her eyes to clumsily take in everything. This wasn't the first time Lize kissed Rhode. Previously in the Cloud Summit Fortress, Rhode could be considered to have stolen her first kiss. Back then, Lize felt that her head was in a complete blank and a sense of unprecedented fear and shock took over her. It was due to this reason that she rejected Rhode's hug.

But it was different now.

Lize wasn't afraid. She welcomed Rhode's advancement and allowed his hands to roam around her body. Lize discovered that his fingers were as though a magical presence where numbness spread from where he had touched. She trembled and her body temperature rose. When Rhode finished savoring her lips and separated his lips from hers, she felt as though she had lost the strength to stand upright. She laid limp in his arms while he hugged her and placed her on the bed.

"This time, I won't stop, Lize."

"Okay..."

Lize responded instinctively. She felt that her body fit snugly with his as his lips and hands continuously invaded every inch of her skin. This unprecedented sensation stimulated her senses and body. Her conscious fuzzed and a white haziness shrouded her eyes. Everything that was happening had seemingly linked up with the illusions that she saw in the mental world. Like a dream of fantasy.

"Mm... Mm..."

Rhode revealed a cheeky smile as he gazed at the moaning young lady. He gently stroked and teased her soft, pretty bosoms and even though they weren't huge in size, they were tender to his touch. Lize's complexion had become red through and through. She gasped for air and shifted her body innately, unsure if she was avoiding or encouraging Rhode to take further actions against her.

"How adorable, Lize."

Rhode muttered under his breath. Then, he leaned forward, pressed on her slim waist, and thrust strongly.

"Ah—!"

Lize widened her eyes as though her beautiful dream was shattered. The thick, massive presence ruthlessly crashed into her body, sending stimulating thrills and pain throughout her senses. Lize hugged defenselessly to the man above her, groaning and whimpering to every pounding. Then, the pain slowly faded and she felt the flames in her body burning even wilder. In the end, the burning flames spurted out and shrouded her entirely.

"Haa... Haa..."

After a few moments, both of them regained senses with their arms around each other. Rhode looked at the lustful young lady who was drenched in sweat. She blushed to Rhode's gazes, but shortly after, she looked up with blissfulness and hungry desires in her eyes.

"Mr. Rhode... I don't think... It's enough..."

A glint of surprise flashed in Rhode's eyes. Then, he smirked.

"Don't worry, I will make sure you're well fed."

Then, the battle began once more.

Chapter 603: Resurging Waves

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

Swish.

The light arrow pierced the falling leaf and left a perfect circle in its middle. The Elves standing around the Archery Practice Ground observed in awe and clapped in admirable respect.

"Hu..."

Corina lowered her chin and gazed at her palm. Then, she stepped out of the practice grounds after greeting her compatriots with a wide smile. After she left, the surrounding Elves lined up and began their practice session.

What a peaceful life.

Corina shut her eyes and listened to the sound of arrows ripping through the atmosphere and the chirping of birds in the forest. The young Moon Elf returned to her mount, a Pegasus with spotlessly white wings, walking at a relaxed pace, and gently caressed it. The Pegasus stopped chewing on the grass around its hoofs and let out a comfortable snort, making Corina break into laughter. Then, she adjusted her glass armor and longbow before flipping herself up to the saddle.

"Madam Corina."

A clear, crisp voice sounded and Corina turned around curiously. Shortly after, an Elf lady leaped out from between the shade of the trees and landed on her feet like a nimble cat. She saluted to Corina and said, "Sorry to disturb you, but I have something to report to you."

"Is anything the matter?"

"We received news that the spread of Chaos troubling Emerald Valley has been eliminated."

"Oh?"

Corina twitched her nicely shaped eyebrow curiously. She was also aware of the happenings in Emerald Valley. Although the Elf Dominion hadn't had wars for years on end, the Elves didn't exactly lead boring and tranquil lives. The Judgment & Ruling Twin Dragons lived in the Elf Dominion and the Elves naturally had to do their part in maintaining the stability of Order. It was especially so for the border regions of the Elf Dominion because their borders were connected to the Country of Light and the Country of Darkness. This was why the Country of Law had to face troubles arising from both sides simultaneously and the Elves were responsible for handling them. Although the Elves handled the tasks easily in the forest, they weren't more capable of managing the Chaos and distorted evil than humans.

Recently, the power of Chaos had increased and Corina rode on her Pegasus to patrol the borders everyday in order to assist the regions in eradicating the Chaos. Emerald Valley was desolate and the Chaos wouldn't cause too much harm, which was why Corina had arranged her patrols at the end of her daily schedule. Now that the problem had been resolved, it piqued her curiosity.

"Eliminated? Which team of Elf Guards did it?"

"No, it wasn't, Madam."

The Elf Lady shook her head.

"It was eliminated by outsiders. They are looking to enter our territory and have applied for entry. After the outsiders knew about the troubles in Emerald Valley, they headed there to resolve the problem. We also dispatched a team to investigate the area and it was verified to be true."

"I see."

Corina nodded slightly and she was rather interested in meeting the outsiders. But shortly after, she shook her head. After traveling in the human world, she had understood the personalities and habits of humans. Humans were unlike Elves. Regardless of whether they were kind hearted or evil, they had endless desires in the eyes of the Elves, and there were motives for everything they did. They treated one well in exchange for something that they wished for and the Elves couldn't accept what the Humans viewed as inevitable and right. It was the same for Corina. It wasn't due to the difference between their moralities or the Elves had some psychological bias. Instead, it was solely due to the differences between their cultures and lifestyles. If the Humans didn't need money and relied only on the sun, forest, and fruits for survivability like the Elves, they would become saints.

But no matter what, since these outsiders were willing to risk their lives to eliminate the Chaos, they were their friends.

"Alright, I understand. Since they were willing to assist us in eradicating the Chaos, they're undoubtedly our friends. Send some men to receive them in. By the way, do you know their purpose for visiting the Elf Forest?"

"I'm not too sure..."

The Elf lady shook her head helplessly. But she revealed a curious expression shortly after.

"But I heard that those people are rather interesting. Besides, there is still a little mermaid swimming in a floating water ball among them, it seems. Also, Madam, according to the residents of Blackberry Town, the group leader appeared to be a really, really beautiful man and he appeared rather similar to us, Elves. Although many humans have visited the Elf Forest, we have never met such interesting and peculiar people."

"Hmm?"

Corina's heart skipped a beat. She rested her arm that was pressing on the saddle and turned to her subordinate with a grave expression.

"A beautiful-looking man? Where did they come from? Do you know his name?"

"Hmm..."

The Elf lady tilted her head. Madam Corina doesn't seem to be the kind who loves to gossip. Then, she puckered her brows and nodded.

"They came from the Munn Kingdom, and that man is... Rhode Alander."

Corina's finger twitched.

Rhode—Soraka Mountain.

The frightening, enormous shadow emerged in her mind instantly and she felt dizzy.

Corina was 300 years old and she wasn't considered too old for an Elf. As one of the most talented figures among the Elves, she had entered the Legendary Stage for quite some time. Even though she was the Elf Dominion Queen, she had had a lot of battle experience with other Elves who were also in the Legendary Stage. Although she had lost to them in battles sometimes, her persistence never wavered because she took battles as opportunities to improve herself and she believed that she could catch up with them after clearly identifying their differences in strength.

But the battle in Soraka Mountain was the first time Corina's unswerving determination had been swayed.

It was the first time that she felt so close to the threatening grip of death. Her strength was suppressed by the horrifying giant who possessed powerful strength and limitless Chaos and it almost squashed her like a bug. The unprecedented feeling of powerlessness made her deeply sense what fear and despair were. Back then, she didn't realize it, but she had lingering fears every time she thought about it afterward.

Within half a year of returning to the Elf Dominion, Corina didn't sleep well for a single night. She would dream of that battle and the terrifying giant every night and the feeling of powerlessness which she had never experienced felt, like binding chains on her back.

However, even though it was just a dream, Corina felt at ease as soon as she saw that man.

Rhode.

If he wasn't there to lead them, she couldn't have imagined how they would flee out of Soraka Mountain peacefully. She had personally felt the dangers of the Duke Fiend and after returning to the Elf Dominion, she often hugged herself tightly and sobbed secretly. She deeply felt that it was a miracle that she was able to make it back safely.

The Duke Fiend was formidable and almost unbeatable. Back then, Corina had no other solutions. Her strength had been suppressed and the Chaos Flames had almost destroyed her Order Forcefield. The land that had lost the Dragon Soul's protection made her feel strange and frightful.

However, just looking at that man's back made her feel relieved. Even in such a dangerous situation, he was so reliable and it was as though they wouldn't fail as long as they listened to his orders.

Corina reminded herself of the end of the battle. Although they escaped the Chaos Realm under Rhode's lead successfully, the terrifying monster caught up to them and it almost eliminated their presences in a single swat. But it failed.

Corina had never seen a human with such powerful strength. The two human young ladies appeared younger than 16 years old. However, the strength that they possessed made her shiver in fear. Corina had never felt such formidable strength and pure elemental powers. The terrifying giant who couldn't be defeated by the alliance of presences in the Legendary Stage was annihilated by the two human young ladies in less than three moves. There was an instant when Corina felt that she was in an utterly absurd dreamland.

Why are there such powerful Humans and I've never heard of their names before?

And what is their relationship with that man?

After returning to the Elf Dominion, Corina had investigated on Rhode out of curiosity. However, the results that she gathered made her furrowed her brows. According to the intelligence, Rhode was a sinister, cunning, despicable, shameless, and cruel thug. Such a person wasn't welcomed in the human society, not to mention with Elves.

Got to say, Corina didn't understand why she felt rather disappointed. Perhaps she thought that this man was a great person after they had fought shoulder to shoulder. He should have been an educated, kind hearted, passionate, and straightforward man and not as terrible as she had heard. It might be due to disappointment or other reasons that Corina had gradually sealed the memories of that man and Soraka Mountain deep in her memories and never thought about it again. No matter who exactly that man was and what he did, it served no further purpose for her, since Humans had a short lifespan.

But now... That man had come knocking on her doors.

What is he doing here?

Corina felt her heart pounding for unknown reasons. Due to the relationship between the Elf Dominion and the Country of Law, Corina knew that the Church was in a working relationship with Rhode's Fortress. She also knew that there was a young lady with a strange name who taught the Church's Clerics how to battle. Frankly speaking, Corina was also curious about it too. After all, her understanding of Clerics were similar to ordinary humans who viewed them as capable of healing and supporting in terms of defense.

But they didn't need to pass through the Elf Dominion if they just needed to visit the Church. There were thousands of Church believers on this continent and there were several of them coming to the Country of Law to visit the Church to make a pilgrimage every year. If those people had to apply for entry through the Elf Dominion every time, the Elves would be annoyed to death.

But if they aren't here to visit the Church, are they here to look for the Elves? Or could it be... He's here to look for me?

When this thought cropped up in Corina's mind, her heart skipped a beat and almost jumped out of her chest! What is this situation? Am I unwell? Or have I been struck by a curse?

"Madam Corina?"

The Elf lady gazed curiously. Corina felt a shiver down her spine and returned to her senses. Then, she lowered her head hurriedly, held the saddle and jumped to her mount.

"I shall visit Blackberry Town to check on them. I'll leave here to you."

"Eh? Wait a moment, Madam. Didn't you ask me to send our men..."

The Elf lady widened her eyes in astonishment. But before she finished her sentence, Corina whistled and the Pegasus expanded its spotlessly white wings and soared into the sky. In the blink of an eye, they became a black dot in the sky and vanished to nowhere.

The Elf lady blinked curiously.

"How strange, what's wrong with Madam Corina?"

She muttered under her breath.

"Hu..."

Rhode walked up the uneven hill slope with a painful expression while he rested his hand on his waist. The little mermaid beside him pushed her hand forward and released cooling air to remove the pain and soreness in his waist. Anne hopped behind them and occasionally chased the colorful butterflies dancing in the forest while Lize followed the group at the back and she avoided looking at Rhode.

It seems to be true that when you're constantly in contact with someone, you will have to get along with her no matter what...

Rhode turned to Lize and shook his head helplessly. They had an intense night and most of the credits had to be given to Lize. Rhode thought that once was enough for her, but the truth had exceeded his expectation and imagination. Her innocent enticement had hooked him dearly as though an obedient young lady who tried wearing bold, transparent lingerie before one seduced another clumsily. The stimulation from this contrast was indeed addictive. Therefore, Rhode tortured Lize for the entire night and only ended at dawn.

According to his script, both of them should be hugging one another and talking about their worries before whispering sweet nothings into each other's ears and falling asleep together. However, Rhode's joy turned to sorrow. In their final battle before dawn, he experienced what it meant to meet with unexpected failure. In order to pleasure Lize and enjoy her body simultaneously, Rhode exerted too much strength and suffered the consequences—he strained his waist.

Fortunately, Lize was a Cleric and she healed most of his injuries. However, a strain couldn't be easily cured and Rhode could only rub his waist and head into the Elf Forest. According to the inn owner, the Elves' dispatches should be here to welcome them anytime now.

As Rhode forced out a bitter smile, suddenly, a shadow flitted across at lightning speed above them. Then, the group witnessed a white Pegasus flapping its wings and landing before them.

Chapter 604: Sacred Land of the Elves (1)

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

The group stepped back subconsciously as they stared at the mighty Pegasus. It was no wonder that they had such a reaction because the Pegasus was a rare, holy beast. Rumor had it that they only lived in the Elf Forest and only the Elves had the rights to be their riders. The relationship between them was unlike Humans training and raising a warhorse. Instead, there was a sense of equality between them. There were Humans who spent a lot of effort and used various means to get their hands on a group of Pegasi from the Elf Forest. However, the group of Pegasi opposed strongly and they ended up escaping or committing suicide instead of surrendering to the Humans. In the end, the Humans failed to domesticate the group of Pegasi and they suffered a double loss instead, provoking the Elves and Church. Thereafter, no Humans tried to domesticate the holy beasts anymore and the rare Pegasi only lived in the Elf Forest.

Anne and Lize laid their eyes on the white holy beast, but Rhode focused his attention on the slender figure leaping off the Pegasus's back. The Elves were mostly lithe and beautiful beings, but this Elf was a cut above the rest. Most importantly, Rhode knew who she was...

"Long time no see, Mr. Rhode."

Corina's mind was clouded with complex feelings. On one hand, the battle that they had experienced against the Duke Fiend together wasn't that easily forgotten. On the other hand, the bad rumors that she had heard about Rhode made her feel conflicted about her views on him. Along the way, she was hoping that this was nothing more than just a coincidence. But it was a pity that her prayers didn't come true.

"Hi there, Miss Corina."

Rhode didn't think as much as Corina did. He didn't commit any crime that offended the Elves and had no grudges with the Country of Law. Moreover, he had a close relationship with the Church, so the Elves wouldn't make things difficult for him. The only thing that surprised him was that Corina actually received them personally. Or perhaps it is because we have met in Soraka Mountain back then, so she specially made the trip here?

Corina let out an inward sigh as she gazed at Rhode's expressionless face. She realized that she wasn't ready and didn't know what to say to him. Should I be asking for an explanation regarding the rumors about him? Corina surely wouldn't do that, but she felt as though something was clogging her mind.

But as a presence in the Legendary Stage, Corina naturally wouldn't allow the negative emotions to affect herself. Her expression didn't change the slightest and she walked slowly to Rhode's group with a gentle smile like the spring wind.

"Honestly speaking, I thought I heard wrongly when I was told about this matter... Mr. Rhode. Welcome to the Elf Forest. If it is possible, I would like to know if you have any urgent matters to attend to in the Elf Forest?"

Corina looked at Rhode with her emerald green eyes and revealed some vague signs of anticipations. On the other hand, Rhode simple nodded slightly in response.

"That's right, Miss Corina. There's indeed something important..." Rhode paused. He hesitated whether he should tell her the truth. Although he didn't know what the relationship between his twin daggers and the sacred land of the Elves was, he had to give it a shot since it was just a simple path ahead. With Rhode's abilities, it wasn't difficult for him to make up a lie and sneak into the sacred land after entering the Elf Forest. However, he denied this thought. If the other party was from the Country of Light, he wouldn't feel pressured at all and he might even slaughter her. However, the Country of Law had a decent reputation among the players and the sacred land of the Elves wasn't as important as the sacred grounds of the Humans. The sacred land of the Elves was more of a place with high spiritual status. It shouldn't pose a problem if he told her the truth.

"... Miss Corina, although this might sound offensive, I hope to enter Ivory Valley in the Elf Forest to investigate something important."

"Eh?"

Corina widened her eyes in surprise. At the same time, she let out a long inward sigh, but she didn't know if she was relieved or disappointed. But her thoughts weren't crucial at this point in time.

"Mr. Rhode, what you meant was... You're heading into our sacred land?"

"Yes, Miss Corina."

Rhode lifted his head without a change of expression and welcomed her examining gaze firmly. On the other hand, Corina was highly suspicious of his intentions. Ivory Valley was the sacred land of the Elves for a reason. The heroes of the Elves who had contributed to the prosperity of the Elves were buried in Ivory Valley after they died. That place was blessed by the Creator Dragon Souls and the heroes' souls would be blessed forever in the embrace of nature peacefully. It was due to this reason that Ivory Valley was termed as the sacred land of the Elves. In order to not disturb the resting souls, the Elves wouldn't head there without permission. They would only enter Ivory Valley when there were specific festivals to offer sacrifices to the heroes who had given up everything for their former generations.

It was also due to this that Ivory Valley had a special place in the hearts of the Elves, but not in the Humans'. Besides, Corina didn't believe that Rhode had anything to do with the former generations of Elves, so why did he request to enter Ivory Valley?

This request could be said to be simple and difficult at the same time. Ivory Valley wasn't as heavily guarded as the Humans' so-called sacred land where only the Humans with unique identities could enter. As long as Rhode promised that he wouldn't blaspheme against the heroes spirits, there would be no harm letting him in. However, on the other hand, a Human entering Ivory Valley might cause unhappiness among the Elves. Although the Elves didn't hate the Humans, they were wary of Humans due to their differences in cultures and lifestyles. If Rhode entered the sacred land of the Elves, Corina couldn't guarantee that the Elves would react badly and take actions against Rhode. Moreover, according to the intelligence gathered about Rhode, Corina knew that this Human definitely wasn't any kind hearted person...

"About this matter..."

Corina frowned. After returning to the Elf Forest, she didn't become the leader of the Pegasus Knights as Rhode had predicted. Instead, she became the Commander of the Queen's Royal Elf Guards. She had the authority to approve if a Human was qualified enough to enter the Elf Forest. She would surely agree if Rhode was here for a tour or for reminisce sake. However, this matter was overly sensitive and she couldn't make the decision on her own accord.

"Mr. Rhode, if you don't mind, may I ask what important matter do you have exactly that requires you to enter Ivory Valley? I'm sure you're aware of its status in the Elves' hearts. Although it isn't as grand as the human temple, it is still an irreplaceable presence for us. As a Human who tries to enter Ivory Valley..."

Corina didn't finish her sentence, but Rhode knew what she meant. However, Rhode had no intentions of turning back because greeting Corina now was only a peaceful measure before using force. If Corina allowed him to enter Ivory Valley, everything would be fine. But if Corina disapproved, Rhode would simply find another chance to sneak in. Even though this was of rude him, their relationship hadn't reached the stage where he had to be sensitive of her feelings yet.

Rhode didn't respond and he unsheathed his daggers swiftly. Corina's fingers twitched to their reflexes, but she relaxed shortly after, because Rhode didn't draw his weapons to attack. Instead, he turned his wrist and showed her the daggers.

"This is what happened, Miss Corina. I received these two daggers and according to my investigation, they seemed to be deeply related to Ivory Valley, which is of utmost importance to me. As for how important it is, I can't answer you for now. But I can promise you that it is crucial enough for me to boldly request entry from you."

"Oh?"

Corina's curiosity piqued and she took over the daggers from Rhode.

Corina instantly felt a connection with the daggers. These two weapons reflected an elaborate and delicate design that was unique to the Elves, whether it was the hilt carved with patterns of nature or the magical powers contained in the blade. Corina grew increasingly curious because Elves disliked using weapons such as daggers or long swords. They felt that these weapons were too lethal and capable of shedding too much blood, which was why their general weapons were thin-bladed, blunt swords. Both the Rangers or Mages among the Elves preferred to carry them for close combat purposes.

Among the Elves, only the Queen's Elf Guards welded the long swords. However, their long swords were forged from crystal glass and not from steel.

Corina empathized with Rhode's feelings because she also felt curious over which Elf these two daggers belonged to. After all, she couldn't remember which popular Elf used daggers as their main weapon and if Rhode's investigation results were accurate, there might be some place they had neglected or forgotten in Ivory Valley.

"I understand."

Corina pondered for a moment and nodded.

"I have sensed Mr. Rhode's sincerity, but this matter is especially important and I can't call the shots. Please follow me, Mr. Rhode and..." Corina swept a glance to the little mermaid in the floating water ball and scanned her curiously. Got to say, this little mermaid's strange appearance would attract attention everywhere she went. "...the three ladies. I will guide all of you into the Elf Forest, but please comply with the Elves' rules as we enter. As for the matter regarding Ivory Valley, I will report this to the Queen and if the Queen approves of your request, you can then enter Ivory Valley, Mr. Rhode."

"No problem."

Rhode nodded in agreement. He didn't seem to be dissatisfied, which Corina heaved a sigh of relief and presented a smile. She returned the daggers to Rhode and stroked the Pegasus beside her. The Pegasus moved its neck comfortably before heading into the depth of the forest. Then, Corina beckoned.

"Welcome to the Elf Forest, everyone."

On the surface, the Elf Forest didn't appear any different from other forests. There were dense shrubs and thick, long vines all around. Warm sunlight spilled between the thriving green leaves and they heard the cheerful birds singing their merry little tunes. As they proceeded further, they discovered the biggest difference. They felt a gentle breeze and the fatigue and soreness drifted away from their body like filthy dust. Not only that, but there was also an indescribable tranquility and harmonious atmosphere. Time had as though frozen in the moment. The tunes of the chirping birds and their footsteps were as though shrouded in a layer of gauze, turning their vision fuzzy. The group observed the surrounding and listened to the calm breathing of nature. However, Anne was an exception. She widened her mouth and let out a long, satisfying yawn as though she hadn't slept for days. But even so, she slowly followed the group and rubbed her eyes. Judging from her sleepy look, Rhode suspected if she would just fall asleep immediately.

Lize and the little mermaid admired the picturesque sceneries of the Elf Forest. Perhaps due to the influence of the Elves, the forest emanated a graceful atmosphere.

It seems that Rhode isn't angry.

Corina stole a glance at Rhode. In fact, after Rhode revealed his true colors during the battle in the Soraka Mountain, Corina felt apprehensive for a while. Rhode had always been expressionless and she suspected if he had any objections. Later on, she unintentionally heard from the other mercenaries from the Fortress that it was normal for the young man to be expressionless. On the contrary, it would be a sign of danger if he ever smiled.

Corina didn't know if these remarks were trustworthy. However, she believed that the situation should be fine judging from the three young ladies following him casually.

Corina felt that the Queen wouldn't approve Rhode's request. But no matter what, this man was her 'comrade' who had faced the Duke Fiend alongside her and it wouldn't be nice of her to reject him directly. So she might as well invite him into the Elf Forest to satisfy his little curious heart.

If Corina knew that Rhode didn't care about her approval and he would surely enter the sacred land of the Elves no matter what, perhaps she wouldn't harbor such thoughts.

The Elves' gathering place didn't blend in with nature as much as Blackberry Town did. Instead, if it weren't for Corina who informed them of it, perhaps Lize and Anne would have misunderstood that it was just an ordinary open field. There were no traces of man-made buildings and only densely packed vines and shrubs existed all around. The shade-giving foliage and the calm, flowing river were so natural that it seemed as though no one stayed here...

"Please wait here for a moment. I will report to the Queen now."

Corina turned around and suddenly, hundreds of birds fluttered and sang in harmony, symbolizing a grand welcome. Corina puckered her brows and pondered in silence before turning around solemnly.

"Mr. Rhode, the Queen wishes to see you."

Chapter 605: Sacred Land of the Elves (2)

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

"Oh?"

Rhode was astonished. He wasn't surprised that Corina had requested to report to the Elf Queen herself because he knew that the Elf Queen seldom met guests personally. Although this had nothing to do with the difference in viewpoints of each unique race, identity, and arrogance, the Elf Queen actually demanded to meet him. Rhode swept a glance at Corina. He believed that she had reported to the Elf Queen about the entire happenings of Soraka Mountain. However, the Elves didn't take any actions thereafter and it seemed that they were waiting for his arrival here...

Rhode hesitated no more and nodded before turning to his group.

"Wait here for awhile."

"Alright, Leader. Come back soon. Ah..." Anne let out a huge yawn. She leaned on a tree, slid her bum to the ground, and closed her eyes comfortably. "Anne will be napping for awhile. Anne's too tired... Ah..."

Lize nodded in agreement. After the wild, crazy night, her condition appeared much better than Rhode's. Not only was she in high spirits, but she also emanated an unprecedented, dazzling glamor. Rhode lamented. No wonder the ancestors said that there were no fields that were destroyed by constant plowing; instead, only cows died from exhaustion. He worked like a bull for the entire night and had even strained his waist, but on the contrary, Lize was bustling with energy. Rhode didn't expect that Lize would be so alluring after she was released by the Mind Devil. Each time after Rhode ejected his warm desires, she would get him burning after she turned around and moaned seductively. Her moans were even more powerful than 'love drugs'. Rhode had experienced this from Celestina, but it wasn't anything strange because Demons were born to entice mortals using their thoughts, words, or bodies. There were some powerful Mages who caught some dainty Demons or Succubus and bound them as slaves using contracts. Most of the Mages were addicted after enjoying their bodies and headed down a road of destruction step by step due to the Demon's enticement.

However, Lize wasn't a Demon, but a mixed-blood of an Angel and Human. Therefore, this had nothing to do with bloodline and came totally natural from her. Come to think of it, perhaps it is due to this reason that it is so terrifying.

If it weren't for the fact that black magic didn't exist in this world, Rhode would've suspected that Lize had practiced some Taoist cultivation method that he had seen on the Internet.

Lize didn't know what was going on in Rhode's mind. She detected his gaze and lowered her blushing face slightly. Last night felt like a dream for her. Although Rhode held back at the start, it was her first time, after all, and the painful experience left a lasting mark in her mind. However, she didn't back down either, just like how the phantom behaved in the mental world. Lize had the tendencies of self-harming and she knew that she had done things that had let Anne and Rhode down. However, she failed to be frank with Anne, which was why she accepted such a method to punish herself. Although Rhode was violent in bed and every thrust gave her tremendous pain, she gritted her teeth and didn't reject or scream in pain.

However, an unprecedented feeling replaced her suffering after the pain subsided gradually. It was a crazy feeling. There were many times when Lize felt that she had given up on her rationality. She didn't know what she was saying or yelling as she laid before Rhode loosely like a puddle of mud. She couldn't remember exactly how many times they had done it. Until the radiance of dawn spilled through the window and broke the melody in the darkness, both of them came to a shocking realization about how crazy they were.

What astonished Lize the most was that she felt extremely energetic. It was a miracle that they could still walk after a night of crazy activities and apart from the discomfort and soreness between her legs, she felt that she was in high spirits.

However, Lize's personality was gentle and reserved, after all. She shyly nodded in response to Rhode.

In contrast, the little mermaid appeared reluctant to part and she laid against the wall of the water ball to gaze at her master. However, she had grown to be independent. Although she couldn't bear to be separated from Rhode, she didn't stick to his side stubbornly like a fish that had left its pond and couldn't find a way to survive on the dry land. Although it looked like it, that was.

Rhode turned to Corina and nodded. Then, he followed her lead into the deep forest.

The Elf Forest was the Elf Queen's palace despite it not being as grandeur as human palaces or as dignified as human temples. And now, Rhode was heading to the Elf Queen's throne.

The tiny path ahead was hidden within the shrubs and shade-giving foliage. The long, intertwining vines were as though curtains draping from tree branches. As Corina stood before them, the vines and branches slowly withdrew and revealed the inner path. Although there weren't any glorious buildings or perfectly polished ground that could reflect as a mirror, Rhode sensed a solemn and serene aura drifting toward him from the front.

Not only that, but Rhode also felt his daggers trembling to the aura. He had never felt this response in Gracier and Madaras where their spiritual powers rippled violently like waves crashing and cleansing his soul... Suddenly, his vision whitened and he felt slightly dazed.

But it was only for an instant. Shortly after, he returned to his senses and felt two soft, ice-cold hands holding his. Rhode glanced with the corner of his eyes and saw two petite, whitish figures beside him. The Elf sisters looked the same as when they first met. Snowy robe and a wide hood that covered their youthful, adorable faces, exposing only their smooth chins. Even though the Elf sisters remained unfazed by his gaze, he felt their responses from the energy spreading from their tiny hands.

"Mr. Rhode, is anything the matter? Are you feeling unwell?"

Corina asked out of concern while Rhode shook his head.

"It's nothing, Miss Corina. I was just feeling a little tired after the long journey."

"I see."

Corina nodded in relief and continued to move ahead.

This is crazy...

Rhode was astounded by her response. Although Corina had just entered the Legendary Stage, her awareness as an Elf was amazingly sharp and seldom would there be anyone who could hide from the Elves' perception. But now, Gracier and Madaras were standing beside him, only two meters away from Corina, and she didn't notice their presence at all. The [Stealth] Skill was too absurd. This had almost surpassed the technical limits and could be considered a system 'bug'.

Rhode looked at Corina's back and harbored some evil designs. Gracier was right behind her and if she launched forward to stab Corina in her back, would she be able to avoid it?

Rhode wasn't sure of the Elf sisters' specific strength as they hadn't transformed into cards. However, he observed that they hadn't transcended into the Legendary Stage yet so their strength hovered between the Peak Elite and Master Stages. But, even so, that would be terrifying enough because this was the real world, where no one, apart from Undead Creatures, could survive from getting their hearts pierced and throats slashed. This was the same for Corina.

As this thought flashed in Rhode's head, they had arrived at the Elf Queen's throne.

In a single glance, this place didn't resemble a palace at all. A young woman who appeared to be in her early 20s sat quietly on a benched formed by the vines under an enormous, ancient oak. Rhode immediately recognized that she was the Elf Queen.

She had a full head of dazzling, long green hair that draped to the ground and her soft expression was filled with a holy, natural charm as though she were an elegant and refined byword in humanity. As long as she gazed at any ordinary folk with her thousand years old eyes, they would throw all the distractions in their heads away and serve her. She was like nature itself and could only be viewed from afar and not be disrespected. But Rhode preferred those that he could trifle with because it would be easier to get closer to them after intimate interactions, after all.

Apart from the two Elf Knights clad in glass armor who stood beside her, there were several elderly Elves standing around the Elf Queen. Witnessing Rhode's arrival, the Elves shifted their attention to him and he sensed that their gazes were filled with complicated emotions: astonishment, confusion, and puzzlement. It seems to be a bad idea for me to come to this place.

"Your Majesty, I've followed your orders and brought Mr. Rhode Alander."

Corina stepped forward and bowed respectfully to the Elf Queen before moving to the side. The etiquette and hierarchical system among the Elves wasn't as distinct and complicated as the Humans where there were many times when one respected another due to their moral conduct and not their statuses. However, this was meaningless for Rhode. As a player who had built his reputation in the Country of Law after the Munn Kingdom was destroyed, he knew how he should behave before the Elf Queen. After Corina backed down to the side, he took a step forward and placed his right hand on his right shoulder and bent over slightly.

"Nice to meet you, Your Majesty. The melodious tunes of the cheerful birds and the fresh green tender leaves swayed in the monsoon that blew through the forests, mountains, and rivers. It is of my utmost honor to be summoned by you."

Not only did the Elf Queen's mesmerizing eyes glint, but the other Elves who shot doubtful looks at Rhode also revealed friendly and astonished expressions. The tense atmosphere lightened instantly.

Rhode didn't speak any further and he stood appropriately on the spot. He knew that the Elves loved silence and they disliked spontaneous humans because they deemed it as offensive and barbarous behavior. This could be considered the difference between the civilizations of Elves and Humans.

Perhaps an ordinary human would be at one's wits' end, but this wasn't the first time the Elf Queen had summoned for Rhode. This was why he didn't appear tense at all. He had even leisurely sized up the wide treetop that almost shrouded the entire sky and compared it to the scenery in his memories.

Not only did his calmness exceed the Elf Queen's expectations, but even Corina was flabbergasted. After all these years, she had never seen a Human behave so calmly before the Elf Queen. The Humans usually appeared flustered as soon as they met the Elf Queen, but this wasn't the case for Rhode. In an instant, Corina's assessment of him had raised. But...

Corina puckered her brows and scrutinized the space around him. Strange... Why do I feel like there is something unusual there?

"Hi there, Mr. Rhode. I've heard from Corina about you."

As expected, the Elf Queen had taken the initiative and spoken shortly after.

"I want to thank you for your courage and resourcefulness. If it weren't for you, we, Elves, would have lost an incredibly important soul and I would have lost my daughter forever..." The Elf Queen paused and turned to Corina.

"Corina is a good girl. Perhaps you aren't aware, but I was so worried for her safety when I learned about the happenings in Soraka Mountain. The Chaos is evil and dangerous. The Duke Fiend is the most terrifying presence and threat of this world. Fortunately, it has been eradicated from this world. If not, I can't imagine how many living things will suffer in its presence."

"You flatter me, Your Majesty," Rhode said without expressing any emotions.

"Although I've indeed done my part in eradicating the Duke Fiend, Miss Corina also performed outstandingly well. If it weren't for her, perhaps I would have lost my life in its hands and everything would have ended for me right there."

What Rhode said wasn't false. Back then, if Corina didn't offer her helping hand and drag him along, perhaps he wouldn't be able to stand here in one piece. To Corina, perhaps the Duke Fiend would still be annihilated even if Rhode died during the battle, but Rhode knew that if he was dead, all the systems with him as the base would lose their effects and everything would be done for.

"I admire your humbleness, Mr. Rhode."

The Elf Queen smiled and entered straight into the topic.

"I've heard from Corina about your intentions, Mr. Rhode. I have to put it up front that Ivory Valley is the sacred land of the Elves and our heroes are buried in that place. Ever since its existence, no humans have entered the place. This is why..."

The Elf Queen didn't finish her sentence, but Rhode had puckered his brows. It seems that this is getting troublesome.

"... I can't agree to your request just yet. But you've indeed helped us and saved the beautiful, determined souls of us Elves from the contamination of the Chaos and falling into an eternal abyss. For that, if you agree, we shall..."

The Elf Queen paused and expressed a difficult expression. However, Rhode understood that as a ruler of the Elves, the Elf Queen had to maintain the traditions while his actions were indeed worth the Elves' praises. It was apparent that the Elf Queen was thinking of a solution that could satisfy both parties.

Suddenly, a voice sounded.

"I have a suggestion, Your Majesty."

Chapter 606: Sacred Land of the Elves (3)

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

"I have a suggestion, Your Majesty."

Everyone turned to the voice. An Elf clad in elegant glass armor stepped forward in large strides. He removed his helmet and revealed a clean, pretty face. He bowed to the Elf Queen before turning to everyone with a smile.

"Just as Your Majesty has mentioned, we have to uphold the traditions. But we have to also admit that there isn't a rule in Ivory Valley which prohibits entry to Humans. It is solely because it was the sacred land of the Elves, so the Humans seldom requested for entry. We can't deny this young man's identity and rights because no matter what, he fought the Duke Fiend bravely and our adorable Corina was able to return to us in one piece. We must thank him for that and besides, his moral conduct shouldn't be an issue either."

Corina's expression became a little peculiar. She gaped and looked at the Elf who had stepped forward, but she hesitated after gazing at Rhode's expressionless face. Everyone focused their attention on the Elf and wondered if he had come up with a solution to resolve this problem. Indeed. There wasn't a rule which prohibited human entry into Ivory Valley. However, Humans basically weren't willing to enter Ivory Valley due to various reasons over the changes in thousands of years. Therefore, it had become an unspoken rule that was agreed upon tacitly.

However, an unspoken rule was an unspoken rule, after all.

"But we have to admit that if we allow a human to enter our sacred land, it will cause dissatisfaction among the Elves. Therefore, I have a suggestion." The Elf paused and shot a meaningful gaze at Rhode. Shortly after, he revealed the answer.

"We can determine his qualifications through the Sword Dance Rite."

The Elf Queen's eyes flickered while Rhode twitched his brow. He stared at the Elf who appeared to be about 30 years old silently. Although the Elf appeared to be speaking up for him, Rhode wasn't a newbie who didn't understand a single thing about their customs. In player term, the Sword Dance Rite was considered a dueling rite. However, the Elves' battles were non-lethal, lacked bloodshed, and were more artistic. But if one were to belittle this rite, one would be on the suffering end. The Elves who were capable of participating in the Sword Dance Rite weren't any random newbies. They had been through years of tough training before becoming the most elite Swordsmen.

And most importantly, there was a clearly written rule about the Sword Dance Rite—only Elves could participate.

Even though this Elf sounded generous, Rhode knew that the Elf had actually turned him down. No matter what, the Sword Dance Rite was the pride of the Elves and it wouldn't be comfortable regardless of whether Rhode won or lost. If he lost, the Elves would think that he had sullied their sacred rite. If he won, the Elves wouldn't be delighted and they would feel that he had damaged their pride and tarnished their honor. Therefore, even though the Elf appeared to be providing a reasonable solution, Rhode knew that this was not much different from being rejected.

"Please wait a moment, Sir Dale."

As expected, an Elf Mage stepped forward with a stern expression and furrowed brows.

"The Sword Dance Rite is a grandeur tradition for us, Elves. Don't you think your suggestion is a little rash? Besides... this isn't a suitable suggestion for our guest, is it?"

"I know about that, of course. But apart from the Sword Dance Rite, is there any other way to make our fellow Elves recognize this man and willingly allow him into Ivory Valley?"

This Elf was truly cunning. His remark sealed the mouths of the others completely. Indeed. The Sword Dance Rite was the most supreme in the hearts of the Elves and the winner would gain respect from all the Elves. This was the only rite that would fit Rhode's requirement, but conversely, the other Elves couldn't find a substitute for it due to it supremacy.

Rhode twitched his brows slightly and gazed at the Elf Knight named Dale. Dale detected his gaze and didn't reveal any awkward or hateful expression. Instead, he winked to Rhode slyly as though one was pranking his friend. From Dale's actions, Rhode didn't see it as hatred or dissatisfaction. Instead, it felt more like—being mischievous?

What does this mean? Testing me?

Indeed. This was a tough question.

The Elf Queen pondered in silence and shifted her glances between Dale and Rhode. On the contrary, Corina was a little nervous. She placed her hands on her chest and looked worriedly at Dale. She frowned and wished to speak her mind, but nothing came out of her mouth. As for the other Elves, they were whispering into one another's ears, discussing if Dale's suggestion would work.

But no one expected that Rhode would speak up out of a sudden.

"I'm extremely thankful for your kind intentions, Mr. Dale."

Everyone shifted their attention to him. They were curious to hear what this young man had to say for himself. Rhode continued to display his ice-cold expression.

"I know the Sword Dance Rite is sublime and highly regarded by the Elves. Not only is it a test, but it is also the symbolization of the Elves' courage and glory. As a Human, I don't think I'm suitable to participate in it."

Several of the Elves looked at Rhode with much kinder and warmer gazes. After all, Rhode had shown the respect he had for the Sword Dance Rite. Besides, he had once again proven that he revered the Elves' customs. Indeed, as Rhode had expected, the reason why the Elves discussed the issue was that most of them couldn't accept him taking part in the rite. It was because it would imply that he was the strongest warrior among the Elves if he won... Although the Elves were naturally gentle and kind hearted, none of them would feel comfortable if that happened.

However, Rhode hadn't finish his words.

"But..."

Rhode continued.

"I have to say this. It is of utmost importance to me for heading into Ivory Valley this time and I don't wish to give up this chance. So, I do have a small little suggestion."

Rhode gazed at Dale and nodded with a smile.

"The Sword Dance Rite that Mr. Dale suggested was a good idea, but I can't participate as a Human. So I suggest that my companions participate in the Sword Dance Rite on my behalf. If they become the final victors, I hope we will be granted entry to Ivory Valley. How about it?"

The Elf Queen sized Rhode up from head to toe curiously. Dale's charming face revealed some doubts and curiosity.

"No problem with that. If your companions are capable of winning the Sword Dance Rite, they will be the strongest warriors of the Elves. But Mr. Rhode, I'm sure you're aware that only Elves could participate in the Sword Dance Rite. But..." Dale turned to Corina. "... You wouldn't be thinking of letting Corina take your place, right?"

"Of course not, Mr. Dale."

Rhode lifted his head and clapped his hands.

"It's time to show yourselves. Gracier, Madaras."

The girls standing beside him let out a crisp chuckle. Then, they took half a step forward in unison.

The entire atmosphere changed.

The Elves were curious to know who would be substituting Rhode for the Sword Dance Rite. However, as they were deep in thoughts, their vision flashed and two petite figures in snowy robes emerged out of nowhere.

"—!"

In an instant, the Elves aimed their bows at Rhode with fully drawn strings and the Elf Knights standing guard beside the Elf Queen unsheathed their swords and stood before her.

It was no wonder that they had such drastic reactions because only the strongest could serve the Elf Queen. Although Corina had entered the Legendary Stage, she was still one of the weakest among them. It could be said that almost everyone present was in the Legendary Stage apart from Rhode. Moreover, Elves were born with sharp senses and no one could escape their detection. But they felt as though the truth of the world had crumbled entirely for them — They were certain that there was no one beside Rhode just a moment ago. However, those two girls emerged beside him in the blink of an eye! They knew that it was neither a diversionary tactic nor a teleportation spell. As a race that possessed advanced magic powers, the Elves were sensitive to the undulation of magic. However, they were sure that there wasn't any undulation of magic, not even from the two girls—no!

They didn't detect the presence of the two girls!

Corina's hands trembled. She instinctively aimed her bow at the two girls, but she discovered a problem shortly after. She was sure that she had aimed at the two girls and as long as she released her fingers, the light arrow would pierce their bodies in an instant. However, she couldn't lock on to their auras! Not only that, but she also couldn't sense if they were dead or alive. Although the two girls were standing before her, everything else had proven that they didn't exist in this world!

No. Corina couldn't even rely on her eyes. She had a misconception that if her focus shifted for a bit or she relaxed for one second, the two petite figures would vanish entirely. She squinted and stared, fearing to lose sight of them. She didn't feel so pained and exhausted before. It felt as though she was chasing two imaginary figures.

Even though the Elves reacted drastically, none of them surpassed the Elf Queen's reactions. The Elf Queen who had been sitting calmly jumped to her feet abruptly and her gorgeous face turned pale. She stared at the two girls and muttered under her breath.

"Carlesdine..."

The Elf Queen kept her warm smile and revealed a stern expression.

"Mr. Rhode, I respect that you're our guest, but... this joke isn't interesting at all. Do you understand what I mean?"

"Of course, Your Majesty."

Rhode shrugged and spread his arms apart.

"But I can guarantee that this isn't a joke. Besides, this is the main reason why I wish to enter Ivory Valley. I think you should understand what I mean now."

Gracier and Madaras had pulled down their hoods and shown their faces, revealing their heads full of white long hair which complimented their delicate, snowy skin. Their mesmerizing golden eyes, pointy ears, and a complex pattern that extended from their cheeks to neck presented them gracefully.

Ghastly whiteness spread over the faces of several Elves.

"They are... White Elves? Oh, Lord! Are they truly the White Elves?!"

The Elf race had branched out over the millennium. Some existed since a long time ago while some varied due to certain occurrences. An example would be the Behermes Alchemy Elves and the Dark Elves, who were the result of the Creation War. The Elves had gone through two differentiations—one was when the world was shaped. Due to unspecified reasons, the Elves split up, left the main Plane of Existence, and lived in the elemental Planes of Existences. The Ocean Elves summoned by Rhode belonged to one of the branched out Elf races. Apart from the Ocean Elves, there were also the Blaze Elves, Wind Elves, and Ground Elves. However, as the four races were the result of the elemental Plane of Existences, they didn't have much connections with the Elves in the main Plain of Existence. On one hand, the relationship between the Dark Elves and their distant relatives had unresolvable feuds. On the other hand, the Behermes had basically died out. It was due to this that apart from the Dark Elves and Alchemy Elves, most of the Elves on the continent consisted of the Earth Elves, Moon Elves, and High Elves. The Moon Elves and High Elves were the remnant of the ancient age while the Earth Elves were a new branch that emerged afterward.

But, there was another race that was above them all—the White Elves.

Rumor had it that the White Elves had true, royal blood and were the original rulers of the Elves. However, after the Creation War, the White Elves had basically gone extinct and due to that, their relatives, the High Elves, took over the rule. The Moon Elves were responsible in assisting and serving the royals while the Earth Elves became the people of the Elf Kingdom.

In the current Elf Kingdom, the Elf Queen was a High Elf while Corina was a Moon Elf. But, even so, their appearances were similar and only had differences in their eyes, skin, and hair colors. No matter which Elf race they were, they had dark colored eyes except for the White Elves because rumor had it that the White Elves were the first batch of Elves created by the Creator Dragon Soul according to the Creator Dragon Soul's appearance. This was why their eye color was identical to the Creator Dragon Soul—golden.

The emergence of the two girls was like two atomic bombs dropped into the ocean, giving rise to enormous billows. Even Elves who had lived for thousands of years couldn't stay calm. After all, the mysterious and terrifying strength emanating from the two girls was bone-chilling. Not only did the Elves not notice their presence before they emerged, but their royal identities as While Elves was also equally astounding. The White Elves had vanished from this continent for millenniums and even the longest living Elves had become legends. But now, the legends had re-emerged and become reality before their very eyes.

Some of the Elves turned to the Elf Queen worriedly because they knew that the Elf Queen wasn't one who showed emotions on her face and she was an extremely gentle, peaceful person. Who exactly were those two girls who triggered such a huge reaction from her?

The Elf Queen realized that she had lost her self-control and she extended her slender arm to calm the Elves around her. Then, she combed her long hair with her slim fingers and looked at Rhode with complicated glints.

"I understand, Mr. Rhode. I was suspicious of your request before. But now, I understand your request to enter Ivory Valley..."

The Elf Queen paused and gazed at the two girls with complex emotions. Then, she let out a slight sigh.

"I agree with your suggestion, Mr. Rhode. Please have a rest while we select a competitor for the Sword Dance Rite."

The Elf Queen firmly decided.

Chapter 607: Sacred Land of the Elves (4)

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

"Mr. Rhode, how did it go?"

Lize stood up hurriedly and said. Rhode spread his arms apart and shrugged. "Everything went well. If I wasn't mistaken, we will resolve this troublesome problem soon." Rhode casually glanced at the dagger hilts by his waist lightly.

"Let's go. During this period, I will bring you girls to shop around the Elves' gathering place. I'm sure you will be interested."

Rhode turned to the towering oak that punctured through the clouds.

It seemed that there were many things required of them to handle.

As Rhode had imagined, the Elves scrambled into a complete mess after he left, which was rare for beings who loved silence. But even so, they didn't kick up a fuss like the Humans. The Elves' debate were basically done in calm whispers because they loads of time in their lives and they wouldn't feel annoyed by an unresolved problem. If a problem couldn't be resolved swiftly, they could leave it aside for months, years, or even decades. However, the Humans found this behavior annoying because they didn't have the longevity to accompany the long-living Elves in discussing whether bread should be eaten sweet or salted. But on the contrary, this was viewed as impatience in the Elves' eyes...

Sometimes, the barrier between cultures was truly difficult to eliminate.

Ranks weren't as rigid among Elves. However, no one dared to misbehave before the Elf Queen. At this moment, the Elves had gathered into smaller groups and whispered about their concerns. The elderly Elves were concerned about why the extinct White Elves would suddenly reemerge after thousands of years, while the Elf Knights were curious about how the White Elves concealed themselves from their sharp senses. It wasn't too ridiculous if the White Elves could conceal their own aura, but not anyone was capable of concealing themselves from the Elves' vision.

However, the Elves were aware that their behavior was inappropriate before the Elf Queen and they swiftly retreated. The Elf Queen, Corina, Dale, and a few others remained. The Elf Queen had restored her usual peaceful expression, but her eyes were glinting in an unprecedented, intense radiance. No one knew what was going on in her mind.

As Rhode mentioned, the Carlesdine had vanished entirely after the Creation War. As a class among the Elf race that was unfit to be seen by the public, most Elves knew very little about them. Basically, there weren't many Elves who knew about this class and it was due to this reason that the Elf Queen revealed a rare surprised look when she saw the two girls.

"Carlesdine..."

The Elf Queen murmured and let out a sigh.

Unlike the Dark Elves, the Carlesdine wasn't considered a taboo among the Elf race. However, they were rarely mentioned by others. The assassination skills that the Dark Elves possessed wasn't a result of their enlightenment after living in the underground. Instead, they were the fruit of labor refined from their hard work. But after the Creation War, the Carlesdine had vanished in the history of the Elf race. One of the reasons was that even though the Carlesdine were Elf Assassins, not every Elf was capable of becoming assassins.

"Your Majesty?"

Corina gazed at her dubiously. The Elf Queen had always presented a gentle, yet calm image, like this piece of vast land that contained every single thing. Corina had never seen the Elf Queen troubling over anything as far as she could remember and this was a first.

"Is there anything troubling you?"

"It's nothing. I'm just feeling a little troubled, Corina."

The Elf Queen revealed a warm smile. "I didn't expect a day where I could see the Carlesdine again..."

"Your Majesty, what exactly is the Carlesdine?"

This time, Dale was the one who asked. He kept his smile and looked at the Elf Queen with a solemn expression. Corina was also curious to hear the answers to this question and it was also the biggest doubt in the hearts of all the Elves present. Almost all the Elves who witnessed the two girls were in the Legendary Stage. Their auras overlapped like radars with unique wave band functions enveloping everything, weaving into layers of gigantic nets where nothing could escape their senses. If they didn't see it for themselves, perhaps none of them would have believed their words. But this was the first time they felt frightened.

Corina's experience wasn't an individual phenomenon. In fact, Dale also felt the same. As the most outstanding and powerful Elf Knight of the Elf Queen, he failed to lock on the position of the two girls even after they had appeared. Although Dale was able to locate the presence of the two girls using his eyes, he couldn't lock on to them as though they didn't exist. What astounded Dale the most was that he was incapable of sensing the spiritual undulation from the two girls.

This was entirely impossible because spiritual energy was the core in driving all living things in the world, where even the Undead Creatures of the Country of Darkness were no exception. However, the two girls were as though illusory and without any life or soul where everyone could only see the imaginary figures in their minds and not the actual presence.

If it weren't for the fact that Rhode wasn't a Mage, perhaps the Elves would believe that this young man had cast an illusion spell to trick their senses. However, even the Creator Dragon Soul couldn't cast an illusion spell that could deceive the Elf Queen's eyes.

"Carlesdine..."

The Elf Queen revealed a bitter smile. She turned to the azure sky with a sorrowful and helpless expression.

"... Is an ancient title for the Elves' true heroes who had disappeared forever after the Creation War. It may be too distant for you guys. They have entirely been forgotten by our people, but we can't deny their contributions for our entire Elf race.

The Elf Queen paused and muttered to herself irresolutely. Then, she continued.

"The Carlesdine were the assassins of the Elf race."

"Eh?"

The Elves didn't react any calmer than Lapis when she heard about this news from Rhode. Instead, they reacted much more drastically because they understood the honor and spirit of Elves more than anyone else. Assassins—a class that was related to darkness and evil and shouldn't be present in the Elves at all. The Dark Elves unleashed the assassination techniques that they had learned from the Carlesdines to their maximum potential while the ordinary Elves would rather become Rangers or Foresters because assassins were a degrading symbolization.

But now, the Elf Queen's words overwrote their thoughts.

"Y-Your Majesty? You must be kidding. How is this possible..."

Corina stammered and widened her eyes unbelievably. This news was much more shocking than when the Duke Fiend emerged before her eyes!

"I'm not joking, Corina."

The Elf Queen said with a smile. Corina reminded the Elf Queen of herself when she first heard this news and she understood why Corina appeared so flabbergasted.

"All of you should remember that during the Creation War, we, Elves, almost faced the danger of extinction. Our proud techniques were useless in the face of the tyrannical and absolute strength of the enemies. In order to live on, we had no choice but to find everything within our grasp and save ourselves from vanishing in the terrifying war like insignificant, filthy dust. Of course, you know about the consequences too. Back then, some of the Elves sought stronger strength and chose to violate the path of nature while others chose to escape from the unbearable hardships..."

Corina and Dale knew how it all began for the Dark Elves. The Dark Elves' aspiration to escape couldn't be considered as sinister or corrupted. Back then, the Creation War was at its peak and the Elves were close to being demolished completely. It was due to immense pressure that some of them abandoned the war because they had suffered enough hardships and couldn't see the glimmer of hope for the future anymore. They would rather be humiliated and leave a tinder for the Elves' future.

Got to say, the Dark Elves' aspirations weren't wrong, but the pace in which they abandoned everything was too quick. The Elves on the surface were still fighting for their honor and glory while the Elves who were under tremendous pressure escaped to the underground and in order to survive, they took to unscrupulous means and even their minds and bodies were as though tainted by darkness. In the end, they abandoned their oath and served the Demons. This was the start of the war between the Elves on the surface and the Dark Elves.

However, the Elf Queen had no intentions of explaining this in detail.

"... But there were several Elves who fought bravely for us. In the end, they chose a different path and became the Carlesdines, Elves of the Wind. They were the assassins in the wind, silently seizing formidable lives that were threatening our race. But there was a price to pay."

The Elf Queen paused and bit her lips gently. For the first time, the pair of eyes that had seen countless history and time revealed unparalleled sorrows.

"The Carlesdines possess a unique ability and I'm sure you've experienced it yourselves. They exist, but don't exist, at the same time. No one can detect their presence or even spiritual undulations if they aren't willing to reveal themselves. But not every Elf is capable of it. In fact, the Carlesdines were mainly made up of White Elves."

"Why is that so, Your Majesty?"

Dale placed his hand against his chin.

"Because, in order to become a Carlesdine, one had to go through a holy, yet terrifying test."

The Elf Queen let out a soft sigh.

" Elves who passed the test had their existences erased from this world entirely. In other words, when an Elf became a Carlesdine, their identity and entirety was abandoned. From then on, they would no longer be a member of this world and none of our skills or spells would be effective on them because they don't belong in this world anymore. But there was also a horrifying side-effect. The Elves who became a Carlesdine couldn't live for more than a century. Not only that, but they would also be erased and forgotten completely after they died and even their closest friends couldn't remember that they existed."

The Elf Queen revealed a sorrowful, bitter smile.

"And it's the same for me. Although I'm the Queen of the Elves, I'm only aware that Carlesdines were a class that once existed. There might be a lot of powerful beings or heroes who have sacrificed their lives for the Elves among them, but no one knows about their names. Even those who knew their names would forget about them completely after they died."

"..."

Corina fell into deep silence. She clenched her fists and laid them by her chest. She had never felt this pained. Don't the Carlesdine who had abandoned everything for the sake of the Elves deserve the rights to be commemorated? Corina recalled Rhode's request at this thought. Ivory Valley—the place that had buried all the Elves' heroes. Will the forgotten Carlesdines be able to sleep in peace in the beautiful valley? No one commemorated them and no one felt sorrowful or pained for their sacrifices. The Elves didn't even know that such heroes existed. Is this the right way?

"This is fascinating, Your Majesty."

Dale's voice sounded in her ear and Corina looked up subconsciously at his eyes that were glinting with amusement.

"If it was as what you've said, the Carlesdine had vanished from this world and couldn't live for more than a century. So then, how did that young Human get into contact with them?"

"I'm not too sure about that too."

The Elf Queen shook her head slightly.

"But I'm sure that the young man named Rhode has an out of the ordinary background. As for the two Carlesdine girls, I didn't sense the aura of the Undead in them, so I'm sure that they aren't Undead Creatures. But the Carlesdine has a unique skill to isolate themselves from all detection, which is why even I failed to verify their true identities..."

"This isn't difficult, Your Majesty."

Dale unrolled a graceful, confident smile.

"If you agree, it would be my honor to take up their challenge in the Sword Dance Rite."