Elysia

"To think you'd travel through a Grand Magic Zone all by yourself *sigh* You're as impressive as ever Grim."

'This damn monster's gotten even scarier than last time!'

Keeping a smile on his face, Patri and the others led Grim through a forest-like area on their way to their destination. Looking at the scenery, he noticed that the greenery here was much brighter and vibrant compared to that of the Witches Forest.

'Even the mana here feels warmer.'

Hearing Patri's previous comment about the Grand Magic Zone, Grim couldn't help but laugh and scratch the back of his head.

"Hehe, this much is nothing. You should have seen the Grand Magic Zone I was training in for the last two months. The mana there was wild as fuck. Getting here was a cake walk in comparison."

*Smiles*

*Smiles*

*Smiles*

Did he just say he spent two months training in a mana zone?

It had to be said that travelling through a Grand Magic Zone was no easy task. Even Patri and the others had to exhaust quite a bit of energy before they were able to get here. But to hear Grim describe the Grand Magic Zone that they were in now as a cake walk in comparison to the one he had spent 2 months training in, well it almost felt like he was attacking their pride.

Just how much more monstrous had this bastard become in the last two months?

"Y-You're unbelievable Grim." Fana stuttered trying not to draw to much attention to herself.

Discreetly looking him up and down, the amount of mana gathering around Grim left Rhya feeling speechless and regretful as to what they had to do for him.

'If he had gotten this strong just by training by himself, should we really be trying to make him stronger?'

Walking deeper into the forest, the trio eventually began to slow down and push Grim to the front as a worried look flashed across all of their faces as they said in union-

"W-WELCOME HOME!"

'Please don't destroy it.'

Standing before a grassy plain and hit with a rush of gentle wind that ruffled his hair, Grim found himself whistling at the sight of what lay before him. Groups of animals casually strolling around, large and small trees scattered all over the place and many little houses stationed everywhere.

If he had to describe the scene before him. The only thing he could call it would be harmonious. Even the mana felt like it was in harmony with everything else. It almost felt like he was watching a scene straight out of a Disney movie.

While Grim was admiring the view, the three elves were quietly kicking themselves for promising Licht that they'd look after him to the best of their abilities. With how strong and unstable he was at the moment, wouldn't making him any stronger threaten the safety of their village?

"Are those..."

Focusing his attention on the distance, Grim saw a couple of children running around and playing. But their ears... they were almost like his.

"The descendants of Licht and princess Tetia." Patri answered with a smile as he looked at them from afar. "Welcome to Elysia Grim. The new elf village."

"New elf village..." He repeated as the words settled with him.

'Is that why the mana here feels purer than at the Heart Kingdom.'

"So this is what its meant by having the blessings of mana." He muttered.

"Indeed." Rhya nodded guiding Grim forward. "Wherever elves gather mana will follow."

"We are loved by this world and its mana."

'Didn't stop you from getting wiped out though.' He quietly laughed.

"Now that brings us to the reason you've come."

Walking past several descendants of Licht, Grim was greeted by a bunch of smiles and friendly waves.

'Weird...'

"The matter of devils pouring into this world and your need to get stronger. We're aware of all of it."

'Devils pouring into this world?'

'I don't remember the Heart Queen mentioning that.'

'Wait! Does that mean I don't even need to go to the Underworld?'

'I could wait here for them!'

Digesting that new piece of information, he did his best to keep his face neutral and fish for more information.

"How do you know all of this? Did someone from the Clover Kingdom contact you?"

"No." Patri shook his head.

"Then the Heart Kingdom?"

"You'll know soon enough." He answered trying to sound mysterious.

'...Why do I have the sudden urge to stab him?'

Walking deeper into the forest, the group eventually arrived in front of a large tree with a small entrance carved into its trunk. Standing next to the entrance was a skinny blond haired elf that Grim hadn't seen in a while.

'Vetto.'

"Tch, took you long enough." He said kissing his teeth. "She hasn't stopped talking since she found out he was coming. If you don't go in now I'm scared that she'll throw a tantrum."

Smiling lightly, the others ushered Grim forward.

"We'll wait for you here."

'Because we don't want to be with you more than we have to be.'

Frowning slightly, Grim paused for a moment before heading in alone.

'If they were going to attack me they wouldn't have brought me this deep into their territory.'

Walking up the steps and through the tree's entrance, he was immediately taken back by what was waiting for him.

...

...

...

"So you're Dryad."

"Yep!"

"And you have the gift of prophecy?"

"Mmm hmm."

"And you know all about devils?"

"Uh huh."

Chilling out on the tree floor and speaking to a large woman whose wavy green hair matched her plant-like green dress. Grim grilled the cheerful woman about everything she knew relating to himself and the underworld.

From what he was able to gather, devils were split into four different rankings. The lowest being Low ranking devils, Mid ranking devils, High ranking devils and finally Supreme Devils.

Finding out that Zagred would be considered High ranking left him feeling disappointed until he found out about the Supreme Devils.

Not to long after that, he learnt about the three rulers of the underworld, the tree of qliphoth and what would happen if they appeared in the living world.

He was even told about how the Elven Apostles of Sephirah and the Tree of Life were the reflection of the Tree of Qliphoth and the Supreme Devils that dwell in each level.

Unfortunately the majority of the Apostles of Sephirah had died with only Patri and the other three elves being what was left. And since they had all died early due to Zagred's plan, they never managed to reach their full potential and wouldn't be able to oppose the devils.

"Licht was the leader of the elves as well as the one standing on the highest level of the tree of life... Are you telling me that he could have been strong enough to contend with the one who dwells in the lowest levels? The King of Devils Lucifero?"

"Of course!" Dryad enthusiastically comfirmed.

"With Licht's talent he would have been more than enough to rival Lucifero if he stayed alive and was allowed to grow."

"What about me? Could I beat Lucifero?"

"No." She immediately shut that down. "While your talent is better than Licht's and your magic is the bane of all Devils, if Lucifero appeared right now you'd only be able to offer him your life."

"But there's no need to worry! Your kinfolk will help you prepare."

As if on cue, Patri and the other elves walked in with Patri taking the lead. Nodding towards the Dryad, he looked at Grim and step forward.

"While you may be strong right now, you don't know how to properly use that power of yours. So from now until you leave, the four of us will be charged with helping you learn how to utilize that power to its fullest."