Chapter 22: Defeat and Rebirth

Turaleone was located in a forest in the southwest of the continent. Due to its secluded nature and the pure, untouched air, elves began settling there over a hundred years ago, and their numbers gradually increased. Today, it is the area with the largest concentration of elves on the continent.

For the elves, the Whispering Forest in the distant east, the birthplace of their race, is a sacred, otherworldly sanctuary. But Turaleone feels more like their own kingdom. Though they've retained their characteristic arrogance and aloofness, over time, they've adopted more practical ways of living, partly due to their interaction with humans. This elven society now engages with humans, slowly replacing many of their old rituals and prayers with more down-to-earth customs.

Today, an unusual human guest arrived using a teleportation scroll. Elves are very selective in their dealings with humans, and very few are esteemed enough to possess a scroll for Turaleone's teleportation array. However, Theodorus was undoubtedly one of them. Whether in human kingdoms, here among the elves, or in the dwarves' underground cities, Theodorus was always a welcome guest. His mastery of magic earned him the respect of all magic users, his vast knowledge and insightful wisdom made him sought after by rulers, and his genial nature and adept social skills allowed him to make friends easily. During his previous travels across the continent, he had already forged ties with the elven elders here.

The colossal undead dragon was slowly heading toward Orford City, and in about three to four days, it would arrive. Theodorus had already devised a way to defeat this seemingly invincible behemoth, but he needed some magical items that only the elves of Turaleone possessed.

Upon his arrival, he immediately heard that the elders were in a meeting with an envoy sent by the Whispering Forest.

The Whispering Forest rarely concerned itself with worldly matters and seldom communicated with other elf factions. The fact that they sent an envoy suggested something very important had occurred, which worried Theodorus. Although he had never visited the Whispering Forest, he had heard from other elves that its inhabitants generally held a deep disdain for humans. If this envoy imposed such an attitude on the elders, Theodorus feared he might leave Turaleone empty-handed.

Unexpectedly, when the news of his arrival was announced, the elves invited him into the conference hall.

Upon entering, Theodorus greeted the elven elders, his old friends.

"You've arrived just in time. We were about to find a way to contact you," one of the elders said, inviting Theodorus to sit and pointing to a silver-haired female elf. "This is Lady Ruya, the envoy sent by the Whispering Forest," he introduced her, then gestured to Theodorus. "And this is the great mage and scholar we were just discussing—Theodorus, who has excellent relationships with many human nations and religious groups."

"Greetings," Theodorus smiled and nodded at the envoy. Her appearance was striking, even among the naturally graceful elves, and she seemed at odds with the rigid and ancient demeanor he had expected from someone from the Whispering Forest. There was an innocence, even naivety, in her expression. However, she didn't respond to Theodorus; instead, she frowned with an expression of disdain, clearly harboring a deep prejudice against humans.

"We are notifying all nations and groups with whom we have contact to assist in tracking down a certain individual," one of the elders said, handing Theodorus a portrait. "This is a sketch personally drawn by our envoy."

The portrait depicted a young human male. The elves' skilled hands and attention to detail were evident, and it was clear the envoy had a deep impression of this individual, as the likeness was vividly captured despite her lack of formal training in drawing.

Theodorus frowned as he examined the portrait and asked, "What exactly did this person do?"

Even the older elves lacked the experience to interpret subtle human expressions, a skill honed in the complex, deceit-filled world of human interactions. Thus, none of the elves noticed anything amiss in Theodorus's reaction.

"This human stole several important items from the Whispering Forest, and we must retrieve them. We hope you can help us, given your vast connections in human society. We trust you'll be able to uncover this person's identity and location," the elder explained.

"Rest assured, I will have good news for you soon," Theodorus replied confidently with a smile, his eyes flickering briefly. "But I also have a small request. I hope you can provide me with a few items."

Naturally, his request was immediately granted.

By the time Theodorus returned to Orford, it was already night. He promptly delivered the items to a blacksmith workshop in the city. The blacksmiths here had been secretly hired from the Kalendor Basin and were highly skilled, capable of forging the weapons exactly to his specifications.

It was already late at night when Theodorus left the workshop, utterly exhausted. So far, everything seemed to be going smoothly, but he was still only about 80% confident in his plan to defeat the dragon.

Eighty percent might be sufficient for many things, but not for this. Failure wasn't an option. If they failed, all of Orford, the city Theodorus had painstakingly built over the past decade, would be reduced to ashes.

And there was another troubling issue—how could he ensure that the "core" remained intact during the attack? Simply destroying it would be much easier.

Although he had promised Elaine that he would save the young man, that was mainly to reassure her and send her back with peace of mind. Even if they managed to extract the core intact, it was a legendary artifact. Should he really use it to save a life, or should he hand it over to the elves? And what would Elaine think?

"I imagine you're having quite a headache right now," a voice interrupted Theodorus's thoughts as he stepped into his house. He looked up in surprise to see someone he hadn't expected to be there. "I asked the city officials, and they said you were busy, so I decided to wait for you here," the person said, sitting casually in a chair, but their presence transformed the rough, crude chair into something dignified, as if it had been crafted by a master artisan.

Theodorus laughed. "I remember you had a talent for curing headaches. Since you're here now, I won't be disappointed. I've got plenty of headaches for you to help with."

The man smiled back. "Let's hope one night is enough. I also have my own troubles, which is why I came to see if we could work together. I flew here secretly using a flight spell, but I must return before dawn."

Three days later, about ten miles south of Orford.

Theodorus, Grutt, and Elaine watched as the massive figure of the undead dragon slowly appeared on the horizon. Nearby, a dozen lizardmen were pushing enormous ballistae.

These ballistae were about the height of two men and more than a man's width. Their bolts were equally massive, long enough to pierce any shield within 500 meters. Combined with the lizardmen's adjustable eyesight, these were terrifying weapons. The bolts were specially crafted, tipped with long, spiral-shaped sharp horns—unicorn horns that Theodorus had obtained from the Turaleone Forest.

"It's truly a magical work of art. I almost feel reluctant to destroy it," Theodorus sighed as he shook his head in awe.

Grutt said coolly, "I'm more interested in fighting it." He glanced at the robe Elaine was wearing. "If I could, I'd love to face it head-on."

Only someone trained in dark meditation could fully utilize the protective power of the robe. Otherwise, the exposed skin outside the robe would still be vulnerable to magical burns. Grutt had initially insisted on wearing the robe himself to confront the creature directly, but Theodorus had persuaded him otherwise.

After the dragon released its fiery breath, its magical defenses would temporarily weaken as it recharged. Theodorus knew Elaine was agile and could fit inside the robe, which would completely cover her, even her head and face, making her the ideal bait.

There was another reason. Theodorus wanted her to personally complete the task. He wanted her to retrieve the World Tree Leaf herself, to save the person who had once saved her with the same leaf. Only then would she be able to return and fulfill her destiny without regrets.

Theodorus held a long spear, one of the weapons the blacksmiths in Orford had forged over the past three days. Its specialized design ensured maximum accuracy and strength. The spearhead was also a unicorn horn, and at the very tip, a small cross was mounted.

The cross pendant was incredibly crafted from crystal, hollowed out with extraordinary skill, while the cross itself was made from a rare magic stone. This type of gemstone, imbued with immense magical power, could only be found in the Saundfest Mountains, where giant beasts and thunderbirds roamed. Once refined with magic, it could be endowed with unique magical properties, making it priceless—especially to a mage, for whom it would be almost invaluable.

Very few mages possessed such a thing, and among them, those who would forgo crafting it into a staff and instead carve it into an amulet were no more than five across the entire continent.

The undead dragon approached slowly but then suddenly quickened its pace. It had no eyes, but it sensed the presence of the ones who had harmed it a few days ago in the distance, prompting its instinct to rush forward. It was determined to charge in and melt those who gave it discomfort into its flames.

"Alright, let's begin," Theodorus said. Elaine nodded, glanced at the enormous creature. The towering body was covered in corpses, each step it took emitted a thunderous sound, and the corpses seemed to twitch as if they were alive. Accompanied by the stench of decay, it charged toward them with overwhelming momentum, appearing far beyond what mere human power could withstand.

"Defeating this monster will save him, right?" Elaine asked.

"Yes, definitely," Theodorus nodded.

It seemed as though she needed this confirmation to bolster her courage. With a loud cry, she said, "Alright, I'm going!" and spurred her horse toward the undead dragon.

Theodorus gripped the spearhead and shaft with both hands and began chanting an incantation. A thick black mist spread from the spear, while the unicorn's horn emitted a dazzling white light.

This was the dark magic spell "Power of Darkness" combined with the white magic spell "Pure Holy Blade." These weren't particularly advanced spells; mid-level mages could use them. However, to simultaneously enchant a weapon with both spells without causing conflict was something only Theodorus could achieve on the entire continent.

The unicorn's horn had properties that could dispel dark and necromantic magic, and it was also an extremely rare magical artifact. Only elves, who had close ties with unicorns, possessed such items. The "Pure Holy Blade" enchantment was specifically designed to deal with undead creatures, capable of penetrating the tough bodies of zombies. More importantly, it ensured that the small necklace hanging from the spearhead would be delivered into the corpse-constructed body of the undead dragon.

The "Power of Darkness" allowed the weapon to instantly convert magical energy into explosive force upon contact with the enemy's body. Though it was a one-time burst, it greatly increased the weapon's lethality. During the brief moments when these spells were active, the weapon's attack power was comparable to legendary weapons designed specifically to fight undead creatures. Moreover, the spearhead was imbued with immense white magic energy from the cross necklace.

Theodorus felt confident about the plan. However, his greatest confidence did not lie in the weapon he had forged with so much effort and magic, nor in the powerful assistance of an old friend, but in the person who would throw this weapon. He handed the spear to Grutt.

Although he could be considered the most knowledgeable and well-traveled person on the continent, Theodorus didn't fully understand the power that resided within his long-time friend. But he knew one thing for sure—that power would never disappoint.

Elaine and her horse had approached, looking as insignificant as an insect compared to the gigantic form of the undead dragon. Green flames spewed wildly from the dragon's mouth, instantly engulfing everything within hundreds of meters in a sea of fire.

"Alright, release the arrows," Theodorus commanded. The lizardmen triggered their mechanisms, launching over a dozen giant crossbow bolts, each as long as a person, toward the dragon's chest as per their pre-arranged plan. The unicorn's horns pierced through the dragon's exterior, embedding into its chest. The dozen bolts formed a circle, surrounding the spot where the World Tree Leaf was located.

Grutt charged forward, spear in hand. With one step, the dust and stones around him flew into the air.

When his second step landed, even Theodorus felt as though the entire ground had sunk with the force of that step.

On the third step, all the white light around Grutt's body concentrated in his hands. His body bent into a massive arc, and with a sudden tautening of that arc, the spear flew out of his hand.

Anyone who had witnessed lightning and thunder would no longer be startled by firecrackers, and anyone who saw this spear being thrown would never again think that lightning storms were powerful. Even the might of heaven and earth paled in comparison at that moment.

The brilliance, might, and wild energy of that one fraction of a second were enough for anyone who saw it to remember for a century.

The spear, entwined with interwoven black and white light, hurtled forward with the unstoppable force of a world-piercing roar. The surrounding air was violently sucked away, and the resulting thunderous noise could make a person's skin shiver. Wherever the spear passed, the earth beneath was torn up, leaving behind a straight trench like an artificially dug canal.

There was no sound of impact; the dragon's body, once incredibly tough, now seemed as soft as water-soaked bread in the face of this overwhelming force. The spear struck right in the center of the circle formed by the unicorn horns, piercing a massive circular tunnel through the dragon's chest and out its back, large enough for a person to walk through. The falling pieces of the dragon's corpse immediately vanished upon contact with the green flames.

The spear itself did not fully penetrate the dragon's body. Amid the massive impact, all the unicorn horns and the crystal cross shattered, releasing the immense white magic, which, combined with the explosive force of the spear, shredded the dragon's body to pieces.

A green leaf drifted down from the gaping hole in the dragon's body. The tremendous white magic in the impact zone did not harm the leaf, which was filled with life force.

As the leaf floated down, the undead dragon's body began to disintegrate. Like a massive structure of building blocks with its foundation pulled out, the hundreds and thousands of corpses collapsed all at once. Moments ago, the creature was strong enough to defy all living beings in the world, but in the blink of an eye, it had become a heap of rotting flesh.

Without the support of life force, the corpses immediately started to decompose into piles of sludge and black water, releasing all the pent-up rot in one explosive burst.

Sandru smiled at him and said, "I wondered why you went to the bathroom and stayed there all night three days ago. I thought you were…"

"Even if I hadn't intervened, your creation would have been defeated just the same. I only helped preserve a World Tree Leaf," Ronis said with a sarcastic tone. "Didn't you say that everything we do is just a cog in history's wheel? Didn't you claim that the course of events is fully under your control? So why are you angry, surprised, or furious?"

Upon hearing this, Vadenina suddenly fell silent.

She went from being extremely agitated to completely still. Combined with the fact that she didn't breathe, it made her seem like a statue, an inanimate object.

After a while, she regained her composure and bowed respectfully to Ronis. "I'm sorry, teacher. I acted out of emotion and was disrespectful. I hope you won't hold it against me."

"Too much courtesy only raises suspicion," Sandru clicked his tongue. "If it weren't for me being here, you'd probably have killed him."

The lich did not respond to Sandru's remark but instead spoke in her harsh voice, "I've already thought it through. This is all just the turning of fate's wheel, and all of this was meant to happen…"

Ronis interrupted her coldly, "I'm not going to argue with you about these abstract concepts. No matter how much we argue, in the end, each of us will just do our own thing, as we always have."

He gave one last glance at his student. "It seems we won't meet again after this. And honestly, I hope we don't."

Vadenina was silent for a moment before nodding. "Yes," she said. She then looked up at Ronis, the green glow behind her eyes flickering for a moment. "But before we part, I want to give you a little hint, something I just noticed. The person who wore the Ghost King's Robe and took the World Tree Leaf looked like a young woman. Now, my classmate, who would use the World Tree Leaf to save a woman, why would he let a woman wear his robe and take such a risk? And why would you, teacher, use your amulet to protect that leaf? You know what I'm implying, right? As I said, the outcome is already predestined."

Ronis remained indifferent and replied, "I've already told you, just now in fact. You believe what you believe, and I believe what I believe. We'll each do what we must."

"Yes, the stage has been set. Whether it's the false development of prosperity, war, politics, or anything else, it will all unfold. But the outcome is certain. From here on out, we'll each play our own roles and push history in the direction it's supposed to go. Farewell, my two teachers." Vadenina unrolled a teleportation scroll, and blue and white light began to glow around her body.

Ronis suddenly asked, "One last question: I've heard that you have a son?"

His voice, which had always been calm and forceful, now showed a slight tremor.

"I don't know. I've forgotten," she replied in her raspy, emotionless voice as her figure completely disappeared into the blue-white magical light.

Sandru watched the fading light and shook his head with emotion. "That person was originally fine, really fine." He shook his head and sighed, as if pointing out a flaw. "But she's too smart, overthinking things, always thinking too much."

"When humans think, the gods laugh. No matter how much we think, we are still just humans." Ronis also took out a teleportation scroll from his cloak. "Let's go back."

Sandru suddenly showed a panicked expression and exclaimed, "Oh no, I just remembered! I rushed out too quickly after getting your message, and I left food cooking on the fire. My favorite pot will definitely be burned to bits. Should I charge the magic academy for compensation?"

Ronis smiled slightly and pulled out a book from his cloak, handing it to him. "I thought about it and decided to return this book to you."

"Oh, thank you. But the pot still needs compensation," Sandru said, putting the book in his cloak. He also took out a teleportation scroll, and the two disappeared together in the magical light.

Theodorus and the others soon returned to Orford. Elaine took out the World Tree Leaf and fed it to Asa.

As Theodorus watched the World Tree Leaf disappear into Asa's mouth, he shook his head and sighed. "If its energy were fully utilized, this leaf could turn five low-level magic apprentices into legendary archmages in an instant. If it were chopped up and processed, it could be used to create ten priceless magical artifacts. If it were studied and experimented on for decades to fully decipher its power, it would surely spark a magical revolution that could change the entire world. But now, it's only being used to save one person."

Asa's body began to emit a golden light, and then it started twitching slightly.

At first, it was just twitching, but soon the twitching turned into convulsions, with every muscle in his body jumping, and his bones and joints making crackling sounds. His bandaged hands twitched and then suddenly broke free from the bandages, revealing perfectly healthy hands.

The golden light on his body grew brighter and brighter, emanating from every inch of his skin, making him look less like a person and more like a burning piece of coal. Finally, the light began to fade, and the convulsions gradually ceased. Asa lay on the bed as if he were merely asleep.

Theodorus looked at him and said, "He's fine now, but he'll probably sleep for a day or two before fully recovering and waking up."

Elaine gently ran her hand through his dark hair, then slowly traced it over his forehead, brow bones, down his straight nose, and finally to his lips. She gazed at him for a long time, as if trying to imprint him in her mind, before standing up and saying to Theodorus, "Thank you, sir, for saving him."

Theodorus shook his head. "If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have used the World Tree Leaf to save him. So, it wasn't me who saved him, it was you."

Elaine replied quietly, "Either way, I still have to thank you. I'll also trouble you to take care of him for the next couple of days."

"Are you leaving now?" Theodorus asked.

Elaine nodded. "Yes. I promised to do something for you, and delaying it further would be pointless. It's already getting late."

"You're really a thoughtful child," Theodorus sighed. He suddenly felt a bit guilty and took a scroll from his cloak to give to her. "This is a portal scroll left for you by Bishop Ronis."