007-Secret
Tokiyori awoke in a different cell.
"Where am I? That's right, we were captured by the elves. What happened to Zephorix?"
He looked at his hands, which were tightly chained.
Tokiyori turned his head left and right but couldn't find Zephorix.
"Maybe he's in a different cell," Tokiyori said to himself.
Meanwhile, Zephorix was being led out of the dark, damp prison, his hands and legs shackled in heavy chains. He could feel the weight of the guards' watchful eyes on him. A black cloth covered his eyes, plunging him into darkness as they guided him through the cold stone corridors.
The air outside the prison chamber felt different—crisp, with a hint of magic.
Suddenly, as he took his first step into the open, a massive root erupted from the ground, summoned by Ariana. Without warning, the root coiled around both Zephorix and Ariana, lifting them high into the sky. The earth below quickly receded as the root carried them toward the Sacred Tree.
"The Sacred Tree is a place where no one is allowed, except for the Elf Queen and me—the Elf Princess. There's no one else there except us," Ariana said.
"Why is she telling me this?" Zephorix thought to himself.
When they arrived at the Sacred Tree, Ariana led Zephorix to the ritual site, where the Elf Queen was waiting for him. Suddenly, Zephorix broke free from his chains with sheer strength. Both the Elf Queen and Ariana were shocked. Zephorix charged toward the Elf Queen, readying his fist to strike.
The Elf Queen, knowing she couldn't dodge the attack, created a wall of wood in front of her. Zephorix smashed through each wall like it was made of matchsticks, his fist reaching the Queen. She blocked the attack with her arm, but the force sent her flying, smashing her into a wall of wood.
"How were you able to break the chains? It's impossible for a human to break them without EP!" the Elf Queen demanded.
Zephorix didn't reply and charged toward the Queen at full speed.
"Save me, Ariana!" the Elf Queen cried out.
Ariana suddenly leapt in front of the Queen, blocking Zephorix's attack with her sword.
"Why are you saving her?" Zephorix asked.
"It's pointless to ask her," the Queen said with a sneer. "Ariana can't disobey me. She has so much potential, potential to surpass even me, so I sealed her power and used a slave technique on her. Now, she can't disobey my orders."
"Alright, that explains why she's helping you," Zephorix said.
"Don't worry, Ariana. I will free you," Zephorix promised.
"Free her? She's my daughter! The greatest privilege and honor for her is to follow my every command," the Queen retorted.
"Don't talk to me. You make me sick. You even turned your own child into a slave. You're the worst," Zephorix replied coldly.
"Come forth, Void Cleaver!" Zephorix summoned his sword from the shadows.
Ariana summoned three giant wooden roots behind her and launched them at Zephorix.
With smooth, precise movements, Zephorix sliced the massive roots into thousands of small pieces. He struck Ariana with the handle of his sword, knocking her unconscious, and gently laid her on the ground.
"Useless daughter," the Elf Queen sneered.
Anger surged through Zephorix, and he charged toward the Elf Queen at full speed. But suddenly, as he was mid-air, numerous roots erupted from the ground, grabbing him and pulling him to the ground.
"Hahahaha! Did you forget that I am the Elf Queen? I control the Sacred Tree and can wield its power!" the Elf Queen taunted.
[Name: Alzard
Species: Elf
EP: 1,500,000
Skill: Nature, Sacred Tree Manipulation
Status: Queen of the Elves]
Zephorix struggled to break free from the grip of the Sacred Tree.
"It's pointless to struggle. You can't escape the grasp of the Sacred Tree," Alzard said with a smirk.
The roots dragged Zephorix deeper and deeper into the tree.
"Now, it's time to start the ritual," Alzard declared. She left the tree, leaving Ariana behind, and gracefully jumped down, landing softly on the surface below.
The elf soldiers on the ground cheered for their queen.
One of the commanders approached her and asked, "My queen, where is Princess Ariana?"
Alzard bowed her head. "My daughter is dead. That human killed her."
"What? But how? That human was restrained by EP-blocking cuffs!" the commander exclaimed.
"He somehow broke the cuffs and attacked us. In order to protect me, she sacrificed herself," the queen lied, moving forward.
The elf soldiers, seeing their queen's grief, felt a surge of sympathy and anger. They began cursing humans.
"How dare those humans!"
"Those lowly creatures dared to kill our princess!"
"We must make them pay!"
Meanwhile, Zephorix was completely absorbed into the deepest part of the Sacred Tree.
"Why can't I dissolve him? What is happening?" the Sacred Tree wondered.
[Name: Sacred Tree
Species: Sacred Tree
EP: 2,000,000
Skill: Nature, Control Nature Energy
Status: Sacred Being]
Suddenly, a voice echoed inside the tree, shocking it.
"Are you afraid?" Zephorix asked.
"How are you able to speak? How are you conscious in this space? No human has ever remained conscious inside me!" the Sacred Tree exclaimed.
"I am not human," Zephorix replied.
"What?" the Sacred Tree questioned.
Without warning, Zephorix began absorbing the Sacred Tree's soul.
"What? How can you do this?" the Sacred Tree cried out.
"I can control and manipulate souls. Capturing your soul is easy for me. In a physical fight, you may be stronger, but mentally and spiritually, I am far superior," Zephorix said calmly.
"I am the Sacred Tree! I have lived for thousands of years and am immortal. Don't overestimate yourself, mortal!" the tree spat.
"I'm not overestimating myself," Zephorix replied coldly.
He released a large, menacing aura.
"This evil, ominous energy that brings misfortune to all living beings... You're a Chimera Ant—and not just any Chimera Ant—you're the King!" the Sacred Tree said in fear.
With his powerful aura, Zephorix shattered and absorbed the Sacred Tree's soul completely.
[Name: Zephorix
Species: Chimera Ant
EP: 3,000,000
Skill: Nature, Constitution,
[Authority to Control and Manipulate Souls]
Status: King of the Chimera Ants]