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[Translator - Night]
[Proofreader - Gun]
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Chapter 221
There’s no denying that until now, part of the reason I delayed advancing my level was because I didn’t feel the need.
But I can’t let the peak of my power remain stuck forever at the level just above Sword Master — the Mind Master stage.
Coral starting a war is also a concern.
And the eerie quiet over at the Pinas Archipelago bothers me too.
It would be ideal if I could become a true 8th-circle mage and momentarily pull my peak up to the 9th circle.
But getting too focused on one side isn’t a good idea.
“So what are you planning to do?”
“What else? To break through, I have to become stronger.”
“What…?”
“I’m going to break a wall. But if I get interrupted, it’ll take longer, so Lord Romila, please hold those things off for me.”
As if on cue, a swarm of twisted beasts began pouring in from the other side of the massive cave.
Those things can’t harm me directly.
But the Red Moon wants to prevent my interference. Which means they must have some way to use those creatures to hinder me.
“I can’t understand this at all. Breaking a wall? Don’t tell me… judging by your aura blade, you’re a Sword Master?”
“That’s right. And now, I’m going to break through the wall above that.”
“Unbelievable. Do you even think that’s possible? You’re talking nonsense at a time like this…”
“Well, sure, it’ll be more difficult than anything I’ve done before. I know it’ll take time.”
“Regardless of success or failure, most people never reach Sword Master even after a lifetime of training. And you think you’ll do it in a short time?”
“About thirty minutes?”
“…Are you insane?”
He stared at me like I was mad.
What’s the issue?
I have enough aura.
I’ve attained enough insight.
All that’s left is to awaken my body — and it’s almost ready.
Thirty minutes is a long time.
He looked at me like I was out of my mind.
* * *
In the domain of the World Tree, where elves dwell, the forest of the Mother houses noble families led by high elf bloodlines.
The Trigard family led by Ocelon is one such house, and the Romila family led by Lord Romila is another.
Of course, each house oversees different duties.
The Romila family was once responsible for the entire defense of the forest.
“…Damn it.”
He drew his sword and summoned a spirit into his other hand.
Yes.
A once-honorable family tasked with defending the entire forest.
But the Romila family now only handles part of those duties.
All because they once trusted a human — and that human betrayed them, causing great loss.
The Romila family used to engage with the outside world and had a strong affinity for humans.
But the cost of that trust was severe.
A key family member was kidnapped and ended up as a cold corpse.
Since then, the Romila family has never trusted humans again.
Even now, in this current crisis where the World Tree is in danger, the solution Ocelon brought involved help from a human?
He was expected to trust a race that betrays as easily as breathing?
It was absurd.
So he opposed Ocelon’s words.
Even if that human truly had the power to help…
He couldn’t trust him.
You can’t trust a race that abandons its honor.
That’s why, unlike usual, he argued emotionally and tried to stop it — but in the end, the boy silently saved the World Tree.
Yes.
Saving the World Tree comes first.
Now’s not the time for petty emotions.
So he cooperated with the boy.
But this wasn’t the moment for that anymore.
The World Tree was under a massive, unknown threat, and he had to contribute power to stop it.
The smart choice now would be to ignore this guy and return to the city quickly, now that the Demon Tree was dead.
The incoming monsters were threatening, but that boy could escape without issue.
Yet his sword didn’t stop.
Slash!
SCREEEEECH!!!
“Urgh! Damn these filthy beasts!”
Despite his body being covered in more and more wounds, he did not stop.
As if he trusted that insane boy who sat there calmly circulating his aura.
Why?
Everything that boy said was nonsense.
A Sword Master at his age — that’s already unbelievable.
His undead magic was also strange.
Not just that.
He constantly showed power that made you question if he was even human.
And now?
He says he’s breaking through a wall because he needs to?
What, did he live twice?
There’s a reason martial artists call it a "wall" when trying to reach new heights.
Because it gives despair that can’t be overcome.
And he’s just… going to walk through it like it’s an open door?
There’s a limit to how ridiculous something can be.
Still, he kept swinging his sword and unleashing the spirit’s power.
Even when beasts bit into his shoulder and thigh, leaving deadly wounds, he did not stop.
Time passed.
Not much in reality, but it felt like hours of fighting.
Exhaustion flooded in.
Even in the haze of blood loss, he didn’t lose his will.
But even that had its limits.
ROAAARRR!!
A massive wolf lunged and tore into his abdomen, dealing a fatal blow.
His stance collapsed.
He managed to cut it down with his sword, but he couldn’t go on anymore.
This was his limit.
Even as a high elf and the head of a family responsible for the forest’s defense — no one could last this long against such numbers.
As he fell and saw the beasts closing in, he was about to drop his sword when—
CRACK!
A grotesque sound echoed, and for a moment, the world seemed to stop.
“Thanks for believing in me. I tried cutting the time in half… but I guess I’m still a bit late.”
The air around him was different — abnormal.
In one hand, he held a crimson sword radiating a sinister energy, leaving behind thin red trails as it moved.
The aura on the blade looked similar to an aura blade, but the density was far greater, and the energy it gave off was clearly different.
Did he… really break through the wall?
At that young age?
Since when did breaking through a wall become something you could do just by saying, “Guess I’ll do it now”?
Half the time?
Fifteen minutes?
What kind of lunatic is this?
Does he think reaching new heights in martial power is a joke?
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[Translator - Night]
[Proofreader - Gun]
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In a world where everything had come to a standstill, Leon quietly raised his hand to the man's eyelid, gently closing it as if laying a corpse to rest.
"I keep my promises. I’ll save the World Tree, so close your eyes in peace."
At this point, even someone as refined as him couldn’t help but let a string of curses slip from his lips.
"I'm not dead yet! Cough! Damn you, human... Grrrk!"
"Oh. My apologies. Then we should treat you. The city is still holding on, so let’s start with healing. Luckily, I know someone with quite the knack for that."
Watching Leon say this with a slight chuckle, the man couldn’t help but let out a dry laugh of his own.
Before he realized it, the bleeding from his body had stopped.
There hadn’t been any high-level mind games or traps.
The only issue was that the enemy’s trap was just... that sophisticated.
Reflecting on the unforeseen variables was necessary.
If delayed, the Lord of Romila will die.
He may have the strength of a Sword Master, but his specialty lies in the bow.
A chaotic solo battle in a place like this is far from his area of expertise.
And to make things worse, the enemies, seemingly corrupted by the power of the Red Moon, were no small threat.
Most concerning of all—his body was riddled with an unknown contamination.
Stopping the bleeding was possible, but anything beyond that required Luna's power.
The prison that had locked him in and blocked spatial transfer had been destroyed.
In other words, there was no longer anything preventing teleportation.
"Cough!"
"Please, just wait a moment."
"What... what are you trying to do?"
"I'm going to bring someone who can heal you."
Just as Leon stood to leave, the Lord of Romila vomited another mouthful of blood and grabbed his wrist tightly.
"No matter how fast you travel, time is inevitably consumed. The Mother Forest... the city... the World Tree is in danger. Please, I ask you... protect it."
He values the World Tree more than his own life?
Admittedly, the city's situation wasn’t great.
It was dire enough to require immediate action.
But I didn’t honor his request.
Instead, I activated teleportation magic and, without a word, scooped up Luna—who had been peeling fruit and playing with a cat in the garden of Cascadia’s estate.
"Leon? Are you abducting people in the dead of night?"
"There's a patient. I need your power."
At the seriousness in my voice, her playful tone faded.
"So I’m actually useful."
When we returned to where the Lord of Romila lay, his eyes widened.
Part of it was surprise at my sudden reappearance, but mostly it was Luna’s presence that shocked him.
Like Triana, high elves have good instincts.
"This body’s not ready for the grave yet."
Luna waved her hand gently, as if she already knew what was needed without me explaining.
Light began to seep into the Lord’s fallen body.
But the healing wasn’t instant.
"Leon. That thing you mentioned before—is it here?"
"Yeah."
"Healing will take time."
If she's saying that, then it really will take time.
"How long?"
"Ten minutes."
"Then I’ll leave him to you."
Ten minutes may not sound long, but considering her healing abilities, it’s not short either.
I left him to her and headed straight out of the cave.
The enemy had made their move—trying to fully seize the World Tree after locking me away.
Breaking the demonic tree core had severed one of their connections, but it was just one thread.
Their power was already converging upon the World Tree.
BOOM!!!
I didn’t use teleportation.
The area near the elven city, where the World Tree stood, was distorted—its entire coordinate space twisted in bizarre currents.
BOOM!! BOOM!!
The sound of massive explosions echoed from a distance.
What I saw were numerous twisted beasts and slime-like creatures made of mucus.
The undead and elves fought desperately, but their numbers were overwhelming.
If there was one silver lining...
WHOOSH!! CRACKLE CRASH!!
It was Baril, hovering in the sky and relentlessly raining down breath attacks.
The massive mucus golem seemed to have been taken care of—it was nowhere in sight.
The surroundings were gradually becoming shrouded in a violet mist, making visibility worse.
Has it not made its move yet?
No—the World Tree is already being devoured.
It may look intact on the surface, but that in itself is a massive spell cast by the enemy.
And it's being sustained continuously.
Somewhere here... the enemy hides.
The elves’ barrier has already collapsed in several places, allowing the mist to leak into the city.
The World Tree no longer has the strength to protect the city.
At this rate, despite all the bold declarations, disaster is inevitable.
I must not rush.
[Heart of the Machine God]
From a safe distance, I placed my hand on the ground.
The information I needed wasn’t complicated.
What I sought was something abnormal, something I couldn’t analyze or understand—outside the existing data.
And among them...
"Found it."
The place where that incomprehensible energy was most concentrated.
In my hand, the cursed sword Elekstra began to hum, releasing an ominous aura.
As if urging me—now is the time to strike.
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[Translator - Night]
[Proofreader - Gun]
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