The Elven Queen hovered in midair, a radiant crystal sphere floating above her palm, shimmering with a kaleidoscope of colors.
Her gaze remained fixed on the massive, ghostly green skull that spanned the heavens in the distance, silently waiting for the perfect moment to strike.
"Has everyone withdrawn from the danger zone?"Eilena asked, her eyes still trained on the Queen in the sky as she turned to the elven elders nearby.
"They've all retreated to safe areas in accordance with Her Majesty's orders," one elder replied. Then, after a brief hesitation, her expression grew complicated. "However…"
"What is it?" Eilena glanced sideways, pressing for an answer.
"A large number of adventurers have suddenly appeared near the battlefield. We're unable to determine their purpose for now," the elder reported at once.
"Adventurers?"
At that, Eilena's gaze immediately shifted toward Kurose Akira. As a fellow guildmaster, she trusted he would understand the situation better than anyone.
"They're mostly here to watch the show," Akira replied calmly. "But there's no guarantee there aren't people with ulterior motives mixed in."
"I understand." Eilena nodded, then turned to the elves and issued an order, "Heighten security. No one is allowed to interfere with the Queen."
"Yes!"
The elves sprang into action, forming defensive lines and keeping a close watch on the incoming adventurers.
Akira's eyes drifted toward the spectators gathered beyond the battlefield. Among them… he thought he spotted a few familiar figures.
Xu Feiyan's… friend group?
"Hm?"
Suddenly, his eyes narrowed, locking onto a woman wearing a white mask.
She had appeared during the C-rank guild promotion trial before—someone who had left a deep impression on him. The first time he saw her, she felt oddly familiar. The second time… the same feeling persisted.
Yet no matter how he searched his memory, he couldn't place her identity.
After a moment of fruitless thought, Akira shifted his focus elsewhere.
Most of the players gathered here were from B-rank guilds or higher. Occasionally, a few C-rank guilds appeared, but they kept their distance, wisely avoiding the danger zone.
After confirming that the majority were simply thrill-seekers, Akira turned his attention back to the Elven Queen.
Compared to whatever trouble the players might bring, eliminating the Undead Monarch was the true priority.
At that moment, the enormous green skull in the sky had fully taken shape. It radiated a horrifying aura of death, as though it intended to slaughter all living things.
"Foolish elves! You cannot stop our descent! My master is the supreme god! Your fate is nothing but destruction!"
A hoarse, thunderous voice echoed across the heavens, accompanied by flashes of eerie green lightning—like divine punishment descending to annihilate the world.
In response, the Elven Queen spoke with calm finality.
"You will not succeed."
The moment her words fell, she tossed the crystal sphere high into the air.
In an instant, radiant five-colored light blossomed across the opposite side of the sky, gradually coalescing into the phantom image of a towering, ancient tree.
It was the sacred treasure of the elves—the World Tree.
The moment its silhouette appeared, every elf present dropped to one knee, bowing in reverence to their guardian deity.
The spectacle left the watching adventurers utterly stunned.
Not just them—even Akira and the elves themselves were witnessing, for the first time, the Elven Queen fighting at full power.
"Elven Queen! Your resistance is futile! The destruction of your race comes today!!"
The Undead Monarch roared, opening its jaw wide.
A torrent of green mist surged forth, sweeping downward like a tidal wave.
Facing the attack, the Elven Queen merely lifted her slender fingers and began chanting.
In the next instant, the World Tree's phantom radiated brilliance, its branches gathering gem-like elemental energy.
"Go."
At her command, the clustered elemental energies shot forward in unison.
Brilliant beams of multicolored light pierced through the descending green mist, tearing open a massive rift as though splitting the heavens themselves.
Then—
The energies converged into a single point… before erupting outward.
A colossal elemental cannon, dozens of meters wide, blasted straight through the mist and struck the Undead Monarch hidden within.
"AAAAAAHHH!!!"
A deafening scream tore through the sky. The heavens themselves trembled.
"Damn you, elves!"
The Undead Monarch roared in fury, unleashing its power.
In an instant, the green mist transformed into countless undead creatures, surging forward in a howling tide. They tore through the elemental energy released by the World Tree and closed in on the Elven Queen in the blink of an eye, intent on ripping her apart.
Yet the Queen remained utterly composed.
Before countless eyes, she simply raised her hand… and swept it forward.
In that single motion—
The entire undead tide vanished.
Gone without a trace.
Even more terrifying… that seemingly casual gesture had directly threatened the Undead Monarch itself.
The massive green skull in the sky trembled violently. Cracks spread across its surface, as if its very soul had been damaged by the shattered magic.
All of this… from a single, effortless strike.
The scene left everyone watching in stunned silence.
The elves erupted into cheers, their admiration for the Queen overflowing.
The adventurers, however, were shaken to their core.
"So this is the power of a demigod…?"
"How did she even break that magic just now?!"
"The Elven Queen really is one of the strongest among demigods… that's insane!"
They had always known she was among the top tier—but no one had imagined that she could casually dismantle a forbidden-level undead spell like swatting a fly.
"Why… WHY?! Why is your divinity above mine?! My master has granted me power—why can't I—?!"
The Undead Monarch howled in disbelief.
"Simple."
As she spoke, the Elven Queen gently raised a finger and tapped the floating crystal sphere.
At once, the World Tree phantom was cloaked in a veil of darkness, like the night sky draped over its form.
Her cold gaze fell upon the Undead Monarch.
"Because what you face… is the entire elven race."
The moment her words ended—
The darkened World Tree bloomed.
Soft chimes rang through the air as black petals formed across the sky, floating in eerie stillness.
[Warning! Supreme Magic — Bloom of Elven Vitality is about to be unleashed! Evacuate immediately!]
A system alert flashed before every player's eyes.
They stared upward in disbelief.
As one of the oldest demigods on the Magic Continent, the Elven Queen rarely ever needed to unleash her full power.
And now—
They were about to witness it.
Magic beyond the forbidden.
"Perish."
With that single command, the petals fell.
In an instant, they adhered to the surface of the skull.
"No… no! I have planned for a thousand years! I cannot end here!"
The Undead Monarch roared, countless serpent tails bursting from its eyes and mouth, desperately trying to disperse the petals.
But it was futile.
The petals bloomed—letting out eerie, chittering laughter.
Space twisted.
The serpent tails were torn apart, reduced to stardust.
And along with them—
The soul of the Undead Monarch.
"NO—!"
With a final unwilling scream, the colossal skull shattered like glass, dissolving into nothingness.
The sky itself seemed to fracture.
Everyone present stood frozen, overwhelmed by the sheer visual impact.
They had expected a drawn-out battle between demigods… something that would last for days.
Instead—
The Elven Queen had annihilated the Undead Monarch in two moves.
"…Is it over?"
Akira stepped forward, staring at the Queen.
Her voice answered directly in his mind.
"Not yet. The reason the Undead Monarch is so difficult to destroy… is because it scattered its soul and body across the world. That's why this war has lasted a thousand years."
A pause.
"But this time… it will die."
As her words fell, the Queen raised both hands.
The crystal sphere spun rapidly, radiating dazzling magic.
Countless multicolored lights burst forth, shooting across the world like guided projectiles.
Akira immediately understood.
She had located every fragment of the Undead Monarch's body.
Moments later—
Explosions echoed across the Undead Mountains.
Wailing spirits surged from the depths, fleeing in terror.
A furious roar followed:
"Elven Queen! You foolish elves!"
"You will all die!"
"If I cannot seize the root of the World Tree… then I will make YOU my master's servant!"
"Let them come," the Elven Queen commanded calmly. "Begin the final phase."
"Yes!"
Eilena responded at once, directing the elves.
A massive magic circle formed in the sky as the elves chanted in unison. Elemental energy poured forth, obliterating every escaping soul.
The scene ignited Akira's blood.
This war… was far easier than he had imagined.
And the Queen's strength—utterly overwhelming.
"Hmm?"
Suddenly, his eyes caught a streak of green light shooting out from a crack in the ground, heading straight for the Queen.
"What is that?"
His pupils shrank as he scanned it.
[Divine Blood of Death (?): Danger! Extreme danger!]
"Damn it!"
"Your Majesty—watch out!"
The Elven Queen had already noticed.
She immediately cast a spell, forming a floral barrier around herself. Behind her, the World Tree blazed, amplifying her power.
Even so—
Akira felt a deep unease.
That blood… wasn't the Undead Monarch's power.
It was divine.
"Lucia! I need your help!"
He quickly explained his suspicion.
"…Are you certain?" Lucia asked, shock flickering in her eyes. "A god's power… shouldn't be able to manifest here."
"I'm sure."
"…Understood."
She nodded—and silently left the battlefield.
With her current strength, she couldn't face a divine force.
She would need… another identity.
"Still not enough…"
Akira turned inward.
"Mira—what exactly is that blood?"
"Simple," Mira replied. "One of the three drops shed by the Goddess of Death upon her demise."
"…What?!"
Akira's expression darkened instantly.
Divine blood.
There was no way the Elven Queen could withstand that.
And just then—
The blood struck the barrier.
Cracks spread instantly across its surface.
The Queen coughed up blood, her face paling as her magic was drained.
"No time!"
Akira spread his wings and shot toward her.
He didn't know if he could stop it—
But he had to.
If the Queen fell, the entire elven kingdom could collapse.
"Guildmaster Akira, leave at once!"
The Queen shouted.
"This won't kill me—at worst… I'll fall into slumber again!"
But Akira didn't slow down.
He reached her side, eyes locked onto the incoming divine blood.
"When I say so, drop the barrier. I have a way to deal with it."
"You… do?"
Her eyes widened in disbelief.
Even she couldn't handle it—so how could he?
Akira grinned.
"Don't worry, Your Majesty… I've got an unbeatable tongue."
"You idiot!"
Her cheeks flushed faintly as she tapped his head.
"Is this really the time for jokes?!"