"I'll ask you one last time…"
"Have you decided how you want to die?"
Ren Kai's voice was cold and merciless.
"Lord Rexasis… I know I was wrong… please spare me!"
The Lich Medesa swallowed his shattered teeth and dropped to his knees, his voice filled with unwilling desperation.
"My lord, you must not spare him!"
"He's ambushed me multiple times—he's been after the Heart of the Elves all along!"
"And now he even dared to start a war!"
Ipgia pulled out the glowing necklace hidden between her chest and shouted angrily.
"Give it to me… give it to me!"
The moment Medesa saw the Heart of the Elves, he lost control and staggered forward, reaching out greedily.
He didn't even make it two steps—
Before Ren Kai kicked him flying.
"Why?! Why stop me?!"
"I just wanted to live… to live like a human!"
Medesa roared in despair.
"The Heart of the Elves can restore your humanity…"
"But it would also corrupt it."
"The Elven Forest would lose its life."
"And the elves would lose their home."
"Why would I ever give it to you?"
Ipgia shouted furiously.
Medesa lowered his head in despair.
"Such a pity…"
"If you hadn't committed those crimes, I might have sympathized with you."
"Rest in peace."
Ren Kai sighed.
Those who are pitiful are often hateful as well.
A flash of golden light flickered in his eyes.
A void hand emerged—
And erased Medesa from existence.
"Go."
"Accept their surrender."
Ren Kai turned to Ipgia and Shamena.
He had no desire to continue slaughtering.
After his rampage and the battle's aftermath, less than half of the beastmen army remained.
"Thank you, my lord."
"Your mercy is something we will pursue for all our lives."
Ipgia, Shamena, and the elders spoke in unison.
The War Demon God Rexasis did not exist for war—
But to end it.
This was a belief the Elven Forest would uphold forever.
Ipgia stepped forward toward the remaining beastmen.
"Lay down your weapons."
"I accept your surrender."
"You will be treated fairly."
"Those who are not guilty of grave crimes may return safely to their homelands."
Her voice was amplified by magic, echoing across the battlefield.
The beastmen lowered their heads—
But none dropped their weapons.
"Beastmen will never be slaves!"
One warrior shouted.
"Beastmen will never be slaves!"
The entire army roared in unison.
"Revenge for the Beast Emperor—kill!"
With that—
They charged.
Ipgia, Venti, and Shamena all stared in shock.
"…Very well."
"Then allow me to give you a grand funeral."
Ren Kai spoke calmly.
Even he hadn't expected such resolve from them.
"Step back."
He ordered.
Ipgia immediately retreated.
Shamena opened a portal.
Once everyone had entered—
"Sage Art: Heavenly Obstruction — Meteor."
Ren Kai activated his half-body Susanoo and formed hand seals.
From the sky—
A meteor five kilometers wide descended.
The beastmen laughed in despair.
They hurled weapons skyward.
Mages unleashed their strongest spells.
But it was like ants trying to stop a mountain.
The meteor fell.
The world shattered.
The earth trembled violently.
When everything finally went silent—
A mountain over a thousand meters tall stood where the army once was.
The surrounding land had collapsed into abyssal cracks stretching for dozens of kilometers.
There was no need for a second meteor.
One was enough.
Even Ren Kai was surprised.
Empowered by Sage Art, this Heavenly Obstruction far exceeded its original form—
Its mass and density were terrifying.
More than two-thirds of it had sunk beneath the ground.
"…A miracle."
From the mountains of the Elven Forest, countless elves witnessed the scene.
They all dropped to their knees in worship.
"So powerful… so captivating…"
"Lord Rexasis…"
Ipgia murmured, her voice trembling.
Then suddenly—
"Why am I still the clan leader…?"
She looked genuinely distressed.
She envied Shamena's freedom.
"Hah! Want to follow Lord Rexasis?"
"No chance for you."
Shamena teased smugly.
Ren Kai had already returned to the mountains using Void Dominion before the meteor struck.
"Greed…"
"was the root of this war."
Venti stepped beside him.
"As long as one is human, they will have desires."
"That cannot be avoided."
"All we can do is face it—not run from it."
Ren Kai said calmly.
"On behalf of the Elven Forest, we thank Lord Rexasis for your great grace."
"We humbly request that you visit our lands and bestow your divine blessing."
Ipgia knelt with Shamena and the elders.
"The elves are a peaceful race."
"I could not stand by."
"As for visiting… that won't be necessary."
Ren Kai replied in Rexasis' tone.
He avoided the situation effortlessly.
Just judging from Ipgia and Shamena—
If he actually went to the Elven Forest, he would either be overwhelmed…
Or suffer through a sleepless, fiery ordeal.
And now he had learned something else—
The War Demon God Rexasis had followers.
The peace-loving elves.
"Yes… my lord."
Ipgia said reluctantly.
Inside, she struggled deeply.
If only I could abandon everything and follow him…
But she couldn't.
Only a Wood Elemental Elf could control the Elven Forest—
And currently, she was the only one capable.
The forest itself was a living entity.
Through the Heart of the Elves, it was sustained and protected.
That was why Ren Kai had sensed such vitality within it.
"Let's go back."
Ren Kai said calmly to Venti.
"Yes, my lord."
Venti and Shamena replied together.
"Shamena, you can't leave."
Ipgia suddenly grabbed her.
"Don't let jealousy get the better of you!"
"You may not follow him…"
"But I can!"
Shamena replied proudly.
"I'm free—you're not."
Ipgia sighed helplessly.
"No wonder you weren't chosen as leader."
"The beastmen army may be gone…"
"But our captured people are still imprisoned."
"Are you really going to leave?"
"…Ahhh! You're so annoying!"
Shamena groaned in frustration.
"Venti and I will head back first."
Ren Kai said.
He agreed with Ipgia.
Shamena was strong and could open portals—
She should stay and rescue her people.
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