The moment they stepped out of the dungeon, the door completely sealed shut behind them.
Just like it always happened – a slight vibration, then complete silence.
Kai had already felt the evil stone's energy on his hand earlier, which had now fully merged inside his body.
He thought to himself, "The dungeon's power source was that evil stone… now it's inside me, that's why the dungeon closed. Simple."
Then a small tension appeared on his face.
"But if anyone finds out that the thing no one has done till today… I did it… then the 7 big kingdoms will be after my life. Everyone will consider me a hunter."
He looked at the elf princess standing beside him and said in a serious voice,
"Don't tell anyone what happened in the dungeon today. No one. Understood?"
The elf princess just nodded.
Both moved forward through the dense trees of the jungle toward the elf kingdom.
Suddenly – SWISH!
A fast arrow came straight toward Kai's throat.
For a normal human, this arrow wouldn't even give time to pass.
But Kai raised his hand at lightning speed and directly caught the arrow.
He stopped it right in his hand.
The elf princess immediately pointed at the elf attacker – "Kill him!"
Kai snapped the arrow with a jerk.
Crack!
And looked at that elf with an angry gaze who was hiding on the tree.
Seeing his face, that elf trembled in fear.
There was pure terror in his eyes.
He immediately threw his bow and ran away as if he had seen a ghost.
A single thought came to the elf princess's mind – "Elf's arrow is so fast that any normal human would die instantly.
Even strong warriors from the 7 kingdoms would find it difficult… but he… not only stopped it, but also broke it!"
Kai thought while shaking his hand,
"After absorbing the evil stone's power, my senses have become so strong and my strength has also increased… that's why I could stop it directly with my hand. Otherwise, I would have been dead by now."
Both moved forward.
After a while, the elf kingdom came into view.
Kai thought,
"Just like I read in books and manhwa… exactly the same.
Every house is built on trees.
The lord's house is also on the biggest and oldest tree – as if that tree itself is the oldest king of the kingdom."
But as soon as they arrived, a heavy voice came from behind.
"Now we've got you two!"
Eight people from the Holy Church – in white robes, with golden crosses, full of holy swords and light magic. They attacked from behind.
Kai immediately turned and pushed the elf princess behind him.
A light beam hit his shoulder.
A small wound appeared, blood started flowing.
One Holy Church guy started laughing loudly,
"Hahaha!"
"We don't know for how many days we've been chasing this worthless elf! Since she left the Deadhollow village, we've been following you two!"
Pride and guilt rose together in the elf princess's mind.
he thought,
"Kai got into trouble because of me… if I hadn't insisted on going with him, this wouldn't have happened today…"
She was about to say,
"Do whatever you want with me… but let Kai go!"
But Kai grabbed her hand and pulled her strongly toward himself.
The elf princess's face pressed completely against his chest.
Kai said softly,
"You don't need to do anything now. "
"Just stand and watch… what happens to them."
The elf princess's face turned completely red.
Blush!
Kai took a deep breath and said in a chill voice,
"Awaken."
Immediately, black shadows started rising around his shoulders.
Pure black, smoky, full of evil energy slaves.
Their eyes were shining red.
A thought came to the elf princess's mind,
"This… what kind of power is this? These look like black shadows… and they are his slaves?!"
One slave immediately came and stood in front of the elf princess – to protect her.
The rest pounced toward the Holy Church people.
Then the fight started.
The Holy Church people raised their holy swords and shouted
"Holy Light Blast!"
A big golden light beam started covering the entire area.
But Kai's slaves were shadows – they took out shadow claws from their hands and directly absorbed the light beam.
As the light entered them, it turned into black smoke and flew away.
Kai himself gathered the evil stone's energy in his hands.
His speed had become so fast that he reached in front of a paladin in a flash.
One punch – the paladin's chest plate cracked and he flew 10 meters away and crashed into a tree.
A priest cast
"Divine Chains!"
on Kai – golden chains started binding Kai.
But Kai just shouted loudly and broke the chains with evil energy.
His slave grabbed that priest from behind and twisted his neck.
"Die you heretics!"
another Holy Knight shouted and did a holy slash with his sword.
But Kai made one of his slaves into a shield.
The shadow absorbed the slash and immediately jumped on that knight and wrapped him with black tentacles.
The knight's scream was heard – then silence.
The entire fight ended in just 2 minutes.
On the ground, there was only blood and broken crosses.
Only one guy was left – the one who was laughing earlier.
Kai grabbed him by the throat and lifted him up.
His eyes had turned red from the evil power.
"Now listen… if you don't tell me why you're after her… then I'll kill you right here."
That guy was trembling in fear.
His voice was shaking,
"O-our… Holy Church's Pope's direct orders!
This elf princess has the 'Eternal Leaf Relic' – an ancient elf power that can challenge our church's holy authority.
According to the prophecy… if this relic activates, the elves will become strong again and can attack our 3 human kingdoms.
That's why… we had to capture her alive… or… or kill her… so that there's no risk…"
Kai looked into his eyes.
He said softly with a smile,
"Understood."
Then with one jerk, he broke that guy's neck.
The body fell to the ground.
The elf princess was in shock.
Kai looked at her and softly held her hand,
"Now don't worry. I'm here… and all this is over."
Just then, voices of elf kingdom's guards came from afar.
They had heard the noise of the fight.
Kai immediately recalled all his slaves.
Shadows disappeared instantly.
The elf princess looked at Kai – in her eyes now there was only gratitude and something else… which wasn't coming into words yet.
But Kai didn't know… along with the evil stone inside him, one more thing had awakened… which only he knew for now.