The black tree root surges upward as if to pierce the sky.
Once burned and lost to the demon race, the World Tree Elomandia has rebuilt its body and lived for thousands of years.
To manage its massive form efficiently, Elomandia created beings to assist it, known as spirits.
The spirits are the children of Elomandia and part of the World Tree; they prioritize the World Tree above all else.
“Until disaster strikes.”
A portion of Elomandia’s physical form completely loses control and turns black.
The blackened World Tree wraps around the living beings dwelling upon its body indiscriminately.
The purpose of the black World Tree is recovery.
The product of the blessings bestowed upon this land by the World Tree: the Mana of Life.
The more Mana of Life it absorbs, the stronger the black World Tree becomes, its influence gradually extending toward the ‘center’ from being merely a part.
Until it completely engulfs the World Tree.
“Run away!”
“It’s a monster!!”
“Everyone come here! This building is safe…”
Craaack!!!
A part of the gigantic tree root crushed the building.
All those inside were absorbed, withered away, while those who had approached the building froze in place, trembling.
It’s the end.
The end of this world has come.
“O, World Tree…”
The race of the World Tree.
Every aspect of a single life—the first steps on the ground, living life, and returning to the soil—is intertwined with the World Tree.
The land, air, resources, and mana granted by the World Tree.
All of it is the blessing and mercy of the World Tree.
For them, the World Tree was a parent and a god.
They firmly believed that it would protect them no matter the hardships that came.
But.
“Please… spare us…”
If the one trying to kill them is the ‘World Tree,’ to whom should they pray for salvation?
As the depressed elf sat blankly, a massive root fell upon them.
The elf quietly closed their eyes.
Closed.
Closed…
“…Huh?”
They were not dead.
Neither crushed nor wrapped up to be absorbed and turned into a mummy.
Before the elf was a “Savior…”
The black root lay torn apart by a pure white light, rolling on the ground.
■
“There are quite a few targets. I’ll have to exert some effort to intercept them.”
At the starting point of the black World Tree, hovering above the Academy, I spread my wings of light and wrapped myself in divinity.
The corrupted World Tree’s core has two.
The lower-world boss-level large roots number six.
There are thirty-nine middle roots, all above level 80.
As for the other small roots…
“I’ll just blow them all away.”
The wings of light grow even larger.
It gets huge.
In the hands gripping the spear, an ethereal holy power looms, and dozens of spears tremble around me as if they might leap out at any moment.
“This technique is specialized for multi-target combat. This is the technique that has slaughtered the most demons.”
But don’t overuse it.
Zzzzzzt…!
“Storm of Spears.”
Kwaaaaaaaa!!!
‘This really draws attention.’
In an instant, dozens of spears that left their place fly through the air and split.
The split spears fly and divide once more.
Eventually, after multiple divisions, the sky is filled with…
[Whoa]
[What the hell]
[This is holy sh*t ㅋㅋㅋㅋ]
[Insane]
Rains of thousands of spears fell.
The pure white surge of holy power, filling the dark night sky, sweeps through the black roots.
A rain of spears targeting only the tree roots, not the escaping lives.
Only after the storm has passed do I fold my wings and gather my holy power.
I’m still alright.
“I’ve cleared the middle and fine roots.”
Now, I just need to cut the big one down.
[What the f*ck is this]
[So cool ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ]
[Lily! Lily! Lily! Lily! Lily!]
[This is insane]
[Wow]
[This is Lily-licious]
[Great Lily]
[Angel Lily can’t be stopped by anyone ㅋㅋ]
[Look at her clear it all in one go]
[Let’s give the Sword Saint some education~]
[If it can’t be stopped, we’re really f*cked ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ]
“We have to stop it. No matter what.”
To prevent that madness from escaping.
[Episodes are in a rapid change!]
[Ep.10 The End of the World Tree is ongoing.]
[Danger! A World Boss-level entity (upper) has appeared.]
[If this episode is not cleared in ‘Annihilation’ or an equivalent form, the World Boss, ‘Black World Tree – Verd’, will emerge within the World.]
This dungeon is no longer just about who the Child of the World Tree is.
If that thing gets out, the World Tree cannot be revived.
To revive it, it would take thousands of years again.
During that time, the Race of the World Tree would lose their parents once more.
‘…Twice is too much.’
Oroni has already lost everything thousands of years ago.
Now, they’ve barely settled into their position as Elder, and I can’t make them relive those nightmare memories again.
One nightmare is enough for me.
I twisted the White Guardian and looked at the woman next to me.
An elf with platinum hair of small stature.
“Are you ready?”
“…So that’s supposed to be my sister?”
Asuka, defeated not by the tree but by Ene.
I woke her up and healed her body and soul with my power.
Ideally, it would be more helpful to have Asuka tied to the tree, but I can’t take her out right now.
I nodded heavily.
“That’s ridiculous…”
“Sometimes there are things you have to believe in even if you don’t want to.”
Even if it’s hard to believe.
Even if you want to die rather than believe, there are times you have to.
That’s how you can drive out evil.
“Do you think you’re being used? Even if they tie up the future you, you’re being used.”
“……”
“Unfortunately, I can’t finish this situation by myself.”
It might be possible outside, but right now I can only exert about 60% of my power.
In contrast, the Sword Saint has become so strong that there’s no comparison to the outside.
No, calling him ‘Sword Saint’ is already questionable.
‘The Fallen One’s Malice.’
Magic that destroys the exterior and the interior.
Those who acquire magic as fallen beings might be fine at first, but as time goes on, they eventually lose themselves.
They’ve probably protected themselves with the power of the system until now, but if they’ve obtained part of the dungeon system and fused with the World Tree…
‘They might already be ruined.’
It’s right to see that as just a Demon Race.
And to catch demons, all methods must be used.
“You handle the large roots. I’ll break the core.”
“…Alright. I don’t believe you, but.”
Kwaaaah!!
“I guess I won’t be able to look at that disgusting thing either.”
Asuka, scattering green light, flies towards the Black Root.
I can feel the roots splitting apart from a distance.
“…You’re not just a talent for nothing.”
There was a reason Oroni was looking for Asuka so eagerly.
It’s hard to believe she was connected to Ene.
[Dazzling]
[That one is definitely strong as hell]
[Was that the one flying towards Ene earlier? LOL]
[Wow]
[At that level, the Sword Saint would just be a joke]
[Sword Saint level, LOL]
[Sword Saint is now unlikable]
[For real, LOL]
[But what’s Aisha doing?]
Chaeng!
The Silver Sword aims at me.
I quickly stood up the White Guardian and blocked the oncoming blade.
Thwack.
The woman with silver hair immediately drew her sword back and swung down.
It’s sharp, but there’s no murderous intent in the blade.
There’s a sense of hesitation.
“Oof!”
I lightly deflected it, causing the Silver Sword to skid across the ground.
Now, with her neck targeted by my spear tip, she chewed her lip.
“What are you doing?”
“…What did you do?”
“Huh?”
Ugh.
The Starry Blade Master, Aisha, wipes her swollen eyes with her arm and glares at me.
It glares at me while rubbing something vigorously.
What the heck?
“There’s no way the Sword Saint would do that! What trickery is this?!”
“…I didn’t do anything. Rather, I’d like to ask what kind of stupid thing you’ve done.”
That was a stupid thing.
To release the sword that ‘sealed’ the demon race.
And to do so while offering up the ‘resource chunk’ known as the World Tree.
Any person with normal reasoning would never do that, yet the Sword Saint did.
And that’s why such nonsense was created.
“Stop talking nonsense! The Sword Saint I know is an honorable person! There’s no way he’d do something like this…”
Gulp.
Aisha swallowed and stepped back.
A pure white spear brushed past her cheek.
The spear flew straight and struck the Black Root behind her.
Kikikikikiki!!!
The root shrieked and exploded, blood flowing beneath Aisha’s cheek, stained with horror.
Having reclaimed the White Guardian, I coldly looked down at her.
“Aisha.”
“Uh, um. Yes?”
“I don’t have time. We need to break that as soon as possible.”
Ta-gak.
“So if you’re not going to help, you should just run. I won’t stop you.”
Whoosh.
The spearhead was aimed at Aisha’s throat.
“But if you keep getting in my way… Well, you know how it is.”
“……”
“Then.”
I immediately took off into the air.
“Wait a second!”
“……Are you asking to die?”
“Oh, no! I’ll help!”
Help, you say?
Not me, but the Sword Saint?
As I questioned her with a face full of doubt, she hurriedly shook her head.
“There must be something wrong. Either my brother made a mistake or that elf used some trick! So I’ll stop the Sword Saint even if it means taking him down!”
“…You’re not planning to attack me at a crucial moment, are you?”
“No way!”
“…….”
[Let’s just kill her]
[It clearly looks like betrayal]
[Just kill her ㄱ]
[Aisha loves the Sword Saint so she’ll never betray him, so we have to kill her]
[What if we try to save her?]
[Could she turn over a new leaf?]
[100% betrayal, just kill her, Lily]
[LOL absolutely not, just kill her]
[Her skills are acknowledged though]
[But still, she’s ranked 11, isn’t she worth something? Isn’t she super strong?]
[That’s tough]
“Umm…”
I raised the spear.
The choice wasn’t long.
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