CHAPTER 143
143 — He Stood at the Forefront

After that day, Rona's behavior changed.
It wasn't a dramatic change. Rona had always been kind and followed Jinwoo well. In truth, though she was an elf who had lived for 200 years, she was said to be about twenty in human years.
But something must have changed in her heart after that night. She began to pay even more attention to Jinwoo than usual, often startled by his every move.
"What's wrong? Is something the matter?"
"Ah, no? It's nothing."
It definitely wasn't nothing. But she didn't seem to want to talk about it.
He had no intention of prying into something she didn't want to share. Besides, they had an important task ahead of them.
"Are you all ready to leave?"
They had to escort the elves here to a safe place. It couldn't be called completely safe, but she had said it was a fortress protected by royal knights and soldiers like herself.
At the mention of their important mission, the strange air around Rona vanished, and she returned to her usual self. With a serious expression, she readied her sword.
"Yes. I'm counting on you. Please, protect my people with your hands. As for your reward, I will take responsibility and..."
"It's fine. I've received a lot from you, and I don't expect payment for this kind of thing in the first place."
When he first became a Hunter, when he first entered the Original Forest and was lost.
If it hadn't been for Rona's goodwill, he would have already died. In truth, Rona's actions back then had been a whim, but from Jinwoo's perspective, it was no different from kindness.
Thanks to her, he had survived and even received a treasured sword. How long had he used that white jewel sword she gave him? He hadn't drawn it much after obtaining Rondar's Nebula Sword, but until then, it was a sword he had relied on countless times.
"Ipril, are you ready too?"
"Yes. My bow and arrows have been maintained. As for food... it's not quite enough, but if we ration it, we won't run out."
While Rona went to check on the other elves, Jinwoo confirmed Ipril's preparations. She, too, exuded a sharp aura, like a well-honed blade. From now on, it wasn't enough to simply not die.
They had to not only survive but also keep others from dying. Their fellow elves.
That was a much more difficult task than just surviving. The presence of Jinwoo and Rona, a knight of the 5th Floor, was reassuring, but it would still be a struggle. Protecting someone was not to be taken lightly.
'Not a single one must die.'
Her role was also crucial. If Jinwoo, Rona, or even herself failed to do their part, several people would die. And a life, once lost, could never be restored.
'And right now, Mother World Tree is not in good condition.'
The Mother World Tree, responsible for the reincarnation and rebirth of elves, was currently deeply afflicted by Erosion. While she was said to still possess her will, it was questionable whether a normal reincarnation could occur from her ailing body. It was a blasphemous thought, but a doubt she couldn't help but have.

It was vital that no one died. At least, not until the Mother World Tree returned to normal.
Everyone's preparations were complete. Weapons and supplies. And also, their resolve.
"Let's move out. Lead the way, Rona."
"Yes."
Accompanied by Rona's white-glowing spirit, the party of over fifty people left the cave behind.

Kaaaaang!
Sparks flew as sword and arrow clashed. Ipril's arrows relentlessly pressured the approaching Black Knight, slowing its advance.
Meanwhile, Rona dealt with the swarm of wolves. She moved without rest, covering the front, rear, and middle of the procession—the entire area.
"Don't stop! Run!"
"Ye-Yes!"
"Let's go, everyone! Let's go!"
Following Rona's command, the elves ran. If they stopped even for a moment, they would be overwhelmed by the flood of enemies. Right now, the most important thing was to get to the fortress as quickly as possible.
"Just a little further! We're almost there!"
A white spirit hovered by Rona's side, handling communication with the fortress. The remaining distance would take less than two hours. It would be even faster if they ran.
As they neared the fortress, the number of enemies increased. They desperately tried to block the elves from reaching it.
Jinwoo's role was to stand at the very front, breaking through the enemies that blocked their path and forging a way forward.
From the middle, Ipril provided support, alternating between him and Rona. She mostly fired her arrows toward Rona's position, because Jinwoo alone was more than enough to break through the front. In contrast, protecting everyone was too much for Rona to handle alone.

"Push a little harder! The young ones, take turns carrying the old and the children, and don't ever stop moving!"
Ipril strongly encouraged her kin. The young elves took turns carrying the elderly and children on their backs as they ran toward the fortress. Though they were civilians who hadn't been trained, they were still elves. In a forest, an elf's footing is a natural gift, so even the civilians were fast and light-footed.
"I see it!"
Just then, someone at the front shouted. The wooden palisade surrounding the fortress had finally come into view. A wave of relief washed over the exhausted group. Hope had taken root.
"Ah!"
Perhaps he let his guard down at the thought of reaching their destination. A young elf tripped on a stone and fell. To make matters worse, he was the elf carrying one of the only two children.
For an elf in a forest, it was an unthinkable mistake. The sight of the fortress had likely caused his tension to slacken slightly. That, and the fact that his stamina was drained from running without rest, must have been the cause.
The Black Knight spotted the two fallen elves with uncanny speed. It instantly rushed forward and raised its sword, looking as if it would skewer them both at once.
Kwaang!
Just then, the knight was sent flying as if it had collided with something. It was Jinwoo, who had rushed over.
"Go, quickly!" Jinwoo shouted as he pushed the knight away. The path to the fortress was already cleared, and royal knights and soldiers were coming out to receive the refugees.
The young elf who had fallen scrambled to his feet and ran. The child slung over his shoulder looked at Jinwoo with a tearful expression. Perhaps he was sad, thinking Jinwoo was being left behind. There was no need for that.
"Come on."
He tossed aside the pierced and crumpled armor of the Black Knight. He had already absorbed its flame long ago. However, behind him, many more enemies were still targeting him and the elves entering the fortress.
All of them were embers for him to absorb.
'I can't miss a single one.'
Contrary to how it looked—as if he were cornered—Jinwoo's eyes were like those of a hunter stalking its prey. The charging enemies sensed something was wrong, but stopping was not an option. Instinctively feeling their own glorious demise, they could do nothing but leap toward Jinwoo.
Some time later, not a single corpse remained before Jinwoo. As their Black Flames were absorbed, the bodies had all vanished.
Sheathing his sword, Jinwoo returned to the fortress. But two knights blocked his path. With faintly trembling legs, they crossed their swords to bar his way.
"You... are you human? What do you know about this situation?"
"You may not enter until you reveal your identity!"
Exclusion and fear of outsiders. While this was their natural tendency, it was maximized in a situation like this. Even after seeing Jinwoo rescue their people and defeat their enemies, they couldn't shake off their suspicion.
"What are you doing?!"
Rona's voice, filled with a fury he had never heard before, cut through the air. She had leaped over the palisade.
"S-Sir Garcia?"
"We were just taking every precaution..."
"Jinwoo is the benefactor who brought us here safely! Didn't you see him save Shero and Daina?"
Shero was the young elf who had just fallen and nearly died. Daina was the young elf he had been carrying.
The knights knew this as well, and the strength began to drain from their sword arms. But they still didn't open the path. They couldn't discard the possibility that Jinwoo was a spy who had earned their trust.
Just then.
Kuuu!
It was enraged. Blackened, furious roots shot up, swatting the knights' swords away and subduing them. They weren't harmed, but they were forced to their knees and pushed into the mud.
Kwaaaaaang!
Not only that, but the fortress's firmly shut main gate was shattered. The roots cleared a path, shattering everything that blocked Jinwoo's way, as if welcoming his presence with all their might.
"M-Mother?"
"It's Mother World Tree!"
With Rona's guarantee and the World Tree's actions, there was no one left who would dare stand in Jinwoo's way.

"We are sorry!"
"I will atone with my life!"
The ones who had blocked Jinwoo's path. The one who had given them the order. The ones who had known and stood by. Every knight in the fortress was prostrated before Jinwoo.
Jinwoo was seated on a throne woven from black roots. In truth, they were bowing to the World Tree more than to Jinwoo himself.
"I am Tarhan, the one in charge of this fortress. I will atone for today's disrespect with my head."
It seemed he was the one who had ordered them to stop Jinwoo. He drew his sword and held it to his own neck. He didn't mean he would step down from his position; he meant he was truly going to kill himself.

"Haa."
Jinwoo sighed and swatted Tarhan's sword away. Until the moment the sword went flying, Tarhan couldn't see Jinwoo's sword, or even his movement at all. Even in this situation, his eyes widened at such strength.
"Don't be so dramatic."
It's not like he'd done any real harm; he had just blocked the path for a moment, and now he was offering his neck. What kind of foolishness was this?
"If you truly feel you were disrespectful, then live and protect your people."
"...Yes. I am grateful for your grace, Sir."
Perhaps it was just his imagination, but Tarhan's tone and posture became even more respectful. This was after he had witnessed Jinwoo's movement.
"Besides, we're leaving immediately. You have nothing to worry about."
"Immediately... you say? May I ask where you are going?"
"To the royal palace."
Tarhan's eyes widened. He then slammed his head against the ground once more. With enough force to make a thud.
"Please, I beg of you, save Her Majesty the Queen!"
"You don't have to tell me. That's the plan."
Though they could have rested for a day, Jinwoo decided to leave right away. He wanted to get to the royal palace as soon as possible, and he knew there were likely many other elves in danger elsewhere.
Rona and Ipril decided to accompany him. The fortress would be in more danger with Rona gone, but...
"These roots will protect this place. Rely on them."
At Jinwoo's gesture, the black roots spread throughout the fortress. They reinforced the palisade and set traps outside.
Watching this, Tarhan couldn't hold back his tears. The emotion flowing down his cheeks was one of deep gratitude.
"Even in her weakened state, Mother saves us."
It seemed the eroded roots of the World Tree appeared to them as if she were sick.
Of course. As if in response, a single root comforted Tarhan.
"We'll leave this place to you. Let's go."
After about two hours of simple preparations, Jinwoo, Rona, and Ipril left the fortress behind. There was still much to be done.

The White Tower was no longer white. Patches of the tower were stained black like spots, and black roots had sprouted from it.
The black roots, which covered not only the royal palace but the inside and outside of the tower, isolated this place from the world. A place where no one could easily enter, and no one could easily leave.
There was a large room. In the center of the room, tangled roots grew to form a wall, dividing the space in two.
On one side sat Permu. She was trying desperately to control her trembling eyes and hide the fact that she was breaking out in a cold sweat. Though her body felt like it would shake with fear, she did not want the being before her to see it.
On the other side, was him.
A man covered in silver fur. He shattered a steel flask with his sharp teeth and drank the liquor inside. Cain, the Lord of Beasts. He sat there, looking bored, wetting his throat with alcohol.
[So, when is this damn wall going to disappear?]
Flinch.
Permu trembled. The room was a prison for Cain. She, too, was unable to move, but being trapped was her specialty. Her entire life had been spent confined in the tower, so being trapped in a room again was nothing.
Yet, the reason she was afraid was because of the being beyond the wall. A fear that hadn't completely vanished despite the Mother World Tree's care was creeping up her spine.
Still, she remained composed. At least, on the outside.
"Give up. You cannot lay a single finger on Mother."
[Hah?]
Something must have gotten on his nerves, because Cain slammed into the root wall. Kwaang! His claws extended, aiming for the seated Permu. Permu tried not to blink as she glared back at him.
[Tch.]
The wall showed no sign of breaking. Cain spat and sat back down in front of it.
[This is just a matter of time. Time is on my side. Once everything outside has been wiped out, how long do you think this tower can last?]
Permu bit her lower lip. She wanted to help those outside. She wanted to protect and save all her people. But her limit was holding Cain down in this place.
What was happening outside? Was it really being devastated as he claimed? What about the knights? What happened to Rona?
As if reading Permu's wavering heart, Cain smirked. He then extended his consciousness outside to check on the progress of his work. By now, the elves of the lower world should have all been wiped out...
[...What is this?]
Something was strange. The progress was slower than he had expected.

He looked for his minions, but they were nowhere to be seen. More than a third of his numerous minions had already disappeared.
The resistance of the elves, huddled and hiding in various places, was fierce. Normally, their overwhelming power should have crushed any resistance and swept them away, but it wasn't happening. Something was blocking it.
A great current. A certain current was sweeping through the outside world. In a form completely opposite to what he desired.
And at the forefront of that current... was him.
[That's...]
The audacious human who had invaded the Sky Temple on the 3rd Floor. Now, he was pointing his sword at him.