Chapter 270: Future and Capture

Dark elves, like elves, have a low birth rate.

The elves' largest settlement, Bicui Ting, is fine—at least its ecosystem is stable and the environment is safe.

The underground world to which the former were exiled is terrible.

It is inhabited by various ferocious creatures: bottom-dwelling demon fish, lurking pseudo-monsters, mind flayers, bog bear-men, and more.

The terrain is rugged and steep, with tunnels stretching for miles, sometimes expanding into spacious caverns, sometimes narrowing to tight passages—hardly any place is suitable for survival.

Combined with the lack of light, it breeds all manner of strange, toxic fungi and mosses, making them impossible to guard against.

Thus, their population is even scarcer.

Besides, they are a group full of resentment and rule-breakers, rarely gathering together.

A nest of tens of thousands has never existed since the appearance of dark elves.

So the current situation is due to external factors.

Namely, their revered Lady Luo Si.

After prolonged pleading, Lady Luo Si granted a spell for rapid reproduction.

The dark elf population thus surged.

But in return, every dark elf born through this spell must undergo a "trial" before reaching adulthood.

Those who pass are granted a small portion of Lady Luo Si's bloodline power; those who fail twist and mutate into grotesque arachnid forms.

The sisters Yufei and Yun failed their trials and became despised lowly slaves.

"Take this to Master Anas! Keep your mouth shut! Don't keep calling her 'sister'—Yufei is still alive only because of Lady Luo Si's mercy! Wouldn't you rather make the most of your dwindling life?"

The gaunt head chef cursed as he piled tray after tray of food onto Yun's dish.

He didn't care that her small face wrinkled under the weight.

Each word struck her like arrows into her heart.

Yes, dark elves who mutate into arachnid forms have drastically shortened lifespans.

Even if they escaped, the sisters had only a few years left to live.

Yun said nothing.

Her mind replayed the scenes Yufei had painted for her.

She would escape, even if she had to bite through her teeth.

Carrying the tray, she walked along the narrow path.

She arrived at the entrance to Master Anas's chamber.

Yun immediately heard a human man's muffled voice.

"This is the eighth-rank legendary spell. 【Flame Sun Explosion】. This is 【Scorching Cloud Technique】. I have infused it with... my domain. My lord, you only need to..."

She didn't catch much, but clearly heard the names of two spells.

Knock-knock-knock—

She knocked. The conversation halted instantly.

Yun pushed half her body inside, as before: "My lords, it is mealtime."

The female leader Anas nodded.

She turned to the human mage wearing glasses, her expression haughty and cold: "Mr. Wilson, we will pause here. Our mealtime has arrived."

Dark elves still uphold the traditional elven arrogance.

They enjoy interrupting negotiations or arriving late to important meetings in absurd ways, to demonstrate their control and superiority.

Yun had been taught this by her parents.

That is, to make the other side understand: "Our rules supersede all."

The mage frowned slightly—he clearly knew this already.

He had no intention of dragging out this negotiation.

"Leader Anas, you know the enemy does not originate from our reality dimension. Their cosmic beings are born from emotion, and their reproduction rate far exceeds yours. Even if we are currently evenly matched, it will not last."

Yun paid him no mind.

She set the dishes down on her own.

"I said we pause here, Mr. Wilson."

Anas remained calm, glancing coldly and releasing a faint eighth-rank aura.

"This—"

"Yun, take Mr. Wilson to rest."

Yun paused, realizing she could use this chance to investigate the hidden tunnel.

"Yes."

The human mage named Wilson said nothing more. He rose, glanced at Yun's massive spider body, and revealed a piercing look of revulsion.

Anger and humiliation surged in Yun's heart.

But she showed none of it—she had already resolved to abandon all former dark elf pride and live with a new mindset.

So, after swiftly leading the human mage to a suitable resting room, she immediately headed to search for the possible unguarded hidden tunnel.

Half an hour later.

Yun looked up in delight at the dim sky beyond the giant nest.

Two gray-white moons seemed to shimmer with colored light.

She had successfully traversed this dusty, secluded path—no guards, no one passed through!

"It works! This path is viable!"

Every fantasy of escaping with her sister now felt within reach.

"You really know how to run, Ameier!"

Luo De leapt into the air.

His feet exploded with two powerful bursts of 【Repulsion Technique】, sending two white clouds of air rushing outward, propelling him forward a great distance.

His right hand strained forward.

He was about to grasp the fleeing "Sharon."

His fingers even felt the coarse linen of her clothing.

Boom—

Her body exploded into a spherical ethereal form.

She dodged.

Then her flight speed instantly doubled—she shot away with a hiss.

"I've been waiting for you, little thing!"

She had used this 【Ailing Form】 before—not once, but many times during the hour-long chase.

Ameier had employed escape techniques including but not limited to: 【Gem Leap】, 【Illusion Mimicry】, 【Phase Gate】, 【Earth Vein Instant Move】, 【Underworld Speed】, 【Position Swap Trick】, and more.

She had also used blocking techniques including but not limited to: 【Anti-Biological Field】, 【Web Spell】, 【Gear Wall】, 【Stun Spell】, 【Abyssal Illusion】, 【Petrification】, 【Isolation】, and more.

Though Luo De had torn through them all one by one, they had genuinely harassed him—a spiritual warrior with no pursuit abilities.

Added to that, Sharon's current body required no mana, only cosmic energy—ether—and here, she was completely immune to dimensional suppression.

And now—

Luo De watched as 【Ailing Form】 was used again.

His face lit up with delight.

【Ailing Form: Temporarily sacrifice spellcasting and physical attacks, transform into a spherical ethereal form.】

"Cannot cast spells! This is exactly what I've been waiting for!"

The skill he had held back erupted instantly.

【Maintain Domain】 launched.

Preventing her from exiting 【Ailing Form】.

【Gravity Chain】, 【Gravity Well】 launched together.

Gravity arts have always been effective against flight spells—even if you're an ethereal form immune to physical damage, spiritual energy can precisely lock onto you.

Dozens of purple spiritual chains shot through the air, snapping around the ethereal sphere.

Boom!!

Coupled with the crushing pull of the 【Gravity Well】, her flight spell was instantly frozen in place.

"Not done yet!"

Luo De raised his right hand.

Shi Laimu, the small slime, clung to it, appearing like a liquid-metal black glove.

【Mind Link】 successful!

Xiao Hei!

【Gravitational Wave】!

Hum—

The purple glow of gravitational spiritual energy blazed brightly!

"Sharon" under 【Ailing Form】 could no longer resist the pull—she shot backward and was snatched in Luo De's single hand.

(End of Chapter)