Chapter 203

Nagelis's heart clenched tight, for it had just thought of a terrifying possibility: that the God of Life regarded elves as just one among countless beings sharing its existence—would it bother to tell them it was sleeping?

Would anyone tell the little gecko in the corner of their house, "I'm going to sleep"?

Probably not. And if it didn't say anything, wouldn't these elves assume that it was their own actions that caused the God of Life's current state?

A Nightblade elf burst out of the treasure cave and shouted: "Your Majesty, everything in the Ancient Vault has vanished!"

Nagelis instantly felt as if even holy water couldn't cleanse the stain.

Galard erupted in fury, teeth grinding: "You killed the God of Life for these treasures?"

Nagelis grimaced: "I told you the God of Life isn't dead—it's just sleeping. Do you believe me?"

Galard sneered: "Do you think I'd believe you?"

"I'll call it awake to explain itself—hey, hey, wake up, wake up!" Nagelis stomped hard, but such a colossal being, once truly asleep, could not be roused so casually.

When an ordinary person sleeps, do ants' stomping wake them? Not unless you cut off several of their branch tips—but clearly, they had no chance to cut anything.

Anthony either deliberately or accidentally shifted slightly—flash—the entire space plunged into darkness, as if night had fallen instantly. Ang felt all fire, wind, and light elements around him freeze, as if bound by some force.

This binding force came from the beautiful female elf behind Anthony. She wore a white robe, clinging and smooth, outlining her curvaceous figure. Her silver hair flowed long, her frame tall, her skin pale, eyes tightly shut, hovering midair like a flawless goddess.

Nagelis swallowed hard, staring in shock at the elf, struggling to speak: "I… Immunity to Magic? Who is she?"

Anthony also swallowed: "The bane of mages, the death of elements—the Truth Archmage, Aisidoria."

"What a long title—we're dead," Nagelis grimaced. "Are elves' trump cards really this insane? Someone actually mastered Immunity to Magic?"

"No, it's only insane if she's almost perfect. Her eyes are blind," Anthony whispered.

"Huh?" Nagelis looked again at Aisidoria. He'd assumed she was too proud to look at them—turns out she was blind.

Immunity to Magic blocked all elements; even light couldn't penetrate, let alone teleport out. Even if Anthony now activated Holy Protection, they still couldn't escape.

Galard roared: "Seize them! Resist, and kill on the spot!"

The Tree of Life was dead. The elves' god was dead. The enraged elves had already restrained themselves by not chopping them to pieces on the spot.

But Ang couldn't let them capture him—he bent slightly, ready to transform—when Anthony grabbed his arm.

Anthony spoke directly into his soul: "My lord, play along with me."

Ang tilted his head in confusion, then saw Anthony lift the tiny sapling from atop Ang's head, hold it high, and shout: "Step back now, or I'll smash it!"

The sapling, removed from Ang's head, looked bewildered—but quickly spotted its new target and waved its true branches at Galard: Grow—grow—grow—grow—

When the sapling sat atop Ang's head, everyone just thought it was weird—a skeleton with a flowerpot on its skull. What did that mean?

But now the sapling emitted its aura—Galard instantly realized something, shuddering: "The Tree of Life?! Watch out!"

"Step back! Or I'll drop it!" Anthony bellowed, voice fierce.

"No no no, careful, careful, we're stepping back, be careful!" Galard replied frantically, stepping backward in a panic, torn between excitement, fear, and urgency.

Everyone else did the same—except Aisidoria, who remained utterly still.

Kaelandiel, in her giant eagle form, locked eyes with Galard. Both saw the same joy and excitement in each other's gaze: the Tree of Life—a new Tree of Life.

Oh heavens, the World Tree had never sprouted consciousness before, leaving them nearly hopeless. Yet now, suddenly, a tiny Tree of Life—could it be the rebirth of the God of Life?

"Release the Tree of Life, or you will become the enemy of all elves. We will spare no cost to find you and hang you," Galard shouted.

"Shut up. Have her cancel Immunity to Magic—or I'll smash it. Do it now, or I'll pluck off its leaves!"

Galard panted, eyes blazing, fixed on Anthony.

Anthony's gaze was steady as he slowly reached toward the sapling in the pot—but inside, he was panicking. He quickly asked Ang through soul-link: "My lord, can it regrow one or two leaves if I pluck them?"

Ang replied uncertainly: "I don't know."

Fortunately, no test was needed. Just as Anthony's fingers neared the sapling, Galard gritted her teeth so hard they might shatter, forcing out each word: "Aisidoria—cancel Immunity to Magic."

The dark space flooded with light again; all elements resumed flowing. Aisidoria turned her head toward Anthony, her closed eyes seeming to see him. Anthony immediately felt a focused will settle upon him.

Anthony's finger touched the sapling.

Few ever touched the sapling—except Ang. Curious, the sapling sensed the finger and slowly raised a leaf, pressing it against Anthony's fingertip.

Anthony felt a coolness seep in from the point of contact.

He didn't know what kind of energy it was, but it felt pleasant. Still, he had no time to investigate—he met Aisidoria's gaze without flinching.

Aisidoria nodded, as if saying, "I'll remember you," then stepped back.

Anthony quickly hugged the sapling to his chest—he too feared dropping it. His earlier ferocity had been pure theater for the elves.

Once certain he held the pot securely, Anthony shouted:

"First: The Tree of Life is not dead. We found a cure for its blight—it's been watered into the soil. That's why it's sleeping now, because the cure took effect." Here, Anthony turned quickly: "Throw them that branch. Then, my lord, do you have teleportation scrolls?"

Nagelis immediately tossed over the branch they'd cut earlier, saying: "You asked the right person—Ang, pull out the scrolls."

Ang pulled out a handful of scrolls, handing one to each person—even Lightning got one.

But now Lightning's mother poked her head out, barking sharply: "Lightning, come back! This isn't a joke—they killed the God of Life! The elves won't let them go. Come back now—I'll plead for mercy with Your Majesty!"

Lightning rolled his eyes: "I told you—the God of Life isn't dead. These elves are always overreacting, imagining things. We came to help, and they treat us as enemies. So self-righteous. The God of Life doesn't like them."

As he spoke, Lightning tucked the scroll between his hooves and neatly bit it open with his mouth.

That bite meant he chose Ang's side. If the misunderstanding couldn't be cleared, it also meant he severed ties with his mother forever—now enemies, never returning.

Everyone tore open their scrolls. As they activated, Anthony continued: "Second: We saved the God of Life, yet you treat us like this. When the God of Life awakens, I'll ask it to punish you."

"Third: This sapling is our companion—not your Tree of Life."

"Fourth: We don't fear battle, but we hate misunderstandings. We'll let you off this time. When you learn the truth, come apologize."

As Anthony spoke, the teleportation scrolls activated one after another—blooms of white light erupted, swallowing each person.

The elves surrounded them in a tight circle, helplessly watching Ang's group vanish one by one. The last to go was Anthony—with the sapling still in his hands.

The elves stared at each other, lost. After a long silence, Galard landed on the platform. Kaelandiel followed, shifting back from giant eagle to a graceful woman.

Three archer elves landed next, then Aisidoria.

Kaelandiel spoke first: "That sapling is truly the Tree of Life. I felt its surging life force—it's full of curiosity. It's not the God of Life reincarnated—it's a new Tree of Life."

Kaelandiel was ecstatic: "I know now what a new Tree of Life looks like! So adorable! It waved at us… waved its leaves! Did you see? Did you see?"

But Galard was troubled by a far more pressing question. Ignoring the High Priestess, she turned to Aisidoria: "Aisidoria, do you believe them? Is the God of Life truly not dead?"

"Believable. The God of Life isn't so easily killed. If they truly killed it, they did so silently within our perception range—their power must far exceed our imagination," Aisidoria replied calmly, eyes still closed.

"But all its leaves fell off—I've never seen the God of Life bald. Can it survive like this?" Galard asked Kaelandiel.

Kaelandiel hesitated: "Theoretically, losing all leaves doesn't mean death. In winter, many plants shed leaves to reduce water loss and enter dormancy. But whether the God of Life can survive this… I don't know. It often ignores my prayers. Now I can't tell if it's ignoring me, in dormancy, or dead."

At that moment, a Chimera knight flew up and reported: "We found some powder on the ground—just sprinkled recently." He presented a tiny amount.

Galard pinched a bit and examined it, murmuring: "Could they really be treating the God of Life? Is this medicine?"

"Or poison," Aisidoria cut in sharply.

Yes—it could be medicine. Or poison. Who could be certain they were healing, not poisoning?

Galard picked up the branch they'd thrown—there were no signs of disease on it.

"Perhaps it was cut from a healthy part of the God of Life—the cut is still fresh," Aisidoria said.

Yes, one branch meant nothing. They couldn't tell, like the God of Life could, whether a branch had been freshly cut or cut long ago and healed.

"What do we do now?" Galard, as queen, had no doubt in her decisiveness—but now she was truly at a loss.

"Find them. Take them into custody. Treat them well. Wait for the God of Life to awaken. If it wakes, you apologize to them. If it doesn't, bury them in the soil as fertilizer," Aisidoria said calmly.

Kaelandiel hesitated: "Is that right? What if they really came to heal the God of Life?"

"The Tree of Life cannot fall into others' hands. The Tree of Life belongs to the elves," Aisidoria replied, as if stating an obvious truth.

This jolted Galard awake: "Yes—the Tree of Life must not leave elf hands. It belongs to us. Move out! Even if they hide in the Abyss, find them!"

Galard mounted her great unicorn and rode into the air. Aisidoria seemed lifted by invisible hands, drifting away.

The three archer elves each drew bows and shot arrows into the distance—each arrow trailing a rope. As they fired, they yanked the ropes, using the arrows' force to haul themselves into the sky.

Kaelandiel watched her companions depart one by one, then sighed softly: "Is this why Lightning said the God of Life doesn't like elves?"

With that, Kaelandiel flipped backward—her delicate elf-woman form transformed into a giant eagle, soaring skyward to chase after Galard.

Soon, a thunderous arrow shot into the sky, and the entire elf forest erupted once more.

The elves' abnormality alarmed humans. All nations' high officials contacted each other: Any inside information? What are the elves up to now?

This was the elves' second outburst in two years—threatening a full-scale planar war, leaving everyone on edge.

But soon, human nations received the elves' diplomatic notice: "Our target is the Deep Desert Nomads. Do not panic. Remain calm and restrained. Do not harbor the Deep Desert Nomads—or you will be considered enemies of the elves."

No one wished to become enemies of the elves over a band of Deep Desert Nomads—especially not after seeing their forces. Unless all human nations united, no force could stop this army.

Chimera battalions, Pteranodon battalions, Unicorn battalions, Great Antler Cavalry, Elf Mage Corps, Magical War Chariot units—nearly all of the elves' elite forces had mobilized.

Worse, the elves had summoned all their Truth Archmages and Arcane Archmages—including Aisidoria and three other Truth Archmages, plus over a dozen Arcane Archmages.

With this force capable of waging planar war, Galard arrived at the Fallen Dragon Lake. Phaler nervously handed her a letter. As soon as she opened it and read the first sentence, Galard burst out laughing bitterly.