Chapter 2781: Ancient War

"We have lived in this forest for many years, not only drawing local maps but also recording the local hidden and dangerous monsters. It's just that recording detailed information about them is too dangerous; if one is not careful, this booklet will also be contaminated, so we only drew inaccurate sketches of them and then passed on their information through word of mouth... Found it, this is the 'Keeper'."

Mr. Meloni turned to the sixth page, which was relatively early in the booklet. On that page was a large insect similar to a rhinoceros beetle, but the shape of the wings was clearly not that of a rhinoceros beetle:

"Sleeping Paradox Worms are definitely more fragile than when they are active. Although rare, it is not impossible for people like you and the predecessors of the Hermit Group to discover underground cavities. Therefore, among those Paradox Worms, there exists an extremely powerful individual responsible for protecting those sleeping worms."

His finger pointed at the insect drawn in the booklet:

"So it is called the 'Keeper' by us. Although it is almost the only Paradox Worm that is always active, it will not stay far from the underground. So even if you encounter it, as long as you run fast enough and don't run downward, you basically won't be in danger. This worm is very special. Your description just now also said that the time power it used just now is similar to spellcasting, rather than purely relying on its own instincts.

And probably because it has lived underground for too long, the 'Keeper' can control the power of the earth. But I can't explain exactly how, and the knowledge passed down from the previous generation is very vague about this."

Xia De nodded:

"In this way, the name 'Keeper' is really appropriate... Then what are the tree roots I saw? Those tree roots extend from deeper underground, as if the giant tree the roots are connected to is beneath the earth."

This time Mr. Meloni did not answer immediately, but considered it very cautiously:

"These words should have been said by the Great Elder to you, but since he is not here, let me say it."

He closed the booklet and signaled the other hermits around the bonfire to leave for a while:

"Mr. Watson, the 【Hermits in the Forest】 have existed in the Vista Forest for many, many years. We can even say that before Creekwood Town was established and the first church of the Nature Church appeared in the town, we were already here."

"So?"

"So, the fact that there is a huge evil beneath this forest, we know better than anyone. And we even know that the huge evil is a tree."

Mr. Meloni saw Xia De show a surprised expression, thinking he was surprised by this fact, but he didn't know that Xia De was surprised that they knew so much.

"That ancient evil came here longer ago than we did, but do you know why there hasn't even been a legend about it here for so long?"

Xia De shook his head, so Mr. Meloni pointed to the church of the Old God of Luck—the 【White Holy Tree】—under the tree:

"Because of this, no, no, not just because of my Lord's church, the countless shrines, temples, and churches scattered in this forest have jointly played a role in suppressing and sealing it."

The elderly man looked at Xia De, the fire dancing in his eyes:

"In our unknown ancient era, ancient ancestors from different races and with different beliefs jointly defeated that terrible evil. After that ancient war, the ancestors used a huge sealing ritual that is now unknown, and built their respective churches at key nodes in the forest.

This is also the real reason why there are so many ancient ruins in the Vista Forest. Have you ever thought before why believers of many Old Gods and even Ancient Gods would come here to build churches?"

Xia De only then truly realized this problem. So far, he had come into contact with the power of the God of Law, the God of Luck, the Door of Radiance, the Tree God, and even the Moon God in this forest, but he had indeed not thought about why there were so many ruins here.

"So that's it, a great war also happened here in ancient times."

He imagined the scene of the ancient ancestors fighting the world-destroying evil, but immediately thought of a new problem:

"When those temples and other buildings were built, there were still people to maintain them, but now most of the buildings in the forest are dilapidated, right? Like your church, it might be the best-maintained one.

In such a situation, can the seal really still work? In the era when the trees in this forest were just small saplings, the ancient war came to an end. Now the forest has become lush, but the people who left these trees have long since gone."

Mr. Meloni sighed, his voice much lower:

"Mr. Watson, we cannot change the fact that supernatural power is gradually declining with the change of eras, nor can we change the fact that the Old Gods left in the previous era. So all we can do is patrol the forest and maintain our own churches.

However, you don't need to worry too much about the failure of the seal. Tens of thousands of years have passed, and the seal has long become a part of this forest. The forest itself is now also playing a role in sealing."

He pointed to the direction of the city again:

"The True God Church also inherits ancient secrets, and the Nature Church among them also knows about things here, but only a few high-level officials in the church know. Since the beginning of the Steam Age, the Kingdom of Karsenrik has not extensively logged the forest area for fuel. In fact, it was the Nature Church that made the kingdom change its mind.

After all, we still need the power of this forest, and we cannot destroy the forest area shortsightedly just to burn wood. So Vista City is expanding in name, but the actual urban area will not change anymore. If it weren't for the fact that the civilization symbolized by human settlements can also strengthen the forest's seal on evil through enlightenment elements, the church would not have allowed Creekwood Town to expand into a city."

"But now the strength of that ancient seal must not be as good as it was initially. Haven't you noticed traces similar to 'seal damage'?"

Xia De was very worried, but the old Keeper's expression didn't change:

"How could I not notice? More and more tree holes are appearing, and more and more strange creatures and strange areas are appearing in the forest. These are all warnings."

"So, do you know the origin of the tree you call the 'huge evil'?"

Mr. Meloni did not answer, but asked meaningfully:

"Then do you know what it is?"

"I..."

"It seems you already have the answer."

Xia De shook his head with a smile, and the old Keeper also laughed:

"Even if it breaks free from the seal tomorrow, what can be done? It's just everyone working together to contain it, and then dying or being exiled together. We have long been prepared, this is actually nothing. It's just hoping that everyone's sacrifice can have some effect. The ancestors in the ancient war probably all had power beyond the 13th tier, but now we..."

After Xia De thanked him, he supported the ground and stood up to prepare to leave. Mr. Meloni also stood up to see him off. At the gate of the camp, the elderly man said again:

"We have also heard about the Time War. The church hopes that their candidate can find a time point where an ancient hero who was active in the Vista Forest existed, so they came to us for help.

The story of the eighth chosen one is about to reach its climax. When the heir who holds the power of time and trees appears, presumably all problems here can be solved. Yes, everyone hopes so."

"What if things can't be solved?"

Xia De asked again, and Mr. Meloni looked at him:

"Isn't there still you? The God-Caller who summoned the moon, isn't it only you who is qualified to compare with the ancient ancestors in this era?"

Xia De did not deny it, and the old man suddenly asked again:

"Speaking of which, when you appeared this time, I always feel that you are integrated with this forest. Have you encountered any good things recently?"

(Yi Luna is praying...)

Although he failed to bring back even a piece of Mithril ore, what Xia De saw underground and the news he got from the hermit could be considered a huge harvest. When he returned to the hotel with this news in the evening, the busy ladies were also in the hotel.

After listening to Xia De's account of the Paradox Worm swarm sleeping underground, Flora naturally thought of the same problem as Xia De:

"Although we all know that the chosen one is very powerful, the chosen one also needs time to grow.

Not to mention the underage elf currently in the academy, even that mysterious girl in the forest is currently only at the 8th tier. She is not a 13th-tier Earth Guardian like the one in Randal Valley, nor does she have extraordinary power like Sister Daelin.

If Emilia becomes the chosen one, can she really solve the problem here all at once?"

That red-haired girl elegantly held her teacup with her little finger raised, not very worried about this:

"There will definitely be a way when the time comes. Maybe after the chosen one ritual is completed, Emilia will suddenly comprehend the 'Worm-Killing Secret Manual'. What I care about is the tree roots Xia De saw."

"I also suspect that it is part of that so-called 'Great Tree', but this suspicion is useless. That tree doesn't look like it would be greatly weakened if one or two root systems were destroyed. And the 'Keeper' I encountered, the hermits said it is quite powerful and can control the power of the earth..."

And when Xia De returned home that night, Vanessa indeed came to the house as she said in the afternoon. As for Galina and Dorothy who were at home last night, they were not there. In this way, only Luvia and Vanessa were at home that night.

Xia De also told them about his experience tonight. As a witch of the earth, Vanessa was more concerned about whether it was a coincidence or some kind of inevitability that the Mithril ore and the Paradox Worm's hibernation place were together. She was considering the origin of the Mithril ore and the effect of the ore on supernatural creatures. ===== CHAPTER 2782 =====