The giant cage contracted instantly, compressing the space inside. The heroic power forming it made the internal environment twist and shrink rapidly.
*Roar!*
Roars echoed through the shadows, and from all directions, imposing skeletal figures began to approach.
Alm and Bruno’s expressions darkened; each of these undead possessed strength comparable to that of a divine cultivator at their absolute peak. Even if they used the Eraser, they were surrounded, and they would stop them; escaping under such conditions was impossible.
The cage continued to shrink, while the undead advanced slowly and methodically. Their auras, though overwhelming, showed a strange calm, as if they were puppets completely under control. Step by step, they closed in on the intruders.
Fighting was unfeasible; fleeing, unthinkable. Everything had crumbled suddenly due to the unexpected attack of the tree of chaos. Alm and Bruno took a deep breath, realizing that the only way out was to burn their trump cards and risk everything.
The skeletal figure in silver armor stepped forward and raised its broken spear, pointing directly at the group. It was clear that this figure was leading the other undead, as at the signal, all the skeletons simultaneously launched themselves to attack. However...
*Poft!*
The dry sound of bones being destroyed echoed. Suddenly, all the undead disintegrated, turning to dust as if they were made of sand.
Surprised, Alm and Bruno looked at Mihkriel, who stood motionless, carrying the elder on his back. At some point, the elder had opened his single eye. With just one glance, he completely destroyed the undead.
"Senior!" Mihkriel exclaimed, belatedly realizing the movement.
Strange marks began to glow in the elder’s eye, and he slid to the ground, stepping off Mihkriel’s back. His attention was focused on the silver-armored figure, which was visibly trembling by this point.
The figure hesitated for a moment, then brought its bony hands to its helmet and removed it. Everyone was stunned. Despite looking like a complete skeleton, the face behind the helmet was intact.
Though it was just a head, it was a beautiful woman, with all the characteristic features of a dark elf preserved. Her gaze, however, was what drew the most attention: one of her eyes was identical to the elder’s.
"Marici... I’ve finally found you." The elder murmured with an emotional smile, while tears seemed to want to flow from the only eye he had left; but of course, nothing came out.
The woman trembled upon hearing the call. Her lifeless eyes gradually began to gain some light.
"Ning, is it really you?" Her voice came out hesitantly, almost a whisper.
In that moment, even the heroic power cage seemed to pause in time. The elder’s single eye glowed softly, but the power emanating from it was abnormal, able to alter reality with its mere will.
The elder began to walk toward the woman, his steps slow and labored. Marici, in turn, moved toward the voice she so deeply recognized. When their bony hands met, she opened her arms and hugged him tightly. Although she wanted to cry, her dead body couldn’t allow such an act, and she just murmured in agony.
"Why did you leave me?" she said, her voice full of pain. "I was scared, alone in this dark place. I kept calling your name, but you never answered."
"I’m sorry..." the elder replied, his voice heavy with guilt and regret. "I made you suffer, but I’ll never leave you again."
They stayed embraced for a long moment while Alm and Bruno watched in silence.
Eventually, the elder looked around and sighed deeply. "That arrogant brat... Even in death, she had to trap us here and use us. How could she be so cruel?"
Turning to Alm and Bruno, the elder continued, "You’ve kept your promise. Thanks to you, my wish has been fulfilled. Unfortunately, I’m already dead and unable to fully repay such a great favor."
"You don’t need to worry about that," Alm replied neutrally. "I would’ve come here anyway."
The elder nodded and said, "I still have my two eyes. Although they are almost powerless, one is enough for us to reincarnate together." Alm and Bruno’s eyes briefly brightened, but the elder continued, "Unfortunately, these eyes are connected to my soul, and no one else can use them. But I can help you, even if it’s just a little."
Bruno sighed, watching the couple. They both had divine souls that could be stored in an inventory, so they could be reincarnated together in the future. But he didn’t dare suggest it; it was clear they wanted to distance themselves from wars and conflict.
At this moment, the only thing they desired was to live in peace. Their souls were weak, and it would take thousands of years to recover after a secret reincarnation. During this time, they could disguise themselves as ordinary people.
But eventually, they would be discovered. After all, they weren’t like Alm and Bruno, with divided souls; they couldn’t stay hidden for too long with their divine souls restored. Soon, they would have to fight another battle to find a place to live again.
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"You called the queen a brat before," Alm said, thoughtfully. "You’re of the same race, right? Are there others like you?"
The elder snorted lightly. "Indeed, we are of the same race. The unique ability of our bloodline was what allowed her to reach such heights. However, the spark for the great war happened when she began eliminating those of our own kind."
He took a deep breath before continuing. "I feel that the power of my eyes is disconnected from the heavenly laws. She won the battle, which means she must have wiped us all out. What I feel now is proof: she removed any possibility of another like us being born. Even the heavenly laws have forgotten our existence... She must be the only one left alive."
Alm and Bruno were stunned. Making the heavenly laws forget an entire race? Even without understanding how this was possible, it explained why the system hadn’t provided them with any information about this bloodline.
"I imagine that nowadays, there is very little information about my race, so I hope this knowledge is useful," the elder gestured, and a rune of knowledge floated toward Alm and Bruno.
They stored the rune, excited. However, the elder asked them, "Did you come here to absorb the power of the immortal Heavenly Elemental Spirits?"
Bruno snorted. "My intention was to free them discreetly... but in the end, it looks like I’m absorbing them. Anyway..."
[Optional Mission Available: 01]
[Nourish the Chaos Tree with the other three sealed immortal elemental spirits.]
[Reward 01: Immortal-level Celestial Knowledge about the five natural elements.]
[Reward 02: Catalog of Rune Seals created by the Forge God’s disciples.]
[Accept?] [Yes/No]
Alm and Bruno quickly analyzed the green screens. Bruno almost spat fire: ’That damn manipulator. He knew the tree would attack and knew I would never allow this, but now he’s forcing us to do it.’
"We’re not in a position to waste such valuable rewards," Alm replied coldly. "Think about it: these immortal Heavenly Elemental Spirits couldn’t have been easily killed by a powerless tree. Something unknown is happening, and I’m willing to go all the way to figure it out."
Bruno sighed heavily, admitting the complexity of the situation. They couldn’t pass up this chance to steal the other half of the cauldron, especially considering the risks they had already taken.
After ten seconds of reflection, Ruri, sensing their hesitation and already knowing there could be five sealed immortals, made a suggestion:
’Master, he said he can help. His power seems to easily suppress the heroic power. Since I know this formation well, I believe all five are the same. If he can weaken three heroic runes in the core that I indicate, we can remove the true bodies of the remaining three immortals with ease.’
’Also, I can identify the external runes of the formation. If he suppresses the key points, we can directly infiltrate the core and deactivate the seal in seconds, escaping right after.’
Alm and Bruno’s eyes sparkled at the idea. They then turned to the elder and directly asked if that would be possible.
"If what you call heroic power is the same as the one that fueled this seal, know that this is something derived from my race’s bloodline," he answered calmly. "But yes, since it’s not her manipulating directly, I can easily suppress this power. The little that remains is enough for that."
With Alm and Bruno’s agreement, Ruri left the inventory and began explaining in detail the key points of the formation to the elder, who listened attentively. He had spent millennia trapped in that place, and knew every inch of the formation. Since all five were the same, with her instructions, he could act easily.
"But this place is vast," the elder murmured, hesitating. "Maybe it won’t be possible to reach all three places quickly...!"
He stopped speaking as he saw the Eraser Hammer being taken out. Then he murmured, "That... pierces through space-time and even reality a little. Impressive... but still not enough... What?!"
Alm and Bruno’s eyes glowed with mystical power, causing the elder and his companion to freeze. The world seemed to bend before their gaze as they activated their celestial souls. They chose to take the risk, and this allowed them to analyze the sealed world they were in in great detail.
The couple felt the power of the soul emanating from them. That sensation was familiar; they had witnessed something identical before — the queen had possessed the same supreme power.
Alm and Bruno stored the chains that were holding the Salamander, then quickly identified the special zones of the sealed world. They located three other places where the same type of formation was keeping the immortals sealed.
"Let’s go, get in here. You do your part, and we’ll escape immediately. In a minute, it will all be over."
Bruno spoke lightly, and the inventory opened. The two entered along with Lansha and Mihkriel.
Seconds later, the space ruptured, creating a direct path to the next destination: a chain of mountains surrounded by black clouds and an endless chaotic storm.
Destructive lightning blocked any approach. Young cultivators and anyone else avoided the place at all costs; those from the sects didn’t dare to take them there as a test. The flame test was still possible to pass, but the lightning was uncontrollable, and all young cultivators would die instantly.
But then, a spatial crack crossed the clouds, and a figure appeared. The moment it arrived, it was as if the storm froze, and the formation isolating the space bowed.
Alm and Bruno entered and arrived directly in front of the rune of the immortal Heavenly Elemental Spirit of lightning, called Tempest.
The chains holding him broke, and he was extremely confused and scared by the rapid succession of events.
’What the hell...!’
*CRACK!*
"Sorry..." Bruno murmured.
A branch pierced through from within the inventory, splitting the rune in half. Immediately, that immortal soul disappeared, and the rune turned to dust.
They collected the chains, and it took three seconds for the hammer to break space once again. The immortal Heavenly Elemental Spirits of earth and wind met the same tragic fate... but no one had time to lament or feel anything.
It took just a few seconds, and it was over, a perfect murder... or maybe not. Bruno tried to come to terms with it, thinking they hadn’t been killed.
[Congratulations, Optional Mission Completed.]