Chapter 644
“I’ve never heard of a monster like that before.”
“It seems to be a new species that appeared on Earth.”
Hera, Floa, and the others looked at Zeon with expressions of disbelief.
“Then there were no monsters of that type in Kurayan?”
“No! This is the first time I’ve even heard from Zeon that such a monster exists.”
“Hmm!”
“Even if there had been one, if it lived at such a high altitude, there would have been no way for us to know about it. Unless we could freely fly through the sky like dragons. But since no dragon ever mentioned such a beast, it must be a monster that was born on Earth.”
Zeon nodded at Floa’s explanation.
If it had truly existed in Kurayan, it made no sense that Floa and the others would know nothing about it.
More importantly, after the Great Cataclysm, numerous new species of monsters had appeared on Earth as well.
There were monsters like Arkelon, which had evolved from an Earth turtle, and lifeforms like Gaia, which had fused with a spirit.
The stingray-like monster was undoubtedly another creature born after the Great Cataclysm.
After quietly listening to everyone, Serian spoke with a grave expression.
“At least that’s a relief. If a creature like that were roaming the ground, it would bring about a great disaster. But if it only flies in the distant heights of the sky…”
“Judging by its form, it probably won’t come down to the ground.”
All living things evolve to suit their environment.
No matter how one looked at it, a stingray-shaped body was not suited for life on land.
It might display tremendous power in the skies, but once it descended to the ground, it would be unable to avoid attacks from other powerful monsters.
Therefore, the chances of a stingray-type monster descending near the ground were not very high.
Serian said to Zeon,
“You were the first to discover it, Lord Zeon, so you should name it.”
“Me?”
“The first discoverer is the one who names it.”
“Then let’s call it Abyss.”
“Abyss? As in the deep abyss?”
“Yes. The moment I saw that monster, it felt as though I was staring into an abyss.”
“It suits it. Abyss! Then from now on, we’ll call that monster Abyss.”
Thus, the monster’s name was decided.
Zeon said his farewells to the three elves.
“I’m going to visit World Tree Village. I think I should inform Lord Arisedon and Gaia about the appearance of Abyss.”
“May I come with you?”
Serian hurriedly grabbed Zeon’s arm.
Hera and Floa visited World Tree Village frequently, but Serian had been so busy with affairs in the Northern District that she had only visited once, and even then only briefly because she had been pressed for time.
Although the Primordial Forest had been opened to the public, World Tree Village still kept its gates firmly closed.
Only a handful of people were allowed to travel there through the portal.
And even then, permission was not granted without a special reason.
It was no surprise that Serian was so eager.
Zeon smiled.
“Then let’s go together.”
“Thank you.”
A smile spread across Serian’s face.
For an elf, beholding the World Tree was an honor beyond compare.
There was a saying among elves:
All elves are equal beneath the World Tree.
Whether High Elf, Dark Elf, or ordinary elf, the World Tree’s grace was bestowed equally upon all.
Leaving Brielle in the Primordial Forest, Zeon traveled to World Tree Village with Serian.
Like Zeon, Brielle could come and go from World Tree Village whenever she wished, so there was no need to worry.
She would spend time playing with Har and then return to either World Tree Village or Neo Seoul.
“Lord Zeon! Lady Serian as well?”
Latricia greeted Zeon and Serian as they emerged from the portal.
“Have you been well?”
“Thanks to you, Lord Zeon, I’ve been doing very well.”
Smiling, Latricia gestured toward World Tree Village.
Several buildings that hadn’t been there before had been constructed.
They were accommodations for future visitors when the village was eventually opened.
All of them had been built using materials sent from Neo Seoul.
At that moment, Serian greeted her respectfully.
“Serian Olyana of the Northern District greets Lady Latricia.”
“So you’ve come. Last time you left so quickly that I regretted not having a chance to talk more. You’ll be staying longer today, won’t you?”
“If Lady Latricia permits it, I’d love to stay as long as possible.”
“Then tonight, let’s sit beneath the World Tree and talk through the night. There’s so much I want to hear about Neo Seoul.”
“Thank you, Lady Latricia! That’s exactly what I hoped for.”
Serian’s eyes sparkled like a young girl’s.
There wasn’t a single elf who disliked spending the night chatting beneath the World Tree.
For elves like Serian, who had spent a long time living in the human world, the opportunity was even more precious.
It was a chance to receive the spiritual energy radiated by the World Tree with her entire body.
Latricia turned her gaze toward Zeon.
“What about you, Lord Zeon?”
“I’m going to see Lord Arisedon.”
“Lord Arisedon should be up there.”
Latricia’s gaze shifted toward the sky.
As Zeon activated his flight magic, he said,
“Don’t mind me. Enjoy your conversation. I’ll return directly to Neo Seoul after speaking with Lord Arisedon.”
“Very well. Then…”
Still holding Serian’s hand, Latricia gave Zeon a slight bow.
Zeon returned the gesture before soaring high into the sky.
As he rose through the clouds, Arisedon seemed to sense his presence and approached, his enormous body stirring.
The pressure exuded by Arisedon after becoming a dragon was truly immense.
Abyss was impressive, but it was nothing compared to Arisedon.
—As I thought, it was you.
“Have you been well?”
—I have been doing well beneath the protection of the World Tree.
“You look well.”
—But what brings you here?
“Have you ever seen a monster like this?”
Zeon gave Arisedon a detailed description of Abyss.
After hearing everything, Arisedon spoke.
—I have never seen it, but I have felt a powerful presence before. It seems that creature was the source of that presence.
“So it hasn’t entered World Tree Village.”
—Without my permission, not even a dragon may freely enter World Tree Village. Even if it were Reykas. I am no longer the Imugi I once was.
A fierce light flashed in Arisedon’s eyes.
The memory of being defeated by the Chaos Dragon Reykas remained a deep humiliation.
As the guardian of the World Tree, he had nearly lost this place because of Reykas.
Fortunately, with Zeon’s help, the World Tree had been protected, and Arisedon had evolved into a dragon. Yet he had never forgotten that day for even a single moment.
That was why he patrolled the area around World Tree Village even more thoroughly, ensuring that no monster could approach.
The presence of Arisedon as a dragon was on an entirely different level from when he had been an Imugi.
Even S-rank monsters feared him and dared not approach the vicinity of World Tree Village.
Occasionally he sensed exceptional beings like Gaia, but they either respected or feared his influence and kept their distance.
Within the territory of the World Tree, Arisedon became even stronger.
Even Reykas would be unable to do anything to Dragon Arisedon within the World Tree’s domain.
It was only natural that Arisedon spoke with such confidence.
“So you felt Abyss’s presence back then.”
—Abyss?
“That’s the name I gave it.”
—A fitting name. It carried a feeling similar to an abyss.
“What do you mean?”
—Creatures that dwell in the depths are naturally cunning and vicious. They cannot tolerate anything that offends their eyes.
“I see.”
—Be careful. It may not dare approach this place because of me, but it is strong. Unless one is a dragon, there are very few beings capable of opposing it.
Zeon nodded.
He had felt something similar himself.
“What do you think would happen if Gaia encountered it?”
—Gaia is a different kind of existence.
“What?”
—Though she possesses a physical body, Gaia is fundamentally a spirit. She possesses every authority that a spirit can wield. Even a monster like Abyss would find it difficult to provoke her recklessly.
“I see.”
—Do not worry about Gaia. No monster that lives in the skies can do anything to her.
“Understood.”
—She may be gentle with you, but when Gaia is angry, even I would have difficulty dealing with her.
Zeon smiled at Arisedon’s high praise.
Gaia was spiritually connected to him. Naturally, hearing her praised filled him with pride as well.
“Sorry for troubling you. I’ll be heading back down now.”
—You say the strangest things. You are my benefactor. You may come whenever you wish. If you ever have questions or need help, come find me at any time.
“I will.”
After exchanging a final glance with Arisedon, Zeon descended to the ground.
Arisedon also disappeared back into the clouds.
As soon as Zeon landed, the High Elf children and spirits rushed over to greet him.
“Lord Zeon!”
—It’s Zeon.
“Waaah!”
—Zeon’s here.
Their excited chatter was almost enough to make his ears hurt, but Zeon never lost his smile.
“Have you all been well?”
“Yep! What about you, Zeon?”
“I’ve been well too.”
“Why did you take so long to come back? We missed you.”
“Sorry! I’ve been busy.”
“You should come more often. We miss you.”
“Okay.”
“That’s a promise?”
“It is.”
“Waaah! Awesome!”
The High Elf children cheered and ran about after receiving Zeon’s promise.
The spirits contracted with the children also darted through the sky in every direction.
The scene was so chaotic it could make one dizzy, and yet it made him smile.
When Zeon had first come here, there had been no smiles on the children’s faces.
He still remembered their hollow eyes and expressions as they had given up on everything and waited only for death.
Then the World Tree had been born in that place filled with despair, and smiles had returned to their faces.
Having regained their joy, the children now ran freely through the forest alongside the spirits.
Recently, their numbers had increased greatly as well.
They were children born under the blessing of the World Tree.
All of them liked Zeon.
Sitting on a rock, Zeon watched them play.
Being here made him feel good.
The refreshing energy, the cool breeze, the laughter of children.
All of it felt like a blessing.
For now, such an experience could only be found here and in the Primordial Forest.
Zeon wished that more people could one day experience and feel the same thing.
Just then—
“Lord Zeon!”
A blonde High Elf approached while calling out to him.
Zeon recognized her immediately.
“Lady Olivia!”
She was the finest plant expert in World Tree Village.
There was no one in the village more skilled at cultivating plants than her.
Every seed brought from the seed vault had sprouted under her care.
Even plants on the verge of death would quickly recover after passing through her hands.
Smiling, Olivia said,
“I wondered why the children were being so noisy. So you were here.”
“Have you been well?”
“Thanks to you, Lord Zeon, I’ve been spending each day happily. The days fly by as I commune with the World Tree and tend to the trees.”
“That’s good to hear.”
“In truth, I came because I have a favor to ask of you.”
“A favor for me?”
Zeon looked at Olivia in surprise.
Because of her quiet personality, he could not easily imagine what she might ask of him.
She spoke cautiously.
“I heard there’s a forest in Neo Seoul as well.”
“Yes. I heard there’s one in the deepest part of the city. But I haven’t been inside it myself yet.”
“That’s why I wanted to ask… would it be possible for me to enter that forest?”
“May I ask why?”
“I’d like to examine the forest in Neo Seoul and see if there’s any way I can help. There’s also something I’d like to try cultivating.”
“Then come with me to Neo Seoul. If we receive the mayor’s permission, you should be able to enter.”
“Thank you, Lord Zeon! For granting such a difficult request.”
“It’s nothing. Let me know once you’re ready.”
“I’m already prepared.”
Olivia pointed to the small leather pouch hanging at her waist.
Zeon immediately realized that the shabby-looking pouch was actually a subspace bag.
Knowing that everything she needed for her journey was inside, there was no reason to hesitate.
“Let’s go.”
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