Chapter 587

Liala, standing before the World Tree, steadied her breath for a moment.

“Haah!”

She let out a sigh, trying to release even a fraction of the weight pressing on her chest. Even so, her expression refused to ease.

It was because of what had happened a few months ago.

Back then, she had come here to confront Del Roa. But before she could even properly speak, she had been subdued by the council members and dragged away. However, today there were no council members here.

Most of them had been deployed on the mission to find the World Tree.

The only one remaining had been Krudu, the leader of the giants, but he was currently at Pankrena Volcano.

The erupting Pankrena Volcano was still threatening El Harun.

Even though a full-scale eruption had yet to occur, it was already devastating the surrounding area with tremendous force.

Because of that, Krudu had led the giants out.

With their immense strength, they were digging into the ground to redirect the flow of lava.

They were accomplishing what seemed impossible. Of course, it was only possible with support from the other races.

As a result, El Harun, usually crowded with various races, was now nearly empty.

That was why Liala had been able to reach the place where the World Tree was with ease.

As her heart calmed, Liala spoke.

“Lady Del Roa!”

“Liala?”

Del Roa’s face, hidden within the World Tree, revealed itself.

“Yes, it’s me.”

“Why have you come here? Surely you didn’t come to argue again?”

“I want to clearly know what you are thinking.”

“How tiresome. I have no desire to speak with you, so leave at once.”

“I haven’t even stated my business yet, and you tell me to leave?”

“At a time when all races are waging a total effort with El Harun’s fate at stake, why are you the only one harboring complaints?”

“Am I not allowed to have complaints? I still haven’t received a proper answer.”

“What answer do you want?”

“I want to hear why you deceived and tried to kill Zeon, El Harun’s benefactor, and why you tried to eliminate me as well.”

“You’re not asking because you don’t know, are you?”

“I don’t know. That’s why I’m asking.”

Liala answered firmly, without avoiding Del Roa’s gaze.

Though she had known her for a long time, this was the first time Liala had pushed this far.

A severe headache struck Del Roa.

Irritation surged up.

She couldn’t understand why Liala refused to understand her deliberation.

She had hoped Liala would stop here and withdraw, but Liala showed no intention of doing so.

Her eyes were filled with the will to hear an answer no matter what.

In the end, Del Roa gave the most convenient answer.

“For the greater good.”

“You mean killing Zeon and me was for the greater good?”

“Yes! I believed that only if the two of you died could El Harun’s division be prevented. Look! Because you lived and agitated them, the humans are now wavering.”

“Then how long must the humans of El Harun continue to live in sacrifice?”

“Not just humans, every race lives while making sacrifices. Why? Because they know that without El Harun, they cannot exist.”

“How long do you intend to force such one-sided sacrifice?”

“The one making one-sided sacrifice is me. Do you still not understand? Look at me. I have become one with the World Tree to protect it. And you still say such things? You should respect me.”

As Del Roa’s voice rose, the leaves of the World Tree trembled as if in fear.

Liala could feel the World Tree’s emotions.

‘It’s suffering. Its time has already ended, but because of Del Roa, it’s being forcibly sustained.’

It was no different from forcing a tube into a vegetative patient’s nose and keeping them alive with nutrients.

El Harun’s World Tree had already reached the end of its lifespan and wished to return to nature. But Del Roa’s obsession still gripped its breath and refused to let go.

“Huuh!”

Liala took a deep breath.

Her mind, which had been tangled because of Del Roa, became clear.

There was no longer any reason to hesitate, nor any need to delay her decision.

Through this conversation, she had clearly realized the path she must take.

Del Roa would never change.

No matter what Liala said, no matter what others advised, she would never alter her thinking.

To her, the dying World Tree and El Harun were everything.

She had no interest whatsoever in the humans who were part of El Harun.

She had only kept them because they were necessary, not out of respect or affection.

“I will leave El Harun with the humans.”

“Do you dare to betray us?”

“Even a couple that has lived together for a long time can separate if their hearts no longer align. Do not degrade that by calling it betrayal.”

“Leaving when El Harun is in crisis, that is betrayal.”

“You may call it whatever you like. My decision will not change.”

Liala bit her lip hard.

When she had entered Neo Seoul for the mission to find the World Tree, she realized something.

Humans must live among humans.

Too many fundamentally different races had been crammed together in a confined place, forced to endure endless injustices.

She had believed that enduring it for everyone’s sake was right.

She had believed that if humans yielded just a little, everyone could be happy.

But that belief had been betrayed, and her trust in Del Roa shattered like glass.

Now it was time to part.

“Thank you for everything.”

Liala bowed her head to Del Roa and turned around.

At that moment,

“No one…”

Woooong!

Suddenly, Del Roa shouted loudly.

Startled, Liala turned back, only to see Del Roa, merged with the World Tree, glaring at her with terrifying eyes.

“No one dares leave El Harun without my permission, Liala!”

“I am not your possession.”

“The moment you entered El Harun, you became mine.”

“You’ve completely lost your mind.”

Liala shook her head and started walking.

She was truly fed up now.

The last remaining attachment she had was completely severed.

Now she felt she could leave El Harun without any lingering regret.

But she couldn’t take another step.

“Keugh!”

An overwhelming pressure suddenly crushed down on her.

Del Roa’s authority had manifested.

Merged with the World Tree, Del Roa’s domain extended wherever its branches reached.

Here, she possessed power like a god.

Though she was expending much of her power to suppress the full eruption of Pankrena Volcano, killing Liala was no problem.

“Gghk!”

Liala’s face turned deathly pale.

She struggled, trying to resist Del Roa’s authority, but it was useless.

At that moment.

“Lady Del Roa! You must not do this.”

Someone stepped in front of Liala and cast a spell.

A transparent magic circle appeared before them, easing the pressure. Thanks to that, Liala could barely breathe.

“Haah! Haah!”

Gasping, Liala looked at the woman standing before her.

Though she could only see her back, she recognized her.

It was Hera, the leader of the elves.

In her moment of crisis, Hera had saved her.

Del Roa shouted in fury.

“You dare interfere with my decree?”

“I’m sorry, but I could no longer stand by.”

“Are you betraying your own kind?”

“This is not betrayal. I am correcting what is wrong.”

“Do you think the same as Liala? Do you think I am wrong?”

“I only believe what I see.”

Hera’s heart as she looked at Del Roa was filled with despair.

The one she had trusted and followed more than anyone was Del Roa.

Because they were both elves, she had believed in her all the more blindly.

But that faith had been thoroughly betrayed.

She had reported that Repo and the others had lured Behemoth to destroy Neo Seoul.

Yet Del Roa had imposed no sanctions on the beastkin or the giant dwarves.

Saying that protecting El Harun at Pankrena Volcano came first.

Hera had been deeply disappointed by that.

And witnessing her attempt to kill Liala just now filled her with utter disgust.

“How did you become like this?”

“You also think I am wrong?”

“The Del Roa of the past was not like this. You were someone fairer than anyone, which is why everyone trusted and followed you.”

“I have not changed. I still carry great responsibility and a sense of duty. It is you who have changed.”

“Please let Liala and the humans go. Their hearts have already left.”

“That cannot be done. If the humans leave, El Harun will suffer greatly.”

“Lady Del Roa!”

Hera looked at her with a sorrowful expression.

That look only made Del Roa more furious.

“If you will not obey me, I will take your life as well.”

Kuuuu!

As the pressure intensified, the protective magic Hera had cast shattered.

“Aaah!”

“Ugh!”

Hera and Liala cried out at the same time.

Though both were powerful Awakeners, they could not withstand Del Roa’s authority, which drew upon the power of the World Tree.

In unbearable pain, the two women screamed and writhed on the ground.

Watching them with crazed eyes, Del Roa spoke.

“No one leaves this place without my permission. Do you know what sacrifices I have made for you? And you dare try to leave as you please? Even in death, you will not escape me. I will not let you go.”

“Hhk!”

“Ugh! Damn it…”

Their faces turned pale.

They resisted with every ounce of strength they had, but they could not overcome Del Roa, who wielded the power of the World Tree.

Just as they reached their limit.

Kuuuuung!

Suddenly, the ground of El Harun shook violently as if an earthquake had struck.

“What?”

Startled, Del Roa looked into the air.

He thought Pankrena Volcano had erupted again, but the volcano was quiet.

“Then what?”

At that moment, as if answering his question, someone entered the domain of the World Tree.

Without permission, someone had intruded into Del Roa’s territory.

It was a man riding a massive black horse.

The white-haired elf, with a body as large as the horse itself, was Dantal.

Del Roa recognized him at once.

“Dantal?”

“It’s been a while, Del Roa!”

“Why have you come to El Harun?”

Del Roa’s face was filled with wariness as he glared at him.

In El Harun, the only being over whom Del Roa’s authority did not hold, and who possessed power comparable to his, was Dantal.

Without Dantal in El Harun’s early days, it would never have established itself as it had.

Countless demonic beasts that threatened El Harun had fallen by Dantal’s hand.

Because he had protected it, Del Roa had been able to focus on nurturing the World Tree in peace.

Dantal’s contribution to El Harun’s foundation was absolute.

Yet once it stabilized, he left without regret. 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

to become stronger.

And so Dantal had departed from El Harun and faded into memory.

Del Roa stared at him and asked,

“Why have you returned?”

“I need the Sword of Kovaltan.”

“What?”

Del Roa’s eyes widened in shock.

The Sword of Kovaltan was El Harun’s greatest weapon, containing the authority of the chief god Kovaltan.

It was a God Slaying Weapon said to be capable of severing even a god’s soul.

Dantal approached Del Roa, his aura rising.

“I need the Sword of Kovaltan, so hand it over, Del Roa.”