Novel Full Chapter 466: Move.
Chapter 466: Move.
“Trees capable of storing Faith Energy, huh…”
Kayden commented with a lost look on his face as he stared at the scene in front of him.
Kach Kach Kach
The sound of axes striking wood echoed faintly through the misty forest. The glowing mushrooms on the left side of the colossal trees pulsed softly, as if reacting to each strike—dimming when metal hit bark, then brightening again once the air settled.
Kael had already uprooted the two trees with his strength; twenty soldiers were now working in rhythm, cutting the already fallen trees into twenty-one pieces.
While the soldiers worked on the trees, their Bonds stood upright, their sharp senses extended outward, as if prepared to take on any possible situation.
“Kael.”
Kayden then turned towards Kael, who, together with Lavinia, was watching the soldiers cut the trees in silence.
Kael had already explained what these trees were and why they needed to take them to Heights, but Kayden had another question.
“How are we going to take this? Even divided, these logs are massive. If we carry them openly, we won’t be able to avoid attention.”
He asked directly.
They had to keep a low profile even when they came here, but…
If anyone saw a group of men carrying huge logs as they flew towards the end of the world… it was bound to attract attention.
And if the Sky Kingdom Scouts saw them… they would definitely stop them for questioning. What’s worse was that there was no way to fool them either; Igni’s presence alone would answer many of their questions, not to mention they would probably recognize Kael and Lavinia in an instant.
If not that, none of the Velmourns, Kayden included, would be able to answer most of the questions the scouts asked without giving away their identity. After all, the Velmourns had almost no contact with the outside world for twelve hundred years; answering even basic questions would prove difficult for them.
In summary, Kayden knew that the moment they drew attention and were stopped by Sky Kingdom Scouts… or even if someone else reported them to the scouts—it would all be over.
Kael knew what he was thinking as well, and he didn’t instantly answer his question. His gaze remained fixed on the men as they worked, the steady rhythm of their axes filling the air.
Then—
“There is a reason I ordered them to cut it into twenty-one parts.”
Kael answered calmly.
“Twenty-one?”
Kayden frowned.
“Yes.”
Kael finally turned his head towards him and—
“You lot will carry the pieces out of the Wilds.
Lavinia and I will handle the rest.”
He answered directly, and Kayden… his eyes widened slightly when he heard those words.
He understood what Kael meant—”the rest” didn’t mean covering their tracks and making sure no one saw them leaving with something this important, no… it was not that at all… that was simply not possible.
But what was possible was…
To ’handle’ those who saw them.
“Would just the two of you be enough?”
Kayden asked quietly.
He didn’t doubt Kael, but… the number of scouts was unknown.
Having confidence was one thing, but making a plan when they didn’t even know the number of enemies they would be facing…
Kayden didn’t think it was wise.
Kael slowly turned towards him; their eyes met. For a brief moment, Kayden felt overwhelmed by the sharp calm Kael’s eyes showed and then—
“Yes,”
Kael replied in a steady voice.
“We will.”
Kayden opened his mouth, as if wanting to say more but—
“Lord Kael!”
Before he could say anything, one of the soldiers ran up to them, his breath slightly ragged from the work.
“It is done!”
The soldier reported with a Velmourn salute.
“All twenty-one pieces?”
Kael asked.
“Yes!”
“Good.”
Kael nodded in approval.
“But Lord Kael, something’s wrong with these trees.”
The soldier spoke with a frown.
“What do you mean?”
“Their trunks are almost… hollow from the inside.
We do not understand how these trees are even alive.”
“The Faith Energy keeps them alive. You do not have to worry about it.”
Kael waved his hand, dismissing the soldier’s worries.
He then took a step forward, surveying the massive chunks of the two trees before he finally turned back towards the soldiers.
“Rest for ten minutes,”
Kael ordered.
“After that, we pray and then move.”
“Pray…?”
Kayden tilted his head, confused.
Kael nodded.
“As I said, Faith Energy is what keeps them alive. Now that we have cut them, the Faith Energy stored inside them has dissipated. We need to give them enough Faith Energy for them to survive the hours we would need to bring them to Heights.”
“So we give the Faith Energy through prayers…?”
“Yes.”
Kael nodded.
“Who do we pray to…?”
Kayden asked with slight hesitation. He obviously knew everything that was happening in the place he was living; he knew how his people treated Kael as a God and prayed to him, but…
He was different.
He couldn’t bring himself to see Kael as a God—and of course, Kael knew that.
So he had a perfect answer prepared for this exact situation—
“It doesn’t matter.”
He spoke, making Kayden frown.
“Pray to the person you trust the most in your mind.
Faith Energy comes through devotion, and devotion does not need a God. One can be devoted to many things—a husband to his wife, a child to his parents, or a soldier to his land.
As long as that devotion is pure, Faith Energy can be gathered—
So pray to whoever you wish.
I only need your prayers to be genuine. Keep your eyes closed and constantly think about what or who you are devoted to.”
Kael explained.
Kayden nodded at those words after a while, looking into Kael’s eyes without saying anything. Kael, on the other hand, turned towards the soldier and—
“Now, go rest.”
He ordered again.
“Yes, Lord Kael!”
The soldier nodded as he walked away.
Ten minutes passed quickly. Kael then ordered the soldiers to close their eyes and pray; even the Bonds weren’t spared and were ordered to close their eyes. After all, the more beings prayed, the more Faith Energy would be produced, and the faster it would end.
Once every soldier and Bond in this place had their eyes closed, Kael finally took a deep breath.
He glanced at Lavinia, who was already looking at him, and the two nodded to each other. The mist around them turned heavier as Cirri, using her powers, gathered the mist of the surrounding region and brought it here.
Once enough mist was gathered and the visibility was low, Kael looked at his Ant sitting inside his pocket and nodded.
Imperia nodded back, and with her orders—
The Whisperveils began moving, entering the trees one by one.
Imperia had already commanded another Ant species, the Woodcutters, who specialized in creating colonies inside huge trees like these, to create enough space for her Ants inside these trees, so the Whisperveils had no trouble as they moved in.
As Kael watched the Ants moving inside the two trees, he finally sighed in relief.
To think he had to come up with all this farce just for this moment.
Lavinia too smiled at him when she saw the Ants move.
Thirty-five thousand Ants needed an hour to settle inside the logs, and once they were finally done—
“You can open your eyes now.”
Kael ordered.
The soldiers were momentarily surprised when they saw the dense mist that had gathered around them, but—
“Now pick the logs. Remember, do not store them inside your Sanctuary under any condition.”
“Yes, Lord Kael.”
The soldiers nodded as they quickly picked the logs and mounted the beasts, all prepared for the long flight ahead.
Kael stood in front of them; his gaze moved over the group, making sure everyone was ready.
“Listen carefully,”
He began.
“No matter what happens, you keep moving.”
The soldiers straightened.
“You do not stop.
You do not turn back.
If you see something strange, ignore it.
If you hear something unusual, ignore it.
If you sense something wrong, keep moving.”
He paused, letting his words sink in.
“All you need to focus on is moving in formation until you reach Heights. The rest—
You leave to me.
Is that clear?”
“Yes, Lord Kael!”
The soldiers shouted together.
“Good.”
Kael nodded.
“Now leave.
Lady Lavinia and I will stay behind for a while.”
“Yes!”
Kayden nodded as he stared at Kael with a meaningful look on his face. Then, he waved his hand, signaling the soldiers, and then—
Whoosh
Wings spread wide as the beasts lifted off one after another. The sound of flapping wings echoed through the forest, growing softer as they ascended.
Then suddenly, the soldiers noticed something…
As they rose higher, a dense mist began to form around them—rolling, swirling, and expanding until it blanketed the entire area.
Cirri was doing her work.
From a distance, it looked like a vast cloud moving across the forest floor, strange and eerie. But in the Shrouded Wilds, where bizarre things happened every day, even such a sight didn’t draw much suspicion.
Kael watched as the last of the soldiers disappeared into the mist. Then, he glanced at Lavinia, who climbed on top of Igni. He too stepped into the air.
“Cirri,”
He called softly.
“Yes, Father.”
The soft, melodic voice of the Sky Dragon was heard.
“Keep your senses open. The moment you see anything—or anyone—approaching them, tell me.”
“I already am,”
Cirri replied quickly.
“And we already have spectators.”
Kael’s expression didn’t change, but his blue eyes sharpened.
“How many?”
“Three.”
“Sky Kingdom Scouts?”
“Yes.”
Cirri answered, and Kael nodded with a confident smile.
How long had it been since he last faced someone not from the Ashen Heights?