Chapter 372: Situation Out of hand

The World Tree continued to blaze, its unnatural flames illuminating the city of Lunathiel with an eerie crimson glow.

Beneath the enormous tree stood several figures, all of them distinguished individuals within the elven kingdom.

Among them was an elderly elf with blonde hair and slightly wrinkled skin. His piercing blue eyes remained fixed on the burning World Tree, while his hands were clenched tightly into fists.

His name was Caelthas Sylvaine, the First Elder of the Royal Council and a senior member of the royal family. He was also the uncle of the current queen, Aelyssa Sylvaine.

Caelthas possessed an Astral Core at its High Stage, which was the limit of his potential. Unlike his late brother, the former king, and his niece Aelyssa, both of whom possessed the potential to reach the Sovereign Core, he had never been destined to ascend to that level.

Nevertheless, he was still the second-strongest individual currently present in Lunathiel, surpassed only by the queen herself.

The elven kingdom possessed few other Sovereign Core powerhouses, but none of them were in the capital at the moment.

And now, with the World Tree burning before his eyes, Caelthas found himself facing a crisis unlike any he had encountered in his long life.

Beside him were other elders.

"Lord Caelthas!"

A hurried voice interrupted his thoughts.

An elf wearing an elaborate magical robe approached him. He had blonde hair, sharp black eyes, and the composed bearing of someone accustomed to commanding powerful mages.

He was Oranthir, the Head of Lunathiel’s Mage Order. Like Morgana, he had reached the Mid Stage of the Astral Core.

Caelthas turned toward him, his expression already grim.

"What is it?"

"Lord Caelthas, we’ve confirmed that a spatial lockdown has been established around the city. Our mages have been unable to remove it."

Caelthas’s brows furrowed.

"What? Gates were working perfectly fine just a short while ago!"

"Yes, but the situation has changed. Our communication devices are also malfunctioning. The mana currents in the atmosphere have become severely disturbed, interfering with long-distance communication."

Oranthir paused before continuing.

"We managed to evacuate some of the citizens by teleportation gates to nearby cities before the lockdown became fully effective. However, the remaining civilians have been directed toward shelters and underground bunkers."

Caelthas’s expression darkened further.

"The four great houses... What happened to their lords? Did any of them reach the capital before the lockdown?"

"House Marisyl, from the Sea Elf territories, couldn’t send its lord because he was away on business. The other three houses had prepared to dispatch their forces, but they were unable to establish a connection with Lunathiel in time."

"Damn it!"

Caelthas clenched his fists.

Everything was going wrong.

The World Tree was burning, the city was under attack, and their ability to communicate with the outside world had been cut off. Even the kingdom’s most powerful allies were unable to reach them.

"This situation is far more dire than I anticipated," he muttered.

He turned back toward the World Tree, his blue eyes reflecting the crimson flames.

"I’ve already tried everything within my capabilities, but I still haven’t found a way to extinguish that fire."

His voice grew heavier.

"It’s as though the flames themselves reject every attempt to interfere with them."

Oranthir followed his gaze.

The fire had spread across several enormous branches, devouring the ancient tree with alarming speed. Yet the flames produced no comforting warmth. Instead, a dreadful heat radiated from them, oppressive and unnatural, making it dangerous for anyone without sufficient strength to approach.

Even the air surrounding the tree seemed distorted.

"Lord Caelthas,"Oliver, another elder beside him began cautiously, "it would have been better if we could contact Duke Lucian Sunweave, the Pope of the Temple of the Sun God. His knowledge and authority might prove invaluable in this situation."

Caelthas let out a bitter sigh.

"Indeed. But as Oranthir said, our communication devices aren’t functioning properly. We can’t even confirm what’s happening beyond the city’s boundaries."

He fell silent briefly before looking at Oranthir.

"Do you have any ideas?"

Oranthir nodded. "Removing the spatial lockdown will be difficult. Judging by its strength and stability, I suspect an artifact is responsible. Breaking through it with our current resources would be extremely challenging."

He adjusted his robe before continuing.

"However, I may be able to repair our communication network. If I can stabilize the mana currents around the city’s communication arrays towers, and or maybe try connecting our phone network to satellites of human empire. We might be able to establish contact with the outside world, even if the spatial lockdown remains in place."

Elves didn’t use satellites network for communications like Humans. Rather they use old ways. Still connecting to them was possible if they tried.

Caelthas studied him for a moment.

"You believe you can do it?"

"I can’t guarantee success, but I’ll do everything within my power."

After a brief silence, Caelthas nodded.

"Very well. I’ll leave that task to you. Work as quickly as possible. We need to contact Duke Sunweave and inform the other territories of what’s happening here."

Oranthir bowed respectfully.

"Understood, Lord Caelthas."

With that, he turned and hurried away, already considering the measures he would need to take.

Caelthas remained where he was.

His gaze returned to the World Tree.

The unnatural flames continued to spread, consuming the ancient branches that had stood proudly above Lunathiel for thousands upon thousands of years.

The heat radiating from them was suffocating, yet there was no warmth in it. It was a hostile, corrupting force that seemed to devour everything it touched.

And it was growing stronger. More dangerous with every passing moment.

’We have to stop this...’

Caelthas clenched his fists until his knuckles turned pale.

The World Tree was more than the foundation of their civilization. It was their deity, their protector, and the very heart of the elven kingdom.

For countless generations, it had watched over their people. It had bestowed blessings, performed miracles, and protected them through calamities that would otherwise have brought their civilization to ruin.

Whenever the elves had faced an existential threat, they had prayed beneath its branches, trusting in its divine power.

And time and time again, the World Tree had answered their prayers.

But now... Now it stood helplessly engulfed in flames.

It offered no response to their desperate pleas. Its enormous branches continued to burn, and its once-vibrant presence seemed to grow weaker with every passing moment.

For the first time in thousands of years, the elves were faced with a terrifying reality.

Their deity needed them.

And if they failed to save it, their entire civilization might be doomed.

Caelthas stared at the burning tree, his expression hardening with determination.

’Hold on, please. We will find a way to save you. Even if we have to sacrifice everything we possess.’