Chapter 307: Edenelia’s Crisis

The Forest of Eternity is the ancestral homeland of the elves, a vast primordial woodland teeming with countless species of flora and fauna.

Saturated with abundant mana, the forest flourishes beneath the divine blessing of the World Tree, Yggdrasilia, whose presence prevents the birth of monsters within its domain.

Legends claim that one would need an eternity to traverse the forest from the lands of the known world, giving rise to its name.

Towering ancient trees, some older than recorded history itself, stretch endlessly across the horizon.

Elven records speak of these colossal trees as sentient beings capable of thought and communication. Yet throughout the long history of the elves, only a rare few have ever heard their voices.

It is said that this gift is reserved for those of the purest bloodlines and hearts untainted by malice.

At the heart of this endless woodland lies the Kingdom of Edenelia, the oldest and only known kingdom to have been established within the Forest of Eternity.

Founded by the first generation of elves, Edenelia possesses a rich legacy of history, tradition, and culture that has endured for millennia.

Edenelia spans all known regions of the Forest of Eternity, though even the long-lived elves have yet to uncover its full expanse.

The fact that generations of elves have failed to chart the entire forest stands as a testament to its immeasurable size.

Unlike the kingdoms of humans, dwarves, beastkins, and other races, Edenelia does not revolve around a single centralized capital.

The sheer vastness of the forest has led to the rise of numerous settlements scattered across its many regions, each integrated harmoniously with its surroundings.

From secluded woodland enclaves to sprawling settlements such as Xerxes Village— a settlement whose size rivals that of many human cities— these communities collectively form the kingdom’s foundation.

Although elves possess exceptionally long lifespans, their naturally low fertility has kept their population modest throughout history.

To address this, many elven families have formed unions with humans, giving rise to generations of half-elves.

Even in such marriages, however, elves remain discerning, often choosing only those humans they deem exceptionally beautiful.

These unions have not only strengthened their numbers but have also fostered lasting ties with human society.

Among the most notable examples is the Midas Merchant Organization, which pioneered trade and diplomatic relations between the elves and the outside world.

Protected by Yggdrasilia’s blessing and sheltered beneath the canopy of ancient sentient trees, Edenelia remains a realm unlike any other—a kingdom woven into the living forest itself, timeless, mysterious, and enduring.

However, in the present era, the Kingdom of Edenelia faced the greatest crisis it had encountered in countless generations.

The source of this calamity was the sudden uprising of the Demonic Worshippers.

Across the vast expanse of the Forest of Eternity, the once-peaceful settlements of Edenelia were engulfed in turmoil.

From secluded woodland enclaves to thriving settlements hidden beneath the ancient canopy, chaos spread like wildfire through the kingdom.

The tranquil songs of nature were replaced by desperate cries and the clash of steel. Innocent elves fled in terror as flames and bloodshed consumed their homes.

Yet what made the tragedy even more horrifying was the identity of the invaders.

They were not foreign conquerors nor monstrous beasts.

They were elves.

Once brothers, sisters, friends, and kin, they now marched beneath the banner of darkness.

Their eyes glowed with an unnatural crimson light as they slaughtered their own people without hesitation or mercy, as though every trace of their former selves had been erased.

The ancient forest that had stood in peace for millennia now bore witness to a nightmare unlike any before—a civil war drenched in blood, betrayal, and the corruption of souls.

This was what the caravan was witnessing in real time as they neared the periphery of Xerxes Village.

"No!"

Thwack!

An elf was struck to the ground.

"P-Please! Spare my—"

Shik!

His plea was cut short.

"Mother!"

"Run! Don’t stop running!"

Crash!

A treehouse platform collapsed, sending splinters flying.

"Why are you doing this?!"

"We are your kin!"

The crimson-eyed elves showed no response.

Slash!

"Aghhh!"

"Help us!"

"Somebody, please—!"

Stab!

The desperate cry abruptly ended.

All across the settlement of Xerxes Village, screams and the sounds of slaughter echoed through the forest.

The once-peaceful home of the elves had become a scene of bloodshed and terror.

Killian, who was running at the forefront of the caravan, sped up as lightning crackled all over his body.

His figure blurred as thunder roared, before appearing in front of an elven boy who was about to be cut in half by a crimson-eyed elf who was holding a cleaver.

The demonic elf’s eyes widened before the world was turned upside down in his perspective.

Plop—

In an instant, a head dropped to the ground.

Its features were normal, aside from its wide eyes that seemed to stem from surprise.

Other than that, the crimson-eyed demonic elf seemed not to have realized that it had already died.

"Huhp..."

The elven boy looked up at the figure before him, his tear-streaked face frozen in disbelief.

His eyes quivered with a storm of emotions—shock at his sudden rescue, surprise at the savior’s appearance, and fear born from the horrors surrounding him.

But stronger than all of them was a single feeling that shone brightly within his emerald eyes.

Gratitude.

"Don’t just stand there! Run!"

Killian shouted without looking back, his blade flashing as he fended off more than five demonic elves simultaneously.

The elven boy pursed his lips, his eyes darting frantically in every direction. Desperation was written all over his face.

He looked around repeatedly, yet his feet remained rooted to the spot.

Seeing him hesitate, Killian was about to yell at him again when a trembling voice reached his ears.

"Run... where?"

The boy barely managed to force the words out.

His body shook uncontrollably, and fear lingered plainly in his eyes.

Yet despite it all, he stubbornly remained standing, doing his best not to break down amidst the chaos surrounding him.

Killian’s pupils dilated as he surveyed the chaos around him.

The onslaught of the demonic elves was overwhelming.

Everywhere he looked, elves were being slaughtered throughout Xerxes Village.

There was no safe haven to be found.

Cries of agony and despair echoed from every direction, mingling with the clash of weapons and the sickening scent of blood that hung heavily in the air.

The boy was scared.

The boy wanted to run.

But there was nowhere left to go.