Chapter 56: The dark elves who caught up with Syl in the battle...

Leaves wrapped in light drifted down from the sky. Ivy reached out and caught one, pinching it between his fingers. A line of tadpole-like Elven script appeared in midair.

“Invaders!”

“Necromancers!”

Ivy and Anna cried out in alarm.

Kumandi swiftly emerged from meditation and flew out of the tent. “What happened?”

“Syl sent a message. Invaders have been spotted near the coast, and two of them are necromancers.” Ivy crouched down and slipped a finger into the little tent, mercilessly poking the sleeping Fairy cubs. “Kumandi, take the little ones back to the divine tree immediately. Anna and I will cover your retreat.”

According to Syl, there were as many as fifty invaders, led by two necromancers in gray robes.

Necromancers specialized in dark magic and pursued power through sinister, unorthodox means. They advanced twice as quickly as white mages.

Some humans lacked the willpower to resist the temptation of strength and often strayed down the wrong path. When members of other, more gifted races studied dark magic, they progressed even more rapidly.

Any necromancer capable of passing through the maze of mist laid down by the Elven King and bringing his subordinates safely to the coast could not be underestimated. He had to be approaching the level of a Saint Mage at the very least.

The three adult Fairies were only a little over a hundred years old. Syl was an Intermediate Grand Mage, while he and Anna were Junior Grand Mages. Even together, they were unlikely to be a match for the necromancers.

But to protect the Faerie Forest, they could not allow the invaders to take so much as a single step into the forest.

No matter how mature Kumandi was, he was still only fifteen years old. When he learned that the invaders were necromancers, his face paled and his violet pupils contracted slightly.

“I understand. You two... you must be careful!” At his current level, all he could do was take the cubs away. He would be of no help in the battle.

Seeing his concern, Anna smiled reassuringly. “Don’t be afraid. I just sent a magical message to the Elf patrolling the forest. I’m sure he’ll be here soon.”

The Elves assigned to patrol the forest were generally at the level of Mage Sovereigns. Dealing with two necromancers would be child’s play.

Kumandi nodded and joined Ivy in waking the four Little Fairies.

Shu Li was fast asleep, dreaming that he had become a hero and was battling the Demon King. Just as he was about to win, he suddenly heard Kumandi calling him.

“Sperien, wake up! We have to go... Invaders have entered the forest. It’s dangerous...”

What?

Invaders?

The dream faded, and his consciousness returned. Shu Li opened his eyes groggily and saw Kumandi’s anxious face.

Once he was awake, Kumandi said gravely, “Invaders have come. We need to return to the divine tree as quickly as possible.”

“In... invaders?” Shu Li bolted upright and asked nervously, “The... the Black Knights?”

Five years ago, foreign Black Knights had rampaged arrogantly through the forest. He had hidden in the plump bird’s nest, only to be caught in the fighting and nearly lose his life. Fortunately, the Elven King had arrived in time and annihilated the Black Knights.

Ever since then, he had resolved never to leave the forest until he had mastered enough skills to protect himself.

“They’re necromancers,” Kumandi said, nudging Budno to wake him.

At the word “necromancers,” Shu Li sucked in a sharp breath. Without hesitation, he joined Kumandi in calling out to their sleeping companions.

Disio and Angel opened their eyes in confusion as Ivy’s finger prodded them. The moment they heard Shu Li and Kumandi’s conversation, they became fully alert.

“Necromancers who use dark magic?” Angel exclaimed.

“How did they get in?” Disio’s eyes widened.

“They came by ship from the sea,” Ivy answered succinctly. “Is Budno still asleep?”

Kumandi and Shu Li called him repeatedly, but Budno remained sound asleep. At any other time, they would never have had the heart to wake him. With the situation this urgent, however, they had no choice but to be ruthless.

Shu Li rubbed his hands together and slapped Budno’s slightly raised bottom.

Smack!

Budno woke in pain. Clutching his bottom, his eyes brimming with tears, he searched for the culprit who had struck him.

Shu Li gave him no chance to complain and hauled him up. “Necromancers have invaded the forest! We have to get out of here!”

“Huh?” Still dazed and disoriented, Budno forgot his tears and allowed himself to be dragged out of the tent.

Once Ivy saw that all the little ones were awake, he sternly gave them a few instructions. They were to follow Kumandi and fly toward the divine tree. No matter how exhausted they became, they must not stop along the way, much less look back.

“Can you do that?” he demanded with unusual severity.

“Yes!”

The four Little Fairies answered firmly.

Anna packed up the tent, erased all traces of their campsite, and glanced toward the coast before urging them, “Go, quickly.”

The tremors of a magical battle carried on the wind.

Syl had engaged the invaders.

On the coast, the pirates fled in panic. Golden arrows rained from the sky like harbingers of death, and anyone they struck died on the spot.

The pirates had terrorized the seas for more than a decade. Every one of them was a battle-hardened killer with countless lives on his hands, yet this was the first time they had encountered such a formidable opponent.

At first, the golden arrows had been aimed at the necromancers, only to be stopped by their magical shields. That was when the pirates realized someone else was nearby.

When the necromancers traced the arrows back to their source, they discovered the ambusher concealed among the branches.

At that moment, the clouds parted and revealed the full moon. Silver radiance poured down upon the attacker, illuminating his appearance.

His golden hair was tied in a high ponytail that fell down his back. Moonlight glittered upon the silver-white circlet around his brow. His features were exquisitely sculpted and flawlessly handsome, while his pale golden eyes were as cold as thin ice. His flowing blue robe stirred in the wind, offering fleeting glimpses of his long, slender, fair-skinned legs. In his hands was an elegantly shaped golden bow, nocked with a golden arrow condensed from magical power. Its sharp point gleamed with a frigid light.

What shocked the pirates most, however, was his distinctive pair of pointed ears.

There could be no doubt. This was the legendary white Elf!

The pirates swallowed involuntarily, their eyes nearly bulging from their heads.

In their eyes, the Dark Elf Roald was already exceptionally attractive, but compared with this white Elf, the difference was like heaven and earth.

Their skin color was not the only distinction between them. Their entire bearing was utterly different.

Roald had grown up among pirates. He was crude, savage, violent, foul-mouthed, and slovenly. After becoming the necromancer’s disciple, he had spent years surrounded by corpses and skeletons. His entire being seemed steeped in death, sinister and terrifying.

The white Elf in the tree, by contrast, was exquisite in every detail. His snow-white skin seemed impossibly delicate, and his body, untouched by the corruption of darkness, was pure and flawless. Even with his icy expression and golden bow raised to attack, he exuded an indescribable elegance and nobility.

So these were the Elves hailed by the world as children of the Light God?

No wonder the depraved nobles of the continent were obsessed with white Elves, while bards praised them every day in beautiful verse.

White Elves were countless times more valuable than Dark Elves!

If they captured one and sent him to an underground auction house on the continent, wouldn’t the nobles throw money around like mad to obtain him?

Earlier, while being battered about in the mist, they had deeply resented Roald for stubbornly insisting on coming here. Now that they had seen the white Elf, they wholeheartedly approved of his decision.

How could anyone reap an enormous reward without taking an enormous risk?

This voyage had been more than worth it!

Greedy expressions appeared on the pirates’ faces in unison.

A tall, powerfully built pirate raised his cutlass and strode menacingly toward the enormous tree.

In the next instant, golden light flashed, and an arrow pierced his heart.

“Urgh...” The pirate lowered his head in disbelief and stared at the blood spraying from his chest. Before he could speak, his vision went black. He toppled stiffly to the ground, his eyes still open in death.

The other pirates flew into a rage and charged the enormous tree, shouting threats. Golden light flashed again and again, and more than a dozen bodies soon littered the ground.

The white Elf never missed. Every pirate he targeted died.

After more than twenty of their number had fallen in quick succession, the pirates became afraid. No longer daring to shout, they could only surround the enormous tree from a safe distance and wait for the necromancers’ instructions.

Roald and the necromancer had remained in the rear the entire time, coldly watching the pirates charge ahead. Even after more than twenty pirates died, neither so much as frowned.

“So this is a white Elf?” Beneath his hood, Roald’s eyes gleamed crimson as he scrutinized the Elf in the tree like merchandise.

“Not necessarily. He may be a Fairy,” the necromancer replied in an old, hoarse voice.

“Aren’t Fairies all tiny creatures with wings?” Roald asked.

“Adult Fairies can enlarge their bodies and conceal their wings,” the necromancer said. “This is the Faerie Forest. We are more likely to encounter a Fairy here.”

“Is that so?” Roald rubbed his chin with interest. “If he’s a Fairy, he’s worth even more.”

A Fairy who could grow and shrink could serve as both a pet and a plaything. The nobles on the continent who enjoyed unusual thrills would surely be unable to resist.

Capturing him, however, would not be easy.

Everyone knew that Fairies and Elves were extraordinarily gifted, agile, and formidable in battle. Not only were they skilled archers, but they were also natural-born mages.

Roald licked his lips. “Teacher, can you tell what rank he is?”

Although his teacher was human, he had lived for more than a thousand years. He was vastly learned, immensely experienced, and possessed a keen eye that could see through almost anything.

The necromancer chuckled. “He’s very young, about your age, and also at the Grand Mage level. As for whether he is a Junior or Intermediate Grand Mage, we’ll know once we test the strength of his magic.”

“I’ll take him on.” Roald stepped forward and raised an advanced magic staff set with a dark magic stone. He chanted in a low voice, “Great God of Darkness, Miroka Hodech, grant me the infernal flames that burn all things—Explosive Flame Arrows!”

As the incantation ended, more than a hundred blazing arrows appeared in the air. With a sweep of his magic staff, they streaked toward the enormous tree with unstoppable force, trailing black flames behind them.

The moment Syl heard the necromancer’s incantation, he swiftly put away his golden bow and drew his magic staff.

“Great Light God, Lient Freis, grant me the mighty power that nothing can break—Shield of Light!”

In an instant, a screen of light appeared before the enormous tree and blocked every Explosive Flame Arrow.

Hiss! Hiss!

The Explosive Flame Arrows struck the screen of light, scattering blinding sparks. Some were reflected back, and the pirates watching from nearby were caught in the crossfire.

“Aaaagh!”

The unlucky pirates struck by the fiery arrows screamed. The others panicked and scattered in every direction, scrambling away from the battlefield.

One agile pirate swung his cutlass and cleaved an incoming arrow apart, then turned and roared furiously, “Roald, fuck your entire family! Cast another spell like that and I’ll fuck you to death!”

Roald gave a dark, mocking sneer. “If you’re so capable, bring down the white Elf yourself.”

The furious pirate spat, then called for the surviving pirates to retreat and leave the battlefield to the necromancers.

Roald was testing Syl, but Syl was also observing him.

The instant their magic collided, the difference in strength became obvious.

Every one of Roald’s Explosive Flame Arrows had been stopped by Syl’s Shield of Light.

There was no question that Syl was stronger than Roald.

“Intermediate Grand Mage,” the necromancer said. “You’re no match for him in single combat.”

Roald curled his lip, but he was not upset. “I have you here, don’t I, Teacher?”

For his teacher, who was at the level of a Saint Mage, capturing an Intermediate Grand Mage would be effortless.

Besides, necromancers never fought “alone.”

Standing high in the tree, Syl watched the two necromancers below warily, one tall and one short.

The taller necromancer was clearly weaker than he was, but the shorter one’s power was unfathomable.

When the Explosive Flame Arrows reflected by his screen of light shot toward the short necromancer, the man did not move a muscle. An invisible force stopped the arrows, and they vanished instantly.

Judging by the tall necromancer’s respectful manner toward him, Syl guessed that the shorter necromancer was the pirates’ true backbone—and the reason their ship had dared to sail recklessly through the mist over the sea.

To defeat an army, strike down its leader first!

Once the short necromancer was dead, the remaining pirates would be nothing to fear.

Syl raised his magic staff and rapidly chanted, “Light God Lient Freis, destroyer of the power of darkness, aid me in vanquishing the enemy before me—Arrows of Light!”

Light elements gathered into countless razor-sharp arrows that shot toward the short necromancer like beams.

Just as it seemed the short necromancer would be riddled with holes, he calmly recited a simple incantation.

“Darkness that devours all light, you are omnipotent—”

With a sweep of his magic staff, an enormous black hole appeared before him. Every arrow of light was sucked inside and vanished without a trace.

Syl was stunned.

The short necromancer had omitted the opening invocation praising the God of Darkness, yet he had still unleashed such formidable magic. His power clearly far surpassed Syl’s. He was most likely at the level of a Saint Mage.

Syl was no match for him.

Frowning deeply, Syl made an immediate decision. He would lure the necromancers away and delay them for as long as possible, giving the Little Fairies more time to escape.

At his thought, a pair of translucent wings appeared behind him.

“He’s a Fairy!” Roald’s eyes lit up. “Teacher, you have to capture him!”

The softly glowing wings were breathtakingly beautiful.

“Syl!”

Two clear voices suddenly rang out as a pair of winged Fairies burst from the forest.

They were Ivy and Anna, who had come to support him.

The invaders stared wide-eyed at them, overwhelmed by the sight.

One Fairy alone was beautiful enough to steal the breath from their lungs. Three gathered together were almost unbearable, and the pirates’ desire to hunt them reached its peak.

“Be careful! This necromancer is a Saint Mage!” Syl spread his wings and became a streak of light, joining his companions.

Ivy and Anna’s expressions changed drastically.

A Saint Mage?

Then they would risk their lives to hold him here until the patrolling Elf arrived to save them.

“Three of them. Heh...” The necromancer let out a spine-chilling chuckle. “Roald, there are five more little ones fleeing through the forest. If you capture them, you’ll make a fortune this time.”

His words filled the three adult Fairies with terror and fury.

Roald, in contrast, was overjoyed.

A necromancer at the level of a Saint Mage possessed extraordinarily acute senses. Once he extended his perception, not the slightest disturbance within a hundred-mile radius could escape his “eyes.”

“Teacher, I’ll leave these three adult Fairies to you. I’ll go after the little ones!”

He giggled and darted toward the forest.

Anna immediately began chanting. “Wood God Oroman Pass, halt the invader—Binding!”

Thorny vines burst from beneath Roald’s feet and wrapped around him in an instant, leaving him unable to move.

The necromancer narrowed his eyes and swept his magic staff through the air. “God of Darkness Miroka Hodech, grant me the power of corrosion—Perish!”

The vines wrapped around Roald had their vitality drained away and withered instantly.

Roald gave a light tug and regained his freedom.

Before the three Fairies could react, his figure flickered and vanished from the spot. He had teleported away.

“Stop!” Anna shouted furiously and pursued him, following the trace of his presence.

The necromancer sneered and chanted, “Great God of Darkness Miroka Hodech, I shall offer you delectable sacrifices. Open the Domain of Darkness!”

Halfway through her flight, Anna was abruptly hurled backward by a powerful force, and the entire coast sank into darkness.

In the forest, Kumandi led the four Little Fairies onward with all their strength.

Their surroundings were pitch-black, making it impossible to distinguish one direction from another. Relying on his extraordinary sense of direction, Kumandi flew unerringly toward the divine tree.

The Little Fairies, awakened in the middle of the night, were frightened and anxious. They beat their wings rapidly, not daring to complain of exhaustion even once.

Shu Li stayed close behind Kumandi, keeping his head down as he flew desperately. His heart pounded violently, his nerves stretched to the limit.

Who could have imagined that a routine mission would bring them face-to-face with invaders?

The invaders had come from the sea, and two of them were vicious, inhuman necromancers.

If they had been able to pass through the mist laid down by the Elven King, their power had to be extraordinary. Could Syl and the others handle them?

Shu Li did not know why, but a persistent unease weighed upon him. He was terrified that something awful was about to happen.

After they had flown a little farther, he asked breathlessly, “Ku... Kumandi... will Syl and the others be all right?”

Kumandi answered calmly, “Don’t ask. Keep flying.”

“I’m just afraid...” Before Shu Li could finish, Kumandi stopped abruptly in front of him. Shu Li {N•o•v•e•l•i•g•h•t} nearly crashed into his back and hurriedly halted his wings.

“Ow!”

The other three Little Fairies were not so fortunate. They collided in a heap, and Shu Li quickly reached out and caught them.

“Wh... what is it?” Angel asked in a trembling voice.

Kumandi drew his magic staff, pointed it ahead, and shouted, “Come out!”

“Tsk. You actually noticed me?”

A cold, sinister voice rang out, raising goose bumps all over Shu Li’s body.

Hiss!

A figure appeared on a branch five meters away. He took out a light magic stone, illuminating the surroundings.

In its glow, Shu Li finally saw the stranger’s face.

It was a Dark Elf with grayish-blue skin, silver-white hair, long pointed ears, and bloodred eyes!