Chapter 418 - 402: World Tree

Chapter 418: Chapter 402: World Tree

"Tch!"

A flash of delight crossed Duraga’s eyes as he recognized the Zor Elf Elder as the Duadeng from his memories.

He looked the other man up and down for a moment, then sneered.

"I didn’t think it was possible, but you’re even uglier in your old age than when you were young..."

"You bastard!"

Hearing this, Duadeng immediately raised the wooden walking stick in his hand and bellowed.

"Who are you calling ugly, you short stack?"

"Who are you calling a short stack?"

"I’m talking about you!"

In an instant, the solemn atmosphere brought on by Viconia and the Zor Elves she led was shattered by the sudden argument.

Roland and his party, on the other hand, remained relatively calm.

Both he and the Gray Dwarves accompanying him were long accustomed to Duraga’s boorish ways.

But the Zor Elves...

The cold expression Viconia had been maintaining finally cracked.

Her eyes were wide, her lips were slightly parted, and her face was a mask of disbelief.

She simply couldn’t comprehend how this venerable and steady Elder had suddenly become...

...like a common street ruffian.

"AHEM, ahem, ahem..."

Seemingly sensing the astonished gazes of Viconia and the others, Duadeng coughed loudly a few times, forcibly cutting off his squabble with Duraga.

He straightened his collar and spoke in a low voice.

"Speak, Duraga. What have you come to see me for? And... how have you lived this long? I’ve never heard of Gray Dwarves possessing long lifespans like Elves."

"Hey! Don’t give me that look!"

Noticing the disdain in Duadeng’s eyes, Duraga stood on his tiptoes nonchalantly, slung an arm around the Zor Elf Elder’s shoulders, and jutted his chin toward the silent Roland.

"Rudolph has business with you."

"Rudolph?"

At the mention of the name, the disdain in Duadeng’s eyes vanished instantly, replaced by a flicker of excitement.

He broke free from Duraga’s arm, his narrow scarlet eyes scanning back and forth across the group before finally settling on Roland.

"He... is Rudolph?"

"You can actually recognize him?"

"Don’t take me for a fool, Duraga!"

Gazing at the lone human figure in this company of Gray Dwarves and Zor Elves, Duadeng took a deep breath, suppressed the tremor in his heart, and spoke with a hint of doubt.

"But I remember Rudolph... I don’t think he was this... delicate-looking, was he?"

"Hey! Old friend!"

Duraga immediately turned his head and shouted to Roland.

"This old codger is calling you handsome! It’s rare for a narcissist like him to praise anyone!"

"You... Never mind."

Duadeng shook his head in exasperation, walked over to Roland with his walking stick, and gave a slight bow.

"Mister Rudolph, welcome. Please... is there anything I can do for you?"

"You’re too kind, Elder Duadeng."

Seeing such deference from an elder, Roland quickly returned the courtesy.

Although he wasn’t the real Rudolph, his experience dealing with Duraga had taught him not to overexplain. He simply stated his request in a low voice.

After hearing Roland’s explanation, a strange expression appeared on Duadeng’s face. He turned to look at Duraga behind him.

"Short stack, you didn’t put some kind of Tracking Spell on me, did you?"

"Give me a break, Duadeng. I told you..."

Perhaps the reunion with his old friend had caused the Gray Dwarf leader to lower his guard. Duraga was no longer as reserved as he had been upon arrival.

He found a flat rock to sit on, stretched his limbs, and said,

"Stop being so full of yourself all the time."

"Elder Duadeng..."

Seeing that the two were about to start arguing again, Roland rubbed his temples in frustration and cut straight to the point.

"What do you mean by that?"

"Mister Rudolph..."

Hearing Roland’s question, Duadeng immediately reined in his emotions.

He slowly raised a hand and pointed toward the cavern ceiling.

"The settlement of those Surface Elves is now directly above us."

"You’re not kidding, are you, old man?"

Although he had expected that finding the Zor Elves would lead them to the intertwined fate of the Surface Elves, Duraga still found it hard to believe that their first attempt was so successful.

"How can you be so sure?"

"It’s simple..."

Duadeng ignored Duraga’s skepticism. Instead, he turned to the side and gestured for Roland to follow him to a mass of enormous, tangled roots.

He gently placed his palm on the gnarled roots, and a fanatical light suddenly ignited in his previously calm eyes.

"Mister Rudolph, please look..."

"After the ’Eye of the Abyss’ incident, drastic tectonic shifts caused massive ecological changes. Those Surface Elves were forced to abandon their original territory and migrate here."

"When they were forced from their homeland, they naturally wouldn’t abandon their lifeline... the World Tree."

"The World Tree?"

Roland keenly picked up on the unfamiliar term.

"It is the foundation upon which the Surface Elf Race depends for survival."

Duadeng explained.

"It is far from an ordinary plant. Legend has it that at the dawn of the world, this ancient tree was born where the first ray of sunlight touched the earth. Its branches connect to the Magic Veins of the heavens, and its roots delve deep into the world’s wellspring of life.

"Everything about the Surface Elves—their Magic, their civilization, even the essence of their lives—is intrinsically linked to this ancient tree. It is their source of Power and the home of their souls."

"You mean..."

Roland’s gaze fell once more upon the massive, coiling roots before him, and a stunning hypothesis formed in his mind.

"What we’re looking at right now... are the roots of the World Tree?"

After he spoke, he took a step forward and observed them with intense Concentration.

He hadn’t noticed before, but now that he was looking closely, he could see a faint, lustrous sheen flowing across the surface of the seemingly ancient roots.

An exceptionally gentle and indescribable wave of Energy rippled outward like the slow breathing of a slumbering giant.

This Energy had the warmth characteristic of Positive Energy, yet it was more ancient and pure, like the most primordial form of life itself.

Furthermore, its fluctuations were so subtle they nearly blended into the surroundings, so it was no wonder he hadn’t sensed it earlier.

"That’s right."

Duadeng nodded lightly, confirming Roland’s suspicion.

"Wherever the World Tree puts down roots is where those pointy-ears will choose to live. However..."

At this, the Zor Elf Elder’s lips curled into an undisguised, mocking sneer.

"Even though the Magic Elements have now reawakened, and they have the supreme blessing of the Ancient Tree of Life, those arrogant fools have still failed to reclaim the Casting Ability they were so proud of."

"I suppose their despicable Main God Corellon has completely abandoned them."

Roland showed little interest in Duadeng’s mockery of the Surface Elves.

He was more concerned with how to achieve the purpose of his journey.

"Then..."

Roland asked bluntly.

"How do we get to the Surface Elves’ current settlement?"

Duadeng withdrew the hand that was caressing the root and turned to Roland.

"The place they now inhabit is called the ’Eternal Song Forest.’ If you approach from the surface, you will surely be blocked by the ancient Barrier they have erected."

"That Barrier was established in an age before Magic Power had completely faded. Despite the passage of time, its power is not to be underestimated. It’s strong enough to keep any uninvited guests out. But..."

His tone shifted. He tapped the ground beneath his feet with his walking stick, and a crafty glint flashed in his eyes.

"Entering from underground is another matter entirely."

"To protect the World Tree, their foundation, the Barrier naturally encompasses the entire ancient tree, including its massive root system that extends deep underground. This makes it much easier for us to approach the core area from below."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over Roland and Duraga, and continued.

"Mister Rudolph, you’ve come at just the right time. We..."

He gestured to the Zor Elves behind him.

"...are preparing to launch a surprise attack on those arrogant pointy-ears, to claim this fount of life for ourselves. The tunnel to their heartland is about to be completed."

"Mister Rudolph, if you are willing to wait a few days, you can enter the Eternal Song Forest with us."