Chapter 424 - 408: A Life Coming to an End

Chapter 424: Chapter 408: A Life Coming to an End

Following the ever-fading pull of the [Destiny Red String], Roland left the clamor and chaos of the battlefield completely behind him.

He moved as swift as the wind, a single thought screaming wildly in his mind.

’Faster, I have to be faster!’

He could clearly feel that Galvis’s presence on the other end of the connection was like a candle in the wind, flickering and wavering, on the verge of being snuffed out completely.

A profound sense of unease seized him.

He took a deep breath, the Power inside him surging once more. His already astonishing speed suddenly increased, and his figure transformed into an elusive Residual Shadow in the dim forest, racing in the direction he sensed.

But to his slight surprise, the path indicated by the [Destiny Red String] did not lead toward the deeper core of the Eternal Song Forest, but rather toward its outer edges.

Just as he was fully focused on racing forward, his keen Perception instantly caught a faint yet malicious fluctuation of Magic from the dense bushes to his side.

"THUMP!"

A muffled sound, accompanied by the sudden glow of a spell.

It was a distorted Shadow Arrow.

Roland didn’t even turn his head. The Moonlight Longsword at his waist was already unsheathed, carving a cold arc of light through the air and striking precisely at the core node of the spell’s energy.

The next moment, the seemingly fierce Shadow Arrow popped like a pierced bubble with a faint pop, instantly disintegrating into chaotic particles of energy and dissipating into the air.

Before he could even pause, several more Acid Missiles and Scorching Beams shot through the air from different directions.

Seeing this, Roland’s figure moved like a phantom, making several minute shifts and dodges while his Moonlight Longsword parried and deflected.

With a few flashes of its blade, he shattered or diverted all of the spells.

Unwilling to be delayed, Roland, in the brief pause after scattering the latest volley, infused his voice with a bit of Power and sent it clearly toward the woods ahead.

"It’s me, Roland!"

The effect of his words was immediate.

The waves of Magic that had been gathering ahead, ready to strike, abruptly dissipated. The forest fell into a brief, dead silence.

Then, with a rustling sound, a few Zor Elf Warriors clad in Dark Armor emerged somewhat awkwardly from behind the trees and rocks where they had been hiding.

After getting a clear look at Roland’s face, the leader immediately placed a hand over his chest, bowed, and spoke with an apologetic tone.

"Our deepest apologies, Lord Roland! The light in the forest is dim, and we failed to recognize you in time. We thought you were a fleeing Surface Elf. Please forgive our offense!"

After he finished apologizing, the lead Zor Elf raised his eyes. His gaze, now fixed on Roland, was filled with unconcealed shock and deep reverence.

It was true that, compared to their cousins who had completely lost their Casting Ability, the Zor Elves had indeed rediscovered the Spark of Magic.

But this Power had only just been rekindled, and most of their kin could only wield Low Tier Spells, limited to the First and Second Rings.

Even so, the power of these spells was not to be underestimated.

Especially in actual combat, the coordinated attacks of several Casters often produced an effect where the whole was greater than the sum of its parts, enough to compensate for the lack of power in any individual spell.

The formidable Surface Elf Transcendents who had previously fallen to their combined casting were the best proof of this.

However, the scene that had just unfolded completely shattered their perceptions.

They recalled how effortlessly Roland had handled them.

No chanting, no lengthy preparations, not even a single glance in their direction.

With only the most basic slashes and dodges—precise, simple, and efficient movements as natural as breathing—he had neutralized the combined magical assault they were so proud of.

It wasn’t a victory of brute force, but rather a display of absolute control over the rhythm of battle and a profound understanding of the very essence of energy—qualities that seemed ingrained in his very bones.

At this moment, the superficial obedience these Zor Elves had shown Roland due to Elder Duadeng’s command quietly transformed into a genuine, heartfelt submission to his absolute power.

’This human’s strength... is probably far greater than we estimated,’ the lead Zor Elf thought.

The faint sense of superiority he had previously held due to his Race had now vanished without a trace.

Roland paid no mind to the mixed gazes of awe and inquiry from the Zor Elves before him, merely raising a hand to wave them off.

He was burning with anxiety and had no extra time to waste here.

The Zor Elf captain keenly sensed his urgency, took a step forward, and asked respectfully,

"Lord Roland, is there anything we can do to assist you?"

Roland was about to wave his hand in refusal, but a thought struck him. Recalling Galvis’s faint presence, like a guttering candle in the wind, he immediately changed his mind.

His gaze swept over the squad members as he asked, his words slightly hurried.

"Do any of you know Healing Spells?"

"Yes."

The captain nodded immediately, then turned and gently pulled a female Zor Elf with a softer face from the back of the group.

"Philis. She’s very skilled at Healing Spells."

The Zor Elf named Philis bowed slightly, a hint of nervousness in her crimson eyes.

Roland nodded to her.

"I need you to come with me. It’s urgent. We need to move as quickly as possible."

Without another word, he gave the captain a nod of acknowledgment, gestured for Philis to follow, then turned and once again became a blurry Residual Shadow, continuing forward.

Philis dared not delay. She immediately sprang into motion, struggling to keep up with Roland’s astonishing speed.

The two of them moved without stopping, heading straight for the most conspicuous building in the area ahead.

A tall, majestic Elf Tower.

Its elegant lines stood in stark contrast to the lower-lying houses around it. Even amidst the turmoil, it maintained a distant, solemn dignity.

The pull of the [Destiny Red String] was at its strongest here.

Roland unhesitatingly pushed open the heavy, unlocked wooden door.

The scene inside was like another world compared to the chaos outside.

Crystal lamps emitting a soft glow hung from the high, vaulted ceiling. A faint, cool fragrance drifted through the air. Silk tapestries covered the walls, and magnificent furniture was arranged in an orderly fashion.

Everything silently spoke of the owner’s extraordinary status and taste.

Roland, however, paid no attention to any of it. His gaze instantly locked onto a magnificent spiral stone staircase descending to one side of the grand hall.

Without hesitating, he hurried down, with Philis close behind.

At the bottom of the stairs was a short corridor. A heavy oak door was ajar, a faint light seeping through the crack.

"In here."

Roland’s voice was low and certain. He then gently pushed open the ajar door, and the scene within the secret chamber instantly captured his gaze.

The first thing that met his eyes were the rows of wooden statues displayed on either side of the room.

They had once been exquisitely crafted and lifelike, but now they presented a bizarre sight.

The surface of every statue was covered in a dense, spiderweb-like network of deep cracks, as if some force had violently erupted from within but was forcibly contained, leaving only this shocking, ruined state.

A residual, restless echo of energy still faintly resonated in the air.

Roland’s gaze swept rapidly over the bizarre scene before freezing on the far side of the room.

In the dim yellow halo of light cast by a silver lamp, he saw Galvis curled up on the floor.

Seeing this, Roland strode forward, knelt on one knee, and carefully gathered Galvis into his arms.

When he saw the wrinkled, aged face of the man in his arms, his heart jolted.

If the [Destiny Red String]’s guidance hadn’t pointed directly to this man, he would have found it almost impossible to believe this was the once-vibrant Minstrel.

He quickly reined in his chaotic thoughts, gesturing for Philis to examine him while softly calling out his name.

"Galvis? Galvis!"

After a moment, the Minstrel managed to force his eyes open, a faint smile barely forming on his lips.

"Roland... I knew you’d come."

He coughed weakly a few times.

"You... you never abandon your friends."

Seeing that Galvis was lucid enough to talk, the tension in Roland’s heart eased slightly. He then looked up at Philis, who was casting a Healing Spell.

"What’s his condition?"

Philis withdrew the probing Magic Radiance and gently shook her head.

"I’m sorry, Mr. Roland. This... Elf has no physical injuries. His weakness... stems from his life reaching its end."

"That’s impossible."

Roland instantly rejected her diagnosis.

As a Half-Elf, Galvis’s lifespan should not be this short.

Besides, the last time they parted, the Minstrel had been full of life and in high spirits.

Just as Roland gripped Philis’s shoulder, about to ask if there were any other methods, Galvis softly interrupted him.

"Cool, Roland. You actually made friends with a Zor Elf..."

As he spoke, he tremblingly took the thick notebook from his tunic and passed it to Roland.

"Don’t make things hard for her. I’ve already recorded all your adventures... For the rest of your journey, remember to find someone with a good writing style to continue it."

Listening to these words, which sounded almost like a last will, Roland felt his eyes grow warm.

He gently pushed the notebook away, his arm trembling as he tucked it back into Galvis’s tunic. His voice was hoarse.

"Someone else’s story of my adventures will never be as brilliant as yours."

Galvis let out two weak, soft laughs, his breathing faint as he spoke.

"I think... this is the first time I’ve ever heard you praise me..."

He struggled to take a few breaths and continued.

"Roland, Tula is a madman... He wants to steal Divine Favor, condense a Divine Format... and obtain supreme power."

"As you are now... you’re not his match. Get out of here..."

These words sent a chill through Roland’s heart.

Although he had his suspicions, hearing this insane plan confirmed from Galvis’s own lips still sent a shiver down his spine.

Just as he was about to respond, his keen Perception suddenly let out a silent scream.

"Watch out!"

Roland shouted, violently pulling both Philis and Galvis into his arms and rolling to the side.

The next moment, a sudden change occurred in the secret chamber.

"BANG! BANG! BANG!"

A series of deafening explosions rang out one after another.

The cracked wooden statues seemed to be torn apart from the inside by an invisible force, exploding violently.

Countless wood splinters shot out like a torrential downpour, sharp fragments whistling past them.

In an instant, the entire secret chamber was shrouded in a pervasive cloud of wood dust.

Almost simultaneously, a vast and majestic aura swept in like a tsunami.

Although it was still some distance away, the terrifying pressure was already clearly felt here.

And the unfamiliar connection within the [Destiny Red String] suddenly began to throb violently, as if in response to this terrifying power.