Chapter 159: Breaking Free

’That genius Elf who was declared to have died young... he’s not dead? He’s still alive?!’

Ron had to admit, the guy was a true genius when it came to faking his own death.

’But how is that possible? The stone slate in Green Swamp Town, You’s memories... they all confirmed he was dead and gone!’

’Right, and there’s the tomb, which Klade turned into a goblin den.’

"He was a handsome Elf—handsome and brilliant. How could he die so easily?" The Shadow Spirit laughed, the smile pulling at her wounds and twisting her expression. "It’s just that he discovered something. Something with immense power."

"Pure energy?" Ron frowned. "But weren’t he and his subordinates corrupted by it—"

"Who told you that corruption means death?" The Shadow Spirit sneered. "It’s merely another way of living."

"The blood of our Von Richthofen Clan flows in his veins. Naturally, he shares the same obsession with power. It’s just that he’s far more ambitious than humble me."

"I seek power for myself, while he seeks it for the entire Hailan Empire."

The Shadow Spirit paused, then continued, "After the Hailan Empire became a common enemy, its destruction was almost inevitable. A farsighted Wise Man like him would have naturally foreseen this. So, what could building an enclave in some remote corner possibly change?"

"Unless... that enclave could give birth to a power even greater than the Hailan Empire itself!"

"He accepted this power, was corrupted, and then joined them?" Ron stared at the Shadow Spirit in disbelief. "Even if it meant killing all the Elves in the entire town?!"

"In my view, that act should be called a ’coronation’," the Shadow Spirit said dismissively. "Besides, you’re wrong. Who says he killed all the Elves in the town? Do you have proof?"

"I’ve spent far more time in the Delusional Land than you have," Ron snorted. "I found the ruins of Green Swamp Town. Their library held the final records."

"Words can always be twisted. That means nothing."

"There’s also the testimony of that Fishman and several Ghost Witches. A large number of Elemental Creatures were summoned during that period, which, along with other events, led to quite tragic consequences."

"The Fishman knows nothing about what happens on land. And Ghost Witches? You’d actually believe what they say?"

"Then what about the ghost of an Elf? She goes by You now. She was once a member of that very Green Swamp Town and experienced it all firsthand."

"You mean that banshee?" The Shadow Spirit faltered. "No, that’s impossible!"

"My cousin Saran swore to me! He said he didn’t abandon a single Elf, that he let them all embrace a greater power!"

"And I’ve seen his Elf army with my own eyes! Just like the Green Swamp Town roster he carries, not a single person was missing!"

Ron looked quietly into the Shadow Spirit’s eyes and said, word by word, "Think about that horde of Wilsons that was chasing us earlier. Then, think about what you just said."

"Was it that not a single one was missing, or that there were actually quite a few extra?"

"Th-..." The Shadow Spirit’s features twisted in shock. "N-no, no, no! I believe in him! I was willing to leave the Shadowfall Netherworld to answer his call because I believe his ambitions are far grander than mine! He didn’t forget about others while pursuing power! He—!"

"He what?" Ron scoffed. "He locked the two of us in here together. Was he preparing to give me the ’honor’ of being ’coronated’ along with the noble Elves?"

"Or is it that you, a Shadow Spirit, and even the other Elves, are all worthless in his eyes—no different from a human like me?"

"Think about it. There really is no difference. You’re just replacements, so what’s the big deal?" Ron continued. "Did you see those ’Wilsons’? He’s not short on manpower at all. Sheer numbers can completely make up for a lack of quality. With enough cannon fodder piled up, even we would struggle to keep up. So what do you and I even count for?"

"Samples to increase his army’s biodiversity?"

"Stop talking!" the Shadow Spirit shrieked. She tried to push Ron away and flee while covering her ears, but in a place this small, where could she possibly hide?

"BOOM! BANG! CRASH!"

Suddenly, the surrounding stone walls began to shake. A moment later, large cracks spiderwebbed across the stone in front of Ron. Then, with a deafening CRASH, it instantly collapsed. A person stood on the other side of the wall holding a greatsword, curiously observing Ron and the Shadow Spirit.

"I can’t believe I used her to smash a wall," Sera said dejectedly, shouldering the Grip of the Vast Wave. "This one here, should we just finish her off?"

"She’s already dead, more or less," Ron said, glancing at the Shadow Spirit cowering in the corner with a vacant stare before ignoring her. "Where are the others? Or are you the first one I’ve found?"

"Delaford and Aive are here too," Sera said, stepping aside to let Ron pass. "They were trapped together. I guess because I’m bigger, I got a private room."

Delaford had contacted Sera by knocking on the walls. Ron saw a dust-covered Aive, and she and Delaford noticed him as well.

"Oh, Ron, Ron, always so kind," Delaford chanted in a bizarre little ditty, mixing Goblin and the Common Language. "Ah well, we don’t want to be the bad guys. Just let her rot in here!"

"Stop messing around. We have more important things to do right now," Ron said, smacking him on the forehead. "Where are Victoria and Silvia?"

"Over here. Anyway, this is the only wall left with an empty space behind it." Delaford pointed to a section of the wall marked with a Crossbow Arrow. "Sera, smash it open!"

"Don’t get your hopes up," Aive said, patting Ron’s shoulder. "Silvia is badly injured, and Victoria can’t heal her. Even if she could use Resurrection Magic..."

It would be no use; Silvia’s condition was still too difficult to stabilize.

That was what Aive had intended to say, but when Sera smashed the wall open with a mighty swing of her sword, they all stared, dumbfounded, at the two unharmed people inside.

Victoria, of course, was fine. Other than her clothes and armor being a bit disheveled and covered in bloody dust and stone fragments, the Priest showed almost no other injuries. For some reason, however, a few white strands were now mixed in with her reddish-brown hair.

But the Vampire Descendant—she, too, was completely unharmed. Aside from the clothes torn by the Shadow Spirit, which could not be restored, she was now looking at everyone, full of vigor!