Chapter 623 621: Hilia: Heh

"So there's such a place beneath the Holy Tree."

From a third-person perspective, Hilia looked at the underground space in front of her with surprise.

"Is there any force in this world that doesn't like digging holes?"

As Hilia complained, she curiously examined the peculiar space located beneath the Holy Tree.

Roots were entwined everywhere here, forming labyrinth-like underground passages.

But these underground passages were entirely made of tree roots, with not a trace of soil.

And in the central area was a not-so-small space, where the roots formed a shape resembling an inverted bowl as they covered the area.

Hilia sensed a strange, peculiar force emanating from this place, a force she was very familiar with—it was clearly the Withered Magic Power erupting within her body.

She frowned, feeling somewhat uncomfortable.

The conversation between Solais and Disola was observed by both her and Rose, so they knew some details about the matter.

However, all they knew was that it was at the behest of the Elf King, and they didn't know the purpose behind the Elf King's attempt to assassinate her.

"I wonder what the reaction of the Holy Court will be once the news of my assassination spreads," Hilia thought.

Yet, she'd lost contact with the outside world; the Magic Puppet had no bracelet nor any other communication device.

Her main focus was on Solais, and she hadn't bothered with other matters.

After being injured, Hilia had no way to control the Magic Puppet; if it weren't for Rose, she might not even be able to share the Magic Puppet's perspective.

A person in a coma couldn't possibly have the capacity to control external entities.

As she thought this, she suddenly saw five tree roots slowly rise from underground and entwine around Solais.

Hilia's spirit lifted.

"It's here."

Solais was seen slowly connecting with the Holy Tree.

In the next moment, the Holy Tree seemed to be scalded with water, and the roots abruptly contracted, retreating into the ground as the surrounding withering force swiftly started to ripple.

Solais opened his eyes, looking around bewilderedly, utterly unable to comprehend what had just occurred.

But the next moment, he suddenly sensed something and raised his hand, bewilderedly watching his fingers turn into sand-like particles and gradually dissipate into the air.

As Hilia watched, Rose's voice appeared in her ear: "Want to show up in front of him and let him experience what fear really means?"

Hilia immediately nodded: "Sure!"

Then, while Solais was still dazed, he suddenly saw Hilia's virtual figure slowly emerge in front of him.

He abruptly stood up, pointing at Hilia, "You, you..."

"Heh, did you think assassinating me wouldn't come with any consequences?" Hilia laughed coldly.

"How are you here, Holy Tree... Could it be..."

The girl folded her arms and leisurely walked through the underground space, "That's right, this is the price of assassination. You will slowly watch yourself dissolve into the air while being unable to do anything; the nourishment stolen from the Holy Tree must ultimately be returned."

Solais was filled with shock and fear, realizing the situation, and attempted to flee into the shadow.

And in the next moment, he was pulled out from the shadow.

The surroundings were within the Holy Tree's domain, and he sensed the Holy Tree rejecting all of him.

Thus, he couldn't vanish into the shadow, and all his powers were being reclaimed by the Holy Tree.

This situation filled him with panic.

He looked at the virtual figure in front of him and quickly made a decision. A dark light flashed toward Hilia.

However, the light passed through Hilia, striking the outer layer of the Holy Tree's roots.

This attack directly made the Magic Power here even more agitated.

Solais had never encountered such a situation and muttered uncertainly, "Are you... even human?"

"What do you think?"

Hilia didn't speak, just smiled at him.

Life was slipping away; his life had entered a countdown, and he was far from being as composed as before; the loss of power filled him with terror.

Everything he depended on came from powers, now being stripped away.

While his mind hurriedly pondered what to do, a voice came from outside.

Then, Disola rushed in from outside; seeing Solais also starting to dissipate, his expression changed, and he dashed over to check Solais' condition, asking, "What's going on? What happened?"

Solais looked at Hilia and said, "It's Hilia; it's her; she's extracting the power from my body."

"Hilia?"

The Elf King, who came in with Disola, was startled and confused.

Solais exclaimed, "Can't you see her? She's standing right there."

Disola and the Elf King looked over, finding the space empty, devoid of anything.

Disola frowned slightly, "It seems you've produced an illusion."

"An illusion?"

Solais was taken aback.

At this moment, Hilia chuckled, "Heh, do you think it's an illusion? Look again; besides you, your teacher is also dissipating."

Solais was stupefied, and only then noticed that besides himself, Disola's body was also turning into particles that dissipate.

The fear he had been suppressing erupted once more.

"No, you can't do this. Teacher Disola is innocent; it was all my idea and has nothing to do with him!" Solais shouted.

Disola and the Elf King exchanged a glance, bewildered, not knowing who he was speaking to.

"Are you talking to Hilia right now?" Disola frowned, asking.

Solais nodded: "Yes, I'm sure it's her; it's definitely not an illusion. Why you can't see her, I don't know either."

Solais took a deep breath: "If you want to take my life, then take it; I didn't have much time left to live anyway, but my teacher is different; he still has a lot of time left."

"You still want to negotiate with me?" Hilia raised an eyebrow, "It's precisely because you don't have much time left that I had to act on others. Silly."

Solais was stunned.

Hilia gently smiled: "Yes, not just your teacher, but also your colleagues, your friends; anyone within the Withered Wood Organization using the withering power is experiencing the same situation. If you don't believe it, ask your teacher."

Solais paused and looked at Disola, asking, "Hilia said that besides me and you, others using the withering power are also experiencing this issue. Is it true?"

Disola looked at him with a complicated expression and nodded, "As I came down from above, everyone I've encountered is experiencing this strange phenomenon, not just you and me."

The Elf King asked, "Did Miss Hilia say this too?"

Solais nodded and looked at Hilia's virtual figure.

The Elf King also looked over.

Though he couldn't see Hilia there, Hilia could sense that he was indeed looking at her.

"Miss Hilia, please spare them; the initial intention behind this wasn't to harm you, it's just that..."

"Heh."