The New Gate (LN)

As Shin’s group started fighting Reforgerer, the group led by Shibaid headed towards the World Tree . No one intended to go help them . Looking at the scale of the battle, they understood that any support they could provide would be a hindrance instead .

Their current location was also still inside the attack range of Reforgerer’s tail . If they attracted the divine beast’s attention, its tail would pound them like a hammer . Tiera moved as quickly as possible, knowing that their best way to help Shin was for all the priestesses to reach the World Tree as soon as possible .

“We will be okay…right?”

“Without a shred of a doubt . We could block its most powerful attack with the shield . There is no need for concern . ”

Shibaid replied calmly to Tiera’s doubt . She had seen the beam blocked before her eyes . What Shibaid said was definitely true .

(And yet…)

Everyone in the group had seen Reforgerer’s massive body and the power of its beam, as well as Shin blocking it . Only Tiera was slightly different .

Until now, she had encountered Grand Duke demons and even one of the most powerful monsters in the world, Ishkar, all opponents much, much stronger than her . Because of that, she had the leeway to observe the shield defending them from the beam .

(It’s melted a little . If someone takes the full brunt of that attack…)

The image of Shin disappearing within Reforgerer’s white blast of light appeared in her head, which she desperately tried to shake away .

The shield’s surface was melted and deformed here and there . Shibaid probably realized it too, but there was no time to fix it, nor anyone capable of doing so .

Even an Ancient-grade shield tempered and reinforced by Shin was not indestructible .

Shields were designed to protect the wielder, being more resilient and sturdy than offensive weapons .

It was very rare for weapons crafted by Shin to break . The only instance she could remember was during the battle with Girard, but that was a weapon with less endurance than a shield .

(We have to do something quickly, to end this battle as soon as possible!)

Tiera hurried with a renewed conviction in her heart .

“We cannot lower our pace . Follow us if you can keep up . ”

“I suppose we must . Everyone, run as fast as you can!!”

Next to Tiera, looking straight ahead, Shibaid and Ordoss called to the others . Tiera looked back and saw that the number of guards with them had decreased .

“What happened?”

“We’re going too fast for them . Tiera, your stats increased a lot, so I guess you didn’t notice . ”

“That’s… . ”

Tiera was surprised and found herself at a loss for words .

Tiera knew the warrior chiefs as elites among the elite in Lanapacea . She knew that she had grown stronger during her travels, but she believed they would still be superior .

“Lady Tiera, you have grown much stronger indeed . ”

Ordoss was running next to her, but he was short on breath . Tiera’s wasn’t though . She could still go faster .

“It might be thanks to your gear too . Everyone, the World Tree is near! Give it your all!!”

Tiera’s group had taken a detour to reach the World Tree, in order to avoid being involved in the battle between Shin and Reforgerer . Even if they were separated, they wouldn’t be too far .

After a while, Tiera reached the base of the World Tree . They discovered that the tree had turned to a pitch black color . About 70, 80% of the World Tree was completely black: it was barely alive . Tiera called out to Lymliss and Lina, riding on Kagerou .

“The condition is horrible…but it’s still alive! Lend me your strength, both of you!!”

“Yes!”

“Of course!”

Both priestesses had a very stern expression on their faces . However, they did not show the slightest sign of giving up . They jumped down from Kagerou, stood side to side with Tiera and spread their arms in front of them, closing their eyes to focus .

“This is…!”

Shibaid’s surprised voice reached Tiera’s ears, but there was no time to ask about it . Tiera calmed her spirit and focused on the tiny light deep within her .

She didn’t know if it was really a light . She focused on the tiny, faint, yet powerful existence that resided within her from as long as she could remember, and enlarged it inside her .

The light eventually filled her body and overflowed . She directed it in front of her .

Tiera’s eyes were closed, but she could clearly see the presence of the World Tree and the impurity that was corrupting it . She released her light towards the turbid aura that enveloped the World Tree . It was a special kind of purification, different from the one used with miasma, exclusively performed for the World Tree .

Tiera could see that two similar lights flowed to the World Tree from her sides . Hers was a pale emerald green, Lina’s was yellow mixed with orange, and Lymliss’ transparent blue .

As each light touched the impurity, it gradually disappeared as if melting away . However, because of Reforgerer’s appearance, the purification was different than usual .

“Aah…”

After about a minute, a pained whisper escaped Lymliss’ lips . She was sweating profusely, despite the temperature not being high at all . Lina, on the other hand, did not emit a sound, but her light was trembling . It was a signal that there was something wrong with the priestess releasing it .

Tiera wondered what could have happened to them, when a horrifying sight suddenly appeared in front of her .

It seemed to be a battlefield: people slashed by swords, people impaled by lances, people scorched by magic, people devoured by monsters . Various kinds of death appeared one after the other before her eyes, and she could also feel their pain .

The pain itself was probably less than what would actually be felt in such a situation, but being forced to experience dozens, hundreds of different kinds of pain would be simply excruciating, even if it was not actual physical pain .

(I see, so that’s how it is . )

The two priestesses next to her were suffering because of this . Tiera was experiencing the same pain, but could somehow keep her cool . Unlike the other priestesses, always protected by guards in the village, she had been chased by monsters, lost people dear to her, and risked her life, without a shred of hope supporting her .

After joining with Shin and the others she had encountered powerful foes many times and had witnessed battlefields of people and monsters . Thanks to those experiences, she knew that the pain and suffering she was experiencing now were nothing but illusions .

“These are all illusions created by the impurity!! Get a hold of yourselves!!”

Tiera’s voice echoes forcefully . As if called by it, several globes of light appear around her . Their shapes changed and took an elf-like form . Some of them were known, others were not . The only thing they did know was that they were all World Tree priestesses .

Floating in the air, they surrounded each of the 3 priestesses . Light began flowing from their bodies, enveloping Tiera, Lymliss, and Lina .

“I’m okay now . I can do it!!”

“I have to be useful . It’s now or never!!”

Lymliss drew a deep breath, Lina firmly focused again, then they loudly shouted together . The priestesses’ lights probably dispelled the illusions tormenting them . Their light of purification regained its original strength .

Tiera then felt something warm on her shoulder . There was no physical sensation, but she could tell there was a warm hand holding her . Somehow, she felt she knew that sensation from before .

“Allow me to use your power!”

It was not the right time to think about that: Tiera focused anew on the purification . Something warm seeped inside Tiera from the hand on her shoulder . It was a purification force, but different from Tiera’s or the other two priestesses’ .

The past World Tree priestesses, who had become spirits and could not purify the World Tree directly, did so through the bodies of the three priestesses physically present . The powers to protect the World Tree, to protect the world, to protect all people became one .