The Duke's Eldest Son Escaped to the Military

The Duke’s Eldest Son Escaped to the Military (126)

Translator: ChubbyCheeks

43 The Great Northern War (3)

The clash between the purple arrow and the ice spear created a huge explosion. 

Although the human army had suffered considerable damage from the attack, it was still considered a failure since the arrow that was aimed at Iron was blocked. The spear was strong enough to block the arrow.

The head of the dark elves couldn’t help but clench his teeth when thousands of ice arrows rained down on him to keep him in check. 

“Magic Master…” 

A magic master was the only being powerful enough to use a magic that could block that attack. And there was only one person who knew how to do this kind of magic in the entire Empire. 

“Is it the Eastern Commander?” 

Iron and the Ghosts moved as the head of the dark elves bit his lips. After all, this was the greatest time for them to pierce through since their greatest enemy was being blocked. 

“Where… You should play with me.” 

The magic master that suddenly appeared in the air smiled as he spoke to the head of the dark elves.

“Eastern Commander…” 

The head of the dark elves was gritting his teeth as he glared at him. But he could only do so much. After all, just a single glance away from a magic master-level being could put him at a disadvantage especially after he used up almost all of his strength. 

While the head of the dark elves were being blocked by the Eastern Commander, the Ghosts and the corps commanders as well as the knight orders advanced towards the world tree. The soldiers also hurriedly followed behind them and covered their backs. 

While the tens of thousands of men of the coalition advanced, the dark elves’ army also desperately moved to block them. However, the difference between their armies was too large. And Iron’s sanctuary was also an obstacle to them. It was too disadvantageous for them since their void power kept on being purified while all their other attacks were being halved inside the sanctuary. 

“Defend this place no matter what!” 

“Stop the humans!” 

The dark elves resisted them as they commanded thousands of contaminated ents and trents. They gritted their teeth and stopped them from piercing through their defenses since they believed that everything would be over once they had broken through them. 

But the humans were also in a hurry. Failure to break through this place meant that they had to participate in a long-term war and that would spell the North’s doom.

Both sides fought fiercely. They knew that they could not retreat otherwise they would face the most desperate points in their lives. They continuously fought bloody battles near the vicinity of the world tree.

But perhaps the god of luck was on the humans’ side?

The 6th Stage corps commanders and knights were able to pierce a hole through the walls made out of tree monsters. The Northeastern knights and the Ghosts were able to squeeze through the gap and finally enter the area where the world tree was. 

“S… stop them!” 

“No!” 

The dark elves were flustered as they tried to stop them. But it was already too late, the knights and the Ghosts were already running towards the world tree.The dark elves protecting the world tree also stepped up to stop them but because of the huge difference in number, they each died one after the other. 

“Fufufufu… You bastards will… never… be able to reach the world tree.” 

One of the dark elves was stabbed by a sword but he spat out words that sounded like a curse before dying. Everyone felt uneasy but they did not have enough time to care about it. Since this was an opportunity that everyone risked their lives to make for them, they had to do their best. All they could do was head to the world tree without any delay. 

‘If it’s my stigmata…’ 

He thought that his constantly emitted holy power could prevent the world tree from being completely contaminated. So, Iron approached the world tree. Several plant monsters had blocked them but the knights were able to cut them off and let him reach the world tree safely. 

“Ah…” 

“These crazy bastards!” 

“Trashy bastards!” 

The knights cursed as soon as they arrived at the world tree. The same was true for the Ghosts. While everyone was busy angrily cursing at the dark elves and their crazy actions, Iron nodded heavily. It seemed like he finally knew why the quest name was like that. 

“So that’s why…” 

There were numerous bodies piled up in front of the world tree. And all of the unclean energy that these piles of corpses were emitting were contaminating the black tree faster. From human bodies to animal corpses, all of them were piled up. Even the bodies of the dark elves were piled together. 

There was even a dimensional gate opened in the center of the huge black tree with red tentacles winding around the branches and trunk of the tree as it promoted the pollution of the surroundings. 

“The world tree dyed with blood…” 

The blackness of the tree grew darker with the blood of the numerous corpses as its nutrients and it was still being contaminated at this moment. There was also another world tree being raised by taking one of the roots of the world tree. It seemed like their plan was to turn this black tree into the contaminated core that would swallow the entire North into the void. It was a huge plan that was completely different from their plan back in the Northeast. 

But he could still prevent it now.

“Please make a path for me.” 

The knights all went into formation at Iron’s words.

“Make a path!” 

All the knights ran forward at the cry of the Knight Order Commander, Cassim. As if they were waiting, numerous bugs appeared around the world tree and flew towards them. They did not know if they evolved from the void insects but all of these gigantic bugs had the power of the void in them. 

“Pierce through!” 

The knights cut down the bugs as they did their best to create a path with the 6th Stage Cassim at the lead. These thousands of void bugs were no longer a problem for these knights who had cut down void insects countless times. 

Iron ran through the path created by the knights with the Ghosts assisting him. They thought that there would be no problem in entering the world tree if they continued on at this rate. 

Crackle!

Suddenly, a red flame appeared and burned as spirits appeared in front of the Ghosts.

“El… f…?” 

Carl Gustav’s pupils shook at the sudden appearance of the blonde elves. The same was true for the other Ghosts. 

“…How…?” 

One of the elves stepped forward and answered Carl Gustav’s question. 

“For our survival and revenge.” 

The silver-haired elf, which was different from the rest of the blonde elves, stared at Gustav and the Ghosts.

“So, why aren’t you corrupted?” 

“Because we don’t like the void. Even if we hold hands for a while and sign a contract with them, we don’t have any intention of accepting the void.” 

The silver-haired elf spoke as if it was only natural after being asked by Carl. 

“What we want is our revenge on the humans who oppressed us, the elves, and our survival once the void has corroded this world.” 

The elf, who looked like he was working on something, shook his hand as he lifted the bow. Then, numerous spirits showed hostility against the Ghosts. Suddenly, the silver-haired elf looked at Iron.

“God’s apostle? It seems like the world tree wants to test you.” 

“I don’t need to take a test from a fallen and corrupted world tree.” 

Iron blasted his mana into his sword as he said so. But the silver-haired elf just spoke with an expressionless face.

“Your will doesn’t matter, everything is according to the great world tree’s will… If you overcome all of these trials and reach the world tree, you will be at least safe from the void encroaching upon the North. Of course… I will still defeat you and carry out the will that I have received from the world tree.” 

The silver-haired elf summoned the great spirits as he spoke. Iron hurriedly called out to his divine beasts when he saw that. 

The Ghosts began to fight against the elves as soon as the two divine beasts and the great spirits of the wind and the earth fought against each other. 

“We’ll pierce through them somehow, so go inside!”

All of the Ghosts nodded at him with a firm look at Lintel’s words. Seeing their determination, Iron had no choice but to grit his teeth and advance forward. 

Arrows poured in and numerous spirits blocked them but the Ghosts made a path for him with all their might. 

However, no matter how strong the Ghosts were, they could not avoid receiving damages against hundreds of elves. 

“Keok!”

“Tunace!”

“Don’t worry about us and leave!”

Iron looked back when he saw an arrow hitting Tunace straight in the chest but Lintel stopped him coldly. Meanwhile, Soria also collapsed after being hit by dozens of arrows. Starting with the two, Jimmel, Gordon and Span also vomited blood after being hit by numerous arrows. Nevertheless, the Ghosts persistently rushed forward and tried to kill just one more elf.

“Go!”

Lintel followed Iron until the very end. He pushed him to move forward as he blocked the way. The elves that were following them quickly rushed towards Lintel. They were in a situation where they might really be wiped out. 

Iron gritted his teeth and advanced. With the Ghosts fighting to their deaths and the two divine beasts out there stopping the others with them, Iron had only himself to trust. 

“Can you even get past me?”

“I have to.”

Iron wrapped his entire body with his steel mana as he answered the silver-haired elf. The elf showed his strength when he felt Iron’s firm will. 

Elves attack with pure energy from nature. They used the elemental technique that used pure energy, a technique and energy that was extremely hard to find right now.

However, since they weren’t a part of the main force, he was not of the master-class level unlike the head of the dark elves. His main strength was spiritual techniques. But since he had lived for a long time, even his elemental technique was so powerful that it could already be on par with a master’s attack. 

‘But it’s still worth a try.’

Although he was an elf with a tremendous amount of experience, Iron believed that he could do it. As long as his divine beasts were able to tie up the spirits then he could do it. And since his divine beasts couldn’t use their full strength because of his lack of skills, he needed to settle and deal with the silver-haired elf as soon as possible. 

Fortunately, steel mana was not his only weapon. 

“I can do it!”

Iron ran forward as he shouted his vow. He ran forward as he cut down the spheres of elements that flew towards him. 

Thorns made out of sharp wind.

A fire barrier blazing hotly.

Spears of ice created from flowing water.

Spikes that popped out from the ground and blocked his path.

Shiiiiik!

His frost helped him get past through the fire barrier and his lightning blew away the wind thorns, ice spears and earth spikes. He endured the attacks of the elements with his power all the while receiving the silver-haired elf’s attacks with his body. 

“Get lost!” 

The silver-haired elf immediately blocked Iron’s way the moment he defeated his elemental attacks. But Iron was filled with anger as he swung his sword at everything and sent an attack towards the elf. 

Crack, crack, crack!

“So, you were, in fact, reckless.” 

“Can I even survive if I don’t become reckless in this situation?” 

The silver-haired elf turned silent at Iron’s question and his expression was still as emotionless as ever. Iron couldn’t help but swing his sword crazily when he saw his expressionless face. 

Tremendous explosions occurred all over the place as lightning wound around Iron. However, the elf’s elemental technique, which was close to the master’s level, blocked all of Iron’s unique abilities. 

Although one of his abilities failed, he was not disappointed. He just poured out his frost, lightning and steel mana towards the elf. His body kept on receiving injuries from the elemental attacks but he did not care and continued to challenge the elf in front of him. 

This was the only thing that he could do right now. 

Perhaps it was because of his efforts that an enormous holy power flowed out from the stigmata on Iron’s chest that healed his body. It healed his body and assisted his mana by letting holy power flow into his sword all the while maintaining the sanctuary. 

As a result, he felt the fatigue accumulate in his body as the overwhelming urge to close his eyes washed over him. However, he persistently endured. 

For the first time, the silver-haired elf felt an emotion when he saw this human, with a body that looked like it would collapse at any moment, continue to rush forward to him. 

“Is this what they call surprise?” 

Surprised at the feelings that ran through his body, the elf looked at the sword that pierced through his elemental attacks. 

“God’s apostle…” 

The brilliant light was accompanied with his indomitable will to never give up. 

The silver-haired elf was thrown back as a huge power swept and pierced through his elemental techniques. 

“Kgghhk!”

The silver-haired elf vomited blood after being stuck in one of the trees. But Iron did not care about him at all. He hurriedly went inside as he desperately kept his eyes open. He had to enter the world tree before he could lose consciousness. 

As he went inside the world tree, he saw a place that was filled with void energy. There was also contaminated water running through the center of the tree and climbing up to the dimensional gate. 

The red tentacles felt that he was dangerous and flew down to attack him. But Iron cut them down one by one until he finally arrived in the black springwater. 

“Please…” 

Iron placed his sword into the spring water contaminated by void energy as he hoped earnestly. 

At that moment, the contaminated energy that filled the tree gradually began to purify. The tree’s appearance gradually changed as the white light and void energy collided. It was a truly spectacular sight, but unfortunately, Iron had already fainted.

***

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