Chapter 366: You Cannot Die, Because I Won't Allow You to Die (Part 1)

  In the center of Whispering Woods, the towering War Ancient Tree had begun to wither.

  The enormous canopy had turned yellow, and countless once-green leaves were losing their vitality and moisture, slowly withering away. For miles around, yellow leaves were falling, and the massive branches had started to wither. The War Ancient Tree was like a dying giant, slowly and magnificently dying in a manner proportionate to its immense size.

  Beneath the ancient tree, the once shimmering Sunwell had dried up, which was why even Whispering Woods had begun to mutate.

  Even the well water that would have slowly recovered despite being completely absorbed by the War Ancient Tree was now completely gone, not a drop remaining. Even the moss-covered bluestones around it had become as dry and strange as coal cinders. The sky was still cloudless, but the sunlight somehow lacked brightness, and even the light that shone down had a cold gloominess.

  The War Ancient Tree survived not on ordinary water and nutrients, but on the energy from the earth's veins and the light of the sun. Although The Black Star had not yet fully opened, the aura of death had already begun to spread along the earth's veins. Not just the War Ancient Tree, but the entire Whispering Woods had begun to show signs of withering and death. All the ancient trees were gradually withering, and the unicorns and winged pegasi were all restless and agitated.

  If the Leaves of the World Tree were still here, even if only the last one remained, the boundless life force could complement the Sunwell and resist the erosion of this aura. If all three Leaves of the World Tree were complete, even the apocalypse judgment tens of thousands of years ago could not have leveled this place. But now everything was gone. The elven race would also face this catastrophe along with other races.

  Atop the tree, standing on the altar where the Leaves of the World Tree were once placed was Gru, whose skin had now completely turned lifeless black. He stood there motionless, looking no different from a black rock statue.

  Beside him, several elves held up giant leaves, with strands of cool water pouring down from them. They poured slowly and carefully, with solemn expressions as if what they held was not water but their very lives. Every tiny drop of water was under their control.

  Beside the altar, Luya sat with eyes closed, slowly chanting incantations. Green magical fluctuations swirled around the water streams like a faint, ethereal mist.

  "This is already the last well water from the Sunwell, and yet you're using it... on a lowly half-elf..." Kaelin stared blankly at the leaves held high by the elves in the center of the altar. "If Elder Lloyd hadn't told us to help you, and for some reason Elder Luya also listens to you, I would definitely gather all the elves to stop you."

  "A lowly half-elf... is that how you describe the ally who once saved your elven race?" Ethan sneered from the side.

  "I admit that General Gru has helped us. But he is still a half-elf, and the unique aura and appearance on him cannot be concealed. Even if we acknowledge his status, under the current circumstances, we would never acknowledge his bloodline. Since ancient times, the children of noble elves and lowly humans have been the most despicable. Only elves with noble royal blood are qualified to touch the Sunwell and the Leaves of the World Tree, and only they can be accepted by the power of life and light..."

  "Shut up. I'm not in the mood to learn about your stinking, long cultural traditions." Ethan waved his hand, interrupting the elven patrol's words with a dark face. He was in a very bad mood. He had originally hoped to find a way to deal with the current situation in Whispering Woods, but had found nothing.

  Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

  When he brought Gru here, the elves had already learned of The Black Star's appearance from the changes in the Sunwell and the Leaves of the World Tree. Surprisingly, Elder Lloyd didn't seem too shocked or panicked, only somewhat surprised by Ethan's direct appearance here. After going back to pack for a while, he said he had important matters to attend to and needed to leave. Regarding Ethan's request, he generously left behind these words: "Mr. Ethan has helped our elven race greatly. Anywhere he needs help, it must be given."

  These words were undoubtedly magnanimous. But Ethan couldn't find any useful help. In the elves' ancient texts, all parts concerning The Black Star had suddenly "disappeared." Whenever the topic of how to deal with The Black Star was raised, other elves, including Luya, were evasive. The elves were not good at deception, and Ethan could see that the generous elven elder must have said something privately after publicly making those generous remarks. With the elves' stubborn nature, once they decided not to say something, nothing would make them speak.

  Ethan sighed secretly. He thought for a moment and vaguely guessed why. Back when he was imprisoned in The Radiant Citadel, he had learned some things vaguely from Lancelot's words. Moreover, the few people who had been vaguely following him had already explained the problem. But he didn't expose it, because even if he did, it would be of no use.

  Besides this, Ethan's other requests did receive help from the elves. All elven elders who could use nature magic had used nature-based recovery magic on Gru, but the black aura remaining on his body showed no sign of diminishing.

  Although not yet in a complete body, the Lich King had already merged with The Black Star. Gru's punch was no different from hitting The Black Star itself, and even the bodies of ancient dragons and titans couldn't withstand the erosion of that boundless dark aura. The blackness that was originally just on his fist had now completely spread throughout Gru's entire body. Ethan could feel that only in the deepest part of his body was there still an aura where green and white intertwined - that was the power of the Leaves of the World Tree. Apart from that, the once incredibly powerful body was now like dead ashes.

  The elves' nature magic was not completely useless. Ethan could feel that whenever the elves used magic, the power of the Leaves of the World Tree inside Gru slowly stirred. It was just that The Black Star's power was too strong, too dark, with no way to break through.

  "Try using the Sunwell's well water." Ethan thought for a moment and finally said.

  Under normal circumstances, this request would naturally be no problem. But now the Sunwell's source was already drying up. If the remaining well water was used, the barrier of the entire Whispering Woods, the War Ancient Tree, and the power source of The Withered Wood Wardens would all immediately disappear.

  "Didn't Elder Lloyd say that you would help me wherever I need help? The root of the Sunwell's power is already lost. This water can only temporarily maintain the barrier of Whispering Woods, and this barrier cannot withstand the apocalypse judgment now. The water can no longer be taken from the well for long. In that case, it's better to give it to me now. At least as far as I know, General Gru is the only one who can threaten that monster."

  "Alright." After considering for a long time, Luya nodded in agreement. This elven maiden's face had always been covered by a heavy gloom. Different from before, she didn't actively speak to Ethan, only sometimes staring at him with a very strange gaze.

  "Elder Luya, if we do this, our Whispering Woods will..." All the other elders objected.

  "Everyone, don't say more. Elder Lloyd has already told us to help him as much as possible. And what he said makes sense."

  Besides Lloyd, she was now the person with the most decision-making power in this Whispering Woods. As long as she agreed, the other elves had no choice but to comply.

  Following Luya's incantation, tiny water droplets fell on Gru's body. These water droplets didn't slide down his body or splash, but completely merged into his body along with the green magical fluctuations around the water. Then, the blackness that seemed to have solidified into his body's natural color finally began to show some changes.

  Although very slowly, the blackness where the water droplets fell was indeed dissipating. Crucially, Ethan could feel that the life force intertwined with the power of the Leaves of the World Tree inside Gru's body also began to slowly grow and gradually expand outward.

  "Fortunately, it seems to really work." Ethan finally breathed a sigh of relief. This was his only piece of good news in recent days, and also the best news that could be achieved at present.

  While his eyes watched the blackness on Gru's body slowly dissipate, Ethan's mind had already drifted elsewhere. He was deep in thought. Under the current circumstances, he seemed to be facing an unsolvable dilemma.

  Suddenly, the elves began to make a commotion. Ethan was slightly startled and looked up at the sky. A huge shadow had already flown above the War Ancient Tree and was circling, preparing to land on the top of the War Ancient Tree.

  The surrounding elves all took out their bows and arrows, while others began to chant incantations. It wasn't that they were allergic to any uninvited guest, but accompanying this huge figure was an overwhelming magical fluctuation that made the elves instinctively feel terror and hostility. Even Luya and the few elves who were casting spells panicked and stood up.

  "Everyone, don't panic. This is not an enemy and won't threaten anyone." Ethan shouted loudly and also made a reassuring gesture to Luya.

  This aura was very familiar to him, and its appearance here at this time made him feel a sense of closeness.

  The huge flying shadow instantly arrived above everyone's heads. It was a monster as large as a giant dragon, with a strange shape, and its entire body was actually composed of corpses. What made the elves panic was the overwhelming aura of corpses emanating from it, along with an even stronger scent of Necromancy.

  Sandro jumped down from this huge corpse, looked around, and let out a long breath. "I never thought I would have the chance to come to this place in my lifetime."