Chapter 89: Evolution of Brain Crystal Power
Based on the leech-man’s intelligence, Abyss and a group of Druids launched a swift operation that same day, capturing several gathered Iron Lily members. Abyss easily extracted the crystals from their brains. These powerless and incapacitated individuals were then escorted by elves to a nearby city to face trial in the local citizen’s court.
The Iron Lily members had believed caution would allow them to approach Abyss slowly, never expecting the most impulsive among them, the leech-man, to betray them so thoroughly. To save his own skin, the leech-man had even revealed the specific abilities of his comrades and their favorite foods.
Abyss also contacted Arcaiste, informing him of his plans.
The Grand Sage, upon hearing Abyss truly intended to resurrect the person he admired most, had mixed feelings and struggled to decide. It was only after Abyss’s three companions explained their own experiences and treatment as undead that Arcaiste agreed to fully cooperate, arranging for Druids to defend against Iron Lily attacks and guard against Abyss’s potential former martial siblings. The Druids acted quickly, deploying to various regions of the Elven Kingdoms, ready to confront the remaining Iron Lily members lurking within.
Furthermore, Arcaiste contacted the Grey Elves, relaying the information. The Grey Elves responded proactively, dispatching a standing regular army of the Elven Kingdoms – the “Golden Rose Army” – to station troops in various regions, providing powerful support.
Abyss and Rebecca secluded themselves in the alchemy lab, researching for a full day (external time). Afterwards, Abyss began a peculiar activity – sitting in front of the Sacred Tree, facing it, chanting unknown incantations. No one knew what he was doing. Rebecca remained in the lab, presumably concocting some potion. Flora stood guard beside Abyss, ready for any emergency.
The restless Leona, however, personally joined the Druids in fighting the Iron Lily members. Abyss, initially hesitant due to the unknown abilities of the enemy Necromancers, eventually relented after the princess, eager for action, pleaded persistently. They seemed to reach some agreement before Abyss let her go.
Soon after, the Iron Lily members indeed began their move.
Terrorist attacks started occurring throughout the Elven Kingdoms. However, the Elven Kingdoms were prepared. Although innocent elves still lost their lives, large-scale massacres were averted.
The Elven Kingdoms’ joint force, the “Golden Rose Army,” demonstrated their impressive quality.
Composed of members from various city-states and villages across the Elven Kingdoms, all well-educated and rigorously trained, this army had honed its skills for years without seeing action. Finally facing their sworn enemies, they fought fiercely. Stationed throughout the Elven Kingdoms alongside the Druids, they defended against enemies, mobilized quickly when threats appeared, and protected many civilians. Despite casualties, the presence of Druids and elven healing mages mitigated the severity.
This fighting continued for a week. Abyss remained seated before the Sacred Tree, chanting ceaselessly, not even eating or drinking, sustained only by a potion Rebecca had given him earlier. Rebecca continued her experiments in the lab, while Flora stood vigil by Abyss. Leona, during this week, encountered increasingly bizarre enemies.
As the Iron Lily members collected more brain crystals, their powers evolved in strange ways. The leech-man’s abilities now seemed insignificant in comparison.
One transformed into a piranha, able to dissolve into water and move undetectably through it. Leona encountered this foe on a rainy day, creating a difficult situation as Druids couldn’t easily control the weather without complex spells. Leona, in a moment of inspiration, punched the clouds overhead, dispersing them with the force of her fist, finally capturing the creature capable of biting off a person’s neck.
Another turned into a rabbit whose eyes could fire beams that pierced through anything. A Golden Rose soldier was killed instantly. When Leona arrived, she concentrated her Dou Qi to emit an intense light, blinding the rabbit and defeating it.
Other strange abilities emerged, providing Leona with ample excitement but also a growing sense of unease. If the Iron Lilies continued evolving like this, what monstrous abilities would they develop?
Another unsettling development was the Lord of Bullying’s recent activity.
While no followers had attempted to build new temples near the Sacred Tree roots under Abyss’s surveillance, the Lord of Bullying himself began appearing in the dreams of some elves. In these dreams, the massive, teeth-covered monster whispered temptations, urging them to accept his power, become strong, and protect themselves and their families. Some elves remained steadfast and reported the dreams, while others seemed swayed.
The Druids and Grey Elves had explicitly warned the inhabitants of the Elven Kingdoms about these powers, but their allure was undeniable – the Iron Lily members with their troublesome abilities served as potent advertisements.
…
“Miss Leona, Iron Lily members have appeared in a village sixty kilometers away. The Druids are struggling to hold them back. We request your assistance!” reported a female Dark Elf warrior clad in dark red armor adorned with golden patterns.
“Take me there immediately!” Leona, who had just captured a poaching Iron Lily member, confiscated his brain crystals, and was resting with tea, leaped up, downed the hot tea in one gulp, tossed the cup to a nearby Golden Rose soldier cleaning the battlefield, and turned back.
Leona’s identity as a powerful Dou Qi Master was no longer a secret. Guided by the Golden Rose warrior, she ran at incredible speed, covering the sixty kilometers to the village on foot.
Before reaching the village, she saw a giant slime, over twenty meters tall, confronting a Druid and a small squad of Golden Rose soldiers. Several elven houses were already destroyed, and there seemed to be civilian casualties.
“What the heck is that? How can a slime grow so big?” She frowned.
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