Chapter 705

Game of the World Tree

【 MIRACLE 】

—

Golden radiance blossomed from Cypher’s body and swiftly spread to the core statue, forming a vast sea of light that blanketed the sky above the temple.

Gradually, with Cypher at its center, a vortex of light took shape.

That vortex quickly enveloped the pillar of light connected to the city’s holy barrier.

At that moment, Cypher felt as though his consciousness had connected to something much greater than himself.

He began to “oversee” the entire city in a more god-like manner, “seeing” into each houses where mutated elven figures hid, as well as the guards standing atop the city walls.

He also “saw” beyond the walls a dense black tide composed of lesser demons, greater demons, and countless other corrupted creatures, many of which he did not know the names of.

At this instant, Cypher felt as though he had connected to the entire world itself.

A vast torrent of faith power surged through his body and into the barrier above him. Cypher felt as if his consciousness had traversed the boundaries of time and space, or perhaps even brushing against something far beyond mortal comprehension.

Countless whispered prayers filled his ears, manifesting the faith that frost elves, both past and present, had painstakingly accumulated over countless years of struggle within the abyss. Each prayer carried a multitude of indescribable emotions that had long simmered within them:

Joy, sorrow, anger, despair…

The raw essence of these emotions wove itself through their prayers, merging into a unified whole that had coalesced over countless generations.

Yet among all these feelings, the strongest was neither sorrow nor despair, but an unshakable conviction.

Their defiance against fate.

Their steadfast devotion to their faith.

In a daze, Cypher seemed to see a myriad of visions depicting the countless trials and hardships the frost elves had to endure.

He witnessed the innumerable incursions of the Black Tide, as the frost elves clashed again and again with waves of demons.

He saw them, forcing back their tears and grief as they personally put down their corrupted loved ones.

He saw them braving abyssal storms, crossing dangerous hills and mountains, following the hope in their hearts as they migrated toward distant horizons.

He saw them feeding on demon flesh and drinking the blood of abyssal worms, building their own city stone by stone in this dark, cruel world, and erecting the goddess’s statue high above it all.

They lived within constant darkness…

Yet their hearts continued to yearn for the light.

This undying conviction continued to gather and condense, until it finally crystallized into faith as firm and enduring as a stone.

The vast amounts of faith continued to flow into Cypher’s body, elevating his strength to unprecedented heights. In an instant, he broke through the peak of Silver, surged into Gold, and reached the threshold of Legendary-rank.

The holy barrier that enveloped the entire city seemed to merge with his very being, becoming an extension of his own body and will.

He could sense Aurora’s power intertwined with the barrier; however, her control over it was beginning to weaken.

Although his strength remained insignificant compared to Aurora’s, the barrier responded to him almost instinctively, as if a child reunited with its mother after a long separation.

It opened willingly, accommodating his presence with ease.

The immense force of faith now linked the minds of the two people vying for control.

In that moment, Cypher could perceive the emotions within Aurora’s heart:

Anger.

Anxiety.

Yet as Cypher’s influence over the barrier strengthened, those feelings of anger and anxiety were swiftly replaced by astonishment and shock.

“How could this be…? The Chosen… One?”

Aurora’s incredulous whisper echoed within his consciousness.

At last, the barrier’s power shifted entirely to Cypher. Aurora was immediately expelled, and the faith of the entire city came fully under his control.

An indescribable, magnificent power enveloped him, as Cypher’s vision and consciousness were completely elevated, becoming one with the city’s holy barrier.

In that moment, he felt his body transform into pure light.

He sensed that he was capable of anything!

Looking out at the surging black tide outside the city, Cypher slowly raised his hand.

As if responding to his will, a portion of the barrier gradually detached and transformed into a golden phantasm.

The phantasm then took the shape of a giant hand holding a golden sword of light. With a controlled swing, the illusory blade struck toward the distant black tide, releasing a powerful force that tore through the advancing demons.

Dazzling brilliance scattered as a crescent-shaped golden sword arc was released, expanding larger and more resplendent with each passing moment, until it finally slammed into the raging black tide.

In that instant, time seemed to pause before a blinding explosion erupted, illuminating the entire battlefield.

The ground trembled slightly as waves of golden energy rippled outward from the center of the sword arc, scattering debris in their path.

The monsters caught in its path were instantly purified, vanishing into nothingness. As the golden ripples spread rapidly, the bodies of all abyssal creatures they touched disintegrated simultaneously.

They were instantly purified, transformed into countless golden particles that drifted across the battlefield.

From high above, one could see bursts of dazzling light spreading across the battlefield, all centered on the crescent-shaped sword arc.

The radiant energy continued to expand rapidly, engulfing the black tide that had been pressing against the city from all sides.

The surrounding area was completely filled with light, pushing back the prevailing darkness and replacing it with a brilliance as vivid and clear as daylight.

Countless golden particles scattered throughout the battlefield, drifting upward into the sky as they moved without any particular direction.

At this moment, the entire city appeared to be bathed in that pure, holy light.

The golden particles moved through the air in constant motion, spinning and fluttering like small, elemental spirits.

It was as if they were welcoming the return of a great existence.

Upon the city walls, the stationed guards stared wide-eyed at the sight, gazing in shock at the miraculous scene before them.

Inside the city itself, almost every windows were thrown open one after another, revealing startled figures peering outside.

The elderly elf Gando knelt on the ground, staring at the drifting particles of light with an incredulous expression.

The anger that had previously filled his face was gone, replaced by an unprecedented sense of awe.

“Th-this… this is…”

He murmured in a trembling voice, slowly extending his hands toward the drifting light nearest to him.

The moment he touched it, his eyes blurred with tears, overwhelmed by emotion.

All around the city, radiant brilliance descended gently alongside the glowing particles, creating a dreamlike and illusory atmosphere.

The miasma that had long hung over the city began to dissipate, retreating rapidly.

Soft, ethereal hymns rose into the air, sacred and otherworldly.

Above the city, the golden phantasm that had been wielding a sword slowly transformed once more, which eventually took the form of a beautiful yet illusory female figure.

That vague silhouette was identical to the holy statue worshiped by the frost elves.

In the next moment, an ethereal sigh resonated within the hearts of all frost elves:

“Return home, my lost children…”

The voice carried a mixture of sorrow, relief, and gentle compassion, reaching deep into the minds of everyone.

Upon hearing it, the demigod Aurora collapsed to the ground, overcome by emotion.

She fixed her gaze on the illusory figure in the sky, her eyes glistening with tears.

“M-Matriarch… Your Grace…”

Her hand trembled as she slowly reached toward the silhouette, her voice barely steady. Clear tears ran down her flawless cheeks and fell to the ground.

“M-Matriarch! It is the Matriarch! Our Divine Matriarch has finally awakened! The Matriarch has finally awakened at last!”

Similar cries of astonishment echoed across the city, and not long after, those exclamations were replaced by sobs and weeping.

All members of the Azurefrost Clan, who had remained steadfast in the abyss and never shed a tear even when confronting the terrifying Black Tide and formidable demons, now wept openly like children.

As Cypher watched them come out of their homes and listened to their faint sobbing that filled the air, he finally let out a breath of relief.

“It worked.”

At the same time, the background music—For the Glory of the Goddess—also finally came to an end.

The drifting particles of light gradually faded.

Cypher’s consciousness wavered, and all strength left his body. He swayed slightly and fell from the tower.

“Damn it, am I really going to fall to my death?”

That was his last thought.

Vaguely, he felt as though a warm force caught him.

In the next instant, he finally passed out and was directly ejected from the game.

༺⟐༻

When Cypher awoke once more, he found himself lying on a soft, comfortable bed.

Before him was a room that, by the standards of this world, could be considered lavish.

Of course, “lavish” was relative.

Compared to the accommodations back in Seigües, this room was modest at best and could hardly be called grand, but it was far more comfortable than anything he had experienced during his journey through the abyss.

His level had returned to 70, and the intoxicating sensation of controlling everything was gone, leaving a slight emptiness in its place.

For a moment, Cypher felt a twinge of regret, missing the overwhelming power he had wielded just moments before.

He glanced at the time in his system interface and made a quick calculation.

He had likely slept for more than three hours.

If converted to real-world time on Earth, however, he it appeared he had only logged out for about ten minutes—which to him felt like eternity—before logging back in.

Stretching lazily, he pushed himself upright, letting out a slow breath as he took in his surroundings.

“Chosen One, you are awake.”

A gentle voice sounded behind him, startling Cypher.

He turned his head and discovered Aurora, dressed in ceremonial attire, seated beside him.

“Au… Aurora, my lady.”

Cypher hurriedly sat up, feeling somewhat tense.

Although he had sensed the changes in Aurora’s emotions while controlling the holy barrier, facing this Demigod with such an overwhelming presence still made him uneasy.

However, he quickly suppressed his anxiety and forced a friendly expression.

“So… do you believe in my identity now?”

Aurora gave him a complicated glance but did not answer.

She slowly rose to her feet and turned away.

“Chosen One, we will be waiting for you at the Temple.”

She spoke with her back to Cypher.

After saying this, Aurora walked toward the exit of the room.

Yet just as she reached the doorway, she paused.

Under Cypher’s surprised gaze, the demigod of the Azurefrost Clan slowly turned around and offered him a slight bow.

“I apologize for my earlier actions… I acted impulsively.”

“There is no doubt that you are indeed the Chosen One by the Matriarch.”

“May the Grace of the Divine Matriarch be with you.”

As she spoke, she traced a tree-shaped symbol over her chest and then slowly withdrew from the room.

Cypher stared blankly at Aurora’s departing figure, then clenched his fist in excitement.

“Yes!”

Leaping off the bed, he quickly reequipped his gear, making sure everything was in place, and eagerly pushed open the door.

Outside stood two frost elf guards clad in heavy metal armor.

Their appearances remained imposing and fearsome, with the jagged features and icy expressions typical of their kind. Yet when they saw Cypher step out of the room, both broke into wide, genuine smiles.

They bent slightly at the waist and saluted him with clear respect.

“Lord Cypher, Lady Aurora, Lord Gando, and the members of the Council of Elders are already waiting for you at the Temple,” one of them announced.

Seeing these frost elves respond to him with such deference, Cypher felt a wave of mixed emotions.

He thought to himself that if these frost elves had a reputation system, his recent actions would likely have boosted his favorability from mere indifference to the maximum value.

“I understand.”

He nodded to the guards, and they fell into step beside him, guiding him through the temple.

The corridors of the temple were long. Along the way, Cypher noticed many figures moving about.

Some were elven guards in armor, while others were elven priests dressed in gray robes.

However, whenever they saw Cypher, they would automatically step aside to clear the path, bow slightly, trace a tree-shaped symbol over their chests, and offer their respects.

Cypher could feel the intensity in their gazes, the subtle excitement and respect in their eyes. The sensation of being revered, of having the attention of so many who recognized his position, was surprisingly satisfying.

Following the corridor, he soon reached the inner chamber he had previously been denied entry to.

Unlike before, however, the doors were no longer closed. They now stood fully open, inviting him inside without hesitation.

“Lady Aurora, Lord Cypher has arrived.”

The guard announced into the hall.

Cypher took a deep breath, rubbed his cheeks, and straightened his attire.

Then he stepped forward and walked inside.

The inner chamber was, as always, solemn and dignified.

Aurora, Gando, and numerous other figures—many of whom Cypher did not recognize but whose auras radiated immense power—stood along both sides of the hall.

Every one of them was clearly stronger than himself, and their presence alone demanded attention.

The moment Cypher entered, all eyes turned toward him, instantly making him the center of focus.

Every gaze fixed upon him was filled with excitement, curiosity, and expectation.

If not for Aurora’s overwhelming presence keeping everything in check, Cypher had no doubt that they would’ve immediately rushed forward to bombard him with endless questions.

As Cypher entered the hall, Aurora’s expression turned solemn.

She gently lifted the hem of her dress and performed a formal elven salute toward Cypher, then spoke in a warm, composed voice.

“Chosen One of the Matriarch, Lord Cypher. Please allow me to formally reintroduce myself.”

“I am the guardian of the Azurefrost Clan, the Star of Dawn, Aurora Azurefrost.”

She then gestured toward the other elves in the temple.

“This is the Senior Priest of our Church, Gando Azurefrost.”

“This is the Grand Elder of the Azurefrost Clan’s Council of Elders, Harald Azurefrost.”

“This is the Commander of the Azurefrost Clan’s Elven Guard, Beatrice Azurefrost.”

“The Azurefrost Clan’s…”

“…”

Aurora introduced each elf present one by one, and with every introduction, the individual stepped forward and offered Cypher a respectful salute.

After all introductions were done, Aurora looked at Cypher once more and knelt on one knee.

“Lord Cypher, we are ready. Please convey the orders of the Matriarch to us.”

With her movement, a wave of figures knelt throughout the room.

“Please convey the orders of the Matriarch!”

Everyone spoke in unison.

Their appearances were horrific and terrifying, yet their eyes were clearer and more fervent than ever before.

Seeing this, Cypher paused slightly, then felt a warm surge of emotion in his heart.

He took a deep breath and spoke with a resonant voice.

“My fellow kin of the Azurefrost Clan!”

“I am one of the five hundred and sixty thousand elven Chosen Ones summoned by the Goddess. My name is Cypher Shadowshade!”

“The Goddess has finally awakened.”

“She has now taken the name Evé Yggdrasil and stands at the pinnacle of the world of Seigües.”

“Under her influence, we have reclaimed the Elven Forest, rebuilt our destroyed cities, defeated the orcs, eliminated several reawakened evil gods, and even stood as equals against various human kingdoms.”

“The world of Seigües is now safe. No one would dare bully the elvenkind anymore and underestimate our power.”

“Right now, the dark age of our race has passed.”

“As such, Her Grace has finally sent me here to bring everyone here back home.”

“My fellow kinsmen!”

“Let us together leave this place.”

“But for us to do so, the Goddess has ordered us to find the highest place in this world, a place from which the true night sky can be seen.”

“Her Grace said that once we arrive there, we just have to pray to her and at that moment, the light will drive away the darkness. The Goddess’s radiance will spread across this land and guide you all back home.”

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