Chapter 710

【 CLIFF OF SORROWS 】

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Early the next morning, the frost elves finished gathering their supplies and prepared to depart.

This time, aside from their personal weapons and essential equipment, they carried little else.

As for the ancestral books and elven artworks that held historical and commemorative value, Aurora collected all these items and placed them inside her storage necklace, before entrusting the necklace to Cypher for safekeeping.

Cypher walked at the front of the group.

Secured to his back was the holy statue of the Goddess, which emitted a steady and gentle glow. The light spread outward from him, extending behind his steps and linking every member of the Azurefrost Clan within its range, ensuring that none were left unprotected.

This was an advanced use of a holy barrier that Cypher had gradually learned to control over two months of continuous combat. Through this technique, the power of faith was converted into a tangible layer of protection that could shield multiple individuals at once.

The strength of this method lay in its adaptability and ease of use, allowing it to cover a wide area without complex preparation. However, its weakness was equally clear, it consumed an enormous amount of faith power to maintain.

During the past two months of fighting, Cypher had rarely relied on this ability, precisely because of its high cost. This time, however, despite being fully aware of the burden it would place upon him, he had no alternative but to activate it.

Faith power could be regained once depleted.

But if lives were lost, then nothing would remain.

The frost elves moved forward in a long, orderly procession across the barren land.

Surrounding Cypher were the frost elves whose strength had reached the Gold-rank.

They were unlike the elves of the world of Seigües.

Although the Frost Elves who entered the Abyss continued to bear the racial shackles imposed upon them, those constraints had significantly diminished over time. After fleeing into the Abyss, they relied on its power to interfere with the authority of true gods, remained isolated from the Primary Material Realm for thousands of years, and endured countless generations of mutation, all of which gradually weakened the original shackles.

In addition, through the long-term consumption of demon flesh, they discovered an alternative means to bypass those restraints and push beyond the limits of their race.

The process was difficult and carried significant risks, but it allowed them to gain a stable foothold within the Abyss and survive in an environment that would have crushed lesser beings.

Every one of these Gold-rank elves was a veteran of countless battles. They formed the vanguard of the entire migrating group, responsible for meeting danger head-on.

In any conflict that arose, they would break through enemy lines and eliminate threats, shielding Cypher as he maintained the holy barrier, while clearing a safe route for their fellow clansmen who followed behind.

Behind this vanguard, the rest of the elven column stretched far into the distance. Under the steady light of the defensive barrier, the moving formation appeared like a flowing band of gold, shifting and advancing as one through the wasteland.

No one spoke as the group continued forward.

The atmosphere was heavy and every individual remained focused on their surroundings.

The silence was broken only by the frequent flashes of lightning in the sky above, followed by deep rolls of thunder that echoed across the land.

Above them, Lady Aurora had taken to the air. She maintained a constant vigil, scanning the surroundings for any signs of threat and guarding the entire procession.

Time seemed to stretch on endlessly.

Yet it also appeared to pass far more quickly than expected.

Approximately four hours after departing from the camp, the group finally reached the base of the Cliff of Sorrows.

The long march came to a halt, and the migration group gradually slowed as everyone took in the sight before them.

Cypher let out a deep breath and raised his eyes toward the towering mountain ahead. The entire cliff face was pitch-black, blending into the darkness of the abyssal world, which makes it appear even more barren and oppressive as a result.

The cliff’s overall shape resembled a right-angled trapezoid. The side facing them formed a sloping ascent, with sections that alternated between relatively gentle inclines and sharply rising segments, suggesting a difficult path ahead.

And upon that slope, a ruined city could be faintly discerned, blocking their path forward.

It was a city of immense scale, even more magnificent than the Chosen City, yet now weathered and broken, reduced to nothing more than shattered walls and crumbling ruins.

Standing beneath the remains of the massive city gates and looking up at the damaged and incomplete walls, Cypher’s thoughts drifted back to the conversation he had shared with Aurora before their departure.

“Lord Cypher, we have to pass through New Florence to reach the summit of the Cliff of Sorrows.”

“New Florence?”

“Yes. It is the name of our first city, the stronghold where we once lived for nearly three thousand years.”

“Three thousand years… that is truly a long time.”

“It is already in the past. Lord Cypher, you must be prepared for battle when the time comes. There may very well be powerful demons inhabiting the city. Evil gods rarely linger in places like this, but ordinary demons are often drawn to ruins like these.”

“Then… we will not encounter any fallen elves, will we? Didn’t you say earlier that the members of the Rocksand Clan failed to escape from this city two thousand years ago?”

“No. Even if they fell and became abyssal beings, two thousand years is far too long; they would have completely faded away by now.”

“That’s a relief. It’d be way too cruel if we still had to fight fallen elves…”

“Hm?”

“Ahem, nothing. By the way, Lady Aurora, I still have a question…”

“Ask away.”

“More than two thousand years ago… why was the Rocksand Clan completely wiped out? Even if the situation was as dire as you say, there should have been some who managed to escape, shouldn’t there?”

“Lord Cypher…”

“Yes.”

“Do you know of mental linkage?”

“Mental linkage?”

“Yes. After the Goddess fell into Her eternal slumber, every elven clan has been striving in their own way to revive Her Majesty.”

“Our Azurefrost Clan believes the divine soul of the Goddess must have returned to the Astral Realm, or exists somewhere within the cosmic void. For this reason, we built a temple upon the Cliff of Sorrows and offered prayers to the starry sky day and night…”

“The Rocksand Clan, on the other hand, under the leadership of Uria, chose another path to reawakened the Goddess by the use of the power of faith.”

“Uria’s power was closest to the Goddess’ own divine laws, and he willingly chose to sacrifice himself in the hope that the Goddess would be reborn within his own body through the power of faith…”

“To accomplish this, Uria established a mental linkage with all members of the Rocksand Clan, elevating the power of faith to its utmost limit.”

“But… it was also because of this that, during the Black Tide which destroyed New Florence, the people of the Rocksand Clan followed his sacrifice and were left behind in the city forever…”

“However, without that mental linkage, Uria likely would not have been able, in the final moments of his life, to unleash power surpassing that of a demigod, nor would he have been able to restrain the evil god leading the Black Tide back then…”

“Their sacrifice ultimately gave the Azurefrost Clan enough time to escape. We carry their hopes upon our shoulders, and therefore…”

“We have to keep moving forward.”

“…”

“Lord Cypher…”

“Yes… I’m here.”

“Our final journey is about to begin. Along the way, I will likely trouble you greatly. For that, I thank you in advance.”

“No. Compared to me, you are the one who carried the greatest burden…”

“You are too modest… and from here on, we place everything in your hands.”

“I… I understand…”

“…”

Taking a deep breath, Cypher gently closed his eyes, letting the weight of the journey and the burden of responsibility settle within him.

Several seconds passed before he slowly opened them again. His gaze was steady now, sharp with determination and focus.

He raised the sword in his hand, pointing it toward the shattered city gates that loomed ahead, their broken edges casting jagged shadows in the dim light.

“People of the Azurefrost Clan, let us move forward. We… are finally going back home!”

His voice was filled with genuine emotion.

“Back home!”

Behind him, the Frost Elves raised their rusted longswords as well.

Together, they stepped forward, crossing the threshold into the dark, deathly silent city…

༺⟐༻

This elven city, built in memory of Florence, had long since fallen into ruin. Its streets still bore the faint scars of battles fought more than two thousand years ago.

The buildings were marked with mottled claw scratches left by demons, now faded and softened by the relentless erosion of time.

Scattered across the streets were weathered white bones, some belonging to elves, others to demons.

A heavy silence hung over the ruins.

The only sounds were the steady footsteps of the Frost Elves and the occasional rasp of their breathing, both amplified by the emptiness of the streets.

The barrier surrounding Cypher and the migration group cast a steady glow, its light sweeping over the ruins and replacing the need for torches or illumination spells.

The long procession advanced steadily along the ruined streets.

At the front, the vanguard warriors scanned the surroundings with sharp, vigilant eyes, ready to respond instantly to any threat.

Several powerful Frost Elves, led by the elder Gando, formed a protective ring around Cypher at the center of the formation. Their task was clear: safeguard him while he maintained control of the defensive barrier, ensuring that both he and the rest of the group could move safely through the abandoned city.

Cypher himself maintained the barrier while carefully observing his surroundings, fully activating every detection skill available to him as a hunter.

Behind him was Estelle.

Despite being only nineteen years old, her strength had already reached the lower Silver-rank. Her lips were pressed tightly together as she gripped her short sword.

Their journey continued in silence.

It was as though the entire world had become devoid of life.

Yet the quieter it became, the stronger the sense of unease grew in Cypher’s heart.

This ruined elven city was permeated by dense abyssal power, which, in turn, distorted all traces of foreign presence, making it impossible for Cypher to sense anything at a distance. Thus, he could only rely on his eyes, sweeping his gaze cautiously across the surroundings.

Step by step, the vanguard pressed deeper into the city.

They followed the main road that wound around the cliff, spiraling upward in a slow, deliberate ascent. Every turn brought new ruins into view, and the path grew more treacherous as the city’s decay worsened…

However, when the migration group had reached roughly the halfway point, they suddenly came to a halt.

At the center of the ruined road ahead, a tall figure clad in elven armor had appeared, seemingly out of nowhere. A thin, pale mist swirled around him, giving him an eerie, unreal presence.

Cypher recognized him immediately.

It was one of the scouts Aurora had dispatched earlier—a Frost Elf whose strength had reached the lower Gold-rank.

He had been sent out to recon the city a full day before.

“Abel? Is that you? You’re still alive?”

Voices of surprise and relief rose among the Frost Elves around Cypher, hope flickering briefly in their expressions.

The tall figure ahead moved slowly, turning to face them.

In the next moment, Cypher’s pupils contracted sharply.

What stood before them was not the scout they had hoped to see. His face was grotesque—covered in tumors and festering boils. The pointed ear at the side of his head confirmed he was still an elf, but the rest of him was unrecognizable.

Part of his skull was missing, and within the gaping wound, several writhing abyssal worms gnawed at the exposed, blood-soaked brain matter.

His expression was one of pure agony. His eyes bulged outward, wide with terror, as though he had witnessed something beyond comprehension.

After that, he was seen trembling as he slowly extended a hand, struggling to force out a single word from his mouth.

“Run… quickly…”

Run… now.

A chill ran through Cypher’s chest.

In the next second, a massive black claw shot up from the ground beneath the elf named Abel. It struck with terrifying force, tearing the man apart instantly.

A low, guttural roar filled the air as the ground shuddered violently. From the cracked earth emerged a grotesque, scale-clawed demon nearly ten meters tall.

“A Demon King!”

Gando’s expression turned grave.

The demon threw back its massive head and released a long, piercing howl. The screeching sound echoed through the ruined streets, carrying the weight of a legendary-rank demon.

But before the monster could advance further, a sharp tearing sound cut through the air. An arrow, streaking like a meteor and glittering faintly with starlight, shot down from above.

It struck the roaring Demon King directly, and in an instant, a thunderous explosion erupted. A blinding flash of light followed, and the demon’s upper body vanished completely.

Black, foul blood sprayed across the ground. The creature twitched violently a few times before slowly collapsing, its massive body hitting the ruined streets with a heavy thud.

High above, Aurora hovered in midair, her face calm and expressionless. She withdrew the longbow made of divine power she had used with practiced ease.

Yet at that very moment, several more roars erupted from every corner of the city.

From the shattered windows, broken rooftops, and darkened doorways, pairs of crimson eyes began to glow one after another, appearing suddenly and in great numbers.

They were so dense that a shiver ran down Cypher’s spine.

Then, accompanied by a series of frenzied, bloodthirsty howls, black figures of all shapes and sizes surged from the surrounding buildings on both sides. They poured into the streets like a tide, closing in on the migration group with terrifying speed.

“Lesser demons, greater demons…! this is bad. This area has likely become an abyssal brood nest. Quick! prepare for battle!”

Gando’s face hardened at the sight of the charging horde, and he roared his command with authority.

The Frost Elves responded instantly, raising their weapons in unison. Sparks of activated skill flashed across their armor and blades as they prepared to meet the assault.

In the next instant, the two forces collided with brutal force.

Facing the demon horde that surged like a black tide, Cypher’s expression grew serious.

He took a deep breath, his eyes flickering with a faint glint of determination.

“Praise be to life. Praise be to nature. Praise be to the great Goddess of Life.”

Then he slowly spread his hands outward.

The divine statue behind him erupted with brilliant light, and a golden phantasm began to take shape above him. It hovered steadily, radiating power, and gradually formed a colossal sword crafted entirely from the power of faith.

With a single, decisive motion, the sword slashed downward toward the charging demons.

Instantly, radiant light exploded across the battlefield.

Waves of sword energy, swept outward in all directions and any demon caught in its path was struck down without mercy, reduced to ash in a dazzling shower of golden light.

“How magnificent!”

Gando could not suppress a shout of admiration at the sheer power of the display.

Then he bellowed a command to the group.

“Quickly! Everyone, seize this opportunity and push forward together!”

The Frost Elves were invigorated.

Following Cypher’s lead, they continued to cut down the charging demons while pressing forward.

If seen from above the city, the group resembled a ‘golden ribbon’ threading its way through a black, endless sea of demons. Despite the chaos and the overwhelming numbers around them, the golden ribbon pressed onward, unbroken and relentless.

The roars of demons intertwined with the shouts of the Frost elves. Blades flashed, swords clashed, and light flared everywhere.

Spells ignited throughout the formation like sudden flares, illuminating the destruction and opening temporary gaps in the enemy ranks. From time to time, arcs of dazzling light descended from above, clearing wide spaces that the ‘golden ribbon’ of elves immediately surged into, continuing their advance without pause.

Though their advance was slow, the overwhelming tide of demons failed to halt the groups’ progress.

Battles erupted everywhere, yet the balance was steadily tilting in favor of the frost elves.

Gradually, the elven vanguard caught sight of the city gate on the opposite side, leading toward the summit of the cliff.

Excitement flitted across the faces of the Frost Elves as the city gate drew closer. Yet at the very front of the formation, Cypher, who was still maintaining the defensive barrier, felt a growing sense of unease.

—Too weak.

These demons were far too weak.

Though they came in overwhelming numbers, the lesser demons were all just Iron-rank, and even the greater demons were mostly no higher than lower Silver-rank.

Not only could the golden phantasm under Cypher’s control, which possessed legendary-rank power, annihilate them with ease, even the Frost Elves’ vanguard warriors could slaughter them as effortlessly as chopping vegetables.

As such, the enemy’s strength did not justify the warnings given by Abel, the Frost Elf scout who had been torn apart by the scale-clawed Demon King.

Something about the situation did not add up…

And as if responding to Cypher’s apprehension, just as their group was about to reach the rear city gate, the ground suddenly trembled faintly.

Immediately afterward, an ear-splitting roar thundered across the city.

In the next second, dense gray mist began spreading throughout the surroundings…

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