【 HOMELAND 】

—

After passing through the golden triumphal arch gate, the Frost Elves’ vision gradually became clear.

From the opposite side, they stepped onto a broad, open plaza paved with stone.

This was the Elven Forest, specifically the coastal city of Mirovia.

It was the original place the Azurefrost Clan had departed from a thousand years ago, and also the final destination of their long journey back home.

Beyond the plaza, towering trees swayed gently in the breeze, their leaves shimmering with soft hues of green and in the distance, the faint scent of the sea drifted through the air.

Everyone from the Azurefrost Clan raised their heads in excitement.

“Is that the blue sky…? I can finally see the real sky! It is exactly the same as described in the scriptures.”

“By the grace of the Matriarch… is that glowing sphere the sun!?”

Similar voices rang out, trembling with exhilaration, awe, and disbelief.

Gazing curiously at a sky so completely different from that of the Abyss, the Frost Elves slowly closed their eyes in rapture and drew deep breaths of the pure, sweet air. For the first time in a thousand years, their lungs were filled not with murky air or corruption, but with dense, immaculate magical energy in which carries the fragrance of nature.

As beings highly attuned with mana, this was naturally the most suitable habitat for them to live upon.

From afar came the soft chirping of birds.

Between elegant and majestic white marble buildings, lush trees stood tall and verdant, their branches swaying lightly in the breeze, while flowers of every color bloomed in abundance, filling the air with a rich, lingering fragrance.

The current early summer was a season brimming with vitality, and also the time when all things in the Elven Forest flourished most abundantly.

Although each season possessed its own beauty, for elves who loved nature by instinct, spring and summer were, without question, their most cherished times.

Playful and adorable elemental faeries danced among the flowers, giggling as they chased butterflies. Brilliant sunlight pierced the dense canopy, slanting down through the gaps and casting dappled patterns of light and shadow across the ground.

This fairy tale–like scenery gradually left the Frost Elves spellbound.

When they realized that they would now live within such a dreamlike world, their expressions slowly grew animated.

That spark of joy soon settled into solemn awe, and the awe, in turn, transformed into deep reverence born from gratitude and relief.

One after another, the Frost Elves knelt, pressed their lips to the earth, and cried out with fervent devotion, their voices trembling with emotion:

“Praise be to You. Great Goddess of Life, benevolent Mother of Nature, Matriarch of the elves.”

“We have finally returned.”

As their praises rang out, a faint light of faith blossomed upon their bodies, as though answering their call. The glow spread quietly, weaving itself into the depths of their being, while the Frost Elves seemed to hear a light, metallic chime echo within their consciousness.

In the next instant, a surge of unfamiliar information flooded their minds, arriving all at once.

“Divine favor? A task system?”

Sensing this strange new information within their memories, the Frost Elves were left momentarily stunned. They looked at one another in silence, each seeing the same trace of confusion reflected in the other’s eyes.

“Did you feel anything?”

“I did. I think… I heard the Matriarch’s voice. And it seems I also received her divine favor.”

“No, this does not feel like divine favor. It feels more like an ability granted to us by the Matriarch.”

“An ability? Could it be the blessing of Her Divine Majesty?”

“A task system? Chosen ones? Contribution points?”

“Um… what does a blue-grade NPC mean?”

Soft murmurs spread through the group as they instinctively focused their thoughts inward. As they did, illusory system interfaces and task panels appeared within their field of vision, hovering faintly before their eyes.

Each Frost Elf stared at these translucent images, their expressions filled with curiosity, caution, and awe.

Those illusory images seemed able to appear or fade according to their will and even could transform to display all kinds of unfamiliar information with remarkable clarity.

However, in the next moment, their attention was abruptly drawn away by a rising clamor of unfamiliar presences rushing toward the plaza.

The Frost Elves raised their heads and saw numerous figures running toward them.

All these newcomers appeared to be their fellow kinsmen, dressed so splendidly that they resembled glittering magical lamps. Their attire was so dazzling and ornate, and their hair came in every imaginable color, styled in eccentric fashions that clearly marked the customs of various clans.

Aside from the royal members of the Moonlight Clan, nearly every clansfolk seemed to be present. To their astonishment, there were even quite a few unfamiliar Frost Elves among them, their features similar yet subtly different, as if shaped by a life entirely unlike their own.

They leapt between buildings, ran along walls and eaves, and vaulted effortlessly from one ledge to another. Their movements were so agile and unrestrained that they hardly seemed like elves at all, but rather a lively troop of nimble monkeys darting through the forest of stone and marble.

Soon, they gathered in ever greater numbers atop nearby buildings and along the streets leading into the plaza, jumping about ceaselessly, shouting, waving, and craning their necks for a better look.

Like… a swarm of grasshoppers.

Seeing their peculiar walking style and springing steps, the Frost Elves froze slightly in surprise, unsure whether to feel impressed or bewildered.

“So… is this the way people walk here in the Elven Forest?”

They began to feel uneasy. The steps they had been about to take out of the plaza unconsciously came to a halt.

They understood the principle of adapting to local customs, yet the unfamiliarity of the scene before them gnawed at their confidence.

Facing these energetic, unfamiliar clansfolk, they worried that even their own manner of walking—or the way they carried themselves—might appear awkward or inappropriate.

It sounded absurd, even laughable, yet it was undeniably how they felt.

Thousands of years of life in the Abyss, generation after generation of corruption and mutation, compounded by the gradual erosion of inherited knowledge over time, had naturally given rise to a subtle yet persistent sense of inferiority whenever the Frost Elves confronted their kin from the Prime Material Realm.

Even though the corruption on their bodies had already been purified by the Goddess, and even though they had just received warm assistance from their fellow kinsmen during their departure, at this very moment, upon seeing these unfamiliar newcomers, each member of the Azurefrost Clan could not help but feel a gnawing unease.

The sensation was amplified by the knowledge of the elves’ long lifespans.

Although many of these clansfolk appeared older at first glance, the Frost Elves realized that, due to the catalyzing effects of Abyssal power, their own actual ages were likely far younger than those of the myriad clansfolk before them.

The elven race had always been one that held great respect for its elders.

Thus, when facing these clansfolk whose ages might exceed theirs by several times, or even by an order of magnitude, they naturally became somewhat restrained.

Even that youthful-looking Chosen One named Cypher was someone with whom only the highly respected Elder Gando could casually speak as a brother.

Ah… right.

Speaking of that Chosen One, he too often walked in the same manner, sometimes even spreading his wings and soaring back and forth while leading everyone.

Watching these clansfolk, constantly hopping, bouncing, and moving in unfamiliar ways across their field of vision, the Frost Elves felt as though they had begun to understand something.

Perhaps…

This was simply the current popular custom amongst their people here in the homeworld.

Although it seemed… a little different from what was described in the scriptures.

Moreover… at a subconscious level, a subtle sense of dissonance lingered within them, as though something about it did not feel entirely right, though they could not yet place why.

The Frost Elves looked toward the newcomers with expressions filled with a mixture of excitement, unease, and curiosity.

By contrast, Aurora, the Azurefrost demigod who had emerged from the arch gate alongside the Frost Elves, stared at these oddly behaving clansfolk with a slightly vacant expression. Her gaze was one of having witnessed something utterly inconceivable, as if her entire worldview had been overturned in an instant.

The hopping and bouncing newcomers soon focused their attention on the Frost Elves.

Almost immediately, the Frost Elves saw their gazes transform into bright, palpable excitement.

Those looks were intense, delighted, and warm, brimming with the unmistakable joy of seeing long-lost family members at last.

—Or at least… that was how the Frost Elves interpreted it.

The strangely styled elves leapt once more and swarmed happily toward them, their movements exuberant and unrestrained. All around, excited voices rang out in a chaotic, lively chorus:

“The Frost Elves are back!”

“Damn, so many blue NPCs! Every one of them is a blue-grade NPC!”

“Look! That one is even a golden-grade NPC! I think she’s the third besides the Goddess and Feynir, right?”

“No! I think her color is still a bit weaker than the Goddess. I remember the Goddess’s golden aura even comes with special effects!”

“It’s still amazing though! Just getting a task from her would be such a huge deal!”

Amidst this torrent of strange phrases, the newcomers rapidly congregated around the Frost Elves, their attention especially fixed on Aurora…

That was, until a soft cough sounded, which caught everyone’s attention.

In that instant, the Frost Elves noticed that these various clansfolk immediately froze, their chatter and movement ceasing all at once.

Then, as if guided by an invisible hand, they obediently lined up on both sides of the road, straight and precise, much like huskies that had just been sharply reprimanded by their owner.

A couple of seconds later, a petite figure slowly floated over—Yes, floated.

This newcomer possessed beauty that rivaled Aurora’s own, yet there was something ineffably delicate about her. Her body was tiny, barely larger than a human palm, yet she radiated an undeniable presence. A gentle, ethereal glow shimmered around her, the unmistakable hallmark of an energy-based life form.

Two pairs of butterfly-like wings fluttered continuously upon her back, each movement elegant and rhythmic, carrying her effortlessly through the air.

When Aurora saw this small figure, her gaze paused slightly.

From the other party, she sensed power no weaker than her own.

This… was a demigod.

Not only that, this new figure seemed to also carried a dense aura of divine power belonging to the Matriarch. It was obvious that she was an envoy of the Goddess.

It seemed that after Her revival, the Matriarch had finally realized the need for more mythical-rank subordinates.

Not only had Her Majesty gained three powerful mythical dragons as subordinates, She had also acquired a new demigod envoy as well…

Such thoughts flashed through Aurora’s mind at the moment.

Just as Aurora was about to offer a formal salute, the newcomer gracefully lifted the hem of her skirt in midair and offered a slight bow, her voice carrying a gentle, apologetic tone:

“My apologies. The veteran Chosen Ones have already departed for the Abyss. Therefore, all these Chosen Ones who greeted you here are newcomers and are not yet fully familiar with the proper etiquette of the elves.”

Her words were accompanied by a sweet, serene smile, as though seeking to calm any unease. Then, with poise befitting her status, she introduced herself:

“Lady Aurora, greetings. I am Feynir, the Elemental Fairy King, deputy retainer of Her Grace’s divine kingdom, the Garden of Eden. I am truly pleased to witness the return of the Azurefrost Clan.”

Veteran Chosen Ones…?

Aurora silently repeated the term in her mind. The unfamiliar information she had just received within her consciousness had already been fully digested.

Looking at those strange elves in the distance—obediently lined up yet still watching her and the Frost Elves with bright, expectant eyes—she now clearly understood their identities.

So that was how it was…

She had not anticipated that the Goddess would have already recovered to such an extent, capable of summoning souls from other worlds with ease.

Moreover, those tiny Elemental Fairies…

It was a race name she had never encountered before.

Could it be… a new race created by the Goddess herself?

The ability to bring entirely new races into existence.

It seemed that Her Majesty had almost fully regained her strength.

At the thought, a subtle trace of fervor flashed in Aurora’s eyes.

As expected of the Ruler of the Silver Era, the supreme and exalted All-Divine Mother…

She turned her gaze toward Feynir and offered a standard elven salute, her posture steady yet filled with respect, saying, “No. To be able to feel the enthusiasm of the Chosen Ones is our honor.”

Feynir’s lips curved into a faint, serene smile.

“That is both their sworn duty and their pleasure.”

As she spoke, Feynir glanced over at the Chosen Ones, whose eyes gleamed with bright anticipation, before returning her attention to Aurora.

“Lady Aurora, all these Chosen Ones will assist in resettling and restoring the Azurefrost Clan to their normal lives here in the Elven Forest.”

“You and your people should already have received the blessings of Her Divine Grace, which will allow you to command the Chosen Ones through the task system.”

“With the task system, especially its rewards and favor benefits, interacting with them will be far more efficient and manageable.”

Aurora’s expression softened slightly as she absorbed Feynir’s explanation. She inclined her head and slowly nodded.

“I understand.”

After speaking, she could not help but turn her gaze toward the northeast, in the direction of the World Tree.

Seeing the longing look in her eyes, Feynir felt a subtle stir in her heart.

“Lady Aurora, please rest for now. Once Her Grace returns to the Garden of Eden, I shall escort you to Her Grace’s Divine Kingdom so that you may pay your respects in person.”

“The Garden of Eden? Has Her Divine Majesty recovered her divine kingdom as well?”

Aurora was momentarily taken aback, her mind racing at the thought.

Feynir smiled faintly.

“Yes, and no.”

“Her Grace’s true identity remains confidential. Therefore, to the outside world, her current identity is that of a newly ascended god of faith, who has only inherited the World Tree’s divinity. Thus, please refrain from using her old titles, especially in the presence of other races.”

“Typically, Her Grace’s consciousness remains within the Garden of Eden. However, she is currently away, pursuing those other evil beings in the Dark World from which you came from.”

Aurora withdrew her gaze and nodded quietly, her mind turning over Feynir’s words.

“I understand.”

Those three Abyssal mythical beings already knew the Goddess’s identity. So its pretty obvious they absolutely could not be allowed to escape.

Thinking of this, Aurora felt a twinge of self-reproach.

Back when the Goddess’s incarnation had descended to retrieve them, her fellow clansmen—and even she herself—had been too overtaken by excitement, and had thus inadvertently used her old titles. Otherwise, they would surely have been more cautious, never calling out to her as ‘Matriarch’ like that.

However, despite this moment of regret, Aurora had no intention of returning to the Abyss to assist personally.

In her view, the moment the Goddess took action personally—despite merely using an incarnate form—the fate of those three Abyssal mythical beings, whose auras barely reached the rank of weaker divine power, had already been sealed.

This was Aurora’s absolute confidence in their Divine Matriarch.

༺⟐༻

The Dark world in the Abyss from which the Frost Elves had departed.

Mars spread his golden, batlike wings and cut through the murky air beneath the rolling dark clouds, relentlessly pursuing a fleeing evil god.

A mere demigod chasing an evil god might have sounded absurd to outsiders.

Yet for dragons, the ability to contend with beings a rank higher than themselves was an innate trait of their kind.

Moreover, after ascending to demigod-rank, dragons could even develop a certain resistance to a true god’s celestial domain.

Thus, a mere evil god, who’s only capable of partially activating a celestial domain, did not frighten Mars at all.

This world was dark and barren.

Everywhere he looked, countless demons lurked in the shadows, watching him with eyes full of vigilance, fear, and dread.

But Mars, who had long regarded punishing evil and upholding justice as his personal, sworn duty, paid them no heed.

He had a more important task at hand.

His wings sliced through the air with unwavering power, pressing onward toward the malicious aura in the distance without pause.

The evil god he’s pursuing was indeed cunning, weaving circles through the landscape in an attempt to lose him.

Of course, it did not succeed in evading the golden dragon.

But after flying over a desolate hillside, that evil god vanished all of a sudden.

As if on cue, at that very moment, two more draconic roars echoed across the sky.

Mars shifted his gaze and saw two silver dragons appear in his field of vision.

“Mercury? Venus? Why did you end up from that direction?” he asked, frowning, a mixture of surprise and concern in his voice.

The two silver dragons exchanged a brief glance before answering,

“We were pursuing those other two evil gods, and before we realized it, we arrived here.”

Upon hearing his companions’ words, Mars felt a surge of emotion course through him.

In the next instant, three malevolent auras slowly coalesced around the three mythical dragons, each radiating a chilling, oppressive power.

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