"What… is that?"
Kurose Akira stood frozen, utterly shaken by the elemental dragon conjured by the elves. The sheer density of elemental power radiating from its body made it shine like a miniature sun.
But what stunned him even more—
Was its level.
Level 99.
[Elemental Spirit Dragon (Legendary)]Level: 99 (?/max)Race: Elemental / DragonStrength: ? / Agility: ? / Magic Power: 9999 / Constitution: 9999Growth: 12 (All attributes +12 per level)Skills: (Expand)Traits: [Elemental Body][Elven Blessing]
"So this… is the elves' true trump card?" Kurose Akira muttered, brows raised in disbelief.
"Tch~ still far inferior to what I was in my prime," Mare Rhein scoffed dismissively from the side.
"This elemental dragon is formed from the combined magic of the elves," the Elven Queen explained patiently. "It is the king of all elf dragons—and a weapon of war for our kind."
She paused briefly before adding,
"However, sustaining it requires the magical power of ten thousand elves. It is only awakened in extraordinary times."
"I see…"
Kurose Akira nodded, intrigued.
He had long known that elements could form powerful magical creatures—but this was his first time witnessing an elemental entity at a demigod level or beyond.
More importantly, he now understood—
The Elemental Spirit Dragon didn't inherently possess that level of power.
It was a temporary war construct, fueled by the magic of ten thousand elves.
Just as that realization settled—
The battle began.
"ROOOAR!"
The dozen or so bone dragons circling the mountain let out deafening roars, their cries echoing across the valleys.
Then—
They spread their skeletal wings and surged toward the Elemental Spirit Dragon.
"SKREEE!"
The elemental dragon responded with a piercing cry of its own before beating its wings and soaring into the sky.
In a blink—
Its massive body ascended tens of thousands of meters into the heavens.
The bone dragons gave chase, dragging the battlefield into the skies above.
Blinding flashes of light erupted across the horizon.
Kurose Akira lost sight of them—
But fragments of shattered bone rained down from above, crashing into the mountains below and even crushing unlucky skeleton soldiers.
Seeing the bone dragons successfully drawn away—
The Elven Queen issued her next command.
"Elves… grant the dead their rest."
"For the Queen!"
"All forces—attack!"
At her command, the elven army surged forward.
The first to strike were the wind elves.
Masters of archery and wind magic, they drew their bows in perfect unison—
And released.
In an instant—
Arrows infused with storm-force plummeted into the mountains below.
Within moments, raging tornadoes tore through the undead ranks, annihilating tens of thousands of skeletons.
At the same time, the fire elves began chanting.
Thousands of blazing fireballs formed in the air—
Then, under the elders' command—
They descended.
BOOM!
Explosions thundered across the battlefield.
Fanned by the winds, flames spread instantly, engulfing nearly a fifth of the mountain range in a raging inferno.
"Grrrraaaah!"
Under the barrage of large-scale magic, the undead forces began to mobilize.
Undead mages chanted spells, erecting magical barriers.
Undead knights raised their blades, charging forward atop skeletal warhorses.
"Form ranks!"
Facing the charge, the elves responded with flawless coordination.
Earth elves chanted—
And in an instant, towering walls of stone erupted from the ground, halting the undead cavalry.
Then—
Wood elves followed up with their own magic.
Thorny vines erupted across the battlefield, shredding every undead creature within their reach.
"Such precise coordination…" Lucia murmured in genuine admiration.
"The bond between elves and the World Tree grants them unparalleled unity," the Elven Queen explained calmly, her gaze fixed on the battlefield. "Though… at times, that same bond becomes their burden."
"A burden?"
Lucia's interest was immediately piqued. Beneath her white veil, her golden-red eyes turned toward the Queen, seeking an answer.
"That is not something I can elaborate on~ Miss Lucia."
With a faint smile, the Queen shifted the topic and turned to one of the elders.
"Send Elena."
"Yes."
The elder immediately unfurled wings of wind and flew toward Elena's leaf vessel.
Only then did Kurose Akira notice—
Elena had changed into a set of silver-white armor.
Was she preparing to enter battle?
But judging by her trajectory—
She wasn't heading toward the main battlefield.
"Is Elena heading to another front?" Kurose Akira asked.
"Mm." The Queen nodded. "The vanguard led by Youlusi has been intercepted elsewhere. Elena will lead a force to break through."
"In that case, let us go with her," Kurose Akira proposed.
"…You?"
The Queen blinked, clearly surprised.
She had never intended for the members of Puff Fantasyland to participate in the battle.
"Rather than watching from your side, I'd prefer to assist Elena and relieve Youlusi. What do you think?" Kurose Akira said with a relaxed smile.
His words drew a gentle smile from the Queen.
"Very well. Go with her. But if you encounter danger, you must retreat immediately. Do not take unnecessary risks. Understood?"
"Understood."
Kurose Akira nodded, then turned to his companions.
"Everyone, get ready. The mission is starting."
"Got it, Guildmaster!"
"Hurry up already! This progenitor wants to go home and sleep!"
The group responded eagerly.
"Then we're off."
"Mm."
After receiving the Queen's acknowledgment, Kurose Akira glanced at Lucia.
She immediately understood.
With a light step—
A massive golden lotus bloomed beneath her feet, lifting the group into the air and carrying them toward Elena's vessel.
When they landed—
Elena, clad in silver armor and not yet wearing her helmet, looked at them in surprise.
"You came too?" she asked.
"Of course. We're acting together," Kurose Akira replied, his gaze drifting across her armor before he added with a faint smile, "I always thought you were a mage. Turns out you're a warrior?"
"Wrong!"
Elena snapped immediately. "I am a mage. This armor is purely for protection."
"I see…"
Kurose Akira nodded, half-convinced.
Then his curiosity got the better of him.
"Why does your armor have wings?"
"These are Elven Wings—woven from elemental energy."
As she spoke, Elena gently unfurled the dreamlike wings behind her.
"Want to learn? I can teach you."
"No need. My wings are coming in soon anyway."
Kurose Akira waved dismissively.
His draconic transformation had been steadily progressing.
The wings on his back were no longer the tiny, useless stubs they once were.
They couldn't sustain flight yet—
But it wouldn't be long.
"Hmph. Suit yourself."
Elena rolled her eyes, then donned her helmet and took control of the leaf vessel.
In the next instant—
They arrived.
Behind the undead mountain range—
Within a sunken basin.
"There they are!"
The elves quickly spotted the vanguard, locked in a desperate struggle against overwhelming undead forces.
The undead vastly outnumbered them.
The vanguard could only rely on a magical barrier to hold the line.
But the barrier—
Was already cracking.
Skeletons poured through the fractures, raising their blades against the elves inside.
"Deploy!"
At Elena's command, fifty thousand reinforcements surged forward.
Brilliant elemental magic streaked across the sky like falling stars—
Striking directly into the undead ranks.
BOOM!
The undead attempting to breach the barrier were instantly obliterated.
The vanguard elves looked up in shock.
"Reinforcements!"
"We're saved!"
"Princess Youlusi! We're saved!"
"…!"
Upon seeing Elena's forces, their faces lit up with relief.
"She came just in time…"
Supported by two elves, Youlusi looked up at the sky.
Tens of thousands of elves descending like a celestial army—
At that moment, the weight in her heart finally lifted.
With reinforcements, the tide of battle shifted instantly.
The undead began retreating.
Victory seemed within reach.
But when Elena's vessel descended—
The mood remained heavy.
Because—
Hundreds of elves had fallen in that short clash.
"Rest well… brave warriors."
Youlusi knelt, hands clasped, whispering softly.
"Death is not the end… your souls will return to the embrace of the World Tree…"
"Master… they…"
Virola gently tugged at Kurose Akira's sleeve.
"What is it?"
"They're not completely gone. I… I can revive them…"
Her emerald eyes shimmered with tears.
"Revive them!?"
Kurose Akira suddenly remembered—
Her domain ability.
Resurrection.
It could revive anyone who had died within five minutes.
And the barrier had only just collapsed moments ago.
Even if not all—
Reviving even a few would be enough to ignite morale.
"That's perfect! Start now, Virola!"
"Mm!"
She immediately activated her domain.
Emerald light spread across the battlefield.
"Wait… resurrection requires Life Points…" Kurose Akira suddenly realized.
He still didn't fully understand how those were accumulated.
But Virola simply smiled.
"It's okay~ The life energy you gave me is more than enough~"
"…?"
Kurose Akira froze for a moment, then opened her status panel.
30,000+ Life Points.
His expression stiffened.
When did that happen…?
Then—
That night flashed through his mind.
His expression turned complicated.
Virola blushed faintly, avoiding his gaze.
Nearby, Elena noticed the strange atmosphere.
Her eyes narrowed—
Then slowly became… clouded with imagination.
What kind of scenario did they even—
"Ugh—!"
She shook her head violently.
Damn perverted man who's into non-humans!
"Bloom… life once more~"
Virola spread her arms.
Green seeds of life fell gently onto the chests of the fallen elves.
Soft light enveloped their bodies—
Then—
Their severed limbs regenerated.
Their wounds closed.
Their hearts—
Began beating again.
The lifeless bodies suddenly stirred—
And sat upright.
"Ahhh!"
The surrounding elves screamed in shock.
But moments later—
Tears streamed down their faces as they embraced their revived comrades.
"You're alive… you're really alive!"
"…!"
All eyes turned toward Virola.
Filled with disbelief.
So—
Magic that could restore the dead…
Truly existed.
"This is impossible…!"
"What kind of power is this!?"
"She can revive the dead… is she an angel!?"
Even Lucia was stunned.
This was a power even the Holy Church did not possess.
"Master… I'm so tired…"
After reviving the fallen, Virola swayed weakly.
Kurose Akira caught her, gently supporting her body.
"You did well, Virola."
"Hehe…"
She gave a small, satisfied smile—
Then fell asleep in his arms.
"This little one…"
Kurose Akira smiled like a proud father before sending her back to the guild.
At the same time, Alice—capable of remote support—returned as well to take care of her.
"Alright then…"
He turned to Elena and Youlusi.
"Let's keep moving. What's our next objective?"
"To eliminate the Undead Lord's right hand," Youlusi replied.
"A follower of the Death Goddess… a grotesque creature with a human head and a turtle's body."