Chapter 141: Spring Comes Upon A Withered Tree (VIII)

Previous Chapter ◊ Table of Content ◊ Next Chapter

Chapter 141: Spring Comes Upon A Withered Tree (VIII)

The Forge Wraiths numbered only a little over a hundred thousand in total, but their maximum lifespan approached a thousand years. They reproduced by splitting, and every new offshoot possessed a powerful physique, dual affinities for metal and fire magic, and a complete inherited memory from the moment it entered infancy. If not for the vast forests covering the continent, the Forge Wraiths would probably have conquered it long ago.

For this war, the Forge Wraiths deployed two thousand of their own kind. Together with the puppet forces of various races under their control, their army numbered around three hundred thousand. The Alliance fielded roughly five hundred thousand troops, not counting the innumerable mercenary groups, giving it an overwhelming numerical advantage. Yet the combat strength of those two thousand Forge Wraiths alone was enough to pose an enormous threat to the Alliance.

By the time Ivan reached the battlefield, the Alliance army had already clashed with the Forge Wraiths several times, losing more often than winning and suffering over ten thousand casualties.

“Ivan, how many Oxygen Orbs do you have?” asked Tomo, leader of the Bloodtear Mercenary Company.

“Fifteen,” Ivan answered truthfully.

Tomo frowned in thought for a moment before saying gravely, “We only have thirty left on our side. That’s too few to inflict meaningful damage.”

Sandy added, “This war began too suddenly. The Alliance wasn’t sufficiently prepared. I suspect it will ultimately end in defeat.”

“If we can’t suppress the Forge Wraiths, the Alliance army probably won’t hold out for long.” The others were equally worried.

At that moment, Alvin proposed, “We could select specific targets and ambush them.”

“Ambush them?”

“Exactly.” Alvin continued, “The Forge Wraiths don’t know how many Oxygen Orbs we possess. If we successfully ambush their people one after another, they’ll inevitably become wary and hesitate to put themselves at risk personally.”

The others agreed that the plan was workable, and the rest of the meeting was spent discussing target selection and the details of the operation.

Ivan said almost nothing and merely listened quietly. As an alchemist, he would not participate in the ambush operation. His only responsibility was supplying the weapons.

Stepping out of the oppressive tent, Ivan heard the groans of the wounded. The air was thick with the smell of medicinal herbs and sour decay. The once-beautiful elven homeland was now devastated as far as the eye could see.

Ivan lifted his head toward the direction of Wasier Forest, his eyes filled with longing and tenderness. No matter how chaotic the outside world became, merely thinking of the elf waiting for him at home filled him with strength.

Three days later, the Alliance selected ten elite fighters from the various mercenary groups. Each carried two Oxygen Orbs and infiltrated the Forge Wraiths’ camp to ambush several important targets. An Oxygen Orb could drastically weaken a Forge Wraith for several months, so a successful series of attacks would be enough to shake their morale.

During battle, the Alliance army deliberately feigned defeat, causing the Forge Wraiths to lower their guard and making it easier for the elite team to act.

The elite fighters lived up to expectations and successfully ambushed five Forge Wraith commanders in succession. Several days later, the attacks finally triggered turmoil within their ranks, forcing them to sound the retreat and temporarily halt their offensive against the Alliance.

For the first time, the Alliance gained the upper hand on the battlefield, and morale soared.

Ivan, who had supplied the Oxygen Orbs, became one of the operation’s greatest contributors. Even so, he did not relax, instead working with several high-ranking alchemists to refine more beads as quickly as possible.

In fact, Ivan’s newly developed Oxygen Sigil was the most effective weapon against the Forge Wraiths. Unfortunately, it was extremely difficult to refine, and gathering sufficiently concentrated oxygen was equally troublesome. So far, he had managed to produce only two. Rather than spend all his time making more sigils, it was more practical to refine additional Oxygen Orbs.

After finishing his work for the day, Ivan took a solitary walk through the camp. As he passed near its edge, his brow twitched and a sudden sense of danger surged through him. In the next instant, he vanished from where he stood. Almost simultaneously, several blades shot through the air and buried themselves in the ground where he had been moments before.

Ivan had not even regained his footing when another series of sharp whistles came from behind him. As he dodged, flames suddenly erupted on all sides, blocking his escape. In the instant his movement faltered, blades pierced his right arm and left shoulder. Immediately, the metal embedded in his flesh began twisting and changing shape, transforming from blades into wire-like nets that spread deeper through his body, continuously piercing his flesh from within.

Enduring the excruciating pain, Ivan flung an Oxygen Sigil in one direction. Golden light flashed, and flowing runes appeared in the air. A scream immediately rang out from that direction before vanishing together with the glowing runes.

The moment he finished, Ivan dropped to his knees. The wire net inside his body was still spreading. Without hesitation, he shoved his fingers into the wound, seized the metal mesh, and ripped it bodily out of himself with strips of flesh still clinging to it. Blood sprayed everywhere, instantly staining his clothes red.

Everything happened within moments. Only after Ivan had torn the entire mesh from his body did the nearby soldiers realize something was wrong and rush over to support him.

Ivan panted violently, sweat soaking through the bandages over his face as his consciousness gradually blurred.

“Ivan, how are you?” Alvin asked anxiously as he helped him up.

Ivan clenched his teeth and forced out two words. “It’s poisoned.”

The moment the words left his mouth, Ivan lost consciousness.

“Get a doctor, now!” Alvin shouted to his companions while supporting Ivan.

The camp immediately descended into chaos.

Not far away, the soldiers found a Forge Wraith whose entire body had gone rigid. He lay unconscious on the ground, glowing runes covering his copper-colored skin.

Everyone was stunned. What exactly had Ivan thrown just now? With a single gesture, he had sealed a Forge Wraith completely. The weapon was astonishingly powerful.

Inside the tent, Alvin and the others watched anxiously as Ivan’s condition rapidly deteriorated. His skin gradually turned dark brown, while his blood changed from bright red to black. Within only a few minutes, his entire body looked as though it had been soaked in spoiled dye.

“What poison is this? Is there any way to cure it?” Alvin demanded when the doctor remained silent for too long.

“This is the deadly poison known as Wanton Slaughter.” The doctor hesitated. “It’s acting far too quickly. I’m afraid he may not survive long enough for us to prepare the antidote…”

“How is he?” Tomo asked as he hurried inside. Seeing everyone’s grim expressions, his heart sank.

“We don’t have a prepared antidote?” Sandy pressed, not even bothering to greet the commander.

“Wanton Slaughter is an extremely rare poison. We didn’t bring its antidote with us on this campaign.” The doctor stood and addressed them. “Find a priest as quickly as possible and see whether they can temporarily suppress the poison. We’ll begin preparing the antidote immediately.”

“I’ll do it.” A figure stepped out from behind Tomo.

Alvin and the others turned toward the voice and were astonished to discover that the newcomer was Shang Ke, the elf they had once met before.

“It’s you? You’re a priest?” Cassia exclaimed in delighted surprise.

Shang Ke ignored her and walked straight to the bedside. He gently took Ivan’s hand. Pale-green light flowed from where their hands touched before gradually spreading over Ivan’s body like a thin veil.

Shang Ke had actually arrived three days earlier and had been staying among the wounded while posing as a priest. The first injured person he treated had been Tomo, which was how he came to know the mercenary commander. When he heard that Ivan had been attacked, he followed Tomo here.

The instant Shang Ke entered the tent, he sensed the Wraith Jade’s seal weakening and the aura of the Fountain of Life slowly leaking outward. This confirmed once again that the Wraith Jade was hidden inside Ivan’s left eye—and that Ivan’s own life force was the source sustaining the seal. If he died, the Wraith Jade’s seal would loosen, after which completely breaking it would be effortless.

From this, it appeared that even the Forge Wraiths did not know the Wraith Jade was inside Ivan. Otherwise, they never would have sent someone to assassinate him.

Shang Ke stared down at the man on the bed, his gaze darkening. All he had to do was stop treating him. Ivan’s life would end, the seal could be broken, and the Fountain of Life would be released. Shang Ke’s mission would be completed, the elven race would be reborn, and the oppressed peoples of the continent would finally gain enough power to stand against the Forge Wraiths.

But how could Shang Ke possibly bear to watch him die? Shang Ke might already have prepared himself to make his own sacrifice, but Ivan’s life and death were not his to decide. If there was any possible way, he wanted this man to live.

Magical light illuminated the tent. As it flowed across Ivan’s body, his dark-brown skin gradually returned to its original bronze tone, while the wounds on his arm and shoulder slowly began to heal.

Although Shang Ke’s healing magic could not completely purge the poison, it was enough to preserve Ivan’s life. All that remained was to wait for the doctors to finish preparing the antidote.

“Incredible!” the doctor exclaimed. “You have the strongest healing ability of any elven priest I’ve ever seen.”

Shang Ke smiled and turned toward Tomo. “Commander Tomo, I’d like to stay and take care of Ivan.”

Tomo paused in surprise before nodding. “All right. I’ll leave Ivan in your care.”

After everyone left the tent, Shang Ke removed the bandages from Ivan’s face, stripped off his clothes, and began wiping his body clean.

When he reached Ivan’s waist, his wrist was suddenly caught. Shang Ke looked up and met a pair of golden eyes.

“Am I dreaming?” Ivan stared fixedly at the elf before him, his voice hoarse.

“Yes. You’re dreaming.” Shang Ke removed Ivan’s hand and continued wiping him down.

“I only have wet dreams.” Ivan glanced down at his completely naked body and stated the fact very seriously.

Shang Ke shot him a sidelong glance. “Go ahead, then. Show me how ‘wet’ you can make this dream.”

Ivan fell silent. Right now, he could not even lift his shoulder. The spirit might be willing, but the flesh was decidedly incapable.

A moment later, Ivan asked, “Keke, why are you here? What about the little elves?”

“I set up a maze ward around the forest. They’ll be safe.” Shang Ke paused, then added, “I was more worried about you, so I came to check on you.”

Tenderness filled Ivan’s eyes, and an uncontrollable smile curved his lips. But he quickly suppressed it and frowned. “It’s dangerous here. You should go back as soon as possible. You don’t need to worry about me.”

“Oh?” Shang Ke looked him up and down. “This is what you call ‘nothing to worry about’?”

Considering he was lying half-dead in bed, the claim was not particularly convincing. Ivan gloomily turned his face away.

Look at you, even you know how to feel embarrassed? Shang Ke laughed inwardly but decided not to further wound his fragile pride. He merely said, “Rest and recover. I’ll stay here with you.”

“Mm.” Ivan watched Shang Ke pull the blanket over him, his heart filled with indescribable happiness. The exhaustion accumulated over so many days turned into overwhelming drowsiness beneath the soothing presence of the elf.

Ivan closed his eyes in complete peace and quickly drifted into a comfortable sleep.

Elsewhere, a mixed-blood elf hesitantly said to Commander Tomo, “I think I sensed the aura of the Fountain of Life just now.”

“What?” Tomo was startled. “Where did you sense it?”

“Inside Ivan’s tent.” The mixed-blood elf looked toward Ivan’s tent and hesitated. “The aura disappeared while Shang Ke was treating Ivan. I suspect…”

“Suspect what?”

“That the Wraith Jade is on Ivan.”

Two days later, under Shang Ke’s attentive care, Ivan’s external injuries had mostly healed and scabbed over. Once the poison was removed from his body, he would essentially be recovered.

When Tomo entered the tent, he found Ivan sitting shirtless on the bed. The face usually hidden beneath bandages was now completely exposed, its twisting, intertwined snake-like markings looking particularly sinister. Shang Ke knelt halfway on the bed beside him, head lowered as he carefully dried Ivan’s hair. An almost tangible tenderness softened his beautiful profile, his attention completely focused as though this man were the only person in his world. An indescribable intimacy surrounded the two of them.

Tomo froze for a moment, his footsteps unconsciously slowing.

“Commander Tomo.” Shang Ke noticed him, stopped what he was doing, and greeted him with a smile.

Ivan merely gave him a slight nod.

“Ivan, how are you feeling? Has the poison spread any further?” Tomo asked as he approached.

“Much better. Thank you for asking.” Ivan’s gaze casually swept over the mixed-blood elf standing behind Tomo.

The mixed-blood elf glanced first at Shang Ke, then shifted his attention toward Ivan while quietly releasing the nature elements within his body.

Shang Ke’s eyes flickered as he looked toward the mixed-blood elf. The other man’s attention remained entirely on Ivan until he discovered that his power had been blocked less than two meters away from him. Surprise flashed across his face, and he turned to meet Shang Ke’s gaze.

The mixed-blood elf sensed an extraordinarily pure aura from Shang Ke, carrying the fresh fragrance of flowers and trees and the vitality of nature itself, irresistibly drawing others closer. Shang Ke had clearly already discovered something abnormal about Ivan, so why was he preventing anyone else from investigating? The Wraith Jade’s whereabouts concerned the future of the elven race—and indeed the entire continent. Even the slightest suspicion could not be ignored.

“Let me introduce him. This is Yao from the Holy Light Mercenary Company.” Tomo introduced the mixed-blood elf to Ivan and Shang Ke. “He also specializes in healing magic and is an excellent pharmacist. I asked him to examine you so that we can prepare the antidote more effectively.”

Ivan frowned. Didn’t they already start preparing the antidote two days ago? Why do they still need to examine me?

Although suspicious, he did not refuse.

Yao glanced at Shang Ke once more, then walked over to Ivan and placed his fingers on his wrist. Several strands of light flashed from his fingertips. In the next instant, however, Yao jerked his hand back as though he had been electrocuted and stared at Ivan in stunned uncertainty.

Previous Chapter ◊ Table of Content ◊ Next Chapter