Chapter 324 – The Collapse of the Cradle (9)

The white mist, mingling with the moonlight, met the clouds and enshrouded the surroundings.

-Whoosh!

Showers of droplets fell.

A sky filled with yellow stars. Floating droplets of liquid in the air gradually moistened the forest path within the Cradle.

The leaves of the bushes began to wither.

-Crackle!

The dried and twisted bark started to split. One by one, the stripped trees bowed their heads, revealing the entirety of the Cradle. The priests within showed belated signs of movement.

Defoliants.
Disaster of the forest.

-Clink.

The camera, feebly adrift in the air, plunged and became embedded in the muddy ground.

[Whirr-Whirr.]

A flickering, dim lens light captured the surroundings from within the mud.

[Screams of terror!]
[Save, save me!]

The melting figures shrieked in horror.

Countless trees in the forest trembled haphazardly.

A black shadow undulating like tentacles. Torn branches and dissolving leaves.

The camera that captured the sight gradually lost its light along with the trees.

-Jerbuck.

“Ah.”

A woman with long red hair stepped onto the lifeless ground. The desperate contortions of the trees reflected in her eyes.

Hong-Yeon, her mouth agape, couldn’t speak for a long while.

“…Ha, hahaha.”

Disgust and contempt. A fusion of emotions, igniting her eyes with a burning crimson hue. A vibrant red magic surged through her entire body.

“Oh.”

The world, after all these years, was just as she had expected.

Life, or whatever it was. Amidst the ashes, with nothing left to protect. Until she herself was consumed by the flames, this world would continue-

“…”

-Knock.

It was a fleeting, blurred world.

Rainwater streamed down Hong-Yeon’s eyes.

* * * * * * * * *

“It’s coming.”

– Chijijijik.

The walkie-talkie beside me vibrates intensely.

I couldn’t respond since I was in the midst of a battle. One thing is certain: the invasion of the cradle has just commenced.

– Wheeying!

“Everyone, come out!”

As the siren installed within the hotel resonates, the characters I had previously given orders to start moving.

The voice, amplified by magic, was so loud that even I, who had fallen quite far away, felt the urge to cover my ears.

“Should I move?”

Flower’s objective is not the hotel. The goal is to eliminate the eastern tree living quarters, the foundation, the holy ground, the candidates for the World Tree, and many other trees.

World Trees and trees reside in the basement of the hotel, but only a very few of them.

Our objective is to safely escort the civilians residing in the hotel up the mountain.

“Hey.”

As I raise my fist, chunks of flesh scatter onto the floor. I turn away, leaving the headless woman’s corpse behind.

In the direction of my gaze, a blood-drenched woman glares at this scene.

“… King Mokryeong.”

“Do you recognize me?”

Mahogany. A figure known to hail from the Caribbean Islands.

“How did you even get here…?”

“You don’t need to know.”

I extract the broken blade lodged in my back.

The moment the freed national tree exerts its full power, even I cannot easily secure victory. Thus, I rendered it combat-incapable before it could employ its lignification.

“Why do you side with the World Tree?”

Mahogany, her limbs crushed, screams in anger.

“What?”

“Why are you aiding such wretched beings? Why?”

Right before death, he releases a resentful retort.

-Jerbuck.

I rise from my seat and take a step closer.
Footprints are imprinted in the pool of blood.

For a moment, fear crosses her once-confident face.

“…Ignorant fool. Imbecile. Can’t you think of a single reason why I, a wooden man, am helping Flower?”

I subtly lift my foot.

“Use your head to think!”
“…….”
“The world is rotten. Don’t you know, King Mokryeong?!”

He screams with contempt-filled voice till the end.

His throat splits open, blood mixed within. Mahogany, who had been gasping through her parched lips, shakes her disheveled hair and tightly closes her eyes.

“…Damn it all.”

I lift my foot a little higher.

“Even now-“

-Kwajik!

Thud.

I hurriedly exit the room.
My body is full of minor wounds.

Since Sansuyu’s treatment was interrupted partway through, the power of healing now overflows within her.

In the meantime, as I healed Sansuyu, my own abilities also grew. Even without actively using my powers, my body naturally recuperated.

The area where the bone had been exposed from a sword strike swiftly regrew flesh and returned to normal.

I leaned against the door for a moment, spreading my mana to explore the surrounding area.

“The flower magic was quite conspicuous, making it easy to find.”

The general office.

This is the place where one can control the hotel’s entrances, servers, and security artifacts. Sensing a faint trace of magic, I entered without hesitation.

I had assumed it was a covert operation, but perhaps Flower intended to see this through to the end. For now, I opened all the doors.

Given the current situation where it’s impossible to distinguish friend from foe, there’s no real advantage in attempting any manipulation.

“Since I haven’t seized control of the system, it’s likely they’ll come this way.”

*Thump-thump-thump!*

As expected.

[Siheon?]
“Yes, wise one.”
[Ah, I can hear you.]

A voice echoed in my head. Unfazed, I calmly replied to the sage who had communicated with me directly.

[The response is good, so the cadets are just coming in now.]
“Did any skirmishes occur?”
[About two places. Should I relay the coordinates now?]
“For now, I plan to monitor the situation from the control room.”

Originally, it would have been Marronnier’s role to issue commands when unforeseen events occurred.

However, unpredictable situations can arise.

[Are you listening, brother?]
“Yes.”
[It’s safe from the base of the mountain to the airport. There are quite a few mages up there. Soo-yeon and Saku went to the hotel entrance. It seems most of them will be sufficiently blocked.]
“What about the national tree?”
[I don’t see it yet. It seems to be heading back to the Foundation. What about you?]
“Two guys from the control room. One was a national tree.”
[Okay. Are you planning to guard that area?]
“Yes.”

Tae-yang stepped forward, filling the void left by Marronnier’s absence.

The national leaders must have received quite a bit of training for situations like this. They’re moving better than I expected.

‘Well, they would be trained to handle almost any situation. It’d be strange if they faltered.’

Civilian lives are the top priority.
It wasn’t just lip service when I always said that.

– Thump-thump-thump-thump!

The sound of footsteps echoing from the hallway.
Soon, a group of individuals wearing robes starts to swarm in.

[Brother, what will you do with that person?]

Marronnier.

– Tat-tat-tat-tat!

[If you make a mistake, your true identity might be revealed, brother.]

A disciple, gripping his sword, approaches with nimble steps.
The magical energy on the blade gleamed as if it could sever my neck at any moment.

“Heugh!”

He lets out a battle cry and swings his sword at me.
I stepped forward and used my magic to survey the surrounding area.

Four people approaching from the front.

Two individuals casting spells from behind.

Observing the dense lines of magical energy, they appear to be elusive assistant mages.

“I’ll handle it.”

After responding suitably to Tae-yang’s words, I set my feet into motion.

Dodging the blade, I strike the opponent’s abdomen. Bones and entrails crumble. I dig into the inflicted wound and swing the foe as if they were a corpse.

– Kwajik!

The second priest is thrust to the ground alongside the body. I charge forward.

No need for evasion. My entire body cloaked in black magic, I confront the approaching sword head-on.

– Jjaeng!

The enemy’s sword, piercing my shoulder, emits a metallic sound as it splits in half.

“…Ugh!”
“Kahak!”

Without allowing time for realization, I finish them off and proceed further.

Sensing the unusual energy, the two mages retract their staffs. They seem ready to flee at any moment.

I transform the mistletoe I’d been holding at my wrist into a small dagger and envelop it in magical power.

With all his strength, he unleashed the dagger.

*Slash!*

The vicious sound of flesh being torn apart. The thin protective barrier proved utterly ineffective. As the last two collapsed with swords impaled in their heads and necks, I summoned the mistletoe once more, enfolding it around my fist. The black liquid, centered on my right arm, assumed the shape of a gauntlet.

I picked up the radio and called for Tae-yang.

“Send Aori to the control room.”

*Crackle.*

[Acknowledged.]

It was impossible not to expect the appearance of the national tree.

If Mahogany had intended to destroy the Foundation, the airport, or the sacred grounds, she wouldn’t have infiltrated this place. She aimed to seize control of the hotel, revealing her intention to inflict civilian casualties. Those tasked with protecting civilians were now planning to kill the apprentices.

*Boom!*

A massive explosion resounded from the hotel’s first floor. Simultaneously, Aori, who had ascended using her magical powers, charged towards me, oblivious to the corpses that surrounded her.

It seemed that my body was brimming with blood, likely due to the recent battle.

“Your Majesty, should I guard this spot?”
“Yes. Step aside when those who aren’t Flowers approach. You can distinguish that much, right?”

Aori nodded in response.

There were numerous types of artifacts, and their contents were unknown to anyone except those involved, rendering them untouchable. After receiving a brief update from Aori about the situation outside, I dashed toward the hotel’s exit.

‘Fortunately, the defoliant ceased dispersing midway through.’

The hotel remained unexposed to the defoliant. Although I had anticipated and prepared sufficiently, the situation was still quite volatile.

The upper section of the hotel, devoid of guest rooms, was filled with Flowers, guards, and the corpses of hunters.

*Ta-da-da-da-da!*

The sound of echoing footsteps. I readied my magic in advance.

A spinning wind arrow imbued with dark magic. I unleashed the windmill arrow at just the right moment.

*Kwaang!*

The Flower met their end, screaming without even realizing they had been attacked.

The floor gave way and tumbled into the corridor below.

‘Did they enter using spatial magic?’

Naturally, the coordinates would be known. There are countless methods to acquire artifacts.

Pausing momentarily, I addressed Lucy.

“Lucy.”

“Where is the location?”

Lucy’s voice, filled with uncertainty, reverberated.

<...It seems to be awaiting your arrival, Master.>

* * * * * * * *

[Chirp! Chirp!]

A winged wooden barbet soared through the sky, screeching at the top of its lungs.

[Everyone, this way!]

Restaurant chefs, bartenders, and numerous service workers were employed for the leisure of the apprentices. Apart from the participants in the forest guardian selection competition, many civilians were residing in the area.

If half of the island is dedicated to the “Cradle Foundation,” the other half contains buildings for minimal living. Excluding hotels, there are many people to seek out.

Numerous individuals began to gather in one location.

“Kyaaaaaaah!”

The confusion escalates nonetheless. Many, caught in panic, scream.

Some tear at their hair or shout in disbelief. Several people crumble to the ground, weeping because they don’t want to die.

It was only natural. There is no way for ‘humans’ to escape from the Cradle. It’s uncertain whether priests or paladins are nearby, and only a few hunters heading toward the top are noticeable. They’re not known for assisting civilians.

Most of them are aware.

They know that the World Tree holds no concern for humans or wooden beings. While numerous World Trees and their wooden counterparts are transported to other sacred places through artifacts, civilians remain exposed to the resulting damage.

‘The response is too late.’

Soo-yeon set the pristine white sword on the ground and bit her lower lip.

‘Even if it’s sudden… there’s no way it could be this late.’

Something had happened.
There must be a fatal error in the system governing the cradle’s rotation.

– Kreurreuk.

Wolves, having lost their reason, and the monsters of the dungeon began to swarm one by one.

Due to the nature of the magical energy-rich cradle terrain, there were numerous dungeons. The first trial also involved utilizing these dungeons.

In other words, even the control of the dungeons had fallen into Flower’s hands. Soo-yeon surmised that the absence of enough paladins and hunters was due to the effort to reclaim vital locations that had been seized.

‘But it’s too late.’

Latecomers who finally grasped the situation, joined in.
Civilians were fully secured.

With a few righteous cadets joining as well, a protective formation was established to guard the civilians along the mountain path.

Unless a subordinate directly under the executive’s command appears, or a treacherous subject emerges, there are no variables.

It was bound to happen.

-Quaaaaaang!

A deafening explosion resounded.

A human form plummeted from the sky, hitting the ground with a thud. A whirlwind of dust and droplets of blood ensued.

As the cloud of dirt dissipated, a woman staggered to her feet from within.

“…Saku?”

A magical tail materialized from her buttocks. Ears perked up amidst her hair.

Her hands and feet bore protruding claws. Cherry blossoms swirled around her like a vortex.

Saku’s body was battered and bloodied. Unable to discern Soo-yeon’s location, she continuously guarded against a speck in the sky. Before long, a woman donning a fox mask fell from that very spot.

– Ugh!

A surge of magic resounded.

The pressure emanating from the ground signaled that this was no ordinary foe.

Soo-yeon also readied herself to move, drawing out her mana.

Saku faced a woman.

“What…?”

Saku’s eyes widened in disbelief at the current situation. Emptiness was visible in her gaze.

“Why? Why… are you here? Sister?”

Two cherry trees each fluttered their own flowers, as if to show off that one’s side was shining brighter than the other’s.

Soo-yeon frowned upon seeing the woman wearing a fox mask who had suddenly appeared.

‘That person.’

*Bang!*

Another explosion sounded. Soo-yeon’s body twisted grotesquely, blocking the attack from behind.

One by one, they appeared. A man with his white hair swept back was looking at her with an excited face, making no effort to hide his hostility.

China’s national tree, Plum. Soo-yeon felt a shiver run down her spine.

An aura that seemed to suppress the surrounding air.

I nearly buckled to my knees under a pressure starkly different from the trials I had faced before.

The disparity in skill was so palpable, it made me forget to breathe. Could we possibly win if we both unleash our full strength? Even if we exploit our powers to the utmost…

‘…Pull yourself together.’

I steady my sword.

– Drip.

Sweat falls from my chin.

“A wench worth killing, finally found.”

Plum utters dispassionately. Clenching her teeth, Soo-yeon locks eyes with Plum. The two white magics surge in separate directions.