Book 2 - Chapter 119

I had a gut feeling that he can do it. If anyone can pull out that sword, it's him. He had determination and was willing to risk it all to protect this realm. Not blindly following whatever rules or cultures set ahead, but also the willingness to embrace changes is probably what the sword is looking for.

All this is just my assumption, by the way, as I have no idea what the hell that sword is looking for. All I know is that I'm not so deluded into thinking that I'll be able to pull it out when I already have three legendary items of my own. And I know that I'm needed here. That ant— is strong. Possibly as strong as Horrus or close enough. It was pointless for soldiers to fight with this ant as they will only end up dying faster than a human stepping on ants. And it was also pointless to be wasting time on the massive bug when it is practically indestructible now. I sure hope it doesn't maintain its invulnerability even after we fell the Cosmic Tree. Ahh, no point in thinking about possibilities right now; let's just kill the ant first so that we can focus on the massive bug later.

I joined the fray and entered combat, summoning Inazuma with a snap of my fingers and stopping the ant from mercilessly killing another soldier. With my blade blocking its arm, I quickly shouted at the soldiers, warning them to back off from the ant in question.

I leapt back, placing some distance between me and the ant. My opponent is certainly cocky, as it didn't even bother being cautious and placing distance from me. It must be pretty confident that it is able to kill all of us easily since no one had given it any problems thus far.

Two person came and stood by my side while the others backed off. It was Noah and Violet who stood at the ready; my two future parents-in-law that I need to ensure that they stay alive.

"Hate to admit it, but this opponent is certainly out of our league. Will need to depend on you to lead us, Zen. I take it there's nothing we can do about that damn insect sucking on our Cosmic Tree. What idea had you conjured thus far?" asked Noah.

What indeed? Let's see, what do I still have left at my disposal? Hm, two more flame coating for Tengu-kaze, a couple of all stats potion, three more Lightning Strikes and Charges. Not favourable since we might have to deal with that massive bug later but I guess I don't have much of a choice. Evening has arrived and it'll take a few more hours before nightfall. No hint of a thunderstorm either where I can use it to my advantage. Damn it, perhaps I should had superheated the sky earlier.

"The Elementalist— had gone to retrieve the Vengeful Flame. Legend has it that it is extremely powerful and probably a match for the massive bug. None of our weapons or spells had worked on it, so we need something more powerful in order to kill it," I explained.

"The Vengeful Flame? All of us had tried to pull it out before, but none of us had ever succeeded. I'm surprised he suggested it considering our current situation. I would have disagreed, as it might harm the Cosmic Tree, but I guess we really don't have much of a choice now," he sighed.

"That's— kind of my Plan B. If the massive bug is able to resist something that even you all deemed as powerful, then we might have to hack the Cosmic Tree," I spoke seriously.

"W— what?! You— can't be serious? We can't do that! It is our duty to protect the tree no matter the cost. We must nottouch the tree. I will not let you— even if you're my future son-in-law," he gritted his teeth.

I glared at him and sighed. The ant was surprisingly kind enough to allow us to talk, but I'm definitely not in the mood to argue with Noah. I thought he was different when he was willing to bend the rules for his daughter. But it would seem that he's just as rigid as the rest of the elves.

"Listen, you can punish or shun me after this is over, but I will not sit by and allow that massive bug to do whatever it wants. We do not know how powerful that bug is going to become if it manages to absorb all the life-force of the Cosmic Tree. Take a look for yourself; the top of the tree is starting to dull, yet the bug is literally indestructible now. Just a fraction of the Cosmic Tree's power, and we already can't kill it. I will not stand by and allow a potential global threat to do occur without me doing something about it," I explained to him as best as I can.

"I understand your assessment, Zen, but under no circumstances are we allowed to destroy the Cosmic Tree. We brought it over from our realm to prove that we can prosper here. If we were to fell it, we will not be able to live here any longer. Our very existence is at stake here," he pressured me to reconsider.

"You're telling me that without this tree, all of you will perish? Bullshit! There are elves living in the East, away from the tree, and they are living fine there. Even your daughter is living there. This tree does not signify your existence here; it's your efforts! How do you think the elves came into this realm without the tree in the first place?! Look, I understand this tree is precious, but we've got no options here. I will not trade the lives of everyone in this realm for a tree that will be falling either way if we just sit and watch!" I warned him.

Noah wanted to retaliate but was cut off by Violet, who gave him a slap. Loud gasps could be heard all around us, but the ant gave a yawn. I guess its duty is just to protect that massive bug and nothing else.

"Noah dear, Zen is right. Try to understand what he's trying to tell us. You know very well that it's true. Why are you being so rigid-minded right now? I didn't marry a man who was only thinking about protecting the old ways. I remember being married to someone who was willing to compromise when we must," she poked his nose continuously.

"But dear— we might end up being shunned for the rest of our lives," he spoke softly.

"So what? You are a general! Start acting like one! Soldiers would be willing to die for you when you give the orders. They follow your every command because they believe in you. If anyone has any better ideas then speak up now! You think your trusted men will just abandon you when you are only doing what's right? How could you think so little of your men? I would rather live with our daughter in the East if it meant getting through that thick skull of yours," she pouted and folded her arms.

Noah wanted to say something but he ended up keeping quiet, perhaps contemplating on what his wife had just told him. I tried to push their interactions aside and focused on what I needed to do. I have no reason to indulge in their nonsense any longer when the whole realm is at stake. Fighting this ant without any direct support from a member of the Light guild is rather risky but, there isn't much of a choice for me. Instead of increasing our casualties, we should be finding the ant's weak point and strike it. But to do that, we need capable people to survive this ant long enough to look for a weakness.

I was about to charge ahead when someone grabbed my shoulder. It was Violet and she was smiling at me.

"Hang on there mister, I'm not letting you fight alone. I'll cover you," said Violet.

"You were done? I thought I shouldn't interrupt a lover's quarrel," I jested.

"Perhaps a young dashing human can replace that rigid old goat?" she chuckled loudly.

"No thanks, I'm gunning for your daughter instead," I laughed.

"Oh my, how bold of you to declare it so openly to her mother," she chuckled.

"Sigh, wished my wife was here. I would kill for any sort of blessings right now," I sighed.

"Well, as of luck, your wife isn't the only member of the Light guild in this world," she smirked and started chanting something that sounded awfully familiar.

"Light Blessing," she casted with a smirk.

Hot damn, Violet is a member of the Light guild? Since when was she an adventurer?

"And here I thought all elves would had opted to be part of the Elemental guild instead. Yet you decided to follow the Light guild instead, how surprising," I stared at her with amazement.

She just smiled and turned her focus on the ant in question, and so did I. I took point and attacked the ant, keeping an eye for any sudden movements and looking for possible weak-points that we can exploit. The ant blocked my attack with ease but I continued striking it cautiously. Once again, I wished Rose was here as she had a knack for spotting weak-points better than me.

A couple of throwing needles flew past me and targeted the ant's eye but it swiped those away with ease. The ant seems to be casually fighting with us as though it wanted to stall for time, but I'm not going to allow their plan to succeed so easily.

I pushed the attack, striking with precision and speed on various parts, but the ant continued to avoid or block all of it with ease, even with Violet attacking from its blind spots. It was not long before I hatched a plan to fake my own clumsiness, giving it an opportunity to strike me. All I need to do is make it believable enough for me to fool it.

There, a branch on the ground that might trip me. All I got to do is— what? Where did it go? It disappeared from my eyes in an instant. Shit, is it aiming for my weak spots now?!

"You bore me, Hawthorn. I expected more of you," spoke a voice behind me, and I instinctively moved my blade over my shoulder to block whatever incoming attack was coming from behind.

A loud pinging clash erupted near my ear as the ant's claw struck something metallic. I quickly took a glance behind, fully expecting my blade to block the claws, but it was a shiny short blade instead that had blocked it. Noah finally took action and joined the fray. About time the General took the stage.

"I'm not exactly ecstatic with your plan but I do understand we don't have much in terms of options now," he gritted his teeth as he held back against the claws of the ant.

"Sorry if you think that I'm being disrespectful towards the elven culture, but I've already weighed all the options we have. Unfortunately, there aren't many in the list. You brought me here for a reason, and I believe it's to make the difficult choices for you," I told him.

"Let's— just get this over with, and we'll deal with the consequences after. I'll take point. You and Violet can cover me," he sighed.

"Are you sure? This ant isn't to be messed with. That short blade of yours is a little risky to face it up close against such an unpredictable opponent," I informed him.

"Now that's where you're wrong. You need to be more observant, Zen. You should had noticed that the blade is not meant to be a sword," he smirked as he pulled on the hilt of the short blade he was holding.

The hilt started to extend further and further until it became a spear. These two parents-in-law of mine, how sneaky of them not to join the Elemental guild instead.

"One joining the Light while the other joined the Dragon guild. Two naughty elves that deferred from the norm," I smirked at both of them.

"From everything we had spoken thus far, you should had realised that we are not your typical elves. Just surprised this husband of mine is still rigid when it comes to a few things," sighed Violet.

"Yet your daughter somehow followed the typical elven route by joining the Elemental guild. What would your daughter say when her parents tried so hard to be different, but their offspring ended up following the norm?" I started laughing.

"Enough chit-chat. Time to get rid of this annoying ant. It had killed too many of my soldiers," said Noah as he slammed his spear on the ground.

I took a peak towards the sky only to realised that night was approaching soon. Perfect. When darkness arrives, the insects shall know fear from a member of the Great Power. I shall put what I had learned from training with Kuchisabishii-sama to good use.