Prologue: The Alternation of Destruction and Hope

(Use a rich chapter to tell everyone about the background of the story, or you can skip this chapter and continue to read the story I bring to you. I hope you will like the world I describe.)

Spring.

Spring has arrived.

Regardless of the dimension or continent, spring is a season that brings joy to most races, especially on the legendary continent of Norland. It is a magical land, a beautiful land, vast beyond belief, and fertile and rich to an astonishing degree.

If the continent of Norland is a garment adorned with jewels and rarities, then the Eternal Night Forest, stretching thousands of kilometers, is merely a beautiful emerald on its hem, not the largest or the most beautiful one. However, there are legends that the true area of the Eternal Night Forest is far larger than what is shown on maps, and it is said that this forest hides more than one demiplane, with the legendary Silver Moon Elf's royal court located at its center. But legends are merely legends, and apart from the Silver Moon Elves, no humans or other races have entered the elf royal court. Perhaps there have been a few individuals over the long period of time, but they obviously chose to keep the secret.

Not far from the Eternal Night Forest, a small and ordinary merchant troupe is advancing. The troupe consists of more than ten carriages and less than twenty guards, moving at a pace that is not hurried at all, unusual for merchants who believe time is money.

This season is the most beautiful and refreshing on the continent. The warm wind carries the fragrance of various seasonal flowers, gently blowing across the land and dispelling the fatigue of people's bodies and minds. The scale of the merchant troupe is not large, and the cargo loaded on the carriages is not heavy. Experienced individuals can see at a glance that the carriages are loaded with specialties from the Eternal Night Forest: magical beast fur, meat, various materials, and rare wood. Compared to the cargo carried by the merchant troupe, the scale of the guards seems somewhat extravagant. All twenty guards are young, in the prime age for warriors. Their finely crafted armor, uniform weapons, and mounts that meet the standard of warhorses all indicate that they are not easily provoked. The owners of excellent equipment usually possess corresponding martial strength. Perhaps the guards are still too young, but it is clear that their master is not lacking in money. In the social rules of this dimension, money and strength are closely related.

The floral emblem on the carriages represents nobility. Scholars proficient in heraldry will surely recognize the significance of the three quails in the center of the emblem. This is a family with a history of at least four hundred years, sufficiently ancient and having achieved honors in past wars. The history represented by the emblem is not particularly illustrious, but the current situation indicates that this family has not declined.

Nearby bandit groups view the merchant troupe from another perspective: the guards' equipment is too good, sufficient to compensate for possible gaps in martial skills. Defeating them would necessarily entail a costly price, but the limited gains would be difficult to compensate for the losses. This is the logic of bandits; shiny equipment has a greater impact on their judgment than inherent martial strength.

So, as they traveled, this small merchant troupe did not encounter a single unsuspecting bandit group.

One of the girls in the troupe wore fitting light armor, with beautiful chestnut-colored long hair tied behind her head. Her lively eyes, glancing around, appeared vibrant and jumped with childlike purity and innocence. However, the double-handed greatsword hanging by her horse's side indicated that she might not be as harmless as she appeared. She yawned widely, looked around, and said somewhat bored, "It's so quiet... Why aren't there any bandit groups? Have they all become smarter?"

Beside her was another girl, slightly older, who heard her words and smiled, saying, "The bandit groups that weren't smart have all been wiped out!"

The younger girl was quite unconvinced: "But aren't there any guys with a bit of courage?"

"Bandits with courage die faster."

The younger girl was speechless, pouted her little mouth, and hummed, "Eliya sister, I can never argue with you anyway."

This girl named Eliya was called Eliya Silver Moon. She wore a plain robe, common attire for magic apprentices or low-level magicians, with a simple style and no obvious magical accessories. She had dark long hair casually tied behind her, with several strands hanging along her cheeks and falling to her chest, outlining her slender face. Her appearance was not particularly outstanding, but her serene demeanor always unconsciously drew people's gaze. Eliya obviously liked the younger girl and, seeing her pouting, comforted her with jokes, and a few words made the younger girl radiant.

Suddenly, the sound of galloping hoofbeats erupted from behind the merchant caravan, making the guards instantly alert. Although the carriages did not stop, the guards' hands were already near their weapons. This place belonged to the territory of Viscount Anxic, where the viscount had made relentless efforts to combat bandit groups, so it was quite safe. However, the guards were well-trained and did not let their vigilance lapse due to this.

The hoofbeats were like thunder!

Yet, through the rolling dust and smoke, only one rider emerged. It was a man with a very rugged appearance, his untidy hair tied with a red cloth. Surprisingly, he wore leather armor without an underlying linen shirt, baring his chest with thick chest hair. It was unclear whether he was truly rugged or simply flaunting his muscular and hairy physique. The man rode a black warhorse, much taller than ordinary military horses, clearly possessing a magical beast's bloodline. The rider and horse galloped as if flying, yet their momentum was akin to a thousand armies!

Stimulated by the knight's aura, the faces of several guards changed instantly, and they involuntarily tightened their grips on their sword handles. Some even subconsciously drew their long swords halfway out! The blade that emerged from the sheath was shiny and bright, clearly a skillfully crafted magical weapon. The value of such a long sword alone surpassed that of an entire carriage filled with ordinary magical beast fur.

With a clang, the greatsword beside the horse of the girl with a horse's tail automatically leaped into her hand. Her eyes sparkled as she stared at the approaching knight, shouting, "A bandit?!"

"Don't be foolish!" Eliya stopped the eager girl and signaled the guards to clear the center of the road. A few guards showed displeasure but silently turned their horses' heads, making way for the road.

The knight galloped past the caravan like a storm, with the rider fierce as a tiger and the horse majestic as a dragon. As they crossed paths, the gust of wind they brought lifted Eliya Silvermoon's flowing long hair.

After galloping tens of meters away, the black warhorse suddenly reared up, spun around a few times in place, and when the rider faced the merchant caravan again, he shouted, "Hey, pretty lady! My name is Gavin Warsong!"

With a roar, the warhorse turned and landed on its four legs, galloping away again like the wind and thunder, leaving the caravan members standing in place, stunned.

"Eliya sister, is he trying to flirt with you?" the girl said after a long silence.

"Xi, he's talking to you."

"No, he was clearly looking at you..." Before the girl could finish, Eliya flicked her fingertips, conjuring a small whirlwind that struck the girl's horse's rump. Thus, the warhorse let out a long neigh and carried the reluctant girl away.

Apart from this small interlude, nothing else happened. The caravan arrived at the predetermined campsite, Rudwick Town, at dusk and prepared to spend the night there.

Rudwick Town was small, with only one main road running through it and several alleys crisscrossing it. The native population was just a few hundred, but because it was located between Viscount Anxic's territory and the Eternal Night Forest, there was a lot of commerce, making it quite prosperous. There were disproportionately many inns, taverns, weapon shops, magic item shops, and magical beast fur shops in the town. However, the locally produced strong liquor was the most popular among mercenaries.

As night fell, the town was brilliantly lit, and even the wind carried the aroma of food and drink. Dinner time was the most relaxing moment for people who had worked hard all day. In the hall of the inn, Eliya and Xi occupied a table, while the guards and other caravan members sat separately. However, the restaurant in this inn was quite large, and even with dozens of people, they only occupied a small portion of it, while the remaining seats were filled by other merchant groups and mercenaries.

Near the bar counter in the restaurant, three bards were performing. Two of them played guitars, while the middle one, who was somewhat older, rhythmically beat a hand drum and recited the epic tale of the Black Knight King, Alexander. The and raspy singing, the powerful drumbeats, the exotic music, and the thrilling story together formed a unique charm. Although the story had been sung for many years, people still listened to it with rapt attention. Tankards of strong liquor were brought up, consumed, injected into their veins, mixed into their blood, and then boiled up to their heads. In their tipsy state, the rhythm of the hand drum gradually captivated everyone's heart. Even Eliya and Xi were listening intently.

At this moment, the sound of thundering hoofbeats resonated outside the door, only to halt abruptly as a formidable man strode into the hall. So tall was he that he had to duck slightly to squeeze through the entrance. Scanning the room, his eyes suddenly lit up, and he strode confidently towards Eliya and Xi, completely ignoring the murderous glares of the guards. He sat down heavily at the table, grinned widely, and stared fixedly at Eliya as if no one else was present, saying, "Hey, beautiful lady, we meet again! I'm Gavin Warsong! You can call me Gavin."

Now it was clear to see that he was a rugged and flamboyant man, his face and tough, his lines hard as if forged from metal. Although his thick mustache, as stiff as steel needles, densely covered his upper lip, it was evident that he was still quite young. And those eyes, pure and clear like two deep green gemstones, seemed to emanate a translucent glow when gazed upon for too long. His skin was dark, and a faint red scar ran diagonally from the corner of his eye across his left cheek. This recent wound, instead of detracting from his sculpted appearance, added a touch of masculine charm to Gavin Warsong. The leather armor on his body was not of high quality, showing signs of wear and tear, with several scratches yet to be repaired.

Xi's eyes sparkled as she stared unabashedly at Gavin, asking, "A thief?"

"An adventurer," he replied.

"How boring!" Xi was disappointed. However, she didn't give up and continued to ask, "Then why are you stalking us?"

Gavin grinned, pointing at Eliya and saying, "Because I like her!"

"Turns out you're just a lecher!" Xi looked disappointed.

Eliya sat calmly, but behind her, a clang of metal sounded as the guards, each with a look of anger, drew their weapons. With their swords unsheathed, the aura of the young guards changed instantly, emanating a chilling and murderous presence. The temperature in the dining room dropped abruptly, and the other mercenaries who had been chatting noisily nearby gradually fell silent, looking at them with surprise and suspicion. Having adventured for years, they understood what this murderous aura meant. These guards were not only skilled but had truly killed people, their true strength far exceeding their youthful appearance!

Eliya, with a slight frown, looked at Gavin with her pale blue eyes, not avoiding his fiery gaze. She raised her hand slightly, and the guards their murderous intent, sheathing their swords and sitting down silently. However, dozens of cold, icy stares remained fixed on Gavin. If he made any unusual move, over ten swords would pierce his body in an instant.

Eliya said calmly, "I dislike meaningless entanglements. Pursuing me like this will lead to nothing."

Gavin chuckled, saying, "I like you, and you'll fall for me! It's what the prophecy says."

"You say you like me because of a prophecy?" Eliya's expression and tone remained calm, and she didn't even ask where the prophecy came from.

"The latter part is the prophecy, but the former isn't. I saw you and fell for you, as simple as that."

"Who's prophecy?"

"Mine!"

Eliya sighed helplessly. If Gavin's unconventional actions before had sparked a slight curiosity in her to investigate the reasons, now she was almost certain that Gavin Warsong was a hooligan. It was only because his eyes were so pure that she had refrained from ordering the guards to drive him away. However, his antics were gradually wearing down her patience.

Xi became excited again and interjected, "Alright, since you like Eliya sister, you should show it! Why not buy us a drink?"

Before Eliya Silvermoon could object, Gavin Warsong pulled out his money pouch and dumped the coins onto the table, pointing to the merchant group and saying loudly, "Hey, boss! I'll pay for everyone here to have a glass of... uh, not grape wine, but ale instead..."

The amount of money Gavin poured out was not small, but most of it was copper coins, with only a few silver coins and no gold coins in sight. This money was not enough for the expensive grape liquor, let alone a glass of ale for everyone. Gavin scratched his hair, grinning awkwardly, and said, "Well... I just started adventuring and haven't earned much yet..."

Many in the dining room laughed. Adventuring life was dull and dangerous, and such a farce was a rare source of entertainment. The guards' faces looked even worse.

Xi seemed even more interested in Gavin: "I'm prettier than Elder Sister Eliya, and I have a better body. Why don't you like me?"

Xi was vibrant and a half-head taller than Eliya. Due to her martial arts training, her body was as graceful and dangerously enticing as a leopard, making her significantly more attractive to men.

"This... liking someone doesn't need a reason. I saw her, and I liked her," Gavin replied, scratching his head.

Xi wasn't going to let him off the hook: "Then tell me what skills you have that could match up to my Elder Sister Eliya!"

"Look, I'm a noble!" Gavin Battlecry pulled out a coat of arms from his pocket. The patterns on it were somewhat blurry, but it was still recognizable as a very old artifact. In the current continent, wherever there were humans, status was extremely important, and many rights were exclusive to nobles.

"Where is your castle? How many subjects do you have?" These were the hallmarks of a noble's strength.

Gavin's face reddened rarely, "The ancestral castle... was sold off generations ago. As for myself, I don't have the right of inheritance yet." This was a tactful way of saying that this noble family had long been in decline, possibly losing their traditional territories, belonging to the displaced nobles, and moreover, Gavin Battlecry didn't have the right of inheritance.

"What else!"

"I'm a third-level warrior and haven't chosen a path for advancement," Gavin showed off his muscular arms and rock-like pectorals. Unfortunately, this didn't mean much. At higher warrior levels, strength wasn't measured by muscles.

Xi sneered, "Third-level warrior! They're everywhere."

"That's different! I'm a prodigy who can use magical tattoo constructs! Look here!" Gavin extended his arm, removing his armguard. On his forearm was a vividly tattooed pattern of a buffalo. This wasn't a simple tattoo but a magical tattoo construct with magic power, equivalent to equipping a miniature magic array on the owner, which could provide powerful attribute bonuses or strong skills. Whether one possessed magical tattoo constructs was also a hallmark distinguishing great strength. Magical tattoo constructs were extremely rare, not only because of their power but also because magical tattoo artists were scarce. One out of every two people could bear a magical tattoo construct, yet among hundreds of people, one couldn't find a single individual who truly possessed one.

"It's just the power of a buffalo, nothing rare. Is this called being a prodigy?" Xi was obviously knowledgeable and immediately recognized the function of the magical tattoo construct on Gavin's arm. The power of a buffalo provided warriors with strength bonuses, very practical and one of the most common magical tattoos. Eliya's gaze lingered on Gavin's arm for a moment before she frowned in thought.

Gavin calmly put on his armguard and said, "I don't have the money to load a better magical tattoo construct. But once I discover some ruins or kill a high-level magical beast, I'll have money. Look at my body; it can bear four magical tattoo constructs."

"That's somewhat acceptable!" Xi was barely satisfied. Besides attributes and profession, a person's talent was also judged by the maximum number of magical tattoo constructs they could bear. Most professionals could only bear one magical tattoo construct in their lifetime, and Gavin could bear four, which was already considered quite good, meaning more attribute bonuses or additional powerful skills compared to ordinary professionals.

Since there was no further conflict here, the attention of the others in the bar gradually shifted away. The minstrel's singing resumed, with the strong and deep hand drum beats complementing the rich and mellow liquor. Xi quickly became more familiar with Gavin Battlecry, constantly exchanging various adventure insights while drinking more and more. In fact, she was just a child on her first long journey, and Gavin had rich adventure experiences. His stories made Xi's eyes sparkle.

In the subsequent time, the atmosphere in the restaurant remained excellent, lively enough without any unpleasant incidents like fights or trouble. When the late-night crowd finally dispersed, no one knew how much of the owner's cellar had been consumed. Just look at the satisfied smile of the old man behind the counter, and it was very illustrative. Even Xi was swaying and could barely stand, eventually being dragged back by Eliya.

The next morning, the merchant group set off as usual. When they were leaving the inn, they suddenly saw Gavin, who had already risen, wearing coarse cloth and brushing horses in the stable, doing the work that only servants would do.

"Gavin, what are you doing?" Xi called out loudly.

"I don't have enough money to pay for the drinks and the rent. I have no choice but to work off my debt!" Gavin's voice was loud and sunny. Even though he was doing servant's work as a noble, he didn't feel embarrassed at all. His movements were skilled and serious, and the horses under his care became shiny.

Xi vaguely remembered that it seemed like all the drinks from last night were charged to Gavin. She immediately burst into laughter, told Gavin to enjoy the fun of working, and rode off. The merchant troupe rolled on, and Eliya suddenly turned back to see the tall and majestic figure in the stable still waving goodbye to her.

The merchant troupe traveled northeast along the avenue, leaving Viscount Ansik's territory, crossing through Count Bonan's territory, and entering Count Tudom's territory. Half a month had passed, and the journey was peaceful. They had not encountered the bandit group that Xi had been expecting, but they had encountered Gavin Warsong twice. He chased after the merchant troupe, told adventure stories to Xi and Eliya, invited the guards to drink, and then stayed to work at the inn to pay off his debt. Both times were the same. Each time after inviting Xi and the merchant troupe, Gavin had to do three to five days of hard labor. This area was very peaceful and safe, and there were almost no opportunities for adventurers to earn money. Xi seemed to have no idea about the size of Gavin's wallet. She always drank until she couldn't walk and then charged the bill to Gavin.

"This is punishment for him always pestering you!" Xi said to Eliya with a grin one time. Eliya just shook her head and didn't say much.

The merchant troupe continued to move forward like this, replenishing food and water at each stop. However, the cargo on the cart had never increased or decreased; it was still the specialties from the Forest of Eternal Night. Every few days, Gavin would inevitably appear. When the guards heard the thunderous hoofbeats and hearty laughter, they knew he had arrived and that he had just paid off his debt. If Gavin was late by a day, the guards would even feel that something was missing.

Two months had passed, and Gavin had invited the people in the merchant troupe to drink six times. Everyone knew that except for those six days, he was doing hard labor to earn money. No, perhaps he was also working during those six days. Even the guards who initially disliked him felt a little sympathetic, but Xi always grinned and then charged the hefty bill to Gavin.

For two whole months, Eliya and Gavin had exchanged no more than twenty sentences. However, the intense heat in his eyes made Eliya gradually feel unbearable.

The journey was peaceful, yet not peaceful.

This was Count's territory, part of the Holy Alliance Empire. Among the human forces on the entire Noland continent, the Holy Alliance Empire was also a giant. Compared to traditional empires, the Holy Alliance was more like a consortium of large and small nobles, with the emperor being just the largest and most powerful among them. Less than three thousand kilometers ahead of the merchant troupe, they could reach the capital of the Holy Alliance, the legendary city on the continent, Faust.

The merchant troupe slowly entered the town of Neufort in Count's territory, which was the designated campsite on the route. However, when entering Neufort, they encountered more than ten knights escorting a magician rushing out of the town. The road leading into and out of the town was filled with travelers, and high-speed horseback riding was very dangerous. The knights' sky-blue cloaks were embroidered with Count's insignia, which was very eye-catching from a distance. Travelers who often traveled on this trade route all made way. The knights' horsemanship was also very skilled. They maneuvered their steeds to avoid people who couldn't dodge in time without reducing their speed.

As they passed the merchant troupe, the magician on horseback suddenly exclaimed and turned to stare fixedly at Xi and Eliya. This was a middle-aged magician who was very thin, with a greenish-black complexion, perhaps due to the deposition of toxins from spending years in a magic laboratory. His pupils were cloudy, but his gloomy gaze made people feel cold without reason. His magician's robe was exceptionally, adorned with intricate patterns. They were not decorations but magical patterns produced by solidified magic. Such a magician's robe could only be equipment possessed by a grand mage of level nine or above.

The cavalcade quickly disappeared on the main road, but the magician's gloomy eyes seemed etched in everyone's heart, making everyone in the merchant troupe feel heavy. The merchant troupe stopped at the designated inn, and the guards dismounted, preparing to enter. Suddenly, Eliya said, "Let's leave immediately!"

Xi exclaimed, "But Gavin will catch up today."

"Leave immediately," Eliya repeated. This time, Xi didn't say anything but silently mounted her horse. Eliya rarely spoke, but she would repeat herself at most once.

As twilight approached, the nearest town was tens of kilometers away, and leaving Neuford meant camping in the wilderness. However, Xi didn't object or even ask for reasons. Instead, she gestured to the guards, and they mounted their horses, and the merchant group set off again. Once they left Neuford, the merchant group immediately accelerated, eventually abandoning several slower carriages by the roadside. Even so, after traveling just twenty kilometers, the thunderous sound of horses echoed from the road behind.

Eliya pointed to a low mound beside the road and said in a low voice, "Turn and form a defensive formation!" The guards immediately abandoned the carriages, galloped up the mound, dismounted, and retrieved their weapons. Each guard carried a long sword, but more than half of the warriors had taken out longbows as their primary weapons. For an ordinary mercenary group, this was definitely not a normal ratio.

From the end of the road, the sound of horses approached rapidly, like rolling thunder, as armored steeds emerged from the dust. The knights on the horses wore heavy armor and held two-meter-long iron-cutting swords. The heavily armored knights of Count Gol! There were fifty of them, Count Gol had dispatched the majority of his most elite troops!

On the wings of the heavily armored knights were hundreds of light cavalry, and in the center of the formation was the mage they had met at dusk. He was still wearing, but now he held a three-meter-long magic wand. The crystal embedded in the top of the wand was so large that it was tempting, shimmering with a radiant glow that intersected with the patterns on the robe, emitting a strange light in the dimming sky.

When the heavily armored knights appeared, the guards' faces all changed. In fact, everyone in the merchant group had martial skills, even the drivers were second-level warriors, but they were only lightly equipped, and their number was less than fifty. Ordinary bows and arrows posed a limited threat to heavily armored knights. Moreover, there was a mage! The mage no longer concealed the magical aura emanating from his body; he was at least a level twelve archmage! Such a mage would be treated with caution and respect even by nobles of Count Gol's status and was more likely to be serving someone of even higher status.

Everyone on the mound fell silent, preparing for battle. Their only hope now was that these people's target was not them, but that hope was slim.

The sound of horses echoed again in Neuford town as Gavin, riding a black steed, rushed into the town and stopped at the door of the largest inn. However, he didn't see the familiar merchant carriages here, and the stables were empty. Over the past two months, Gavin had groomed horses countless times and had brushed almost every mount belonging to the guards. He knew all the horses in the merchant group, but there wasn't a single familiar horse in the stables.

Gavin's thick eyebrows furrowed for the first time. The black steed reared up, spun around in place, and its irons hit the ground, charging out of the town like a gale, disappearing into the vast darkness.

At this moment, the mound had become a battlefield, with blood saturating the soil on the hillside, and the corpses of steeds and humans piled together. The sound of horses continued to rumble like thunder as the heavily armored knights, who had suffered unexpected fierce resistance and lost nine companions, formed ranks below the mound, preparing for a second charge. The remaining forty-one heavily armored knights still possessed terrifying combat capability. Their first charge had pierced through the defenses at the top of the mound, taking the lives of more than ten people from the merchant group. The guards' bows and arrows were incredibly powerful, capable of piercing armor with a single shot, severely injuring the heavily equipped knights. Meanwhile, more than twenty light cavalry, who had played a restraining and covering role, were pierced by arrows. The light chain mail they wore could barely block the sharp arrows fired by the guards.

Xi was panting heavily, holding her sword with both hands, pointing it forward, slightly bending forward, maintaining a posture ready to pounce at any moment, but her eyes were fixed on the mage hundred meters away. Her double-handed sword emitted a shimmering glow; it was a high-quality magic sword. Xi's warrior level wasn't very high, but her sword skills and lethality were terrifying. If she launched a frontal attack, even a heavily armored knight would be split into two by her sword. Half of the losses suffered by Count Gol's heavily armored knights were caused by her.

The battlefield was filled with fire, storms, lightning, and explosions as Eliya fiercely exchanged attacks with the opposing archmage. Her mage level was only up to sixth level, but her manipulation of magic was exquisite, temporarily withstanding the opponent's magical assaults. However, the vast disparity in levels could not be compensated solely by skill, and her face was pale, with sweat covering her forehead.

This was an unusual merchant group. Their average level wasn't high, lower than Count Gol's elite forces, but their equipment and skills far surpassed their opponents, allowing them to endure the attacks of overwhelmingly powerful enemies until now.

Xi was gathering her strength, and her gaze revealed her intention to attack—the Grand Mage. However, separated by a hundred meters, common sense dictated that she posed no threat to the mage. To reach him, she would have to cross paths with forty heavily armored knights.

Suddenly, the mage shivered, sensing an inexplicable threat. His gaze shifted, and among the multitude of enemies, he immediately spotted a delicate and short bow that had suddenly appeared in Xi's hand. It was so small it resembled a child's toy, but it emanated a very real sense of mortal danger. The mage looked at Xi and smiled, a sinister grin that made Xi unconsciously shiver. Yet her hand remained steady, her movements skilled and precise. A delicate arrow was placed on the short bow, and like a flash of lightning, it was instantly shot at the mage's forehead! The arrow's trajectory completely defied conventional principles, impossible to track, as if it had traversed space in a single step to reach its target. The mage's remote defensive shield vanished silently before the arrow's tip.

One of the highest skills of an archer—Dispel Magic!

As the arrow left the string, Xi exhaled involuntarily, but the scene before her eyes made her suddenly widen them, her whole body stiffening.

The mage still wore that eerie smile. Behind him, a clump of smoke, as if produced by a magical explosion, lingered and condensed. At this moment, a giant sword silently extended from it, without any slashing motion, as if it had been lying horizontally there originally. The little arrow collided with the sword and was easily deflected, as if it were truly a toy. Subsequently, the smoke gradually dissipated, revealing a knight fully armored in heavy armor, from whose gaps in the armor irresistible radiant light emerged. The steed he rode was half a size larger than a regular warhorse, and its massive body was devoid of any harness or armor. The intricate magical patterns seemed to be inscribed directly onto its fur.

"A Constructed Knight!" Xi exclaimed, her voice revealing the first true fear.

Constructed Knights were the ultimate force humanity employed in warfare. They were high-ranking warriors themselves, clad in specially crafted magical heavy armor. But the ultimate characteristic of a Constructed Knight lay in the magical constructs loaded onto both themselves and their steeds! Only those with five or more magical constructs could be called Constructed Knights. On the battlefield, a single Constructed Knight could effortlessly slaughter an entire squadron of heavy cavalry, possessing the power to determine the outcome of the battle. When the first organized unit of Constructed Knights appeared hundreds of years ago, they immediately became the deepest nightmare for other races on the continent. Since then, Constructors who could draw magical constructs had become the most sought-after individuals on the entire continent. However, the extremely demanding requirements had always kept their numbers scarce.

The appearance of the Constructed Knight left Xi stunned. At this moment, a verdant leaf flew horizontally and attached to Xi's body. Instantly, immense magical power erupted from the leaf, enveloping Xi entirely.

"Eliya!" Xi immediately reacted, shouting, but unable to resist the force of magic, her figure gradually became transparent until it completely vanished. The leaf was a powerful one-time teleportation magic tool that could transport a person to a designated location in the most dire situations. This was a force Xi couldn't resist. Before departing, she could only watch helplessly as the overwhelming magical torrent engulfed and overwhelmed Eliya.

Eliya had already fallen to the ground, intense pain blurring her vision. Within her sight, there were barely any guards still resisting. The magical torrent that had devastated her had also affected her companions. Although they had blocked the subsequent light cavalry, the heavily armored knights of the opposing force were beginning to accelerate. With another charge, these young and elite warriors would all perish here. And she wouldn't contemplate her fate if she fell into the hands of these people, because she knew she wouldn't fall into their hands. A jade dagger appeared in Eliya's hand, pressed against her chest. The blade shimmered with a gray glow. The instant death magic on it would not only harvest her life but also destroy her soul, swiftly turning her body into a pile of ashes. Around her was her last magical shield, the magic stored in an accessory. When the shield broke, it would be her time to die.

And she wouldn't leave anything behind for these humans.

The heavily armored knights began their charge, their heavy hoofbeats drowning out all other sounds. But this time, the hoofbeats were different. Eliya heard something familiar within them.

Gavin appeared on the edge of the battlefield, and the towering, fierce figure of the Armored Knight immediately made his pupils constrict! His instinct was to turn his horse and leave, but his gaze fell upon the fallen Eliya, her last shield barely holding on. Gavin's pale face turned crimson in an instant, and his wide-open eyes were filled with bloodshot veins! With a shriek of desperation, he spurred his horse and charged towards the Armored Knight!

"It's too late for anything," on the other side, Eliya's consciousness began to blur. She gripped her dagger and plunged it towards her own chest!

With a smack, her wrist was suddenly hit hard, and the dagger flew far away. The sharp tip of the dagger only tore through the clothing over her chest, narrowly missing her skin. If it had drawn blood, everything would have been irreparable. Then a strong arm wrapped around Eliya and lifted her up. Subsequently, she felt as if she were floating in the clouds, rising and falling. The familiar scent at the end of her nose soothed Eliya, who was in extreme distress, relaxed her tense nerves, and finally blacked out as darkness enveloped her vision. Her last conscious sensation came from behind—she hadn't expected that person's body to be so hot yet hard like steel.

After an unknown period, Eliya slowly regained consciousness. Opening her eyes, the first thing she saw was a bare back, with dark skin, muscular knots, and crisscross scars. Even though the man didn't turn around, Eliya immediately knew it was Gavin Warsong. Her head was still dizzy, and she didn't have any strength in her body. She couldn't understand how a third-level warrior could bring her out of that battlefield. This was a cave, not the dungeon of a castle.

She struggled to sit up and suddenly felt a cool sensation on her chest. Only then did she realize that the chest of her mage's robe had been completely torn open, and even the underwear with good defensive capabilities had ruptured. As she sat up, her clothes spread open on both sides, immediately exposing her entire chest. Hearing some movement behind him, Gavin turned around just in time to see everything.

"You!" Eliya Silvermoon was furious and raised her hand, ready to unleash an instant magic spell. However, her magic power had already been exhausted. This forced attempt to mobilize magic power caused her vision to darken instantly, and the intense pain in her mind almost made her faint again. Her body weakened, and she collapsed.

Gavin was startled and rushed over to catch Eliya. Eliya struggled fiercely but heard Gavin exclaim, "I've seen everything already, don't move!"

There seemed to be a strange sensation in Gavin's voice, and the gentle liquid and the scent of blood splashed on her face also awakened Eliya from her embarrassment and anger. The wound was on Gavin's left chest, precisely over his heart. As she struggled, Gavin Warsong's wound immediately split open, and blood sprayed out like an arrow.

Seeing Eliya's expression, Gavin was as relaxed and as always. He chuckled and pointed to the wound on his chest, saying, "The Armored Knight stabbed me, but it's fine! Without that sword, I wouldn't have escaped from the Armored Knight! Blackflame is still young and can't run fast enough. Oh, Blackflame is the name of my horse."

Eliya didn't move anymore and didn't wipe the blood off her face. Although her chest was still exposed, she was completely unaware of it and just gazed at Gavin's chest. A third-level warrior escaping from at least a tenth-level Armored Knight would have to pay a price, even with the best luck.

Such a deep wound must have pierced his heart.

"You..." She didn't continue because Gavin seemed to understand her intention and had already taken her hand and placed it on his chest. Under those steel-like pectoral muscles, Eliya felt a strong heartbeat.

"I have two hearts, and my recovery ability is even stronger than a troll's. It's not a big deal to lose one heart," Gavin's smile was still sunny. Eliya suddenly felt very serene and safe. So when Gavin's kiss fell, she didn't reject it.

Nightfall came quietly, and a bonfire was lit in the cave, dispelling the chill of the night.

Gavin and Eliya sat around the bonfire. A rabbit was roasting over the fire, but Eliya seemed to have no appetite. She hugged her knees, rested her head on them, and was lost in thought. Just when intimacy was about to reach its peak, Eliya suddenly pushed Gavin away. If it were someone else, they might have been annoyed and embarrassed. Yet, this man was acting as if nothing had happened, enthusiastically preparing dinner. His eyes were still pure, and Eliya couldn't see any trace of resentment or dissatisfaction in them—only happiness and love.

"Do you like me?"

"Of course!"

"Why?"

"There's no reason."

After organizing her thoughts, Eliya said, "We just know each other. You don't understand me, and you don't know my past. Haven't you wondered why we were attacked by Count Gol? You should know that I have secrets."

"That doesn't prevent me from liking you. Men of our Archimonde family, when they like, they like, no need for so many reasons," Gavin said casually.

"Would you be willing to pay any price?"

"Of course."

"If I asked you to die?"

"If necessary, no problem," Gavin said with a smile.

Eliya didn't say anything and fell silent. She didn't believe Gavin's words. Before this, she and Gavin didn't know much about each other, and they hadn't even spoken much together. Perhaps he was more familiar with Xi. Could this man really say he would die for her?

Humans. Humans always make promises easily but never prepare to fulfill them.

However, seeing the wound on his chest that was still bleeding, Eliya felt somewhat uncertain.

Silence.

After a long while, Eliya broke the silence: "Are all the people in your family so..."

"Foolish?" Gavin smiled and continued, "Maybe! We were all foolish when we were young. But being foolish is not a problem; the worst is not being able to meet someone who makes you foolish."

"That's not a sufficient reason. But Archimonde, this surname is somewhat strange. Can you tell me your name?"

"Gavin·War Song·Isaiah·Settanistolia·Archimonde."

Eliya looked up at Gavin in surprise. His eyes were still as pure as the most perfect gem. But her heart could no longer be calm. This name was ridiculously long, and its pronunciation was also different from traditional languages. However, her extensive knowledge told her that the middle part of the name was related to demons. If this man really had demonic blood, then this name would have a strong binding effect on him, perhaps not as powerful as the true name of a demon but almost as strong.

After a moment of silence, Eliya said, "Didn't your family tell you that you shouldn't reveal this name to others?"

"You mean my true name?" Gavin smiled, "When I was just starting to understand things, my mom told me that my true name couldn't be told to others. If there is, there can only be one."

So he knew everything.

Eliya suddenly didn't know what to say. She just felt that this man and everything related to him were absurd but so real. Between illusion and reality, there was something that touched her heart, which was the selfless and unrequited dedication. What Gavin said about being willing to die for her was not an idle word but a real promise. Telling her his true name was equivalent to giving his life to her. However, how could there be such a foolish man?

"What do you want to do in the future? Be an adventurer forever?"

"Of course not! I will create my own army, conquer alien races, open up new territories, and establish my own kingdom!" When Gavin spoke, a majestic and heroic aura arose spontaneously, like a true general who had commanded thousands of troops.

Eliya didn't speak but just stared blankly at the flickering campfire. The firelight made her face flicker and also revealed a faint sadness in her eyebrows.

Clouds drifted from the horizon, quietly covering the three moons. The night was darker.

Eliya suddenly stood up and said, "I'm leaving."

Gavin was taken aback: "Leave? Where are you going?"

"Where I should go!" Eliya didn't stop at all and directly walked out of the cave.

"Then in the future..."

"There is no 'later'!" Eliya had disappeared into the vast darkness of the night, and her cold voice still echoed in the cave. Gavin stood there in shock, not chasing after her. He had just lost a heart and couldn't catch up with a level-five mage who had recovered her magic power, especially when Eliya possessed mysterious powers that didn't belong to mages.

Gavin sat down dejectedly, grasping his hair tightly. After a moment, he suddenly laughed loudly, "It doesn't matter. People from the Archimonde family always go crazy eventually. 'Either become abnormal in madness or perish in silence.' Hey, who said this line?"

In the quiet night, Gavin's laughter traveled far and far.

The campfire was still burning, but the rabbit above it had already turned into charcoal.

Time always flowed, and five years quickly slipped away through the fingers.

When the sixth spring arrived, the Forest of Eternal Night was no longer tranquil. The human army advanced layer by layer from the outskirts of the forest towards its center. Under the powerful destructive force of blades and magic, the lush and beautiful scenery vanished, and fierce flames felled towering ancient trees. The magical beasts that had lived peacefully for many years had to abandon their nests and flee in panic. Some of them were very powerful, but no matter how strong a magical beast was, it couldn't stand against a human's armored knight.

The Forest of Eternal Night was the traditional territory of the Silver Moon Elves. The Silver Moon Elves, who continued the bloodline of the ancient high elves, would strike against any enemy who dared to invade their territory. They had defeated the invading human army more than once, and countless ambitious individuals who coveted the rich treasures of the Forest of Eternal Night had returned defeated.

However, the invading army this time was different. The commander was a war talent that the elves had never seen, and there was also an armored knight squadron consisting of fifty knights in the army. On the battlefield, the jungle warfare experience and the strongest archers on the continent, which the elves had relied on to defeat the human army repeatedly, could no longer occupy an absolute advantage. Disagreements between tribes ultimately led to the mistake of dispersing their forces. The strongest Silver Moon Elf tribes were successively defeated, and more than half of the twelve powerful elf kings were killed. The sacrifices of many elf warriors couldn't stop the human army. The army's might was like a fiery tide, surging fiercely and sweeping away all obstacles, heading straight for the elf royal court deep in the Forest of Eternal Night.

Before the elf royal court, the combined forces of the Silver Moon Elf tribes, with no room to retreat, engaged in a decisive battle with the human army and were annihilated. For the first time in 1,300 years, the elf royal court in the Forest of Eternal Night had fallen.

Deep in the Forest of Eternal Night, a small team of elves was running swiftly. They seemed to blend into the forest, leaving only blurred figures as they quickly traversed it. The forest had been tranquil in the past, but now it was filled with the sound of horse and murderous battle cries. Fierce flames burned, ruthlessly devouring ancient trees and clearing a path for the cavalry behind. It was evident that these elves were. This was no longer the forest they were familiar with. Teams of knights would occasionally leap out from the front to intercept them.

In the distance, the World Tree was burning fiercely, and the flames even reddened half of the sky.

The elves were escorting a young female priest. Whenever they encountered enemy interceptions, several warriors would detach from the formation and recklessly charge towards the enemy, using their lives to cover the priest's retreat. Powerful elf warriors fell one by one, while the armored knights clad in blood-colored armor seemed endless.

The female priest held a thick golden book in her arms. It was the holy scripture of the Moon Goddess Elucia and the most revered sacred object of the Silver Moon Elves. She ran, her speed comparable to that of the elf warriors, and she didn't look like a mage at all. After breaking through multiple interceptions, only two warriors remained by her side.

Suddenly, their path opened up, revealing a tranquil lake. Moon Star Lake was a pearl in the Forest of Eternal Night, but now, a knight stood quietly by the lakeside, blocking their way. The murderous aura pervaded the air, disturbing this originally tranquil and warm land. If someone could see through the water, they would discover that the creatures that had lived freely in the lake had stopped all activities and潜水 deeply to the bottom.

Although there was only one person, his tall and majestic figure was like an insurmountable mountain, and the deep black warhorse beneath him was half a head taller than ordinary warhorses. The thick armor it wore was astonishing, but it seemed completely unaware, only occasionally emitting a small puff of flame from its nose. The knight held a heavy sword in his hand, and the cold light emanating from the three-meter-long blade was heart-wrenching. There was still fresh elf blood dripping from the tip of the sword.

The female priest halted her steps, but the elf warrior beside her rushed forward, leaping into the air to pounce on the knight riding the horse. It was a life-and-death attack, their only intention was to thrust the elf's long sword into the knight's chest, ignoring the sweeping heavy sword altogether. A booming laughter emanated from the helmet covering his face, and with a wicked wind, the double-handed heavy sword flashed like lightning!

The knight jumped down from his steed, which clearly bore the bloodline of a magical beast, and walked towards the female priest, laughing heartily, "Noble and beautiful Moon Goddess priest, you are one of the most important figures in the Elf Court. If I let you escape, especially with the holy scripture, my credit for conquering the Elf Court would be halved at least! Do you think I would allow such a thing to happen? This is my first time leading an army into battle!"

It was only after he finished speaking that the bodies of the two elf warriors fell to the ground. They were the most elite Silver Moon warriors of the Elf Court, yet they failed to block even a single sword strike from the knight.

The female priest trembled slightly and suddenly gritted her teeth, saying, "Gavin?!"

The knight's body suddenly stiffened like a petrified statue. He flung off his helmet, revealing a face as hard and angular as iron. It was Gavin Battlecry, and five years had barely left any trace on his face, except that it had erased his youthful recklessness, leaving behind steadfastness and fortitude. The adventurer from five years ago was now a general commanding thousands of troops, and he had accomplished what humans in this dimension had not achieved for a thousand years.

Only those eyes remained as pure and clear as five years ago.

Gavin gazed at the female priest, and after a moment, a wild joy emerged on his face as he exclaimed, "You're... Eliya!"

Standing before Gavin was the exquisite Moon Goddess elf priest, not the ordinary-looking human female mage from years ago. But Gavin knew it was Eliya, for although her appearance was completely different, those eyes had never changed. It was just that the young warrior of level three back then couldn't see through the secret transformation magic of the Elf Court.

Gavin's joy gradually faded, replaced by a bitter expression as he slowly said, "So you're a Silver Moon elf, and a priest of the Moon Goddess. That means you're royalty. No wonder your magic was so powerful back then."

He gazed at Eliya for a long time before grinning widely and saying, "Hey, girl! You're beautiful, even more so than the most perfect woman I could imagine. But I still prefer you when you were a female mage."

Hearing the familiar laughter, Eliya felt as if she had returned to five years ago, but the thick and cold holy scripture in her hand brought her back to reality. As the priest of the Moon Goddess Elucia, she must maintain impeccable purity.

Eliya held up the holy scripture and said coldly, "Gavin Battlecry, your hands are stained with the blood of too many Silver Moon elves. Today, only one of us can leave this place alive!"

Gavin rubbed his nose and said with a wry smile, "You... are no match for me..." He didn't finish his sentence because Eliya had already charged forward at a speed not inferior to an elf warrior, and the holy scripture was already glowing brightly as its cover opened!

Seeing the elf charging forward without hesitation, Gavin's heavy double-handed greatsword flew up with a whoosh, slashing horizontally at an incredible speed. If this strike landed, it would not only cleave through the fragile Silver Moon elf but even a giant troll in two. Five years had passed, and the level three warrior from back then now had unfathomable strength.

The shadow of death was already hovering overhead, but Eliya was oblivious to it. As she rushed forward at extreme speed, scenes from their encounter back then replayed in her mind.

Before the flickering campfire, she had asked, "If I ask you to die, what would you do?"

"If it's necessary, then it's fine."

Five years had passed, and he looked exactly the same, and he had indeed become a general commanding thousands of troops. It was just that... why was the direction of his sword pointed at the Eternal Night Forest...

Eliya suddenly smiled as the tip of the greatsword kept enlarging in her pupils. She didn't dodge but suddenly drew a short sword from the holy scripture, accelerated again in a blur, and stabbed towards Gavin's chest! She still remembered that night when she had felt his heartbeat with her own hands and thus remembered the location of his second heart.

Eliya knew that Gavin couldn't dodge this strike. This was the highest combat technique of the Elf Court, the Secret Sword Technique: Moonlight Slash. As the priest of the Moon Goddess, her sword skills were even more profound than her magic and divine arts. Blessed by the Moon Goddess Elucia, this strike could pierce through any armor, even the armor of a Construct Knight, the peak of human martial prowess.

The short sword's blade carried the moonlight, never to return!

Yet, in Eliya's eyes, Gavin's chest and the deep wound on it involuntarily emerged. Five years ago, to save her, he lost his first heart. And now, the short sword in her hand was about to pierce his second heart.

She had no intention of dodging Gavin's heavy sword, nor could she avoid it. She only hoped to thrust the short sword into Gavin's heart before the heavy sword bisected her, making him pay for the lives of the Fire and Silver Moon Elves.

"Let's stay together, stay in this forest..." she thought.

The short sword, carrying the moonlight, pierced through the heavy armor without hindrance, plunged into the chest, and deeply inserted into the vigorously pulsating heart. The bursting sword qi completely shredded the ventricles.

However, the heavy sword stopped without any warning. The blade had already touched her skin but did not advance further. The hand holding the sword was as stable as a mountain.

Gavin looked at Eliya, his mouth slightly agape as if he wanted to say something, but no sound came out. Yet, he smiled.

The heavy sword slowly fell to the ground, and the majestic body also leaned forward, collapsing into Eliya's embrace. The hot blood spurting from his chest instantly soaked half of her body, just like five years ago.

"You..." Eliya could not speak. The world before her eyes blurred, with only hot blood washing over her body.

"It's okay to be foolish, but the worst is not meeting someone who makes you foolish." After telling her his real name without hesitation, Gavin's words now echoed clearly in her ears.

The holy scripture quietly fell, while her hands tightly embraced Gavin, his body gradually cooling in her embrace.

"You won't die, you won't!" Eliya hugged him tightly and said softly.

What followed were seven days between dreams and reality. Seven days later, Gavin slowly opened his eyes. He lay in a cave. The wound on his chest had healed, and he could no longer feel his heartbeat in his chest, but his vitality was as robust as ever. He slowly turned his head and saw a priest's robe scattered on the ground. The robe was splattered with his hot blood. Now the bloodstains had long dried up, but the blood scent could not conceal her fragrance. The faint, pleasant aroma lingered not only on the priest's robe but also on him.

The fragrance lingered, but Eliya's beautiful figure was nowhere to be seen. The amorousness, the spring scenery, and the intimacy of the past few days were just like a spring dream, leaving no trace behind.

This time, there really was no future.