Read Novel Full Chapter 636: An Old Acquaintance, the Elven Royal Court, and a New War
Chapter 636: An Old Acquaintance, the Elven Royal Court, and a New War
The massive wooden doors slowly opened to both sides.
A life force so dense that it was almost visible to the naked eye surged out from within the ancient tree, and the power inside Sophie, which had only just begun to calm down, immediately fluctuated once again. Pale gold and emerald green light intertwined as it flowed slowly along her arms, while even the vines growing around the edges of the wooden platform uncontrollably leaned toward her position.
However, Gabriel’s attention was not entirely focused on Sophie.
Because the moment the wooden doors opened completely, an extremely familiar aura appeared!
Gabriel’s originally calm eyes shifted slightly as he tried to figure out whose aura this could be. Right then, footsteps came from within the ancient tree.
“I was wondering what kind of person could cause such a huge disturbance throughout the entire outer Sacred Forest, even making the Life Barrier that has remained dormant for decades react again.”
An old but vigorous voice slowly came from inside.
“And in the end… it turns out to be you, brat.”
The moment those words were spoken.
Aelira, the elder elf, clearly froze.
Erin and the several elves standing guard near the massive wooden doors also showed puzzled expressions. Meanwhile, the corner of Gabriel’s mouth slowly lifted into the faintest smile.
A figure stepped out from behind the doors.
The man still looked like an ordinary middle aged person. His build was not particularly imposing, and the dark green robe covering his body carried no exaggerated decorations, but the long pointed ears protruding from between his hair completely revealed his race.
Edgar Darkmore.
The elven spy who had once disguised himself as an instructor for newcomers in Stellar City while secretly carrying out covert activities.
And also the man who had personally taught Gabriel one of the Elven Kingdom’s top combat techniques.
[Demonic Phantom]
Gabriel truly had not expected to meet him here again.
“Long time no see,” Gabriel spoke.
Edgar stared at him. He remained silent for two seconds before directly bursting into laughter.
“Long time no see? Every time you disappear for a while, you come back causing even bigger trouble. The last time I heard news about you, you were outside building something called New Dawn. Now look at you. You’ve gone and barged straight into the Sacred Forest.”
His gaze swept over Gabriel from head to toe, then paused briefly on Crimson Judgment.
“And you’re stronger than before.”
Gabriel did not deny it.
Beside him, Erin was already completely stunned.
“Elder Edgar…”
She could not help looking between the two of them.
“You know this human?”
“Know him?”
The corner of Edgar’s mouth twitched slightly.
“I taught him.”
The expressions of the surrounding elves instantly changed.
Even Aelira showed obvious surprise.
Edgar’s position inside the Sacred Forest was not merely that of an ordinary elder.
He spent most of his time operating in the human world, gathering external intelligence and dealing with matters the Elven Royal Court could not handle openly. Because of that, the younger generation rarely saw him remain inside the Sacred Forest for long, but his position within the Council of Elders was unquestionably high.
More importantly, Edgar almost never truly acknowledged outsiders.
Much less personally taught them combat techniques belonging to the Elven Kingdom.
The look Erin gave Gabriel finally changed.
No wonder. No wonder this human had remained so calm earlier when facing hundreds of patrol guards.
Gabriel, however, paid no attention to the reactions around him.
His gaze quickly moved past Edgar.
“Since you’re here, things should be much simpler.”
The moment Edgar heard that, the smile on his face slowly faded.
He glanced at Sophie, and his brows immediately furrowed.
Within only a few seconds, his previously relaxed expression became completely serious.
“Who is she?”
“Sophie,” Gabriel replied.
“That’s not what I’m asking.” Edgar interrupted directly. His gaze never left Sophie as he added, “What I’m asking is… who exactly is she?”
Sophie subconsciously frowned.
Gabriel did not answer.
Instead, he looked toward Aelira, the elderly elf.
“A fragment of the World Tree fused with her body,” Aelira sighed, as if she was tired of saying it already. “And she said that ever since leaving human territory, the call coming from the Mother Tree has continuously guided her toward this place.”
The moment she finished speaking.
Edgar’s expression finally changed completely.
He appeared in front of Sophie in a single step.
His speed was so fast there was almost no warning.
Gabriel did not stop him because he knew Edgar would not casually hurt her.
Edgar did not touch Sophie. He simply stood less than a meter away and studied her carefully.
Several seconds later, he suddenly asked.
“Who is your mother?”
It was the same question once again. Sophie sighed and repeated everything she had already told Aelira.
Edgar fell completely silent after hearing her.
Aelira turned toward him. The gazes of the two elders briefly met in midair. They seemed to be communicating among themselves with just their eyes.
But Gabriel still caught something from that instant of reaction.
They knew something. At the very least… they knew something Sophie herself did not.
“You knew her mother, didn’t you?” Gabriel suddenly said.
Edgar looked at him. After a moment, he gave a helpless laugh.
“You really haven’t changed.”
“The moment someone shows even the slightest abnormal reaction, you want to follow that clue until you dig out every secret they have.”
“So I was right.”
“…”
Edgar did not deny it. He looked back at Sophie.
“As for your mother, it’s still too early to tell you.”
Sophie clearly wanted to press him for answers.
But Edgar had already continued.
“I can only tell you one thing for now.”
He paused briefly. “The power inside you absolutely does not come solely from the World Tree fragment you accidentally fused with several years ago.”
Sophie’s pupils contracted slightly.
“What do you mean?”
“A World Tree fragment does not casually fuse completely with just any lifeform.”
Edgar’s voice gradually became serious.
“Even if an ordinary person came into contact with a life fragment shed by the Mother Tree, the most likely outcome would be their body exploding under the overwhelming life force.”
“Even among elves, those truly capable of enduring the Mother Tree’s origin are pitifully few.”
“And you.”
Edgar stared at Sophie.
“You are not enduring it. It is actively accepting you.”
Silence once again spread through the surroundings.
Edgar continued.
“From the moment you entered the Sacred Forest, the Lost Path Barrier never truly attacked you. The ancient trees made way for you on their own. Life force gathered around you without command. Even things that have remained dormant in the deepest regions of the Sacred Forest for a very long time have started reacting again.”
“These things cannot be explained by a World Tree fragment that entered your body later in life.”
Sophie’s fingers gradually tightened.
“Then what is it?”
Edgar did not answer instantly. After a while, he finally spoke softly.
“Blood.”
His words caused all the elves around him to freeze.
“Something already existed within your bloodline,” Edgar added. “The World Tree fragment merely caused it to awaken earlier.”
Gabriel’s eyes narrowed slightly.
Divine bloodline?
The thought appeared briefly, but he did not let it spread further.
There was not enough information yet.
Moreover, the World Tree itself was already close to being a true god level lifeform.
If Sophie’s mother genuinely had a direct connection to some divine existence, then many things from the past that had never made sense could finally be explained.
Why the royal family had always hidden the identity of her mother.
Why the Holy Church paid so much attention to Sophie.
Why the World Tree fragment had directly fused into her bloodline the moment it touched her.
And why this Sacred Forest, which had been sealed for who knew how many years, was actively calling her.
However, Gabriel was not able to ask any questions because, at that moment.
Dong!
A deep bell suddenly sounded from the outskirts of the settlement.
Everyone’s expression instantly changed.
Dong!
A second strike followed!
Dong!
The elven settlement, which had still been relatively calm only moments ago, immediately erupted into motion.
Across the tree bridges, elves began moving rapidly.
Young elves who had been training stopped everything they were doing.
Squads of fully armed patrol warriors emerged from different areas.
In less than half a minute, the atmosphere of the entire settlement had completely transformed.
Sophie looked around, anxious and confused. “What happened?”
Aelira’s expression had already darkened.
“The war bell.”
Gabriel looked toward her with shock plastered across his face.
“You’re at war?”