Demon Emperor Samael followed a fixed pattern across centuries—periodic invasions meant to seize slaves and replenish the demon workforce, for their population remained far smaller than that of the other races. During these times, both Humans and Elves remained at maximum alert, their emperors ready to strike the moment a demonic force breached their borders.

Because of this looming threat, Cyrandel was occupied with large-scale preparations when the rumour of the World Tree sapling surfaced. She had no choice but to send Aeliryn under heavy protection—two Kings (7-stars)—despite her sister's frailty. If the rumour proved true, missing the sapling's birth would cost them a once-in-two-thousand-years opportunity. A World Tree sapling manifested only a single guardian in its lifetime. It began as a Red-Tier Natural Treasure and, through thousands of years, evolved into the only known Black-Tier Natural Treasure across all races. Legend held that the person contracting the guardian of the sapling eventually transcended mortality and became eternal, rising to the rank of God.

And with the prophecy declaring a second destruction on the horizon, they couldn't afford to gamble. They had already witnessed the First Destruction—the annihilation of their original world—and now they lived in the second world: Skadrial.

They had no intention of losing this world too. Dangerous as it was, evolving at an alarming speed, it was nevertheless a home. A miracle, considering they had watched the space-time fabric rip apart their old realm. If not for the sacrifice of World Tree and the former Empero and Empress—Cyrandel's parents—who gave their lives to create a stabilising dome around their people as they drifted through chaotic void, the elves might have gone extinct.

It was during that same passage through collapsing reality that the Empress received the prophecy. She claimed to have glimpsed into the space-time river—a goddess with pink hair, a hero beside her. Her voice had echoed across the entire continent spanning dome that sheltered their fleeing race. Between the distortion of space and the raw power of the void, the prophecy imprinted itself onto the minds of every elf who survived that day. Their long lifespans ensured that even centuries later, the memory remained crystal clear.

Cyrandel remembered it vividly: clinging to newborn Aeliryn, helplessly watching her parents fade away within the collapsing light.

Because of all this, it was imperative that Aeliryn be the first to witness the World Tree Sapling. The guardian's mantle was meant for her.

But on the journey, disaster struck.

A King-tier demon intercepted them. Somehow he managed to overpower both elven Kings. While he lured them away in battle, his hidden companions ambushed the convoy, capturing everyone. The elven Kings realised the trap too late. Exhausted and heavily wounded, they lacked the strength to continue the pursuit. The Demon King was grievously injured as well, but in their moment of distraction upon learning Aeliryn had been taken, he vanished into the wilds.

Yet fate played another cruel twist.

Before the demon entourage could escape, they were attacked—this time by humans. The humans seized all the captives, their motives unclear. And from that moment forward, Aeliryn's trail vanished completely. Neither demons nor elves could track where she was taken.

This loss drove Cyrandel into a desperate rampage across human territories, searching for any trace of her sister. Her fury shook entire regions as she ran amok, forcing Louis—the Human Emperor—to impose strict slavery laws regarding other races within his lands. His intention was to limit chaos, but instead, it strained relations between humans and elves to the breaking point.

From that era onward, interactions between the races became volatile, hostile, and often disastrous.

"But Your Majesty, we have also heard she has a partner, and…" Venyra hesitated.

"And?" Cyrandel prompted, her voice calm now.

"He is… unusual," Venyra said,

"From the reports, he possesses a 6-star Soul Talent and already displays the strength of a Peak 2-star or higher, despite being human." Her scepticism coloured every syllable.

At the mention of soul talent, Cyrandel's ears twitched sharply, her gaze narrowing with sudden interest.

"A successful Soul Talent… in the hands of humans?"

she murmured, disbelief slipping into her tone.

"Didn't they have an 8-star Soul Talent rotting in some dusty corner of their palace? How does a 6-star flourish before it?"

"We don't know," Venyra admitted. "But it seems the girl is very attached to him and he to her."

Cyrandel hummed thoughtfully.

"You said they're currently undergoing the trial, correct? We planted new spies there recently. Instruct them to divert the pair toward us."

Her eyes glimmered with a mixture of cold calculation and possessiveness.

"For the girl, I will personally determine the best path, and see if she is worthy." Cyrandel continued.

"As for the boy… a Soul Talent is far too rare to waste. Humans are so backwards they don't even comprehend the significance of what they hold. We can put him to proper use."

She flicked a hand casually, as though planning a simple errand and not a manipulation.

"Have our girls seduce him. Humans are all the same—one goddess-like elf smiles at them and they abandon reason. Their kind always craves more than one partner, and given how drawn they are to our beauty, he will gladly leave the girl behind. I'm sure he only acts lovestruck to cling to her 8-star talent."

Venyra's head shot up, eyes wide with outrage.

"Your Majesty! You would give our girls to that pathetic human just to manipulate him? Would it not be easier to simply turn him into a slave?"

"No," Cyrandel replied firmly.

"Even though most of our soul research was lost, we still know this: a soul grows best in a stable, satisfied mind. If we provide him that, he becomes far more useful to us."

Her voice lowered into a calculating murmur.

"Besides… he could be a valuable spy in the Human Empire. They are desperate for Soul-related knowledge. They will accept him with open arms—more so if it gives their Emperor's stubborn prince new research material."

Cyrandel leaned back, brushing a thumb thoughtfully along her lips.

"And it is hardly a waste, Venyra. In our previous world, humans ceased to even exist after a few wars. When we arrived here and rediscovered them—their seventy-year lives—we assumed they were inferior."

Her eyes softened with something like amusement.

"But after the apocalypse, their lifespans grew. Beast Masters among them can now live nearly as long as elves. Our biological structures match surprisingly well. The only real differences are our ears… our naturally greater vitality…" A faint, proud smile curved her lips.

"…and of course, our beauty."

Her gaze sharpened as she asked:

"Now tell me—what truly separates us from them anymore?"

"Our origin... We are said to be..." Venyra began.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.