Chapter 288: Demonic Elves

In a seemingly endless forest, chaos had broken out beneath the towering trees.

Figures with long, pointed ears ran through the thick undergrowth, their movements hurried and uneven.

Branches snapped under frantic footsteps, bushes were shoved aside, and panicked voices rose all around the forest.

They were none other than elves.

Countless elves fled between the trees, their usual grace gone as fear pushed them forward.

Sweat ran down their backs and soaked their clothes as their breathing grew rough and heavy.

Some tripped over roots hidden beneath the moss, barely catching themselves before forcing their shaking legs to keep moving.

Behind them, flames raged through the forest.

A wildfire tore through the woodland like a hungry beast, devouring trees, homes, and everything in its path.

Thick smoke rolled through the air, stinging their eyes and filling their lungs.

The heat chased them from behind as burning leaves and ash drifted down like dark snow.

High above the forest floor, the elves’ homes—beautiful treehouses built among the tallest branches—were collapsing one after another.

Wooden bridges snapped, platforms burned, and entire homes broke apart before crashing to the ground below with thunderous force.

Some elves cried out as they watched their homes fall. Others did not dare look back at all.

Children were clutched tightly to chests, their frightened sobs muffled against their parents’ shoulders.

The wounded were dragged along or supported by trembling arms.

Faces once calm and proud were now pale with fear, streaked with sweat and ash.

The peaceful forest that had sheltered them for generations had become a burning nightmare.

Trees cracked as flames climbed their trunks.

Smoke filled the sky. Homes fell from the canopy. And the elves could do nothing but run.

"Faster! Faster! They’re right behind us!"

"Run! Don’t stop running!"

"They’re coming! Move!"

Panic voices rang out in the once vibrant and pristine forest.

Waaa—- Waaa—-

"Mommy!"

Waa—-

A young, elven girl embracing a tree-shaped stuffed toy cried helplessly, feeling overwhelmed by everything that was happening around her.

"Child, where’s your mother?"

A kind-hearted elven man knelt with one knee in front of the young elf, glancing behind him repeatedly with an uncomfortable expression.

Waaa—- Waaa—

Unfortunately, the young elf could not answer him as she kept crying.

"They’re coming!"

"Leave everything behind! Your life is more important!"

"Forget the supplies! Just run!"

"The fire is spreading—go, go!"

Hearing the shouts of other elves behind him, the elven man grunted and spoke with the most comforting tone he could possibly muster.

"Come with me first, child. I’ll get you to safety, and we can go looking for your mommy, okay?"

Hearing the word ’mommy’, the young elf girl’s crying subsided a little as she nodded in difficulty.

The elven man then carried the young elf over his shoulder before he took off.

"Where do we go? The path is blocked!"

"This way! Follow me!"

"Watch out for the falling branches!"

The kind-hearted elven man carrying the young elf followed the crowd as he hurriedly escaped with the other elves.

However, the young elf who was crying earlier now had a blank expression.

"Mommy... Mommy... Mommy..."

Her repeated mutterings made the elven man tap her back as he ran, "Don’t worry, we’ll look for your mommy— Ugh!"

Just as he finished speaking, he could not help but let out a groan as he turned his gaze downwards.

What he saw made his emerald green eyes constrict.

A black spike had pierced his chest without his knowledge, dripping with blood that was also slowly turning black.

’W-Wha—"

Cough— Spurt!

The elven man fell into a coughing fit, blood spilling from his lips as he coughed repeatedly, leaving him unable to speak.

Thud!

Falling to his knees, the elven man saw the young girl getting off his shoulder.

"Mommy... Mommy..."

Her muttering still had not stopped.

"C-Child—"

The elven man tried to call out to the young elf, but his nerves and blood vessels were slowly turning black as well.

"Mommy..."

The last thing the kind-hearted elven man saw was the young elf, whose emerald-green eyes had turned crimson, the whites of them darkening to black.

Furthermore, the young elf’s left hand was still clutching her stuffed toy, while her right hand had already turned into a bony, sharp spike, mutilating it in the process.

"M-Mommy..."

Black tears ran down the young elf’s face as her muttering did not stop.

Thud!

Like the kind-hearted man, she soon fell to her knees.

Tap— Tap— Tap—

After a few minutes, footsteps echoed through the area where the two elves fell to their deaths.

"It’s a pity that the child was not able to endure the lady’s blessing."

A seductive feminine voice rang out as a figure stopped in front of the young elf’s corpse.

The figure had unblemished skin that looked soft and silky, which made her look like a porcelain doll.

Like elves, she also had long, pointed ears.

However, her emerald green eyes had been replaced by a shade of crimson, whereas her sclera was black, unlike that of other normal elves.

Her green hair fell to her waist, her black dress had a long cut that accentuated her curves, making her look seductive.

Her bright red lips looked like blood was used to color them.

Behind her, there were numerous figures like her.

Elven men and women, who all looked like elves apart from the crimson shade of their eyes, feasting on the corpses of the elves who fell behind

"Hahaha... HAHAHA!"

The elven woman at the front laughed hysterically as she knelt down and carried the corpse of the young elven girl.

Raising it above her head, she shouted with a fanatic expression on her face, "Ahhh~ Lady Aziza! I, Merriam, your most devoted servant, offer this child to you! Accept this sacrifice and grant your faithful your sacred favor!"

"Lazy Aziza!"

"Lazy Aziza!"

"Lazy Aziza!"

...

Behind her, the countless demonic elves that formed a sea also started chanting with crazed expressions on their faces.

Their shouts were so loud that every word seemed to tear at their vocal cords, turning their voices into harsh, screeching cries.