Chapter 296 - 294 : Demonic Protection (2)

Chapter 296: Chapter 294 : Demonic Protection (2)

Arthur turned away from the window.

"Now, listen to me carefully."

Something in his voice made Erica fall silent.

"Abandon the old World Tree."

For several seconds, there was no response.

Then Erica finally spoke.

"What?"

"Stop defending it. Withdraw your people."

"Arthur—"

"Let the Church have it."

His voice remained perfectly level.

On the other end of the call, Erica gripped the phone so tightly that her fingers began to ache.

"Are you serious?"

"Completely."

"But if we abandon it..."

Her voice faltered.

"The blessing of the World Tree is already weakening. If we lose what’s left of it, our people will become even weaker."

Arthur glanced toward the System notification that had appeared earlier.

"I am coming back."

Erica fell silent.

"And I’ve found people whose blessings can help us grow the new World Tree."

For a moment, she seemed unable to process his words.

Then her breath escaped in a quiet, unsteady rush.

"You found them?"

"Yes."

"Are you certain they can help?"

"I wouldn’t tell you otherwise."

Arthur’s voice was firm.

"Don’t sacrifice more people trying to protect something we’re preparing to replace."

Erica lowered her head.

For the first time during the call, a glimmer of hope entered her voice.

"That’s... good news."

She swallowed.

"After everything that’s happened, that’s very good news."

Arthur gave her a moment to compose herself before continuing.

"Prepare for the withdrawal. Take whatever you can carry without slowing your people down."

"Alright."

"And tell Evangline that I’ve ordered her to prioritize your protection and Yuna’s above everything else."

Erica hesitated.

"But what about the people left behind?"

"Arrange the evacuation," Arthur replied. "Use whatever forces you still have. But don’t turn your last line of protection into another desperate attempt to defend the tree."

His voice sharpened.

"Do as I say."

Erica’s free hand curled into a fist.

Arthur could hear the change in her breathing.

He softened his tone slightly, but his words remained firm.

"A ruler has to make difficult decisions, Erica."

He paused.

"Get used to making them before someone else makes them for you."

She said nothing.

"Your people need you alive. If you fall now, who’s going to lead them through this?"

Erica looked down at her clenched hand.

Slowly, she forced her fingers to relax.

"Alright."

The word was quiet.

But this time, it didn’t tremble.

"I’ll tell her."

"Good."

Arthur glanced toward the door.

"I’ll speak to you again when I return. There’s something urgent I need to deal with here first."

"I understand."

Erica hesitated for a moment before speaking again.

"Take care of yourself, Arthur."

"You too."

The call ended.

Arthur lowered the phone.

The room was silent once more.

But the silence no longer felt peaceful.

Yuna had been injured.

The enchanted forest’s protection had mysteriously vanished.

The Church was advancing toward the World Tree with a force powerful enough to overwhelm its defenders.

And there was still no sign of Astarte.

Arthur’s expression darkened.

’Which means something might have happened to her.’

He had hoped Astarte would have contacted him by now.

Anything that could explain her disappearance and reassure him that she was safe.

But nothing had come.

He stared at the darkened screen of his phone.

For once, he couldn’t simply dismiss the growing unease in his chest with a sarcastic remark.

"System."

The response appeared almost immediately.

[ I cannot sense Astarte’s presence, Host. ]

Arthur’s expression tightened.

[ Just like you, I am unable to locate her. ]

He remained silent.

Then another notification appeared.

[ I have a bad feeling about this. ]

Arthur’s gaze sharpened.

[ You should meet Aiden immediately. ]

For a moment, he didn’t move.

His attention drifted toward the glass case resting on the bed.

Only a few minutes ago, he had been celebrating his reward and imagining the possibilities of Bloodline Synthesis.

Now, that reward barely occupied his thoughts.

He picked up the glass case and stored it in his System inventory.

Then he slipped his phone into his pocket and headed for the door.

There was no reason to remain in the room any longer.

He needed to find Aiden.

He needed answers.

Most importantly, he needed to know where Astarte was and what had happened to her since their last conversation.

Arthur reached for the door handle.

Turned it.

And pulled the door open.

Someone was standing directly outside.

Athena.

She stood close enough that Arthur had to stop before stepping into her.

Her veil was gone.

Nothing concealed her face now.

Her golden eyes met his crimson ones, and for a moment, neither of them spoke.

Arthur’s hand remained on the door.

Athena looked as though she had been waiting long enough to decide exactly what she wanted to say.

"We need to talk."

Her voice was low and controlled.

Arthur’s expression tightened.

"Later."

He stepped forward.

"I don’t have time right now. Something important has come up."

Athena didn’t move.

"Arthur."

He looked at her.

"Not now."

"I won’t let you leave until we talk."

The words settled between them.

Arthur stared at her.

He knew exactly what she wanted to discuss.

Their night together.

But right now, he had far more pressing matters to deal with than to deal with her personal concerns.

Astarte had vanished.

Yuna had been injured.

And the Church was moving against the World Tree.

He didn’t have the time or patience to deal with Athena’s concerns at this moment.

"Move aside, Athena."

His voice was colder now.

She remained where she was.

"I said we need to talk."

Arthur’s patience finally snapped.

Demonic energy surged from his body.

The atmosphere around the doorway grew heavy as an oppressive aura spread into the corridor.

Dark energy coiled around his right arm, enveloping it in a dense, shadowy mass. His fingers lengthened, his nails sharpened into vicious claws, and blackened ridges formed along his forearm.

A faint crimson glow seeped through the gaps between them.

Within seconds, his human arm had transformed into something monstrous.

Athena’s gaze dropped toward it.

Then slowly returned to his face.

Arthur didn’t raise his voice.

He didn’t need to.

"Then I suppose we’ll have to fight."

His killing intent spread through the corridor, making the surrounding air feel heavier with every passing second.

"Or you can move."