Laston visited this place again after his last attempt that time failed. He still hasn't given up. More precisely, he could not give up.
That was because what was kept within the tree was something that allowed him to gain enough power to continue with his plans.
Laston is back with careful preparations. Although the wounds on his body had not been properly healed, and he still had to channel his Magic energy into his wound, it would not be a problem this time.
He was carrying a device that seemed to come from a place with extraordinary technological developments. The device is square and flat.
The device was made of black metal with red neon lights on all four sides. Within the device was enough energy to pull the sword from the tree trunk.
With the device he got in the world where he was currently hiding, Laston thought he would be able to successfully draw the sword.
Laston almost put his palm on the surface of the device to activate it. Before he felt a strange pressure from behind him.
The tree also gave off a suspicious reddish glow. All these signs immediately made Laston move to hide. He knew that something was coming.
And he was right. Shortly after he ran he saw someone appear not far from where he had been standing.
Laston immediately hid behind the boulder while observing what was happening. He didn't expect that it was Erend who came.
Of course, Laston was confused and also angry. He always shows up where Laston wants to continue his plans and mess things up.
He didn't know why Erend could be here. But it seems he is panicking and wants to get out of there.
'He's talking to someone.'
Laston couldn't hear what he was saying. But it was obvious he was talking to someone.
Laston's heartbeat got faster and faster when he saw Erend see the sword stuck in the tree.
He finally found out about the existence of the sword that had never been recorded in the history of that Elf.
'This is bad. I must quickly retrieve the sword.'
If Erend saw that sword, then he would tell the Elves in the palace.
That way, something that only he should know - and he will possess - would be threatened.
The hatred Laston feels for Erend is increasing. Then came the desire to attack him from behind. In this place, if he was injured then he would die.
But before Laston could even move, Erend suddenly turned into a Dragon.
The Dragon's appearance which looks frightening with a body that looks like it was created from lightning made his guts shrink and he returned to hiding behind the rock.
Laston cursed inside. But that feeling of anger immediately disappeared, replaced by a feeling of awe when he saw the form of a Dragon with the power of lightning flashing around.
Every flash of lightning from the Dragon was reflected in Laston's eyes. He was unable to blink his eyes as he stared at that phenomenon.
Then the Dragon attacked the tree with all its might. In his view, Laston was sure that the tree would be destroyed immediately after receiving one slash of the Dragon's claws.
Yet, the tree stands firm. Laston was increasingly convinced that the tree was indeed the tree that had caused disaster hundreds of thousands of years ago.
Laston also watched as the Dragon seemed to kick the sword stuck in the tree trunk.
But he didn't succeed. Even the Dragon's leg was blown back by what seemed to be the protective field of the sword.
Laston had not expected that sword to be that powerful. The sword could even deflect a kick from a Dragon.
Laston watched as the Dragon finally gave up and decided to attack the tree again. Until finally a tear in space-time appeared and he entered to disappear from this place.
Laston came out from where he was hiding as soon as the Dragon disappeared.
He breathed a sigh of relief. He only realized that there was a feeling of tightness in his chest when he saw the Dragon's appearance again. Especially with the power of his lightning.
Laston wondered. Is it a feeling of fear?
But then he shook his head refusing to believe the idea.
Laston walked to approach the tree. It seemed to be destroyed due to receiving attacks from the Dragon. Yet, it still stands.
Laston then examined the embedded sword. He saw that the protective field surrounding the sword gave off a red glow that flashed in a heartbeat-like rhythm.
Laston instantly backed away from feeling the threatening pressure from the sword.
'I have to cancel it again.'
Laston knew he could no longer continue his efforts to pull out the sword.
The sword seemed to have entered a much higher state of alert than before after being struck by the Dragon.
Laston didn't dare interfere with it or he would be the outlet for whatever Magic was protecting the sword.
"I can't take that risk." Laston shook his head and then walked away from the tree.
He created a Portal and then entered it into it. Once again Laston had to swallow failure.
~~~
Erend finally came out of the tree's dimension. The time he spent there was fortunately not much.
Maybe because he managed to inflict an enormous amount of damage on the tree and forced it out of the dimension.
When Erend returned the situation had not changed. He returned to the place where he had disappeared.
Steve's hand was still outstretched towards him. The hands that were burned and charred like charcoal now didn't move anymore.
Neither did Steve. Erend looked at him with a wary look because maybe he would still launch a surprise attack like before.
However, after a while, Erend no longer saw any movement from Steve.
Steve gaped in a silent scream that looked miserable.
His only remaining eye returned to normal human eyes. But now those eyes have lost their life.
Steve has died in a pathetic and horrible state. It was due to the influence of that cursed tree's Magic.
Erend was only able to breathe a sigh of relief when he was sure that Steve was dead.
[Rewards: 1000 Exp. ]
[You Leveled Up! ]
[You Leveled Up! ]
Erend got a reward from a Quest that never appeared before. Not that he hates it, though.
After all, Tut said that he would get the reward once he finished killing Steve.
"Now what needs to be done is the business over there."
Erend walked back towards the facility.
At first, he walked casually because his body felt tired. But when he remembered that there were his friends who might be in trouble, Erend quickened his steps.
~~~
Billy and Adrien are now facing ten members of the security guard who happened to catch them.
Even though they were still wearing white clothes which made them invisible, the security officers came when Billy was lifting a cardboard box to collect it with a pile of papers that they were going to burn.
So, in the end, they were caught and the fight was inevitable.
"Get them! Don't let them get away!" said a big man who seemed to be the leader of the squad.
The security officers are now armed with stun guns and stun batons. They also wore light but strong full armor.
It seems they already know that the enemy they are dealing with needs extra preparation before facing them.
Those who previously only wore ordinary uniforms because they were in a hurry, were now more prepared in full armor.
This made Billy and Adrien anxious. Without Aurdis' help, the two of them are just ordinary humans facing a squad containing special forces.
"Shit, what do we do, Captain?" Billy whispered to Adrien.
"You know how to use this ring?" Adrien asked back.
"How should I know? I'm not an Elf, sir," Billy replied.
"I think we just have to channel our will and this ring will respond. I've talked to Aurdis and Erend about that," Adrien said.
"Are you sure?"
"No. Do you have anything else?"
"No." Billy shook his head.
Four security guards were lunging toward the two of them. Two of them approached Adrien and the other two approached Adrien.
They didn't want to take the risk and directly sent two people to deal with each of them. While the others waited behind.
They waited at the exit if somehow, the two people who were their target could escape from their four squad members.
One security guard swung his stun baton at Billy. He was still able to dodge it. But he couldn't avoid one more attack coming from another security guard.
*BUAGH!*
The baton hit Billy in the ribs. He groaned in pain. The pain caused quite a big impact because after that there was electricity that flowed from the center of the impact to Billy's body and paralyzed him.
Another stun baton came and hit Billy in the head.
*BUAGGH!*
Billy fell to the floor.
Meanwhile, Adrien, who wanted to help him, also couldn't escape the stun baton.
Amidst that situation, he immediately did what he said before. That is sending his will to be able to use the ring on his finger.
The ring gave off a silver light. Adrien swings his fist at the two security guards.
Unexpectedly, there was such a strong force that was created from Adrien's punch.
The force sent the two security guards into the air and then landed in front of their squad members.
Adrien's eyes widened at the silver shining ring. He couldn't believe that he had just used Magic.
~~~