A violent storm of fire and fury raged in the distance.
Compared to Jenna, Xue Yan showed even greater potential as a perfect sex slave. During our endless coupling, she obeyed every whim, serving me as master without a contract—pure devotion.
"Come live with me in the Empire. Jenna will be there too—you won't be lonely."
Xue Yan, exhausted and glowing, clung to my waist, feverish cheek pressed against my chest. Stargazing with a beautiful girl in my arms, I felt life couldn't get better.
But nothing is perfect. At my peak satisfaction, Xue Yan said the last thing I wanted to hear.
"I'm sorry… I can't leave yet."
"Why?"
She climbed atop me, hands on my chest, eyes burning with emotion that could melt steel.
"They still need me. I can't be selfish anymore—can't cause more trouble. Sorola… please understand."
Looking into her eyes, I saw lingering shadows and fear. Even unspoken, I knew the truth. Three centuries of love don't vanish overnight. That man's ghost still haunted her—she needed time.
As a man, what could I do?
I knew women like Xue Yan loved one man forever. But I was confident: one day I'd claim the most important place in her heart—surpassing him.
"Fine. I won't force you. But remember—in Febenli City, Sorola Rubia has built a home for his beloved elf Xue Yan. It's waiting whenever you're ready."
"Sorola…"
Cue endless, adults-only kissing sounds.
"Mm… Sorola… no more teasing, okay? Xue Yan is satisfied."
"Teasing? What teasing?"
"Aren't you?"
"What are you talking about?"
Then I felt it too. Xue Yan lay on me, I on the bed—but strange vibrations rose from beneath.
We stared at each other, eyes widening.
"Earthquake?!"
Pounding knocks at the door.
"Lord Sorola—disaster!!"
By the time Xue Yan and I reached the high observation platform, the grand elder, Serbei, Jenna, Zhan Ying, Chishi, and dozens of officers waited. I ignored their curious glances and rushed to the railing.
I froze.
Silverleaf Forest's countless giant trees—alive—marched toward Gaia from all directions, encircling us.
"Am I dreaming?"
I pinched the grand elder's cheek. He yelped, raising his staff to retaliate. I ignored the generals restraining him. Trees walking? Pigs flying next?
But his curses and ground tremors proved it real. The forest advanced.
"Anyone know what's happening?"
A tall, thin elf stepped beside me.
"Too dark, too far—we can't confirm."
I nodded—scout commander Yin Jing.
"Jenna?"
"Here, Master."
"What are you doing? Use your Emerald Eye!"
"Huh? But… Master… it's dark…"
"Idiot! Channel magic into your right eye!"
"Ah!"
Jenna's mouth fell open—she'd never realized her new pupil's power. Adorable blockhead.
Under tense silence, Jenna faced the forest. Silver hair lifted without wind, revealing the emerald eye. First activation—dazzling, eerie green light bloomed, bathing the platform emerald.
Tens of thousands of elf soldiers on platforms held breath, awaiting their saintess's guidance.
"What do you see?"
"The trees… they're running—charging straight at us…"
"How many?"
"Many… at least 40-50,000 giant bridgewoods, nearly a thousand super-giants like redwoods and cedars. Countless shrubs. Oh! A girl sits atop the lead redwood!"
Serbei paled.
"Girl? Describe her."
"Light blue hair… long-sleeved black top, white shorts… on the massive redwood. Beside her—a huge deep-blue crystal orb."
"That's no orb—it's the water artifact 'Dragon Eye.' She's Haiping, dark elf archmage and clan leader's sister. If I'm right, she's casting their secret forbidden spell—Ultimate Evil Water: Rampaging Demon Trees."
Jenna, distracted, lost control—the emerald glow faded, her body sagging into my arms. Everyone, including me, reeled at the threat.
My magic was weak, but knowledge deep. Beyond legendary forbidden curses, ultimate magic was most feared—capable of annihilating armies or razing cities. Today I witnessed it.
50,000 towering trees charging like monsters—enough to crush 100,000 human troops or trample city walls. Utterly broken.
"Rampaging Demon Trees is evil ultimate water magic—infusing the caster's will and power via moisture, animating trees into killing beasts. Forbidden for centuries—they never used it in millennia of war. Haiping deploying it now means dark elves want total extermination."
Serbei smiled bitterly. I stared coldly ahead, ice spreading through me—the familiar pre-battle chill.
"Longevity ordered this, not Haiping. They were forced—our poison burn crippled the orcs. They played their trump early."
"Lord Sorola… Xue Yan doesn't understand. Why not use this sooner?"
I smiled at my newest woman. Serbei answered first.
"Every spell has cost. Even I—an archmage—controlling tens or hundreds of thousands of trees would drain me for weeks.
"As Lord Sorola said, careless orcs fell to poison smoke, perhaps halting advance. Dark elves had no choice but to play this card early. But the true terror is the strategist behind it."
"Commander Serbei is right. Longevity is brilliant—decisive, adaptive. Moving trees clears poison and orc obstacles while attacking us. Masterstroke."
My casual praise calmed jittery elves.
"But… doesn't this ruin our advantage? Ah—sorry, Lord Sorola, I didn't mean…"
Scout Yin Jing. I patted his shoulder.
"No offense. You're right—it hurts us. Commander Serbei, you know the counter-ultimate to destroy these trees?"
"I… yes, but… Lord Sorola…"
Damn!
My heart jolted. I'd underestimated Longevity again. Forcing tree guardians to destroy trees myself? Idiotic. The enemy anticipated our response—knew we'd hesitate.
But I'd prepared counters. Longevity—don't underestimate your opponent: Sorola Rubia, the Empire's finest strategist.
"Lord Sorola, what now…"
"Heh heh… Commander Serbei, I'm just an advisor—you're the archmage. Handling magic is your job."
Serbei dragged me aside, whispering urgently.
"No time—name your price. How do we stop them?"
"Simple hint: Rampaging Demon Trees is devastating—but odd, isn't it? With all that wood, setting them ablaze first would be far deadlier."
"Ah! You mean… they don't want to harm the trees?"
"Heh heh… sharp. Strictly, caster Haiping doesn't."
Holy and dark elves both revered nature. Charging burning trees would be apocalyptic—but they didn't. Haiping refused to sacrifice the forest.
"Create a crisis—Haiping will halt advance. Stop the army, spell breaks. But leave the dirty work to you—I'm just a humble alchemist."
"Understood! All fire mages—with me!!"
Serbei rallied twenty elite fire mages into formation.
Borrowing the grand elder's crimson fire staff, he floated at the center. As he chanted, he and the mages glowed red-hot. The scorching pressure forced me back a step—only for Jenna and Xue Yan to shield me instantly.
They exchanged awkward glances; other elves eyed them sourly. Understandable—saintess and mage-archer commander both mine? Jealousy fueled my ego.
I gripped their waists, kissing each cheek. They blushed under envious glares.
Serbei finished. He roared skyward.
Advanced fire magic—Super Firewall.
A long red line appeared on the horizon—then exploded upward. A miles-wide flame cascade erupted from the earth, tongues licking the heavens—an endless wall of fire brighter than day, blocking the demon tree army.
War is psychological.
If they charged through burning, perhaps two-thirds would survive—but I bet on their hearts.
Tremors weakened. My trap worked.