The elves' trial had never been about strength or intelligence.
It existed to determine only one thing:
Whether you would harm this land…
or leave it untouched.
But for Asmodeus, it was different.
He was the child spoken of in the prophecy.
The tree did not wish to judge his intent—
it wished to measure his power.
Aeris was outside the trial grounds, waiting for him.
---
At the heart of the forest, the ancient tree stirred.
Its roots shifted deep beneath the earth.
Its leaves trembled without wind.
This was not an obstacle.
Nor was it a threat.
This was…
a measurement.
The tree did not wish to see Asmodeus's intentions.
It wanted to see the power he carried within.
The ground grew heavy.
The air pressed down.
Breathing became difficult.
Asmodeus took a single step forward.
And the world answered.
An invisible pressure crushed his chest.
The sword at his waist trembled.
His blood began to flow at a different rhythm.
The tree was calling him.
"Show me," it said.
"Show me what you carry."
Asmodeus clenched his teeth.
He did not reach for his sword.
But something inside him…
was awakening.
A purple light stirred deep within his eyes.
The ground cracked.
The roots withdrew.
For the first time, the elves whispered.
This was not a threat.
It was a display of power.
---
At that moment, Aeris stood outside the trial grounds.
She could not cross the boundary drawn by the elves.
Not a step forward.
Not a step back.
She waited.
When the forest fell silent, her heart tightened.
When the earth trembled, her breath caught.
She felt Asmodeus's power.
But she could not enter.
"No matter what… endure."
The trial was not meant for her.
But its result
would affect her more than anyone else.
---
The ancient tree withdrew its roots.
The pressure slowly faded.
Asmodeus fell to one knee, gasping for breath.
But he was still standing.
The tree had made its decision.
This child had not come to rule this land.
But this land…
could not deny his power.
The elves stepped aside.
And Asmodeus passed the trial.
---
As he did, the mist parted.
Revealing a colossal tree upon which thousands of elf villages were built.
Had the elves ever chosen to pursue power,
they might have rivaled even the Church itself.
---
"Greetings, child of prophecy.
I wished to see you with my own eyes.
I am Aeltharion Silvarion,
King of the Elves and Emissary of Yggdrasil."
"Asmodeus."
"Where is Aeris?"
"The pink-eyed girl?"
"She does not belong here.
She cannot enter this place."
A surge of purple mana rose from Asmodeus.
He was truly angry.
In response, an equally powerful green mana flared.
"It was only a small joke," said Aeltharion calmly.
"Our guest is currently at the royal palace."
Asmodeus relaxed.
"Then let's go."
---
Meanwhile, in the shadowed halls of the Church—
Azrael entered the chamber.
The grand hall fell silent once more.
High Priest Uriel struck his staff against the map,
pointing to the very heart of the elf domain.
"The elves," he said,
"are nothing but a veil."
The priests raised their heads.
"We speak of prophecy," Uriel continued,
"but that is not the true matter."
Azrael's gaze hardened.
Uriel noticed.
"At the heart of the elf domain," Uriel said,
"lie the roots of the world."
A name was whispered.
Yggdrasil.
---
"The Tree of Life," Uriel said.
"The root that binds all realms."
"The elves believe they protect it," he sneered.
"In truth, they are merely caretakers."
Azrael spoke quietly.
"To touch Yggdrasil…
is to touch the world itself."
Uriel nodded.
"We are here to shape the world."
The air in the hall grew heavy.
---
"The power of Yggdrasil," Uriel continued,
"can challenge even the gods."
"It nourishes time.
Holds fate.
And gives birth to prophecies."
Azrael stepped back.
"If the Church were to obtain that power…"
Uriel cut him off.
"We would no longer need gods."
Silence.
Even speaking such words was heresy.
Had the Pope heard this,
Uriel would have been executed.
---
"The attack on the elf domain," Uriel said,
"is for Yggdrasil."
"The elves will resist.
The tree will awaken.
And we…"
"…will descend to its roots."
Azrael turned away for the first time.
"This is not war," he said.
"This is… suicide."
Uriel smiled.
"But if we win,
history itself will be rewritten."
---
"With Yggdrasil's power," Uriel said,
"prophecies will no longer be warnings."
"And most importantly,
we will find that child."
Azrael spoke slowly.
Uriel struck his staff against the floor.
---
"Give the order."
"The elf domain will fall."
"And Yggdrasil…
will be taken from the gods."
Azrael left the hall.
He did not care about the elves.
But he knew one thing now—
This had to reach Asmodeus.
---
A black paper appeared in his hand.
From the shadows, a mage emerged.
"Show what is written here to Aeris."
The mage nodded.
Through a magical connection, words appeared before Aeris.
The Church will attack the elf domain within one week.
The elves were not a warrior race.
They wandered to protect nature, so that birds would not die.
They possessed only a small military force.
Aeris leapt from her bed and ran to the massive dining hall
where Asmodeus sat.
Her voice echoed across the vast chamber.
"THE CHURCH WILL ATTACK THE DOMAIN IN ONE WEEK!"
The elves fell silent at the table.
Even the leaf-crafted chandeliers did not stir.
King Aeltharion Silvarion slowly set down his cup.
"The Church," he said calmly,
"cannot enter this land while Yggdrasil stands."
That sentence ignited Aeris's anger.
"Cannot?" she shouted.
"They defy even the gods!
They seek to seize Yggdrasil!"
For the first time, the elves grew uneasy.
Asmodeus raised his head.
Cracks spread across the table.
---
"The Church," Asmodeus said,
"has entered places that were said to be impossible before."
Purple mana rose uncontrollably from his shoulders.
The elves held their breath.
Aeltharion narrowed his eyes.
"Your power," he said,
"has not yet awakened."
Asmodeus stood.
"But it will," he said.
"And when that day comes…
it will no longer matter whether I stand inside this land or outside it."
The air grew heavy.
---
Aeltharion struck his staff against the ground.
Yggdrasil's leaves trembled.
"There is something the Church does not know," the elf king said.
"Yggdrasil is not a fortress."
"Nor is it a weapon."
Aeris asked sharply,
"Then what is it?"
Aeltharion looked at Asmodeus.
"A balance."
---
"Yggdrasil," he said,
"does not retaliate against attacks."
"But if the threat grows…"
"…it breaks the balance."
The elves began to whisper.
"We are not a warrior race," Aeltharion said.
"But if the Church attacks this land,
they will not leave unscathed."
"We… will endure."
Asmodeus clenched his fist.
"One week," he said.
"In one week, the Church will complete its preparations."
Aeris stepped forward.
"We can't wait," she said.
"We must prepare."
Aeltharion spoke:
"Abandon your tasks.
Send word to gather every elf scattered across the four corners of the land."
Asmodeus spoke next.
"I will support you."
The elves recoiled.
Aeltharion was surprised for the first time.
"You are a guest in this land."
Asmodeus lifted his gaze.
"I am not a guest," he said.
---
At that moment—
Yggdrasil's trunk groaned deeply.
Roots shifted.
Leaves darkened.
The elves fell to their knees.
Aeltharion's voice trembled for the first time.
"Yggdrasil…"
The Church was approaching.
And the balance…
was about to break.
---
The tree's branches wrapped around Asmodeus and Aeris.
"I know why you have come," the tree said.
"If you seek my branches, protect the elves."
"I cannot take part in this war.
My powers are sealed.
But I can aid you."
A seal formed from the branches.
The elves' sacred relic—Excalibur—
rose from its sheath on its own.
The sacred stone settled upon it.
Green mana radiated from Excalibur.
It was clearly stronger.
The tree let a single drop of water fall upon Aeris's sword.
The blade changed form.
An eye opened at its center.
Aeris heard a voice.
She flinched.
The sword was speaking.
"Well then…
if I have awakened after centuries,
you must truly be in danger."
It said nothing more.
The branches slowly withdrew.
"I trust you, heroes."
Thousands of weapons appeared before the elves.
---
Aeltharion slowly straightened.
"Very well," he said.
"The elves will fight."
But he looked at Asmodeus.
"If I must choose between this land and you…
I will choose the land."
Aeris held her breath.
"One week," the elf king said.
"Seven days."
"If the Church takes the first step…"
"They will suffer the shock of their lives."
Purple light flared in Asmodeus's eyes.
His face began to change.
Aeris's did as well.
They could not be recognized.
After all, the Church ruled half the world.
---
Far away,
The Church declared a holy war.
Though not all its armies gathered,
a great portion assembled.
The Pope opposed the decision,
but could not withstand the pressure.
And the world
held its breath,
waiting for the outcome of this war.