Chapter 85 – Elysion

The center of Elysion.

A giant beanstalk that pierced the sky and soared above the clouds stood straight like a pillar, glowing on its own and warmly illuminating its surroundings.

It was the Sun Tree.

Most giant trees that could be called World Trees typically had the shape of ash trees, with branches spreading wide like an umbrella.

However, the Sun Tree, which evolved from a sword bean plant, had most of its branches clustered around the trunk.

Because of this, it somewhat resembled a tower at first glance.

The trees in Elysion were much shorter compared to the average trees in the Great Flood that had undergone multiple awakenings, making the Sun Tree stand out even more.

Just as the five Sacred Mountains within the territory of the Sun Kingdom restricted the awakening of non-human species, the Sun Tree similarly restricted the awakening of other flora and fauna within Elysion.

Duren, Andrei, and Pheidippides, the trio, had stopped their steps just before the boundary of Elysion.

“A frontal breakthrough would be impossible.”

“Just the visible 8-Star beasts alone number over ten, so there’s no other way.”

At the boundary of Elysion, where the Sun Tree’s influence did not reach, phantom beast species had gathered in droves, drawn by the high concentration of vital energy flowing from the Sun Tree.

The only fortunate thing was that the phantom beast species were not particularly interested in them, as they were busy absorbing the Sun Tree’s vital energy.

“We’ll use holy water to pass through quietly here.”

Andrei said as he took out holy water imbued with a Stealth Miracle and sprinkled it on himself.

Duren, who had apparently planned to do the same from the start, also sprinkled the holy water he had prepared in advance to deploy the Stealth Miracle.

However, unlike the two, Pheidippides, who had not received the holy water, could not use the same method.

“Ah, you don’t have holy water?”

“Sorry, but I don’t have any spare holy water either…”

“No need to worry. I have a separate method in mind as well.”

What the Sun Tree’s influence repels are species other than humans and elves.

Pheidippides could simply cross the boundary zone where the phantom beast species were using Shrinking Earth.

“Then, I’ll go ahead first.”

Pat.

With those words, Pheidippides entered inside Elysion.

The two, who were watching the spot where he disappeared, also hurriedly—yet quietly—passed through the phantom beast species and entered Elysion before the effect of the Stealth Miracle wore off.

* * *

As soon as Pheidippides entered Elysion, a shadow leaped out from above the trees.

It was a shadow with pointed ears unlike humans and a well-balanced, beautiful appearance.

Amidst a refreshing scent that tickled the nostrils, as if carrying the freshness of nature.

“It’s been a long time since a human guest has visited.”

An elf sentry approached Pheidippides and spoke to him.

Judging by the felt Grade, it was likely a 5-Star Elder Elf.

“Pleased to meet you. I am Pheidippides.”

“…Huh? How is a human at 7-Star?”

The elf sentry, whose gender was unclear, seemed surprised upon noticing Pheidippides’s Grade.

It was understandable, as for a human to reach 7-Star in Arcadia, a Race Transformation was necessary.

“Ah, it’s still difficult to say I’m truly 7-Star. The reason I came to Elysion is to properly ascend to 7-Star by borrowing the power of the Sun Tree.”

“Hmm. Is that so. Since you are also a Sun’s Vassal like us, it’s possible to challenge the Sun Tree’s Trial… but success is not guaranteed.”

Even among Ancient Elves, only a very few overcame the Sun Tree’s Trial and were reborn as High Elves.

Most simply became nutrients for the Sun Tree and met their deaths.

Moreover, the probability of a human, not even an elf, overcoming the trial was even lower.

It was understandable that the elf sentry was warning him.

However, if he intended to give up after hearing the warning, he wouldn’t have come this far in the first place.

“I am fully aware of that. That’s why I’ve raised my Grade this much to succeed.”

“…With that level of resolve, I won’t dissuade you any further. Will you go right away?”

“No. I have companions, so I’ll wait until they arrive.”

“Companions… must be them.”

Just then, Andrei and Duren, who had crossed the boundary of Elysion, noticed them and were approaching.

“Two Gold’s Vassals… Seeing that one of them has reached the limit of the human species, it seems you intend to go to the Sky Island?”

“Yes. That’s correct.”

At that moment, Duren looked at the elf sentry and exclaimed with an excited face.

“Ooh! A real elf! The ears are really pointy.”

“How rude. I am not a spectacle.”

At Duren’s blatant reaction, the elf sentry glared at him with a cold gaze.

Realizing his mistake, Duren immediately apologized.

“Ah, I’m sorry. I got too excited and made a mistake.”

Perhaps because he had become a child’s body, it seemed his mind had regressed as well.

No, actually, even before the Rejuvenation, he had a personality overflowing with romance for various legends.

At the swift apology, the elf sentry’s gaze softened, then suddenly turned toward Duren’s lower abdomen.

A gaze as if sensing the Golden Core within his Dantian.

“You… have a sun within your belly? A Gold’s Vassal manifesting the Sun’s Attribute… that’s quite a rare sight.”

“Oh, is that something great?”

“Great, you could say… it feels like you’ve gained one more option. If you continue along the Path of Gold, you could become a giant, but you could also switch to the Path of the Sun and become a High Elf.”

It was possible because he had absorbed half of Pheidippides’s Primal Spirit God directly into his Golden Core.

Duren seemed to ponder the elf sentry’s explanation for a moment before speaking.

“Hmm. Becoming a High Elf isn’t bad either… but I’m still more drawn to becoming a giant.”

It was a statement that came out because the Giant’s Celestial Body that Andrei had shown still lingered in his vision like an afterimage.

However, perhaps because it sounded like he was saying a giant was better than a High Elf, the elf sentry replied curtly.

“The choice is yours, so it doesn’t matter, but I hope you make a choice you won’t regret.”

Then, the elf sentry’s gaze turned toward Andrei.

“Ah, and if you intend to ascend to the Sky Island, you must first obtain Her Majesty the Queen’s permission. Challenging the Sun Tree’s Trial is a privilege for those serving the same Constellation and doesn’t require special permission, but it’s different for those serving other Constellations.”

“What must we do to obtain permission?”

“You must offer a price. If you are Heroes, offering the Points contained in your Hero’s Plates should suffice. About 100 million Points.”

It was similar to how Duren had offered Points to challenge Ten’s Spirit Domain to a duel.

However, the required Points were too high.

100 million Points was an amount that could instantly propel a newly minted Iron Badge Hero to the top ranks of the Gold Plate.

“So that’s it… this must be what the senior Heroes meant. They said you must accumulate 100 million Points before going to the Sky Island. That was because of this.”

“Uh……”

Andrei seemed to already have over 100 million Points.

The problem was Duren.

Although he had gained a considerable amount of Points from accompanying Hanna on her Pilgrimage Path, Rescue Operations, and Demon King Subjugation, it still didn’t even reach a million Points.

“What if we don’t have enough Points?”

“Do you also intend to ascend to the Sky Island? You don’t seem to be at that level yet.”

The elf sentry’s question was valid.

Although he had reached 6-Star through the Guarantee of the Righteous Will, he hadn’t even filled one new Unique Skill Slot yet.

And he hadn’t achieved the Feats required for Six-Star Promotion Completion either.

But that didn’t mean Duren had no reason to go to the Sky Island.

“I don’t necessarily want to become a giant. I just want to ascend to the Sky Island even as a human.”

Duren’s motivation could be seen as simply a romantic sense of adventure.

Adding a bit of Lee Hanseong’s wish to that, perhaps the process of ascending to the Sky Island could become the Feat to complete his 6-Star Promotion?

At Duren’s bold answer, the elf sentry’s atmosphere changed abruptly.

“[What an interesting human. I’m becoming curious to see if you can actually succeed.]”

It was a voice laden with a Grade that made it clear that although the words were coming from the elf sentry’s mouth, the actual speaker was a different being.

The Grade of a High Elf who had reached 7-Star was being felt indirectly.

“Who are you…?”

“[I am Elysia Greenwood, serving as the Queen of Elysion. Shall we continue the detailed conversation face-to-face shortly?]”

Swoosh.

As soon as the words ended, the presence of the High Elf that had possessed the elf sentry vanished.

“Her Majesty summons you. I will guide you, so follow me.”

“Understood.”

Following the elf sentry, who had returned to normal, they headed toward the center of Elysion where the Sun Tree stood.

* * *

Most of the buildings in Elysion were constructed on the trees.

After passing through a small forest scattered with eco-friendly structures made using the Sun Tree’s bean pods for a while.

Soon after arriving at the Sun Tree, houses stacked in layers on the Sun Tree came into view.

“Wow. So all those are houses.”

Houses made by intertwining vine-like branches clustered around the trunk were densely packed together.

A structure reminiscent of apartments on Earth.

And on the ground level, touching the earth, stood a building with a high ceiling like a palace.

“Her Majesty resides on the lowest branch, so you should be able to meet her immediately upon entering.”

That was where the Queen resided.

Entering through the main gate, there was a corridor lined with elf knights.

At the end was the Queen’s audience hall.

“Welcome to Elysion. Vassals of the Sun and Gold.”

At the formal, stiff welcome from the Elf Queen, their gaze naturally turned toward the wall behind the throne where she sat.

The back wall of the audience hall exposed the Sun Tree’s trunk, and in the center was a large knothole closed by a sturdy door.

As if noticing that gaze, the Elf Queen explained casually.

“Curious about the door behind me? It’s the door used by those challenging the Sun Tree’s Trial to enter inside the Sun Tree. The door Mr. Pheidippides will enter through shortly.”

“I see.”

“And you, Hero. You said you lack Points.”

As the Elf Queen’s gaze turned toward Duren, he nodded.

“Even without Points, there is a way to go to the Sky Island.”

“Really?!”

“Of course. It’s just that the unpaid price remains as a debt.”

“I don’t mind.”

Since Points could ultimately be earned more easily as one’s True Body abilities grew.

Even if it meant incurring debt, going to the Sky Island first was beneficial.

“Refreshingly decisive. I like that.”

At Duren’s answer, the Queen smiled faintly and closed her eyes for a moment.

As when she had possessed the elf sentry, she seemed to be transmitting her will to someone.

Sure enough, shortly after, an elderly elf entered, collected Andrei and Duren’s Hero’s Plates, and deducted the Points.

“It’s been processed.”

Looking at his now-negative Points, Duren made a pained expression.

Fortunately, the deducted Points did not affect his ranking like when he was an Iron Plate.

This was because from the Copper Plate onward, rankings were calculated based on cumulative Points, not held Points.

Thus, with the Elf Queen’s permission granted, nothing stood in their way any longer.

“Then, I will undertake the trial immediately.”

At Pheidippides’s words, the Queen opened the door blocking the knothole behind the throne.

Creak.

As the inside of the Sun Tree’s trunk, made of light, was revealed.

Pheidippides unhesitatingly stepped inside.

Thud.

The door closed again.

“Let’s meet again alive.”

Right after the Queen’s voice faintly came from beyond the door.

WHOOSHWHOOSHWHOOSHWHOOSHWHOOSH!!!!

A torrent of light containing the Sun Tree’s immense life force swept over Pheidippides.

The torrent of light was the Sun Tree’s will itself.

Countless whispers could be heard.

The whispers of Ancient Elves who had failed to overcome the Sun Tree’s Trial and melted into the Sun Tree.

Murmur murmur-

If he didn’t regain his senses properly, it felt like his consciousness would instantly melt into that flow of light.

A fear similar to the pressure felt during dimensional Transition surged up.

“No, I can still endure.”

It was actually better than when passing through the gaps between dimensions.

Using Yang Will Divine Art, he split his consciousness—one part enduring the Sun Tree’s will, while the other deployed an Aerial View to observe the situation outside.

* * *

Outside the Sun Tree, Duren and Andrei were also climbing the Sun Tree via a spiral staircase installed on the outer part of the building.

Up to the height where the elves’ houses were attached, there were stairs, so climbing wasn’t too difficult.

However, above the highest house, there were no stairs, so they had to climb the trunk as if scaling a cliff.

“From here, we’ll have to hang onto the trunk and climb. I’ll go first, follow behind me.”

Andrei, who had deployed his Ironclad Treasure Body, first drove his hands and feet into the sturdy trunk and climbed the tree, and Duren followed the path he left.

The marks Andrei left on the bark quickly Regenerated, so Duren had to continuously maintain distance.

Chuk chuk chuk chuk…

Thus, the two Heroes continued climbing upward, matching their speed.

But as they kept watching, something felt strange.

There was a distortion that could be discerned because he was looking down with an Aerial View.

‘The distance to the top isn’t decreasing at all?’

Given their speed, they should have reached the height with clouds by now.

Yet, they were still only about halfway up.

As if the same space was repeating.