My world-tree system-Chapter 78 - 77: Returning to Vollua

Foster took a deep breath, his gaze sweeping over the tired but determined faces around him. The reunion had given everyone a glimmer of hope, but they all knew that the road ahead was still full of pitfalls. He turned his attention back to King Thorgrim, who was watching them in silence, his face grave.

- King Thorgrim," he began respectfully, "if we are to succeed in stopping the Kaizen and their minions, we must first return to Vollua. Our brothers and sisters still await us there, not to mention the Mother Tree, Lïanna, who is the key to our survival.

Thorgrim nodded slowly, thoughtfully stroking his white beard.

- Your people are waiting for you, Foster, that’s for sure. But the road ahead will be dangerous. The lands are overrun by dark forces... and if the Kaizen really do return, they’ll seek to strike where it hurts you most.

- I know that," admitted Foster, clutching the jade egg tightly, "but we have to get back. To do that, we’ll need a precise map of the area, showing safe passages through the mountains and forest.

Thorgrim gestured to one of his advisors, who quickly disappeared before returning with a carefully rolled-up map. The king unrolled it on a massive table carved into the rock, revealing a detailed representation of the region surrounding Eldorim and Vollua.

- Here’s our latest knowledge," declared Thorgrim, pointing to mountain passages marked in red. These trails are safe, but beware of the black areas. They are now infested with Obscurus, and perhaps worse.

Foster nodded, leaning over to examine the map carefully.

- We’ll avoid the dark areas as much as possible. He pointed to a part of the forest where they’d been attacked. However, during our escape, I lost several companions... Some, like Giovanni, became World Woods thanks to my spell [Renewal of Life]. They may still be waiting for us, protected by the spirits of the forest.

Kassandra approached, also observing the map with unusual seriousness.

- So Giovanni is... she hesitated, her eyes clouding slightly. We’ll have to go and see, Foster.

- Yes," he replied, determined. We’ll go through this part of the forest. We’ll have to check if the trees born of our comrades are still standing. They deserve to be checked.

Thorgrim crossed his arms slowly, observing the group with respect.

- Your courage is admirable, elves of Vollua. But how will we stay in touch once you’ve left our tunnels?

Foster hesitated, thoughtful, but it was Kassandra who answered first.

- The Woods of the World are connected to the Mother Tree. Thanks to Lïanna, we could establish a link with a magical object. If you can give us something personal, King Thorgrim, something imbued with your energy... perhaps we can create a long-distance connection between Eldorim and Vollua.

King Thorgrim nodded slowly, removing from his neck a silver pendant engraved with ancient dwarven runes.

- Take this," he said solemnly, handing it to Foster. It’s an ancestral relic that has passed through the generations of my lineage. If what you say is true, it should serve as a link between our peoples.

Foster took the amulet with respect, immediately feeling the powerful energy it exuded.

- Thank you, King Thorgrim. Your trust honors us.

Suddenly, as they were finalizing their plan, Köflik suddenly raised his head, his eyes widening with sudden excitement. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

- Wait a minute... If we go back to Vollua now, then the ritual child in Lïanna’s womb should already be born! he exclaimed, his voice vibrating with enthusiasm.

A stunned silence followed his words. Then, slowly, a smile lit up the faces of the group.

- By the Mother Tree!" Kassandra murmured with emotion, a tear gently running down her cheek. It’s true, it’s true! He should be with us by now...

Foster felt a wave of emotion wash over him, mixing joy and apprehension. This birth represented their future, their hope, everything they’d fought for until now.

- Then we must leave now," Foster declared in a firm voice, instinctively tightening his grip on the egg. Our people, our future... everything now rests on this return to Vollua.

Thorgrim laid a reassuring hand on Foster’s shoulder, smiling respectfully but warmly.

- Come on, elf. Go back to your people. But remember, you’re no longer alone in this struggle. The dwarf people will walk beside you.

As Foster and his group checked their equipment and provisions one last time, ready to begin their journey to Vollua, a sudden shout echoed through the adjacent corridors, followed by an eerie silence.

Everyone instantly raised their heads, looking at each other with concern. Thorgrim frowned harshly, his gaze immediately shifting to his guards, who immediately grabbed their axes.

- What’s going on over there?" growled the dwarf king authoritatively.

Without waiting for an answer, Thorgrim dashed towards the source of the noise, his guards rushing after him, armed and ready for battle. Foster and the others exchanged quick glances and, in silent agreement, they too dashed forward, their hearts pounding with apprehension.

When they reached the intersection of the corridors, the macabre scene that greeted them drew a horrified hiccup from each of them.

Before them lay the lifeless bodies of several dwarf guards. Their heads had literally exploded, spraying blood, flesh and bone fragments onto the tunnel walls, creating a gruesome tableau of brutal, merciless violence.

Thorgrim let out a roar of fury at the sight of this massacre.

- Who dares...? he began in a growling voice.

But his sentence remained unfinished, stifled by a light, sinister laugh that echoed softly through the corridors.

- Oh come now, what’s all the fuss about, Your Majesty?" came a lilting, almost joyful voice. After all, it was just a bit of fun, wasn’t it?

Joker slowly detached himself from the shadows, his cruel, arrogant smile hanging on his lips. His mauve eyes sparkled with unhealthy pleasure, openly revelling in the horror and anger he had just provoked. His gait was fluid, almost dancing, totally incongruous in this corridor stained with blood and death.

Thorgrim took a step forward, his jaw clenched in rage, his hand gripping the handle of his axe so tightly that his knuckles turned white.

- Who are you, demon?" he roared, his voice vibrating with deep, uncontrolled anger. How dare you spill the blood of my men in my own kingdom?

Joker tilted his head slightly, his smile widening almost unbearably.

- Me? Oh, you can simply call me Joker, my dear King," he replied with a falsely innocent air. But I must admit I rather like the term ’demon’. It’s flattering, really.

His eyes slid slowly towards Foster and his group, openly savoring their shock and anger. He waved a hand, as if they were old friends reunited after a brief absence.

- Ah, Foster!" said Joker with unhealthy glee. I see you’ve already made some new friends! What joy! What emotion! What... sadness, all the same, that I’ve already had to interrupt this wonderful reunion.

Foster stepped forward immediately, instinctively placing his body between Joker and his friends, his gaze burning with hatred and disgust.

- Joker..." he hissed contemptuously. You don’t belong here. Leave before I kill you.

Joker burst out laughing, a clear, sinister laugh that echoed through the corridor like a macabre melody.

- Oh, such bravery, Foster! I’m almost impressed... almost," he added with a scornful pout. But let’s be realistic, shall we? We both know how our last confrontation ended, don’t we?

His gaze slowly returned to Thorgrim, his lips stretching into an even darker, more provocative smile.

- As for you, King of the Deep," Joker continued in a caressing, provocative tone, "are you really prepared to sacrifice yet more of your precious men simply to defend these insignificant elves? I’m curious to see how far your loyalty will go...

Thorgrim was almost trembling with contained anger, his voice growling, almost bestial:

- You’ll regret every drop of blood you’ve spilled, monster.

Joker burst out again with a joyous laugh, almost childlike in its cruelty.

- Oh, I hope so, Your Majesty! he replied enthusiastically. After all, what’s the point of a game without consequences, without regrets, without suffering? No, really... this is perfect!

He slowly raised one hand, forming a dark, menacing shadow blade, ready to strike again, openly challenging Foster, Thorgrim and their allies.

- Now, let’s see if this time you can give me a more... entertaining show," he whispered with relish, his eyes blazing with insatiable dementia.

The tension was palpable, the air charged with mortal threat.

Foster instinctively clutched the jade egg, ready to defend what was most precious to him, while Thorgrim and his dwarf guards prepared for the confrontation.

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Hi all, if you can take a look at my other novel to give it strength: Its name is Starting out as dragon slaves

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