This Lich Requests More Remuneration-Chapter 119 - 112 The Elf Queens Last Hope

Chapter 119: Chapter 112 The Elf Queen’s Last Hope

Chapter 119 -112 The Elf Queen’s Last Hope

Using powers that aren’t one’s own always comes at a price.

Even deities are no exception. Vishalon, the God of the Liches, had become a deity by accepting gifts from the Lord of the Storm, yet ended up unable to bear it and fled.

Mere mortals, how could they possibly master legendary powers without enduring the passage of many years?

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Katherine used her own legendary power to forcibly elevate others, granting half of the Elf Tribe immense strength but also inevitably infecting them with magic addiction.

The power, now merged with their bloodlines, could not be eradicated. It would be unconsciously used in daily life, and then the magic addiction would become more intense, draining everything. If Elves were short-lived, it wouldn’t be such a big problem, as with careful management, they would die of old age before the addiction took hold.

But Elves are a long-lived species.

According to estimates, even if they constantly restrained themselves from using that power, the magic addiction would begin to manifest around the age of three hundred.

At first, one would only notice an increase in appetite. But ordinary food would hardly satisfy, leading to a need for magical foods, such as certain stimulating beverages and the like.

After that, one simply couldn’t function without magical drinks; without them, one would feel listless and discomfort throughout the body.

As the condition worsened, even lying still would cause rapid depletion of magical energy. At this point, magic potions would have to be consumed like food, but the ever-widening void could never be filled.

The sensation of being emptied of magic would drive the Elves mad, tormenting not only their bodies but corroding their souls as well. Normal emotions would start to blur, leaving only violence and cruelty, as if by transferring one’s own agony onto others, they could alleviate their symptoms.

Dozens of Elves already exhibited symptoms of magic addiction, signaling that the first wave of an addiction epidemic was imminent.

If Elves did nothing, magic addiction would keep on erupting, plunging the Elf Tribe into despair and leading to their complete extinction.

To address the problem, Katherine had tried engaging in lengthy prayers, hoping to find guidance from the Deity. However, the method suggested by the Elven Gods was shocking to Katherine.

They advised abandoning the Elves who were infected by magic addiction and preserving those who were not, simply by exiling the afflicted.

Katherine could hardly believe that this was the answer provided by the Elven Gods.

It seemed reasonable at first, but that was half the entire elven population.

Katherine could not accept this outcome; she could not understand why the gods, who had always cherished the Elf Tribe, would make such a cruel decision.

Taking the risk of blasphemy by continuing to question, Katherine only received a counter-question in the end, “Is the Elf Tribe facing an existential crisis that forces them to struggle for survival in this manner?”

This query left Katherine speechless.

When sharing her power, there were no internal strife or external threats to the Elf Tribe; it was Katherine, after obtaining the legendary power, who lost the necessary restraint.

If she could enable the entire Elf Tribe to possess legendary power, she would be regarded as the greatest queen in elven history.

Unable to resist this temptation, she ultimately made a grave mistake.

The Elven Gods would never abandon their people. They generously blessed the Elves, making them the most outstanding race while teaching them patience, kindness, and the restraint of desires.

For years, the Elf Tribe lived peacefully, their status respected by other kingdoms no matter how they changed, even during the era of Magic Dragon rule.

This was the protection of the Elven Gods for the Elf Tribe; external dangers were never a true threat to them.

And yet, this pampered child had been playing with fire at home.

Perhaps, only an ugly scar could teach this spoiled child a lesson, allowing them to truly grow. Losing half their population would be a painful experience for the Elf Tribe, but if it made them truly recognize their errors, they would eventually prosper anew.

The Elven Gods cherished the race of Elves, not a specific era of the Elf Tribe.

A civilization that needs to develop must correct its own mistakes.

This may seem cruel, but in the eyes of the gods, the race of Elves has always been multiplying, with life and death intertwining. Today’s Elves are not the first generation; the number of those who have died over time is dozens of times greater than the current population.

Death is inconsequential if it can redirect the course of a civilization’s development. Such sacrifices are deemed worthwhile by the gods.

But Katherine could not accept this. She couldn’t stand by and watch half the elven population die, especially when they were unaware of their impending deaths.

With the first wave of magic addiction about to break out and Alchemy City in chaos, the kingdom on the brink of destruction, Katherine saw an opportunity. After discussing with the elven leadership, she decided to provoke an external war.

Alchemy City had preserved a substantial alchemical industrial system. If this could be captured, the Elf Tribe would be able to produce a large amount of inexpensive alchemical potions at a low cost, which could effectively alleviate the mortality rate once the first wave of magic addiction struck.

Although it was just delaying death, with enough time, perhaps there would be a chance for salvation?

Moreover, the Desert Dwarves will also vie for the territories of Alchemy City, which will result in a brutal war. Instead of letting my people die in despair, why not let them perish in battle, where at least their suffering is lessened? They will be recorded in the annals of Elf Tribe history as war heroes, rather than a mere number of casualties due to the foolishness of the Elf Queen.

This is why the Elf Tribe must send out troops.

This is also why the Elf Tribe must expel all the natives, for the Elf Tribe cannot afford to be discovered by outsiders to be afflicted with the addiction disease, or a catastrophic outcome will ensue.

The recent isolation of the Silvermoon Tribunal is related to this; they could not allow any information to leak.

Now, the war has started.

The magic contracts signed by the Dusk Guard with those Lords are in fact a form of special Legendary Power.

As everyone knows, a Ranger can choose a race as their “favored enemy.”

When facing their favored enemy, Rangers gain a significant advantage, such as higher accuracy, reduced chance of being hit, and enhanced resistances among others. As a Ranger ascends to Legendary status, this power against their favored enemy is further amplified.

Katherine shared her Legendary Power with the Elves, enabling non-Ranger professions among the Elves to also gain the “favored enemy” effect.

All Lords who signed the contract and then breached it are designated as the “favored enemy” of the Elf Tribe; fighting in these territories, the Elf Tribe will gain corresponding significant advantages. It manifests as though you casually shoot an arrow, which conveniently circumvents the city wall and headshots a defending soldier, or when an enemy fires a Magic Conduction Cannon, and few are hit.

With such advantages, the Elf Tribe’s offensive will proceed very smoothly, swiftly seizing these cities with alchemical systems.

And then they can begin to produce Alchemical Potions overtime, to prepare for the imminent outbreak of the addiction disease.

Although the war seems to be going smoothly, Katherine is unable to feel any joy.

No matter the outcome of this war, the Elf Tribe is bound to suffer greatly.

Katherine took out a letter and handed it to the aging King beside her, “This is a letter from a Lich in Alchemy City, and I do not know how to respond.”

The aging King took a look, and the content of the letter was quite straightforward – some of the Dusk Guards had been captured, and as a native Lord of Alchemy City, this Lich wanted to sit at the negotiating table with the Elf Tribe.

The aging King sighed and said to Katherine, “Our war is not about negotiating, nor is there any reason to avoid casualties.”

“I know, but do we just give up like this? How should I respond to that child?”

Katherine felt like an executioner, continually forcing her people to their deaths, all to cover up her own mistakes. She had thought countless times that if she could trade her own life to resolve this problem, she would unhesitatingly embrace death.

However, doing so would only hasten the collapse of the Elf Tribe; once the addiction disease strikes, the Elves would turn mad, and the damage caused would far exceed the loss of half the population.

This is a despair without any options.

The aging King sighed, aware that Katherine was near her breaking point.

The war hadn’t even officially begun, yet the Elf Tribe had already suffered considerable casualties under this reckless strategy, and it wasn’t the first time questions were raised by the Elves. They could only watch as the power-infused Dusk Guards marched to their doom, unable to disclose the truth.

Each casualty report increased Katherine’s guilt, the pressure compounding until the Elf Queen was on the verge of mental collapse.

“Your Majesty, let us talk to this Lich after all. I remember Cicero did not accept your power sharing; he is supposed to survive,” suggested the aging King.

The prospect illuminated Katherine’s eyes; could she really save an Elf at last?

It felt like a ray of light piercing through a night of despair, compelling her to place all her hope upon it.

Katherine said excitedly, “Then let us prepare at once; I wish to negotiate with this Lich personally.”

The aging King quickly reminded her, “Your Majesty, there’s no need for such formality. Your personal presence would only give the Lich an opportunity to make outrageous demands. Liches are never a benevolent species; they know no humanity. I will send someone to handle this; if you were to negotiate in such a state, you might make the wrong decision.”

But Katherine shook her head and said, “Please give me this chance. You and I both know that once this is over, my soul will plunge into the depths of Hell. This is my final request; I want to save them myself, please.”

Seeing the desperate plea on Katherine’s face, the aging King understood that it would be difficult to deny her this request.

It was the lifeline Katherine clung to for survival; to deny her would be to further slash at her already taut nerves.

This was not the time for a breakdown; if Katherine could no longer withstand the strain, the Elf Tribe would face utter annihilation.

“I will arrange for the negotiations as quickly as possible, but Your Majesty, you must remain composed. We cannot expose our secret in a bid to save lives. Any price beyond reason will arouse suspicion…”

The aging King earnestly admonished, while resolved to thoroughly investigate this Lich before the negotiations, to grasp his intentions, and not to let him detect the crisis facing the Elf Tribe.