Volume 9: From Green Leaves to the Undead Chapter 7: Aska’s Entrance

Facing Li Bin’s final strike, Sarbali slowly closed her eyes. She knew she had reached a dead end; she was now merely a pawn discarded by the Green Leaf Alliance.

Just then, Li Bin suddenly sensed a killing intent from his left. Before he could turn his head, Gelu, standing behind him, leaped into the air and fired seven consecutive arrows toward a withered tree to Li Bin’s left.

Like shooting stars, the seven arrows streaked toward the tree, where a crow dodged the barrage with the agility of a swimming fish.

The crow then spun in mid-air, transforming into a green-haired elf maiden. Her eyes burned with intense killing intent as she glared at Gelu.

Gelu’s own eyes flashed with a similar lethal ferocity. Li Bin chose not to intervene, instead signaling Gelu with a look that granted him the freedom to act.

A flash of gratitude crossed Gelu’s face as he charged forward with his bow. Seeing him approach, the maiden quickly pivoted, tying her hair back into a black ponytail. Her weapon shifted from the wooden staff common among Druids to a long, wooden bow.

Without needing to look, Li Bin understood that she must have been the commander behind the Druids' surprise attack. However, his focus was no longer on her. News of Sarbali’s defeat would have reached the Green Leaf Alliance by now; the alliance's strongest Elder was bound to appear soon.

Li Bin did not have to wait long. A man draped in a cloak woven from purple leaves slowly emerged from the far end of the forest. With a gentle smile, he walked forward, humming a strange, rhythmic melody.

Wherever he stepped, the vegetation parted automatically, and the withered trees around him rapidly regained their vitality. Cute little squirrels and rabbits hopped playfully at his feet.

Stopping about three hundred meters from Li Bin and his group, the man finally ceased his song. He glanced briefly at the maiden still locked in combat with Gelu, then addressed Li Bin: "I am Askar-eptus-vukodormisa, an Elven Grand Druid, level 20 and level 15, the High Elder of the Green Leaf Alliance, and the primary executor of the Forest Canopy Project."

Li Bin was stunned for a moment, then signaled his subordinates to stay back before walking forward a few steps. "I am Li Bin, Lord of Ghost Butterfly City. I come for the security of my territory and am currently the sole executor of the 'End of the Forest' mission."

"It seems, then, that we are locked in a struggle to the death," Askar said with a smile, extending his right hand as a small squirrel climbed up his arm.

"You could say that." Despite the peaceful atmosphere, Li Bin felt an increasingly overwhelming pressure bearing down on him.

"Then my junior sister should have nothing to do with this battle. Why not let her go?" Askar said casually, glancing at the elf maiden still fighting Gelu.

Li Bin was about to agree, but a moment of hesitation gripped his heart. Finally, gritting his teeth, he took a step back and said, "No. That is a matter I promised Gelu; I cannot go back on my word."

The moment the words left his lips, not only did Askar’s expression shift to surprise, but a system notification chimed: "You have successfully countered the Grand Druid's natural aura using the skill 'Bravery.' 'Bravery' has upgraded to 'Courageous Engagement.' Its attribute now offsets the aura of superiors, such as Dragon Might, by 15 times your Morale value."

Relieved by the message, Li Bin said slowly to Askar, "I am grateful for what you did just now—I won’t elaborate on what exactly—but you shall see my repayment. Gelu, kill that elf with everything you have!"

Askar’s face darkened with killing intent, and the small animals nearby reacted instantly, vanishing into the surrounding woods.

By the time Askar regained his composure, everything had changed. To everyone’s eyes, Askar was no longer the unreachable superior, but an equal—a hero, a soldier just like them.

Ted gripped his heavy warhammer tightly and spurred his Black Crystal Bone Dragon forward, but a figure beside him moved even faster.

To Li Bin’s surprise, the one to charge first was not the usual vanguard, Suifeng, but Frost Mourning, wielding a black spear.

Li Bin shouted, "Well done, Frost Mourning! If you survive this battle, I will give you the chance to choose between a Bone Dragon or a Corpse Dragon as your mount. Everyone, attack!"

With that, Li Bin retreated slowly. The tactical plan had been agreed upon from the start; knowing the High Elder of the Green Leaf Alliance was immensely powerful, Li Bin knew he would have no chance to engage personally until the very end.

His duty, aside from commanding the troops, was to work with his mages and the Nether Lamp to bombard Askar with continuous curses, keeping him overwhelmed.

After all, Askar was an elf, not a monster with total magic immunity like a dragon. He was bound to be hit by at least five or six out of every ten curses. If he stopped to dispel them, he would waste precious time; if he didn't, the curses unleashed by Li Bin’s undead would prove devastating. Before long, Askar was covered in a chaotic array of red and green glowing status effects.

Unable to endure any longer, Askar let out a long, thunderous roar. He dropped to the ground, his body rapidly expanding. In the blink of an eye, he transformed into a giant emerald dragon, flapping wings composed of living green leaves as he prepared to take flight.

Trees nearby, touched by the green light radiating from him, transformed into tiny Treants. They did not attack Li Bin’s forces, but instead channeled a steady stream of green energy into Askar.

Seeing this, Li Bin bellowed, "All Bone Dragons and Nether Dragons, force him down from above! Little Carter, take the Sand-mummified Mummies and Liches—level every forest in the vicinity!"

Little Carter understood immediately. He charged down with the Sand-mummified Mummies, having borrowed Li Bin’s Forest-Herding Whip from San Nei.

While driving the surrounding forest away, he commanded the Liches to blanket the ground in poison fog, followed by the Mummies turning the earth into desert. The supporting Treants quickly vanished, and the leaf-composed scales on Askar’s body began to turn a deep, ominous purple.