Ayla couldn’t put her feelings into words at this moment.
Bathed beneath the Pillar of Sacred Light, her entire body felt warm and cozy, as if she had returned to the embrace of childhood.
As for the pain on her body, it became insignificant amidst the healing.
Her wounds closed rapidly, even the bloodstains on her clothes were washed away, as if nothing had happened just moments ago.
So it was true when they said that after joining the faith, the bond would enhance healing—this wasn’t a joke.
“Leah, I think I’m fine now.”
Ayla whispered softly.
“You can let me go.”
The warmth was wonderful, but after all, she was a necromancer; having the Goddess of Light bless her like this felt a little embarrassing.
Besides, her companions were all watching nearby…
“No!”
Leah hugged her even tighter.
“What if you get hurt again!”
As long as Miss Leah was holding her, Lala wouldn’t suffer any harm!
“It won’t happen again… pfft!”
Ayla was suddenly pierced by another Tree Spear. Even Leah could feel the slight impact in front of her.
Without the Blessing of the Saint Maiden, she might have been stabbed right through.
Silitya was still alive!
Celes grabbed the Broken Sword, ready to advance, but Ayla quickly stretched out a hand: “No need! Don’t fight, I can handle this!”
Or rather, the Goddess could.
Under the gaze of everyone present, the sacred Pillar of Light flowed continuously, and the Tree Spear stuck in the girl’s back melted in the light like a burning candle.
“No! No! No!!”
This power exceeded Silitya’s understanding.
She couldn’t comprehend why the nearly certain sacrificial rite had failed at the last moment.
The target was right in front of her.
The target was already dead—so why, why couldn’t she kill her!
“Die, damn you!!!”
Silitya raised a Tree Spear in each hand, lifting them above her head to hurl, but suddenly her body stiffened and stopped moving.
The gray-brown decay crept up from her feet to her entire body until she withered to dust.
Time was up.
“Is she really dead?”
Vina cautiously raised her Magic Staff and lightly tapped in her direction.
“Rain of Stone.”
The soft sand floated up, gathering into clusters and hardening into dozens of stone chunks that shot at Silitya’s motionless, gray-brown form like missiles, instantly pitting and smashing her.
With a final thud, she collapsed into a pile of fragments on the ground.
“Looks like she’s really dead.”
“Really?”
Leah carefully opened her eyes to take a look.
Seeing the body scattered on the ground, utterly lifeless, she finally loosened her grip.
The endlessly healing Pillar of Sacred Light finally faded away.
“That’s wonderful!”
Leah couldn’t help but rush forward to hug Ayla again, jumping with joy.
“We won! We won!”
“We won, thank you… and thank the Goddess as well.”
After ten minutes of battle, Celes had lost the sword she’d accompanied for years.
The Elf Delegation of five was reduced to a single survivor, with Silitya barely counting as half alive.
The losses were great and devastating.
But when the dust settled, everyone present relaxed visibly.
At this moment, all were savoring victory.
No one cared about Ayla’s intimate way of addressing Leah earlier, nor did anyone question Miss Leah’s over-the-top reaction as if she had lost a beloved spouse or her near-martyr-like declaration.
Even Zero, who emerged from the shadows, didn’t disturb the two big-chested girls embracing each other, quietly watching them instead.
As the Pillar of Light fell, a trace of relief also stirred in her heart.
She was just a blade, but Ayla indeed needed a healer.
***
Victory. Truly, complete victory.
The elves rode Messenger Deer Carriages and Dragonhawks, spreading the good news to every inch of the Middle Great Forest.
Cheers echoed unceasingly from the Eastern Border to the Western Hills.
The Millennium Calamity brought by Silitya caused the deaths of over 1,100 elves—numerically fewer than the recent demon invasion, but much worse in quality.
First, the initial battle at the Sealed Land took the lives of all elite troops.
Then, the Mage Corps suffered dozens captured and brutally tortured to death. Finally, three Elders of the Council were directly slain.
Counting Elder Isadora, who was a target, and Elder Leitney, who willingly died to bury secrets, the total rises to five.
Now, only two elders remain on the Council.
After the matter concluded, the girls were invited to attend the first Elf Elder Council meeting during the reconstruction phase.
Present were themselves, the two elders, and the sole surviving elf girl named Sofia.
Previously, when the rest of the Envoy Group was alive, Sofia’s presence was somewhat faint—a small invisible part of the team.
Now that her companions were gone, she had to be strong, her gaze resolute:
“I will inherit everyone’s will, striving for the future of the elves, always remembering that they watch over me along with the Forest—Tereka, John, Jackby, and Silitya.”
“Hey hey hey!”
The ghostly little girl jumped up. “I’m not quite dead yet!”
Silitya truly wasn’t dead yet; she had two more days of lingering life.
Ayla had originally wanted to urge her to use the remaining time to reunite with Lambert and his daughter, to say a proper goodbye.
But then she thought that sounded too hellish and let it go.
At this moment, Ayla had a new idea: “Actually, if you’re willing to heed the call, you can still come out of the River of the Underworld in the future.”
Silitya’s eyes lit up: “Really?”
“Of course it’s true. If you meet Tereka and the others down there, you can say hello.”
Ayla snorted softly.
Little ghost girls were easy to fool, even in death.
The Plant Whisperer would definitely be useful.
Plus, with her identity clear, when the elves formed the allied army later, they could summon her to play the sympathy card.
An elder cleared their throat: “First, allow me to express, on behalf of the entire elven race, our sincerest feelings to all of you.”
Truly sincere, they went straight into the initial trade details.
Ayla was about to pull Celes aside to discuss how many vehicles their brave team would need for traveling across the land.
But the elder waved their hand, indicating, “Your matters are our matters. Use whatever you need. If any problems arise, just say the word and come get new ones.”
Simply put: free replacements, lifetime after-sales service.
“Also, if you have any other needs, please feel free to ask.”
“You’re too kind.”
Ayla didn’t request much more, only saying that their friendship was everlasting, helping each other was natural, and that wasn’t a demand, so making a trade out of it would hurt feelings.
With everything settled, they prepared to leave.
“May your journey be safe.”
After sending the girls off, the two elders exchanged a glance.
“Did you notice? They never once spoke as representatives of the Human Kingdom, nor did they ask for anything extra on behalf of the Human Race…”
“Their own family matters. No need to pry.”