NOVEL NEXT Chapter 200: Elven Pursuit
Trees blurred past the elves as they sprinted through the forest, desperate to escape from their pursuers. Several branches whipped their bodies, some leaving dull red marks as a result. But they still pressed on, not wanting to get caught.
Behind them, a chorus of snarls and howls could be heard as the Orcs and their pets, the dire wolves, chased after them. And they were slowly catching up.
One of the elves tripped over a root and tumbled along the ground. Another tried to get them up so they could flee while the rest kept running, knowing that if they stopped, they were all doomed.
However, just as the running elves thought they were safe, the group was immediately cut off as several orcs appeared in front of them. The frightened elves stopped in their tracks and stared at their hulking green monsters with widened eyes.
They fearfully stepped back, watching the Orcs approach them with sneering faces. Behind them, the other Orcs finally arrived, essentially closing off any escape routes for the elves to flee. The elves stumbled back in fear, gazing at the Orcs with widened and horrified eyes.
The Orcs sneered with sadistic pleasure, amused by their prey's reaction to their emanate demise. They slowly walked closer toward the elves, forcing them to huddle together and tremble with fear.
One of the Orcs slammed the butt of their spear against the ground and expelled a loud laugh.
"That's right, quake with fear, you fools!" He boomed with a big, malicious smile. "This is what happens when you resist the High Elves who wish to bring Meir into a new light!"
All of this started when everyone finally returned from their tutorial dungeons. However, in the midst of all the chaos, there was one group that took full advantage of it. The High Elves. Knowing that this was likely their best chance, the high elves proceeded to spark a civil war within Meir with two sides. The High Elves and those against them.
Obviously, the elves currently running away were against their annoyingly superior counterparts. They were aware of what kind of hell they would be forced to endure if the High Elves actually succeeded in taking over Meir.
The High Elves were extremely difficult to deal with. Not only due to their arrogant and prideful mentality, but also the fact that they didn't see you as a fellow living being, but as some bottom feeder that had little to no use other than being their slave due to their low intelligence and inferior physiology.
So, it wasn't all that surprising when the High Elves thought they were in the right to try and take over Meir and all of its residents as well. Because in their eyes, they were the only ones truly worthy of ruling over Meir.
As for those who would think otherwise, they would be given a gruesome fate. And the elves currently surrounded by the orcs were about to find out how gruesome their fate truly would be.
The orc from before aimed his weapon, which was a giant, bloodied axe, at the elves currently cowering before them. "Leave one or two of them alive. The High Elves are looking for more test subjects for their wicked experiments."
The elves turned pale when they heard the Orc's sinister line. That was because one of them was destined to suffer a fate even worse than death. A fate of being the high elves' Guinea pigs. The high elves were notorious for their genetic alteration and physiology augmentations. And the way they did this was through gruesome and extremely painful experiments. And it seemed that the golden eye monsters were searching for more test subjects for said experiments.
Knowing that some of them were likely destined for a horrible fate, the elves huddled together, unable to do anything as they awaited their impending doom. However, just as one of the Orcs reached toward one of the elves, a thick vine burst from the ground and wrapped around its wrist.
Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.
The orc let out a pained yelp as the vine tightened its grip. As for his companions, the other Orcs whipped around in alarm, searching for the enemy that would dare attack them.
"Show yourself!" One orc shouted in rage.
Behind them, more vines and branches suddenly emerged from the dirt. It coiled around into an ominous cocoon, giving the impression that something was alive inside. A moment later, the thick combination of vines and tree branches burst open, revealing a figure as it emerged from within the cocoon.
Getting a good look at the figure, everyone, including the Elves, was flabbergasted at what they were seeing. The person approaching them was completely made of wood, as if it had broken free from a tree. Her body was slender and feminine and completely bare, revealing all her wooden features. Long, thick vines with numerous leaves protruded from its head and trailed down its back, taking the appearance of hair. The wooden creature lowered her gaze, locking her glowing green eyes on the elves and orcs before her.
The Orcs and elves couldn't help but gawk at the figure before them. That was because they knew what this creature was.
"I-it's a Dryad...?" One of the elves muttered in disbelief.
A Dryad. A type of nymph or spirit that resided within the Great Forest of Meir. They were considered guardians of the forest and the trees they inhabited. Dryads were considered very powerful and formidable beings due to their connection with the forest. They could command the trees and anything else within nature with ease, and are extremely protective of the forest. To the point where they dish out punishment to those who harm the trees around them.
However, the elves and Orcs found it strange that a Dryad was suddenly appearing before them. Again, Dryads protected the forest. This didn't include the civilians who resided within said forest. Which meant the appearance of this Dryad was clearly not to defend the Elves, they were being chased by the Orcs.
Which begged the question...why was this Dryad here?
The dryad raised her arm, pointing at the elves. "Release the elves...and no harm will come to you."
The Orc with the bloodied axe faltered, taken aback by her demand. "And what exactly do you want with these elves? Are you protecting them?"
"That is not your concern," The dryad said coldly, keeping her glowing green eyes locked onto them. "This is your final warning..."
The orc scoffed while aiming his weapon at the Dryad. "You think we will listen to you?! You are no match for the power of the High Elves! Challenging us is no different than challenging the High Elves themselves!"
Because he had no idea how strong the Dryad was, the orc was given no choice but to threaten her with the High Elves. It was quite a long shot, but there was a small chance that his remark could scare her away. Ever since the High Elves had started their mission to conquer all of Meir, the dryads had gone into hiding. This was because they were unable to combat the golden-eyed elves who wielded power that far exceeded theirs.
But this Dryad seemed different. Even after the Orc mentioned the high elves, she simply stared at them, unfazed by his comment. As if she didn't care.
The Dryad tilted her head to the side, clearly confused by the orc's threat.
The Orc grew impatient before shouting once more. "Do you not hear me?! Retreat now, like the rest of your kind! Or else you will become one of the High Elves' test subjects!"
"...There seems to be a misunderstanding," She stated calmly. "You seemed to confuse me with your dryads. But I am not a Dryad from your world."
The orc's eyes widened in shock, not knowing what she meant by that. "Then why exactly are you...?!"
"She's here because of me."
A new voice called out to Orcs and Elves, alarming them. The orc with the bloodied axe whirled around, trying to locate the source of the voice before his eyes locked on a new figure above them. The figure was perched on a thick tree branch that fully supported his weight.
The figure possessed a masculine figure and wore leather armor with a cape made of leaves and vines, along with a wooden mask, concealing his face. Getting a closer look by squinting his eyes, the Orc noticed that the figure's right arm appeared to be made of wood...almost like a tree.
As soon as the Orc saw his wooden, tree-like limb, he knew exactly who this person was. His face turned pale in an instant as he stumbled back in fear.
"I-it's the Druid Lord...!" He shouted, alarming the rest of his comrades. "Retreat! Retreat no-!"
He was caught off guard when a vine burst from the ground below him and coiled around his body like a snake. The sudden ensnaring caused him to drop his weapon in the process, letting it fall to the ground next to him. He strained against the vines, but this only resulted in them getting tighter, as if responding to his struggles.
Around him, the other Orcs were met with a similar fate, all of them getting entrapped by the vines. The Orc looked back up at the Druid lord, just as he waved his tree limb while still perched on the branch, not even saying a single word.