68: The Elf's Choice!

Liora stumbled slightly as she walked out of the prison.

Having been in the dark, sunless underground dungeon for so long, she was suddenly exposed to bright moonlight.

She instinctively squinted her eyes, and it took her a while to slowly adjust.

The cold moonlight illuminated the ruins of the Elf main court, and also the figure standing silently in front of her.

He wore a suit of black leather armor, devoid of any superfluous patterns or embellishments.

He seemed to blend in with the surrounding shadows, easily overlooked if one wasn't careful.

A pure, extreme coldness emanated from him.

Like a sharp blade unsheathed only to drink blood.

"Elf, Liora."

He spoke, his voice flat, as if confirming an item on a cargo manifest.

"I am Shadow One, sent by the Lord to rescue the Elf people."

The Lord?

Liora's mind was a bit slow to process; long-term imprisonment had dulled her thoughts.

"Infinite City?"

She asked tentatively, her voice a little hoarse.

Shadow One's answer was concise and clear.

He paused, then continued in his 평 light tone.

"The Goblin main force has been defeated."

Liora's breathing suddenly caught.

What?

The Goblin main force... defeated?

Shadow One ignored her reaction and continued.

"Bashaka is dead."

Boom!

Liora felt as if her head had been violently struck by something, buzzing loudly.

Bashaka...

The Goblin King who had slaughtered her kin and destroyed their home...

Dead?!

Her emerald eyes widened instantly, looking in disbelief at the shadow-like man before her.

How could this be?!

No one knew Bashaka's power better than the Elf; he was practically synonymous with invincibility!

Who... who killed him?

Could it be...

Her gaze fixed on Shadow One's expressionless face.

Her voice trembled slightly from excitement and shock.

"Was it... you?"

"You... killed Bashaka?"

It sounded utterly fantastical.

Shadow One met her shocked gaze, still unperturbed.

"Bashaka fell by my Lord's hand."

My Lord...

Liora chewed on these two words, her mind greatly shaken.

Was it that person, the Lord of Infinite City? She hadn't expected him to truly change the world.

Recalling their encounter a few months ago, in such a short time, things had changed beyond recognition.

This made her feel a moment of disorientation, unable to distinguish reality from illusion.

Around her, the other rescued Elf also heard this conversation; after a brief silence, suppressed sobs and incredulous whispers began to rise.

Shadow One said no more, only turning sideways.

"We have reported your current situation to our Lord.

"Before the Lord's reply, I wonder if you can guide your people?"

Liora subconsciously straightened her back a little, despite her extreme weakness.

Guide her people? She looked around, at the eyes that were either numb, fearful, or filled with the relief of surviving a catastrophe.

They looked at her; after the sacrifice of the Elf elders.

She, the former captain of the Royal Guard, had become the highest-ranking Elf here.

Responsibility weighed heavily upon her.

"I will."

Her voice, though still hoarse, held a newfound firmness.

Shadow One nodded, seemingly unsurprised by this answer.

He turned, facing the ruins under the moonlight, leaving Liora with a silent back.

After a short while, he spoke again.

"Before the Lord arrives, you might need to make a choice."

Liora's heart tightened suddenly.

"A choice?"

"Yes."

Choose what?

Countless thoughts flashed through Liora's mind instantly.

Was it to choose to submit to that powerful human Lord, in exchange for the survival of her remaining people?

Or to choose to maintain Elf pride, and then... then what?

She didn't know.

Her former pride seemed so pale and powerless in the face of absolute strength and cruel reality.

That Lord of Infinite City...

Their brief encounter a few months ago had only left her with the impression of someone skilled but somewhat mysterious.

Who could have imagined that in such a short time, he had grown to the point of being able to slay Bashaka?

The surrounding Elf also heard these words, and whispers and uneasy stirrings broke out again.

Their gazes towards Liora were filled with bewilderment.

Liora felt a wave of dizziness, not from her injuries, but from this sudden turn of fate.

She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself.

Regardless, she was now the backbone of these surviving Elf.

She had to make the most beneficial choice for her people, even if that choice... would mean completely letting go of what was once Elf dignity.

Shadow One seemed to sense her struggle, but he showed no reaction; he believed the Elf would make the right choice...

.......

The next afternoon, in the temporarily tidied council hall.

Liora met Su Jin, the Lord of Infinite City, again.

He sat in the main seat, his expression calm, his fingers unconsciously tapping lightly on the armrest.

He seemed no different from when she first met him a few months ago.

But Liora knew that something had fundamentally changed.

That feeling didn't come from his appearance, but from an invisible pressure, an aura that made her instinctively soften her breathing.

A few months ago, she could still, with the inherent pride of the Elf, evaluate the potential of this human Lord.

Now, standing here, she only felt that he was unfathomable.

Bashaka was dead.

Dead by the hand of the man before her.

This thought, like a brand, repeatedly seared her consciousness.

She didn't even dare to imagine how he had accomplished it.

She lowered her eyes slightly, concealing the complex emotions within them.

"Feeling better?"

Su Jin's voice broke the silence.

Liora's body trembled imperceptibly; she looked up.

"Thank you for your rescue, Lord."

Her voice was still a little hoarse, but the respect in her tone was evident.

That bit of Elf arrogance she once possessed had long vanished in the face of cruel reality and absolute power.

Su Jin's gaze fell on her.

"What are your plans for the future?"

Liora's heart tightened.

She felt the gazes of the other Elf who had been brought with her.

She looked up, licked her somewhat chapped lips, and spoke with resolve:

"Lord..."

"The Elf have... nothing left."

"We... need your protection."

These few short sentences seemed to drain all her strength, and also completely shed the last burden called "dignity."

The council hall was silent, so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

All the Elf held their breath.

Su Jin's tapping on the armrest stopped.

He nodded, acknowledging her statement.

This was not unexpected.

After all, the current Elf, with their home destroyed and their people slaughtered, had no other choice but to depend on him, the victor.

Then, he leaned forward slightly, carefully observing Liora and the Elf representatives behind her, and chuckled:

"Infinite City welcomes your joining."

Liora's taut nerves suddenly relaxed; a tremendous feeling of exhaustion swept over her, making her almost lose her footing.

The Elf behind her reacted in various ways.

Some covered their mouths, suppressing sobs, while others lowered their heads in relief, their shoulders shaking slightly.