CHAPTER 344: CHAPTER 186: YOU ARE NOT QUALIFIED (DOUBLE-LENGTH)

"Therefore, it must be eradicated."

"Regrettably, for the future of the Royal Court, for the future of the Golden Elves."

"Hathaway, this is a necessary sacrifice."

Whoosh—

A piercing sound echoed.

The pure Silver arrow, gleaming with a frigid sheen, pierced straight through the body of the Golden Elf who was immobilized by the Sacred Relic "Heaven’s Lock."

In the distance, a young Forest Elf woman slowly lowered the longbow in her hand.

Before the cataclysm, the exclusive professions of the Forest Elf Tribe were Rangers and Hunters.

And the bow and arrow were the most formidable and proud weapons of the Rangers of the Forest Elf Tribe.

But now, these weapons that the Forest Elves once used to protect the Royal Court and hunt the extraordinary creatures that invaded it, were being used against their own kind.

Though Hathaway was already constrained by the "Heaven’s Lock," the other elders of the Council still refused to feel reassured.

As the only place that had survived since before the cataclysm, in the entire Council, no one was not in awe of her strength.

Flesh pierced by the arrow.

Instantly, dense, black lines spread from the wound throughout every piece of the Golden Elf’s flesh.

Intense pain coursed through every limb, transmitted from every nerve.

The arrow carried an extremely venomous curse.

Yet at that moment, Hathaway paid no heed to the searing, bone-gnawing pain of the curse.

"Do you know?"

She cast her gaze around and spoke softly.

"In the first generation of the Council, in fact, no one ever missed that Glorious Era."

"On the contrary, the vast majority of us harbored a deep hatred for the Creator of that Glorious Era."

"Because every elf who lived through that cataclysm, their friends, and even their entire lives were destroyed in that disaster."

"Friends, lovers, and family, slaughtered each other in the chaos and madness..."

"This, too, included my parents."

"That hellish scene, even today, remains vivid in my memory."

Hathaway placed her pale hand on the arrow and yanked it out suddenly.

Blood trickled from her lips, but she paid it no mind: "So, from the beginning, what we pursued was never a return to that Glorious Era."

"No matter how beautiful that era was, how resplendent, it was only built upon the charity of others."

"To put it bluntly, we were merely the pets of the Creator, and the three Royal Courts were merely three ornamental cages."

"The Creator bestowed power upon the Giants, Elves, and ancient dragons... Naturally, it could also be taken away, destroying everything we held dear."

"Not subject to our will, just like the cataclysm."

"After all, pets might be given treats when in favor, but once they obstruct the path, they will be kicked aside without mercy."

The Golden Elf’s pale golden eyes surveyed the crowd around her.

All the Elf Clan elders who met her gaze felt a chill.

"Thus, we, desperate and reckless, wanted to abandon that inherent strength from bloodline, from another’s charity, innate power."

"Instead, we sought to carve out an entirely new path that belonged solely to us."

"Compared to the innate power granted by the Elven Bloodline, forging such a new path would undoubtedly be arduous. Perhaps even the height reached in a lifetime might not match the extraordinary abilities an elf was born with."

"But... It would ultimately be a power that belongs to us, not a gift from some lofty existence."

"And now, this path has just begun to see the dawn."

"Shiayar brought the elves a future."

"A future, though rugged, fraught with trials... But one where every step is taken in controlling the destiny of our race, without relying on anyone else’s favor."

"He is not, as you call, a foreigner, he is my hero and the benefactor of the entire Elven Royal Court."

...

"Clichés!"

"These historical tales are... just outdated things!"

The Moon Elf interrupted Hathaway with displeasure.

"These stories, I’ve long heard the old stubborn ones in the family recount countless times. What significance do they have?"

"The fact is, those old stubborn ones are dead, leaving a mess for the successors."

"According to our agreement with the Lord, as long as we hand over you and that troublesome foreign human to Him, He will bestow us new extraordinary abilities."

"That is the authority originally belonging to the Giants, but the Pureblood Giants are long extinct in the cataclysm."

"When the Lord revives and starts a new era again, there will no longer be the three Great Royal Courts of Giants, ancient dragon, and Elves, but only our sole Elven Court."

Plop—

The bowstring was once more drawn tight.

Along with it came the radiant elemental brilliance that filled the sky.

The extraordinary ability of the Elf Clan’s bloodline is to wield the elements, and at this moment, it was being used by several elves of Legendary Rank, carrying unparalleled splendor and might.

Yet, at the center of that immense radiance—

"Unqualified."

That calm voice remained clear amidst the approaching malice.

"Not ’freedom.’

"But from a ’small cage’ to a ’large cage’?"

"Do you know how many predecessors of the Elf Clan spent centuries, sacrificing countless lives along the way, to finally stand upright."

"From dogs, we have become truly wise beings."

"And now, you want to break your spine again, and crawl back to being dogs."

"Cowering in the cage bestowed by deities, praying for blessing to make the cage a bit bigger and gain a higher status among other lackeys?"

The Silver eyes of the Golden Elf sparkled with a cold light.

"As the future of the Elf Clan."

"You are unqualified."

...

Boom—

No chance was given for Hathaway to respond.

Dazzling elemental light erupted.

The riotous elements turned into chaos, engulfing the entire hall of the Council.

Yet—

At the very center of the elemental chaos.

The Golden Elf merely raised his pale white hand in silence.

"Such crude techniques."

"Ignorant of what elements truly are, even more clueless about their fundamental rules and logic."

"They simply use the authority bestowed by deities to mindlessly unleash power... they’re no different from three-year-old children."

Hathaway gently placed her hand on the Sacred Relic, "Heaven’s Lock," which coiled around her arm.

"So, you still don’t understand, huh."

"What exactly Shiayar brought to us."

"Heaven’s Lock" was indeed crafted during the Glorious Era, capable of restricting all divinity and authority, including the bloodline abilities bestowed by deities.

However, it was limited only to divinity and the blessings of deities.

What Hathaway pursued was no longer relying on divinity and grace, but completely following her own path.

Therefore, she would naturally not be limited by such a Sacred Relic that targets divinity.

Shiayar, due to race and rule, was significantly restricted on the Lost Island, but it was different for her.

The Lost Island was, after all, her domain.

"Then, let me show you."

"What is truly magic..."

The Golden Elf slightly parted his lips.

The sound of cold incantations resonated in the air.

"High-Speed Divine Words" activated.

This was the highest order technique taught by Shiayar, which although Hathaway was initially clumsy in using, she had now fully mastered.

In an instant, the originally lengthy incantation was compressed into a very short time to complete.

The incantations connected with the magic power beyond the Astral Realm, constructing a complicated spell model.

This was Shiayar’s self-proclaimed ultimate skill.

The name of this forbidden spell, Spell Primer, is—

"Nuclear Explosion."

It was similar in principle to the "Artificial Star" created by Hathaway and Shiayar on the Lost Island.

Except, unlike the "Artificial Star," which aims for long-term stable operation.

The release principle of the "Nuclear Explosion" forbidden spell is an unrestrained, unbound surge of destructive power.

Boom—

In an instant.

Endless light and heat filled the entire hall.