The Max Level Hero Has Returned!

Chapter 404

Chapter 404

"Hurry up and walk!!"

Thud!

With a rough shout, a boy dressed in rags got pushed onto the ground.

"Ugh..."

The boy who groaned in pain was still young and full of vigor; however, he lacked the courage to resist those tormenting him. The completely lifeless expression on his face vividly portrayed the extent of his suffering in a world where humanity had been defeated.

The humans never doubted that they would forever be the masters of the continent, never anticipating this situation. They never imagined that they would be treated like slaves by something non-human and endure a painful life. It was a horrific existence.

Nonetheless, gritting his teeth, the boy rose up, casting a glance at another boy who followed him with an equally lifeless expression. This boy was smaller than him.

The older boy's name was Roxy Coronel. Nowadays, his last name held no significance, so people around him simply called him Roxy. However, once upon a time, he had been the promising eldest son of a ducal family, occupying the highest position in a kingdom. That is, if he had not spent most of his life swept away by the chaotic war.

"Hey! Do you want to die?"

Slap!!

A cold voice rang out followed by a sharp sound.

"Ugh!!"

"B-Brother..."

None of the others reacted to Roxy's painful groans, but his younger brother stared at him with vacant eyes.

"Please, don't look."

He recalled instructing his brother not to witness the horrors they encountered during the war, just before they became enslaved. Back then, aided by the last remaining resistance fighters, they had set fire to a small village. Roxy had always promised his brother that he would bring an end to the war and present him with a better world. However, the outcome had been tragically different. Powerless, he was captured and forced into slavery, unable to resist even as the last of the human resistance was annihilated.

Their captors were detestable beings known as Blood Elves, adherents of the twisted World Tree. Their behavior, unlike that of any fairytale fairy, was cruel and merciless. It had been six long months since he was dragged into this wretched place.

Roxy remembered the words of an elderly man, a fellow slave, who claimed that the number of humans trapped here and left to perish equaled the stars in the sky.

Whack!! Whack!!

Roxy, who had gone without a proper meal for days and struggled to move, endured merciless lashes from the Blood Elf. Despite the excruciating pain, he lacked the strength even to scream and felt himself slowly breaking down. In this living hell, death might have seemed like a preferable option.

He needed to protect his brother, but hope seemed nonexistent.

Lying on the ground, enduring the lashes, Roxy contemplated that if he could endure a little longer, he might find a peaceful release in death.

"Bro... Brother..."

However, his brother didn't share the same sentiment. His brother approached slowly and intercepted the whip, enfolding Roxy in his arms. Roxy's eyes widened in shock. As much as he desired death, he didn't want to use his brother as a shield.

"Guh... Gahhhhhhh!" Summoning unknown strength, Roxy rose to his feet, shielding his brother and gritting his teeth, causing the red-haired Blood Elves to grimace.

"How dare you resist?! You filthy slave!"

With a fierce shout, the whipping continued relentlessly. Amid the brutal assault, Roxy desperately shielded his brother, enduring blows to his face, back, and legs. Every whip was met with his madman-like grip, refusing to let go.

"This bastard!"

Consumed by rage, one of the Blood Elves retrieved a dagger from his pocket and raised it high. In a world where humans had been defeated, the killing of a human slave was not uncommon. Seeing the gleaming metallic light, Roxy instinctively closed his eyes.

Boom!!!

Had it not been for the massive explosion that ensued, a colossal shockwave reverberated through the area, followed by a tremendous earthquake that shook everything. Panic-stricken screams echoed in all directions. The Blood Elf, who had been about to kill Roxy, was taken aback by the sudden turn of events and looked around in a state of panic.

"What the! What's going on?!"

However, there was no one present to answer the bewildered question. Amidst the confusion, a voice resonated from a distance.

Davey's words caused confusion to flicker across the boy's face, followed by a gasp.

"Clever humans are the ones who seize opportunities. In this cruel world, it's the clever ones who survive."

The Blood Elves who were supposed to be watching over the slaves had all passed out, and some had even died as their mana backfired while hastily casting spells upon seeing Davey. It was an expected outcome, considering he had shown no mercy in the first place.

"But we have these shackles on our bodies..." a cautious woman spoke up amidst the chaos.

"Who cares about those damn shackles? Figure it out yourselves." With that cold response, Davey reluctantly made his way through the crowd.

No one dared to stop him, perhaps due to his intimidating aura.

Then, it happened. The metal shackles binding a slave's arms and legs suddenly shattered. Simultaneously, the shackles on dozens of slaves broke, causing them to stare at him with wide eyes, realizing who had caused this.

However, Davey had already passed them and was making his way toward the sacred grounds of the Divine Tree. Regardless of the actions taken by the humans, he continued moving forward, unhindered by the Blood Elves.

Perhaps because they had witnessed his earlier display of power, the Blood Elves restrained their violent tendencies and did not dare to confront him directly.

Finally, in the heart of the sacred grounds, Davey laid eyes on the immense tree, tainted in a deep crimson hue. Positioned in the expansive square before the tree were three crucifixes. Without uttering a word, Davey drew his sword slowly.

"Come out, you wretch."

His voice resonated in the surroundings, causing silence to descend.

After a brief pause, a man leisurely emerged from among the Blood Elves, capturing the attention of everyone present, regardless of whether the slaves had managed to escape or not.

"Who are you? You don't seem like a devil, but I've never heard of a human like you," the man remarked in a relaxed tone, questioning Davey.

Yet, Davey remained silent in response.

"Well, I don't know how you managed to break through Mother's barrier, but you're fearless, aren't you? This place is protected by our mother's power, particularly this central sanctuary where her power is at its peak," the man explained unprompted, revealing his identity, which Davey already knew.

He was a Blood Elf, although his face had not undergone complete transformation. He was the Saint of the Divine Tree.

He was the one responsible for turning Yuria Helishana and Aina Helishana into their current states, showcasing the despicable depths to which the Elves could sink by aligning with the previous Yggdrasil. Truly an intriguing individual.

"Saint of the Divine Tree," the words slowly escaped Davey's lips.

"Hmm? Do you...know me?"

"Yes, I do. You don't know me, but I know you," Davey murmured quietly, slowly lowering and embedding his blue blade into the ground before extending his fingers. Then, pointing toward the figures crucified on the crosses, he asked, "Are you enjoying this?"

"What?" the man questioned.

"I'm asking if you find pleasure in binding and mocking an elf who is not even of age yet."

Before he could respond, the man stiffened, and his eyes met Davey's. Upon encountering Davey's gaze, his eyes widened, and he began to shudder instinctively.

It was the 8th Circle of dark magic, [Fear].

"It would be helpful if you explained what Myuu has to do with your war.”

The three elves bound to the crosses were individuals whom Davey recognized. Aina Helishana, Myuu, and Madis, Yuria's teacher. The World Tree sought to achieve something by sacrificing Yuria, aware of the presence of Dark Lord Perserque, in preparation for the war with the demon tribe. Aina, in particular, would have undoubtedly resisted, unwilling to witness her younger sister being sacrificed in vain.

‘So, I understand why they are hanging there. But what has Myuu done wrong? She's just an innocent child.’

Although he did not recognize the elf named Madis, the other two were different. Regardless of the differences, witnessing someone with whom Davey had developed a close relationship being killed and left tied for an extended period without being allowed to return to nature ignited a surge of suppressed rage and madness within him.

‘Just a little... Let me give in to impulse, just a bit.’

After witnessing this scene, the thought of moving on no longer crossed his mind. Unconcerned by the gazes and gossip surrounding him, Davey was confident in his ability to flawlessly portray a cruel persona.

With his decision made, he immediately advanced toward the Divine Tree. Simultaneously, the trembling and levitating blue blade returned to his hand, and with each step he took, dozens of overlapping circular magic circles formed beneath his feet. Each circle represented a complex and sophisticated magic spell, overlapping to create something colossal.

‘Become ferocious, not foolish.’

The Blood Elves remained silent, seemingly stunned by his actions. Soon, they could no longer conceal their astonishment as changes unfolded in the sky.

The atmosphere darkened, and hundreds of white spheres of light descended rapidly from above, targeting the massive World Tree and the surrounding area, including Davey. Each sphere held the overwhelming power of 8th Circle counter-rotational magic, manifesting as the Heat-class Fireball, the White Nova.

The Blood Elves would have to accept their misfortune, as this was far beyond a mere display of stepping forward.