Chapter 37: Dark Elves

After a quick check, Lian removed his hand from the forehead of the Griffin princess while the group watched attentively and curiously around them.

The pressure coming from the lineage of this young girl, with her appearance as a human girl, was intense, as if the very divine essence of the beast weighed upon them. In the face of this imposing presence, it was as if they were standing before a primordial force of nature, a living manifestation of power and greatness. Each person's soul felt humble and insignificant, aware of their smallness in the face of this immense presence.

Furthermore, the pressure on the soul coming from a Royal Griffin was accompanied by a feeling of reverence and respect. Lian felt satisfied as he noticed that the group did not show fear; their minds had been strengthened to the point where they did not tremble in the face of overwhelming force.

"She is a pure Royal Griffin, a true Divine Beast," says Lian calmly. "You are accustomed to fighting against Demonic Beasts and demons, so observe closely the Qi and aura emanating from her."

"A Divine Beast possesses a killing Qi equivalent to that of any ordinary human out there. Unlike Demonic Beasts, they cultivate themselves by absorbing the Qi of the world, just like you. Therefore, there is no need to fear or be on guard against her. By the way, her name is Saya," Lian explained calmly.

Lian then recounted the tragic life of this young divine beast and how her race was being slaughtered by demons. All five of them felt extreme sympathy for her, as they knew all too well what it was like to live a life of helplessness and weakness. This young girl had witnessed almost everyone around her being killed while trying to protect her while they still had the protection of their clan to survive. She had no hopes or prospects of a future in sight.

They all completely let their guards down in relation to her, and Riria was particularly shaken, with tears streaming from her eyes. Riria felt firsthand the loss and death of the people she loved most, deeply understanding the pain of this young girl.

After calming down a bit, Lian, with a tranquil sigh, looked at Riria and explained the relationship that humans had with these demons. He explained how demons were created and how elven lineage could be forcibly altered by a powerful black power.

The torture that elves endured as their bodies and souls were invaded and corrupted by black Qi was an incomprehensibly distressing and devastating experience. The black Qi penetrated deeply into every fiber of their being, corroding their essence and leading them to a state of unbearable agony. The emotional anguish was also unbearable. The elves witnessed the corruption of their own identity and purity, feeling powerless in the face of the evil power that consumed them. They were tormented by feelings of despair, desolation, and loss as their true selves were distorted and suffocated by the darkness of the black Qi.

The torture was so intense and relentless that most elves could not withstand the process. About 99% of them succumbed to corruption, meeting their end amidst pain and destruction.

Lian, who also experienced a part of this torture in the past, was able to describe it accurately. As they transformed into Dark Elves, their cultivations greatly elevated in power. However, this was not something natural; their life essences would be rapidly consumed, although some could quickly reach the Core Formation realm, Lian mentioned.

Being slaves, these powerful elves had no way to revolt, as their souls were marked with the seal of slavery. Probably, the people from the capital discovered this by chance and were amazed. They could create an incredibly powerful army at their disposal, maintaining their dominance over others.

Riria, her eyes shining with anger and hatred, emanated a fierce and rebellious aura. The vegetation around trembled and swayed as if sensing Riria's powerful fury. Riria's Qi, usually subtle and discreet, became something powerful and oppressive. The air around her grew heavy and laden with dark energy. Dark ripples formed around her, emanating a sense of impending death.

"The Enchant clan is on the way to Griffin's nest. We will make a small detour and gather some information. Now, you will have the chance to get a little revenge. In the future, we will go to the capital and be able to repay for the cruel fate of so many elves," said Lian, looking into Riria's eyes.

Quickly, Riria calmed down. After going through so many painful experiences in her life, she learned to endure everything and consider the consequences before acting. She became capable of tolerating humiliations and provocations without reacting.

Lian trained her rigorously and gave her unconditional support and protection. Now, her true personality emerged fully. She had the strength to act as her heart desired, knowing that he would always be there to support her. Her only wish now was to reach that clan quickly.

After a few days, Saya finally woke up, completely healed after taking Lian's shining liquid. As she opened her eyes, she found herself surrounded by strangers. Tension was visible in her body, which slightly cowered in a defensive posture. Her hunched shoulders denoted momentary fragility as she tried to protect herself from imminent danger.

The melancholic and fearful expressions on the young Griffin princess revealed her vulnerability, concerns, and the emotional burden she carried. Riria quickly approached her, calming her with tenderness and tranquility.

That's when Saya learned of her protector's death. Her lost gaze revealed a whirlwind of internal emotions as tears streamed down and the feathers of her small wing trembled uncontrollably.

"Grandpa... everyone is gone..." Saya expressed words filled with anguish, sadness, and helplessness, echoing the loss of her last relative. She felt completely lost, without direction, as if an immense void had taken hold of her being.

All four girls approached her, and Riria hugged her tightly, also shedding tears. It took several hours for Saya to calm down, as the support and comfort helped alleviate some of her pain.

The group, now composed of seven people, was heading toward the Enchant clan. Leading the way were the four girls, with Saya walking with a smile on her face that seemed to conceal her true sadness. She had calmed considerably after witnessing with her own eyes the powerful demons and demonic beasts being defeated in a few moves by those four humans.

While the other griffins and her grandfather always engaged in intense battles against these creatures, resulting in injuries, any one of the four girls could quickly eliminate them on their own. A faint sense of hope awakened in Saya; she felt that she could continue living for some time. Perhaps they could help her race from being completely destroyed.

Rumi was always close to them, and when Saya woke up, he used his powerful, refreshing, and warm Qi to heal some scratches on her body. She understood that it was he who healed her, and his power should be able to fully heal anyone wounded in battle. Rumi was the brother of an older and kind human who comforted her, leaving a good impression on Saya.

The cold and silent boy who followed behind the group was a strange being to Saya. Everyone called him Master or Young Master, indicating his importance among the humans. However, he didn't display any powerful Qi and didn't fight courageously to protect the other women.

These observations brought back memories of her grandfather's words about humans. According to him, humans were not always led by the strongest and most honorable, like griffins. Instead, they were divided into castes and clans, and some individuals with a powerful background took advantage of others, living a life depending on others' protection.

A strong revulsion began to arise in Saya towards this person called Lian. He seemed to fit exactly the description given by her grandfather. He was someone weak, relying on the power and protection of his new sisters to survive.