Chapter 107 - The Avatar of Chains
The forest fell silent.
Even the wind stopped moving.
Every leaf hung motionless in the air.
Noctis stood before the World Root with his hands clasped behind his back, as if he were merely an observer.
Yet his presence alone made the ancient forest tremble.
---
The Codex of the Beast Sovereign opened by itself.
Threat Assessment
Name: Noctis
Classification:
First Avatar of the Chain Sovereign
Manifestation:
18%
Estimated True Power:
Unknown
Recommendation:
Avoid direct combat.
---
Kai read the final line.
Then quietly closed the Codex.
"I've never been good at running."
Noctis chuckled.
"Neither was the First."
---
Above them, the battle continued.
The Blighted Treant roared as Pyron's flames collided with its massive wooden fists.
Ignis soared through the sky, shattering corrupted branches with bursts of dragonfire.
Selene, Lucien, Rowan and Lady Vesper held back endless waves of Chain Vines.
None of them noticed that time around Kai had nearly stopped.
---
Noctis walked slowly around the World Root.
His footsteps left black flowers that withered moments later.
"You know..."
"I never hated beasts."
Kai frowned.
"No?"
"No."
"I hated loneliness."
For the first time...
There was sadness in Noctis's voice.
---
He reached out and gently touched the World Root.
"It hears every prayer."
"Every farewell."
"Every cry for help."
"For twelve thousand years..."
"It has listened."
"And yet..."
"It could save almost no one."
---
Kai remained silent.
Something about Noctis's words felt genuine.
---
Noctis looked toward him.
"Tell me, Beast Sovereign."
"When you fail to save someone..."
"What will become of your hope?"
Kai answered without hesitation.
"I'll grieve."
"I'll learn."
"And then I'll save the next person."
---
Noctis smiled.
"A better answer than the First gave."
Kai's eyes narrowed.
"You knew him."
"I did."
"He was my closest friend."
Silence.
Even the Codex stopped turning its pages.
---
"What?"
Kai whispered.
Noctis removed one of his black gloves.
Ancient scars covered his hand.
"So many stories were erased."
"So many truths forgotten."
"I wasn't born the Chain Sovereign."
"I became it."
---
The forest around them began showing visions.
Two young men stood beneath the World Tree twelve thousand years ago.
One held the first Codex.
The other wore silver robes.
They laughed together.
Brothers.
Friends.
Partners.
One became the First Beast Sovereign.
The other...
Was Noctis.
---
The vision vanished.
Kai stood frozen.
"You expect me to believe that?"
"I expect nothing."
Noctis replied calmly.
"I simply grew tired of history lying."
---
The Codex glowed.
Archive Verification
Ancient Records...
Partially Restored.
Probability of Statement:
91% True
---
Kai stared at the screen.
The First Beast Sovereign...
Had once fought beside the man who became the Chain Sovereign.
---
Suddenly—
The World Root screamed.
A massive crack spread across the black crystal surrounding its heart.
Noctis sighed.
"Our conversation ends here."
"The corruption has grown impatient."
He lifted one finger.
The Heart Seed pulsed violently.
The Blighted Treant let out a cry of agony.
Its wooden body began splitting apart.
From within its chest...
A colossal serpent made entirely of black roots emerged.
Its crimson eyes burned with hatred.
---
Emergency Update
New Boss Detected
Root Devourer
Rank:
Catastrophe-Class Corruption Beast
Status:
Awakening
Mission Updated:
Protect the World Root.
---
Noctis stepped backwards into the shadows.
Before disappearing, he looked directly at Kai.
"When we meet again..."
"I hope you've learned the complete truth."
His body dissolved into black mist.
The flow of time returned instantly.
Selene shouted,
"Kai!"
"The Treant!"
Kai looked up.
The ancient protector had fallen to one knee.
But it wasn't attacking anymore.
It was desperately holding the Root Devourer in place with its own body.
The Treant wasn't trying to destroy the forest.
It was sacrificing itself to stop something far worse from escaping.
Kai tightened his grip on the Star-forged Spear.
"Everyone!"
"We save the Treant..."
"...and we defeat the Root Devourer together!"
The final battle for the World Root had begun.