Aelion chose to stay behind in the Village of the Silvans, taking on the responsibility of evacuating his kingdom and protecting the remaining civilians. Only Midoki and Elyra set off toward the Elven Forest, a region shrouded in mystery and danger. Crossing the dense deathly mist that surrounded the western lands took four long days.
When they arrived, the scene before them was desolate: a vast swamp, filled with the bodies of elves and demons scattered throughout the muddy water. The atmosphere was suffocating, saturated with a malevolent energy. Elyra, unable to bear the sight, sat beside a decaying tree, her gaze lost as her mind wandered through dark thoughts. Midoki, on the other hand, walked among the corpses, analyzing every detail.
- Midoki: "It wasn't the mist that destroyed this place," - he concluded, his deep voice breaking the silence. "These demons fought a brutal battle here."
Elyra lifted her eyes, trying to steady her irregular breathing. Mammon's words echoed in her mind:
- Elyra (memories): "I hope you enjoy the surprise." - Her memories resurfaced."Maybe he was referring to this massacre."She clenched her fists.
- Elyra: "Midoki..." - she said, her voice trembling. - "My brother... did you find anything that might point to his whereabouts?"
Midoki shook his head.
- Midoki: "No. Just soldiers and a few civilians. Even though some bodies are submerged, many are still missing. That suggests there was an evacuation before the carnage." - He placed a hand on her shoulder, silently conveying reassurance. - "If he was here, he may still be alive."
Elyra took a deep breath, gathering her strength.
- Elyra: "We need to find the Abyssal Grimoire of Thaldirur. If Lucifer gets his hands on it, the entire world will be in danger."
They set off through the dark forest, the atmosphere tense as they moved forward. Along the way, Elyra broke the silence, her voice heavy with melancholy.
- Elyra: "This spiritual region… time used to flow differently here. But everything changed when the Sanctuary of Chrono was destroyed." - She hesitated before continuing, as if the words pained her. - "When I was little, my mother was sweet and loving. But one day, she fell ill. My father tried everything to save her, but she died. After that, he changed... he lost the people's trust. That's when Thaldirur rose to power."
Midoki listened silently, attentive to every word.
- Elyra: "He used the Sanctuary of Chrono to enhance his Hypno ability, controlling powerful soldiers and turning civilians into slaves. He killed my father and... chose me as his future wife." - Her voice wavered. - "In our race, marriage increases power. But everything is a blur in my memory—I don't remember much... about my childhood. I only know that you appeared and saved me, Midoki. And I'll be forever grateful to you for that."
Midoki looked at her, his expression firm yet filled with understanding.
- Midoki: "Elyra, the past doesn't define who you are now. But it can guide us toward the future. Let's honor your mother, your father, and everything you've lost."
They arrived at the cabin where the grimoire was supposed to be. They searched the place thoroughly but found nothing. Elyra felt the despair growing in her chest.
- Elyra: "We failed..." she murmured, holding the edge of a table to steady herself.
Midoki stepped closer.
- Midoki: "There's no time left to grieve. We need to return to the swamp. The other Templars are bringing the ship up the river."
Soon after, the ship arrived. Midoki and Elyra boarded, sailing toward the sea. But their journey down the river was interrupted by an unexpected attack. A swamp demon emerged from the water, piercing the ship's hull from the side. The vessel began to sink.
Midoki tried to strike it with his katana, Shinrei Sogai-zai, but the blow was ineffective. He almost fell from the ship but managed to regain his balance just in time. Neptune, using the power of the Trident of Aquarius, froze the hole in the hull, preventing an immediate sinking. However, the demon attacked again as they reached a narrower part of the river, splitting the ship in half. He finally revealed his identity: Vodnik, the Razor Demon.
- Neptune: "I don't care who you are!" - Neptune shouted, as pure rain began to fall, revitalizing his powers. Each raindrop became an Ice Needle, piercing Vodnik. The demon retaliated with a whirlwind of razors, but Elliot countered with his Golden Typhoon.
Feeling cornered, Vodnik attempted to flee, but a radiant barrier activated—cast by Midoki. It was a technique he had never used before. As soon as Vodnik touched the barrier, his body began to shatter. Neptune ended the confrontation with his Nova Vortex, destroying the demon.
With Elliot's winds keeping the remains of the ship afloat, Midoki restored the vessel using Shinrei, Law of Originalism – Creation.
They left the western continent (Lunareth), and after several weeks of travel, reached the shores of the eastern continent (Solvaris).
The journey continued through the mountains, where they encountered an old gnome sage named Spencer. With his spiritual ability, All Seeing Eye, he revealed profound secrets about Midoki's true potential and the ancient scriptures of the Sentinels.
- Spencer: "You, Midoki," - said Spencer - "are the key to multiversal harmony. Your power comes from the primordial essence that shaped the universe."
Midoki pondered his words, recalling the riddles left by the dragons. A renewed determination lit his eyes. He knew his journey was only just beginning.
Spencer opened a portal to the Gnome Spiritual Zone, where Midoki and his allies would undergo intense training before continuing onward into the lands of the Solvaris Continent.