The black tree, the husk-like human bodies, and everything inside the domain were splintered into billions of tiny fragments, yet all of it remained suspended in place, locked together by paused time.

There was no cry of pain, nor agony, nor even rage from the Mind Devouring Tree. There was no need to.

In this domain, anything unworthy of words would crumble into a harrowing silence capable of choking worlds.

Daela walked slowly toward the black tree, her feet stepping on the air itself. She ignored the husk bodies around her, yet even the faint scent or rustle of her movement made the air sharp enough to kill.

The spirit of the tree still stood frozen in the posture of pointing at her, mouth wide as if giving an order, her eyes marked with unmistakable fear and anxiety.

Once Daela was an inch away, she raised her hand and plunged it deep inside the spirit's chest, searching for something. A few seconds later, she withdrew her hand and with it, something slick with dark green blood.

It looked like a root, but transparent, with black vein-like tendrils coursing within it, accompanied by the wraiths of countless beings crying in eternal agony. Their cries were drowned in silence. Yet even in her paused world, the root still emitted enough mind power to make the air tremble.

This was the Mind Root she had been tasked to obtain.

And once she had it…

{You have completed your Grandmaster Evolution Quest, Daela Warborn.}

{Evaluation: Glorious.}

{You are ready to fully step into Grandmaster rank.}

{You have earned additional rewards for this glorious achievement.}

The Will paused, as if considerate enough to let Daela absorb the information, before continuing unhurriedly…

{Information 1: The Mind Root can temper your mind, granting considerable immunity to mental whispers and to those who know.}

{Information 2: The Broken Mind is stirring. Be wary of its whispers.}

Daela read it all without a ripple on her cold, blank face. Without thinking much, she slowly turned her head toward the edge of her domain, her white, X-shaped sword eye locking onto a legion of elves waiting for her, weapons raised to kill.

She observed them for a long moment, then, wordlessly, she vanished from Fokay, and with her, the Empire of Silence.

Only after she was gone did the shriek of the Mind Devouring Tree tear open reality, the air-space convulsing violently under the cry of outrage and despair before shattering into thousands of pieces that crashed to the ground, sending up dust and blood in a choking cloud.

The elves stared at the scene in horror. Some stepped back unconsciously, hearts unable to bear such destruction.

Silence bloated the entire space.

"What… is this?" one whispered in dread, afraid to break the silence, yet even more afraid not to.

"Was that a domain? But how could a domain be like this?"

Whispers rippled through them, each seeking comfort in another, yet among them stood an oddity. A human, blue-haired with matching eyes, holding a recording artifact before him.

After several seconds to steady himself, he spoke, voice hoarse:

"Have you seen, my lord?"

Instantly, the elves fell silent.

One second passed, then two and just as the third was about to follow, a voice boomed from every runic communication tool, earrings crafted solely to receive orders.

"I have seen." the voice was amused, despite the apathy beneath it."She will return eventually. Stay there until she does."

Then the voice faded, and stillness reclaimed the space.

The legion of elves did not complain. They did not dare, after all. They simply did their job with chilling seriousness, unwilling to incur the wrath of The Undivided Mind.

…

While all of this was happening, deep in the Kingdom of Elves, in a mansion made of leaves and tree-branches nestled among the highest canopies of the realm, a young blue-haired man with matching eyes sat at the edge of his bed — naked — the bed itself made of fluffy leaves, mosses, and flowers of every shape.

The room was a sight to behold, as though someone had carved open the World Tree itself and chosen to live inside it.

It was filled with green… from the leaves to the flowers, to the mosses, and the occasional wandering weeds.

"Same dream?" A woman's voice, sweet as musk, slipped from behind him on the same bed. It came from an insufferably beautiful elven girl with green hair and green eyes. Her pale naked body was marked with green tribal tattoos flowing across her skin for all to see.

"It seems so," the young man said, smirking coldly. "It's still a little blurry, but I can see it's a woman with blue hair and blue eyes very similar to mine. Oh… and she seems to have a scar on her forehead. Quite an ugly one at that." He glanced at his hand, where a ring nestled.

The last legacy of his family.

The elven princess appeared behind him, wrapping her arms around his neck, pressing her round breasts against his back. "Maybe it's one of your family members? Cursing you for feeling nothing inside your hollow heart when your whole family was exterminated." She whispered into his ear, tone thick with amusement.

The man gave her a dark, short laugh. "Who cares about the anger of the dead. Let them complain to the god of death." he grunted, "And shouldn't they be happy? I'm about to take care of one of those responsible for their downfall."

"The crimson cold-eyed woman?" the princess asked, then smirked cruelly. "What? Will you kill her?"

"You know me better by now, Luelle," he said. "I do not kill."

Luelle, the elven princess — heiress of the kingdom — laughed softly. "Of course you don't. You do much worse. You take over their minds and use them like puppets."

"Not liking my mercy?"

Luelle leaned to his ear and licked it. "Oh, but I do," she whispered, her hands sliding downward, "and it makes me horny."

The man merely smiled, making no move to stop her. "I am tired of your body, Luelle. Give me your mother."

Luelle bit his ear. "Only if you let me play with that crimson-eyed girl. Her face irritates me. I want her under my feet and between my legs."

"Cheating on me again?"

"Not cheating if you allow it… and even watch it."

The man laughed before speaking. "If you wish, then do it. But careful, she is a Warborn."

His blue eyes glowed with a sharp, apathetic hue. "They are a dangerous bunch. Especially the youngest, from what I've heard lately."

"A man?" She licked her lips.

"Is your mind filled with nothing but sex?"

"You made me addicted to it, master. Now bear the consequences of who you turned me into."

They continued talking, each word empty of feeling.

They were like hollow flesh using each other for their countless desires, never hesitating to discard one another to find a sharper thrill, a deeper distraction, anything to fill the void gnawing inside them.

Maybe that was why they worked together.

And maybe that was why they were meant to be together.

After all…

Only a monster could recognize a monster.

"It's time for your father to step down from the throne," he said suddenly.

Luelle shrugged. "Give me what I want first," she replied. "And we also need to handle this mess. The Mind Devouring Tree was the perfect torture tool for us. Now it's gone."

"We'll take care of that," he said. "And what you want… you want Daela Warborn, don't you?"

"It seems that's her name."

"Then consider it done."

In the next instant they were back on the bed, mouths locked, hips swaying, their minds clouded by a thick fog of lust.

Yet they only felt more hunger.

Yet their hearts remained hollow.

A hollowness they would do anything to fill.

Even if it meant sacrificing a whole kingdom.

Even if it meant partaking in the worst acts known to mankind.

…

In another place, inside a meeting room where the ceiling was painted like morning stars and the walls glowed with a warm orange, a young man with golden hair and blue eyes shaped like twin moons sat leisurely at the far end of the table.

On his left ear hung a moon-shaped earring, emitting a naturally chilling power that permeated the room, giving him a regal bearing.

Behind him stood a woman in a maid uniform, her expression adorned with a subtle smile.

The young man, Sirius Asterion, was facing someone else seated before him. A man, to be precise.

He was short — not above 5ft — with a round body and a plump face. His hair was dark blue and his eyes a faint yellow. He wore a black suit that seemed too tight, making him look breathless, beads of sweat rolling down his temple.

He took a napkin offered by the knight beside him and wiped his face. Then he offered Sirius a smile. "Lord Sirius, what a pleasure to meet you in my humble house."

"Oh, and please, forgive the lack of festivities in your honor. Your visit was rather…" he smiled faintly, a strange expression on his face, "…an unexpected surprise. A good one, doubtless. Yet still a surprise."

Sirius mirrored his smile, though on him it appeared unfairly beautiful. "Well, Lord MorningStar, I am not strict with formalities. So rest assured." He said calmly. "As for the reason of my visit, that is something a wise man like you surely already knows."

Lord MorningStar smirked. "A wise man, you say. Even a fool would know, Lord Sirius. But sorry, that is not the subject today." He gestured lightly. "So I assume you have an offer for me? Please, let me hear it."

Sirius ignored the sarcasm and spoke directly. "The Moon whispered to me, saying the Morning Stars wished to brighten their luster… to make it more dazzling."

Lord MorningStar narrowed his yellow eyes in focus.

Sirius continued, smiling, "And I have come to know that a Starlight Shard rests within the inheritance of the Moonborn family. My mother's family."

That made the Lord arch his puffy eyebrows in intrigue.

"Swear your oath to me, and you shall have it."

Lord MorningStar did not answer immediately. He had always known that one of the Asterion heirs would come to him, the game of thrones was well underway, and from the beginning he had known exactly what he wanted.

He did not care who would become the better ruler, nor who would raise the empire to greatness. No, the only thing he cared about was the glory of his family.

And so…

"Quite an interesting offer, Lord Sirius," he said, wiping his sweat again. "But I have a proposal of my own, if you would indulge me, of course." He grinned.

"You have my attention," Sirius replied.

Lord MorningStar cleared his throat, then slowly parted his lips.

"I have a daughter of my own, my princess," he said. Then, swiftly "I want you to take my daughter as a wife."

Sirius's eyes widened slightly in surprise, while Luna, behind him, turned her gaze on the Lord and his knight with cold, murderous eyes barely concealed.

And yet MorningStar continued…

"Indulge me, and my power is yours."

—End of Chapter 324—

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