Elysia
Chapter 2: The World Tree and a New Hope

The silence left in Elysia's wake was heavier than any din of war. For several minutes that felt like an eternity, more than ten thousand soldiers from the world's mightiest alliance stood frozen, their breath caught in their throats. A sword, dropped from a trembling grip, fell to the earth with a clang that sounded deafening in the stillness. The majestic, cold aura slowly faded, but the remnants of its fear clung to every soul like a frost that refused to melt.

High Commander Borin was the first to regain his composure. With a hardened jaw, he raised his hand. "All units, hold your positions! No one is to make a rash move! Medical teams, check on those who fainted from the spiritual pressure!"

The command broke the spell of fear. The soldiers began to move stiffly, looking at one another with eyes still filled with horror and bewilderment. The mission to invade Hell, an endeavor prepared for months with the sacrifice of countless resources, had now become absurd. How could they possibly invade a dimension when its ruler could casually stroll past their ranks as if they didn't exist?

Before long, a makeshift command tent was erected. Inside, the leaders of the alliance gathered, their faces grim. The atmosphere within the tent was a thousand times more tense than it had been on the battlefield.

King Theron sat at the head of the table, his long fingers laced together on the wooden surface. "I want a report," he said, his voice calm but carrying a heavy weight. "The Heroes. You have the [Hero's Eye] ability from the system. Tell us everything you saw."

All eyes turned to the four youths. Kenji, the leader, swallowed before stepping forward. "Your Majesty," he began, his voice trembling slightly. "We… we tried to analyze her. The results… they don't make sense."

"Just report it," Commander Borin urged, his impatience clear.

Kenji nodded and began his report. "Her name… is Elysia von Silbernebel. Her title… 'Ruler of Hell'."

A shocked whisper spread among the leaders. So, the woman was not the Demon Lord of prophecy, but something else entirely—something that was already in power.

"And her status?" Archmage Gideon asked, his sharp eyes fixed on them.

"That's the problem, Lord Archmage," Aiko, the mage hero, chimed in, taking over. "All of her stats—Level, HP, MP, strength, agility, everything—they only showed three question marks. ???."

Gideon stroked his beard, his expression growing ever more serious. "Question marks in the system do not mean 'unknown'," he explained to the others. "They mean 'immeasurable'. Something whose value is so immense it surpasses the parameters that the laws of this world can comprehend. Like trying to measure the ocean with a teaspoon."

That explanation made everyone's face turn a shade paler.

"There's more," Kenji added hesitantly. "The most important part. A Highest-Level System Warning appeared for all four of us. The message was very clear." He took a deep breath. "It read: 'This individual is beyond measurement parameters. Do not provoke. Do not obstruct. Let her pass'."

Silence once again enveloped the tent. The System—the absolute entity that governed the statuses, skills, and fundamental laws of their world—had explicitly ordered them to stand aside. This was no longer a matter of military strategy or magical power. This was a command from reality itself.

"This changes everything," Queen Lyra said, her melodic voice breaking the silence. She looked at her husband, then at the other leaders. "Our plan to invade Hell for the Crystal Amber is foolishness. We would be slaughtered before we could even take a second step."

"Then what do we do?" Commander Borin growled. "The prophecy about the Demon Lord's awakening is still in effect! Without the Holy Sword, we are all doomed!"

"Perhaps… perhaps there is another way," Queen Lyra continued, her eyes shining with pragmatic intelligence. "Think about it. She has a name. She has a title. 'Ruler of Hell'. That implies an order, a governance. She is not a mindless, raging beast; if she were, she would have annihilated us all as she passed."

She paused, letting her words sink in. "Rulers can be negotiated with. Rulers have interests. If we need something from her domain—the Crystal Amber—perhaps we can offer her something in return."

"Trade… with the Ruler of Hell?" a human general scoffed. "You are mad, Your Majesty!"

"Is it madder than trying to fight her?" Queen Lyra retorted sharply. "We can offer wealth, ancient artifacts, knowledge, anything. We will pay the price, even if it is ten or a hundred times the crystal's value. It is a small price for the survival of our world."

The idea, though radical, began to sound logical. Desperation was the mother of unexpected courage.

King Theron, who had been silent until now, finally spoke. His gaze was distant, aimed in the direction of the World Tree where the woman had gone. "Lyra is right," he said with a steady voice. "We will attempt a diplomatic path. We will not approach her as soldiers, but as petitioners."

He stood, his regal posture radiating authority. "I myself will lead a small delegation. Queen Lyra, Archmage Gideon, and Saintess Annelise will accompany me. We will approach her with respect and good intentions. We will try… to talk."

The decision was made. The greatest military mission in history had now transformed into the most dangerous diplomatic mission ever conceived.

Meanwhile, Elysia was oblivious to the drama unfolding behind her. For her, the world around her was a sensory symphony long lost. For nine thousand years, her landscape had been jagged rocks and rivers of lava. Her sky was always blood-red, illuminated by eternal fires. Her air smelled of sulfur, ozone, and death. Her sounds were the eternal screams of the damned and the roars of monsters.

Now… everything was different.

She walked across a lush green meadow. She could feel the softness of the dew beneath her floating feet. She inhaled the scent of wildflowers and pine, a perfume that almost brought tears to her eyes for its simple beauty. She heard the song of birds and the rustle of wind through the leaves—the most beautiful music she had ever heard.

As she drew closer to the World Tree, she began to see the civilization of the Elves. Their homes were not separate buildings from nature, but a part of it. Some houses were carved beautifully into the trunks of giant trees, with windows that glowed like friendly eyes. Hanging bridges made of woven, living wood connected one tree to another, adorned with glowing lanterns that swayed gently. Everything radiated a quiet, organic luxury.

A memory flashed in her mind. A memory of life as Han Ji-hoon in Seoul. She remembered the luxurious apartments in the Gangnam district she had seen in magazines—skyscrapers of glass and steel, with cold, minimalist interiors and designer furniture worth billions of won. It was a luxury that proclaimed wealth and status, a luxury built to make others envious.

This Elven luxury was different. It was a luxury born from harmony, from a deep understanding of natural beauty. It was not for show, but for living. It felt more… real. Warmer.

Finally, she arrived at the base of the World Tree.

Its scale was simply beyond reason. The trunk was so massive it would take a hundred people holding hands to encircle it. Its pale, silvery bark pulsed with a soft green light from the life energy flowing within. Elysia looked up, and her calm breath hitched slightly.

Above, nestled among the giant branches that pierced the clouds, an entire city was built. No, not built 'on' the tree, but 'with' it. Vast platforms made of the same wood as the trunk spread out like giant flower petals, connected by graceful spiral staircases and small waterfalls that trickled from one level to another. There were hanging gardens filled with luminous flowers, and at the very top, a structure resembling a palace shimmered in the sunlight. Its peak was so high it felt like it was touching the stars.

The fairy tale book… she thought, her eyes reflecting the beauty of the scene. The story wasn't a lie. A castle in a tree, a sanctuary of peace.

For thousands of years, her only goal had been to survive. Day after day, battle after battle. There was no time for rest, no room for peace. Now, the war was over. She had won. She was the ruler of an empty hell. But what was the point of power without tranquility?

Here, at the foot of the legendary World Tree, Elysia felt something she had never felt before: a sense of hope. The hope of truly being able to rest.

She walked slowly around the base of the tree, her slender fingers gently touching the pulsing bark. She found a perfect spot—a small, sheltered alcove between two giant roots, next to a small stream whose water was as clear as crystal. The gentle babbling of the water was the only sound here.

With a barely audible sigh of contentment, Elysia sat down by the edge of the stream. For the first time, she didn't have to be vigilant for a surprise attack. She didn't have to feel the bloodthirsty auras of millions of demons. She just sat there, listening to the flowing water, feeling the warmth of the sun on her skin, and gazing at the beauty of the World Tree that sheltered her.

She closed her eyes, letting the peace she had craved for nine millennia wash over her. Here, perhaps, she could begin her retirement. Here, perhaps, no one would ever bother her again.