Supreme Magus novel Chapter 3478

"The knowledge contained in the fragments is more than enough to break the precarious peace." Xaphen said. "Zima would easily win the war but then it would be ravaged by the mad World Tree and end up like Jiera, if not even worse."

"Thanks." Aalejah gave him a deep bow. "We gladly accept your offer."

***

With Xaphen’s help, it was just a matter of days before Lith collected all the fragments in Zima. He returned home only for lunch, dinner, and tucking the children in. The mission was important, but not as much as reassuring Elysia and Valeron.

Jiera’s transoceanic gates made transportation between Garlen and Zima relatively quick and nobody at the outposts asked Lith questions.

Then, he moved to Jiera and Xaphen kept following him. Feela insisted on informing the local Council, but withhold the information about how many fragments they had already collected and that Lith had purified them.

"Of course we are going to help you." Jiera’s plant representative groaned. "We heard all about the most recent crazy World Tree and the last thing Jiera needs is a new catastrophe.

"No offense, but when you are done, feel free to choose any Sapling in Garlen you want as the next Tree. Your continent has already proven it can deal with a deranged Yggdrasill and we trust you can do it again."

"None taken." Lotho lied through his vines.

"What a moldy piece of wood!" He cursed right after hanging up. "He just wants to drop the problem on us. Good call, Feela."

With the help of the local Council, the mission in Jiera ended faster than in Zima. Lith had to use the blue flames only a handful of times and only when the populace of a Sapling asked him to.

Most Saplings were happy to give up on their fragment of the World Tree’s essence. The madness in them slowly twisted their minds and bodies. Every day they spent resisting its allure was agony.

As for the Guardians, the light of the Yggdrasill’s essence had become strong enough to draw their attention but they didn’t interfere with Lith’s mission. Not for a lack of wanting, mind you.

Fenagar was the one who had it worse after facing the Eldritches and even though he burned with desire for revenge, his body had yet to heal. With his powers diminished and Xenagrosh’s ability to call for backup, he had to let them go.

Roghar had mostly recovered and he craved knowledge the most. When Lith and Zoreth crossed into his territory while holding the purified World Tree’s essence, the wolf Guardian went this close to ambushing them.

"Can I?" He asked Zagran before taking action.

He was still weakened and if this was another trap laid by the Eldritches, Roghar knew he could only rely on the Garuda to be rescued again.

"By all means, but if something happens to you, this time you are on your own." Zagran growled. "Be it Tyris or the Eldritches that turn you into a rug, I won’t save your ass."

Salaark had informed Zagran of the mission right after Lith had left the Blood Desert. The Overlord had asked nothing of the Lord of Might, just given her a friendly heads up.

Zagran had made the decision to let Lith go on her own. She knew Mogar needed a World Tree but wasn’t sure if Jiera was the best choice.

"Fine." Roghar whined, looking with longing at his surveillance array one last time. "I could learn so many things by studying those two living dead. So many answers I could find by cracking the Yggdrasill’s essence open."

"Just as many I could learn by cracking your skull open." Zagran ignored his plea and hung up the call.

"That was rude." The Fenrir sighed. "I already said fine."