You Are Late

A black dome emerged, blocking all the attacks, and Elias was the one who had manifested it.

He looked toward Scarlett. “So it’s you, Scarlett. How unlucky.”

Evolvers were not particularly numerous, so the veteran ones usually knew of each other.

Elias was feeling somewhat helpless at the moment.

If his opponent were a Druid, she would have been relatively easy to deal with, but she just had to be a Verdant Warden.

Facing a Verdant Warden in a place like a forest was clearly not a wise move.

However, he couldn't just give up on the Remnant Branch of the Divine Tree.

With a flash of thought, Elias quickly absorbed all the vampires following him into his black dome, shrinking it until it rested in his palm.

Then, a pair of bat wings sprouted from Elias’s back. With a single beat, he erupted with incredible speed, flying toward the depths of the Whispering Forest.

If there was no advantage in fighting, he simply wouldn't fight.

“Did I say you could leave, Elias?”

Seeing this, Scarlett immediately gave chase.

One group fled while the other pursued, their speed staggering as they wove through the Whispering Forest.

The Whispering Forest was essentially a maze, and those who entered usually had to tread with extreme caution.

But both the Bloody Sickle and the Nature Sect had gathered sufficient information on the forest. They didn't need to be overly cautious, as they feared neither getting lost nor the dangers within.

Their efficiency was high, and before long, they reached the heart of the Whispering Forest.

There, they beheld a truly colossal tree.

Its crown reached into the clouds, and every branch stretched out like a wide road.

Though it was just a single tree, it felt like an entire city.

If this tree were located in the outside world rather than the depths of the Whispering Forest, it would have long ago been developed into a treetop city.

Upon seeing this tree, both Elias and Scarlett knew they had arrived at the right place.

The Remnant Branch of the Divine Tree had to be atop this massive tree.

Elias moved swiftly, charging upward as a black shadow, with Scarlett hot on his heels.

Only Scarlett was able to keep up at this point; the rest of the Nature Sect members were left behind, unable to match her pace.

Indeed, a battle between Evolvers was not something just anyone was qualified to join.

The two quickly reached the tree and climbed steadily along the trunk, leaping across the wide branches.

Elias searched for the Remnant Branch of the Divine Tree. He lacked the confidence to fight Scarlett in a forest setting, but finding the branch would change everything.

If he could find it, he might be able to use the artifact to counter her.

Of course, Elias wasn't entirely sure if the artifact would take effect immediately upon being seized.

But even if it didn't, he still had to find it. At worst, he would just have to find a way to escape afterward.

Elias was still quite confident when it came to making an escape.

After running for a while, Elias suddenly skidded to a halt. He looked toward a certain branch in astonishment, spotting two figures positioned there.

How could there be others here?

Among the two, the one dressed in a nun habit was surrounded by a swirling green light that radiated a dense aura of life.

She was clearly fusing with the Remnant Branch of the Divine Tree!

Elias naturally knew the effects of the Remnant Branch of the Divine Tree. The artifact provided immense life force, which was perfectly consistent with the aura the nun was currently displaying.

Someone had actually arrived here before both the Bloody Sickle and the Nature Sect and claimed the Remnant Branch of the Divine Tree?

“That’s mine!”

Elias let out a shout and charged straight forward, intent on interrupting the fusion.

Just as Elias lunged, Scarlett arrived and witnessed the scene, her heart shaking with shock.

However, she didn't rush forward like Elias. Instead, she stared at the nun in disbelief.

“How can it be her? Why is she here?”

Scarlett recognized the nun who was fusing with the Remnant Branch of the Divine Tree.

Portraits of this nun had already been circulating widely within the Nature Sect.

After all, she was the newly born Protagonist of the Era of the Radiant Light Church—and a remarkably powerful one at that. She was the kind of Protagonist of the Era who could defeat others of the same rank!

It was only natural for the Nature Sect to treat such a person with the utmost caution.

Scarlett truly hadn't expected to see Olivia here, let alone find her already fusing with the Remnant Branch of the Divine Tree.

She knew very well what the artifact could do; it could practically create a being worthy of being called a Protagonist of the Era.

And yet, this treasure was being fused into someone who was already a Protagonist of the Era!

If the fusion succeeded, just how terrifying would her combat power become?

She was already a figure that other Protagonists of the Era at the same rank feared immensely.

But shock aside, could this even be stopped?

Scarlett knew it was impossible, for this was Olivia.

As far as she knew, Olivia had long since become an Evolver. Since they were both Evolvers, how could she—someone who wasn't a Protagonist of the Era—hope to snatch the Remnant Branch of the Divine Tree from her?

Even if she were a Protagonist of the Era herself, she might not have dared to act.

The moment Olivia appeared here, the ownership of the Remnant Branch of the Divine Tree was decided.

Neither the Bloody Sickle nor the Nature Sect stood a chance with the artifact anymore.

Watching Elias rush forward recklessly, Scarlett felt a touch of amusement amidst her shock.

Elias was finished.

That was Scarlett’s assessment of the situation.

Of course, Elias being finished wasn't just because he was charging at Olivia.

Simply by appearing here, Elias was doomed.

Unlike the relationship between the Nature Sect and the Radiant Light Church, the relationship between the Bloody Sickle and the Radiant Light Church was abysmal.

As long as she didn't attack, she would be fine. But for Elias, his mere presence here meant trouble, whether he acted or not.

“So you’ve arrived. Unfortunately, you’re late.”

At that moment, Olivia noticed the two groups and spoke in a calm, leisurely manner.