Chapter 206: The Dryad Princess Elenore III

[World-wide Announcement: Zern has freed the dryad people from their curse after thousands of years! The dryad people is be reintegrated into society and explain what happened to them all those years ago!]

I finish healing Elenore, and she opens her eyes as she now looks perfectly healthy. She stares at me and the title floating above my head. "I knew we weren't forsaken... I told you so, father..." The king hugs his daughter as she says those words. I look around and see all the dryads stare at me. Wonder, fear, and respect fill their gazes. The dryads are connected to the deity Artemis and since I'm the grandson of The Almighty Father. They think I'm connected in some way. Well, they are right, but not blood-related. Only related by the fact that divinity flows through me.

I look towards Sally and see her smile at me. "It's time for us to go. I'm sure that someone from somewhere will be sent. It's been a pleasure meeting all of you, and I hope your race prospers from here on out." I toggle my wings on and kneel so Sally can climb on my back. "We'll probably see each other again in the future, princess. I hope it's as friends and not enemies. The world you have come back to is very different than the one you were taken from." She reaches out in a motion for me to wait, but we have spent enough time here.

Sally finishes settling in, and I launch us off the ground and turn us in the direction of Zenith. The dryad people are now free and can live there life they want. I doubt I'll ever meet Ulma Runa, not with that creature after her. As we fly away and into the clouds, I hear Sally ask me something. "You know we could have stayed and helped a little bit... I know that my revenge is the next thing on the agenda, but all the work they'll need to do to rebuild... It doesn't feel right leaving them." I smile as I hear her words as we soar through the clouds.

We aren't going full speed, so we can talk normally. "They need to adjust on their own, Sally. If someone like me holds their hand, they'll be worse off for it. The world isn't what it used to be. The dryads will have plenty of new friends and allies willing to help them. I'm betting everything will work out fine for them. While there is war and death. It's still a world where alliances exist, and people help each other." Sally snuggles in more and sighs in content. We'll fly slow. We could use the time to relax before nightfall and time to camp.

While Cera and Sally continue their cruise in the late afternoon, there are other meetings around Gaia, many of them involving the recent return of the dryads. There is a meeting between the leaders and the church, and the one speaking right now is The Pope.

I pinch the bridge of my nose and release a deep sigh. He did it again. He saved another race of people. I look around the room and see everyone's expressions. Many of us have the same thoughts as each other. "I want to lead off this meeting by saying more and more is happening on Gaia, and all of it comes down to the actions of Zern. It's safe to say that the fate of our world and wars rest with him. Everywhere he goes, waves are made." I honestly don't know if it's a good thing anymore. If having him on in this realm is good.

As a being of the highest life rating, he shouldn't even be walking around on Gaia. Many, including me, have deduced that the rules that other angels must abide by don't apply to him. "I'm going to assume that everyone's focus is the war as it should be, but after what happened in Bellvia... I want all of you to be on guard. You don't know when or where something like that will happen again or to whom." The thought of being killed by Zern makes many in this room shiver. It would bother me too. They are at the top of the mortal food chain. They are scared for the first time in their lives.

Gregory stands up and takes center stage to speak. "The war is slowly being tilted in our favor, and with all this chaos being caused by Zern, it's not making our efforts any easier. Now the church has to waste resources on an entire race of people that need to be educated and readjusted to society." How pragmatic of him, and while many agree with his words. Everyone knows that if we don't help the dryads, we could suffer the wrath of Artemis. He heads back to his seat and sits back down.

I don't know the future of our world. I'm no great seer or wise man. "These troubled times are leading to many problems everywhere. So that's why I'm going to step down as The Pope." Many look at me, shocked and surprised. I can't lead these people. I'm no military statagist. Lucy unfolds her arms as her mouth hangs open. "The seers will find the next suitable Pope in a few weeks. In the meantime, I'm going to leave all the decisions regarding my role in the church to you, Gregory." He goes stiff as I say that.

He is the best leader here. He has the most experience out of everyone. "So you're just going to abandon us!?? Leave us to fight this war without you!? You don't decide when you quit. The seers do!!" Too bad for her, the seers agree with me. It's time I stopped worrying so much about others and focus on myself. I've sacrificed so much already, and I'm tired of this life. "Once the people hear of this, they'll riot! Demanding your blood!" Lucy has always been so passionate. If anyone can win this war, it's going to be her.

As the chaotic meeting in the church continues, night falls on Gaia, and Zern brings Sally and him down for the night.

I bring us down and land in an opening away from trees and foliage. I let Sally off, and I set us up a tent. Once morning comes, I'll go full speed so we can get to Zenith by noon. "Amelia is going to love you. She is the kindest person I've ever met." Amelia is going to be surprised to see me. She doesn't know I'm coming to visit her. I haven't checked the mail in any of the cities I've been to recently. So she is probably really worried about me. Sally comes into the tent and lays down next to me. She relaxes against me and sighs happily. I want to see my stats again after all that work. I didn't really get a chance to appreciate them.

[Slayer (Zern) Lvl.190]

historical

[Exp: 1/100%]

[Title: The Son of Arch-Angel Michael (Hidden),+3 more]

[Stats]

[Strength - 7095][Endurance - 7045][Dexterity - 7215][Speed - 7240][Focus - 19,660]

[Mana aura control: 5/100%]

[Health: 56,560,000,000/56,560,000,000][Mana: 196,600,000,000/196,600,000,000]

[Stat Points: 1000][Armor rating: 500]

[Inventory]

[Passive Perks]

[Inheritor of the Sword] [Son of Heaven] [Slayer of Evil] [Holy Willow Trees Savior] [Finder of Legends] [The Divine who has Legend] [Destined for Greatness] [Dungeon Diver] [An Overachiever]

[Active Skills]

[Heavens light Lvl.59 325/5900] [Protected by Heaven Lvl.59 225/5900] [Slash Lvl.77 4600/130000] [Parry Lvl.53 80/5300] [Double Strike N/A] [Kingslayer N/A] [Raging Machine N/A] [Winged Glory] [Angelic Flight] [Divine Pressure Exertion] [Divinity Pulse] [Controled Fun]

I still have 1000 stat points to put somewhere, but I don't need to at this point. My active skills have gotten so much more powerful, and the boosts on them are insane. I can output hundreds of millions of damage. Something I didn't think was possible, and I don't think any mortal creature can hurt me anymore.

Sally runs her hand up and down my chest piece and hums slightly. I feel relaxed by her little melody. "You know, I think I'm going to ask your mother so much about you. I can already hear the stories." That'll be bad. Amelia doesn't know anything about me. So I should warn Sally, I explain what Amelia and I have been through, and she looks sad now. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have thought that. I figured she raised you cause you turned out so good." Amelia would've raised me well, but I can't imagine my life without my real mom and dad.

I kiss sally's forehead, and her cheeks flush red. I rarely show affection like this, but I do love her reactions when it happens. After a while, we both fall asleep and rest well for the coming journey ahead.

{I wanted to let everyone know that I have a p-a-t-r-e-o-n with two new exclusive stories on it. One is The Aeternus Universe, and the other is a new story with a basketball system. I hope you guys will give it a chance. The link is /easyread. Remove the dashes. Webnovel censors the word.}