Crystal flowers burst across the sky.
They cascaded outward in radiant waves, quickly forming a barrier that shimmered with surreal beauty. The surrounding landscape fractured like a mirror—its shards refracting light in countless dazzling patterns, stitched seamlessly together into a kaleidoscope of enchantment.
Caught within this crystalline dome, both Luceris and her allies stood bathed in shimmering hues. The fallen elves, on the other hand, found themselves hopelessly sealed in. No escape. No cracks to slip through.
This was Luceris's ultimate ability in her current form:
"The Beginning of You and Me."
The moment she entered this domain, she felt it—an immense surge of power, as if the space itself resonated with her soul. Every draw of the bowstring came alive with explosive potential. Critical hits triggered effortlessly, guided by the domain's mysterious rules.
Her companions looked around, stunned.
They could feel it—this wasn't just a skill. This was a reality unto itself.
A realm with its own laws.
Field magic… a domain skill!
It was an absurd power for a level-20 class to possess—completely beyond conventional understanding.
"…What is this?" Grace whispered, reaching out with cautious wonder to touch the refracted edge of the dome. "So beautiful…"
Selene stood frozen, lips parted, her calculating eyes wide with awe. Then, regaining composure, she gave a short nod.
"Luceris, that was beautiful."
It was the first time she had ever openly praised anyone.
Even Luceris herself was breathless. This was her first time activating The Beginning of You and Me—and what she saw far surpassed anything she'd imagined. It wasn't just beautiful… it was divine.
Across the field, Selene didn't hesitate further. Her frost missiles blasted into the chaotic swarm, targeting the disoriented fallen elves.
Luceris followed seamlessly.
Her bow moved like silk in motion, the magic crystal arrows streaming with grace. Each arrow was a song—its flight accompanied by the delicate bloom of petals and the resonance of crystalline notes.
Whoosh—whoosh! Whoosh—whoosh!
Her shots were rapid, fluid, continuous—like she was dancing through the air. Within the flawless dome, Luceris became something otherworldly, an elven spirit mid-waltz, whirling through a stage she'd unknowingly made her own.
She wasn't even the main attacker, and yet the elegance of her every movement drew all eyes to her.
Every hit connected. Every cry from the elves reaffirmed it.
Her confidence surged, and without meaning to, her voice grew playful.
"You're not getting away!"
Luceris's voice rang clear and bright as she loosed another barrage. Magic surged with every arrow.
Pink mist fluttered around her in rhythm with her steps, and as the arrows struck the crystal dome's inner surface, they ricocheted—bouncing wildly in unpredictable angles.
A storm of pink light filled the space.
The fallen elves panicked, ducking with their hands over their heads, unable to find shelter within the dome's refracted chaos.
Even the more powerful ones who dared approach her were intercepted—cut down by Leanne's blade or frozen mid-charge by Selene's timely frost missiles.
The three of them fought in flawless harmony. One attack flowed into the next like a rehearsed symphony.
Before long, the battle was over.
CRACK!
The crystal dome shattered like breaking glass.
Light scattered, and then all fell still.
The flawless dome vanished, returning the meadow to its natural state—but now littered with glittering loot that sparkled in the sunlight like a dragon's hoard.
Grace blinked as she came out of her trance, then bent down and picked up a smooth, black object no larger than her palm. Her eyes gleamed as she began identifying the treasures.
"Mask of the Fallen Elf," she read aloud. "Grants control over negative forces. Adds a curse-based skill…"
Her voice grew more excited with each item.
"Black Beast Handbone…"
"Fallen Stone…"
"The Elves' Whispering Madness…"
She gasped.
"These stats are unbelievable! Some of them even surpass the attributes of divine crystals!"
Her eyes widened at the stone in her hand.
"This one can inflict a curse zone—imagine what kind of artillery we could make with that…"
The loot wasn't just rare. It was revolutionary.
Grace looked ecstatic. She hadn't fought—but she'd just hit the jackpot.
"Good thing Mr. Fang didn't tag along," she joked. "If he saw this haul, he'd die on the spot from sheer jealousy."
She turned and beamed. "Luceris, you're a walking treasure trove of our nation!"
In a burst of enthusiasm, she playfully hugged Luceris from behind, her energy overwhelming.
Luceris nearly staggered under the embrace, her cheeks flushing pink. "W-Wait—Grace, I still remember I'm a guy on the inside…"
She didn't say it aloud, but it was written all over her flustered face.
After a moment of playful chaos, Luceris's attention returned to the lake—the towering elf tree at its center drew her gaze like a whisper.
There was… something. A pulse. A pull.
With each step she took, she felt more certain. The tree wasn't just alive—it was aware.
And it welcomed her.
As her foot broke the surface of the lake, a soft ripple spread out.
The moment she crossed the threshold, her surroundings changed.
She stepped into a realm of living light.
Color shimmered in every direction. Laughter—gentle, childlike—rippled through the air. It was as though she had entered a fairytale world untouched by time.
A forgotten sanctuary of purity.
Then—
Ding!
As the vision faded, she found herself back in the real world. Her system interface chimed softly.
And there, nestled in her inventory space, was a radiant new item:
"Elf's Blessing."
Her lips curved into a smile.
"One more to go…"
Only a single core material remained before she could awaken the Herrscher of Humanity form.
And now… it was within reach.