In the darkness, the crimson streak traced a graceful, slightly curved path, hurtling towards the distant shadows.

As the meteor streaked across the sky at high speed, the surrounding space trembled violently, emitting a sharp roar.

That streak of crimson was Erica rushing forward at full speed.

At this moment, she concentrated almost all her strength in the center of her body.

To maximize the use of elemental magic, and to increase one's speed even further,

Erica knew that every second of delay increased the likelihood of unforeseen changes.

Despite her extraordinary speed, she was still some distance from the Tree of Adriatic.

Even though the divine tree became clearer and larger in her vision,

But in reality, it was only because the divine tree itself soared straight into the sky, and its immense size made it appear exceptionally close visually.

Now, Erica is both hurrying on her journey and thinking things through carefully.

She was considering how to awaken the Tree of Adrien, and what Professor Victor had hidden within it.

Once the Tree of Gods is awakened, can Victor truly be resurrected?

These questions kept nagging at Erica's mind, preventing her from finding peace.

Erica's mind was in even greater turmoil after Victor's disappearance.

Therefore, she could only travel to the Tree of Adrien with even greater urgency, hoping to find the answers to all her questions.

But as she approached the Tree of Adrien,

On the flat land, an unusually large figure suddenly came into her view.

Erica quickly withdrew her magic, stopped flying at high speed, and floated in the sky.

They gazed at the enormous figure approaching the sacred tree, as if it were lying in wait for a prey.

Although it was still tiny compared to the divine tree, to her it was undoubtedly as enormous as a giant.

Moreover, for some reason,

She felt that the figure was somewhat familiar.

The other person had a robust physique, with bulging muscles, and looked extremely strong.

However, his skin was covered with obscure and ancient runes, and there were traces of piecing together at the key joints of his limbs.

Such a huge and magnificent figure exudes a strong aura of darkness.

Erica stared intently for a long time, then her eyes widened, and a surprised voice escaped her lips.

"The Dark Mage!?"

She regretted it as soon as she finished speaking.

Realizing she was speaking too loudly, Erica quickly covered her mouth, afraid of attracting the other person's attention.

But it was too late.

At that moment, the enormous creature had turned around, raised its head, and was searching for the source of the sound in the sky.

Finally, his gaze fell on Erica.

Erica could also clearly see the other person's specific appearance.

Yes, at this moment, she was completely certain.

The giant before her was none other than the dark archmage she had released in Endymion!

However, the dark archmage before her was slightly different from the image she remembered.

In Erica's memory, the Dark Archmage had three heads.

Although the two heads on the left and right shoulders were mindless and practically useless, at least the three heads looked exactly alike.

But now?

The two heads on the shoulders, however, seemed unusual.

One side of the head was deathly pale, with thick frost still clinging to its eyebrows and face, and a sharp icicle protruding from its top.

From a distance, it looks as if it has been frozen for a year and a half.

On the other side was a head engulfed in raging flames.

Its skin was charred black, with surface patterns resembling flowing lava.

It was completely different from the frozen head from before.

Erica also felt a strange sense of familiarity with the two heads.

After searching her memory, she suddenly widened her eyes.

"Skadi - the Claw of Ice".

"And the Flaming Sword—Leivadin?"

They were once the two giants worshipped by the northern barbarian tribes.

Ten years ago, for reasons unknown, they reawakened and launched a renewed offensive against the empire's northern border with their returning barbarian tribes.

And just at the moment of the border crisis.

Gwen, who had been missing for a long time, reappeared and displayed extraordinary power, easily killing the two giants.

Afterward, their heads were hung on the walls of cities on the northern border to deter the remaining enemies.

Of course, Erica was unaware of this at the time.

Because at that time, she and Victor were beating up Hades in the Underworld.

However, after returning to the human world, the empire happened to have a special publicity campaign for this matter.

She happened to be among the first to come across the news.

Erica then went to the northern border specifically to see the two giant heads.

Similarly, after slaying the two giants, Gwen's temperament became increasingly cold, and her strength increased even more rapidly.

But now...

How did those two giant heads suddenly end up on the shoulders of this newly unsealed dark mage and become his heads?

I must say, it actually looks quite suitable.

Pshaw, is that what we're thinking about right now?

Erica mentally criticized herself.

Upon seeing the giant Dark Mage appear, Erica hesitated to act rashly.

Why did he appear near the sacred tree? And what did he intend to do to it?

The other party has noticed her, but they won't attack her directly, will they?

However, the Dark Archmage seemed to have no intention of paying attention to Erica.

At this moment, it seemed to receive some unseen command, and turned back to the divine tree.

My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!