?Chapter 3282 Made it Personal (Part 1)
Blood Desert, Salaark''s palace dungeon.
The constant cycles of damage and regeneration had thinned the Ra''ntar-Puppet beyond saving. Many of its tendrils were completely withered and Jirni could see with Life Vision that there was no vitality left in them.
The black aura of death surrounding them was the first sign of the rot taking hold of the Puppet.
''If I force this thing to regenerate its tendrils, it would exhaust its life force faster than creating new ones.'' Jirni sighed, every sign she and Skywarp spotted confirming the sprout''s terminal prognosis. ''There''s nothing I can do to stall the game further.''
She had no idea whether it was due to Ra''ntar''s determination or the World Tree''s order that the Puppet had stubbornly refused to drink a single drop of the tonics. Either way, the enemy had earned her respect.
As the remaining life force of the Puppet faded so did the hunger. Not because Jirni was going easy on it out of pity. Only because with its life the sprout of the World Tree was losing its sensitivity.
The Puppet had reached the numbness that preceded death and its mind was drifting apart, away from its ruined body.
"This isn''t good." She said to her daughters and Aalejah. "Once the sprout is gone, without us running interference the situation of Lith''s army in the Fringe is going to get much worse."
"Thank the gods- I mean, should we warn them?" Aalejah was worried about Lith and Solus but relieved that whatever was left of the poor elf would finally find peace.
"No. Even if they actually answer their amulets, it would be a pointless distraction." Jirni shook her head as a silvery brilliance accumulated around her right hand. "Lith and the others knew this eventuality could come and they will notice it faster than we can tell them anyway."
"Then what are you doing, Mom?" Quylla''s Life Vision showed her that Jirni''s Royal Fortress armor was brimming with power.
"After all this time spent together, I''ve grown attached to our friend." Lady Ernas said while displaying her soft, motherly smile that always preceded a death blow. "I can''t let him go out with a whimper.
"This final blast will create an opportunity for Lith and give him the signal my work here is done." Jirni sealed every joint and opening in the Royal Fortress armor and released an increasing stream of Life Maelstrom on the Puppet.
Its abilities and vitality increased tenfold, giving the sprout strength and clarity of mind back.
It was but the death of a single Chronicler, but the Yggdrasill experienced it as if one hundred of them had been burned alive at the same time. The World Tree felt every wood fiber breaking, every strand of mana burning like poison.
The death throes of the Puppet made Aalejah sob in despair and Friya and Quylla fall to their knees while covering their ears.
Once the silvery flash of Life Maelstrom faded, the four women were alone in the cell. Only Ra''ntar clothes remained to prove that the elf had ever been there with them.
"What do we do now?" Friya asked while Quylla comforted the traumatized elf.
"Now we wait." Jirni replied.
***
The World Tree''s Fringe, at the same time.
"What the fuck?" Many of the invaders said at the same time as Jirni moved on to the
final step of her plan.
The ground below their feet shook with increasing violence and the heavens screamed like someone was gutting them with a dull knife.
The Yggdrasill''s roots were spread throughout the Fringe, creating an underground network comprised of multiple layers. As the World Tree went into a seizure due to the Ra''ntar-Puppet''s agony, their roots vibrated along with the trunk.
The spasming roots created shockwaves akin to a quake powerful enough to throw even a Divine Beast off balance. The screams actually belonged to the Yggdrasill and all of its
servants.
The Puppets and the now-Awakened elves controlled by the World Tree''s vines experienced the same pain as the captured Chroniclers and froze into place, their mouths opened in an unending cry.