I Became My Elf King Character In A Game-Like World
Chapter 113: Roots And Ruin

Chapter 113: Roots And Ruin

"Late Ninth Circle? Wasn’t he just in the early stage yesterday?"

"His Majesty’s talent is just incredible! He jumped ranks again!"

"At this rate, I bet His Majesty will reach the Tenth circle soon!"

"Tenth circle? I think His Majesty has a real shot at becoming a Demigod!"

"Why stop at Demigod? I believe His Majesty could become a true, undying God, just like the legendary Elf King who founded the original Elf Empire!"

"Yes, exactly!"

Just then, Renjiro, still seated on the ground, slowly opened his eyes.

He had overheard Selena and Lirael’s excited chatter, and the corner of his mouth twitched slightly.

Become a true God?

Even with the system helping him, he wasn’t that confident. He hadn’t expected his commanders to have such sky-high hopes for him.

"Your Majesty!" Seeing Renjiro awake, Elaria and Lorien broke into happy smiles.

Renjiro glanced up at the bright morning sky. "Huh," he murmured, "I didn’t expect that breakthrough to take the whole night."

"Your Majesty," Elaria stepped forward, offering a hand to help him up, "did you reach the late Ninth Circle?"

Renjiro felt the surge of power within him and nodded. "Yes, it seems I’m solidly in the late stage of the Ninth Circle now."

He was a little surprised himself. After his last few breakthroughs, he’d almost always skipped entire stages. Thinking about it now, his advancement speed was kind of strange.

Still, Renjiro felt his current strength was far from enough. He needed to reach at least the Eleventh Circle to truly live up to his title as King of the Elves.

Perhaps, he thought, that quest reward for upgrading the Eternal Tree to an Ancient Tree... that’s my chance.

The reward was a direct boost to his rank. He was late Ninth Circle now. If he leveled up once from that point, he could reach the late Tenth circle. And if he was already Tenth circle before finishing the quest, leveling up once more could push him directly into the Eleventh Circle, becoming a powerful Saint who could command a domain.

The higher his rank before completing the quest, the bigger the jump after completing it. He definitely needed to grab that opportunity.

Renjiro mentally pulled up his status screen.

[User: Mikazuki Renjiro]

[Title: Elf King]

[Rank: Late Stage 9th Circle]

[Equipment: Crown of the Elf King (Sealed Artifact), Reaper’s Finger Dagger]

[Unlocked Buildings: Eternal Tree, Battleborn Tree, Elder Tree of Wisdom, Elunarian Spring, Altar of Heroes, Hunter’s Hall]

[Units Under Command:

Elf Archers: 28,450

Elf Huntresses: 10,380

Grove Spirits: 1,028

Druids of the Claw: 1,000

Giant Golems: 288

Elf Sorceresses: 45

Elf Swordsmen: 27

(?) Chariots/Mounts: 10 (Original unclear: "driving")]

[Unit Buffs:

Elf Archers: Mid-level Strength Boost

Elf Huntresses: Mid-level Defense Boost]

[Territories Owned: 2]

[Gold Coins: 47]

Wow, those high-level elf units were really expensive!

Summoning a Grove Spirit cost 1,000 gold, a Druid of the Claw cost 2,000, and a single Giant Golem cost a whopping 5,000 gold. He’d spent nearly all his funds summoning them.

He felt the sting of spending nearly 4.4 million gold coins. It was a huge amount, enough to make even a king pause. And what did he get for it?

Fewer than twenty-three hundred Spirit Weapons.

These summons were powerful, true, but so few in number.

He couldn’t help but think if he’d chosen to summon Elf Archers or maybe those stealthy Elf Hunters, the numbers would have been staggering easily smashing past the ten thousand mark for the same cost. He’d have an army then.

"But," Renjiro mused, watching his new recruits, "quality over quantity, perhaps. Luckily, their ranks are high, and their fighting power... well, that hasn’t let me down yet. They better be worth the price."

"Your Majesty!"

The call broke his thoughts. A group of Giant Golems was shuffling towards him. Their stony bodies moved slowly, awkwardly, and their normally blank faces seemed etched with misery. They looked like huge, sad rocks that had somehow learned to walk.

And right behind them, practically buzzing with energy, was a cluster of beautiful little Grove Spirits. They fluttered like angry butterflies, leaves and petals seeming to swirl around them.

...

The two groups made quite a sight as they got closer. The giant, grey Golems moved with heavy, scraping sounds, shoulders slumped as if carrying a great weight which, Renjiro supposed, they literally were. Their mood was as heavy as their footsteps.

The Grove Spirits, in contrast, were all vibrant greens and browns, tiny figures full of sharp movements. They clutched their small, nature-carved magic staves tightly, their pretty faces flushed bright red with obvious anger. You could almost hear them muttering furiously under their breath.

Renjiro kept his expression calm, offering a small, approachable smile. "Hello there. What seems to be the problem?"

One of the Giant Golems opened its mouth, a low rumbling sound starting in its chest. But before it could form actual words, one of the Grove Spirits zipped forward, pointing an accusing little finger. Her voice was high-pitched and sharp, like snapping twigs. "Your Majesty! It’s these awful, clumsy stone-heads! They won’t let us plant our trees! They stomp everywhere! They’re taking away our sacred rights as forest spirits!"

"Yes, Your Majesty!" another Spirit chimed in, shaking her staff. "These Golems are just terrible! Do you know how many little glow-blossom sprouts they’ve crushed? And the tiny saplings we just sang life into? Trampled! Dead! They’re making a total mess of our beautiful, precious forest!"

"They are destroyers!" declared a third, eyes flashing. "Nature’s enemies! Your Majesty must punish them! Make them go away!"

The group of lovely Grove Spirits nodded fiercely, waving their magic staves around for extra effect, making leaves rustle and small sparks of green light flicker.

Their eyes, looking up at Renjiro, shimmered with unshed tears. They were clearly loyal subjects, but right now, that loyalty was mixed with a fiery, righteous anger about their beloved plants.

Elaria, standing nearby, spoke softly, her voice gentle. "Destroying the forest... that really isn’t a good thing."

Everyone knew the forest was the heart of the elves’ home, their sanctuary.