Chapter 810: 560, Hero Lin Da

The next day, the Phoenix Tail Flower Team rested for a day and began their climb of the Life Tree.

After half a month, they successfully reached the 49th floor.

Lin Da’s level advanced to the ultimate Legendary Rank, Level 99.

The lowest-ranked team member was at Level 97, a top-tier Legend.

During this time, Lia and others returned from Cangqing Province.

Old friends reunited, overwhelmed with emotions beyond words.

Seeing the now-taller, matured Lia, Lin Da felt as though lifetimes had passed.

The appearance of the young woman overlapped with the CG scene of Bursting Flames from the game.

He thought Lia would blame him for taking so long to return, but unexpectedly, Lia charged straight into his arms, her small fists pounding his chest furiously.

When they separated, the front of his shirt was soaked.

Lin Da kissed Lia, then turned to kiss Isa, whose gaze lingered long and deep.

That evening, he devoted all his time to the two of them.

…

Under the moonlight, on the villa’s large bed.

Lin Da, with one girl on each side, spoke countless sweet words.

If the adventurers from the Elf Forest heard of this, their jaws would likely drop. Lia and Isa, these two seasoned and formidable Legendary Swordsmen, actually displayed such bashful expressions–serving a single man together…

The contrast between fire and ice was a luxury not meant for ordinary men.

But this man was Lin Da, and that explained everything.

Envy followed envy.

And yet, sourness inevitably bubbled up.

After all, Lin Da was the most likely candidate to become the Hero.

Even Coldmoon Duke publicly admitted to losing to Lin Da in a private duel.

This Eye of True Knowledge was the most powerful adventurer on the Mystic Continent.

…

Another month passed; winter arrived.

The Elf Forest and the Far North Plains united forces.

The latter was under the rule of the Orc Kingdom.

The commanding officer from their side was the Wolf King of the Frostwolf Tribe, the only female Wolf King in history, named “Lulu.”

People initially expected disputes over command decisions, but to their surprise, Wolf King Lulu agreed for the Eye of True Knowledge to take overall control.

The two began detailed negotiations at the table over every aspect.

Ultimately, it was decided that a night raid would be launched on the Royal Capital three days later.

That night, adventurers witnessed Wolf King Lulu entering the adventurer commander’s main camp and staying the night without leaving.

What happened that night, no one knew.

…

Three days later.

The army of adventurers advanced toward the Royal Capital and launched the raid precisely on time.

The top-ranked Heavenly King and the Demon King’s agent, “Angel” Tina, did not reside in the Royal Capital.

She had vanished without a trace over the past ten years.

There were suspicions that she had returned to the Demon King’s Castle and hadn’t been seen since.

Thanks to the absence of this most troublesome Demon Heavenly King, the raid was highly successful.

Lin Da and Evelyn led the charge, breaking through the southern gate and slaying four Legendary-ranked demons in succession.

…

By dawn.

The Imperial flag, adorned with a sword and shield, was once again hoisted atop the city walls.

The citizens of the Royal Capital emerged from their homes, staring in stunned silence at the fluttering sword-and-shield flag.

Some wept tears of joy, calling out the name of the Eye of True Knowledge.

“Lord Lin Da, please draw the Hero’s Sword and liberate this entire continent!”

“Hero! Lord Lin Da must be the Hero!”

“Lord Lin Da will prevail, Coldmoon Duke will prevail, the Mystic Continent will prevail!”

The Royal Capital had been under demonic rule for ten years, and the citizens had endured countless forms of oppression, leaving their faces lifeless and despondent.

But today, they felt the shackles on their hands and feet break, the crushing weight on their chests lift.

The sun rose in the east, blindingly bright.

Bathed in sunlight, it was as though life had returned to them.

Lin Da and his companions walked down the main avenue toward the Holy Tree.

The streets were lined with cheering civilians.

The waves of celebration were as loud as a tsunamis’ roar.

The citizens, emaciated and pale, looked upon Lin Da with tear-filled eyes.

Seeing them, Lin Da’s heart felt tightly wound, and his clenched fists ached to crush the Demon King into dust.

In the ten years of war, countless lives had been lost to the atrocities of the demons.

The population of the continent had been reduced by seventy percent.

Even with victory in the war, the rebuilding efforts would be an immense challenge.

Take Cangqing Province, for example–where two hundred cities once stood, now nearly half lay abandoned as dead cities due to the dramatically reduced inhabitants.

During the war, Lin Da had also lost many of his friends.

Lia had been the one to recount it to him.

–Robert was ambushed by demons during an outdoor mission.

The Valiant Adventure Team was wiped out in its entirety.

Gale of the White Dove Adventure Group died on the 43rd floor of the World Tree.

Crushed by the Rock Dragon Turtle on the spot, his body unrecognizable.

President Weylon passed away last year from illness.

Official Mevent, who was in charge of military finances, died from overwork three years ago.

Among his belongings was a diary, in which he wrote that his greatest regret in life was suppressing the Phoenix Tail Flower Team during his tenure in White Dove City for political gain.

Additionally, Aiko’s brother Bervis, Fry from Red Heart City…

They too had sacrificed their lives.

“I will personally end this war and avenge all of you.”

Lin Da vowed in his heart.

The Phoenix Tail Flower Team… now deemed the Phoenix Tail Flower Adventure Group. They entered the Holy Tree and arrived at the 50th floor.

Here, there were no magical creatures.

Amidst the birdsong and fragrant flowers of the meadow stood a three-tiered stone platform.

At the center of the platform was a sword embedded into the stone.

The blade was cool white, the hilt golden, and in its center was an oval, red gemstone. The cross-guard was shaped like blue wings, symbolizing freedom and hope.

The Hero’s Sword rested silently within the stone platform, surrounded by densely packed arrays of magic runes forming a barrier.

A terrifying amount of unimaginable magical power emanated from the sword.

Even Lin Da, armed with the Chaos Seven Stars Sword, Philo, felt it paled in comparison to the Hero’s Sword.

“Lin Da, go ahead.”

Kafni gazed at him encouragingly. “Only the chosen one can become the Hero. It has to be you!”

“That’s right, boss is definitely the Hero!”

“Captain…”

“Teacher, I believe in you.”

The team members watched Lin Da with anticipation.

Each of them firmly believed their captain was the legendary savior Hero.

Lin Da smiled and nodded, taking a deep breath as he walked toward the Hero’s Sword.

In the game, the prerequisite for pulling out this sword was achieving an Ultimate Clear or Perfect Clear of 90% of the World Tree’s floors.

This condition, he had met.

He reached out and touched the barrier.

Crack.

The crisp sound of glass shattering rang out.

The white barrier dissolved into glimmering particles, like fluttering butterflies.

Lin Da’s eyes narrowed.

Bending forward, he grasped the hilt of the Hero’s Sword with both hands.

“Captain…”

Underneath the team’s nervous gaze, Lin Da exhaled sharply and roared aloud.

“Rise!”

Bzzzz.

In that instant, the Holy Tree trembled.

The Royal Capital Square.

In front of the Holy Tree, Evelyn, Lia, and tens of thousands of citizens… all felt the intense vibration.

The immense Holy Tree emitted golden light.

Lin Da instinctively let out a triumphant shout, holding the golden sword aloft.

This scene was projected across the continent, visible atop every World Tree.

In many cities not yet liberated, where residents numbly served demons…

Suddenly, they witnessed this moment.

Even if they didn’t know the sword or the black-haired adventurer wielding it, they understood deep down:

An adventurer had ascended the World Tree.

The Hero had been born!