Villain: Manipulating the Heroines into hating the Protagonist

Chapter 398 Heavenly Court's Clever Scheme

As the battle unfolded, it became increasingly evident that the Heavenly Court's experts held a distinct advantage over the Elven forces in their own sacred realm.

The Elves, guardians of the ancient forest, found themselves on the back foot, defending against an unprecedented incursion.

Amidst the clash of arrows and elemental forces, a sudden ray of vivid green light pierced the tumultuous battlefield.

It collided with each of Huo Yi's arrows, causing them to erupt in a burst of energy. The resulting shockwave and blinding light marked the collision of two formidable forces.

In the aftermath, the radiant green beam extended further, piercing the left side of Huo Yi's gut. His expression darkened, a rare sight for the seasoned archer, as he felt the potent power of wood coursing through the beam.

With gritted teeth, Huo Yi summoned a powerful arrow and shot it into the stream of green light, momentarily disrupting its flow.

Seizing the opportunity, he swiftly moved to a safer distance, his azure bow at the ready, prepared for any subsequent attacks.

Amidst the echoes of the clash, an ancient and authoritative voice resonated through the forest.

"You dogs of the Heavenly Court are truly arrogant to trespass into the Elven Dominion merely because you wield Immortal Rank Weapons," spoke an ancient voice belonging to one of the Elder Elves who was also a member of the Elite Guards of the Royal Family.

The Elder Elves or the Elite Guards of the Royal Family were individuals who stood at the pinnacle of the Saint Realm, possessed a connection to nature and a bloodline ability unparalleled among the Elven Race.

Their weapons, crafted from fragments of the World Tree and refined with rare resources, were nothing short of Immortal Grade.

Huo Yi, acknowledging the gravity of the situation, responded with a touch of defiance, "Arrogance or not, we're here for a reason. The Heavenly Court will not fall to the likes of you."

The clash between the Heavenly Court and the Elves took on a new dimension as the Elder Elf stepped forward, surrounded by the verdant aura of the ancient forest.

The Elven warriors, revitalized by the Elder's presence, regrouped with a newfound determination.

The Elder Elf's weapon, a manifestation of the World Tree's essence, gleamed with Immortal brilliance.

"Nature's Wrath," he intoned, unleashing a cascade of energy that surged toward the Heavenly Court's forces.

The forest itself seemed to respond to his command, as vines and roots entwined with the elemental energy, creating a formidable onslaught.

Huo Yi's comrades, recognizing the shift in momentum, coordinated their efforts.

One unleashed a dazzling display of celestial flames – "Astral Inferno" – attempting to counter the encroaching vines. Another invoked "Celestial Breeze," creating a barrier of wind to mitigate the force of Nature's Wrath.

Yet, the Elder Elf's connection to the forest was unparalleled.

"Foliage Requiem," he whispered, causing the very leaves of the trees to rustle in unison. The rustling turned into a harmonious melody, weaving a spell that disoriented the Heavenly Court's forces.

Huo Yi, determined to break through the Elven defenses, notched an arrow infused with the essence of thunder – "Tempest Surge."

The arrow crackled with celestial electricity as it streaked toward the Elder Elf, aiming to disrupt the rhythm of Foliage Requiem.

As Huo Yi's arrow, infused with the essence of thunder, streaked toward the Elder Elf, the forest seemed to hold its breath.

The Elder Elf, undeterred by the impending threat, raised his weapon high. "Verdant Resonance!" he declared, channeling the essence of the World Tree. The very ground beneath him vibrated with life, creating a protective barrier against the approaching Tempest Surge.

The celestial electricity crackled as it collided with the verdant shield. The clash sent shockwaves through the forest, causing leaves to rain down like ethereal confetti.

However, the Elder Elf's mastery over the forest granted him a resilient defense that absorbed the thunderous assault.

Seizing the moment, the Elder Elf retaliated.

"Roots of Reprieve!" he commanded, and from the forest floor, serpentine roots emerged.

They slithered with graceful precision, seeking out the Heavenly Court's forces. One by one, the roots ensnared Huo Yi's comrades, binding them in a temporary prison of nature's creation.

Meanwhile, the Elven warriors, reinvigorated by their leader's prowess, launched a synchronized assault. Utilizing their innate connection to the forest, they manipulated the very trees around them.

"Dance of the Sylvan Blades!" cried one, as razor-sharp leaves formed around her and whirled like a deadly dance, slicing through the air toward the Heavenly Court's experts.

The battlefield became a whirlwind of elemental chaos. Huo Yi's comrades struggled against the ensnaring roots, attempting to break free. One managed to conjure a barrier of celestial flames – "Infernal Shield" – but it was quickly extinguished by a counterattack of water conjured by an Elven mage.

The Elven Forces, with their command over the environment, began to gain the upper hand.

"Nature's Embrace!" intoned another Elder Elf, and the very ground beneath Huo Yi's team sprouted thorny vines, hindering their movements.

Huo Yi, recognizing the dire situation, unleashed another arrow. This one, infused with the essence of lightning, was named "Stormbreaker."

The arrow streaked across the battlefield, dispersing the thorny vines and providing a momentary reprieve for his comrades.

However, the Elder Elf remained relentless.

"Echoing Canopy!" he commanded, and the forest responded by creating an illusionary canopy that distorted perceptions. The members of the Heavenly Court found themselves surrounded by mirages, making it challenging to discern friend from foe.

In the midst of this chaotic dance, the Elven warriors continued their onslaught.

"Petal Cyclone!" exclaimed one, conjuring a mesmerizing storm of petals that obscured vision and sliced through the air.

Another, with an affinity for poison, unleashed "Venomous Quill," a deadly rain of enchanted needles that sought out the Heavenly Court's experts.

The battle took a deadly turn as three members of Huo Yi's team fell under the combined assault of the Elves.

The Petal Cyclone disoriented their senses, allowing the Venomous Quill to find its mark. The Elven warriors moved with an uncanny grace, exploiting the vulnerabilities created by their intricate and lethal attacks.

However, the Elven Forces were not without casualties.

One of their thirteen experts succumbed to the celestial flames unleashed earlier, his sacrifice not in vain as it created a diversion that allowed the successful execution of the Petal Cyclone and Venomous Quill.

The forest echoed with the cries of battle, a chaotic symphony that painted the scene with elemental brilliance.

The advantage now firmly in the hands of the Elven Forces, the clash continued, weaving a tale of strife and resilience amid the ancient trees.

"You are going to die soon enough. Now… Why don't you start begging for your lives? Our Elf Queen is extremely noble and honorable, and she might allow even lowly humans like you to keep your lives if you reveal your motives," proclaimed one of the Elder Elves with an air of pride.

Huo Yi responded with a disdainful grunt, "Tch."

Amidst this tense exchange, the Elven Race's members sensed something extraordinary. The Barbarian Race's Immortal Dominion, flying ahead of them, began radiating immense power.

"What is going on?"

A Saint Realm Elf couldn't help but gaze fearfully at the Barbarian Race's Immortal Dominion, now emanating the power of Heaven and Earth.

"T-That's not Saint Light. That's the power of Heaven and Earth! That Dominion is expending its Immortal Qi now!" whispered an Elder Elf with shock in their eyes, glaring at Huo Yi. He demanded angrily, "What is this?! What are you lowly humans planning?!"

Huo Yi laughed, and so did his comrades. Laughter echoed in the forest as Huo Yi, reveling in the elves' confusion, continued to unveil his plan.

"Your entire race is just too stupid, including that Elf Queen of yours. When we barged inside with this Barbarian Race's Immortal Dominion, you should have done your best from the start to repel and force us out!" Huo Yi taunted, relishing in the puzzled yet anxious expressions of the elves.

With a wild laughter, he continued, "We didn't bring this Barbarian Race's Immortal Dominion to break the barrier of your World Tree Elven Dominion or to suppress its laws. All we were doing till now was buy time and gather your attention. You probably didn't notice it because of the concealing enchantment, but the Barbarian Race's Immortal Dominion was gathering all its power during this period."

"The purpose of the Barbarian Race's Immortal Dominion was for it to self-destruct. I am sure you know what will happen if an Immortal Dominion like that of the Barbarian Race explodes here."

"Naturally, we will all die here as well, but this won't be our true deaths. This is because we are just clones. You should actually feel proud that the esteemed Heavenly Court had decided to invest so many rare resources just to deal with a stupid race like yours," Huo Yi spoke with a disdainful smirk.

Huo Yi was most certainly speaking the truth. The Heavenly Court had utilized many of their rare resources to develop true clones of their subordinates for this mission. Creating true clones meant to develop clones that held the same power level as the original expert.

Naturally, this would greatly weaken the essence of the original expert and even affect their life force, but the Heavenly Court's storage held many rare and even mythical resources to help their subordinates recover from the aftereffects.

Well, in any case, the Elven Race was now left to confront the aftermath—a volatile and uncontrollable Barbarian Race's Immortal Dominion within their sacred World Tree Elven Dominion. The potential devastation loomed large that threatened the Enchanting Forest, the Elven population, and the mighty World Tree itself.

In this critical moment, the Elven Queen suddenly appeared on the battlefield, radiating an aura of pure strength. The Elven Race, catching a glimmer of hope, believed that the Queen would surely have a solution to this impending catastrophe.