My Yandere Wives are Transcendents

Chapter 394: Falling down

'THUD!'

A massive tree branch crashed to the ground.

"What is happening here!!"

"I-Is this end of the world?"

"It's an omen, a harbinger of doom!"

The murmurs of panic echoed among the onlookers, their faces etched with dread as they witnessed the once-grand World Tree gradually succumbing to decay.

"Why?" Alysia's voice quivered with apprehension as she gazed upon the crumbling tree, her heart heavy with foreboding.

"If it falls, the very life force of this world..... the mana, will vanish," Alysia muttered, her words weighed down by the magnitude of the catastrophe.

"I-I must contact the other sentinels," she declared, preparing to take action, when...

"They're already here," Eli's voice cut through the tension, his gaze fixed on the distorted figures hovering ominously above the dying tree.

High above, four spectral figures floated in a surreal dance around the towering World Tree, their presence casting an eerie pall over the scene.

"We must act!" exclaimed Dawn's Sentinel urgently.

"Even if we infuse the tree with mana, its restoration will be temporary at best," cautioned Chola's Sentinel, their words a sombre reminder of the limitations they faced.

"Why is this happening all of a sudden?" Theos's Sentinel's voice betrayed their fear and confusion.

"Snort... Didn't you sense the disturbances hours ago?" Iguanas's Sentinel retorted, a hint of frustration colouring its tone.

"Hmm? What happened?" Theos's Sentinel frowned.

A collective sigh rippled through the group, and Dawn's Sentinel spoke with solemnity, "The Ruler of Water Element... Jormungandr, reborn."

Theos's Sentinel recoiled, their form wavering in disbelief. "S-Seriously?"

"Tsk, Do you think we are jesting?" Chola's Sentinel's voice held a hint of impatience.

"Regardless, we must address this crisis before we concern ourselves with Jormungandr's whereabouts," Chola's Sentinel asserted with a sense of urgency.

"I believe the Fairy Queen may know the answer to this predicament" Dawn's Sentinel suggested, prompting nods of agreement as they prepared to seek the Fairy Queen's counsel.

'Sssssshhhhhhh!'

Before they could move, a small object streaked skyward with astonishing speed.

Eli's brow furrowed as he watched Tiana soar towards the tree's apex and thought, 'Looks like something serious going on...'

"I-It must be because of her!" a voice accused, fingers pointing towards Alysia.

"The World Tree, Our Mother, didn't like this woman ruling us!" added another, the crowd's fear now turning to anger as they sought someone to blame.

Eli surveyed the anxious faces around him before turning his gaze to Alysia, who stood with worry etched on her features as she watched the sky.

"Wait here," Eli reassured her with a gentle pat on her shoulder before stepping forward.

"Stop there!!"

"How dare a mere human try to touch our god!!"

"Move aside, you filthy human!" shouted others, their voices laced with disdain and fear as Eli continued his approach toward the World Tree.

Even the guards stationed nearby attempted to intervene, their hands outstretched to halt Eli's progress.

"I will consult Lilith," Eli stated firmly, considering their options.

"L-Lilith?" Tiana's voice wavered at the mention of that name, her expression guarded.

"Hahaha... Do you think Lilith can really help, Mister Lilith's Husband?" Iguanas's Sentinel mocked, recognizing Eli's true identity.

"It's a complex matter, Asher Eli," Dawn's Sentinel interjected as it descended before Eli.

"Why? She controls the Dark Mana; she should be able to observe it," Eli reasoned, seeking clarity.

"Yes, she possesses that capability, but..." Before the Sentinel could elaborate, Tiana interjected with a grave expression, "If she appears here... the World Tree may fall before she can act."

"See..." Dawn's Sentinel pointed towards the heart of the swirling Miasma and explained, "The space is fractured. The Miasma has leaked from another dimension, beyond Lilith's control."

"And even if we somehow stop the spread of the Miasma... the World Tree has already withered to the point of collapse. Its fall is imminent," Chola's Sentinel added with a sombre tone.

"We can just water it back?" Eli's question carried a hint of disbelief as he searched for a simple solution amidst the complex crisis.

Silence greeted Eli's question, followed by incredulous stares from the assembled sentinels.

"What?" Eli's confusion deepened at their reactions.

"Is he truly the one she married?" Theos's Sentinel muttered under its breath, shaking its head in disbelief.

"E-Eli, Promise me... Please protect Aly-- "OUCH!!""

Tiana's plea was cut short by a sharp flick from Eli's hand, his annoyance evident. "Stop with the melodrama! It's getting on my nerves," he rebuked firmly.

"ELI!! This is not a time for games. If I don't act, everyone will perish," Tiana pleaded earnestly, her eyes reflecting the seriousness of the situation.

"Even if you intervene, will it only delay the inevitable?" Eli challenged her, his gaze unwavering.

Tiana faltered, unable to provide a satisfactory answer to Eli's poignant question.

"Fine, wait here. I will do what I can," Eli declared, striding towards the edge of the Miasma. To everyone's surprise, the dark energies did not harm him as he ventured closer.

Standing before the fractured space where the Miasma leaked from another realm, Eli noticed an ethereal white thread weaving through the crack. Recognition sparked in his eyes. "So, it's Zeus's thread... ah," he mused, connecting the dots.

"World Tree... This must be the core controlling the mana," Eli deduced, understanding the intricacies of the situation, "When Zeus departed, this thread remained here and once the door crumbled it must have weakened the power of the world tree and thus, the thread must have fractured the space".

Eli turned to the sentinels, his expression focused. "Does anyone know how to seal this space?"

Theos's Sentinel tossed a hastily scribbled note to Eli, "Use this to temporarily block the breach," they suggested.

Eli followed the instructions on the note, placing it over the fractured space. The leak of Miasma ceased, halting the tree's further decay.

Eli then turned his attention to the dense Miasma enveloping the tree's form.

'Deep Inhale'

Eli drew in a breath, inhaling the malevolent energies swirling around the World Tree.

'Tuck, Tuck'

A shudder ran through Eli's body, his eyes briefly turning black. The sentinels braced themselves, ready for a battle if Eli succumbed to the corruption.

"Eli!" Tiana cried out, rushing towards him despite the sentinels' warnings.

"W-Wait!" The sentinels called out, but Tiana was driven by her concern for Eli.

"Eli?" Tiana's voice quivered with worry as she reached him, her eyes locked on his darkened gaze and his unmoving form.

"E-Eli?" she called out again, her voice tinged with fear.

"Yes?" A cold, emotionless voice emanated from Eli, sending a chill down Tiana's spine as she realized something had changed within him.