The battlefield had gone silent. Burnt soil, shattered trees, and piles of fading monster corpses surrounded the lone figure sitting beneath a broken tree.
Haru's armor was torn, his hands trembling from exhaustion. For months, he defended the borders of Elarron Woods alone.
He exhaled, eyes dull but steady.
> "Level 63… huh," he muttered. "I haven't even drawn my new skill yet."
He tapped the side of his head — the familiar gesture that summoned the system.
No pain came this time. No blinding light, no pressure crushing his skull like before.
Just... silence.
A gentle warmth, like breathing.
> "...Guess I'm used to it now," he whispered, a faint smirk tugging his lips.
the sky trembled. A radiant golden light enveloped him, brighter than any dawn he had seen in this world. The system's voice rang inside his mind, firm and divine.
Congratulations! You have acquired an S-Rank Skill!
The ground glowed beneath him, his wounds closing instantly. His tired expression vanished — replaced by shock and awe.
Description: When your HP drops to 5% or below, you become immune to all attacks and spells and Gain +100% Attack and +100% Defense for 10 second.
Cooldown: 34 days.
Haru's hands shook.
> "S… Rank skill…"
He stared at the golden glow surrounding him, speechless. His lips parted as he muttered to himself—half in disbelief, half in awe.
Another month passed. The once lush woods were now a wasteland. Haru alone stood as its last guardian. The cries of battle were gone — only the wind carried the echoes of fallen elves.
Then, a voice broke through the emptiness.
> "Sir Haru! Sir Haru !"
A young elf guard, panting heavily, rushed toward him.
> "The King… the King calls for you!"
The Castle of the World Tree stood at the very heart of Silver Grove — vast, radiant, and alive. Its walls weren't built of stone but grown from the roots and branches of the divine Elarion Tree, glowing faintly with emerald veins of light. The air shimmered with mana, carrying the scent of blooming leaves and ancient power.
As Haru entered the grand hall, silence greeted him. Dozens of high-ranking elves — warriors, nobles, and magisters — turned their gaze toward the human outsider. Their eyes were cold, curious, but never dismissive.
At the far end of the throne room stood the ruler of them all.
He was tall, slender, and impossibly regal — his silver hair flowed like liquid moonlight, and his eyes glowed with gold flecks, like sunlight through water. His very presence bent the air around him.
Im Illendir Velyrion,
Ruler of the Silver Grove,
Bearer of the World Tree's Blessing,
and the oldest living elf known to walk the continent.
When he spoke, his voice was calm — steady as the wind through the forest.
> King Illendir Velyrion: "So, you are the one who defended Elarron Woods for months — the human who stood where even elven knights fell."
Haru knelt instantly, hand pressed to his chest.
> Haru: "It's an honor, Your Majesty. I only did what I could."
The King stepped closer, the faint hum of mana surrounding him. His golden eyes observed every scar, every trace of exhaustion and resolve etched into Haru's face.
> King Illendir: "Only did what you could, you say? Few mortals could have held that forest for even a day. Yet you endured... months."
He paused, then continued softly.
"The forest itself speaks of your will. Even the World Tree whispered your name."
The elves in the hall stirred at those words. For the World Tree to whisper a mortal's name was unheard of.
The King raised his hand, and a ripple of gold light surrounded Haru. In his palm appeared a folded cloth, woven with shimmering green and silver thread — alive with faint mana flow.
> King Illendir: "Take this. A robe woven from the leaves of the World Tree itself — the Robe of Verdant Light."
[A+ Rank Item]
A royal artifact blessed by nature. Boosts mana regeneration and defense by 50%. Cannot be worn by the unworthy.
He placed it over Haru's shoulders. Instantly, warmth and vitality surged through him. His fatigue faded, his mind cleared — the aura of death that once lingered on him was completely gone.
> King Illendir: "Wear it with pride. From this day, you are not a stranger to Silver Grove — but a guardian of it."
The elves around bowed slightly — not out of command, but out of respect.
Haru looked up, stunned.
> Haru: "I… I don't deserve something like this."
The King smiled faintly.
> King Illendir: "Perhaps not yet. But the world is changing, outsider. And when darkness rises again, this robe will remind you — that even a single man can turn the tide of fate."
He turned away, his voice calm but resonant.
> King Illendir: "Rest, Haru — For now, Silver Grove watches over you."
As the King's attendants led Haru to his chamber, he could still feel the robe's energy flowing around him, connecting him to the ancient magic of the world itself.
For the first time in a long while…
He felt like he belonged.