Althaea, the radiant Elven Queen of Elsinore, moved gracefully through the sun-dappled groves of her kingdom, a vision of serenity and joy. Her flowing silver hair shimmered like moonlight, and her eyes sparkled with a mischievous delight that seemed to brighten the very air around her. As she wove through the ancient trees, her laughter echoed like a chorus of chimes in the breeze.

Perched on a low-hanging branch of an ancient oak, Althaea's nimble fingers crafted delicate wreaths of enchanted flowers. Each bloom pulsed with a soft, ethereal light, their colors shifting with the cadence of her melody. She hummed a tune that seemed to resonate with the very essence of the forest, drawing woodland creatures near. Birds flitted around her, and small animals gathered at her feet, their eyes wide with adoration. Occasionally, she playfully flicked a petal toward a passing elf, eliciting a cheerful giggle.

Suddenly, the serene moment was interrupted by the arrival of an elder from the Elven council. He approached with a respectful cough to gain her attention, bowing slightly as he spoke. "Your Majesty, the council awaits your presence. They require your opinion on an important matter. Everyone is assembled in the throne room, and if you delay much longer, Her Majesty, your godmother, will not be pleased."

Althaea’s playful expression faltered as she thought of her godmother’s inevitable nagging. With an irritated sigh, she replied, "What does my opinion matter? The decision has likely already been made by that old hag, and I’m merely expected to nod my head in agreement."

The elder simply sighed, well-acquainted with the queen’s temperament. He knew that, despite her words, Althaea held deep respect and affection for her godmother, the stern but wise matron who had guided her since childhood. He waited patiently for her to calm down.

After a moment, Althaea’s frustration ebbed away, and she took a deep breath. "I’ll be there in a few minutes," she said, her tone more measured. As the elder prepared to depart, Althaea’s curiosity got the better of her. "Has Lord Ajitha arrived to obtain the cultivation techniques?"

The elder shook his head. "Not yet, Your Majesty. However, our scouts have reported sightings of Lord Ajitha capturing wild beasts on various planets."

Althaea nodded, assuming that Ajitha was busy gathering blood essence from the wild creatures. "Inform me the moment he arrives for the ritual. I wish to be present when he undergoes the ceremony."

The elder raised an eyebrow, wondering why the queen herself would want to witness such a ritual, but he kept his thoughts to himself. "As you wish, Your Majesty. I will notify you immediately."

With a final nod, Althaea watched the elder leave before turning her gaze back to the enchanted wreaths in her lap. She sighed, her thoughts drifting to the challenges ahead, both in the council chamber and with Lord Ajitha's impending arrival. The weight of her duties pressed upon her, but for now, she cherished these fleeting moments of peace amidst the beauty of her kingdom.

Ajitha emerged from his secluded chamber in the Sovereign Palace, his expression calm but his mind focused on the weight of their ongoing plans. It had been a month since Astrionis had completed the main structure of the formation, and for the last twenty days, the skilled formation master had been meticulously inscribing the intricate concealment arrays. The task was laborious, but if all went according to plan, the formation would be fully operational in just under a hundred days.

As Ajitha stepped out of his chamber, he expelled a breath of turbid ki, the remnants of his intense cultivation session. The process had cleansed his body of impurities, though it did little to ease the constant ache of the sin flames that still flickered around him. The black ethereal fire had become a part of him, a constant reminder of his deeds and the heavy burden he bore. Shaking off these thoughts, he made his way toward the main hall of the palace.

The Sovereign Palace was a grand structure, its halls lined with gleaming pillars and walls adorned with tapestries that depicted the glorious history of Ajitha’s conquests and victories. The air was thick with an aura of power and authority, a testament to the immense strength of the man who now walked its corridors.

As Ajitha entered the main hall, he found Reginald waiting for him. The ever-loyal commander had been notified of his lord’s emergence from cultivation and had rushed to provide an update.

Reginald bowed deeply in greeting, his tone respectful as he spoke. "Lord Ajitha, I have received reports from our scouts who are securing the perimeter around our planet. They have detected no signs of infiltration or disturbances. Everything remains secure, and Lord Astrionis is fully focused on completing the formation. He mentioned that the work might be finished ahead of schedule, possibly even before the time he originally estimated."

Ajitha listened carefully, his expression impassive as he absorbed the information. The news was reassuring, yet his mind remained vigilant, always aware of the potential for unforeseen complications. "Good," he replied, his voice carrying the weight of his authority. "Ensure that the scouts remain vigilant. The closer we get to our goal, the more cautious we must be. We cannot afford any mistakes at this stage."

Reginald nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation. "Understood, Lord Ajitha. I will make sure our defenses remain impenetrable."

Ajitha turned his gaze toward the vast expanse visible through the grand windows of the hall. The stars glimmered in the distance, and beyond them lay countless worlds, each with its own challenges and treasures. But Ajitha’s thoughts were fixed on one goal: the completion of the formation and the subsequent steps that would bring them closer to their ultimate objective.

"The formation is crucial," Ajitha said, more to himself than to Reginald. "But even with it in place, our path forward will be fraught with danger. The Nexus organs of Chronos, the cultivation techniques from the elves… everything must align perfectly."

Reginald, sensing his lord’s contemplative mood, remained silent, offering his unwavering presence as support.

Ajitha finally turned back to Reginald, his resolve firm. "Prepare everything for the next phase. And keep me informed of any developments, no matter how small."

"Of course, Lord," Reginald responded, his voice steady and confident.

As Reginald departed to carry out his orders, Ajitha remained in the main hall for a moment longer, his thoughts swirling with the complexities of their mission. The sin flames around him flickered, their dark light casting long shadows on the walls.

A few more days passed, and Ajitha, sensing the timing was right, emerged from his cultivation chamber. His mind was set on the next phase of their intricate plan. He had spent enough time to create a convincing ruse of gathering wild beasts and their blood essence . It was time to visit the Elven Kingdom and secure the cultivation techniques they needed. The completion of the formation was imminent, and every move had to be perfectly timed.

Ajitha summoned Reginald to the grand chamber. The commander arrived promptly, his demeanor as composed and loyal as ever. Ajitha wasted no time and said, “Have all the blood essence collected from the Chronos domain’s races prepared.”

Reginald’s eyes narrowed slightly, understanding the gravity of the request. “Are you planning to visit the Elven Kingdom for the cultivation techniques?” he asked, his voice laced with curiosity.

Ajitha nodded, his gaze distant as he thought about what lay ahead. “Indeed. The timing is right. With the formation nearing completion, we must begin our final preparations. Going now will also serve to convince the elves that I’ve been dutifully collecting blood essence for them. It should divert any suspicion.”

Stolen novel; please report.

Reginald pondered for a moment before asking, “Do you think the blood essence we’ve gathered will be enough to obtain high-tiered cultivation techniques?”

Ajitha considered the question. “Perhaps. We’ve harvested blood essence from more than a trillion immortal cultivators. It should suffice, but one can never be certain. However, don’t forget that I’ll also be offering my life force to Yggdrasil. That alone should more than tip the scales in our favor.”

Reginald nodded, satisfied with the explanation. “When do you plan to leave for Elsinore?”

Ajitha crossed his arms, his expression thoughtful. “I’ll inform Aricen of my impending visit first. I can’t just appear at their gates unannounced, especially not in my current state.” He glanced down at his body, still wreathed in the sinister, black sin flames. “If I show up without warning, they might mistake me for an enemy. These flames aren’t exactly… reassuring.”

Reginald offered a faint smile, appreciating Ajitha’s awareness of the situation. “It’s a wise decision, Lord. The elves are known for their wariness, and your appearance… well, it could be misinterpreted.”

Ajitha nodded, his thoughts already turning to the Elven Queen Althaea and the mysterious Yggdrasil, the ancient and sacred tree that governed much of the elves’ power. He needed to be cautious—every step in this plan had to be flawless. Failure wasn’t an option.

“I’ll send word to Aricen immediately,” Ajitha said, his voice firm. “And then, we shall see if our preparations have been enough. Keep the blood essence ready, and make sure the formation is under constant guard. We’re close, Reginald. Very close.”

Reginald bowed. “I will ensure everything is in place, Lord. We won’t falter.”

Ajitha watched as Reginald departed to carry out his orders. The flames around him flickered ominously, but Ajitha paid them no mind. His focus was on the task ahead—convincing the elves to part with their most sacred techniques. With his cunning, the blood essence, and the offer of his life force to Yggdrasil, he believed they would succeed.

Yet, as always, there was a shadow of doubt in the back of his mind—a reminder of the risks they were taking. But Ajitha had long since learned to bury his fears beneath layers of resolve. He would see this through, no matter the cost.

With that thought, Ajitha turned and walked toward the chamber where he would send his message to Aricen. The next stage of their journey was about to begin.

In the quiet sanctum of his chamber, Ajitha reached for the golden leaf that served as his communication device with the elves. The leaf shimmered faintly in the dim light, its surface etched with intricate runes that pulsed as he activated it. Within moments, the projection of Aricen materialized before him, the elder elf’s features etched with surprise and concern as his eyes widened at the sight of Ajitha, wreathed in the sinister black flames.

“Is that… Is that the sin flame?” Aricen stammered, his voice trembling slightly. “What did you do to warrant such a punishment from the heavens?”

Ajitha’s expression remained calm, though there was a flicker of old pain in his eyes. “Heaven has already punished me enough by taking away those I loved. These flames are merely a tickling for me nothing more.”

Aricen looked as though he wanted to press further, but Ajitha cut him off. “I didn’t call to discuss about this, Aricen. I need you to inform Queen Althaea that I have completed the task she set for me. I wish to come for the ritual to gain the cultivation techniques.”

Aricen hesitated, his mind racing with questions. “What task did Her Majesty give you that resulted in this… outcome?”

Ajitha’s gaze hardened. “It’s better that you don’t ask, Aricen. Just tell her that I intend to come for the ritual. And tell her to make some arrangements—I can’t appear before her like this.” He gestured to the flames that clung to his body, their dark, ethereal light casting long shadows on the walls of his chamber.

Realizing the gravity of Ajitha’s request, Aricen nodded slowly. “I will contact Her Majesty immediately.” With a final glance at the flames surrounding Ajitha, Aricen’s projection faded, leaving the chamber in silence once more.

Meanwhile, in the throne room of Elsinore, Althaea was seated on her ornate throne, listening to the council of elders as they debated a matter of great importance. The room was filled with the gentle hum of discussion, the elders’ voices blending with the soft rustling of the trees outside. Althaea’s silver hair cascaded over her shoulders, and her radiant presence was like a beacon in the midst of the serious deliberations.

As the elders discussed various strategies and outcomes, Althaea’s thoughts occasionally drifted to other matters—the ritual, the cultivation techniques, and the mysterious Ajitha.

Suddenly, the quiet atmosphere of the throne room was interrupted by the soft chime of her communicator. The elders fell silent, turning their attention to their queen as she retrieved the golden leaf from within her robes.

Startled, Althaea glanced at the device. She had been expecting Ajitha to reach out, but the timing caught her off guard. When she saw Aricen’s message, she immediately excused herself from the meeting, a sense of foreboding settling in her heart.

She recalled their last meeting vividly. She had known Ajitha would gather sin energy from his quest for blood essence and had even warned him of the dangers. But sin flames? Those were far beyond what she had anticipated.

Quickly, Althaea activated the communicator, and the projection of Aricen appeared. Before he could speak, she asked, “Did you see him? Is he truly engulfed in sin flames?”

Aricen nodded, his expression grim. “Yes, Your Majesty. He’s requesting to come for the ritual, but he asked that arrangements be made… for his current condition.”

Althaea’s heart sank. She had warned him, yet she never imagined it would come to this. “I will prepare everything. Let him know he is welcome, and we’ll take care of the rest.”

With a wave of her hand, she dismissed the communication and returned to the council, her mind racing. She needed to act swiftly and ensure that his visit did not alarm her people—or worse, draw unwanted attention.

After returning to the throne room, she dismissed the elders, her voice calm yet decisive. “We will reconvene later. There are other matters that require my attention now.”

The elders bowed and left the throne room, leaving Althaea in contemplative silence. She glanced out of the tall, arched windows, where the golden light of the sun filtered through the leaves, casting dappled shadows on the floor. A sense of anticipation filled the air, as if the very trees themselves were holding their breath in expectation.

Althaea stood, her movements fluid and graceful, and began to make her way toward the private chambers where she would begin preparations for Ajitha’s arrival.

After the council had dispersed and the throne room emptied, Althaea made her way to her private chambers, her thoughts heavy with concern. The image of Ajitha engulfed in those ominous sin flames was etched into her mind, a stark reminder of the cost of power. Once in her room, she retrieved a special communicator, its design intricate and adorned with elven runes, reserved for the most urgent of matters.

Ajitha, still waiting for Aricen’s response, was startled when his communicator buzzed unexpectedly. He had anticipated hearing back from Aricen, not receiving a call from someone else within the Elven Kingdom. When he activated the device and saw Althaea’s projection, he was taken aback. The regal figure of Althaea appeared before him, her silver hair cascading around her, eyes sharp yet shadowed by concern. Instinctively, Ajitha bowed, his voice reverent.

“Greetings, Your Majesty. I didn’t expect you would contact me personally.”

Althaea’s gaze softened as she observed Ajitha, her eyes lingering on the ethereal black flames that now enveloped him. These were no ordinary flames—they were a manifestation of the deepest sins, a punishment and a curse that gnawed at the soul. Althaea sighed, the weight of her thoughts evident in her voice.

“Was it really necessary to commit so much sin to gain cultivation techniques that would elevate you to a higher level, just so you could extend your life?”

Ajitha remained silent, his expression unreadable. He could see the misunderstanding in Althaea’s eyes, but he chose not to correct her. She didn’t know that his actions were not purely selfish—that his true intent was to secure a future for humanity. By obtaining the most powerful cultivation techniques, he planned to empower humans, enabling them to achieve strength and wisdom more rapidly, especially after they traveled back in time.

Althaea, seeing his silence as confirmation, shook her head slightly. Her mind raced with conflicted emotions. She had asked him for the blood essence, yes, and strengthening Yggdrasil was indeed a priority for the elves. But she never imagined that Ajitha would go to such extreme lengths, accumulating so much sin that he would be consumed by the flames.

She sighed again, this time a mix of regret and resignation. “Perhaps I am partly to blame,” she thought to herself. “I asked for the blood essence, but I never expected it to lead to this.”

Looking back at Ajitha, she produced a golden leaf, its surface shimmering with magical energy. She held it out towards him, her voice gentle yet firm. “Use this to contact me whenever you’re ready to come. In the meantime, I’ll make the necessary arrangements to ensure that no one will see you.”

Ajitha nodded, accepting the leaf with a bowed head. “I plan to visit tomorrow. Will that be acceptable?”

Althaea gave him a reassuring smile, though her heart was heavy with concern. “Don’t worry. Everything will be ready. You can come tomorrow.”

As the projection faded, leaving Ajitha alone in his chamber once more, he clenched the golden leaf in his hand. The flames around him flickered with a new intensity, a reminder of the burden he carried. Tomorrow would be a significant step in his journey, but he knew it would not be easy. The misunderstanding with Althaea weighed on him, but there was no turning back now. The path he had chosen was steeped in darkness, but it was the only way to ensure the future he envisioned.

Althaea, on the other hand, remained in her chambers, deep in thought. She knew that Ajitha’s visit would not be without complications, but she resolved to do everything in her power to help him—despite the sin flames that now clung to him.