Sophie's green hair was lifted by the natural mana rising throughout the forest, and her golden green eyes shone brightly enough to be seen even from the altar.
Behind her were six elven warriors Aelira had sent to protect her.
They had not allowed Sophie to enter the corrupted region unguarded. Their weapons were already drawn, and they followed as closely as the constantly shifting forest permitted, but when Sophie reached the final stretch leading toward the old altar, the surrounding trees opened only for her.
The moment the six elves attempted to follow, dense roots rose behind Sophie and intertwined across the road. At the same time, the gray black corruption saturating the inner altar zone surged through the ground, forcing the warriors to retreat several steps before they were contaminated.
They quickly began cutting at the diseased vines blocking their advance, but the passage continued closing faster than they could clear it.
