God-Tier Extraction Talent: Reincarnated in a Game-like World!

A normal person, after going through a battle like this, would probably have only one thought in mind: end this damned war as quickly as possible, preferably solve every problem in one decisive blow, and then get as far away as possible from this forest where another massive battle could erupt at any moment.

But Gabriel was different.

Not only did this madman have absolutely no desire to end the war quickly, he actually felt that the war had not lasted long enough and even hoped those goblins would keep fighting.

That kind of thinking was insane to the extreme.

Edgar’s eyes flickered slightly as he suddenly realized something.

Unless Gabriel was gaining something from this war.

And whatever he was gaining was probably far beyond ordinary spoils of war.

Just then, footsteps sounded from behind them.

Erin approached from the other side of the forest with more than a dozen elven warriors.

Unlike before, when these elves looked at Gabriel again, the hostility in their eyes had noticeably diminished. In its place was a complicated emotion that even they themselves might not have been able to immediately adjust to.

Especially Erin. She stood not far from Gabriel, watching the man crouched beside one goblin corpse after another, doing something she could not understand. Her lips moved several times as though she wanted to say something, yet whenever the words reached her mouth, she hesitated and swallowed them again.

After all, only a few hours ago, she had personally held a dagger and tried to stab this man through the neck.

It was only after Gabriel finished dealing with several nearby corpses that she finally seemed to make up her mind and slowly spoke.

”Earlier...”

She paused.

”Thank you.”

Gabriel raised his head and glanced at her.

Clearly, Erin was not accustomed to saying things like this.

She remained silent for a moment before continuing, ”If you hadn’t appeared, the third defensive line probably would have fallen today as well. If that happened, many of our people would have died.”

Gabriel merely lowered his head again and continued dealing with the corpse in front of him, his tone so calm that it was almost impossible to imagine that this was the same man who had charged alone into the goblin army and slaughtered them without restraint.

”I didn’t do it for you.”

Erin: ”...”

Edgar immediately burst into laughter beside them.

”You bastard. Can’t you say something pleasant once in a while?”

Gabriel did not even raise his head.

”Why?”

”...”

The corner of Edgar’s mouth twitched before he finally waved his hand.

”Forget it. Pretend I said nothing.”

He could no longer be bothered to explain.

However, this time, Erin did not become hostile again because of Gabriel’s response.

Because she had witnessed everything that had happened with her own eyes.

Regardless of why this man had initially joined the battle, and regardless of what his true objective might be, there was one fact that could never be changed.

He had killed a massive number of goblins.

He had killed the enemy commander.

He had helped the elves hold the third defensive line.

Those things alone were already enough.

More importantly, she now knew that several months ago, the eleven tribesmen who had been kidnapped had also been rescued by the man standing before her.

Thinking of this, Erin remained silent for a moment.

Then, for the first time, she truly lowered her head toward Gabriel.

This was not ordinary courtesy. It was the salute of an elven warrior. A gesture of respect reserved only for someone they genuinely considered worthy of it.

The dozen or so elven warriors behind her exchanged glances before lowering their heads as well.

Gabriel’s movements paused for the briefest instant. He didn’t stop them from bowing their heads.

A small smile quietly spread across his face. Truly, strength was the simplest way to earn respect.

...

Meanwhile, elsewhere.

Sophie had never truly entered the main battlefield.

At this moment, she stood atop an enormous ancient tree not far from the battlefield, her eyes gently closed, her entire figure so still that she seemed to have completely merged with the forest beneath her feet.

For some time now, she had barely been able to hear the sounds around her.

It was not because she had actually lost her hearing.

Rather, an immense perception that far surpassed the ordinary five senses was currently occupying her entire consciousness.

The forest. She could feel this forest, though not the entirety of it.

With her current abilities, the area she could perceive was not even the tip of the iceberg compared to this ancient forest, which was so vast that it was practically a kingdom in its own right.

Even so, this sensation had already completely surpassed everything Sophie had previously understood about her own power.

She could feel trees collapsing in the distance because of the war. She could feel the vast network of roots beneath the earth being damaged by explosions. She could even sense that whenever wounded elves collapsed near the trees, the surrounding plants would instinctively release faint wisps of life energy that slowly gathered toward their bodies.

None of this had ever happened before.

At least, she had never been able to sense it before.

And when Sophie attempted to extend her consciousness deeper into the forest, the vague consciousness that had appeared before touched her once again.

Only this time, it was much clearer and accompanied by a sense of intimacy she could not describe with words, as though it originated from the deepest parts of her bloodline and soul.

Sophie’s body trembled slightly.

Then she heard it. It was not truly a voice. There were no words or even any actual language.

Yet for some reason, the moment that ancient consciousness touched her soul, she understood perfectly what it wanted to convey.

Come back. Come back...

Sophie’s eyes snapped open. Her breathing involuntarily quickened.

At that moment, she suddenly sensed another presence behind her.

Edgar had arrived at some point without her noticing.

He did not approach too closely. He merely stood on a thick branch behind her and silently watched Sophie.

Especially when he saw the golden green light that had yet to completely fade from the depths of Sophie’s pupils, the last trace of ease disappeared from Edgar’s face.

”As expected...”

Sophie immediately turned around.

”What?”

Edgar remained silent for several seconds before eventually shaking his head.

”Nothing.”

Sophie immediately frowned.

”You clearly know something.”

”I do know a few things.”

This time, Edgar did not deny it.

”But I cannot be the first person to tell you about them.”

”Why?”

Edgar did not answer immediately. Instead, he raised his head and looked toward the deepest part of the forest, toward that ancient region where even sunlight seemed incapable of truly penetrating.

Only after a moment did he slowly speak.

”Because your identity...” For the first time, his voice became genuinely serious. ”Is far more complicated than you imagine.”

Sophie fell silent, and Edgar continued, ”Once this war temporarily stabilizes, I’ll take you to meet someone.”

”Who?”

Edgar did not answer directly.

He simply looked at Sophie and paused for several seconds.

”Someone who, before you were even born, already knew that you would exist.”

Sophie’s pupils suddenly contracted.

...