Zaros didn't risk it. Even if he was strong himself, being a Level 290+ powerhouse, Danlier's own power made it so he could die before he reacted if he was not careful.
Of course, thanks to all of Liu Shu's buffs, Danlier would have to try something incredibly sly and fast to kill Zaros. And even if she managed to do fatal damage, Zaros was one of the individuals who was always marked with Liu Shu's
Still, he didn't risk it. Even with all safety at his disposal, there were much smarter ways to handle the situation.
As he was pondering, the shockwave of a distant collision from the battle between the two World Trees swept through their space. Anyone above the
Danlier and the others turned to look, their gazes deep as they felt the power behind them once more. "Zaros, I want our conversation to be as private as possible. Can you do that?"
Zaros was prepared for that, too. It wasn't good to have a conversation in front of their entire army, in case it got deeper and revealed state secrets.
After giving out some orders, he glanced at the Sylvan floating in the middle of space and also summoned his hologram to talk face-to-face. "It's done, Lady Danlier. The rest of the starships have blocked the sound. Only I and those near me can hear your voice now."
Danlier nodded, and she used a one-time-use piece of equipment. The equipment spread out, taking over the space between Danlier and Sarluce. This equipment prevented World Trees from peeking into their conversation.
Liu Shu was not really paying attention, so she didn't even notice. If she had noticed, breaching this one piece of equipment wouldn't have been that difficult thanks to her sole SSS Rank skill.
"Zaros, I will preface everything I am going to say by clarifying that I am not your enemy."
Her words surprised Zaros and his nearby advisors. While the Covenant and the Golden Sap Empire weren't in a situation where one side had to die for the other to live happily, they had still had conflicts.
Not to mention, everything began because the Covenant threw them aside as a sacrifice in a time of need. Now that Zaros knew more, he also knew that the Covenant was being cheap back then.
It did somewhat make sense strategically. However, Rhazor, that
So, giving up on the Ceperet Solar System back then was more a matter of indifference than a true necessity.
Zaros didn't interrupt Danlier, nor did he act resentful. Instead, he nodded to tell Danlier he was listening. Danlier manifested a comfortable seat behind her, manipulating some roots, and sat down with one leg over the other.
"I understand that our paths had been far too parallel. In all the important decisions, the Covenant had never once been a source of good news for the Golden Sap Empire."
Yes, the Covenant's name gave Liu Shu and the Golden Sap Empire a somewhat protective shield just by association. Still, when it mattered most, the Covenant would've helped more by ignoring them than by whatever they had done up until now.
Everything worked out in the end, but the Covenant could've been the final nail in the coffin if things had gone just a little bit differently.
Danlier understood this as well. She did so very deeply.
Before coming here, Danlier had checked the Covenant's actions toward the Golden Sap Empire over the last few decades. Looking at it, the word "ally" could barely, if at all, be applied to their relationship.
Zaros spoke back, his tone neutral, showing no outward emotion. "Lady Danlier is right. We still received your help before we developed. Without the Covenant, the Nexus would've long crushed the world where Lady Heavenly Willow was born."
It was lip service. The Heavenly Willow was born because her exceptional progress stumped local powers, and she gained enough of an advantage that by the time people finally took her seriously, it was already too late.
She had acted like a silent poison ivy. Coiling up the beams and, when you least expected it, rotting away the main beam that supported their entire existence.
Danlier knew Zaros's words weren't sincere, but she didn't care. Behind them, as the backdrop for their discussion, the two titanic creatures were still fighting root against root, lighting up the usually empty void with countless flashing lights.
'It's honestly incredible.'
From their perspective, how long had it been since Liu Shu was born? Without accounting for dilated time, it had been around 177 years. In 177 years, Liu Shu went from a Level 1 World Tree Sapling who barely knew how to think to a monstrous creature fighting their main World Tree on a battlefield stretching for tens of astronomical units.
Just thinking about it caused Danlier to feel her spine shiver. 'That's why we are stronger now, but that will change. We need to make amends with the Golden Sap Empire, whether Mother likes it or not.'
Swallowing the guilt of betraying Balaya's trust, Danlier glanced up and spoke. "Marshal Zaros. I, Danlier, am here to ask for a silent conquest from your part."
She could play word games. Hint at Zaros about her intentions. But if she did, wouldn't it be far too late by the time they realized?
At the Golden Sap Empire's development speed, twenty more years would be enough for the Empire to give birth to its first
Zaros paused, and so did the rest of the advisors. Danlier turned her head, glancing at the monstrous clash of titans occurring in the distance, and spoke up. "Lady Heavenly Willow's advancement speed is far too much. Yes, Lady Balaya is still strong. She can probably stop Lady Heavenly Willow's advance. At the pace they are going, their battle will end in a stalemate."
If they continued fighting, Liu Shu might be able to push forward. However, they faced the very edge of Balaya's domain, where her roots were weakest. If Liu Shu wanted to have a chance at conquering the central region, she would need one of the following two:
Liu Shu either managed to reach the
Or Liu Shu's people developed a bunch of
The first option was ideal in Liu Shu's mind because she could control the battlefield better and have a higher chance of convincing Balaya. After all, Liu Shu didn't want to kill Balaya. Liu Shu wanted to absorb her into her domain.
As long as their strengths were on par, that wouldn't happen. Her current situation was almost identical to how she had been when she first faced Warlya.
Zaros, as if trying to digest and understand Danlier's words, spoke up with a serious look. "Lady Danlier, I am unsure if I understood correctly. However, can I interpret your words as a preemptive surrender?"
Danlier smiled faintly, looking away from the battlefield happening right behind them. "Mostly, yes. My condition is only one. Balaya must not die or become crippled. As long as you can keep this condition intact and not use loopholes or anything of the like, I will use 100% of my personal support so that Lady Heavenly Willow can take over our Covenant."
Zaros leaned back slightly, using a secret communication method to speak with his advisors.
A human woman at the side spoke up, her tone full of suspicion. "From what I heard, Lady Danlier is not an individual who gives up. There are plenty of tales from her past feats that depict Lady Danlier flipping the results of lost battlefields single-handedly."
A Cicada Insectkin supplemented her words. "Not only that, her loyalty toward Lady Balaya is firm. She is Lady Balaya's direct child, and she has grown up with the Covenant. When she first took over, there were still no
Zaros nodded, and one human man spoke up as well. "That's true. They say that the reason Lady Danlier is Level 310 and Lady Balaya is 325 is because Lady Danlier sacrifices most of her own Experience Points to her during wars. She is loyal, dedicated, unbending, intelligent, and wise."
Here, a female mothkin with black wings spoke up, one of her four arms unfolding as she raised a finger. "I think that these qualities are the ones that make Lady Danlier's words trustworthy."
The rest of the people frowned for a second and glanced at the mothkin. Zaros used his chin to tell her to speak her mind. "Lady Danlier wants to guarantee a future with Lady Balaya in it. Lady Heavenly Willow rose up, became a threat, and then they sent Lady Deadly Petal to deal a lethal blow together with the Nexus… but thanks to the sacrifices of many and Lady Heavenly Willow's divine abilities, we blocked that impossible pincer assault. What would you think if you were Danlier?"
Zaros spoke up. "They are unstoppable for us. We must either become allies or merge."
The mothkin's wings buzzed. "Exactly, Lord Zaros. However, we will never accept an alliance from them. Lady Heavenly Willow has been betrayed plenty of times, and looking at how Lady Deadly Petal was doing, it was clear that she was about to be sacrificed because she lost her value after her defeat to Lady Heavenly Willow."
Someone observant spoke up. "Lady Danlier has arrived far too quickly, though. If what she said is the truth, her ability to arrive here so quickly and suddenly feels like preparation in case Deadly Petal is in true danger."
Everyone paused, the puzzle pieces slowly clicking into place. Zaros turned toward a woman with a smoky lower half. She looked like a spirit with mate-black skin and volcanic red cracks flowing across her surface. Her hair, like a smoky black flame, gently swayed above her head.
She was someone from Virelya's species, the informant who came with the first foreign merchant fleet. "Our reports show that positive news and trends in the Covenant's public sphere of influence are increasing. It is a silent but certain phenomenon. If there had been an almost complete blockage previously, now that blockage is loosening. This might be Lady Danlier's plan as well."
Everyone felt the broader picture unfolding, and a chill ran down their spines.
Danlier was an absolute monster, covering all bases with a few moves. The Level 310 woman who rose to her position with her own strength was not to be underestimated.
Danlier noticed Zaros speaking with people nearby, so she waited patiently. It was clearly impossible that they would believe her during the first conversation. Still, setting a precedent would show increasing sincerity when she suggested the same things later.
Glancing at Balaya's roots being destroyed in the distance, a touch of softness and distress flashed in her eyes. Yes, Balaya was often very annoying, and she got angry at her. However, she was still her mother.
The worst thing Balaya had ever done to Danlier was something as mild as interrupting a few of her plans because they felt too convoluted. It would annoy someone, but it was not even close to hating your own family. 'I hope Mother doesn't resent me too much… sigh.'
Regardless, it was a necessary step, and as she always had, Danlier would use everything she had to make sure they didn't get the short end of the stick.
Zaros finally ended the private discussion with his advisors and looked back at Danlier.
"Lady Danlier."
Danlier raised her eyes.
Zaros's expression remained unreadable.
"Let's talk about your conditions."