Chapter 422: Extermination Operation Begins - Tree Spirit Pinesis
— Mid-fire Moon.
August 7th, Karn Village.
At this moment!
As the village closest to the Tove Great Forest, it had temporarily become the base for the Adventurer's Guild's "Extermination of Unknown Plant-type Demon Creatures."
Karn Village was a small village with only 25 households. To prevent unexpected risks arising from monster unrest.
Anri had the villagers temporarily relocate to E-Rantel to seek refuge. She had originally intended to pay for it herself.
Following the Captain, in less than a year, she had accumulated over 2000 gold coins.
Along with other treasures harvested from the hilly terrain.
This was an amount of gold that she, or rather the entire village, could not have accumulated in a hundred years.
However.
Captain Lakyus of the Blue Rose directly used the "extermination budget" to resettle the villagers of Karn Village.
In the spacious village chief's room.
The members of the Blue Rose, Anri, and the captains of the other twelve adventurer teams were gathered in the room.
"The items provided by the Magic Caster Guild have finally arrived."
Gaguran's sharp gaze swept over everyone present, a look of finally being able to showcase their skills on her square face:
"A lot of time was wasted."
Five days had passed since the last Adventurer's Guild meeting.
The adventurers present understood the principle of "speed is of the essence." The reason for the delay was the issue of magical items.
The "unknown plant demon creature" possessed mental control abilities. If this problem was not resolved, the extermination team would suffer fatal consequences.
Magical items capable of resisting "mental influence" were not only expensive but also scarce. Even Adamantite Rank adventurer teams did not necessarily have them equipped for all members.
Let alone other adventurers!
The Blue Rose was clearly an exception; none of its members were ordinary, so they naturally did not lack items for mental resistance.
"All captains."
Lakyus, fully armed, wore a blue rose-shaped magical item hairpin in his smooth blond hair, his expression serious:
"Although the Adventurer's Guild and the Magic Caster Guild have prepared for five days and gathered a batch of magical items, they are still insufficient to equip everyone. However, we have enough mental resistance potions."
"Therefore, I ask all captains to distribute the magical items to key personnel."
The Guild Master of the Magic Caster Guild, Raxil, had attended the last meeting, which was to borrow items from the Magic Caster Guild.
That's right.
It was "borrowing," not purchasing.
Magical items were too expensive. Even with the support of the Adventurer's Guild and the city mayor, the funds were not abundant.
"I understand."
"Don't worry."
"It is our honor to have Lord Lakyus personally command us."
"..."
A series of light chuckles erupted.
A smile appeared on Lakyus's tense face.
Adventurers had diverse personalities, and it was her first time commanding so many adventurer teams. She was worried about various troublesome individuals, but it seemed none had appeared.
"Anri, do you have any other questions?"
Lakyus turned his head and asked Anri gently.
"Free Will" and their team were Adamantite Rank adventurers. Even though their captain had not appeared, Anri's status required a special inquiry.
"Ah, no."
Anri straightened her spine and quickly waved her hand.
Lakyus nodded lightly.
"What a shame, I thought we would get to meet that Team Leader Tang."
"He is a Genius Alchemist, after all."
"The high-quality Regeneration Potion's healing effect surpasses second-tier healing magic."
"Indeed, if Team Leader Tang were to participate, everyone's safety should be able to improve by another level."
Soft murmurs were exchanged among several captains.
Compared to Tang Zheng's strength, what the people present were most concerned about was his title of "Genius Alchemist."
From this point of view!
Tang Zheng's strategy was successful; the identity of "Adventurer Tang" made people more interested in his reputation as an alchemist rather than his strength.
"Captain..."
Anri also felt it was a pity. Without the Captain, she felt a little uneasy.
During the meeting, she had secretly contacted the Captain and asked about this matter.
The Captain did want to help.
It was just that Miss Cui Ye was unable to get away, plus the significant distance between the hilly area and the Tove Great Forest.
In such a short amount of time, even if the Captain set off immediately, he wouldn't be able to make it.
The captains of the adventurer squads, each holding their own magic items and potions, departed separately.
"Lord Lakyus, thank you."
Anri suddenly stood up and bowed slightly to Lakyus.
"Huh? What are you thanking me for?" Lakyus's eyes widened, and he looked at Anri with his clear, emerald-green eyes, confused.
Gaguran suddenly snorted, "You've slain legendary undead like Soul-Eating Demons, and your deeds are constantly being spread in taverns."
Gaguran bared a beast-like grin, leaned forward, and sized up the petite Anri.
"A mere settlement fee, that small amount of money—any one of the magic items from just now would be enough to settle your entire village."
Lakyus finally understood and said in a relaxed tone, "The Adventurer's Guild is paying for it. Since it can be used, there's no reason not to."
"Gaguran's personality is just like that; he doesn't mean any harm, Anri."
"Devil Captain."
"I just want her to truly understand that her current status is different from before. Small favors are not worth using words like 'thank you' for."
Gaguran crossed his thick arms over his chest and spoke with a deep voice, after all, they were all Adamantite Rank Adventurers.
Anri understood a bit more and said to Gaguran, "I understand. Thank you, Lord Gaguran."
"I told you not to just say 'thanks' so casually," Gaguran said, his fierce expression returning.
Facing this outwardly fierce demeanor, Anri revealed a brilliant smile.
Lord Gaguran might look a bit scary, but he was actually a gentle person on the inside.
To the side, Tina narrowed her eyes and sized up Anri, "Oh, speaking of which, did you really defeat the Soul-Eating Demon by yourself?"
"I'm sorry, though it might be rude to ask, the guy we'll be dealing with next might not be simple. Knowing a companion's strength clearly allows us to make better plans."
In reality, this was an attempt to probe for information.
"Yes."
Anri's expression turned serious as she replied earnestly, but she didn't say another word.
Her time following the Captain had made Anri clearly understand the importance of information; she was already a qualified adventurer.
The air was quiet for a moment.
Tina felt a little unwilling and wanted to try and extract more information through her words.
"Tina!" Lakyus suddenly spoke, responding with a stern gaze.
Tina shrugged helplessly.
"She's not lying." Iville Ai, for once, stared at Anri for a moment. "Moreover, she should possess a class that has a special advantage against the undead."
As an undead creature, her perception in this regard was naturally sharp!
Lakyus and the others were surprised.
Anri also showed surprise, thinking to herself, So amazing!
10:21 AM.
The 60-person adventurer team, consisting of the 「Blue Rose」, Anri, and others, began their entry into the Tove Great Forest.
At the same time!
Deep within the northern part of the Tove Great Forest.
What should have been a green ocean of dense trees had turned into a withered wasteland, a true "Forest Rift."
No!
Calling it a "Forest Rift" was quite inappropriate.
Dozens of meters tall, lush trees had completely dried-out trunks, and their vibrant green leaves had long since vanished.
The branches were so brittle that they snapped with just a gust of wind.
This place now looked like a dead land.
However.
Two normal trees, one large and one small, stood in this land of withered trees. The smaller one was only eleven or twelve meters tall, looking no different from an ordinary large tree.
The larger one, however, astonishingly reached over twenty meters. Compared to the appearance of a normal tree, this tree had a lush yet messy canopy of green leaves.
Vibrant red flowers dotted the leaves.
And on the thick trunk, there was a hideous mouth-shaped cavity, with root-like tendrils resembling teeth constantly swaying within the opening.
The root area was even more terrifying. Dense root-like tentacles writhed on and under the ground like an octopus.
It was like a tree that looked like a monster!
The crown of the smaller, ordinary tree occasionally trembled, as if in fear of the monstrous tree beside it.
As if sensing something.
The leaves of the ordinary large tree suddenly rustled with a soft "swish."
The next moment.
A figure, completely naked, resembling a human female, with brown skin and long hair like green leaves, emerged from the ordinary tree.
Her name was Pinesis, a Tree Spirit, and her true form was the large tree beside her.
"A parasitic monster has been killed, Lord Magic Tree," Pinesis reported cautiously to the terrifying tree-person beside her.
As a Heteromorphic Race and a Tree Spirit, she possessed a lifespan far longer than that of elves. Her exact age was only a vague concept.
Around 300 years old... perhaps more.
Age held no real meaning for an elf. Her long lifespan allowed her to know some ancient legends.
For example, the story of the "Twisted Treant."
"Alright~, now is not the time to think about this," Pinesis thought.
She didn't want to be here at all, but her true form couldn't move. Even transformed into a Tree Spirit, she couldn't stray too far from her main body.
This resulted in her watching helplessly as this beautiful living environment turned into the current withered wasteland.
Even!
She had almost lost her life and died.
The culprit behind all this was naturally the terrifying Magic Tree that descended three hundred years ago.
During its most recent awakening.
She witnessed the Thirteen Heroes defeat the not-fully-awakened Magic Tree and heard the heroes vow to defeat it next time.
"Heroes, where are you!"
Pinesis cried out internally, filled with fear for the future.
The Magic Tree began to reawaken, and the nutrients from the earth and the life force of the surrounding trees were rapidly being converted into nourishment for the Magic Tree.
Pinesis could clearly hear the wails of all the plants.
The heroes had not appeared!
The only reason she survived was that she had pledged allegiance to the Magic Tree, though there was an element of luck involved.
Belonging to the same plant-type demon creatures, she possessed a certain resistance. Most importantly...
"Waaah-- Waaah--"
The terrifying treant opened its monstrous, root-filled mouth and emitted strange, chaotic sounds.
This was not a complete language!
However.
Pinesis could understand what the terrifying treant was trying to convey, which was roughly to eliminate the intruders and continue providing nutrients to the Magic Tree.
"Limited intellect!"
Pinesis made this evaluation in her mind.
The terrifying treant before her was not the Magic Tree. The true Magic Tree had not fully awakened. This creature was merely a monster transformed from a seed released by the Magic Tree.
It lacked clear reasoning!
It was more like a monster from the original forest that only possessed "survival instincts."
Pinesis relied on her own intelligence, demonstrating her value in helping the Magic Tree revive faster, thereby surviving.
"Yes, Lord Treant,"
After hearing the chaotic sounds, Pinesis lowered her head and quickly replied respectfully, her heart growing increasingly dejected.
She was a bad person now!
Even though she detested doing this, she didn't even have the ability to pretend to comply. This terrifying treant could also release unique seeds.
Within her own true form, there was a seed planted by it.
If she failed to carry out its orders, the terrifying treant would surely drain her life force and then kill her!
"This monster lacks true intelligence!"
"Just like those chattering goblins, trying to reason with it through language is utterly meaningless." Pinesis's mind was filled with despair.
Whether the Magic Tree truly revived or the heroes sealed it away again, her fate wouldn't be good either way!
"Villains, all of them are villains..."
Pinesis raised her hand and wiped the corner of her eye, feeling wronged enough to cry.
Whoosh!
With a faint, flickering green light.
Pinesis's body became ethereal, rejoining her true form.
Although the seed parasitic within her controlled her life, it also possessed other abilities.
For instance, through this seed, Pinesis could control most of the demonic creatures in the forest that had been parasitized by the seeds released by the terrifying Treant.
This ability reminded Pinesis of the information she had overheard from the Thirteen Heroes who had passed by her about the legendary Undead, the 'Death Knight'.
It was said that this kind of Undead could control the living by killing them, which was somewhat similar to the terrifying Treant's abilities.
It was practically a plant-type Death Knight!
Abelion Hills, deep valley.
Tang Zheng put down the research materials in his hand and let out a soft breath.
"The information from Clementine and the 'Four Elements' corroborates each other."
Tang Zheng picked up his water skin and took a sip of warm water, toying with a Frogmen Egg with his finger as he pondered, "This indicates that the Theocracy already knows about the impending revival of the Magic Tree."
However.
Why hasn't the [Darkness Scripture] acted immediately? Are they waiting for something?
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