Chapter 28. Thornstride Attack!
After Flor made her way back, her Aether Mana had been consumed by around a tenth. While carrying the four books with her Aether Mana wasn't much effort, the journey back was long, and the books were somewhat heavy.
'I hope this helps.'
She was a bit doubtful. After all, her knowledge of World Trees was very limited. 'Ah!'
Flor almost smacked herself. 'I should've asked for books about how to take care of World Trees!'
While it wasn't necessary, as World Trees were more than capable of taking care of themselves, as with everything, a bit of assistance wouldn't hurt anybody, moreover, knowing more about them would help the Rose Fairies understand their main needs and valuable facts.
Flor smiled. 'Well, I now know what to ask Verdantia for.'
As she approached the groove where Liu Shu was, Flor heard battle sounds, making her face change from relaxed to wrathful. "I was gone for a day, and they think they can step on my territory as they please!?"
Let's turn back the clock an hour.
For the Rose Fairies, it was a typical day. They took care of Liu Shu the best they could, collecting the fruits growing on her branches and looking around the area for threats.
Aster was patrolling with a bored look on her face. "When we were in the other home, we didn't need to patrol so much. Why has it become a routine now?"
A Level 7 Rose Fairy by her side commented with a stutter. "W-Well, Liu Shu is weaker and also more important than that tree. It is normal for us to be more careful, no?"
Aster snorted. "Do you think I don't know that? I was complaining just because!"
The other fairy smiled wryly. "I see-"
BANG!
Aster's face changed to incredulous as a massive rock hit the other fairy and sent her flying backward without control. "WHO DARES!?"
Before anything, Aster quickly turned around to save the other Rose Fairy, but from the shrubs, two Level 7 Thornstride appeared and jumped up, opening their mouths and chomping down on her.
Their sharp fangs dropped like guillotines, deeply sinking into the body of the Level 7 Rose Fairy.
Aster saw the Fairy's Phoer Body Shards plummet to zero as their fangs pierced through the fairy's body, signifying her death.
With her face twisted in anger, she shouted. "YOU ARE GOING TO PAY FOR THIS!"
As soon as she was about to rush forward and fight the two Level 7s, two Level 8 Thornstride appeared from the side, stopping her in her tracks. The four of them looked at her with an unmistakable sneer as one of the Level 7 Thornstrides began eating the Rose Fairy.
Even if she had the advantage of flying, a four-against-one was not a favorable situation. While Aster was impulsive, she was not brainless enough to go against them. 'This disgusting tree eaters! ARGH!'
Aster quickly turned around and returned to the place where Liu Shu was, shouting after she arrived. "We are being attacked! Prepare!"
All the Rose Fairies stopped what they were doing, and everyone at Level 6 and above moved at once toward the defensive positions.
In the place where Liu Shu was located, there were three paths leading into the area, with natural barriers that stopped people from approaching as they pleased.
In the first place, a weak tree like she was before absorbing that leaf had no business surviving for too long. It was just a coincidence that Liu Shu was born in a relatively isolated place. It was also a coincidence created by the random skill she gained that she would later absorb the leaf that allowed her to become a World Tree.
Clavel moved quickly and asked Aster. "What about the other one that was with you?"
Clavel and Mraar fought together, with Mraar having the upper hand. While Clavel had significantly improved, the difference between levels can be massive, especially between tiers.
While they fought, Clavel had to dodge one rock thrown by Mraar quickly, and Mraar didn't let the opportunity sleep. She quickly climbed and jumped!
Clavel's facial expression changed when she saw the large creature flying her way. She had been distracted for a second, and suddenly, she was in trouble.
With quick maneuvers, Clavel's body quickly moved out of the way. However, when she thought that it was okay, the tip of her foot got entangled in something.
Seeing the red rope-like material tied around her leg, Clavel wasn't pleased. Right after, the Thornstride pulled, throwing the small Fairy toward her own opened mouth.
Clavel quickly reacted and threw a wind crescent to her face. "Scram!"
BANG!
[-200]
Mraar grunted in pain, but her eyes glowed with the determined light of a creature that had seen its own ups and downs. Resisting the pain, her jaw moved and closed her maw.
"<Thorn Chomp>."
CRUNCH!
"AHHH!"
Clavel screamed in pain as a large [-124] appeared on her head. That was almost half her entire Phoer Body Shard reserves, showing how dreadful that attack was.
BANG!
When Mraar was about to finish Clavel off, her side was slammed by something extremely heavy and sharp, throwing her sliding sideways while making her hiss in pain.
[-450]!
Mraar's side was split open, blood pouring through, and with it, her Phoer Body Shards.
Amapola arrived and quickly fed two <Basic Phoer Berries> to Clavel. While 20 Phoer Body Shards were not much, they would help the body heal much quicker.
Amapola looked at Mraar, who had around 1500 Phoer Body Shards left from her initial 2174. "How about you choose an opponent of your own size?
Mraar hissed. "She was careless and reckless. The fact that she could now escape before I finished her off is already lucky."
Looking at the injured Clavel, Amapola frowned. "I don't care, but if you don't retreat with your people, you will regret it.`"
Mraar cackled. "What can happen? Flor is away. Then, you and I might be equal. However, what about the rest?"
Amapola looked around, and when she saw that the fairies were actually struggling, her face gained a frown. 'Why? We should be winning as we have number and level advantage.'
Mraar sneered. "You can fly and attack from a safe distance. However, do you think your race is the only race that does it? Our own race has been fighting creatures like yours for many generations. We have our own means as much as you have your own!"
After thinking for a while, Amapola carried Clavel in her arms and shouted. "Retreat!"
The fairies were surprised but quickly obeyed. A messenger was sent toward the other two sides, and soon, all fairies had regrouped around Liu Shu's side.Thê source of this content n/o/v/(el)bi((n))