Chapter 30. A World Tree’s Strength.

Chapter 30. A World Tree’s Strength.

Liu Shu heard Flor's announcement and looked at the fifteen Thornstride slowly walking around her with analytic eyes. 'One Level 9, two Level 8, four Level 7, and the rest are Level 6.'

Then, she looked at her ternary essences.

Aether Mana Shards: 951/1013

Phoer Body Shards: 1499/1499

Anima Energy Shards: 991/1044

While they weren't as much, her stats were incomparable to them, which made her stronger than she looked.

'I have two attack methods, <Willow Strike> and <Willow Strike Barrage>. The first has 20 meters of range, and the second has 12.' She pondered as she saw with her 360o vision how some of the Thornstride were preparing to lunge forward.

At once, the two Level 8s and Four Level 7s took the lead, rushing forward the fastest they could.

The instant they crossed the 20-meter mark from Liu Shu', the <World Tree Heart> released Aether Mana and Anima Energy across her internal passways and channeled it toward her branches.

<Willow Strike>

Her branch flew through the air like a whip, aiming for the Level 8 creature. This time, the Thornstride was prepared and dodged to the side. While Liu Shu's natural combat sense was not bad, she was no expert.

After she failed the attack, she used <Willow Strike> again and targeted the same Thornstride. This time, because the creature had dodged quickly and lost some speed, the branch was quick enough to cut through the air and land on its side.

BANG!

The strike threw the Level 8 off-balance, making it tumble as a large gash opened on its shoulder.

[You've dealt 248 Damage to <Thornstride Level 8>].

The place where the branch landed was the shoulder, so doing more than a quarter of its total Phoer Body Shards was not possible.

When her current prey fell, her branch moved one more time, aiming toward the head.

BAM!

The weakened and disoriented creature couldn't dodge in time, and the decisive blow landed on the middle of its head, burying it under the soft dirt.

[You've dealt 660 Damage to <Thornstride Level 8 >]

Liu Shu threw a quick scan and saw that its Phoer Body Shards were actually not depleted.

Phoer Body Shards: 12/920.

However, such a small number was a death sentence unless the other side had really strong regeneration or someone to stabilize their situation and heal them.

While she dealt with the Level 8 beast, a few things happened. First of all, the other Level 8 and the four Level 7s had arrived at the 10-meter mark.

The second thing was that the rest of the creatures, Mraar included, had rushed forward to attack her.

Liu Shu, as it was natural for all beings without special training, decided to deal with the closest threat first.

The five leading the charge tensed when they felt the Aether Mana and Anima Energy rushing across Liu Shu's body toward her canopy.

Their bodies prepared, and their pupils shrunk to see which branch would come and attack them.

However, unlike in other times, Liu Shu didn't use just one branch.

At the ten-meter mark, <Willow Strike Barrage> was perfectly available for her. And so, she used it.

Her Aether Mana and Anima Energy tanked for 100 points, throwing enough resources toward her canopy to move. Then, she released everything in a storm of ten attacks.

The pupils of the Thornstrides narrowed further when they saw not one but ten branches start to move. Mraar, who was looking from right behind, couldn't help but grit her teeth. 'She can attack with more than one branch at a time!?'

However, Mraar couldn't be happy with it. 'Now? You couldn't have come two seconds earlier?'

Even with the newly gained Motion Vision, she couldn't see a way to block the remaining 16 attacks coming her way.

From a distance, one could see the branches falling and slamming into Mraar with ruthless accuracy.

BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG!

[Congratulations on defeating <Thornstride Level 9 (F+ Rank)>. You've gained 35 Experience Points.]

Liu Shu looked away from Mraar as soon as she died, and then, she used 200 more Aether Mana and Anima Energy, leaving her with less than 100 of each. Her branches moved and aimed at the remaining nine Level 6, killing them all.

[Congratulations on defeating <Thornstride Level 6>. You've gained 3 Experience Points.]

[Congratulations on defeating <Thornstride Level 6>. You've gained 3 Experience Points.]

[Congratulations on defeating <Thornstride Level 6>. You've gained 3 Experience Points.]

[Congratulations on defeating <Thornstride Level 6>. You've gained 3 Experience Points.]

[Congratulations on defeating <Thornstride Level 6>. You've gained 3 Experience Points.]

[Congratulations on defeating <Thornstride Level 6>. You've gained 3 Experience Points.]

[Congratulations on defeating <Thornstride Level 6>. You've gained 3 Experience Points.]

[Congratulations on defeating <Thornstride Level 6>. You've gained 3 Experience Points.]

[Congratulations on defeating <Thornstride Level 6>. You've gained 3 Experience Points.]

[System hint: From now on, a large number of killing messages will appear as such: Congratulations on defeating <Thornstride Level 6>*9. You've gained 27 Experience Points.]

As soon as all Thornstrides were dead, Liu Shu's aura calmed down, and she gave one final look at her ternary essences.

Aether Mana Shards: 112/1013

Phoer Body Shards: 976/1499

Anima Energy Shards: 144/1044

Returning from her cold and analytical mode, her mind relaxed and spread again around her entire being. 'Wow~. That was intense, hehehe.'

Liu Shu hummed in her head, feeling tired and refreshed. 'I never fought in this manner; it was... Interesting?' Liu Shu used her World Tree Eye to look at the corpses of the 18 creatures around her, and then she realized. 'Oh? How much experience did I win?'

Liu Shu looked at her accumulated experience and exclaimed. 'Wow! I've gained 98 Experience Points! So many!'

She still needed more to level up, but she was very satisfied with her progress. Moreover, her proficiency in both her attacking skills had also become much fiercer. When used in real combat, these skills increased proficiency significantly.

Practicing them also helped, but the effects were almost negligible compared to real action.

Flor approached with a pained smile and looked at the large wounds Mraar had created at the base of her trunk. The times she almost flew forward to kill Mraar were not few, as she had to restrain not only herself but also some of the Rose Fairies around her.

"How are you feeling, Liu Shu? Is everything okay?"

Liu Shu answered in her mind, a bit groggy because of her lack of both Anima Energy and Aether Mana. 'I'm fine~. Hehe, Flor is such a... a... Hm? A worrying person?'

[System Hint: That's called a worrywart.]

Liu Shu exclaimed. 'I see! A worrywart!'

Flor felt the tries in communication from Liu Shu, but the feelings were so jumbled and messed up that it was similar to not receiving anything. Flor coughed. "Anyway, rest, little one. You can go to sleep for a bit if you want. Once you wake up, I have something interesting to show you."

Liu Shu decided to agree and restarted all her functions, such as flower creation and enchanted growth. Then, she went to sleep for a week.