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 to 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 8 Level>].

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 8 Level>]

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!?'

Her eyes became determined as she rushed forward. 'I need to damage her after she deals with those five and kill her before she can kill me!'

Meanwhile, the ten branches fell at the five creatures, sending two to each of them.

The Level 8 managed to dodge one, but the second landed on its left frontal leg, instantly maiming it.

Meanwhile, of the four Level 7s, two of them got caught by both branches, while the other two were lucky enough to dodge. The ones that dodged could defend themselves enough that when the second branch landed, it didn't eliminate most of the Phoer. The hit was harsh, as it stole around half, but they remained alive.

The result was nothing but expected for those two Level 7s that couldn't doge. The first branch was like a giant hammer, cracking their skin and body, making them dizzy. Then, the second one was like a blade, piercing the wounded armor and slicing into the being, killing two more and reducing the numbers from 14 to 12.

[Congratulations on defeating <Thornstride 7 Level>. You've gained 5 Experience Points.]

[Congratulations on defeating <Thornstride 7 Level>. You've gained 5 Experience Points.]

Added to the previous Level 5 and two Level 6s, the experience she had gained for now totaled at 18.

Liu Shu looked at the desperate creatures getting very close with an indifferent gaze. Her feelings right now were nothing but calm.

Unlike her usual self, it felt as if only this was right. The creatures that attacked her or those around her were enemies she needed to eliminate because those who honestly lived for her well-being were creatures that she needed to protect.

When they were at the five-meter mark, Mraar caught up and overcame them quickly, taking Liu Shu by surprise. "Take this! <Thorn Chomp>!"

Her mouth opened as energy condensed around her teeth, and then she bit the thick bark.

CRUNCH!

The sound of wood splintering was heard around as Liu Shu felt a sensation of pain run around her body.

[A <Thornstride 9 Level> has dealt 92 points of damage to you.]

Liu Shu was angered, and her branches quickly gathered energy, using almost 200 Aether Mana and Anima Energy to activate <Willow Strike Barrage> one more time.

Like a storm of attacks, the branches fell on top of them, giving very little space to maneuver. Moreover, Mraar was at an actual melee range, so the attacks came right from above, causing her to receive two attacks of the seven heading her way. For the rest, Liu Shu sent them toward the other three who were about to attack her, killing them.

[Congratulations on defeating <Thornstride 8 Level>. You've gained 6 Experience Points.]

[Congratulations on defeating <Thornstride 7 Level>. You've gained 5 Experience Points.]

[Congratulations on defeating <Thornstride 7 Level>. You've gained 5 Experience Points.]

Meanwhile, Mraar saw her Phoer Body Shards Plument, each strike landing on her, stealing more than 250 Shards. With her 2.174 Phoer Body Shards, losing more than 500 was a blow that made Mraar spit blood.

Her eyes bulging and bloodshot, Mraar hissed and attacked with her claws two times before biting again.

[A <Thornstride 9 Level> has dealt 113 points of damage to you.]

[A <Thornstride 9 Level> has dealt 157 points of damage to you.]

[A <Thornstride 9 Level> has dealt 162 points of damage to you.]

The attacks landed on her trunk one after another, slicing off sizeable chunks of bark, reaching deep, and making her sap flow.

Phoer Body Shards: 975/1499

In her mind, Liu Shu was writhing in pain, as this was her first time receiving the sense of being chopped. Ignoring everything else, Liu Shu's senses warned her that she should deal with Mraar as soon as possible, so she used <Willow Strike Barrage> one more time.

Mraar saw the branches coming her way, but instead of dodging, her eyes shone with a crazed sigh as she lunged forward and tried to rip Liu Shu's top and bottom parts by placing her claws in the slashes she made and pulling them apart.

However, as a five-meter-tall tree, Liu Shu was sturdy enough for that not to be possible with Mraar's strength. Moreover, with her absurd 37 points in Physique, Mraar's 21 points fell short.

Seeing that it was impossible, Mraar relaxed as she gave up and saw the barrage of attacks coming her way in slow motion.

Her hind legs pushed her laterally, dodging the first two. Then, she jumped backward, dodging another three attacks.

[Congratulations! You've Unlocked Skill <Basic Motion Vision (F Rank Level 1)>]

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 9 Level (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 6 Level>. You've gained 3 Experience Points.]

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

[Congratulations on defeating <Thornstride 6 Level>. 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 6 Level>*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.