Chapter 237. Vital Information That Can Change The Tide. Difficult Decision.
The moment Flor's group knew Elowen was aiming at their city, she looked at Amapola. The new Rose Fairy Queen quickly moved and guided the group of 200 Rose Fairies into the forest.
When Amapola left, Flor suddenly received a message from Sirol City. "Flor, Delia, it seems that Amapola's guess was correct. There is a nearly 30,000-soldier army coming to Sirol City. We need reinforcements; Eila Neoflora is between them. They'll arrive in two hours tops."
Flor frowned and looked at Wert and the rest. "Wert, my tactical knowledge is lacking compared to any of you. Be the main shot-caller from now on. You have my and Liu Shu's trust to do so."
Wert started to think right away. "The 10,000 army that's coming to us needs around one hour to arrive. Their coordination leaves us without any option to send reinforcements. It's truly quite a masterful strategic stroke. However, Fortuna City's defense must be very weakened."
Flor blinked, and Thalia asked, surprised. "Do you really think we have enough personnel to attack Fortuna City? We are busy enough fending off their attacks to initiate a counteroffensive."
Wert raised his eyebrow and asked. "Liu Shu, are you willing to reveal all your strength, or are we going to continue hiding some of it?"
The World Tree looked at Wert and asked. "Speak, what do you have in mind?"
"I want you to send all your Serpents to bombard Fortuna. Do you think they can win against her?"
Liu Shu looked at the basic stats of the Serpents for a second. 'Show me the summarized stat page after all my buffs when attacking and defending.'
[Showing Ophion's Stats when attacking outside your domain. Ophion's stats have increased by 30%.]
Liu Shu couldn't help but make a silly sound. 'Ha? Thirty? Huh?'
***
Name: Ophion
Level: 25
Aether Mana Cores: 5.02/5.02 (502,223)
Phoer Body Cores: 7.77/7.77 (777,192)
Anima Energy Cores: 4.81/4.81 (481,481)
Attributes: Aether 1274, Physique 1614, Anima 1211, Willpower 1344, Destiny 500
***
'HUH?'
[Showing Ophion's Stats when defending inside your domain. Stat increase is a total of 60%.]
'WHAT?!' Liu Shu was startled and quickly spoke. 'Wait, wait, wait! Sixty!? Where does it come from?'
[Temple Of Summoning increases stats by 20%. Title <Defender > increases stats by 10%. Summoning Enhancement increases stats by 20%. Ophion's <Natural Predator> title increases stats by 10% when fighting higher-level creatures.]
[Would you like to see Ophion's Stats when defending you?]
Liu Shu metaphorically gulped. 'Yes.'
***
Name: Ophion.
Level: 25
Aether Mana Cores: 6.14/6.14 (614,678)
Phoer Body Cores: 9.52/9.52 (952,314)
Anima Energy Cores: 5.89/5.89 (589,127)
Attributes: Aether 1588, Physique 1987, Anima 1491, Willpower 1654, Destiny 500
***
Liu Shu stared blankly at the giant serpent's stats. 'They are almost as high as mine… No, he has more ternary essence reserves than me.'
She then looked at the other five serpents out of pure curiosity and saw that their stats were not that far behind compared to Ophion's stats.
'Hm… I should've checked their stats in the past. What a big mistake taking them as a regular <Second Energy Cycle> creature.'
Wert noticed Liu Shu's silence, and he thought that she was not very confident in attacking Fortuna. So, he sighed. "Well, if they are not strong enough, then forget about what I just said."
"Huh?" Liu Shu snapped out of her trance and blurted. "I think they can kill Fortuna. How far is Fortuna from here? Is it less than 30 kilometers?"
This time, everyone got silent and literally turned around to look at the World Tree. Their eyes were wide open and clearly disbelieving.
Ophion tilted his head and looked at Liu Shu. Then, he hissed. 'Liu Shu, a World Tree might be too much for us. I don't mind giving up my life and trying, but I wouldn't be so sure.'
Hearing the serpent hiss, they all somewhat understood that even the serpent was doubtful of Liu Shu's claim. Wert coughed. "Liu Shu, I don't know what he said, but if he communicated doubt about what you just said, I agree. Fortuna is an E Tier Level 28 World Tree. She is not something that can easily be killed."
Ophion blinked and looked at Wert. 'Huh? E Tier? There are World Trees with such a low Tier?'
Liu Shu asked. "What do you think?"
Ophion hissed thoughtfully. 'I can't promise that I'll be able to hunt her with my sisters and brothers. But I am sure that I can bombard her enough to weaken her. The problem is that I don't know how many defenses they have around Fortuna. I don't believe they've left her unprotected, right?'
Liu Shu told Wert Ophion's worries.
"Defenses?" Wert asked, thoughtful. "There should be some Rune Fields and Arrays, but other than that, the number of <Second Energy Cycle> people left in Fortuna City should be less than five."
Ophion listened and understood Wert's words. He looked at Liu Shu and asked. 'After hearing this, I have more confidence. However, I am not sure if I'll return alive.'
Liu Shu frowned when she heard that. She had named Ophion in the past, showing that she had some attachment to the giant serpent. Therefore, she said. "I want you to go and make them wary. Don't engage in life-and-death battles. If you or anyone else feels any danger, return to me."
Hearing Liu Shu's command, the people saw the giant serpents extending their wings and about to take flight. However, Verdantia shouted. "Wait!"
The serpents froze and looked over, together with many people. Wert frowned. "Verdantia, be brief. We have very little time."
Verdantia looked at Wert and asked. "If these Serpents have enough strength to threaten Lady Fortuna, a World Tree defended inside a city, wouldn't they be able to help us annihilate the 10,000 army that's coming our way? If we manage that before the enemy breaches Sirol City, we can even gather with the reinforcements from Mareful City and mount a counterattack."
Everyone paused and got thoughtful. One of Kael's <Second Energy Cycle> personnel asked. "What if we just attack Fortuna and kill her? Wouldn't that finish this war immediately? They'll have no reason to continue their attack on Liu Shu. On the contrary, everyone would be forced to cooperate with Lady Liu Shu if they don't want our province to be invaded by the surrounding ones."
Flor looked around and couldn't help but feel the anxiety building up. 'All of this should've been talked about before… If I didn't conceal the real strength of the Serpents, we might've been able to give them a definitive blow this time around and win the war… Ugh, if Ignatia was here…'
What Flor didn't know was that Ignatia was in Liu Shu's canopy, and the World Tree was relaying everything to her. The Ant Queen listened to the conversation and smiled. "They are saying quite a few interesting ideas. Which one do you like the most, love?"
Liu Shu asked, curious. "Like? Not which one is the best?"
Ignatia laughed. "All of them are good. Each has its pros and cons. For example, your attack idea can work, but the loss will be substantial if the serpents die. The new serpents you summon are not guaranteed to be as loyal as Ophion or as strong as him." Looking at her pink nails, she added. "On the contrary, if you kill the 10,000 men army, you risk offending the powers above and taking you as a real threat. This would probably escalate the war beyond now. Of course, there are advantages to this strategy other than feeding you many deaths. Those powers I spoke about might get interested in you and abandon Fortuna."
"Hm… Ignatia, do you have a better idea?"
Ignatia smirked. "With the strength of your serpents, I do have an idea. If it is better or not, you'll be the judge. Do you want to hear?"
"Yes!"
"Great~. My idea is… Lose this war, but not too exaggeratedly. Send five of your serpents to Sirol City to help keep the defense line there while keeping Ophion here. Eila Neoflora is very strong and can probably breach the defense line if people are not strong enough to stop her and those other two people, Lyra and Tor… The other guy. Your serpents can do so without being in too much risk."
Liu Shu giggled. "Folter~. Did you really forget his name?"
"Close enough~," Ignatia continued. "If you lose this war but maintain the line, that means that our strength is not much different from Fortuna. It can create a stalemate. However, that's clearly not the truth. With you and I in here, time favors us more than anyone else. In a few years' time, forget about Fortuna; even Eila Neoflora won't be our match. With Verena as a backer, resources will never be completely cut, and Sirol City and Mareful City will fall under your domain, allowing your buffs to spread far and enhance those cities, too."
Ignatia hummed with a laugh. "Fortuna will be slowly but helplessly constricted until she feels backed into a corner, and then she will strike out with all her strength. Then, we reveal our own strength and stomp everyone, dominating the entire place in one fell swoop!"
"Ohhh!" Liu Shu exclaimed in admiration. Then, she asked. "What are the cons for this strategy?"
Ignatia hummed. "Well, 'Years' is a long time, so anything could happen. Fortuna might even reach Level 30. But this battle has one winning condition above anything else…"
"Which is…?" Liu Shu asked, curious.
"You or I reach Level 25." Ignatia's lips arched in a sneer. "If either of us reaches that Level. No one can match up. We might even be able to gain enough strength to defend against Level 40 beings."
Liu Shu looked at her Level and muttered. "I would probably need 200,000 Experience Points to reach that Level… You are Level 23, right?"
"Liu Shu!"
The World Tree heard the people in the wall calling for her decision while Ignatia finished her explanation. "That's my plan. Of course, it is all up to you, love. My little army will always be at your disposal if you ever plan to reveal it. It hurts when my babies die, but I am an Ant Queen; flooding everything with a wave of ants is what we do. Our numbers are replaceable as long as the Ant Princesses and I, the Queen, remain."
Liu Shu looked at Ignatia's gentle smile and began evaluating all the options presented to her. After a while, she managed to plan something and told Ignatia about it.
Ignatia nodded without hesitation, making Liu Shu feel a bit guilty. Then, Liu Shu began telling Wert about it.
Wert listened closely to Liu Shu's proposal and asked hesitatingly. "Are you sure? Doesn't she mind?"
Flor, at the side, was shocked, but she didn't speak out.
Liu Shu answered Wert firmly. "Yes, I am sure. She has also given the go-ahead."
Wert rubbed his chin and nodded. "We'll make it count. I promise."
Ignatia also heard Liu Shu's plan and smiled somewhat melancholically but with a hint of pride. She muttered. "My biggest baby's choice makes this mommy proud… but it will be a bit heart-aching."
Liu Shu asked worriedly. "Ignatia, are you sure you are okay? We can do another thing if you want."
Ignatia shook her head. "Don't worry, love."
Then, she jumped from the branch, using Liu Shu's curvy body to slide down quickly. After she landed, she moved through the town and arrived at the nest's entrance. Then, she raised her arms and smiled bloodthirstily. "Babies, it's time to remind the world how fearsome ants really are~."