Chapter 18

The dryad that Momonga called Pol led them further north into the Great forest of Tob. She went on an unusual path with a lot of twists and turns. He suspected it was making sure they avoided her tree. It was fine, Momonga ultimately decided when Aura asked if she should do something about it.

As they went, the trees became sparse. The forest is notably less dense, as if trees struggle to grow here. The forest itself looked like it was dying in front of them as they walked. Trees went from green to brown, leaves littered the ground in front of them like it was fall. Pol continued on into the heart of Arbor Mala's territory.

Everything was dead. The trees, grass, all plants, and there wasn't a single animal in sight. Despite the sun shining in the sky, everything looked grey. The grass turned to dust when he stepped on it. Pol came to a stop hiding behind a few dead trees and showed us Zy'tl Q'ae.

The Treant was massive, Its branches and roots alone were enough to crush bodies, its fanged mouth could fit Gargantua inside. It was sleeping but still absorbing from the ground. Inside its mouth was a glowing herb, the one he was after.

Using a skill [Aura Reader] he got a general sense of power from the entity. Unlike the game where he would get an exact number and see the target's hp stat, now he gets a general feeling and sees a pillar of health around the tree.

"Mare, I need you to come to me right now." he sent an encrypted message to the other sixth floor guardian.

"Oh, right away Lord Momonga." He sounded panicked for some reason, like he got caught with his hand in the cookie jar.

Momonga saw why the dryad was so worried the treant was certainly the strongest thing he's encountered in this world. So far, at least.

"We should go, before he finds us," Pol said, looking around sad and scared. She must be worried about this happening to her own tree.

"Pol, you said seven adventurers came here and faced Zy'tl Q'ae. I'm telling you we can do the same and win," Momonga said, getting a look of confusion from the dryad.

"Are you nuts? He's as strong as a dragon lord. You're not touching that thing," she whispered angrily, making Momonga and Aura chuckle.

"Well, you just wait and see."

Aura leaped out from behind the trees, high into the air. Pol let out a sharp gasp filled with terror. To Your Heart, Aura's bow let out a hail of arrows that would normally be an AOE attack, but every single arrow was going to land on the treant. The arrows pierced the bark, just barely sticking out of the side of Zy'tl Q'ae, but the giant monster woke up.

The ground shook as roots pulled up, huge wooden arms rose, and Zy'tl Q'ae let out a hideous screech. Momonga shot forwards, his sword drawn and covered in a dark demonic energy, his slash sent bark flying as the treant let out a massive groan trying to swipe at him. He dodged the slow hand, falling back as Aura let out a strange sound.

Two of her beasts came from the tree line. Did she just summon them or have those two been following them this whole time? Momonga witnessed the power of the monsters growing as Aura landed between the majestic black wolf with gold accents and the big chameleon monster. Aura's skills as a beast tamer can boost their power by taking them to level ninety in power.

Momonga jumped out of the way of a branch slamming into him. The chameleon jumped on the branch, speeding up it. Electricity surrounded the beast as its tongue turned into an electric whip bashed Zy'tl Q'ae sparks flying off of him. As the plant's attention turned to the thundering chameleon, it disappeared, confusing the plant.

As Zy'tl Q'ae looked for the chameleon Momonga ran up the tree with Fenrir who Aura was riding, Momonga jumped soaring past the mouth and spun sending out a giant spinning slash into the tree before he lunged the dark power shooting from his sword breaking into the trees bark.

Aura and Fenrir landed inside the damaged treant's mouth and plucked the herb, placing it in her inventory for safety. Aura drew her bow while mounting the wolf. She let out a hail of arrows again, but this time, the arrowheads were glowing yellow. Fenrir jumped out of its mouth, both him and Aura having giant grins as they escaped the explosion they let off.

The Treant let out another screech in pain, the inside of his mouth smoking. His arms reached around it, grabbing the dead trees and tossing them into its mouth. Some trees he tried to throw, but they dodged every single one as they landed blow after blow against the plant with an enormous amount of hp.

-

Pol was having her worldview torn to shreds. The whole fight was blowing her mind. These two are fighting a monster that can destroy the world, they even called two beasts. However, she wasn't as quick. She saw a giant tree get ripped out of the ground and tossed at Aura, who skillfully dodged while doing a flip while laughing at Arbor Mala. The tree got closer to her, and she cried. If Arbor Mala was getting defeated, she at least wanted to see the monster who plagued her nightmares fall.

The tree got batted out of the air, landing somewhere nearby. Flying above her was a man in girls' clothing, looking at her with worry in his heterochromatic eyes.

"Are you ok?" her saviour asked. She felt shivers at his voice, her face went red as she struggled to get out an answer looking at the beautiful person.

"Y-y-yes." She stuttered and immediately wanted to bury herself, who talks like that to their saviour.

He gave her a gentle smile and Pol felt her heart leave her chest and fly off with him. He waved his staff and said something as smooth different roots came from the ground and bound Arbor Mala, allowing the other four to attack it. Pol shook her head. This guy as well can fight Arbor Mala.

Arbor Mala could destroy the world. Are people and monsters who can do that common? Is the world truly so terrifying? If it is, she might need protection if she wants to live.

-

Momonga looked at the other twin, who showed up. As an Incubus, he could instantly tell that Mare had lost his purity. He felt pride well up; he wanted to go over there and give his boy a giant hug. But for now, he'll wait.

With Mare here, it's time to end this.

"Can you do it, Mare?" He shouted, slicing branches that came after him.

"Yes, Lord Momonga." Mare shouted back.

Momonga gave a nod to Aura. The treants health has drastically decreased by now, they only had a little left. He ran the power bursting from his sword and unleashed a mighty cleave that erupted with dark power, destroying half of the treant's remaining health. Aura's arrow landed soon after his slash. It didn't do that much damage, but the arrow put a feeling of weakness in Zy'tl Q'ae. The chameleon tongue wrapped around a branch and an electric shock bursted from the tree. Finally Fenrir took a deep breath and howled the sound waves surrounding the tree who shook in place.

With the treant a step away from death and covered in debuffs, Mare simply flew up to the tree and placed his hand on it. A soft green light engulfed Zy'tl Q'ae, the wild mindlessness disappeared as intelligence entered his eyes, its bark became more colourful, leaves sprouted from his branches, even the surrounding area started growing grass and flowers.

Mare stopped and flew back, standing next to Momonga, letting the treant breath and its eyes wander.

"Lord Momonga, Lord Mare, Lady Aura, this one thanks for your generosity in allowing this unworthy treant to live. I swear from now on I shall serve you loyally until I am destroyed." His voice was incredibly deep and echoed out.

Momonga couldn't help but smile.