บท 218: Chapter 218. The Enemy Army Marches Forward!
Near the border created by Fortuna's and Liu Shu's territory, an army of a thousand was gathered. The general looked toward the horizon, barely spotting the far-away Golden Sap Forest. "According to the map, we are around eight kilometers away from the Golden Sap Forest's tree line. We are unsure where the border between them starts and ends, so we will need to be attentive. I want a squad of 20 in each group to switch every two hours and keep constant attention to the terrain."
One of his officers asked. "General, we have already divided the army. We can start the rounds whenever the general asks."
"Good. The real fight starts when we arrive at the forest. We will probably enter the World Tree's detection range around there. We are many, so the World Tree won't ignore us, detecting us and sending troops to ambush us. During that time, I want the defenses to be high and our pace to be moderate. We can't walk slowly and allow them to corner us."
"Understood."
The 1000-member strong army moved at a light pace, eventually entering Liu Shu's detection range. The World Tree was not really paying attention to the surroundings. However, a group of 1000 people marching at a rhythm was too hard to miss.
Her conscience expanded, and she was quick to look over. 'Oh? They are here.' She pondered about what to do, and after thinking, she decided to warn Flor. "I haven't finished these armors, which is a bit of a shame. Well, at least Cinderielle and the others have theirs." Looking around, she quickly spotted Flor in Ignatia's nest, cuddled with the Ant Queen. "Flor!"
Flor jumped, startled. "Yes, love? What's wrong?"
Ignatia chuckled and patted her head. "Don't jump each time she calls you."
Liu Shu didn't lose time and spoke. "The army is here. It is 1000 men strong and at their marching pace they will arrive at the edge of the Golden Sap Forest in forty minutes."
The Ant Queen and Flor paused, and Flor rapidly flew out. "I'll go get everything ready. Liu Shu, please make an announcement to everyone when they reach the edge of the forest so that they return to the town and are protected!"
Ignatia saw Flor leaving and rubbed her chin. "Liu Shu, how far have my children gone in the direction that the army is coming?"
Liu Shu commented. "Around three kilometers from my position in a surprisingly even manner. How did you command them to expand the ant nest so symmetrically?"
Ignatia laughed. "I'll tell you later, now is not the time for this. Liu Shu, do you see the upward holes that are dug all around the ant tunnels?"
Liu Shu hummed. "Yes, I see them. They are much closer to the surface than the tunnels."
Ignatia slowly stood up, her presence surging outward and activating the ant nest. "Those holes are there so that you can open them and catch people one by one. The walls are coated with acid mucus that makes it practically impossible to hold onto them. Make sure to throw a few down those holes; level 20 and above would be quite perfect. Speaking of which, how many of those are there?"
Liu Shu commented. "A lot, to be honest. There are around 700 below Level 20, but the rest are Level 20 and above."
Ignatia nodded. "That's indeed quite a lot. My family can take around ten Level 20+ people simultaneously without casualties. However, if you feel that you need more help, don't hold back and throw down a few more. If I get involved, we should be able to deal with many more of them."
Liu Shu giggled. "Don't worry, I will do ten at a time~. Each time you want one of them, shout 'Food!'"
Ignatia burst into laughter. "Sure.~." Then, she shouted, her voice booming through the ant tunnels. "You heard your biggest sister! Time to feed!"
"Liu Shu!"
Back on the surface, Wert called, and Liu Shu spoke to him. "An army of 1000. I've already warned Flor."
Wert clicked his tongue. "What about me, big girl? Do you still not trust me?"
Liu Shu giggled. "I do! But this army is related to some merchants in the north. Do you really want to get involved?"
Wert smiled. "Don't worry, Liu Shu. As I explained before, <Explorer Association> branches are independent. Whoever I offend is my problem. Of course, asking for aid from the main branch makes it harder, but… whatever. I have dealt with everything without them until today; I can continue doing it alone."
Liu Shu laughed. "Sure, sure. Then, here is the info. I am currently speaking to everyone that's in a leading position."
Liu Shu's voice echoed in different parts of the town, relaying the following message to the leaders of different areas. "I am the World Tree Tianlian Liu Shu. We are currently being attacked by an army of a 1000. I call all of you to gather in the Town Hall quickly. Flor will explain the attacking plan in five minutes. Failure to show up will result in a punishment."
All the leaders' faces changed to one of horror, and they quickly left everything they were doing, baffling those under their command.
Three minutes later, everyone gathered in the main room. Flor looked at everyone and spoke commandingly. "We are under attack. The attack is led by five Second Energy Cycle powerhouses, nearly 300 first sub-cycle elite soldiers, and more than 700 First Energy Cycle soldiers. My Rose Fairy squadron will go into the forest and create ambushes to slow them down. We aim to slowly weaken them before they arrive at the town's wall. Wert, you will be with the Rose Fairies." Flor looked at the mothkin calmly sitting at the side and asked. "Mariane, will you participate?"
Mariane looked at Flor with her obsidian eyes and faintly smiled. "Liu Shu has been nothing but welcoming to me. I guess I can lend a hand~."
Flor's heart jumped in joy. "Please, accompany Wert. They are five, but with you two, they won't be free to do as Finnian did and brute force our ambushes."
Ambushes were only effective when the other side didn't have enough defensive and offensive power to hunt down the ambushers. It didn't make sense to give a surprise attack to a group that could literally run at you through the vegetation and then slaughter you.
Flor looked at the three Sylvans and spoke. "You three will also join the Rose Fairies in their ambush. Your transformed states plus your armors give you enough offensive and defensive power to take part in that battle."
The three of them didn't even flinch before nodding. Even if Flor sent them to the front line against Second Energy Cycle powerhouses, they would gladly go and risk everything.
Flor continued. "The objective of the ambush is to guide them one kilometer away from the Lignified Wall. Then, we will retreat."
Wert asked. "Why?"
Flor smiled coldly. "Liu Shu can deal with the rest once they reach that distance."
Everyone in the room paused and looked at Flor as if she were crazy. One of the human soldiers spoke. "Queen Flor, with all due respect. Liu Shu is but a new World Tree. This army has five Second Energy Cycle beings."
Flor nodded. "That's why a frontal battle is nothing but suicide. We will retreat and wait on the wall. If they reach us, we will make our stand here, where Liu Shu's firepower can be focused. If we manage to kill the Second Energy Cycle people, we will leave the walls and chase the fleeing army down. Our objective is leaving no survivors."
An Explorer under Wert's direct command spoke. "Queen Flor, in conflicts, exterminating the army is usually considered an offense. Leaving a group of survivors is basic courtesy in war."
Flor looked at the woman who spoke with a confused expression. "Basic courtesy… in war? What's the point? They are here to exterminate us. Our retaliation won't end in just killing all of them, but when we are strong enough, we'll bring war to them."
Wert saw that his officer was about to talk again, so he raised his hand. "This is a monster town. Nobody is expecting mercy from us. Moreover, even if we follow it, we won't be given that mercy if we end up in the same situation in the future."
Flor nodded and looked at the plant clock on the wall. "They will arrive at the edge of the forest in 25 minutes, time to move."
Meanwhile, back at the army, the general was looking around with a confused expression. He was riding a mount together with a group of fifty-four. A total of fifty-five riders were made of fifty Level 24s and five Level 25s. "Lord General, do we light the forest on fire to move onward?"
The bearkin general snorted. "Right, give us the <Forest Burner> title. I bet that one will be quite fun to have, right?"
The person who suggested it coughed. "Excuse me, General."
A human woman asked. "But General, we are here to attack a World Tree. Won't that in itself give us a title?"
The General sighed. "The World Tree was the one that attacked us first when she killed our delegation, which makes it okay to attack back. The system doesn't like it when people attack innocent World Trees. However, it is okay to do so in retaliation…" The general frowned and looked at the woman. "Is this your first battle against a World Tree?"
The woman nodded. "It is, sir! I have been in the military for a long time. However, my achievements are lacking due to an absence of real battle experience. Thankfully, I've had a few fortuitous encounters and managed to reach Level 24, leading me to my current position."
The General hummed. "I see." He asked, curious. "So, you came even thinking that you would get a title for killing a World Tree?"
The woman laughed awkwardly. "I saw everyone agreeing so readily that I felt off denying my duty…"
"Hahahaha!" The General laughed loudly and then said. "Well, welcome to our <Third Bear Hide Army>! Since you are new, should we present ourselves to make this death march a bit more lively?"
The human woman smiled. "No need to, sir! I know very well about sir and the officials!"
Liu Shu heard that sentence, and she perked up joyfully. 'Free information!'
"General Tharn and his four officers! First, Lieutenant Sylvan Torran! Captain Rhen and also the general's brother-in-arms! One of the best archers in our town, Lady Vaya! Finally, Lieutenant Greth has deep strategic knowledge and personal strength!"
Liu Shu listened to everything the human woman blurted and told everything to the others.
Greth spoke in a low, menacing tone. "Miss, stop speaking. You might be revealing information to our enemy. We don't know where the World Tree's senses start from, so we must be careful."
The human woman nodded. "Yes, sir!"
Liu Shu pouted. 'Tsk. Why did you tell her to stop speaking? Let me know mooore!'
Thankfully, the enemy army couldn't hear her, or they would have spat blood in response to her shamelessness.
General Tharn laughed. "Having enthusiastic new recruits is always a pleasure! Remember this, and remember well. It is a sentence passed down since ancient times."
The human woman listened, and General Tharn smiled aggressively. "When fighting a World Tree, you don't fight a being. You fight the world around it."
The woman had a chill run up her spine, and she focused, her face tensing under the helmet. "Understood, sir!"
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