Chapter 53: Tree's Consciousness
As Kathleen gazed upon the withered form of the colossal tree. A fleeting thought crossed her mind, she imagined the tree adorned in lush greenery, its branches reaching for the sky in a magnificent display of life's vibrancy. She thought it would look like a world tree that she read in the novels.
This magnificent entity, now fully awakened and throbbing with surges of mana, commanded its surrounding environment, utilizing an intricate network of veins and roots to attack Kathleen relentlessly.
The colossal tree's veins, like tendrils, whipped through the air with astonishing speed and power, seeking to trap Kathleen and crush her beneath its weight.
Sensing the imminent danger, Kathleen's instincts kicked in. She quickly moved as her mana surged throughout her body flowing like water, weaving through the onslaught with absolute calm.
The sheer force behind each strike of the tree veins caused tremors to reverberate through the earth, as they shook the very foundations of the enchanted forest. The ground quaked beneath Kathleen's feet, adding an extra layer of challenge to her formidable task.
Yet, her determination fueled her every movement. She propelled herself forward despite the overwhelming odds.
Although Kathleen recognized that the tree was not at its full strength, it still posed challenge to her. Her discerning eyes surveyed the intricate network of veins and roots that snaked through the forest, spreading with an unsettling ease. Just as she had thought, the tree seems to be everywhere in the forest.
[Dragon Sword Dance - Second Chapter - Crimson Drak Slash]
Drawing upon the darkness and fire elements that coursed within her, Kathleen channeled her mana into her trusty sword. As her blade cleaved through the air, a tempest of shadows swirled around it, while flickering flames danced along its edge.
As Kathleen unleashed a ferocious strike with her sword, a slash of crimson flames entwined with swirling darkness surged towards the encroaching veins.
The attack effortlessly cleaved through tree veins and branches. Just as her strike neared the tree's trunk, the ground trembled beneath her, and a cluster of roots sprouted, forming a barrier as they stopped her attack.
"It definitely had a consciousness, it seems to be protecting it's truck." Kathleen surmised, recognizing that it was the first intentional action the tree had taken besides its random attacks.
As she observed this action she made the trunk as her primary target, she realized that if she were to have any hope of victory without resorting to her trump cards, she needed to discover the tree's hidden weakness.
Far way from Kathleen, Iris stopped her running and gently set down Sophie, while Lucas stood alongside her, both catching their breath.
As she turned around, Iris's eyes widened seeing the ongoing battle. Kathleen's movements were a blur showing the level of her speed, she was stopping multiple attacks on her own and the onslaught of extending veins that threatened to encroach upon them.
However, as Iris cast her gaze beyond the colossal tree, her sharp eyes detected a peculiar pattern. The tree's roots, like tendrils, began to creep into the surrounding forest, steadily spreading in all directions except for the side where Kathleen stood.
A deep furrow formed between Iris's brows, as she suddenly descended into a contemplation.
"Shall I go and help her?"
As Iris looked down at Sophie's peaceful sleeping face, a wave of conflicting emotions washed over her. While she was not some child to pick a fight with Sophie unreasonably, she couldn't shake the unspoken rivalry she sensed between Sophie and herself. Despite this internal struggle, Iris couldn't bear the thought of leaving Sophie alone amidst this chaos.
"Hey, why are you following me? Aren't you a 3-Star mage like myself? Go and aid Kathleen, she assisted you moments ago. Have you already forgotten?" Iris shouted at the figure standing beside her, frustration evident her words.
"Huh?" Lucas jolted back to reality, a puzzled expression crossing his features as her words registered in his ears.
"Miss Iris, could you please repeat that?" he inquired, his innocent face showing his confusion.
"What in the world are you doing while we're in the midst of a life-threatening situation?" Iris lashed out, her irritation evident. Once more, she reiterated her words telling Lucas to assist Kathleen.
"Um, actually, I was only a 2-Star mage but I took a special potion to boost my abilities before the final exams." Lucas admitted with a hint of embarrassment. "I don't think I can match the movements of that tree, I fear I might be more of a hindrance than a help to Miss Kathleen."
"Well, you're useless then! Just make sure to take care of Sophie. I'll go and assist Kathleen!" Iris declared firmly as she rose from the ground.
An awkward expression flickered across Lucas's face. 'This girl is so direct, but... those memories... I truly am useless.' He thought to himself before casting a concerned glance at Sophie. He knew what he had to do—if the attacks were to intensify, he needed to protect Sophie and make a swift escape.
Meanwhile, Kathleen advanced forward, gradually carving a path through the thrashing veins as she relentlessly pressed onward towards the tree's trunk. After observing carefully, she had surmised that the tree's weakness indeed lay in its trunk, which was shown by its protective nature towards the trunk. Whenever she targeted the trunk with her attacks, it showed signs of weakness, confirming her theory.
With each swing of her sword, Kathleen infused it with her strength and the raw power of her mana, transforming it into a formidable weapon.
[Darkness Arc]
A sweeping arc of concentrated shadows, left a trail of echoes in its way from her sword. As Kathleen executed this deadly technique, her blade sliced through the air with a swift and ominous aura.
Her every strike charged with malevolent energy, unleashed a chilling surge that scorched the ground upon impact, leaving a smoldering imprint.
The colossal tree also had emotions, it driven to fury by Kathleen's attacks as its veins whipped through the air with increased ferocity, as if nature itself had come alive in an attempt to reclaim its dominion. The air crackled with raw magical energy, charged with the clash of forces.
Yet, Kathleen stood strong. She was becoming more and more used to the tree's patterns, each movement etched into her mind with clarity.
Anticipating the next move, she swiftly shifted her weight, evading the massive attacks that lunged towards her. With the precision of a knight, she evaded the oncoming attacks although it was becoming more and more difficult as she get closer to the trunk.
The power of the vein's attacks had escalated to nearly a 4-Star level, making it increasingly challenging for Kathleen to parry or evade their attacks.
— New chapter is coming soon — Write a review
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone