Ascension of the Sylvan Cosmos-Chapter 421. Liu Shu Meets With Everyone Once More.

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When everyone received the message, many were confused. After all, in the halls of the Explorer Association and other quest givers, quite a few Terragore nests remained. Most of them were quite deep to reach comfortably; it wasn't easy or profitable to go and risk annihilation to clean a few hundred Terragore.

So, these quests had been lying there in wait for someone brave enough to appear. Nevertheless, the result was that the third was completed without any sign.

"Did a powerful group decide to move?"

"I wonder who managed to destroy the Terragore Ambusher Killer Nest. That nest had claimed the lives of quite a few top-level Explorers. I didn't expect it to be completed a few weeks after being labeled too dangerous."

Liu Shu heard the chatter and pondered. 'So... Many people are dying against the ? I should give them a hand. I wonder where Flor and the others are...?'

She looked around her domain and noticed their presence right away. 'Wow, quite deep into the nest. Hm... Why are they separated into groups of 500 people? Isn't it better if they are together?'

Liu Shu was a bit unaware of how the combat had gone until now, so she couldn't understand some of the decisions they were making. 'Speaking of groups... That big guy is there.'

Her all-encompassing gaze focused on a place where almost 100 Terragore were gathered. At the lead of that group, a massive monster with powerful muscles and black steel-like skin stood menacingly. However, once she looked, as if he knew that someone was looking, the looked around and growled twice.

The group moved, passing through some tunnels and reaching a place where her roots hadn't reached yet. Liu Shu snorted. "Go hide, then. Even if I can't reach that far inside your nest, it doesn't matter. If you want to attack my people, you'll need to poke your head out eventually."

The roots reached nearly everywhere, but that was when speaking about the surface area. While her roots sank deep, areas like the central nest area of the Terragore Empire were not within her reach yet. Of course, not because she couldn't reach that place, as long as she made constant progress, she was bound to reach the location sooner rather than later. The bigger problem was that Terragore would dig out her roots when they saw them.

Liu Shu's automatic defense would defend against it. Her body could react subconsciously to that level. Still, when her roots were severed, that was a way for the monsters to enhance their claws and other means. After all, while Liu Shu was not a mineral, she was a very viable way to feed younger .

If one were to look into the , there would be a few low-level with quite fearsome auras. Those were younglings who were fed off of Liu Shu's roots and became much stronger than their peers, and they were also the "time limit" of the quest. Once these monsters matured in a few years' time, attacking the would be basically impossible without sacrificing almost everything.

Nobody knew, though. Flor and the others were still carefully roaming the tunnels, trying to lure out the hiding Terragore King.

Liu Shu, not wanting to ignore that threat, locked onto Flor's position and began talking to her. "Flor." freewēbnoveℓ.com

However, when she spoke, the reaction was something she didn't expect. Some people, more attuned with nature, paled and instantly went to their knees. It was as if her one single word had pushed them down.

Even Flor's pupils shook for a second. Looking up with slight nervousness that Liu Shu didn't miss, Flor asked. "Um... Liu Shu, is that you?"

Liu Shu was confused, but she answered normally. "Yeah, it is me. What's wrong?"

Flor opened and closed her mouth, unable to answer. Let's go a few seconds back to understand her reaction.

Flor's group was walking through the tunnels, focusing completely on the walls. After all, one didn't know when the could attack. Even when they had developed detecting spells over the last year to counteract the ambushing nature of the , it was not infallible.

Still, while they were walking, a presence descended. The weight of the being was such that it made it seem as if countless eyes were looking at their location. This made everyone become tense to the point that their march stopped unnaturally but coordinately.

Flor was also nervous when such a presence looked at them, and then, a sound spread around. The sound, or voice, was not a singular voice.

"Flor."

That single word echoed around the tunnel walls as if a thousand creatures had spoken at the same time, creating a macabre cacophony. Moreover, the ridiculous pressure that being radiated left most in a state of confusion, awe, or fear.

Those attuned with nature could feel that this incomparably huge presence was their World Tree. Hence, under the massive presence that Liu Shu represented, they all fell to their knees and started muttering prayers.

Being called by such a mind-churning voice, Flor gulped and felt somewhat intimidated for the first time. Until now, she had been in awe about Liu Shu, but never felt a sensation of gripping anxiousness when speaking with her. 'What kind of voice is that? No... Is that even my Liu Shu? I can detect the hidden tone beneath those myriad voices as hers. However, I can't be too sure...'

Taking a deep breath to calm her beating heart, Flor asked the ceiling. "Um... Liu Shu, is that you?"

The voice didn't answer right away, making Flor somewhat nervous. Then, as if the creature had understood her words, it spoke.

"Yeah, it is me. What's wrong?"

The cacophony of voices and souls in those words made everyone shudder once more. Flor took a deep breath. 'She is your baby. Liu Shu is my baby. It doesn't matter what she becomes; she will always be my charming little darling. Focus, Flor. Remember who she is.'

The image of the small tree she first met flashed in Flor's mind, and a smile stretched between her lips. Her taut nerves relaxed, and her voice also regained calm. Opening her closed eyes, Flor smiled lovingly and spoke. "Nothing wrong, baby. Mom was just a bit surprised because I thought the Wall Forest would take a while longer. How are you feeling? Was it a big challenge?"

The myriad voices let out a laugh. Although the tone was somewhat adorable, when many voices laughed at once, it felt mocking and somewhat terrifying. Still, Flor knew that this was one of Liu Shu's "Hehehe" laughs.

"The Wall Forest was difficult!... Wrong. The word is not difficult. That silly forest was very... stubborn! They just wouldn't give up, making me lose my patience a few times. If I didn't understand my existence and combined with us, we don't know how long I would've needed to truly overwhelm the Wall Forest.'

Flor's mind flashed with many thoughts. 'Why is she changing between "I" and "We"? Did the Wall Forest's will affect her that deeply?' It would be a lie if she said she wasn't worried. Therefore, Flor was trying to think about how or what to ask.

"So... Baby, do you know what is happening in your country now?"

Liu Shu answered, the voice of the powerful World Tree intimidating most people present. "I do! Don't worry, I already checked where the is." Liu Shu's myriad voices answered, and then she laughed once more. "Speaking of which, that thing is so cowardly. I just looked at it and it started running!"

Flor's lips twitched. 'I would honestly run too.' While her strength hasn't varied much, there is a strange qualitative change in her existence. It was like she had understood something that before she was clueless about, giving her power as a World Tree.

Clearing her throat, Flor asked. "So, baby. Can you help us now? Or are you still busy?"

Liu Shu answered, her myriad voices sounding strangely cheerful. "No! I am done! I can help you as much as you want. Still, the is going through a . Hence, if I ever go slightly silent, don't worry much, okay, Mom?"

When the thousand voices called her "Mom," the remaining misgivings that Flor had disappeared, causing her to relax and accept Liu Shus's new self. "Don't worry, love. Remember that you are my priority, okay dear?"

"Hehehe~, yes! I love you!"

Flor laughed softly. "I love you, too. Now, guide me! It's time to hunt those monsters."

Liu Shu hummed happily. "Okayy~. Go straight for now! I'll tell you if you are near anything!"

In another of the tunnels, Liu Shu communicated with the four Sylvans as well. Her voice sounded in the four places at once, referring to each of them with their respective names. "Cinderielle, I am awake!"

The place turned silent as some people fell to their knees once more. The next events were very similar to those when Liu Shu talked with Flor.

Still, Liu Shu didn't find it strange. After all, she had already gotten accustomed to people worshiping her. She just didn't realize the change in her voice after assimilating the .

Now that Liu Shu had accepted her identity as both a collective and an individual, her voice naturally sounded like the collective that she represented. Only when Liu Shu spoke through her main body or avatar would she not sound like a myriad of voices speaking at once. Now, Liu Shu's voice had truly become the voice of the forest, made of the will of countless plant creatures.

The four Sylvans, unlike Flor, didn't even react. They found it mildly amusing, but nothing more. For them, regardless of what voice Liu Shu had, she was their lovely World Tree they loved and cared about. Verdantia asked curiously. "How is Dewna doing, love? You were harmonizing in the past, so we were worried about you."

The other three asked about other things, but Verdantia's words caught her attention the most. "Harmonizing? What do you mean?"

Verdantia explained for a bit, making Liu Shu chuckle. "I see. Well, that problem is done with, don't worry. Also, Dewna is happily suckling and hugging me. Don't worry."

Verdantia smiled.

Liu Shu then proceeded to communicate with the other groups, and everyone soon knew that the World Tree had awakened and was ready to lend a root.