Chapter 81: Tree

"No, and I'm not really interested in trying right now."

Rod looked up and down at the other's tree-trunk body, which stretched endlessly, fell into a long silence, and finally spoke those words.

Although I have the wish to collect stamps from all races, a tree...

I may not be picky about meat or vegetables, but it still has to be something edible.

"Just asking casually, what does this have to do with me and you dealing with the Demon Species?"

"As you can see, Mr. Rod, my tree body has been pruned and trimmed; much of the power of the Ancient Sky Trees cannot be unleashed. Especially my leaves and roots—without them, I cannot grow, nor can I absorb the spiritual energy here."

Eva sighed, her brows and eyes lowered, looking somewhat disappointed.

"I am merely a young lady who has just stepped out of her juvenile stage, lacking such powerful energy. Therefore, I need you to infuse spiritual energy into me."

"Doing that can add spiritual energy to a tree... Don't you dare lie to me."

When he was intimate with Vivian, the other party hadn't gained a shred of spiritual energy.

Tree Spirits also possess the genes of trees.

"No, no, no. It isn't that intercourse can add spiritual energy to me, but rather that you, as an external tool for absorbing spiritual energy, will infuse me through our connection. Here, I will teach you a simple human Mi Fa."

Having said that.

Rows of characters floated onto the surface of her tree trunk.

At the very beginning, written boldly in large characters, were the words 【Elibert's Fun Love Mi Fa】.

Wow.

What an unseemly name.

Rod was speechless; the look in his eyes toward Eva shifted slightly.

You're a straight-as-an-arrow tree trunk, yet I never expected you to collect such things.

"Don't look at me like that! It's not mine! Over a hundred years ago, a human mage somehow broke in; I struck him dead in one go, and this thing fell from his body."

"Why are there annotations on it?"

"I get bored, you know. I always look at everything."

"Then why must we use that? Can't I just directly transmit spiritual energy to you?"

"The efficiency is too slow. Fluids are best, and preferably fluids with the most concentrated life factors."

"... What about the others? I remember many people entered the domain."

"I don't want them. You are the best. The scent on you is the finest I've encountered among all people."

It was 【Tree Blessing】 again.

This skill is completely a charm tailored for trees.

Rod pondered for a moment and decided to comply.

After all, judging from the current situation, helping her was equivalent to helping himself.

If he couldn't handle it, he shouldn't even dream of getting out.

"Then come on. You must take a humanoid form, right?"

"Why? My mother said I have the best figure among the Ancient Sky Trees!"

Eva was just talking.

She extended half a body from that human face, detaching herself from the tree trunk.

This body even mimicked human skin and flesh.

Her appearance was that of a gentle, kind, beautiful older sister, with green hair cascading like a waterfall.

Pity about the figure...

"... Can this part grow a bit larger?"

"Oh, is that enough?"

"Hmm, make the waist a bit thinner... Don't make it that thin, sister! I could snap you in half."

"You humans are so annoying."

While speaking words of disgust, expectation and novelty appeared on Eva's face.

"Not?"

"Ah? Isn't it always like this? I remember the Poison-Billed Birds that used to land on me only had one..."

"Forget it. Make your skin softer. I'll point to where, and you'll change there."

"Oh."

Next.

came a body-shaping tutorial even more difficult than face-sculpting.

After a moment, a body that was at least somewhat satisfactory was finally sculpted.

"Here. Is tree resin okay? I have plenty of that stuff."

"Th-that works too."

"Like this? Is it enough?"

"By the way, can't you really be a bit more like flesh? Being so hard is really uncomfortable."

"You humans are truly annoying! I'm a tree, of course I'm hard!"

Rod activated 【Elibert's Fun Love Mi Fa】.

Can you believe it? This was actually a breathing technique.

But paired with a tree, it always made his thoughts wander off course.

He held Eva in his arms, and the now-soft body actually had a touch of the feel of a normal race.

Two hours later.

Eva's breathing grew heavier.

Her eyes glazed, she clung tightly to Rod's shoulders, her nose buried in his neck.

With the tremendous boost from the second heart.

According to Eva, this body was a Semi-Finished Product from before she had 【taken human form】, and within it was a complete biological—

The experience was too difficult; Rod truly did not want to fall at the last hurdle.

"No. No, no, I can't— I can't hold it in!"

Accompanied by a cry of ecstasy.

Eva, who had gone rigid in Rod's arms, radiated a layer of dazzling spiritual light.

In an instant it illuminated the entire domain space.

The present world.

Georgi stood on the rooftop.

Under the effect of a high-grade invisibility potion, no one could see his figure.

In his hand was a dragon-plush toy from the Dragon-Watching Festival, modeled after that bronze elder dragon.

At this moment, it was emitting faint black smoke, a thin smell of sulfur constantly wafting from its body.

"It's been two hours already, Ms. Black Rose."

There was not the slightest spark of life in the elf's eyes.

On the distant plaza—collapsed houses, shattered earth, corpses, broken swords, severed limbs.

He could easily see the corpses of the ladies who had been intimate with him over these days.

And right at the center stood a massive barrier radiating blue magical power.

The buzzing resonance of magical power rang out across the land like an alarm.

Within it was the monsterized Emerald Great Tree.

Twelve sixth-tier mages from Jade City, their spells linked together, had temporarily brought it under control, but clearly had not fully suppressed it—the Jade Monster was still slamming against the barrier.

Interestingly, three of them were wearing Bahadur's black robes.

"Truly worthy of Jade City—casually mustering twelve peak sixth-tier mages just like that."

Black Rose's teasing voice came from the plush toy.

She added: "Almost there. The passage on our side is nearly opened through. Once we get what's inside the domain, we'll naturally grant your wish."

"."

Georgi did not answer.

"Regret? You regret it? Heh, how laughable. Those twelve aberrant demon-seeds were all implanted by your own hands into those women, and now at the last moment you pull this stunt—you elves are as hypocritical as ever."

"No, I just—"

"You needn't explain anything. What of it? It's already a foregone conclusion. Look, my dear, I can already see inside the domain."

Having said that, a great cheer and shrieking howls came from over there.

Mingled with screams and rising flames—a full-blown witches' sabbath.

"Look, the manufacturing material for the Sky-Reaching Tower back then, the Firmament Ancient Tree from the same era as the primordial dragons—as long as it falls into our hands—what is this?"

Black Rose suddenly let out a furious roar.

"Damn it! The passage is closing!!! Didn't you say the ancient tree's power was very weak!?"

"Who is that?! A human— what's going on?! Damn it! Damn it! Damn it!"

Georgi had not yet understood what was happening.

The dragon plush toy in his hand went poof and turned to ash.

Boom—

And in the distance, the massive Jade Monster crashed to the ground.

With everyone baffled, the black demonic aura swiftly receded from its body, and it returned to its emerald tree form.

At the same moment, a group of people appeared out of thin air in the plaza.

They were unmistakably the advancers who had entered the domain earlier.

They were all utterly bewildered.

And Georgi saw, in the very corner, a tall human man busy pulling up his pants.

(End of chapter)