Chapter 57

【Race: Tree Demon】

It seems these guys aren't officially called Treants.

The location of the Tree Demons is very far from the routes usually taken by adventurers.

Lin Jun really didn't expect that there would be such a hidden emerald secret realm deep in the sixth floor.

Countless roots of old trees crisscrossed the ground, covered in green moss that spread throughout the entire space.

And the Tree Demons had merged their own roots into it.

It wasn't until one large and two small Puji suddenly broke in that they slowly pulled their feet out of the soil.

Facing the intruders, the Tree Demons displayed a strong sense of territoriality.

Several Tree Demons slowly surrounded them, the roots on their arms twisting, looking like they would launch an attack at any moment.

The Tree Demons ranged from 2 to 3 meters in height, while ordinary Puji were only 80cm, and the large-sized Puji mimicked by Xiao Hei was only 1.5 meters.

When surrounded, it still looked quite oppressive.

Xiao Hei didn't seem threatened in the slightest; instead, she excitedly pulled one fist behind her, her chubby body arching backward like a drawn bow.

When pulled to the limit, her short legs exerted force, and she launched herself out with all her might.

A small pit exploded where she had been standing, and a large amount of mud splattered onto the scale armor of the two Puji behind her.

Before the sound of breaking air arrived, the Tree Demon opposite had already suffered a heavy blow.

The Tree Demon's torso instantly burst into powder, while its relatively intact limbs were sent flying into the surroundings; one of the severed arms pierced straight into the chest of another Tree Demon.

This was also the first time Lin Jun had seen a Puji with speed so fast it could create afterimages!

However, the Tree Demons seemed to know nothing of fear; facing Xiao Hei, who had instantly killed their companion, their attacking movements did not falter in the slightest.

Seven or eight roots climbed up from the ground, wrapping around Xiao Hei's two short legs in an attempt to restrict her speed.

【Entangle】

Lin Jun knew this move too.

This was practically a standard skill for most plant-type monsters.

If the Entangle used simultaneously by several Tree Demons were used against someone else, even a werewolf from the 10th floor, it would provide a certain degree of restriction.

Unfortunately, this time they were facing Xiao Hei, a level 58 super elite monster whose stats far exceeded the norm!

Just by walking normally, the roots entangled around her body snapped one after another.

One Tree Demon clasped its hands together, the branches intertwining to form a large hammer, and smashed it onto Xiao Hei, who hadn't dodged, but it couldn't even leave a mark on her black scales.

No technique, just a pure difference in stats!

Xiao Hei was like a bratty kid, playing around with the Tree Demons and breaking them one by one.

Without a shred of malice, she was simply satisfying her own desire for destruction.

After the last Tree Demon had its limbs dismantled, Xiao Hei seemed to have had enough fun.

She didn't continue deeper into the Tree Demon forest, but instead turned around and headed back the way she came.

Lin Jun controlled one Puji to follow closely behind, while the other Puji stayed behind.

It looked at the moss that lived in symbiosis with the roots, and then at the last Tree Demon, which had lost its limbs but was not yet dead.

The Puji tried spraying spores all around.

This place wasn't connected to the fungal network yet, so scattering spores would only allow them to grow on their own.

Lin Jun just wanted to see if the mycelium could compete with this moss for living space.

The Tree Demons probably wouldn't let Slimes enter their territory; if his mushrooms could compete against the moss, then this would be a natural fungal mat node.

Finding a few more places like this would make it much more convenient when he expanded downward later.

After spraying the spores from its body, this Puji also turned back to chase after Xiao Hei.

Xiao Hei finding the Tree Demons was indeed based on perception, not on knowing the way.

This creature got lost after taking only two steps back...

In the end, it was Lin Jun's Puji that took the lead and guided her back to the main road.

Having had her fun, Xiao Hei rubbed her belly and looked at the two Puji beside her that didn't have 【Mana Storage】.

It was time to go back and eat.

"We're so lucky, we took care of that Flower Demon before it could react, didn't let it spray its paralyzing fluid. This whole bottle is enough for us to trade for half a month's worth of wine..."

The sound of conversation coming from near to far stopped abruptly at the corner.

The four adventurers preparing to return looked at the large black Puji in front of them that shouldn't have appeared on the sixth floor, and all cautiously drew their weapons.

Among them was a handsome young man holding a short bow, wearing green clothes and a green hat.

Xiao Hei looked at him, and her body began to stretch backward...

!?

"Xiao Hei! Stop! Not this one either!!!"

Bang—

——

In the hinterland of the Hermit Empire, inside Twilight Castle.

Pale fingers slid across the armrest of the crystal throne; on both sides of the hall, twelve large magic crystals lit up one by one.

When the last crystal also glowed with a faint light, the giant prism suspended from the dome of the hall suddenly refracted twelve beams of scarlet light.

Beneath each beam of light, a phantom whose true face could not be seen appeared.

"Darkness remains eternal, everyone." The voice of the person on the throne echoed beneath the blood-colored marble dome.

All the phantoms bowed and responded: "The Empire remains eternal, my Lord."

The Lord of the Empire swept their gaze across the hall, noticing the only empty beam of light.

"What happened to Sigismund, do you know, Eleanor?"

"How would Sigismund let me figure out his movements, Your Majesty."

A lazy female voice came from the third crystal on the right; Duke Eleanor's projection was reclining on a long couch built of bones.

Her territory was right next to Sigismund's, but it was clear that the two did not have a good relationship.

"Perhaps he foolishly fell into that human duke's trap again?

Last time he lost half a knight order; this time, he might have even gotten himself caught in it."

No one took the second half of Eleanor's words seriously—everyone present knew that it was merely her "beautiful wish."

The last time a high-ranking noble of the Empire died at the hands of humans, one would have to look back over a hundred years.

"That will disappoint you; I was only delayed by a small matter, unlike some people who could actually cause such a huge mess as losing the trail of the Holy Scripture."

A figure, robust in a way that didn't look like a vampire, solidified under the empty beam of light; Sigismund had clearly heard what Eleanor had just said.

"You!"

Ignoring the triggered Eleanor, Sigismund turned to the Emperor and added a bow: "The Empire remains eternal, my Lord."

Eleanor seemed to want to continue arguing, but was stopped by a light tapping sound from the head seat.

"There is no need to worry about the Holy Scripture for now; this matter at hand is the top priority."

As they spoke, a secret letter written on parchment floated to the center of the hall, displaying its contents to all the great nobles present, and immediately sparked a heated discussion.

"It's actually a summoning ritual..."

"The Hero..."

"The Western Islands are actually helping them raise supplies as well..."

"If they really summon one, our side..."

"The Demon King has already..."

"We definitely can't let them succeed; we should right now..."

When the discussion died down, the phantom closest to the left side of the throne asked at the right moment:

"My Lord, may I ask how credible this news is? And what are your plans?"

The Emperor looked with satisfaction at this right-hand man, one of the only two princes of the Empire, and replied:

"There is no need to doubt its authenticity.

As for what I plan to do?

Since the humans want to summon a Hero, then let them summon one.

I want to see what kind of despair they will be in when the Hero they spent so much time and effort summoning is killed on the spot."

"What do you mean?"

"Eleanor, Knoxfell, this task is not difficult for the two of you to complete with your abilities."

"Yes." The two who were named stood up and responded immediately.

After the two sat down, the Emperor continued:

"At that time, the United Kingdom will have consumed massive resources only to get a Hero's corpse, and morale will inevitably collapse.

Once we divide and conquer, they will fall apart without us even attacking."

"Your Majesty is wise, but if the two of them fail, what should we do?" The one who asked this question was still that prince.

"What do you mean by that?"

"Even if you are a prince, you cannot humiliate me like this!"

The two who felt insulted questioned simultaneously, but were pressed down by the Emperor with one hand.

"If they fail... then we will go to war immediately, at any cost, and never let the humans last until the day the Hero rises."

The cold tone that allowed for no questioning left everyone with no further objections.

"We will strictly follow your will."

The twelve phantoms dissipated in unison, leaving only the original figure in the empty hall.

The silence lasted for a long time.

A very light murmur came from the throne:

"Facts will eventually prove that I am the most perfect ruler of the Demon race."

(End of chapter)