Chapter 48. Eliminating River Beavers, and New Arrival.

Chapter 48. Eliminating River Beavers, and New Arrival. While Liu Shu was engrossed in eliminating the Level 10 threat, the Rose Fairies executed a cunning strategy. They managed to eliminate a Level 8 adversary and inflict severe damage on a Level 9. Their attacks, though not as potent individually, when used in succession, created lacerations that could cause a creature to bleed out rapidly. The depth of these wounds posed a challenge for healing, adding to the effectiveness of their strategy. That's why Rose Fairies were so dominant; their attacks might not have been over the top in power, but the wounds they created were enough to make other creatures fear fighting them. Even if you won, the wounds they created could easily result in being lethal. Because of this and their lack of raw power, their attacks weren't strong enough to stop the avalanche of creatures from reaching Liu. The twenty-plus creatures that were alive after Liu Shu's and the fairies' attacks lunged at Liu Shu like ravenous beasts, wanting to topple the tree before it killed them. The Rose Fairies saw how the beasts opened their mouths and attacked Liu Shu, and an uncontrollable rage boiled inside them. "FILTH OF THE FOREST, DIE!" The Rose Fairies, driven by their burning anger, unleashed a barrage of spells. Their Aether Mana plummeted without control as wind blades rained down on the creatures, aiming for their necks. The attacks were primarily successful, slicing important veins and causing devastating hemorrhage. Meanwhile, Liu Shu was swarmed by more than twenty creatures, many teeth, claws, and other attacks, landing on her one after another. Notifications of damage appeared one after another, filling Liu Shu's mind with their sound. However, she wasn't rushed at any moment. While there were plenty of notifications, none of the attacks overcame 30 Phoer Body Shards. With her almost 4,000 Phoer Body Shards, despite the onslaught she was receiving, they were quite literally tickling her. In this small instant, when Liu Shu was finishing off Level 10, she received a total of 400 damage. Her thick bark, reinforced by her 72 points of Physique stat, was sturdy enough to completely block all attacks from Level 5 and below River Beavers. Not only was Liu Shu not affected by their initial attacks, but after scratching the surface of her body and not managing to do any more actual damage, some notifications of creatures dealing zero points of damage appeared quickly. Once done with the main threat, Liu Shu's <World Tree Eye> focused on her immediate surroundings. Unlike those times when she cried in pain when she was hurt, this time, her mind was crystal clear, and she completely ignored the painful sensations in order to focus even more. Cold, brutal, ruthless. A World Tree that had been provoked would rarely give mercy to her enemies. Once her overpowering gaze landed on the creatures that the Rose Fairies were desperately trying to keep off her body, they couldn't help but freeze for a moment as the dreadful feeling of death enveloped their beings. Liu Shu sentenced them with an indifferent tone. 'Now that you've done your part scratching my bark die and become my sustenance.' <Willow Strike Barrage> and <Willow Strike> were unleashed once more, consuming a decent part of her Anther Mana and Anima Energy reserves. At the same time, <Root Manipulation> also appeared, her enchanting roots bursting from the ground around her while coiling like snakes around the beasts. The three skills were devastating and did quick work of the River Beavers. More than one of them fell each second, making it a hellish-like moment for the River Beavers. While their intelligence was not that high, seeing their fellow creatures smashed by the whip-like branches was terrifying. Clavel's face fell as she received another signal from Liu Shu, this time about danger. "How is your Aether Mana doing?" Zinia smiled wryly. "Does it matter? We have to fight even if we just throw stones at whatever is coming." Still, once they saw the people appearing, their determined faces faltered. 'What are humans and Sylvans doing here!?' Meanwhile, in another part of the forest, Flor arrived at the place where the reporting fairy had told her to go and saw a large group of creatures advancing. There were at least 400 beasts of many different species, making Flor falter about her original plans. 'I wanted to challenge and kill Froorar quickly to make the beasts he has untied disappear, but..." Flor was hidden in the trees' canopies, using her tiny body to her advantage to observe from a safe distance. 'There is more than one Level 10+ speaking over there. If I were to go and challenge him, I would probably be hunted down until I become their trophies and experience points.' Honestly, Flor felt helpless this time. 'Even if Ignatia and I join forces with Liu Shu, it probably is not enough; I've spotted around 6 Level 10+ creatures. There might be more hidden in the crowd, but it is too difficult to spot them.' Analyzing a creature with the system required, first of all, knowing that creature somewhat or understanding the "presence" it gave off, and second of all, being close enough for your senses to pick it up. Flor didn't fulfill these requirements for all the Level 10 creatures there. Hence, she couldn't tell the precise number of Level 10s and above. Flor returned toward the small army of 80 she had gathered and looked at them with wry expressions. 'Not enough. Even if Ignatia's army had joined, we would probably not have been enough.' Flor sighed and passed her hand through her red hair. "This is really, ugh. So frustrating. Should I call the River beavers and try to do a pact with them?..." Flor laughed in ridicule. "Nah, I can't do this. How could I collaborate with those tree eaters?" With another rueful sigh, she asked no one in particular. "What should I do? Where and how do I find people strong enough to help?" After speaking like that, she paused. Her face became strange. 'Do I really have to call that woman? But...' Flor was struggling. 'I really don't trust her. What kind of Level 4 Sylvan does not flinch and is proactive when a Level 12 monster is right in front of them?' However, she really didn't have better options. Flor knew that she was strong but strong enough to beat so many? She was far from it. 'I'll have to return quickly and made a plan to buy time to go to the city for Verdantia's help.' "Let's return; we can't do anything for now." Flor had never felt this cornered in her life, so she didn't really know what to do. The problem was that, unlike the typical attacks where they could flee, the being they were protecting was a stationary tree. The Rose Fairies followed her command and flew back toward their base, arriving a few minutes later. Flor's face changed completely when she saw the situation and rushed forward at her fastest speed. "Who dares!?" The bloodstained floor and the situation around Liu Shu were worrying to the point that the only reason she had not started throwing spells was that the Humans and Sylvans that were facing off against the group of Rose Fairies were seemingly in a defenseless position. Some of them had their arms up in the air, while one of them was eagerly speaking something to Clavel. Clavel saw Flor arrive, and her face brightened. "Finally! Queen, quickly tell these people to scram! They are crazy and want to analyze Liu Shu, her branches, and her fruits! This Sylvan, in particular, is... umm... strange!" Flor looked at the Sylvan and Human group, and between them, she spotted a peculiar one that reminded her of Verdantia, it was the Sylvan pointed at by Clavel as well. 'A Fire Aether Sylvan?'