Chapter 334: Rush

Words : 1062 Updated : Oct 7th, 2025

Chapter 334: Rush With everyone back in formation, they executed the next phase of their plan. Like before, they kited the deathworms—but this time, spraying several with the shimmering anti-spore liquid. While obviously they couldn’t coat every inch, especially not the parts still underground, it wasn’t necessary. The goal wasn’t to kill the tree, but to distract it—long enough for them to slip into the labyrinth. And it worked. But not before witnessing what it meant to have such forces duke it out. The battle was nothing short of apocalyptic. And Luca thought that they were so lucky they didn’t attempt to fight against the tree like this. It’s not that it was impossible to win. But at what cost? And how would they be able to fight what’s in the labyrinth when the gate alone would take most of their resources? They watched in combined horror and awe as the liquid-soaked deathworms breached the edge of the grasslands, instantly attracting the tree’s ire. Thick, living roots erupted from the ground, thrashing like giant whips, trying to seize and destroy the new invaders. One deathworm met the roots head-on, spiraling upward like a coiled spring and latching its fanged maw onto a twisting root. Ollie recoiled every time it happened and clutched Kyle’s top tighter as the adjutant asked him if he still wanted something to watch. But the mop was courageous. Provided he was going to stay inside like this. Then he gasped and almost plastered his face against the viewing panel as another worm tunneled beneath, only to burst out to rip at the gnarled understructure of the great tree’s defenses. For a moment, the entire world seemed to tilt under the force of the clash—apex predators against apex flora. The ground shuddered and cracked. Roots lashed and coiled, trying to entangle the worms. But the worms fought viciously—striking, burrowing, and latching onto anything that moved. From their vantage point, it was like watching two behemoth forces wrestle for dominance, land and sky splintering under the chaos. And they would’ve been a part of it had they not been hovering with their mechas. Duchess Amelia realized that they would’ve likely died if they didn’t have mechas for this. Although they might have not needed to see this if she had just managed to kill that boss before these guys got sucked in, but that was a what if. This was their current reality. And right now they were biding for the right moment. Despite the worms’ ferocity, the tree felt like an ancient monster in its own right. Its roots shifted, adapted, and even corroded the sprayed deathworms faster than expected. The worms fought valiantly, but they were starting to fall. And maybe it was also because they only allowed for a handful of worms to leave the barren lands in case it ended up spiraling out of their control. So, one by one, they buckled, broke, or burrowed away under the relentless assault of the tree’s defenses. But that was fine. They weren’t going out to kill this tree. They were out here to create a moment. And now they had it. They noticed it earlier, the tree’s increased defense system had a pattern. Every time the worms attacked aggressively, the tree tightened its defenses—the roots locking down the openings leading deeper underground, creating an iron fortress around its base. But— Whenever the tree lifted its major roots to counterattack, a tiny gap would open. It was a small, flickering window. But that was all they needed. For that window led to the exposed entrance to the labyrinth hidden beneath the ancient trunk. And now, that narrow gap—their one hope—was right there. Open for just a breath. "Now!" Duchess Amelia’s voice cracked over the comms. Thrusters flared to life as the team launched into motion, weaving between thrashing roots and flying debris with desperate precision. The opening was small, dangerously small, and Ollie had to brace himself against the console as he watched everyone maneuver towards the entrance with such skill that it made him breathless. "!!!" He was going to learn how to improve maneuverability. He swore it to his ancestors as he clutched his heart to make sure it stayed in place. They were close, and everyone’s hearts thudded loudly as they rushed forward. Luca, flying point with D-29, didn’t falter even when the moonlighting mecha wanted to shut down in distress. And everyone surged continuously after them, diving into the spiraling maw of cracked stone and twisted roots. Ollie squeezed his eyes shut just as Kyle’s mech barreled through the final, splintering gap, narrowly dodging a root that snapped shut just inches behind them. They cleared it, and the blonde almost wilted in relief. But just as Gisella and Cece shot forward in formation, a massive root lunged downward, catching Gisella’s mecha by the leg, halting her in midair with a vicious snap. "NOOOO!" Ollie screamed again, suddenly jolting up from his slumped position. But the experienced soldier twisted sharply, thrusters flaring, managing to wrench free from the grasping tendrils. But the escape cost them. The sudden shift in movement triggered a violent response. The tree sensed it immediately. Intruders were getting too close. And the roots around the entrance began to knit together, like the snapping jaws of a trap. The opening was shrinking. Too fast for anyone’s liking and definitely too fast for Gisella and Cece, who were slowed down by that encounter. They wouldn’t be able to clear the narrowing gap. Duchess Amelia was going to lunge forward in an attempt to open the closing entrance forcefully, but before she even got there, something burst outward from the side. It was Xavier. Ice shot out from his mecha. And the concentrated blast of spiritual frost slammed into the closing breach, freezing the entrance walls mid-motion. For a breathless few seconds, the tendrils stiffened, crystallizing in place. And it was enough for the mecha carrying Gisella and Cece to tumble forward, scraping through the frozen, cracking gap just as the roots groaned under the strain. They managed to slip inside just before the ice shattered, and the entrance slammed shut behind them with a thunderous crack. The ground above rumbled, sealing the way back. But it didn’t matter. They had no plans of coming back anyway. Not until they were done with this one.

Chapter 334: Rush

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