Chương 867: Deadly Petal's Thoughts.

While Liu Shu's presence became more known and prevalent, the war with the Nexus and Covenant continued. In Namue's case, he had desired to retreat when the Arboreal Winged Serpents, Ignatia, and Flor began their fight. During that one minute of pure destruction, Namue had truly felt that retreating was the only option. However, he noticed the shift in momentum after that one minute passed. The previous army, which felt like it could trample their troops like mud, lost an incredible amount of strength.

The shift was not only felt by Namue, but the impact of the first clash already weighed on them tremendously. Namue was an intelligent person, though. This intelligence came biting back this time.

'Was that a momentary burst to make us feel fear? If they had the ability to use this kind of strength, the Nexus's side wouldn't have lasted for as long as it has.' Because they used the <Faith Blessing> as a first contact skill, Namue's perception was warped.

'Right. There is no way something like this can happen often. The Golden Sap Empire must've used it to scare us and make us retreat. Their objective is most likely to continue dealing with the Nexus for as long as possible and reduce strain, sending more people our way.' Unlike the Nexus's army, the Covenant's army was fresh and ready to fight. Their joining would create a catastrophic effect… Or so Namue believed.

While he was not completely wrong, his guess would've only become true if the Covenant had intervened when Deadly Petal arrived. Back then, Liu Shu was still facing the Nexus's offensive and had not unleashed her trump cards. Therefore, the Nexus's army was fresh and mostly intact. Adding the strain of the Covenant's army on top of Deadly Petal would've stretched Liu Shu thin, even if she began using those trump cards. Now that the Nexus was retreating, it was a step too late. Still, this was not due to luck.

Liu Shu had manipulated the Covenant back then precisely because she knew about it. It was a calculated move that didn't leave much to chance. The only variable back then would've been Deadly Petal acting on a whim, but even that had a very low probability of happening. After all, Deadly Petal had just arrived and needed a bit of time to anchor herself and begin her offensive. Namue glanced at the battlefield while giving out orders.

"Retreat for now. However, do not do a full retreat. What we want is for our army to separate and cut their momentum. Move toward Deadly Petal so that we can use the battlefield between World Trees to get a short moment of peace." He couldn't just retreat without trying, right? The enemy being strong was not an excuse for an army to retreat, unless the other side was despairingly strong. His commands were logical from someone in his standpoint.

Sadly, beyond logical, they were somewhat tragic commands that fell straight into the traps Liu Shu had meticulously set. Liu Shu noticed their movements and chuckled.

"See? I told you we had to move the battlefield." Deadly Petal was somewhat silent.

"... Those serpents. Are they summons?"

"Yes, they are." Deadly Petal was confused. She also had a skill to summon creatures. However, the strength of her summoning skill was pitifully low. It was a skill named <Petal Portal (C+ Tier)>. The summons she could call through it were naturally far too weak.

"Hm… Perhaps I should've focused on the summoning skill a bit more." Even when Deadly Petal's main attribute was <Physique>, her <Anima> and <Willpower> were not that low. Her <Physique> was at the S- Tier, while the other two stood at A and A- Tier respectively. It was an incredibly respectable Tier spread. Liu Shu answered with a chuckle.

"Summons are nice. However, using them as cannon fodder is not something I do. That's why I've focused and developed my skill in the quality over quantity spectrum." Deadly Petal hummed, her roots sweeping powerfully as she tried to cut and destroy one of Liu Shu's rather thick roots.

"I can't really relate. Wouldn't an endless source of fighters be best? Even if they die, they will be fulfilling their roles." As mentioned many times, Death was not a sad event for World Trees. It was part of the cycle, and something to be accepted as natural. Whether a creature died sooner or later didn't really make a World Tree's heart feel sadness. At most, they would feel a touch of pity for young lives that go before their time comes. Nothing more.

This attitude was not because they lacked feelings, but because a World Tree that constantly observed billions of living beings was far too accustomed to both the atrocities and kindness of the Intelligent Species. In the same second, a World Tree would be able to see someone forcing themselves on another, and a child giving a vagrant a sandwich to share. Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site.

So, if World Trees reacted to every death, their minds would collapse in a matter of days. Liu Shu was not much different in this regard. She did intervene from time to time if she came across something far too atrocious. Nevertheless, for other types of crimes, Liu Shu just took the spectator position. The only time Liu Shu truly involved herself was with her direct family. Meaning, first-generation children, lovers, and her elders. As for the rest…

Liu Shu's bloodline had already expanded to tens of thousands, if not more, through reproduction. Her first-generation children already number over 300, not to mention second-, third-, fourth-, fifth-, and even sixth-generation great-grandchildren. Even if you took that on average, each child had around 3 children, the numbers would go out of hand quickly. 300 turned into 900, then 2, 700, 8, 100, 24, 300… I digress. Liu Shu looked at Deadly Petal and spoke.

"Say, Deadly Petal, have you still not noticed how outclassed you are?"

"I have." Deadly Petal was a World Tree. Her ability to perceive essence and evaluate strength was hundreds of times more delicate than any humanoid.

"Even then, it's not like I can escape." She had already attacked Liu Shu. Clearly, the other side would retaliate and come find her. A World Tree could only choose to advance and retreat, never escape. As stationary beings, they did not have such a privilege. Liu Shu glanced at the Deadly Petal roots and sighed gently. She knew what Deadly Petal must be feeling. Liu Shu had faced in the past World Trees that outclassed her.

The one that left the largest mark was the Corrupt World Tree she faced arrogantly and almost took her over. If it weren't for Wisdom's forceful <Sylvan Quest> back then, which encouraged others to participate, Liu Shu's fate would've been uncertain. It was true that, once a World Tree jumped the gun, it was like an arrow leaving the bow. You either flew forward and struck the target, or you missed and then asked for forgiveness. Even when she sympathized, Liu Shu could not stop her tactics.

Luring the Covenant deeper was something that had to be done. So, with a pulse of her energy, Liu Shu used <Aetherlord's Elemental Catastrophe> and unleashed several darkness catastrophes. She even used Eternity Strand to maintain their effects for a long time. This caused a massive curtain of darkness to descend and separate the Covenant army and her own. That was a clue that Flor and the others took quickly.

Without a single touch of reluctance, Flor and the others retreated back to their starships, intending to move deeper into the dense structure asteroid forest behind them. Namue was at first startled by the massive <Darkness Catastrophe> that covered thousands of kilometers, blocking their view and even their sensors.

"Commander, order everyone to avoid the darkness clouds. Their corrosion and devouring properties are terrifyingly strong." Namue didn't hesitate and then waited.

'... They didn't pursue further when we began slowing down. My previous guess must be correct.' He clicked his tongue.

'I've been got. I became far too scared. If, instead, we pushed and surrounded them after that one initial minute passed, I might've been able to wipe out the enemy army. Instead, we lost several tens of millions and ended up letting them flee.' Namue falling into such a basic ambush tactic caused him to feel a touch irritated. Nevertheless, he quickly composed himself.

"Prepare to continue the advancement." Deadly Petal glanced at that curtain of darkness in silence. What would've happened if Liu Shu had used that attack to target her roots instead of the army?

'Pure destruction.' She was honest and didn't shy away from truths.

"Is that type of attack difficult to do?" Liu Shu glanced over. The amount of Star Essence was over 1, 000. Moreover, she also used a few dozen <Eternity Strands> she had in reserve.

"Hm… So-so? It's not something I can do at will, but repeating it is not much of a problem if you give me a bit of time." Deadly Petal sighed.

"You are powerful." They were not empty words. Deadly Petal had already accepted that Liu Shu completely outclassed her as a World Tree. Deadly Petal, as a Level 260 World Tree, was supposed to be slightly superior to Level 250 Liu Shu. Of course, ten levels meant little at their rank, but it was not negligible. Now, Deadly Petal discarded such preconceptions.

'She feels like a mini Balaya.' It was absurd to think that. After all, Balaya was a bona fide Level 300+ super World Tree. Her presence made it so the Covenant could stand proud and continue to expand even in an area where other Globular Star Cluster Empires shared frontlines with her. Truth be told, <Fourth Ascension> powerhouses were not something that Globular Star Cluster Civilizations possessed. Not even their leaders. Those beings began appearing in Nebula Class Empires, and very rarely at that.

Moreover, they concentrated toward the center of the Galaxy. So, finding someone who had reached Level 400 in their area was impossible. Only hidden hermits who were uninterested in power might appear very, very rarely. Therefore, Balaya was considered a top-tier World Tree even among Globular Star Cluster and Nebula Empire powers. The only thing limiting Balaya was the Nexus's constant assaults and "young age."

A World Tree that barely spread her roots to over 200 Solar Systems was considered young in the true scale of the interstellar environment. So, Balaya and Globular Star Cluster, which dominated thousands of Solar Systems, differed in age, not strength. Deadly Petal muttered to herself.

'Liu Shu's roots are far too short, though. She can't really draw out the true strength of her powers.' If you placed two Liu Shus with identical stats, one dominating ten Solar Systems and another one thousand, the second one would be able to completely crush the former. Even with exactly the same stats. Liu Shu had come to learn that during this war, she felt stifled when using her overflowing power. She had the power to release a bomb but was stuck using firecrackers.

Glancing at Liu Shu's roots, which defended her assaults "with difficulty," Deadly Petal sighed.

'What a strange World Tree.'