Ascension of the Sylvan Cosmos.

Chapter 236. Enemy Intentions. Liu Shu’s Stunning Display of Strength.

Meanwhile, the other 10,000-person army advanced until they were at the edge of Fortuna's root net. Eila shared with them until where it reached, so they had no problem setting things up. 

Elowen, the leader of this army, looked behind her and spoke aloud. "We are not the main attack. Our objective is to take their attention away from Sirol City and harass them. If they don't take the bait, they will send people to Sirol City, allowing us to make a more effective attack." 

Looking at the sky, Elowen turned around and marched forward. "Follow me."

The ten thousand people walked forward toward the area between Mareful City and Golden Sap City. Naturally, the second they stepped into Liu Shu's domain, the World Tree instantly felt their presence. 

Liu Shu was thinking about other things a few moments ago. 'Hm… In the end, the group in that cave just left after two more days. No one talked about anything, which is very strange… I wonder what they are planning.' Then, she felt the army and instantly became alert. 'Huh? Who is coming?'

Looking over, she quickly sent a message to Flor. "I spotted an army marching in our direction. Their numbers are around 10,000. Perhaps a few more." 

Flor nodded and quickly sent a message to everyone. They used flying beasts to send messages between cities, which was a relatively reliable way of doing so between allied cities with secured path routes. If that was not the case, there were other long-range communication methods fueled by <Lir>. As a reminder, <Lir> and the other currency had value due to the ore's ability to gather energy.

After the messages flew off, Flor flew to the Town Hall's canopy and moved a bell that was hanging between two large branches. 

DONG~! DONG~! DONG~!

The sound spread around the town, warning the inhabitants that there was a significant threat outside the walls. The sound was penetrating enough to spread into the Golden Sap Forest, alarming the Explorers inside. 

People in the city couldn't help but feel somewhat anxious. This was the first time this bell was hit. Some people didn't even know what it meant and looked around, confused as to why some people had become apprehensive. 

"Hey, is there someone who knows what this bell means?"

A young man spoke aloud. "Haven't you read the rules? This bell means that there is a threat outside the walls big enough to endanger all people roaming the surroundings! If you know anyone who's outside, try to communicate with them and tell them to come back.

Flor flew outside and saw that, besides some panicked people who were under control, most were moving as she had planned. Some Rose Fairies she had trained in the past for exactly his situation were acting as practiced, guiding everyone to their rooms. 

Kael and Thalia walked out of their rooms and looked up, spotting Flor hovering while looking at the surroundings. Kael shouted. "Flor! Is it time?"

Flor flew over and nodded. "Ten thousand or so, according to Liu Shu. The number of <Second Energy Cycle> people is around 25. We'll be done preparing our side in twenty minutes at most. How about yours?"

Kael nodded. "We'll be there in time. As we promised, each of us commands 500 people with five <Second Energy Cycle> leaders, including us."

Flor nodded and flew off to warn the other groups. This time around, she made sure that the Myconids, who always went to battle with them, didn't send vulnerable populations.

Looking at the Myconid leader, Flor smiled and asked. "Ready to fight once more?"

The Myconid leader, Thallus, smiled and nodded. "It is always a pleasure. Our race is happier than ever living in prosperity, and we will not stay put if someone attacks us."

Flor nodded and reminded him. "I don't want to see Myconids under Level 15 on the battlefield and neither those who are suffering from some kind of combat disability, am I clear?"

Thallus nodded and spoke slowly. "I will try to convince them not to come."

Flor's eyebrow trembled. "Don't try, do it!" 

Then, she flew away and arrived at the Rose Fairy gathering place. "Amapola, how is everything going?"

Amapola looked at Flor and pointed with her chin in front of her. Flor looked and saw 200 fully armed Rose Fairies, all sharing the same armor and more than ready to battle. While 200 didn't sound like much, they were a slippery group that could release ranged attacks from the forest cover while being basically unseen.

Flor looked at the armors and asked with a pleasant surprise. "Oh? Liu Shu finished all of them?"

Amapola smiled. "She did. She even created an extra powerful one for me. It is similar to the one you are wearing but more focused on melee combat. She used Eric to buy the resources for it from our coffers."

Flor rolled her eyes. "Tell me about these expenses the next time, Liu Shu."

"Eric knows~. If he didn't tell you, it is not my problem." Liu Shu spoke to them. "I hope you all come back alive. Those armors were expensive to make!"

Flor smiled and asked. "What about the rest of the combat-ready Rose Fairies?"

Amapola commented. "I've decided to leave them back here. This group with the <Canopy Rose Huntress Armor> is much more suited to go outside. Adding others will be counterproductive."

Flor looked at the stats and couldn't help but pause. "This <Huntress Array> skill is very powerful. The more of them are together, the more their innate qualities and stats increase. Wouldn't it be possible for them to flee from <Second Energy Cycle> powerhouses with this armor?"

"That's the plan." Amapola smiled and explained. "With this armor, while their offensive power hasn't really increased much, their speed and ability to use the forest as a cover has basically bloomed."

Flor patted her shoulder. "I'll give you complete autonomy with them. Try not to get anyone killed. I'll lead the remaining 250 combat-ready Rose Fairies."

"Understood."

After 20 minutes, Flor arrived at the wall and asked. "Liu Shu, what's the situation with the enemy army?"

Liu Shu answered slowly. "Well, they have marched in a strange pattern. Instead of a straight line, they move in an "S" pattern. I guess they are doing this to confuse us since we can't really go out and catch them outside." 

Flor hummed. "It sounds quite silly, but are they trying to keep us guessing whether they are coming at us or Mareful City?"

Liu Shu answered, somewhat confused. "That's what I think. But it is still strange… Hm… It feels as if they are not committing to the charge. While the distance between us is not small, they should be able to cross it in two hours or so, around four if they want to reach Mareful City. But with their current pattern, their pace is half as fast."

Flor tilted her head and looked to the side. "What do you think?"

She was naturally not alone on the wall; Kael, Thalia, Cinderielle, Verdantia, Tempestria, Amapola, Wert, Mariane, and the rest were there with her.

Kael asked. "Who is the one leading the army?"

Liu Shu hummed. "A brown-haired woman with a white dress and clear apricot eyes. She is quite elegant." 

Thalia raised her eyebrows. "Sect Master Elowen?"

Kael frowned. "It seems like so. I wonder if Sect Master Lyra and Sect Master Folter will also be participating."

Thalia rubbed her chin. "This is dangerous. While they are not Level 30, their strength is quite fearsome. I can probably only hold them back for a while before I am defeated. How about you, Kael?"

Kael crossed his muscular arms and commented. "While I'd love to brag here, I am similar to you. They are not the Sect Masters without a reason." 

Flor sighed. "So, we should take into account that three people with a similar threat to Eila have joined the battle?"

Thalia nodded. "That would be prudent. You should send a letter to inform Dalia and Taro."

Kael sighed. "If we knew that their Sect Masters would be participating, we might've been able to convince ours to participate as well. Now it is too late."

Thalia shook her head. "Don't blame anyone. We don't really have the means to gather information from the other camp. However, this shows that they are quite serious in this matter. Did we undervalue Forutna's importance to them, or did we underestimate how much of a threat Liu Shu is to them?"

Tempestria spoke. "We should leave the speculations for later, Lady Thalia, Lord Kael. With them in the lead, where do you think the rest of their army is?"

Kael looked at Amapola and smiled. "It seems that the new Rose Fairy Queen has saved us quite a lot of headaches." 

Thalia laughed. "Indeed. Flor, send an instant message to Taro and Delia. Tell them that Delia should send her army to reinforce Sirol City, leaving behind enough to defend against the 10,000-strong army."

Flor nodded and turned around, picking a Rune Array that four Rose Fairies carried behind her. Placing 2,000 <Lir> worth of currency, she activated it and started to talk about what they discovered. Each second she spoke was an extra 200 <Lir>, so she tried to be brief without omitting details. 

After a while, Flor received a message back from Delia and Taro. 

"Understood."

Liu Shu continued observing the army for two more hours, and everyone waited for their decision. Would they take the road to attack Mareful City, or would they turn and come at them from the northwest?

Liu Shu got her answer shortly after from Elowen's order. "Move south! We are going to cleave through into the heart of the Golden Sap Forest!"

Liu Shu warned them. "They are coming at us."

Everyone was about to nod when a terrifying wave of energy hit them from behind, pulsing from the very core of the World Tree.

Looking behind, they saw five green pillars of light soaring upward, piercing into the space above and summoning five creatures. The five <Arboreal Winged Serpents> that Liu Shu summoned were different from before, as all of them had terrifyingly deep auras. 

Thalia's eyes widened, and she stuttered. "D-Did Liu Shu just summon five <Second Energy Cycle> creatures?"

Flor chuckled. "Well, our big girl is quite an expert summoner, among many things. Also…" Flor pointed at Liu Shu's trunk and commented. "They are six. You forgot one of them." 

Thalia's eyebrow trembled. 'Crazy.'

The five <Arboreal Winged Serpents> flew around Liu Shu, and the one that covered Liu Shu's body also flew upward, joining them in a squad of six. 

A few men whistled, looking at Liu Shu's body, but that was a big mistake as they received a beating from their friends right after. 

"What are you doing lusting after Lady World Tree!"

"If you can avoid it, don't look! Lady Liu Shu is going naked to protect us. Have some self-respect!"

A certain three Sylvans at the side started leaking killing intent, but before they acted upon their dark desires, the serpents landed by their side. 

BOOM!

The wall trembled as the six gigantic winged serpents landed on the wall and looked over with cold looks. Everyone who had been lusting over Liu Shu instantly lost their mood as a chill of pure fear invaded their bodies. 'T-Terrifying.'

Kael looked at them with a severe expression and asked Wert. "Hey… Do you feel that you can defeat even one of them?"

Wert's lips twitched. "In a pure one against one? I feel that I would win three out of every ten fights, four if I am being optimistic. And if the fight is to the death… perhaps less. These snakes become stronger too fast for this old man to keep up." 

Kael muttered. "Incredible… I heard that World Trees with summoning abilities are one of the most terrifying, but this is my first time confirming it…"