Ascension of the Sylvan Cosmos

Chapter 28. Thornstride Attack!

After Flor made her way back, her Aether Mana had been consumed by around a tenth. While carrying the four books with her Aether Mana wasn't much effort, the journey back was long, and the books were somewhat heavy.

'I hope this helps.'

She was a bit doubtful. After all, her knowledge of World Trees was very limited. 'Ah!'

Flor almost smacked herself. 'I should've asked for books about how to take care of World Trees!'

While it wasn't necessary, as World Trees were more than capable of taking care of themselves, as with everything, a bit of assistance wouldn't hurt anybody, moreover, knowing more about them would help the Rose Fairies understand their main needs and valuable facts.

Flor smiled. 'Well, I now know what to ask Verdantia for.'

As she approached the groove where Liu Shu was, Flor heard battle sounds, making her face change from relaxed to wrathful. "I was gone for a day, and they think they can step on my territory as they please!?"

Let's turn back the clock an hour.

For the Rose Fairies, it was a typical day. They took care of Liu Shu the best they could, collecting the fruits growing on her branches and looking around the area for threats.

Aster was patrolling with a bored look on her face. "When we were in the other home, we didn't need to patrol so much. Why has it become a routine now?"

A Level 7 Rose Fairy by her side commented with a stutter. "W-Well, Liu Shu is weaker and also more important than that tree. It is normal for us to be more careful, no?"

Aster snorted. "Do you think I don't know that? I was complaining just because!"

The other fairy smiled wryly. "I see-"

BANG!

Aster's face changed to incredulous as a massive rock hit the other fairy and sent her flying backward without control. "WHO DARES!?"

Before anything, Aster quickly turned around to save the other Rose Fairy, but from the shrubs, two Level 7 Thornstride appeared and jumped up, opening their mouths and chomping down on her.

Their sharp fangs dropped like guillotines, deeply sinking into the body of the Level 7 Rose Fairy.

Aster saw the Fairy's Phoer Body Shards plummet to zero as their fangs pierced through the fairy's body, signifying her death.

With her face twisted in anger, she shouted. "YOU ARE GOING TO PAY FOR THIS!"

As soon as she was about to rush forward and fight the two Level 7s, two Level 8 Thornstride appeared from the side, stopping her in her tracks. The four of them looked at her with an unmistakable sneer as one of the Level 7 Thornstrides began eating the Rose Fairy.

Even if she had the advantage of flying, a four-against-one was not a favorable situation. While Aster was impulsive, she was not brainless enough to go against them. 'This disgusting tree eaters! ARGH!'

Aster quickly turned around and returned to the place where Liu Shu was, shouting after she arrived. "We are being attacked! Prepare!"

All the Rose Fairies stopped what they were doing, and everyone at Level 6 and above moved at once toward the defensive positions.

In the place where Liu Shu was located, there were three paths leading into the area, with natural barriers that stopped people from approaching as they pleased.

In the first place, a weak tree like she was before absorbing that leaf had no business surviving for too long. It was just a coincidence that Liu Shu was born in a relatively isolated place. It was also a coincidence created by the random skill she gained that she would later absorb the leaf that allowed her to become a World Tree.