Chapter 938. Corrupted World Trees and Contact With a Developed Voswot.

Chapter 938: Chapter 938. Corrupted World Trees and Contact With a Developed Voswot.

Liu Shu was 380 this year, and she finally managed to accumulate enough Experience Points to reach Level 290 on the dot. Without proper wars, Liu Shu’s experience gain was incredibly slow. Before, she could jump <Energy Cycles> and such, but now, things were slowing down tremendously.

For instance, to go from Level 280 to Level 290, Liu Shu had used almost 1,000,000,000 Experience Points.

One billion.

It was a number that made Liu Shu wonder how her lovers and many others were advancing so fast. The answer was rather easy, though. Liu Shu’s <Dungeons> were that much of a cheat.

They could go through mini war arcs, which helped them kill plenty of entities near their level. While many of them gave few Experience Points—just a few dozen—the number they killed was in the thousands.

So, filling the Experience Point requirement wasn’t much of a problem.

Speaking of Leveling Up, almost all the World Trees like Warlya and the others had already finished their <Second Ascension> and were Leveling Up at a relatively rapid pace. For a World Tree, at least, they would probably manage to reach the mid-200s in just a few decades. As for higher levels... Liu Shu was wondering if she should develop a World Tree-only <Dungeon>.

"...Is that even possible?"

Because she was the owner of the <Dungeon System>, entering her own <Dungeons> was not a problem. The issue started when Liu Shu wanted to use her own <Dungeon> to gain Experience Points.

The <Dungeon System> had repeatedly warned that doing so would cause a complete balance break in its systems, among many other problems. Because they were linked to some extent, and for many other reasons, she couldn’t clear her own <Dungeons>.

[Dungeon System: You can create a <Dungeon> that lets part of a World Tree enter. However, adding the <Atemporal> quality to those will be impossible. Not to mention, a World Tree will enter with its roots and not its main body. Therefore, that breaks the balance of <Dungeon> nature.]

"But there is a solution. An open <Dungeon>."

[Dungeon System: Yes. You can create a hunting zone. However, the creatures inside must be able to hurt World Trees. Otherwise, they won’t be qualified to enter the <Dungeon>.]

After creating so many of them, Liu Shu knew what the Dungeon System was talking about. "Difficulty ratings."

A <Dungeon>’s difficulty was always ranked between two of the following difficulties.

Difficulties: Sproutling, Easy, Normal, Thornbound, Hard, Sylvan Crucible, World Heart Epic, Corrupt Nightmare, and World Tree Withering difficulties

So, if a World Tree tried to enter a <Dungeon> with no real danger of dying, the Difficulty was "Sproutling" every single time.

"I have never really created a <Dungeon> with Sproutling difficulty. Couldn’t I just do that?"

[Dungeon System: You have no available <Feat> or <Dungeon> that could be transformed into one with the minimum of <Sproutling> difficulty. For instance, <Dungeons> with the lowest difficulty are rarer than <Dungeons> with the <World Tree Withering> difficulty rating.]

"..."

Liu Shu followed the logic and soon understood. "Ah. To have the lowest difficulty, I must create a well-known feat that counts as an achievement, yet I managed it so easily that even if I had stayed still, it would’ve resolved itself. That’s the only way to have something easier than the "easy" difficulty, right? For example, if I participated in the Hive Conquest, and the Hive suddenly began destroying itself because of my presence. Something like that, right?"

[Dungeon System: Not exactly as you said, but it is close enough.]

Liu Shu groaned. ’So, the problem is that I must create a <Dungeon> available for all World Trees across my domain and that has the ability to hurt and even kill them if they fail.’

When she designed <Dungeons>, she did so knowing that people would die in them. It was inevitable, and as a World Tree, she understood and accepted the consequences. The relationship was a give-and-take.

Some of her generals, good ones she admired, died in the past within the <Dungeons> and saddened many people.

However, what would happen if a World Tree died within one of these <Dungeons>? Would it be acceptable?

It wasn’t.

A World Tree wasn’t a living being that could reproduce its species. Their species was unique in that regard, as were the Life Trees. They were the only two species that relied on absorbing Experience and growing stronger to survive.

A one-chance at either making it big or being assimilated back into nature.

Mutations of nature caused certain tree species to become embodiments of either Life or Nature. The other side of the coin, the part that embodied Death or Corruption, was also them: Corrupted World Trees and Death Trees.

So even an "easy" <Dungeon>, which had to risk death to be labeled as such, was a gamble Liu Shu wasn’t ready to take. ’The <Dungeon> needs to "win" from time to time, or it will naturally collapse. So, while the short-term benefits are big, what in 1,000 years? What if a World Tree dies each century? Or, what if none die and I lose several dungeon slots I could’ve used to otherwise create a much better one for the Intelligent Species?’

A lose-lose situation.

In the short run, it would surge her levels.

In the long run, it could cause countless World Trees that would’ve otherwise grown on their own to become powerful and influential individuals to die. Or they would just collapse because no World Tree or Life Tree died inside.

Liu Shu sighed. "...Difficult. I think I will have to shelve the World Tree Dungeon for now and come back to it later when I am desperate or have a better idea."

"Alright... The border is now much more active than before."

Glancing over, she went to speak with the general in charge, only to find Arlyn, the First Generation Sylvan daughter born from Tempestria, standing on the front lines. ’Hm... Wait. What’s her Level? Level... 292!? She has outleveled me!?’

Her grey hair waved behind her, and her purple eyes shone with strength. Scanning the battlefield before her, filled with a few <Astraelis> charging at them with maddened looks, she spread her arms.

"<Tempestuous Root Chaotic Vortex (S+ Rank)>."

The single thick lock of iridescent hair glowed amid her long grey hair as her Life and Wind Aether Mana kicked into gear. The void before Arlyn was suddenly dominated by green, colored with iridescent tones. The winds didn’t just rush forward; they spread like roots, entangling over 30 mountain-sized <Astraelis>.

Then, with a powerful clench of her fist, Arlyn burst the massive wind roots, unleashing a terrifying, silent explosion of razor-sharp wind that butchered those creatures. Liu Shu was swooning.

’Oh my Heavens! My little girl is so cool! No wonder Warlya was snatched by her, hehehehehe.’

While Liu Shu called her "Little Girl," the First Generation Sylvans were already 296 years old, four years away from having their three-century-old birthday.

Liu Shu waited for Arlyn to finish cleaning up the battlefield before she spoke up in a serious tone. After all, Arlyn was here not as her daughter, but as a well-respected general. "General Arlyn."

Arlyn’s eyes flashed, understanding Liu Shu’s tone, and answered in kind. "Yes, Lady Heavenly Willow?"

"Do you have a report to give me about this situation?"

Arlyn reached into the void and pulled out a stack of papers. After reaching Level 100+, creating a small pocket dimension to store valuables was not too difficult. "Here, Lady Heavenly Willow. I will give some comments while Lady Heavenly Willow digests the information."

Liu Shu’s root chomped on the documents, and she listened to Arlyn’s words. "We’ve arrived at a nearby Solar System, but we didn’t land. We sent some non-piloted crafts, though. The population in these worlds has become food for the Hive Species, and there are massive, nest-like structures and growths of many kinds. I think that any Solar System that doesn’t belong to a power with a <Second Ascension> power has been taken over in this stellar sector."

Sarlos, or more precisely, those he left in charge before leaving, continued trading with the Golden Sap Empire even in his absence. So, Liu Shu had long consumed a Star Map for this area.

’There are over 5,000 Star Systems in this direction, though. The map doesn’t go to the galaxy’s outer rim because stars become too sparse. Still, that’s what I counted before the map cut off. Moreover, this is not the direction of the Hive. Just... how massive is it?’

It was no wonder even six Transitional Globular Star Cluster Civilizations had trouble with it. This Hive had probably taken over enough Solar Systems to be called a Nebula Rank Empire. That was over 100,000 Solar Systems.

Suddenly, Liu Shu’s slightly over 100 didn’t seem like much. ’Don’t use comparisons.’

Liu Shu quickly caught herself, though. Her Empire didn’t have more Solar Systems because they didn’t want to conquer them yet. With Stella and her new Starships, they were fortifying the slightly over 100 they had just invaded.

Moreover, before having true <Third Ascension> individuals, Liu Shu didn’t dare to let go of the brakes.

Glancing at the <Astraelis> corpses, Liu Shu cautiously approached with one of her roots. When she approached, Liu Shu sharpened her senses and noticed something shooting from the <Astraelis> corpse and trying to burrow into her root.

The small creature shot forward with speed that even <Second Ascension> powerhouses would have a hard time following.

"<Stop Domain>."

For Liu Shu, though, it was not a problem. The creature stopped in its tracks, and Liu Shu frowned. "Ugly little thing."

Its form resembled a worm, but with two clawed tentacles and a lamprey mouth. It was fully black, with faint starlight, almost imperceptible in the void. It could’ve floated right in front of you, standing still, and anyone without the ability to sense hidden Aether Mana would’ve failed to see it.

"What are you even?"

Even though <Stop Domain> only lasted for a bit over 10 seconds, it was more than enough for Liu Shu to open its System Page and scan it in depth.

***

Name: ---

Titles:

<Parasite>

<Silent Parasitism>

<Innate Stealth>

<Hive Brain>

<Overlevel Parasitism>

<Speed>

Race: Developed Swift Starback Voswot (Super Rare)

***

Rarity: Common, Uncommon, Rare, Super Rare, Ultra Rare, Legendary, Mythical, World, Core, Star, Galactic...

Age: Sapling/Infant, Juvenile, Young, Blooming/Developed, Primeval, Mature, Elder, Ancient.

***

Energy Method: Advanced Voswot Parasite Feeding

Level: 202

Aether Mana Stars: 1.77/1.77 (177,000) (177,000,000)

Phoer Body Cores: 1.77/1.77 (177,000) (177,000,000)

Anima Energy Cores: 1.77/1.77 (177,000) (177,000,000)

Attributes: Aether 177,000 / Physique 177,000 / Anima 177,000 / Willpower 7,700 / Destiny 177

Resistance Percentage: Aether Resistance (25), Physique Resistance (25), Spiritual Resistance (80), Mental Resistance (80)

Tier Stars:

Overall Stars: 12 (B- Tier)

Talents:

<Silent Dash (A+ Rank)>

<Barrier Pierce (B Rank)>

<Feeding Reproduction (C+ Rank)>

Passive Skills:

<Perception-Poisoning Skin (A- Rank)>

<Mind Eating Saliva (B- Rank)>

<Quick Digestion (D- Rank)>

<Space Survival (D- Rank)>

***

Liu Shu was stunned. ’One A+ Rank <Talent> and one A- Rank <Passive Skill>? This little thing?’

The numbers were awful for something of its level. Almost anyone above Level 150 could squish this thing with a single strike before it became a threat. Its resistances weren’t even as good as Liu Shu’s when she was Level 1 in some regards!

It was that squishy, even for a Level 202 being.

That wasn’t the problem, though. That <System Page> gave Liu Shu chills, to be honest. This was supposed to be a "worker ant" class creature, yet its threat level was beyond what she could imagine.

With swift motions, Liu Shu used <Force Essence Manipulation> to alter the creature’s physics and capture it. She then helped search for a few other living ones and found that, thankfully, the one that jumped her was strong in comparison.

Most of the time, while the skills were similar, their rarity ranged from common to rare, and their skills didn’t exceed B+ Rank.

Still dangerous, still scary, but not as bad as Liu Shu had momentarily feared. ’This isn’t our first contact, but is this the first time we see the parasite inside not die with the host?’

This meant that higher-level creatures from the Hive were approaching, and that wasn’t good news. "No one approaches until I am done searching. General Arlyn, even after fighting and while getting rid of these <Astraelis>, you must make sure to have a shielding artifact with you. Spread the word."

"Yes, Lady Heavenly Willow."

Liu Shu didn’t tell her, but she was about to thoroughly check everyone who had been involved with the <Astraelis> up to now. ’If there were others like this, they might’ve entered others without their knowledge.’