Chapter 54: The Treant’s Fall

The Treant’s Fall

Only such a powerful beast-soul master could make a beast-girl of this caliber submit willingly.

"So what do we do now?" one of them frowned.

"Should we go check it out?"

"Check it out my ass. Those heirs are notoriously temperamental. Cross them, and you’ll be in for a world of pain."

"True. We’re just provincial education officials, overseeing the exams in Aurelia City and the surrounding areas."

"There’s no need to get involved in this!!"

"Exactly. They can play however they want—as long as they don’t sink Aurelia City in the process."

"Right, right. Let’s get out of here."

"Let’s go, let’s go. I’m afraid those big shots might be watching us from the shadows!"

Soon, the group scattered.

Trembling with unease.

*Better to stay away,* the old man thought.

*These heirs are dangerous.*

*Unpredictable.*

*They have no qualms about killing.*

*And no one can touch them.*

*I’ve seen it before.*

*I’ve seen what happens to those who interfere.*

*I won’t make that mistake.*

---

On the other side of the Ancient Tree Labyrinth, Liam watched his cousin’s dazed expression with a heavy heart.

"Second time... second time..."

"Too strong. Way too strong."

"How can such a powerful existence exist in this world?!"

The explosions had ceased.

But the scorching air still swept over the brothers’ faces.

Carried by the wind.

Liam gritted his teeth.

He knew that if this continued, Mike would be in serious trouble.

"Mike! Are you scared?!"

"Come on—I’ll take you to see exactly who this master is!"

Liam’s voice was a roar.

Meant to shake his cousin out of his stupor.

*I have to get him through this,* Liam thought.

*If I don’t, he’ll be broken forever.*

*His pride, his confidence, his will—all gone.*

*I can’t let that happen.*

*I have to show him.*

*Show him that this power can be achieved.*

*That he can achieve it too.*

*If he works hard enough.*

*If he believes in himself.*

---

On the other side of the Ancient Tree Labyrinth, Liam watched his cousin’s dazed expression with a heavy heart.

Leon surveyed the devastation Selena had wrought.

*Maybe this was a bit much.*

The trees in the labyrinth hadn’t been particularly thick to begin with.

Now a massive section had collapsed entirely.

At the center of the impact zone, trees and turf alike had been blasted away.

Leaving nothing but scorched earth.

"The power seems stronger than before."

"But the mana consumption has increased too," Leon said with a wry smile.

At least he’d warned Selena to control the duration before she started.

A few seconds was enough.

Any longer and she’d drain herself dry.

In this world, mana was everything.

Without mana, a beast-girl could barely walk.

Let alone fight.

Selena still had about half her mana remaining.

*Good control.*

Leon felt a wave of satisfaction.

"Let’s collect all the loot."

With the higher monster levels, the drop rate was much better.

Before long, they had gathered over a hundred Demonic Beast Cores.

Selena moved through the ruins.

Her blade flashing.

Each kill precise.

Efficient.

Beautiful.

Leon watched her work.

*She’s incredible,* Leon thought.

*Every movement is perfect.*

*Every strike is fatal.*

*She’s like a goddess of war.*

*And she’s mine.*

*I’m the luckiest man alive.*

Selena landed beside him.

Her chest heaving.

Her G cup tits rising and falling with each breath.

Her white silver hair was wild.

Her golden eyes were sharp.

But she was smiling.

"Darling, the cores are all collected."

Leon pulled her close.

He kissed her forehead.

"Perfect, sweetheart. You’re amazing."

She leaned into him.

Her body warm against his.

"I love hearing you say that."

"I’ll say it every day."

"Promise?"

"Promise."

They stood there.

Together.

In the ruins of the labyrinth.

The meteors had stopped falling.

The ancient trees were still burning.

But for a moment, everything was calm.

Looking at the large areas yet to be cleared, Leon smiled.

*Satisfying.*

*Very satisfying.*

*[Ding! You have killed 500 Ancient Tree Guardians. Defeat the final boss to complete the breakthrough trial.]*

-------------

Leon and Selena walked deeper into the labyrinth.

They killed many more tree monsters along the way.

Now they had collected even more beast cores.

The ground was littered with the remains of Ancient Tree Guardians.

Selena moved swiftly, her blade flashing.

Each strike was precise.

Each kill was clean.

Leon followed behind, collecting the drops.

*This is going well,* Leon thought.

*We’re making great progress.*

*Soon we’ll have enough cores to last weeks.*

*And Selena’s power is only growing.*

*I love this.*

*I love watching her fight.*

*She’s so beautiful when she’s in combat.*

*So deadly.*

*So perfect.*

Then they heard it.

A heavy sound.

*BOOM.*

*BOOM.*

*BOOM.*

The ground trembled beneath their feet.

Leon and Selena looked up.

Their eyes widened.

A massive treant was approaching from the distance.

With every step, the ground trembled beneath its weight.

It was enormous.

Towering over the trees around it.

Its bark was dark and rough.

Its branches were bare.

Stripped of all foliage.

"So this is the final boss?"

Leon glanced at the enormous tree creature making its way toward him.

*Something was odd about it, though.*

*It was completely bare.*

*Stripped of all foliage.*

*Looks like it got caught in the Heavenly Fall.*

*My attack must have hit it.*

*Even from a distance.*

*Impressive.*

The boss was tough, no doubt about it.

Tougher than the minions, at least.

Leon didn’t stop picking up items.

Each Demonic Beast Core was worth a thousand dollars!

And he didn’t consider the monsters in this dungeon to be any real threat.

*They’re just obstacles,* Leon thought.

*Nothing more.*

*Selena will handle them easily.*

*I don’t need to worry.*

"Selena. Take it down. Don’t let it interfere with my looting."

"Yes, Master."

Selena acknowledged him respectfully.

Then turned her gaze toward the Black Mountain Treant in the distance.

*Master is busy,* she thought.

*He needs those cores.*

*I’ll protect him.*

*I’ll destroy anything that threatens him.*

*That’s my purpose.*

*That’s my pleasure.*

Just then, two more parties arrived.

Two men.

Two women.