Chapter 306 : Attack of the Underground Forest
For Elucia, Lonis becoming a little pet was actually a good thing.
Because at least now, she could safely keep her on the ship and prevent her from getting into danger.
The exploration team consisted of five people: Elucia, Sethilu, Bai Ye, Candel, and Luozhi Sheng.
Yicheng was left on the ship because Elucia was worried something unexpected might happen.
Moreover, if Yicheng stayed in the pilot house, she could not only protect the companions on the ship but also provide immediate support if the exploration team came under attack.
"Wuu wuu meow, wuu wuu woof!"
"Alright, alright, Lonis, be good... I'll be back soon. You stay on the ship and play with Suling and the others."
"Wuu..."
"Everyone, let's go."
This was an underground forest shrouded in darkness.
Every tree's bark was black, with dark red veins running through purple leaves. But the ground was uneven, covered with rough stones.
"These plants... are so strange..."
Sethilu frowned in confusion. As a princess, she naturally loved plants. The feeling of being immersed in nature would only bring her tranquility and peace.
But at this moment, she felt an indescribable coldness, as if these pitch-black trees weren't simply plants, but rather ill-intentioned humans—they watched your body, watched every inch of your vulnerable parts, waiting for you to let your guard down before launching a sudden attack.
The deeper they went into the forest, the stranger these plants became. Some were twisted together, while others looked like grotesque human forms, appearing very terrifying.
......
"Not Tree of Causality, but why... do I get a very familiar feeling?"
Bai Ye also clenched her fists, nervously looking at the surrounding trees.
Though she wanted to activate Tree Abyss power to communicate with these trees, they showed no response to her call whatsoever.
Luozhi Sheng and Candel's expressions were also rather grave. They didn't say anything, but this forest gave them a very unsettling feeling.
And Elucia?
Remained expressionless as always. She just coldly observed her surroundings and said:
"I see... I understand now."
"Elucia, what's going on?"
"It's actually quite simple. Luozhi Sheng is human, Princess Sethilu is half-demon, Candel is pure demon, and Bai Ye is a doll that controls Tree Abyss. If everyone feels unsettled, it means the power in this forest is different from all five of these forces."
"All different...?"
"Yes, this might be the new power Caster seeks. Isn't that right... you hiding in the forest?"
Elucia raised an eyebrow and looked toward the depths of the forest.
❀⋆｡°✿☆❀✿°｡⋆❀
......
......
"Wuu wuu, wuu wuu wuu..."
"Ah, Lonis, no good, you can't go outside."
Seeing Lonis constantly clawing at the glass with her little palms, Zhou Suling quickly picked her up.
Ever since Elucia left the ship, the silver-haired little fox had been restlessly looking out the window.
She must be very worried about Elucia's safety, right?
Hmm... Lonis really loves Elucia~
Thinking this, Zhou Suling smiled and said: "Lonis, don't worry, okay? Elucia is very amazing."
"Wuu...?"
"Yes yes, though it's a bit embarrassing to remember. But it was Lonis who told me how amazing Elucia was."
"Meow?"
"It was on the journey to the Boundless Research Station. That was the first time we encountered a monster siege. And now, it's my turn to protect the little fox."
Zhou Suling smiled gently, running her palm through the fur on Lonis's tail.
......
......
❀⋆｡°✿☆❀✿°｡⋆❀
......
......
"To actually discover my whereabouts... Worthy of being Snow Kingdom's princess. Where's Lonis?"
As she spoke, a girl with dark green hair emerged from the forest.
She was about 1.53 meters tall with a very petite figure.
But her toes wore high heels that looked like tangled roots, and her eyes were also dark green, like an autumn pond with no visible source.
Facing the green-haired girl, Elucia stepped forward. As if to match her opponent, black light capable of devouring everything emanated from around her body:
"Snow Kingdom Princess, Lonis? No, I'm just a female demon—Elucia now."
"Abandoning your name means you can abandon the past? Just like an ostrich burying its head in sand, utterly foolish."
"Haha, I haven't abandoned the past. Princess Lonis is hiding in a safe place. And as her hero, killing you doesn't require the princess to dirty her hands."
With that, Elucia drew her black sword and launched a direct attack.
The green-haired girl's reaction was equally swift. Facing Elucia's surprise attack, she didn't even dodge but directly transformed herself...
Into a tree.
The root-like high heels from her ankles spread upward, enveloping the girl's body in an instant... Like being entangled by countless tentacles, the girl's torso became a trunk while her hair transformed into leaves.
Elucia's black sword struck down directly, but only severed a tree, while another tree on the other side twisted grotesquely, its bark peeling away to transform back into the girl's form.
"Impossible!"
Bai Ye stepped back in shock. Though this was the first time seeing it, she still recognized the technique the green-haired girl used.
Tree Body Art.
Simply put, it was fusing one's consciousness and existence into this forest, becoming part of nature itself.
Such power undoubtedly came from Tree Abyss.
Back at the Boundless Research Station, Dr. Ma Run had used this method to forcibly merge with the Tree of Causality, gaining abnormally powerful strength.
And for Bai Ye?
After becoming Tree Abyss's inheritor, she naturally learned such power, but this method was rather dangerous, so she had only used it once back in Insolania.
That time, she guided everyone's will, making the Tree of Causality bloom a miraculous barrier in the royal capital.
But now, why was this green-haired girl using her power?
Could it be that she had been abandoned by Tree Abyss?
Just as Bai Ye was feeling disheartened, Sethilu grasped her shoulder and said: "Bai Ye, this isn't your fault. You did nothing wrong."
"Sister Sethilu, I..."
"Caster wants to replicate all Rainbow Abyss powers, and your power was probably analyzed when he was in the royal capital."
"Ah!"
"According to the plan we discussed beforehand, we won't act now to avoid exposing more of our abilities. We just need to wait for Elucia to subdue the opponent."
......
The girls all had great confidence in Elucia.
Because everyone had witnessed Elucia's excellent abilities, and Candel had completely submitted under Elucia's sword.
And as everyone expected, Elucia was indeed fighting from the advantageous position.
Her black sword continuously severed tree trunks. Even though the green-haired girl occasionally used Tree Body Art to reshape her form, the total amount of trees in the forest was fixed.
But just at this moment...
Something completely unexpected happened.