Ascension of the Sylvan Cosmos.

Chapter 280. Liu Shu’s Declaration.

Eila was in a new building that had suddenly appeared in the city. To the public’s eye, it was a new residential building for the City Lord. Nobody was unhappy about it since the City Lord had been living in Fortuna Academy from the beginning of their rule. Building a new house was well within the City Lord’s authority.

What the public didn’t know was that in one of the basement rooms, there was a massive tunnel that led deep into the underground of the city. Now, standing in front of Eila, an ant of the size Eila had never seen before was standing, looking at her with a seemingly emotionless face.

Liu Shu’s voice reached Eila, explaining the origins of the massive ant. “This one will be the Princess that will be right below you, creating a remote colony! She is called Solaria!”

Eila crossed her arms, looking at the enormous ant with a surprised face. “Tianlian Liu Shu… Are you sure that she is not the Ant Queen?” 

Liu Shu answered with a giggle. “Of course not! Solaria is an Ant Princess~.”

The powerful Ant Princess in front of Eila was Level 27, and the aura she emitted was strong enough that Eila doubted an average Second Energy Cycle could beat her. It was a fact that Ant Princesses and Queens didn’t usually participate in battle, yet that didn’t mean they didn’t have combat power. The Queens and Princesses often were the strongest combatants of the Ant Colony.

Looking at Solaria, Eila spoke. She didn’t know if the ant understood her words, but since she was going to have a cooperative relationship from now on with her,  speaking some words of goodwill was not superfluous. “Ant Princess Solaria, I am Fortuna City’s City Lord, Eila Neoflora. Your only way to enter and exit this city will be this entrance right here. If we discover any other entrance, our relationships will all break regardless of your relationship with Tianlian Liu Shu.” 

Eila noticed the Ant Princess looking at her and making a bobbing motion with her head. This surprised her. ‘Oh? She is intelligent enough to understand words…’ With that information in mind, she added. “Still, as long as you fulfill your side of the deal, we will slowly teach the population about your presence and try to create an environment where you are not feared.”

Solaria bobbed her giant ant head once more, agreeing with Eila’s words once more. Eila blinked twice, looking closely at the giant ant, and she couldn’t help but mutter under her breath. “...They are quite cute when they are not aggressive.”

Liu Shu’s sharp senses caught the comment, making her giggle. “Right!? I don’t know why everyone is scared of them! They are so cute.”

Eile cleared her throat. She didn’t intend for that comment to be caught by Liu Shu. ‘I still underestimate Tianlian Liu Shu’s senses… They are much sharper than Fortuna’s senses.’

Fortuna teased Eila softly. “Oho~, so this aesthetic is what you like? Unexpected.”

Feeling that she couldn’t give an inch here, Eila changed the subject. “So, since they are already here, are you going to start the assimilation process?”

“Indeed! Fortuna will need to Level Up, and the second she does so, I’ll also start the assimilation process.”

The answer made Fortuna slightly nervous. After all, once they started, there was no turning back. Still, she couldn’t delay, just in case this process would last for a very long time.

A message reached Liu Shu from Mareful City and Sirol City as well. 

Delia spoke to her with a smile. “Liu Shu, you can release your auras in my city whenever possible. The polling we’ve done has passed with more than 80% in favor.”

Taro commented. “Liu Shu, deploy your aura toward you in the closest half of the city. We’ve divided those who want your presence there and the rest to the other side. Although, with the benefits you provide, I calculate that your presence will cover the entire City one month later.”

With these two consecutive news, Liu Shu came to an astounding realization. ‘... I’ll become the Lord of the White Flower Province once I finish this! Only Lakeborn Forest and White Flower Forest will be left.’

This made her feel a sense of wonder for a moment. A province was a noticeable patch of land that would appear even on continental maps. Once this realization set in, there was a small shift in Liu Shu’s mind. ‘I’ve now become part of the lives of hundreds of thousands of creatures.’ 

She was no longer the tiny tree struggling to survive in the forest. She was no longer that sapling that had trouble communicating.

Her gaze shifted, and she looked at herself. The towering tree that reached an incredible height of 300 meters stood there, surrounded by an enchanting swirl of pure ternary essences. The aura surrounding her was one that no one could ignore and a sight that filled those living in the Golden Sap City with a sense of respect and awe.

While there was a long way to fulfill the name of her race and become a True World Tree, she was no longer insignificant. 

“I am Tianlian Liu Shu.”

Her voice spread across the entirety of her domain, reaching all corners and people, creatures and plants, even the birds in the sky and the enemies hiding throughout it.

“I am the World Tree that resides in Golden Sap City, and from today on, I am the World Tree that resides throughout the White Flower province.”

Everyone stopped what they were doing when the ethereal and nature-like voice of the majestic being reached them. The tone carried such gentleness and hidden power that everyone felt like a powerful being was embracing them.

For her enemies, the sensation felt oppressive, giving them chills as they knew that this creature’s power went beyond what they expected. Yet, for the average creature, it felt like a protective embrace that would prevent evil from befalling them.

“My roots have spread, and they will go beyond. Yet, before taking the next big step, I wanted to give all creatures a sense of who I am for a few moments. For the next minute, I’ll give everyone all my blessings and my auras before containing them.”

The leaders of the cities felt their lips twitch, knowing what was about to happen. Then, everyone saw their System go crazy with notifications.

[You are under the Influence of World Tree Tianlian Liu Shu. <Charm Of The Seedling> is gently calming and enhancing your positive emotions.]

[Congratualtions! You’ve gained the effects of the Title <Defender>!]

[Congratulations! You’ve gained the effects of the Title <World Tree Town>!]

[Congratulations! You’ve gained the buff <Summoning Blessing>!]

[Congratualtions! You’ve gained the buff <Summon Potential Rune Field>!]

[The aura of World Tree Tianlian Liu Shu has spread throughout the majority of the White Forest Province. The ternary essences are being purified, allowing for easier breakthroughs.] 

Even Fortuna read the messages, but hers were even more abundant as a plant being.

[Congratulations! All vegetation has been enhanced by <Enchanted Land>!]

[Congratulations! All vegetation is being affected by <Cerulean Bloodsap>! (Description unavailable)]

“Wha…” Fortuna muttered to herself, incredulous. “How can we be that different?” 

After receiving Liu Shu’s buffs, Fortuna was utterly defeated mentally and spiritually. Before, there was a bit of reluctance. However, after seeing the barrage of messages, she accepted her fate. ‘... No wonder I lost. How can someone even win against this?’

Eila read through the messages and smiled faintly. “She has probably done it subconsciously, but... Excellent move.” 

While everyone was shocked and speechless, Fortuna City’s people were even more flabbergasted. 

An old man asked, confused. “W-Why are we listening to another World Tree’s voice and receiving their influence?”

This question was one that everyone in Fortuna City was asking themselves. Fortuna started hearing many people calling her name. Some were worried, some were angry, some were disappointed. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

Fortuna spoke out, not wanting to keep everyone guessing anymore. She didn’t go in rounds and blurted everything as it was. Her tone was peaceful as well. “World Tree Tianlian Liu Shu is far superior to me as a World Tree, as you can see from the buffs,” Fortuna spoke softly. “But worry not since she will not eliminate me. In her infinite generosity, World Tree Tianlian Liu Shu has forgiven my life as long as I allow her to spread her roots through my domain.”

Her words fell like a bomb. The information networks that were stationed in Fortuna City were going crazy. 

“Have you heard Lady Fortuna!? Write it down and send it to the main headquarters as fast as possible!”

“Don’t forget World Tree Tianlian Liu Shu’s words and the effects of her buffs! They are crazy!”

“Oh dear, oh dear! This will take the world by storm! A World Tree has actually forgiven another World Tree while penetrating deep into her domain!?” 

After the minute passed and the auras disappeared, everyone felt as if they had taken a chunk of their souls away from them. During that minute that Liu Shu shared her presence, everyone felt a peace of mind and soul that they didn’t know could exist. 

Meanwhile, in Sirol City, a woman was frozen stiff. This Sylvan woman had been here for a long time, slowly gathering intelligence and settling her own power. She planned to explore the Golden Sap City later when she had enough stability to move around without any problems.

As she was working while playing her instrument, a voice with such perfect harmony reached her that her soul was instantly mesmerized. 

“U-Um, Lady Harmonixia. Are you okay?”

Her assistant at the side was starting to worry. The Sylvan woman with shifting purple and blue hair colors was staring into the void with slightly rosy cheeks. However, her eyes were a bit different from those of an innocent lady. They were deep and profound as if she had seen something that was hers and needed to possess it.

Harmonixa’s pinkish-purple eyes moved toward the assistant, giving her a strange chill that made her hair stand up. Then, she heard the melodic voice of her Lady. “Change of plans. We are going to create our clan’s residence and foundation in Golden Sap City.”

The assistant’s eyes widened. She complained. “B-But we’ve already spent a large chunk of our finances! Doing so will strain our limited funds-”

Harmonica lifted one of her zither-like instrument cords and released it.

Twang~.

The sound was gentle, but for the assistant, it felt like her brain had imploded for a second, making her see white. Harmonixia placed the instrument to the side and approached, her very wide and gorgeous hips swaying from side to side. 

When she reached in front of the assistant, she crouched and placed her elbows on her knees, holding her chin with both her hands. Once the assistant came to herself, she saw the smiling face of her Lady, but her usual gentle and innocent eyes carried a dark and profound sense. “Where are we moving?”

The assistant stuttered, feeling her stomach flipping around in nervousness. “G-Golden Sap City, miss.”

Harmonixia laughed gently. “Great~.” Then, she stood up straight again, reaching an astounding 184 centimeters in height. Together with her gorgeous pear-shaped body, each of her steps would always deviate the gaze of bystanders toward her luscious hips.

Looking out of the window and toward Golden Sap Forest, Harmonixia laughed gently. “My assessment was wrong again~. Waste of time? It seems that I’ve hit the lottery~. Ah… A creature with a voice such as hers is more than worthy of chasing after~. Fufufufu~.”