Chapter 505 - It’s Just a Friendly Match, Tree Monarch, Why Are You Crying? (Part 2)

The next day, #18 recovered and summoned the Tree Monarch’s heroic spirit again. The Tree Monarch’s heroic spirit abruptly sat up from where she lay on the ground, gasping for air and looking disheveled.

W-what happened?

“I... I lost?” The Tree Monarch finally remembered that the moment the coin landed, before they could react, they seemed to have been swallowed up by a terrifying attack.

Outsiders might not have noticed, but the Tree Monarch recalled that, in the split second before the attack landed, she and her familiars had mustered a desperate resistance. However, the attack wasn’t just one, and its power was horrifying.

Even with their resistance, they couldn’t escape annihilation. The Tree Monarch’s pupils constricted.

What kind of monstrous familiar was that?

She was bewildered. Never had she imagined that she’d be instantly defeated. Recalling her bold claim at the start that she’d make Lu Ran’s familiar cry, the Tree Monarch felt her scalp tingle and her face burn.

What... What was I saying? But the main issue is, why was Lu Ran’s new familiar so absurd? It was nurtured by the timekeeper? What kind of outrageous fortune is this? Could it be that my summoning was also related to this so-called timekeeper?

𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

As the Tree Monarch’s mind raced, she turned to #18, who was looking at her sympathetically.

#18 said, “Senior Tree Monarch, you’re back. It’s my fault. My power limited you. Don’t be sad. Baby Cloud was hatched and raised by Manager Ying, the Time Dragon’s kin, who also helped it evolve. It’s normal for you to be suppressed by its power of Time.”

The Tree Monarch exhaled. “A loss is a loss. No need to comfort me. I admit, your master, Lu Ran, has indeed grown much stronger. He’s no longer the rookie who relied on external forces to obtain legacies. Even if I weren’t restricted by you and were able to fight him at my level 6 peak, I’d likely still struggle to win.”

#18 looked at her with a mix of resentment and sorrow. “Senior Tree Monarch, there’s good news and bad news. Which do you want first?”

The Tree Monarch stared at #18. “What’s the good news?”

“The good news is, yesterday was my first successful summoning of your heroic spirit, and I wasn’t very skilled. There’s still much room for improvement. Today, do you feel that the power you can wield is stronger than yesterday?”

The Tree Monarch paused, sensing herself briefly before nodding. “Yeah. And the bad news?”

“Today, we’re having the second round of team sparring. The opponent...”

“Who is it?”

“It’s here.”

As #18 spoke, spatial ripples shimmered, and a humanoid flower creature slowly approached them.

#18 sighed. “Intermediate Legendary, Six-Path Reincarnation Flower. Actually, it’s the reincarnation of the Six-Path Reincarnation God you remember. Six-Path Flower is now contracted to Master as one of his familiars. It’s our next opponent .”

Six-Path Flower observed the Tree Monarch. “A plantmaster nurtured by the Divine Tree’s daughter? If you were at your peak as a Legendary, it might have been an exciting fight. But now? I can’t muster much interest. After all, you couldn’t even beat that cloud cat. However, since the team battle rules are set, let’s go through the motions. #18, let’s head to the battle space.”

“Senior Tree Monarch, let’s go.” #18 tugged at her.

The Tree Monarch was baffled. “

Huh?

W-wait! Hold on! Isn’t there something wrong here? Why is the Six-Path Reincarnation God contracted to him? I refuse to believe it—”

***

The spar between Six-Path Flower and the Tree Monarch’s heroic spirit was even more one-sided. As Six-Path Flower had said, if it were the Legendary plantmaster, Peanut, it might have needed to take her seriously. However, the Tree Monarch-stage Peanut was far from her peak. #18 still needed to work hard to perfect the Hall of Heroic Spirits.

The battle ended with Six-Path Flower deploying a Hell Domain and trapping the Tree Monarch’s heroic spirit and her familiars in a sea of flames, effortlessly securing victory. The Tree Monarch’s heroic spirit, though a simulated entity, was still a soul. Against the Hell Domain, which primarily judged souls, resistance was futile.

***

The next day, #18 re-summoned the Tree Monarch’s heroic spirit. The Tree Monarch’s heroic spirit abruptly sat up, gasping for air, her face pale.

“Senior Tree Monarch, today’s team sparring opponent is Dark Crow. Senior Tree Monarch? Senior...”

By now, the Tree Monarch had accepted that the other party was indeed the Six-Path Reincarnation God. Thus, she was utterly shocked, unable to comprehend what was happening in this world or what had transpired.

Why was I summoned as a heroic spirit... What is my mission?

“Dark Crow... That black crow that fused with the Evil God’s power and is skilled in curses?” The Tree Monarch recalled that when Lu Ran cracked the Tree Monarch ruins, Dark Crow had been the main force.

By sacrificing its own flesh, it had unleashed curse power beyond its level to conquer the secret realm. The Tree Monarch remembered it vividly.

“Wait. Before today’s team battle begins, can you describe Dark Crow’s current strength?”

Although the Tree Monarch felt Dark Crow seemed easier to handle compared to Baby Cloud and Six-Path Flower, she was cautious not to assume that the current Dark Crow was identical to the one in her memories. Time changed many things.

Sure enough, #18’s expression turned grave.

“Senior Tree Monarch, Dark Crow... is also extremely formidable! It’s also a quasi-Legendary species! Moreover, with the help of the Abyss God, Ghost Mother, who sealed the evil god, it unified its Dark, Spirit, Undead, and Time attributes, as well as its evil god powers, into the unique attribute, Spiritual Speech. Its words become law, and its prophecies come true.”

Tree Monarch froze again.

N-no! How is there another Abyss God? Isn’t that the Death dragon’s kin? I heard the Life and Death kin didn’t get along. How is Lu Ran, the Divine Deer’s messenger, also connected to a kin of the Death dragon?

#18 said solemnly, “And that’s not the scariest part. Dark Crow recently mastered Hyper Regeneration, allowing it to heal injuries rapidly. If it then uses Spiritual Speech power to make its injuries heal even faster, the two effects stack. No matter how severe the injury, it can recover instantly.”

This was the trait Lu Ran chose for Dark Crow at level 70. It was a common trait, obtainable in any level 6 secret realm. Even though it was common, its effect was excellent, granting the user the ability to regenerate injuries at hyper speed.

In truth, the Demonic Transformation trait Lu Ran had previously obtained also included this ability, along with a full attribute boost. However, Demonic Transformation had a clear downside. It reduced rationality, leading to a loss of control.

As a familiar relying on Spirit combat and the core of a familiar legion, Lu Ran couldn’t risk giving Dark Crow a trait with such side effects.

While the downside could be mitigated, doing so would waste extra effort. Since Dark Crow only needed Demonic Transformation’s regeneration perk, it was better to fuse a straightforward regeneration trait instead.

With Spiritual Speech and Hyper Regeneration combined, Lu Ran no longer needed to worry. Dark Crow could now regenerate its sacrificed eyes quickly on its own, without relying on Lu Ran.

This was crucial, as Lu Ran had many familiars. His beastmaster skills couldn’t revolve entirely around Dark Crow, and he couldn’t always be by its side. Given Dark Crow’s frenzied combat style, neglecting its regeneration would exhaust Lu Ran.

Moreover, while the Legendary Flame Spirit could heal Dark Crow now, if Dark Crow reached Divine rank, it was uncertain whether Lu Ran could still heal it. After careful consideration, Lu Ran chose this trait for Dark Crow.

“A Quasi-Legendary Dark Crow that uses Spiritual Speech... This means that that crow can now casually explode its eyes, regenerate, and repeat!” The Tree Monarch’s eyes twitched.

#18 nodded solemnly. “Yes, but this method is extremely energy-consuming. It can’t do it many times. However, each Spiritual Speech curse has the power to affect a Legendary species. Most importantly, it’s impossible to guard against.

“Whether Baby Cloud’s elemental bombs or Six-Path Flower’s Hell Domain, they’re within comprehensible limits. You know how to resist them. However, when it comes to Dark Crow’s Spiritual Speech, even Six-Path Flower can usually only endure it with sheer power.

“Worst of all, Dark Crow excels in ultra-long-range combat. Even if we’re on opposite hemispheres, it can still attack us. The sealed space is quite large.”

The Tree Monarch was speechless.

“But we’re somewhat lucky. Dark Crow isn’t adept at solo combat. It specializes in legion skills. And it’s developing a crucial move where it merges with its undead clones for a legion transformation, though it isn’t complete yet. So, this fight is still winnable.”

The Tree Monarch was baffled.

You call this winnable?

“You said its Spiritual Speech curses are unavoidable. If it bypasses me and curses you directly, dismantling you, wouldn’t I disappear instantly? How can I protect you from such an attack?” the Tree Monarch asked.

#18 teared up. “

Huh?

Are we going to lose again? I’ve been trying so hard.”

A vein bulged on the Tree Monarch’s forehead.

You’re crying? I’m the one who wants to cry!