NOVEL WEB Chapter 184
Chapter 184. Ancient Treant
Flying swiftly over buildings and houses, Kou twists its body as it flies. I squint against the strong wind pressure as I look ahead.
“Here it comes, Kou!”
“Chii.”
The Ancient Treant is concentrating its mana to prepare an attack. Kou sees this and lowers its head slightly, accelerating as it gathers mana to counter.
[Highwood Lance]
Countless wooden spears are created in front of the Ancient Treant, pointing their tips at us before being launched. The spears, twisted with branches that glint like metal, pierce through the air, creating shockwaves as they speed toward us. The spears easily penetrate any buildings in their path, as if they were made of styrofoam, maintaining their power as they approach.
Kou doesn’t flinch at the terrifyingly powerful spears, instead relaxing its body.
[Water Manipulation]
[Aqua Mist]
Gathering water from the pool I created, Kou envelops us in a mist. The Ancient Treant, unable to see Kou through the mist, shoots spears into it. The sound of spears crashing through buildings and the ground fills the air.
The Ancient Treant waits for the mist to clear, dealing with the annoying tanks and approaching soldiers in the meantime.
[Highwood Charge Lance]
[Highwood Storm]
Wooden spears generated from the ground pierce and destroy tanks. Though they are wooden, these magical spears defy physical laws, their sharpness capable of piercing through alloys like paper. Skill users try to approach, but are repelled by area magic. The storm of leaves envelops the approaching humans, staining the leaves red with blood and flesh.
Gauging the threat of the enemies while eliminating them, the mist clears and the view opens up.
“Gii?”
However, the transparent body of Kou is nowhere to be seen, leaving the Ancient Treant puzzled. It considers whether the corpse is hidden in the shadow of a building, but it is too far away to confirm. The timing of the attack was too early. The attack should have been made when the enemy was closer, but since the enemy is now invisible, the Ancient Treant decides the engagement is over for now and focuses on the destruction of the enemy forces.
[Hydro Breath]
A nearby building shatters from within, and a high-pressure water breath shoots out. The breath, like a laser, shatters and pierces the wooden shield, scraping the surface of the Ancient Treant. Amidst the scattering of wood chips, the building collapses entirely, revealing Kou.
“Chii.”
With a cute cry, Kou unleashes a not-so-cute powerful breath, slithering along the ground.
“Gyaah! I’m getting off. I’m getting off!”
Clinging to Kou’s head, Yukihana cries out, trembling her fox ears and tail.
“Come on, don’t say that. Teleportation is convenient.”
I laugh, stroking Yukihana’s fox ears.
[Dark Move]
I move Kou to the shadow of a building. It was likely unnoticeable in the mist. The Ancient Treant, though confused, regains its posture and faces us. The pressure on the tanks lessens, and bombardments resume, shattering the wooden shields with explosions.
Ignoring this, the Ancient Treant raises its branches.
[Highwood Shock]
The Ancient Treant attacks with branches like whips. These branches, growing from its massive body, are as thick as large trees and crush buildings like toy blocks as they advance.
Moreover, shockwaves emanate from the branches, turning shattered concrete into sand.
“Chii.”
[High Aqua Shock]
Kou fights back, creating a water whip and swinging it at the approaching branches. The branch, struck by the thin water whip, has its trajectory altered. The diverted branch crashes into the ground with a thundering noise, destroying everything in its path.
“Let go of my tail! I said, let go!”
Concrete debris scatters around, some pieces flying close to me. Dust clouds obscure our surroundings, hiding us again. Yukihana’s frantic thrashing is noisy. It’s the tail’s fault for being so easy to grab.
“If you get off here, you’ll die. Can’t you see? Treant’s soldiers are already surrounding us. Do you have a skill that can evade them? They can easily see through mana disguises.”
Yukihana freezes at my words, glaring at me with a click of her tongue.
“You knew I was suspicious from the start!”
“We’re both in the same boat. You knew I saw through you and still followed. You planned to gather information and escape, but the enemies here are different. This is the safest place. Treant targets those with the highest mana concentration first.”
Facing the Ancient Treant, I explain. Tasumi clicks her tongue again and sits down, realizing the truth and deciding to stay quiet. But it’s a lie.
I lied to prevent her escape. I need to interrogate her later. In reality, the Ancient Treant prioritizes attacking the approaching enemies, aside from the weapons. I deduced that from its movements.
[Highwood Storm]
[High Aqua Storm]
The area spells from the Ancient Treant and Kou collide, causing mana to burst and dissipate. Some razor-sharp leaves fly towards us, but
[Stone Blast]
[Fox Fire]
I shoot them down with my stone projectiles. When Tasumi transforms into her girl form, she creates flames to burn the leaves as well.
“So, we’re both magic users. Let’s get along for a bit.”
“Shut up! I can use a sword too!”
I smile slyly, and the girl, showing her irritation, shouts angrily and unleashes a barrage of fox fire. Her magical control is impressive; she’s quite skilled.
[Leaf Dance]
[High Aqua Storm]
The Ancient Treant releases an area spell, but this time, Kou’s magic overpowers it, enveloping the enemy in water blades. The water storm aims to slice everything in its path. As branches break and bark is stripped away, the Ancient Treant releases its mana to neutralize the water storm.
“Did you see that, Tatsumi? It’s running out of mana. It used all its magic right from the start for a quick fight.”
“Hmm… of course, it’s been taking down jets and helicopters.”
Tatsumi responds with a growl, but she’s mistaken.
“No, if it were me, I’d attack only with the Treants. No need to kill the city’s inhabitants or engage with the base’s skilled fighters. The Ancient Treant can’t be hurt by anything other than weapons.”
I shake my head and pat Kou’s head. The cool, smooth feel is comforting.
“Inexperienced gamers can’t handle harsh realities. Kou, close in on it quickly!”
“Chii.”
At my shout, Kou accelerates towards the Ancient Treant. It uses its branches and roots to attack, positioning floating wooden shields in Kou’s path. However, it shows no signs of using magic or combat skills. It has genuinely run out of mana. Well, using that much magic will do that.
In contrast, Kou still has mana. it gathers it in its mouth and casts a spell.
[Hydro Breath]
Kou’s high-pressure water breath blows away the gathered wooden shields, converting mana into fighting energy.
[Water Walk Acceleration]
Kou moves like it’s sliding, accelerating and narrowly dodging the approaching branches and roots. Some attacks graze its body, but it ignores them and charges.
Long branches wrap around Kou’s elongated body, halting its advance. With a creaking sound, Kou is stopped just short of reaching the Ancient Treant, within arm’s reach.
“Hey, we’re stuck!”
As Kou is stopped right in front of the Ancient Treant, Tatsumi panics while I nonchalantly pull a scroll from my pocket like a magician.
“This is far enough. Biting won’t deal damage anyway.”
I unravel the scroll and toss it.
“What is that?”
“A trump card teleportation scroll.”
I smirk, lying while secretly casting dark magic.
[Dark Teleport]
The scroll burns to ash, revealing a magic circle from which a trump card emerges.
From the magic circle emerges a massive chunk of iron. A huge piece of machinery with endless tracks, a long tank cannon, and thick armor.
It’s the Type 10 heavy tank, designed to combat monsters, now here for battle. The tank charges into the Ancient Treant, embedding its cannon in the creature’s body.
“A tank?!”
“It’s the only thing that can deal damage. What can you do?”
I shrug at the bewildered Tatsumi. This should work, especially with my trusted partner piloting it. The trump card dark magic, [Shadow Base Teleport], can summon large weapons.
“I leave it to you. Bring back some souvenirs.”
The Type 10 heavy tank, its treads spinning furiously, pierces the Ancient Treant’s wooden surface with its cannon.
It should be fine. I’ll stay here and enjoy stroking the fox’s tail. This girl still needs to introduce herself.
As the seat shakes, Shizuku checks the monitor displaying the Treant’s bark.
“Perfect teleportation, as expected from my Sakimori-san.”
“I was about to take a bath. Don’t summon me so suddenly.”
“And you have the nerve to say that fully dressed.”
Inside the Type 10 heavy tank, Shizuku, Serika, and Yukihana are strapped into their seats with seatbelts on. They’re the team for this mission.
“Let’s go.”
Narrowing her eyes, Shizuku grips the lever, channeling fighting energy.
[Full Burst]
With a power surpassing the world’s norms, the tank fires all its shells, creating a huge hole in the Ancient Treant’s bark with a deafening roar.
Serika pulls the lever.
“Show me your strength.”
[Weapon Limit Control]
Using her skill to operate all weapons to their limits, Serika maneuvers the treads perfectly, driving into the hole in the Treant’s body.
The treads churn out wood chips as they tear through the ground and move inside.
“Yukihana, reload the shells quickly.”
“Hold on. This command is it.”
Yukihana taps the panel, and the tank’s magazine slides, loading new shells.
“This is the last one.”
“One more shot should reach the core.”
[Full Burst]
With a roar, the tank cannon fires again. The shells fly into the hole, followed by an explosion.
“Okay, we’ve got it. The path to the core is clear.”
Opening the hatch, Shizuku leaps out, drawing her Oboromizu short sword.
“I’m heading to the monster core, cover me.”
Serika advances the tank while Setsuka takes the machine gun.
“Support me.”
“Leave it to me.”
Inside the Ancient Treant’s trunk, a huge hole is created, from which giant termites emerge. Shizuku chuckles at the sight.
“Guarding your insides with termites? Bold, but we’ll exterminate them.”
With a gleeful murmur, Shizuku charges into the swarm of termites.