Ascension of the Sylvan Cosmos.

Chapter 204. Clashing With An Equal.

Two weeks have passed since she revealed herself as a World Tree to the world and finished her Level 20 Level Up. The World Tree also knew that Eila's visit was close. Therefore, her objective was to make herself a bit stronger if she could, or at least increase some of her skill levels and tiers.

Sadly, she only had 11,625 Experience Points accumulated. So, the E Rank and above skills were out of the question. 'Hm… The E- Rank skills that are at Level MAX are <Mind Echo>, <Charm Of The Seedling>, and <Land Modifying>. Sadly, <Weeping Willow Aether Barrage> is still at Level 5 and needs a few million proficiency points to reach Level MAX...' 

She was conflicted about which of those three to upgrade. Land Modifying was a skill with limited uses. It would not help her with Eila in any way, as the skill was just too slow to be helpful in active combat. For wars, it was very powerful, as she could create traps for approaching armies, but other than that and helping her move the town's trees as she pleased, there were not many benefits.

Mind Echo was a powerful skill to deal with creatures with fewer raw attributes than herself. In this case, while Liu Shu knew that her stat points were terrifyingly high, she didn't think for a second that they might be higher than Eila's. So, upgrading this skill was the same as upgrading nothing. 

Finally, there was Charm Of The Seedling. 'Hm… How can this skill help me? If I look cuter… Will Eila not be as harsh with me?' To be fair, Liu Shu was not that clear about the effects of this skill. They felt so vague that she was doubtful if the skill was active. At first, its effects were quite clear, but as she grew in strength, this skill seemed to have fallen into the background.

The World Tree sighed and decided to select that one either way. 'The other two are basically useless even if I upgrade them a sub-tier, so… This one might have some effect?'

[Do you want to use 8750 Experience Points to Increase <Charm Of The Seedling (E- Rank level MAX)> to <Charm Of The Seedling (E Rank Level 1)>?]

Liu Shu agreed with a hum. 'Go on~.' 

[8750 Experience Points consumed successfully! <Charm Of The Seedling> has gone from E- rank to E rank.]

To her surprise, the text had massive changes after the skill Tier Up. 

<Charm Of The Seedling (E Rank Level 1 [0/9300])>: Your aura attracts creatures and has a calming effect. Those affected by your aura will have less propensity to feel negative emotions towards you. Creatures below the F+ Rank or those at half your level and below will be affected with much more ease.

Liu Shu exclaimed. 'Wah! So many changes! And…' Her thoughts got interrupted as a barrage of messages entered her ears.

[<Charm Of The Seedling> has affected <Level 4 Ceperet Human>! Proficiency +4!]

[<Charm Of The Seedling> has affected <Level 7 Rose Fairy>! Proficiency +7!]

[<Charm Of The Seedling> has affected <Level 9 Myconid>! Proficiency +7!]

[<Charm Of The Seedling> has affected <Level 11 Soldier Fire Ant>! Proficiency +110!]

[<Charm Of The Seedling> has affected…]

[<Charm Of The Seedling> has Leveled Up!]

[<Charm Of The Seedling> has Leveled Up!]

Liu Shu looked at the numbers, which went up and up and up until they stopped and slowed down to a normal pace. While they were still increasing, at least the numbers were not flying up. 

<Charm Of The Seedling (E Rank Level 3 [48,564/248,900])>

'Wow~. What happened?' Liu Shu pondered for a few moments, and she was quick to catch up. 'Did my skill spread to my entire domain, affecting everyone in the city and around the forest? My roots spread almost ten kilometers outward, so I have probably caught thousands of creatures in its influence.'

While she was thinking, she suddenly felt a pulse of energy touching her roots at the edges of her domain. It was a pulse that blocked her aura from expanding further. Not only that, the pressure from that aura was terribly high, like a massive wall that pressed forward on her. 

Liu Shu's relaxed mood tensed as she looked over toward that area with her natural vision. Unlike the <World Tree Eye>, her natural vision could detect energies and other types of auras. Once she looked, she was shocked to find a massive wall of aura coming from another source. The aura was vast and dominating, similar to her own. 

Even though she had never met something like this before, she understood whose aura it was. After all, to the West, only one being could create such a vast aura. 'Fortuna World Tree…' 

An ethereal voice suddenly boomed outward of that aura, hitting her own. "Oh? You should be the World Tree sapling that has appeared in the Golden Sap Forest. To think that you've already expanded out here… You are quite fast."

Liu Shu pondered whether to answer. She honestly didn't want to have much contact with Fortuna for now. However, as Fortuna said, it seemed that she had expanded too fast and carelessly. Now, she was discovered. 'Ugh. How do I even speak to her? Hm… do I need to look imposing? I don't want to be underestimated. However, if she underestimates me, it would be good… UGH!'

"Flor! Help!"

Flor was relaxing with Igantia when she heard Liu Shu's voice, and sensing the urgency, both of them instantly paid attention. Flor asked. "What's wrong?"

Liu Shu muttered. "I've met Fortuna!" 

"YOU WHAT!?" Flor felt that she was going to be the first plant creature to die from a heart attack. 

Ignatia covered her mouth and spoke softly. "Oh, my~." 

Flor glared at the Ant Queen. "Take this seriously! What if that big World Tree tries to eat Liu Shu!?"

Ignatia snorted. "While I don't doubt that Fortuna is strong, Liu Shu has reached Level 20. I doubt Fortuna is so strong that my little one will be helpless! Liu Shu!"

Liu Shu answered. "What do I do, Ignatia!"

Ignatia grinned widely. "Don't be intimidated! Push back! If she dares to look down on you, slap her! I don't want my little darling to be weak! Fight back!"

"Hm… Okay!"

Flor looked at Ignatia with widened eyes. "Youyouyouyouyou…" 

Ignatia bonked Flor on the head. "Are you okay? Did your brain get stuck?"

Flor's forehead bulged with angry veins, and she smiled widely. "My brain didn't get stuck… YOURS DID!"

Ignatia's antennae straightened at Flor's shout. Flor scolded her. "W-What are you thinking!? That's a WORLD TREE! One with who knows how many years behind its back! Imagine Liu Shu ten years later; that World Tree might be that! How can you tell her to fight back!? What if Fortuna tells Eila!? What if we have a Level 30 doing damage everywhere around here tomorrow because of this!? We are not prepared for that kind of trouble!"

Igantia smiled and asked. "Did you already vent?" 

Flor blinked several times, not understanding what was going on in Ignatia's head. The Ant Queen spoke softly. "Can my pretty fairy listen to my explanation?"

Flor opened her mouth and sighed. "Okay. Tell me."

Ignatia explained. "How many other World Trees have appeared in this area during Fortuna's life-time?"

Flor was thoughtful and answered. "None that I know of."

Ignatia nodded. "Fortuna is probably as new to fighting other World Trees as Liu Shu is. If Liu Shu acts weak now and Fortuna gains an advantage, recovering it later will be pretty tricky. Also, Liu Shu might have a stat advantage."

Flor asked, baffled. "How? Fortuna is EIGHT levels higher than Liu Shu!" 

Ignatia smirked. "Do you think Liu Shu's branch accessories are common?"

The Rose Fairy Queen paused. Ignatia hummed. "Without those accessories, Liu Shu's raw stats would shrink to less than half of what they currently are. She probably would not have a single stat above 1000 points. Right? Her branches work like four Level 20 Low-Rank Complete Level equipment that are crafted by masters." 

Flor's eyes flashed, and Ignatia continued. "To give Fortuna the benefit of the doubt, if I assume that she also has some kind of natural equipment, which I doubt would be as strong as Liu Shu's, her stats would end up quite paired with Liu Shu's." 

Flor crossed her arms and sighed. "I understand where you are going with those thoughts. Fortuna is an E Rank World Tree, right? Meanwhile, our Liu Shu is supposedly a C- Rank World Tree with four super powerful accessories. Even if they are currently eight levels apart, their fighting prowess should be similar."

Ignatia smirked. "You forgot one last thing. Liu Shu has a <Perfect Cycle>. Fortuna has probably reached sixty to seventy percent, but I doubt she went higher because she has always been pushed to Level Up. She has never done so with as much motivation as Liu Shu."

Flor sighed, scratching her head. "I am still worried…"

Ignatia laughed. "I am too, Flor. However, our little one is strong. Very strong. Let's trust in her, and if she fails, we'll resist until the bitter end, as always." 

Flor nodded and threw herself in Ignatia's arms. "Sigh…"

Meanwhile, almost ten kilometers to the West, Liu Shu manifested her presence and pushed back against the enormous wall of aura that Fortuna's influence created. 

BOOM!

When the auras clashed, Fortuna's calm mood was disturbed. 'Huh? Did she push my aura back? While her aura is smaller than my own, she has such a dense presence… What Tier is this new World Tree?' 

Then, Fortuna heard a soft, gentle-sounding, mature voice with a light, innocent tone. It was delightful to listen to. "Fortuna, right? I am Liu Shu~. I wonder how much more I need to spread to reach your city?" 

Fortuna's voice chilled, and her presence increased even further. "Liu Shu, don't be stupid. You might've advanced quickly, but you are just a World Tree. Our fate doesn't rest with ourselves. Fighting between us is what they want."

Liu Shu frowned and answered. "What do you mean? I AM a World Tree, and that's why I will dominate my own future!"

"Naïve sapling!" Fortuna scolded. "You are just a new being that has just entered the eyes of the world, so you naturally don't understand what kind of monsters hide around. However, there are creatures who can subjugate you with a single wave of their hand!"

Liu Shu listened and asked, confused. "Huh? Why do you seem worried about me?"

Fortuna chided. "Who is worried about you!? I have enough trouble trying to save myself, not to mention spending effort in saving a naïve sapling like yourself!"

Liu Shu was confused. "Hm… Is Eila the one that has subjugated you, as you say?"

"..." Fortuna remained silent for a few seconds, and then, she answered. "Liu Shu, I am warning you. Stop spreading in this direction and focus on the rest before you provoke those you shouldn't. If you want to try and swallow the rest of the surrounding cities, go ahead; my roots can't reach them before yours, either way. Just know that things are about to get much more complicated than you expect them to be."

Liu Shu then felt Fortuna's presence retreating as the terrifyingly large aura receded like a sea current. Liu Shu remained silent, deep in thought.