Evangeline looked at the Humanoid Ant Queen with a solemn expression. Her purple-black dress fluttered with the shockwaves created from the impacts around them, while her long white hair flowed to its whims. In her hand, Evangeline carried a gorgeous purple-black staff with a massive purple gem at the top. This staff was created from corrupted World Tree material, and it amplified all corruption spells she cast.
Evangeline glanced at Ignatia's dress and the pure white, clawed gauntlets she wore with a frown. "What are your armor and weapon made of? Why does it give me such a bad vibe?"
Ignatia snorted a ridiculing smile. "Why should I answer that? Will you answer me what your equipment does in response? How about we exchange life experiences as well while everyone else kills each other in this battlefield?"
Evangeline spoke condescendingly, raising her staff high up. "I shouldn't have expected courtesy from a monster. Even if you are a legendary Humanoid Ant Queen, I don't believe that you can overcome me, who has B Rank equipment."
"You speak as if you are the only one who can create equipment at that level." With a proud, motherly smile, Ignatia chuckled. "Sorry to say, but my big baby has mastered that as well~."
Her entire equipment was a mix of powerful fire-affinity materials combined with [Blessed Bark] from the Temple of Destiny and Liu Shu's own bark. After wearing everything, Ignatia's stats were truly horrifying.
Even then, a Sylvan's strength was nothing to scoff at. Pointing her staff forward, a great deal of dark flames surged from her staff, accompanied by an ominous wind. "
Whoosh!
Ignatia saw the wall of dark flames surging toward her and didn't retreat. Instead, she stepped forward and recoiled her hand as bright red flames enveloped her arm. "Corruption against me is useless.
Then, she punched forward, her fist impacting precisely when the dark wall of flames reached in front of her body.
BOOM!
A shockwave of flames burst outward, blasting the wave of dark flames open. Evangeline's expression sank slightly as not even a speck of damage appeared in her vision. Ignatia had negated her attack perfectly!
"How…" Evangeline saw Ignatia leaning slightly forward, and she quickly stopped speaking as her Aether Mana began surging around her.
Ignatia then pushed against the ground, the soil beneath her feet caving in under the ridiculous pressure from the Ant Queen's strength.
"
"
Purplish-black roots formed a massive wall in front of the white-haired Sylvan before Ignatia arrived. However, the Ant Queen didn't hesitate as she punched against them with her ridiculous strength.
"Trying to stop my attacks with plant magic? Compared to my baby's bark, they are nothing but brittle and dry branches!"
BOOM!!
The raw physical strength Ignatia's punch carried, enhanced by the skill, easily overwhelmed the wall of roots, blasting a massive hole open from which Ignatia pursued Evangeline.
The white-haired Sylvan didn't stand still as she cast her spells. She jumped backwards and moved quickly through the battlefield while casting her powerful spells at the Ant Queen. However, the royal mother never retreated and punched everything out of her way, quickly shortening the distance between them.
Evangeline chewed her lip as her eyes followed the quick figure of the humanoid ant. "You slippery bug! Try blocking this!
Ignatia's face changed slightly as the floor below her feet swelled. Reacting with inhuman speed, Ignatia jumped upward and placed her arms in front of her body.
BOOOOM!!!
Liu Shu was startled by the large explosion and looked over, only to see her Ant Mother flying upward. "Wah? Mommy? Why are you flying?"
Ignatia chuckled. "Aya~, Mommy showed you an embarrassing moment. She totally got me~."
Liu Shu giggled and extended one branch, catching the flying Ant Queen. "I'll throw you strongly, so brace for impact~."
Ignatia grinned. "Go!"
From the roots of the branch, a wave-like motion started, twisting the branch as strength gathered toward the end. Ignatia managed to see the wave motion of the long branch, and her antennae twitched in response. "Baby, be a bit mercifu—
BOOM!
—uUUUUL!"
Evangeline frowned as she heard a sound in the distance, and looking over, her face paled. An Ignatia-shaped projectile was descending onto her with a speed that made it hard to dodge. "You crazy creature!
Her Aether Mana and Anima Energy poured onto the skill like crazy, creating a massive wall of roots between them. Ignatia didn't care, though; she braced for impact as she took a punching form mid-air.
"Take this!
BOOOM!!!
The red blooming lotus caught the attention of many on the battlefield, while Liu Shu observed the aftermath through her senses. 'Both are still alive and kicking? Strong~.'
Ignatia and Evangeline exchanged blows with each other at close range in the middle of the crater Liu Shu created by throwing her mother with all her strength.
Evangeline used quick activation spells, black projectiles of wind and fire flowing around her and assaulting the durable body of the Ant Queen. Meanwhile, Ignatia ignored all attacks as she punched, kicked, and burned the white-haired Sylvan.
"You crazy monster! Are you aiming for mutual destruction!?"
Ignatia laughed. "For someone like you, I don't need to use such tactics."
BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG!
Evangeline's body was pushed back repeatedly due to the strength behind each punch and kick. Eventually, knowing that she had no other choice, her face turned ferocious. "Monster! Know a Sylvan's might. [Ventopyra Maledicta Sylvan Transformation]."
WHOOSH!
Wind and flames exploded from Evangeline's body, pushing Ignatia back. The Ant Queen squinted, and by the time she reacted, the flames and wind had calmed down, revealing the new Evangeline.
Unlike the balanced form between humanoid features and tree-beings normal Sylvan had, Evangeline's Sylvan transformation turned her into a mess of roots and thorny vines that took the faint shape of a woman. The two purple lights representing the eyes and the flames surrounding her were ominous and full of malevolence. Similar to a Corrupt World Tree, the plant figure of a corrupted Sylvan looked lifeless and sickly.
Ignatia frowned as she quickly analyzed the woman.
***
Aether Mana Cores: 1,728/1,928
Phoer Body Cores: 980/980
Anima Energy Cores: 1,136/1,136
***
Ignatia's face froze for a moment. 'Huh? Why is she so strong?'
This woman's stats after transformation were similar to her own! Ignatia's main stat was currently at around 1,800 Phoer Body Cores, while the rest were lower than that. Moreover, these numbers were after Liu Shu's buffs and many more.
Evangeline's mouth-like formation of branches arched in a twisted smile. "Scared? Don't worry, once I defeat and swallow you, I'll get stronger. You will only contribute to helping me overcome the barrier to the
Ignatia's expression shifted from confused to a chilling coldness. "What did you just say?"
"Hahaha! I said that I'll make your Liu Shu mine, Ant Queen. She will bear my children in the future, and together, we'll make corrupt Sylvans that will help us dominate the world. Humans will do nothing in front of our combined forces! She is the one who will overcome Humans!"
Ignatia took a step forward, and her energy surged like a volcano. "
BOOM!
Evangeline's face froze for a second as she felt Ignatia's stats skyrocket beyond belief. This was the form Ignatia used to face off against the Terragore Queen on even ground!
"Evangeline. You are nothing but a broken Sylvan. You were born as one of the most miraculous and beautiful beings. A mix of nature and intelligence, a miracle of nature that was mothered by the powerful and incredible World Trees. You, who were born with such wonderful traits, turned back on your heritage and tried to corrupt it. You, who are obsessed with control and power to the point of doing countless atrocious actions, are not worthy of the oxygen you breathe!"
Evangeline's root-like form rushed forward, and black flames surrounded her body. "Speak for yourself! A Humanoid Ant Queen speaking of lucky birth, hahaha!" But as she laughed, Igantia disappeared from where she stood. "Huh? Where is—
BOOM!
—UGH!"
Igantai was by her side, her fist impaling the mass of roots as if they were a single solid. The pressure from the punch threw Evangeline's body flying, as several vines were blasted off. Igantia pushed against the ground and went on a pursuit. "Die for me now."
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
[-8,500,580]! [-7,750,580]! [-6,240,000]! [-8,740,970]!
Each punch destroyed over 80
"You! Stop! AGH!"
Her screams became higher-pitched as Ignatia threw her into the air, and she jumped after the mass of thorny vines. Overcoming her in height, she called aloud. "Liu Shu!"
Quick like lightning, a branch moved and was placed above the flying, corrupt Sylvan. Ignatia landed on the thick branch, looking at the ascending Sylvan. "
Red flames enveloped her entire figure as she pushed against Liu Shu's branch. A red streak painted the sky as Igantia became a meteor engulfed in scorching flames and impacted against the mass of roots.
BOOM!
"AHH!"
The fire engulfed the vines, and Evangeline lost her transformed form due to the impact's strength.
BANG!
Evangeline impacted against the ground, creating a deep pit. Ignatia landed right by it, looking deeply into the crater. "You are actually alive…"
Her Phoer Body Cores were at around 20, while her body was mangled and almost destroyed. Evangeline looked at the sky from the center of the crater, only seeing Liu Shu's canopy instead of the sky. Her gaze blurred as she remembered her mother's lush branches turning a sickly grey. She didn't want that to happen. That fateful day, she could only see, so she ignored the deep pain in her heart.
Now, in the last moments of her life, Evangeline couldn't help but try to reach out and touch those lush branches. However, her arm was too damaged even to lift correctly.
From above the crater, Ignatia observed Evangeline's last moments, and she shook her head. There was no pity in her heart; this woman was a monster who had slaughtered many World Trees and other lifeforms. Killing her straight away was already giving her leniency at the end.
"Evangeline. You lost. The Abyssal Void Nexus also lost. From now on, you have all become Liu Shu's stepping stone to supremacy. The only chance they have is if they manage to react quickly and decide to change methods and attack us… But knowing them. Knowing how you all act…" Ignatia chuckled. "It probably won't happen. Now, go in your way and return to nature. I hope that the next time you bloom, your roots are planted in soil that will not corrupt your nature."
Evangeline looked at the ant queen, her mouth opening to let out a muttering last breath. "Mercy on my… child…"
Igantai paused for a moment, but then she shook her head. "Too late. Burn."
WHOOSH!
[Congratulations on defeating