Warlya has been thinking a lot during the last few years. After Ignatia visited her, she also learned about what happened with the Abyssal Void Nexus empire. It was good and bad news for her. The good news was, as a matter of course, that the Nexus incurred a significant loss thanks to Liu Shu. On the other side, Liu Shu's ability to cause such significant losses meant that she was far stronger than what she had imagined.
'I wonder if Liu Shu will change her mind once she becomes stronger than I?' Previously, she knew that Liu Shu's potential was great. Nevertheless, she never felt inferior as a World Tree, strength-wise. In fact, she wasn't inferior prior to the war. Otherwise, the Void Nexus army wouldn't have avoided her domain and left her for last.
Recently, her thoughts had changed. The Ternary Essences all around her were falling under Liu Shu's absolute control, and there was nothing she could do. Even when the World Tree was Leveling Up, its instinctive movements were enough to push Warlya back and force her to move her roots away.
Observing Liu Shu's aura transformation at such a close distance made the ancient World Tree realize the difference between them. She was a crippled World Tree, and the other side was a young and talented World Tree that had already caught up to her peak during her own youth.
'Sigh… I don't regret refusing to join her back then. That's too different from my usual convictions, after all. Nevertheless, I am now doubtful of my future.'
Did Warlya mind dying? Not entirely. Like almost all World Trees, she was very accepting of her time of death approaching. Nevertheless, unlike other World Trees, she was not someone who would go down without a fight.
'But now… Can it even be considered a fight? Liu Shu's strength is far over mine. If we clash, it will be like a common tree fighting a World Tree. Only, I am a bit larger than a common tree.'
The almost 2,000-meter-tall World Tree chuckled deprecatingly. 'My townspeople also seem to notice the change in the environment. Some people have come from the outside and spoken about Liu Shu as well…'
Warlya didn't stop it and just observed the changes in the population's mindset. The people she had protected for centuries and kept safe, even as she tiredly carried her crippled body to fight external threats, were now divided.
One side was the purists. They didn't want to accept other World Tree influences, as they believed in Warlya. But, surprisingly, these people were the minority, mostly older citizens.
The other side, filled with younger people, clearly noticed the changes of the continent and didn't want to be dragged down while being stubborn.
Oversimplifying, there was the side that was overly loyal to Warlya and the side that wanted Warlya to adapt to new times and join the unstoppable power called Golden Sap Arborarchy.
Warlya observed both sides silently, even when she had made up her mind after Ignatia's visit.
'If Liu Shu tries to assimilate me by force, I'll fight back until the very end. I won't let myself be overrun and enslaved forcefully. But, if she comes and talks to me like she did before she gained strength… Then, I guess I'll have no reason not to accept her.'
This was her conviction, and she would follow it until the very end, like she always had.
And so, time passed quickly, and soon Liu Shu's presence manifested all around the world. That day, every single plant in the world could feel its very soul trembling.
'Liu Shu… She is much more powerful than I ever imagined.' It's not that Warlya was underestimating Liu Shu, but that Liu Shu's growth was just too out of the norm. Even overestimating would fail to measure Liu Shu's staggering growth accurately.
When the World Tree awakened, the city around Warlya saw uprisings. The number of stubbornly loyal followers didn't change much, but many people who were standing on the sidelines understood that their options were much more limited than they had thought in the past.
Hence, the city council was pushed to make a decision. They needed to convince Warlya about joining the Golden Sap Arborarchy. "Lady Warlya, we ask for your graceful presence to manifest in our council room."
Warlya observed everything silently and spoke in the room, her tone faint. "I have nothing to say nor hear."
The council's face became ugly, and Warlya observed with cold interest. 'Now, let's see how many of you are truthful to your loyalty and how many of you will jump ship when it looks like it's about to collapse.'
In the past, Warlya was able to push back the powerful Humanoid Ant Queen but not just with military power. After all, to gather and guide armies, she needed military and political knowledge. 'In case I join Liu Shu, I'll clean up the bureaucracy before she contacts me. That way, the assimilation will be seamless and protect the lifestyle of most citizens.'
So, for the few days that Liu Shu was practicing her strength, contacting her family, and dealing with the System Messages, Warlya managed to silently root out the corrupt and greedy bunch from the small government of her city. Moreover, no one noticed, thinking that those people had fled the city, and Warlya just ignored them.
It was then that Warlya felt an overwhelmingly vast and profound presence surrounding her domain. For the first time since her initial battle with the Humanoid Ant Queen, Warlya felt like a small tree bracing against a tempest.
'This presence… Incredible.'
However, to her confusion, the presence just lingered around her and didn't make any demands. This confused Warlya for a few moments. 'Is she thinking about how to deal with me silently?' Warlya felt a pang of sadness. 'You should… discuss with me. After all, what if I had a change of mind?'
Nevertheless, Warlya's sadness was replaced with curiosity when she noticed Liu Shu's roots hesitating to reach out. 'Hm? Was I mistaken?'
Gathering her courage, Warlya decided to reach out to the overwhelming force of nature Liu Shu represented. "Liu Shu, you are there, right?"
Her voice sounded peaceful, but only Warlya knew how nervous she was inside. Unlike other World Trees, Warlya was one of the few that wanted to fight and live longer. Accepting death and not fighting for survival were two very different things in Warlya's mind.
The other World Tree didn't answer straight away, increasing Warlya's internal unease. 'Did… something change in her mind after gaining so much strength?'
It was when Warlya was about to speak once more that Liu Shu finally spoke. And the voice she heard almost made Warlya's mind gasp.
"Yes. I am…"
A voice clear like the surface of a mountain stream.
"...Let's speak."
A voice that traveled through her roots and seeped deep into her soul like morning dew. Warlya almost couldn't answer because of how fascinated she was by Liu Shu's gentle voice.
"Let's speak." Warlya answered, her tone softer than before and carrying a hint of respect.
Liu Shu spoke softly, not hiding from the citizens in Warlya's city. "Warlya, you've fought and protected this patch of land for more than a millennium."
A gentle breeze picked up, caressing everyone's bodies with a hint of protective warmth.
"Nevertheless, I've grown far enough and need to develop. This piece of land, I can't leave it untouched."
Warlya couldn't guess what Liu Shu would do with those words. Therefore, she answered back in a similar manner, not hiding from the citizens.
"Answer me this: What will you do to obtain this patch of land I protect?"
The firm and noble voice of their World Tree echoed around, not losing in terms of temperament with the other voice that seemingly came from the very soul of nature itself.
"Who is speaking?" One person asked, confused.
"I know that the second voice is from Lady Warlya. The first… I am unsure. Perhaps another World Tree?"
Someone clarified, his voice laced with a trace of both fear and respect. "The first voice is from Lady Heavenly Willow. The strongest World Tree in the Wild Continent, and its ruler."
Everyone was stunned, while some people who weren't informed about outside matters spoke against that statement. After all, in their minds, there was no World Tree stronger than Warlya in the Wild Continent.
Liu Shu and Warlya ignored the discussion in the city. The reason for Liu Shu being so vague was to measure Warlya's answer. 'She doesn't seem… hostile? Since she knows what I came for and she isn't reacting in a hostile manner…' Liu Shu's mind sparkled with a hint of joy. 'Perhaps there is an actual chance to convince her without fighting! Let's try!'
"Warlya, you've fought here for centuries. You've become this city's guardian tree. I don't want to tarnish that resolve or harm someone as noble as you." Her tone sounded powerful and with conviction. "Join me, Warlya. Become part of my domain and accept my presence. I'll make sure you are not slighted and live with the dignity a World Tree should have without limiting you."
The ancient World Tree relished in those words, her soul settling down as a peace like no other grew inside of her. 'Thankfully… She has not changed. I can tell that, even if her tone is stern, there is a slight trembling behind it. I can sense it because my roots are close to hers.' Warlya laughed faintly in her mind. 'So, I wasn't the only one who was nervous.'
Taking a deep breath through her leaves and roots, Warlya answered.
"I agree." Her voice was so soft and gentle that it was difficult to link it with the previous noble tone. "Thank you, Liu Shu, for accepting me. Even though I am crippled, I'll do my best to help you with everything I can."
Liu Shu felt as if her entire body was softening. 'Oh, thank the branches above, I would lie down on the ground if I could!' Liu Shu laughed softly and answered, her tone clearly cheerful and relaxed.
"Great. Warlya, from now on, you are part of my domain."
[Ding! World Tree Tianlian Liu Shu wants to accept you in her
Warlya looked at that message and answered firmly. "Yes, I do."
The second she did so, Warlya's domain was instantly enveloped with Liu Shu's presence as her aura mixed with Warlya's.
[Congratulations! You are now affected by…]
[Congratulations! You are now affected by…]
[Congratulations! You are now affected by…]
…
Warlya's eyes flashed continuously with messages of different auras entering her body. She looked on with her mind in chaos as buff after buff enveloped her body, strengthening, healing, and enhancing the very essence of the nature that surrounded her.
BOOM!
A pillar of vitality soared to the sky as Warlya's stats soared. Then, that pillar broke in the sky and transformed into droplets of energy. It didn't end there, though.
"Aurelise, and all the others, please help me."
Liu Shu's call was answered, and healing energy surged all around the continent. All plant life with healing powers, regardless of their level and power, poured their everything into Liu Shu's roots.
Then, the World Tree gathered, enhanced, and purified that energy, transforming it into a single stream of pure healing energies. Another massive explosion of healing energies burst around Warlya.
The shockwave of healing energies rushed outward, speeding up each second at an incredible pace. This shockwave spread outward from the very center of the continent, where Warlya was located, and using Liu Shu as a medium, spread everywhere. Yet, this shockwave didn't harm creatures wherever it passed. Instead, it healed and revitalized all creatures.
Liu Shu spoke softly, her gentle presence enveloping everything. "Accept it. It is a small gift."
Everyone didn't doubt for a second and closed their eyes momentarily when the shockwave passed through them.
Then, after the shockwave disappeared, Warlya saw a system message appear in her eyes.
[
Warlya's soul trembled, and she muttered with a quivering voice. "Ah… I am healed…"
BOOM!!
[Level Up!] x25
[Level Limit reached! Unable to break through
[Extra Experience Points gathered during the last 1320 years will be transformed into points.]
***
Name: Warlya
Titles:
…
Level: 99
Overall Stars: 16 (A Tier)
Accumulated Experience Points: 115,560,000
***