Ascension of the Sylvan Cosmos.

Mariane flew around Liu Shu, checking the land that she would need to set up the <Rune Field>. Liu Shu was a tall tree, and her growth was also very fast. Enough that Mariane needed to take it into account. "Hm… Liu Shu, I need you to stop producing a few things on that farm over there and allow me to move the ground around a bit. Also, we have a small problem."

Liu Shu asked, curious. "A problem?"

Mariane flew to one of Liu Shu's branches, landed on it, and looked down. "Well, you are a very big girl, right?"

Liu Shu giggled. "Thanks! I want to get bigger!" 

Mariane laughed. "Well, that's the problem. My <Rune Field> will consume more and more energy to hide your aura as you grow in size and strength. After all, what the Rune Field does is get your aura waves and use a medium to emit them outward as a Life Tree." 

The mothkin looked at the two serpents that were looking at her and commented. "For that, we need to surround where your aura comes from with the Rune Field, meaning the core…" Mariane paused and looked down. "Speaking of which, I've assumed you do have a core. Not all trees have one. Do you?"

Liu Shu answered honestly. "I do!"

Mariane smiled. "That makes things easier. So, as I was saying, when you grow, you will eventually outgrow the limits of the Rune Field, making it collapse."

Liu Shu frowned and asked. "Is there any danger?"

Mariane shook her head. "None. A <Runic Field> collapsing is not violent. It just dissipates, and the runes lose their power, becoming nothing more than scribbles that can be easily erased." 

Mariane jumped from Liu Shu's branch and flew around, leaving a trail of moth scales that made the ground glittery. "The Rune Field will cover this area. It should last until you reach Level 24, but I am not too sure. Still, with me around, I can renew it and increase the resilience of the Rune Field from time to time. As long as I am around, protecting your aura until you reach Level 25 is very doable."

Mariane landed in front of Liu Shu and looked upward with an excited face. "So? Do we do it?"

Liu Shu agreed. "Okay! Also, you need a medium, right? Do you have any?"

Mariane froze and crossed her four arms. "Honestly, I would love to have an Array Core or a Life Tree Core… Still, we'll have to do with a Life Tree branch, bark, or something similar. After all, there are almost no Life Trees in the surrounding area. Most of them are relatively high-level and live in the depths of the forest. Even I can't really go and get materials for that."

Liu Shu hummed. "How are Life Trees different from World Trees?"

Mariane's antennae bobbed up and down. "Well, they don't want domination. They just exist, and their roots don't expand outward more than what they need. Their intelligence is as high as any sapient being. They are prime partners for Sylvans and other plant-based creatures. Moreover, Life Trees come in various shapes and forms. Some are like World Trees, becoming giant trees; others become forest-like, expanding in numbers that form a single whole, and others, like Branthis, become vines that can swallow an entire city."

Liu Shu stopped Mariane. "Huh? Branthis is a Life Tree?"

Mariane nodded. "Yes. He is a Life Tree variant." 

Liu Shu exclaimed. "Oh! I see. Hmhm~ I am learning so much from you, Mariane!" 

Mariane smiled. "I am glad about that."

Liu Shu pondered and commented. "Mariane, go into my <Lignified Vault>. There is something I want you to see."

The mothkin blinked and followed Liu Shu's instructions, arriving at the Vault's trapdoor. After lifting it, she walked down and entered the massive underground room that was full of items, berries, and other treasures collected from dead Explorers.

Mariane saw a vine stretch out from the wall and coil around a cracked orb. Noticing the appearance of the orb, the mothkin's antennae tensed in surprise. "Huh?" 

After she took it, she couldn't help but become excited. "Wow! Where did you find this precious baby? Although it is broken, it's fixable! It will help a lot!" 

Liu Shu commented. "Someone had it and was killed by us, so we have it now." 

Mariane hummed. "Well… I see. I can start working on the Rune Field with this core. I should be finished in three months at most." 

"I see~. Thanks a lot, Mariane~."

"No need to say thanks. I'll be receiving my fair share of things."

While Liu Shu spoke with Mariane, she heard three people calling her, and she looked over. It was the three Sylvans. By pure coincidence, they had called her at the same time. 

She answered all of them at the same time. "Hm? Did you call~? Is there something wrong?"

Cinderielle, sitting on her bed, sighed. "Hm… I wanted to apologize."

Verdantia, sitting on a chair, spoke. "Sorry, Liu Shu."

Tempestria, sitting on the edge of the window, voiced softly. "I wanted to ask for forgiveness." 

Liu Shu was surprised, and strangely, she felt like the three of them currently looked incredibly similar. Their expressions, their eyes, their gestures. Everything felt like it was from one person instead of three. 

Still, that didn't distract Liu Shu enough to fail to answer. She asked, not knowing why they were apologizing. "Why do you want to apologize? Have you done something wrong?" 

The Sylvans listened to the World Tree's slightly mature and gentle voice and felt like they had missed a lot. They had been outside, getting stronger under Verena's tutelage. Yet, during that time, Liu Shu had grown to a size incomparable to before.

The little tree that barely reached 20 meters in the past was already 75 meters tall. The town was more than double the size, and everyone had changed enough to look unrecognizable. Many of the Rose Fairies and even Myconids they knew had disappeared, had been captured, or were outright killed during that time. Moreover, with the new births, many new faces appeared. 

Ignatia and Flor had also become much stronger, enough that the Sylvans still doubted if they could beat them in a fight after training so hard all this time.

Cinderielle spoke, her heart heavy. "You see… I wanted to burn away all evil that came close to you."

Verdantia told Liu Shu. "I wanted you to mature slowly and grow, nurtured and taken care of.."

Tempestria smiled lightly. "I never wanted to make you feel like your freedom was being restricted." 

All three said. "Yet, I failed."

Liu Shu couldn't help but feel her core squeeze with unknown emotions. Their words were somewhat familiar yet completely new. They tugged at her soulstrings while making Liu Shu feel unknown feelings being planted in her core. 

Liu Shu answered the three of them with the same words: "It doesn't matter. I am glad that you didn't leave me and that you are back. You failed one time. Is that enough to make you surrender?" 

Liu Shu laughed softly, her voice deeper and gentler than ever before. Instead of coming from her, it felt like it was spoken with her entire soul. "I don't think so. You never were one to give up easily, right?"

The three Sylvans looked out of their window, taking in the sight of the beautiful and enchanting World Tree. 

The three of them smiled and answered simultaneously. "Yes. I am quite bad at giving up."

Liu Shu's voice, tinged with laughter, reached them. "That's more like it. Now, go out of your room and help. There are many things to do." 

Cinderielle giggled. "Sure, sure. I just arrived, and now I am being used as free labor. How about I go check the surroundings?"

Verdantia smiled softly as she jumped out of the window. "Sure, sure. How are the farmlands doing? I'll go give them a look." 

Tempestria rolled her eyes, but there was a smile at the bottom of her grey irises. "Sure, sure. How about I go and train the new Rose Fairies in flight tactics?" 

Liu Shu looked at them gently and answered. "Go ahead." 

Liu Shu saw the three Sylvans move around to do things around the town and felt satisfied. Until recently, failing to sense their presence had made Liu Shu feel like something was missing. 

Now, the presence of the three Sylvans gave her a sense of peace that was hard to express. Seeing the red-, grey-, and green-haired women running around made her feel happy. 

Liu Shu looked at the two winged serpents and asked. 'I think it is time to return… Oh, I almost forgot! Here, for the new one~.'

The female Arboreal Flying Serpent blinked and saw 20 berries appearing in front of her. The scent they emitted made her salivate, and before registering anything, she chomped all of them with one bite. 

[You've eaten <Low-Rank Resonant Berry (E+ Rank)>. +1% Aether Resonance.] x5

[You've eaten <Low-Rank Refinement Berry (E+ Rank)>. +1% Phoer Refinement.] x5

[You've eaten <Low-Rank Affinity Berry (E+ Rank)>. +1% Energy Affinity.] x5

[You've eaten <Low-Rank Palace Berry (E+ Rank)>. +1% Mind Palace.] x5

The Flying Serpent's eyes widened, and she looked at her brother. 'D-Did you know about this?' 

The other Flying Serpent smiled smugly. 'Why do you think I called you?' 

The female Flying Serpent laughed with hiss-like sounds. 'I love you, big bro! Also, Liu Shu, thanks a lot. I'll answer your call whenever you want. I am a bit more clever than this big woodhead, so if you want advice on something, call me~.'

The giant brown-scaled serpent hissed. 'Hey, little sis, can you not bash me in front of my summoner? What if she never calls me again!'

The red-scaled serpent smirked and rubbed her face on Liu Shu's trunk. 'Who knows~. Remember to call me whenever you want, Liu Shu~.'

Liu Shu giggled and used her skill to send both of them back. 

Seeing the two green pillars of light surrounding the World Tree, everyone looked over and saw the two giant serpents vanishing. 

Mariane was working nearby and asked. "Everything okay? Are you tired?"

Liu Shu asked, confused. "Tired? Why?"

Mariane tilted her head. "Why did you send them back?"

Liu Shu answered as if it was obvious. "Because I want to restart my Berry production! I've been going so long without accelerating my fruits' growth! I-I want to produce more! QAQ!" 

Mariane and everyone who heard it had their eyebrows twitching. 'Is producing berries more important than protecting yourself!? The high-leveled Sylvan that barged inside as if this was her house is still here, you know!?'

Meanwhile, Verena and Branthis looked at Liu Shu and smiled. Flor asked. "Is there something wrong?" 

Verena shook her head. "Not at all. I am just smiling because that youngling seems to have extended a branch of trust. I am just happy, don't worry."

Flor looked over and failed to see the two enormous Flying Serpents. She understood quite quickly. "Ah… Probably, she was too eager to restart her berry production. After all, she has been without accelerating her berries since you arrived." 

Verena blinked a few times and burst into laughter. "That's even better! Hahahah." Then, looking at the contract they did with each other, Verena smiled, satisfied. "Thanks for this, Flor. This will help me quite a lot."

Flor nodded and smiled. "Well, you are Verdantia's mother. While I've heard that not all family members are someone you should trust… I can feel that you have no bad intentions." 

Verena saw Flor's sincerity and felt refreshed. Most people had too many hidden purposes to feel fully comfortable, but she could be assured with this Rose Fairy Queen.

Verena extended a finger, making Flor tilt her head. "Shaking hands is customary in some places as a sign of closing a deal and friendship. I offer a finger because, well, you are quite petite~ hahaha."

Flor snorted. "I am quite old, even if I don't look like it!" Then, Flor extended her hands and grabbed Verena's finger. With a smile, she answered. "I hope we can have a lasting cooperation."

Verena nodded. "I hope for the same. I'll help you with the public announcement 5 months from now. Mariane should be finished by then. I'll also try to slow down the influx of Explorers into the Golden Sap Forest."

Flor's wings fluttered a bit in happiness. "Thank you."

Ignatia snorted and hugged Flor into her ample bosom. "Hey, Verena, she is mine."

Branthis almost sent a branch to bonk Ignatia, but he held back. Verena smirked. "Don't worry, my husband here is more than enough for me."

Ignatia smiled. "Good!"

Flor fanned her face a bit, feeling somewhat hot. 'Hm. I am still not used to this… So embarrassing…'