Ascension of the Sylvan Cosmos.

After she finished creating the skill, Liu Shu's presence spread outward again, and her powerful mind took in the large domain she controlled. With incredible analytical abilities, she processed all the information and got a general idea of what was going on in the Golden Sap Forest. 'It seems that we can't delay it anymore. The buildings will need to come later.'

Looking around, she spotted the Rose Fairy Queen nearby, lying on a large flower, her eyes closed. "Flor?"

Liu Shu's voice spread around gently, and instead of booming outward, the sound was soothing, like the rustling of leaves. Flor slowly opened her ruby-like eyes and looked around. "Liu Shu?" She asked groggily. "How are you? Is everything okay? Mariane said that the <Rune Field> reacted strangely." 

Mariane had been attentive, the same as the three Sylvans and Ignatia, so they all approached the second they heard Liu Shu's voice. 

While they approached, Liu Shu saw Flor flying toward her and looking around with worried eyes, making her want to laugh. Still, seeing that she and everyone else were honestly concerned, Liu Shu decided to soothe them by explaining everything. "Don't worry, Flor. The <Rune Field> activated as Mariane intended. I just used my Rune Craft knowledge to touch it a bit and upgrade it. Then, since <World Tree Wisdom> activated, I went along with it and managed to assimilate the <Runic Field>!" 

Flor was utterly confused. She didn't know what Liu Shu was talking about. "Isn't that <World Tree Wisdom> the skill you use to absorb books? You can now absorb <Rune Fields> as well?" 

Mariane asked right after. "Also, what do you mean by assimilating it? Did you know that you've transformed some of the Runes into ones I've never seen before?" With eyes that seemed to be sparkling, Mariane asked. "Speaking of which, can I get information about those runes and their effects? They looked strong!" 

Liu Shu answered the questions one by one. "First of all, <World Tree Wisdom> is more like a helper with a lot of different effects! Second of all, I can't absorb <Rune Fields>. This one I was able to assimilate because of the core's peculiarity and because <World Tree Wisdom> triggered." 

They nodded a few times in acknowledgment, and then, she answered Mariane. "By assimilating, I mean that the <Rune Field> has become part of me and will grow with me. Meaning, it has been transformed into a <Passive Skill>. And, finally, when I build the library, you can check that information~." 

The World Tree hummed twice, feeling satisfied, and asked. "Understood?"

Meanwhile, the five people stood there, completely flabbergasted and looked at the giant tree with stupid facial expressions.

"Hm?" Liu Shu was confused when they didn't move at all, so she asked. "Everything okay? Is there a problem?" 

Mariane blurted. "A PROBLEM!?" She exclaimed, tripping over her own words while trying to comprehend what the World Tree explained. "YOU! I mean, you just managed to absorb! No, convert? No. Ahhh! I WANT TO CURSE SO BADLY! What do you mean that the <Rune Field> has become a <Passive Skill>!? Are you messing with me!?"

Feeling that Mariane had managed to express their current feelings, they all looked at Liu Shu, waiting for an answer. 

Confused about her outburst, Liu Shu answered in a pouty manner. "I am not messing with you. I am being honest…"

Mariane somehow felt her heart clench a little. "Ah… I got too excited."

Verdantia snorted. "Control your tone."

Cinderielle hummed. "Now you've upset her."

Tempestria teased. "So much for the eldest and strongest~. You've made her sad. Tsk tsk." 

Flor just gave Mariane a side eye while Ignatia covered her mouth to hold in her laughter. 

The mothkin's antennae twitched a few times and blurted. "None of you stopped me, so you have no say in this!" Then, she pointed at the tall tree. "And you!"

Liu Shu hummed. "Yes?"

The mothkin coughed and said. "I am sorry. I was quite agitated. I also believe what you said, but it is so out of the norm that I couldn't help but overreact."

Liu Shu giggled. "I see. Then, it doesn't matter~." 

Mariane sighed and buzzed her wings while scratching her cheek. "Sigh. Well, let's move on. We won't really get many answers here. You've called us for something, right? Shoot."

The World Tree spoke. "Oh! Right! Flor, let's open the town!" 

Flor blinked a few times. "Why the rush?"

"Because there are many people who are starting to bother us!" 

Flor became thoughtful and commented. "Are you sure you are prepared?"

Liu Shu giggled and used her new passive skill, <Runic Coverage>. Her entire body got covered with blue runes from the roots to her canopy in just five seconds. Then, a powerful energy pulse spread around, and when Flor and the others blinked, Liu Shu's form completely changed. 

She was neither a Willow-type tree nor did her trunk have the shape of a beautiful female. She had become a standard yet tall tree. 

Flor and the rest blinked a few times, and Mariane focused on analyzing Liu Shu. 

***

Race: Life Tree

Level: ??

Aether Mana Shards: ??/??

Phoer Body Shards: ??/?? 

Anima Energy Shards: ??/??

***

The mothkin was impressed. "Wow. You are more than ready. If Verena was here, she would be a great subject to see if she can see through the skill, but regardless, this is quite good."

Flor asked, doubtful. "Did you change your body, Liu Shu?"

Liu Shu giggled. "Nop~. Fly through the place where my branches previously were!" 

Flor blinked and did so. When she passed where the drooping branches of the Willow World Tree had previously been, she could feel the soft touch of her leaves. "Oh? It is still here?"

Liu Shu hummed. "Well, it is a D- Rank skill, so other than making it less noticeable, I can't really hide my real self. It is more of an illusion!" 

Flor nodded. "I see. It is still impressive. The sensation is very faint, and people might confuse it with something else." 

With that guaranteed, Flor nodded. "Okay, I think that's good enough." Then, she took a deep breath and said. "We are revealing ourselves. Let's go to the Explorer association." 

Verdantia, Cinderielle, and Tempestria followed right after while Ignatia was left behind. Once the Ant Queen saw them leave, she spoke. "Do you think it will go smoothly, Liu Shu?"

Liu Shu commented. "It doesn't matter. Even if no one comes and people try to siege us, they will just be driven out by force. We are telling people that this is mine… Hmm… ours?"

Ignatia laughed. "It's yours, Liu Shu. We are just living here thanks to your infinite grace~." 

Liu Shu giggled. "Well, it doesn't matter much."

Ignatia commented. "By the way, you won't be able to attack with your branches, right? Isn't your defensive prowess somewhat crippled?"

Liu Shu hummed. "I can still summon the Arboreal Flying Serpents. Each summoning is 10,000 Anima Energy. Additionally, they take around 2000 an hour to maintain. So, unless it is a very prolonged fight, I can fight. If things get too dangerous, revealing myself is not a problem."

Ignatia smiled. "I guess we think similarly. I am going back to my nest to lay eggs. Tell me if you need me; I can stop at any time."

Liu Shu answered. "Okay~. Have fun creating more little ants!" 

Ignatia laughed and left.

Meanwhile, Verdantia and the other two Sylvans walked out of the zone with Flor sitting on Verdantia's shoulder. The Life Sylvan has told her to do so so that she is safer, as her Liferoot family name was a big shield by itself.

Still, people who looked over were still curious. Rose Fairies had become notorious around here. Since their intelligence increased, they've been fighting off the Explorers with group tactics and ambushes, making even higher-level people suffer. 

Therefore, seeing a Rose Fairy that was double the usual size and with quite a profound aura made people wonder what was happening. This led three or four groups that they came across to follow them.

Seeing enough people around, one of the groups approached and spoke aloud. "Missy, are you okay? If you are being held hostage by that Rose Fairy, we can help." 

Flor looked over and spoke. "No one is being held hostage. I am being accompanied toward Sirol City to register my town in the Explorer Association." 

The man who spoke readied his weapon and frowned. "Hey, Rose Fairy, I am speaking to the woman you are sitting on. Can you stay silent?"

Flor sighed and looked at Verdantia. Verdantia smiled. "Don't worry, Uncle. She is speaking the truth. I've been in the dangerous part of the forest for a while, and I've discovered what is making the Golden Sap Forest grow so fast. The Rose Fairies' evolution and the rest of the strange events can all be linked to her-ahem. it." 

The old-looking man coughed. "Um. I am 28, so Uncle is a bit…"

Verdantia blinked and looked at the tall, full-bearded man. "I see… Well, big brother, I will continue with my journey. As I said, we are not on bad terms. On the contrary, perhaps we will manage to open a new town in the middle of the Golden Sap Forest." 

The people in that group and all those looking from a safe distance heard Verdantia's words, making them raise their eyebrows. The man asked. "Missy, do you mind if I accompany you? I just want to make sure that you go and reach Sirol City." He looked at Flor and snorted. "I don't really trust monsters." 

Flor snorted back but didn't answer, ignoring him. Verdantia looked at Flor amusedly. "Sure, you can come with us."

Tempestria asked as they walked toward Sirol City. "So, how long have you been here?"

The bearded man shook his head. "Not long. I came back because this is where I was born. But, because there were not many places to properly develop, I decided to leave through the Wall Forest to go to the inner side of the continent. I roamed around for ten years outside, and recently, I heard that there seems to be a change in the <Golden Sap Forest>, with many valuable resources spawning in it." The man smiled. "It certainly has very profitable resources to collect, and I've made good money. However, the Golden Sap Forest is a bit small. There are also many dangers. Not many dare come after all the deaths that have happened recently."

Flor spoke coldly. "If you didn't cross the boundaries set by the Explorer Association, perhaps not a single person would've died. But you all are greedy and had to poke your noses where they didn't belong." 

The man answered back. "Monster, this forest is not your property! If we want to go to a place, we will."

Flor smirked. "And no one is stopping you. Just know that once you go there with bad intentions, you will die. The reason Verdantia and the other two are alive is because their intentions were…" Flor remembered what their intentions were, and she said with a complex expression. "Somewhat… pure?" 

Cinderielle asked, incredulous. "What's with that tone? We never tried to do harm to you, right?" 

Flor smiled and asked. "Oh? What was your intention then, eh? Care to explain it aloud?"

Cinderielle opened and closed her mouth. She certainly couldn't say that "Court a World Tree" was her intention. 

Meanwhile, seeing the natural bantering nature between them, the other groups relaxed. 'It seems that they are really not being forced.'

This made the trip back easier, and by dusk, they arrived at Sirol City.