Chương 363: Ignatia's Unwavering Resolve.

Flor looked at the 300 beast riders and was stunned. She had never expected the reinforcements that arrived to multiply their Third Energy Cycle combatants several times over. Thalgryn jumped down from her war bear and nodded at Flor and Galia.

"Flor, Lady Galia, if you don't mind, I'll take over command. I've also picked up Lord Taro on the way here to plan tactics. I believe that we can protect him with our current strength, even if the enemy is a Level 70 Corrupted World Tree." Thalgryn glanced at the 60% Corruption Level and became serious.

"We don't have much time left." Flor didn't discuss it and nodded.

"I just want to say that the ants are also attacking on the other side of the forest. Take that into account when you are guiding us." Thalgryn started pondering and nodded.

'That Ant Queen has come out to help Liu Shu? It seems that, as I had expected, she is different from the Ant Queens that appeared in the past.' A sense of relief swept Thalgryn's heart, feeling that her choice not to uncover this secret back then was the correct choice. She had always been worried that she had left the prime opportunity to put down a thing that could evolve into a global threat, but now she understood that the Ant Queen and World Tree were connected much more deeply than she ever expected.

With that out of the way, she looked around and was informed by Flor about their current combat power. After fighting for eight days straight, the army and mercenary groups had changed a lot. First of all, there was a sense of cohesion between everyone. Second, the discipline and edge of the fighters have become incredibly sharp. Thirdly, while there had been deaths, the numbers didn't reach 10% of the original numbers.

This was all thanks to Flor's tactic of attacking and retreating, a tactic only possible because they were fighting a World Tree without reliable long-ranged attacks. If their enemy had been Liu Shu, their current resting place would've been bombarded by <Mother Of Thousand Flower Field>, forcing them to make an all-out charge at the cost of many lives. Thalgryn waved her hand, and a large bird picked her up, raising her into the air and looking into the distance.

"We are almost there…" In the distance, spotting the gargantuan Corrupted World Tree was not difficult. According to her estimations, the army was around 3 kilometers away from the Corrupted World Tree's main body. Thalgryn muttered.

"Three kilometers of swamp, and we will arrive. By then, the army of beasts that have gathered to protect the Corrupted World Tree will attack us with brutal strength." Her eyes moved toward the left, and she could see a fire in the distance.

"... That should be the ants. I wonder how they can attack with their large numbers. After all, <Corrupted Land>'s constant damaging effect is particularly powerful against ant-wave tactics." Thalgryn didn't know that after Ignatia gained her deep connection with Liu Shu, the World Tree's purifying nature was inherent to the ants. So, they were fine even when walking in this corrupted land. Of course, if they came into direct contact with the corruption, their luck would run out.

Thalgryn signaled the bird to place her back down and her mind had already created a battle plan.

"I'll have a group keeping the Ant Army's advance in check. Meanwhile, Ruby and Ophion will go and assist the ants. Flor and everyone from the Golden Sap City will assist them as well. You all are the most familiar with them. The rest of the army will advance through here with my cavalry. Once we arrive at the central area, I will lead the 300 Beast Riders to lead the charge, and we'll topple down the Corrupted World Tree."

Seeing her steady stance and general-like aura, everyone nodded without a hint of hesitation.

"Wert, remain here with Taro. I need you two to control the mercenaries and gathered explorers. I'll take care of the rogue powerhouses." Wert and Taro nodded firmly, and everyone started moving quickly. They could feel the weight of running time in their hearts, so no one said anything superfluous. Meanwhile, Ignatia was covered in blood and sap from the enemies that she and her children had faced. However, her face remained unchanging, and her arms still moved as if she hadn't been fighting for a day straight.

With her ridiculous 13, 000 <Physique Points>, each of her punches would rip trees from the ground. Moreover, this number was her base-level <Physique>! After Liu Shu's buffs and her own, reaching nearly 20, 000 points was not that hard! With her ridiculous bodily strength, nothing could stand in the way of the angered Queen Mother. The more time she wasted, the more her precious Liu Shu would suffer, and Ignatia would not have any of that! Her battle was not overly emotional, though.

Like all the ants, she worked mechanically and consistently. Her face was also terrifyingly cold and indifferent, her compound eyes taking in everything and giving commands to her children from time to time. This was the image that Flor and the others saw when they arrived: a mass of angry but cold ants tearing down an entire forest with incredible efficiency. Flor didn't say anything and quickly flew forward, joining the ants. Ignatia glanced over once and then didn't say anything else.

It was not time to speak now. Flor ordered aloud.

"Coordinate with the ants! Healers and buffers move around them, and we are going to do a serious push today so only low-level people are allowed to leave due to corruption. The rest will remain here and be healed until they reach their limit." Stolen novel; please report. The Corrupted World Tree was filled with disbelief at the current events. Her strength had been somewhat impacted after the root net received so much damage.

Of course, Liu Shu's attack was from the front, and since it was in the middle of the swamp, there was around 55% of forest behind it that was intact from the brutal invasion. Even then, she was starting to get scared.

'How can that World Tree resist for so long!? Isn't it a Second Energy Cycle World Tree!? My corruption is a substance created after several hundreds of years of corruption! A normal Third Energy Cycle World Tree would lose their mind in just a week!' However, even though the previous glowing blue energy coursing from Liu Shu's roots was now a muddy blue color, she could still feel her strong willpower.

The World Tree, even after reaching such a level of corruption, kept fighting against it without a single shred of hesitation. No, it was even more brutal than when she started the attack, as if every negative feeling was being vented through fighting.

"Y-You! What are you!? How can you resist for so long?" After a long time, everyone finally heard the screeching voice of the Corrupted World Tree once more. The tone was unlike the beginning. It had changed from disdaining and arrogant to a desperate and confused tone.

"You are going to fall. It doesn't matter what I am." Liu Shu's voice also spread at this moment, but when the group heard it, they couldn't help but clench their weapons tighter. The corrupted voice felt like ghosts were wailing in their ears while attempting to speak gently. Such a harrowing voice was even creepier than the fully corrupt voice. Ignatia's aura skyrocketed as a pillar of flames soared to the sky.

"<Ember Assault Wave>!" BOOOM! A sea of red flames swallowed more than a hundred meters in front of the wrathful Ant Queen. She had never felt this amount of killing intent toward a creature in her entire life. Flor and the others close to Liu Shu weren't feeling any better and they also attacked without holding back. Even Galia and the others who knew Liu Shu since not long ago couldn't help but speed up. BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

BOOM The last three kilometers of <Dark Aether Swamp> separating them from the Corrupted World Tree were destroyed in just two hours. Finally, both groups reached the clearing where the giant Corrupted World Tree. Thousands of monsters surrounded the Corrupted World Tree, the number of <Third Energy Cycle> reaching over 500 monsters. Seeing that terrifying number, Flor and the others thanked the stars that Thalgryn arrived with reinforcements, or they would've been only able to slowly siege them.

Meanwhile, Thalgryn glanced toward the ant army and noticed a particular woman standing at the front with a terrifying aura around her. Seeing this person, Thalgryn's expression couldn't help but become tense.

'As expected… Humanoid Ant Queen.' She was not the only one that noticed. Galia and other top-level masters also zeroed in on Ignatia's figure.

"Humanoid Ant Queen!?"

"Impossible! What's such a monster doing here!?"

"She has already reached the <Third Energy Cycle>! Oh, no! We are in trouble!" Flor's face dropped when she heard the surrounding discussion. She knew that Ignatia had revealed herself, throwing all caution to the wind because she wanted to protect Liu Shu. Therefore, she didn't blame her. However, hearing the increasingly negative comments, her heart was stifled. Yet, the Ant Queen was undeterred, and her royal aura spread to everyone, shutting everyone up.

"SILENCE!" Feeling the deterrence coming out of the Humanoid Ant Queen, everyone was scared. Ignatia spoke, her voice loud and clear and carrying her innate grandeur.

"I am Liu Shu's mother, and everyone who dares touch her will know my, the Ant Queen's, wrath!" She extended her hand and raised it above her head. WHOOSH! A massive fireball ten meters wide manifested, illuminating the area like a small Sun.

"I don't care what you think about Humanoid Ant Queens. I don't care if you want to hunt me down and kill me… HOWEVER!" The Ant Queen's terrifying queenly aura swept everyone, making them tense up. However, her words didn't carry any threat; instead, it was a plea.

"That kind girl is currently suffering, and I can't bear to watch her in that state. Please, lend me your strength to kill the Corrupted World Tree and save my little girl, Liu Shu!" She pointed her finger at the Corrupt World Tree, and the giant fireball streaked through the air, leaving behind a reddish trail. A giant bird appeared in the projectile's way and used a wind wall. BOOM!

The strength behind the Ant Queen's attack blew the Level 52 <Wind Blade Bird> backward, slamming it against the Corrupted World Tree's trunk. That single attack took the aggro of all the enemy beasts. If Thalgryn's group didn't move at this moment, Ignatia's ant army and herself would be targeted and defeated by the several thousand beasts protecting the Corrupt World Tree. With this move, Ignatia directly told anyone.

"I am willing to die to prove my loyalty to Liu Shu. If you still don't trust me, I'll just die trying to protect Liu Shu. But if you do, please help me." Everyone's heart couldn't help but tremble. They didn't expect the Ant Queen to be so ruthless toward herself. Liu Shu's corrupted voice spread around, her tone filled with viciousness and killing intent that a World Tree shouldn't have.

"Whoever dares touch Ignatia, I'll kill them myself!" The floor around Ignatia parted, and several giant roots soared upward, not aiming at the Corrupt World Tree but at Thalgryn's group! Everyone's hearts shook again.

'The World Tree was actually willing to stop fighting the being corrupting it to protect the Ant Queen!? What kind of concept is this? How deep is the World Tree's love for the Ant Queen?' Thalgryn's heart also surged with emotion, and she shouted ferociously, charging forward herself.

"What are you all still doubting? Help the Ant Queen defeat Liu Shu's enemies! DESTROY THE CORRUPTED WORLD TREE! Everyone's hearts surged with battle intent and shouted as one.

"DESTROY THE CORRUPTED WORLD TREE!" The final battle between the World Tree and the Corrupted World Tree was reaching the end!