Chương 753: Realization: Lack Of Strength.

As a humanoid being, Xakira's breakthrough was rather quick. It didn't take nearly as long as it would have for a World Tree. During this process, Xakira felt… peculiar. If she could describe it, she felt as if she had returned to a very faraway past, embraced by the most primitive protective layer inside her egg. This sensation of returning to nature's embrace made her senses grow somewhat fuzzy for a moment, her body shifting from a sitting to a curled-up position.

Liu Shu saw her small movements, and she naturally accommodated her. She also liquified the fruits, pouring them into the sap Xakira had submerged herself in. During this time, Xakira's body went through many changes. While Liu Shu's <Eternal> element couldn't seep into her, as the System fiercely prohibited it, the rest of Liu Shu's existence easily helped and affected Xakira's <Ascension> and <Seventh Cycle>.

The essence being drawn toward herself became ridiculous, and Liu Shu was momentarily forced to focus on Xakira so that she wouldn't dry up the lake she had prepared for her. As a Level 150, even when exceptional, supporting the advancement of a Level 200 being was not something easy. Time ticked by, and soon, Xakira's still body twitched. Then, all those present in the cave felt a terrifying presence awaken. BOOM! An aura shockwave pushed the lake clear of sap, staining all the walls around and the people present.

Then, Xakira flew forward, landing on solid ground, and looked around with a hint of guilt.

"Ahem. Sorry for that. I just felt a need to release my aura for a moment because I felt stifled. Liu Shu chuckled.

"Don't worry, no one is angry. Some people are even acting quite… disturbingly." Her root smacked the back of her lovers' heads, who were licking the sap with an obsessed look. Even for Liu Shu, seeing them so eagerly lick her "blood" was a bit off-putting! After being slapped, they all blinked and coughed, returning to normal. Xakira sighed.

"My condolences. To think you'd score such… special people as lovers." Verdantia frowned.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Xakira smiled.

"Nothing, nothing. You are all just exceptional." She even gave a big thumbs up. Liu Shu asked, curious.

"So, did you become strong?"

"Strong?" Xakira looked at her System Page and laughed.

"Liu Shu, dear. With your buffs, I can currently beat you quite badly."

"..." Liu Shu was stunned when she heard that, and then Xakira generously showed her Level 200 System page without Liu Shu's attributes.

Name: Queen Xakira Level: 200 Aether Mana Stars: 75. 3/75. 3 (7, 522, 929) (752, 292, 829, 858) Phoer Body Stars: 53. 3/53. 3 (5, 321, 127) (532, 112, 638, 452) Anima Energy Stars: 36. 7/36. 7 (3, 668, 391) (366, 839, 038, 171) Attributes: Aether 6, 036, 914 / Physique 4, 596, 730 / Anima 3, 394, 992 / Willpower 768, 856 / Destiny 3, 600 Liu Shu was stunned.

"... This is the System Page of a Level 200?" Verdantia asked, speechless.

"Your name is actually Queen Xakira? Doesn't the System Page name correspond to what you feel is your true name? How arrogant are you?" Xakira raised her chin with a confident smile.

"So what if I call myself Queen Xakira? I am a Queen, and until someone forces me down from my throne, that will be my name!" Ignatia at the side gave her a big thumbs up.

"Great. You are even more arrogant than me. Also, this System Page looks quite terrifying. Once these numbers are enhanced by Liu Shu's blessings…" Just imagining that rich System Page, Ignatia shook her head.

"Other than the Skill Merchants, you are unrivaled in the entirety of the Golden Sap Empire." Liu Shu was still a bit confused.

"What are your Stars, though? The numbers vary a bit too much, no?" Xakira was generous again, sharing it with them.

Tier Stars: If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement. Aether Stars: 19 (S Tier) Phoer Stars: 16 (A Tier) Anima Stars: 14 (B+ Tier) Willpower Stars: 17 (A+ Tier) Overall Stars: 16. 5 (A Tier) Xakira chuckled.

"I've always relied on my <Aether> stats to completely overwhelm my opponents. Also, my <Physique> is quite nice." She then clicked her tongue.

"Only my Soul aspect is a bit lacking. My weakness, so to speak." Revealing this showed just how much Xakira trusted Liu Shu and the others. After all, with 14 <Anima> Tier Stars, Xakira could rather easily be affected by soul attacks. Of course, the precondition was the opponent having something that could break her current 3. 4 million <Anima> Stat and almost 800, 000 <Willpower> Stat. Liu Shu shook her head a bit, and then she felt like smiling deprecatingly at herself.

'I was too confident in my own strength. <Second Ascension> powerhouses are nothing to scoff at.' She had honestly thought that her <Stats> wouldn't be too far off from a <Second Ascension> powerhouse. However, facts have proven that she was barely scratching the surface of Level 200 AFTER her buffs were applied to herself. With all of her buffs, Liu Shu's <Stats> all lingered at around 5. 5 million, with her <Essence Stars> all hovering around 35.

This kind of strength was absolutely crushing against Level 199s and below. Still, when compared to Level 200 and above people, especially geniuses like Xakira, she was still weak! This knowledge gave Liu Shu a strong wake-up call. Meanwhile, Xakira, feeling Liu Shu's silence, secretly smiled. She had felt that Liu Shu had become a bit too relaxed and confident. She didn't blame the girl. After all, she was a young World Tree whose strength had grown explosively.

For someone like her, who went from a small little tree in a forest to a Solar System-spanning behemoth in just a century, not showing strong arrogance was already something worth praising. Xakira admired this part of Liu Shu, which kept her steady even under her transformation. Still, even with Liu Shu's cautious personality, Xakira had noticed those small seeds of arrogance and carelessness. So, she straight up showed her System Page to ask Liu Shu one thing: "Are you sure you are ready?"

The answer was a big and strong no. If Liu Shu had not had Xakira acting as her vanguard in the future war, Liu Shu would have suffered a lot in the upcoming war. Even now, with Xakira acting, Liu Shu didn't feel safe.

'Xakira is a recently upgraded Level 200. Her <Equipment> is Level 190 strong armors and weapons. However, Level 200 is another benchmark for <Equipment> stats. So, a Nexus's Star Emperor, who was most likely armed with four or five pieces of high-quality Level 200+ armor and weapons, his <Stats> would be even more ridiculous than Xakira's.' Thinking this, Liu Shu's heart tensed up once more.

'I need to arm Xakira. Otherwise, she will be pushed back even with my buffs. Right now, the <Faith Blessing> can help Xakira by giving her 20% of my stats, which is a boost of around 1. 4 million points for each. That will cover for the lack of <Equipment> for the duration.' That was far from enough, though. What about the time when Xakira was not under that blessing? This was a last-resort buff that could only be used monthly. Completely not enough to fight another Level 200 being on a long-drawn battlefield.

"Liu Shu." Ignatia's voice echoed in the cave, startling Liu Shu awake from her swirling thoughts.

"Yes, Mommy? What's wrong?" Ignatia smiled softly.

"Don't rush. Now you know, and we still have a few years. Do not get entangled in your thoughts." Liu Shu was startled for a moment, and then she took a deep breath.

"I understand. Sorry, Mommy. I worried you." Xakira looked at Ignatia with a hint of admiration.

'She truly understands her, doesn't she?' If Ignatia heard her, she would answer with a puffed-out chest.

'Of course! I am her Mommy, after all!' Meanwhile, Verdantia and Cinderielle looked at the numbers on Xakira's System Page, and they also became solemn. With their <Sylvan Transformation>, their stats would become explosive for a long time during battle. They would be able to fight basically anyone under Level 199 with relative ease. Still, they knew that even if the four of them battled together against the Hornet Queen, the only result would be a crushing defeat.

The feeling of slowly catching up to Liu Shu completely vanished, and they silently sent this System Page to Tempestria and Harmonixia. In their offices, the two Sylvans stared at that System Page, and then they slowly stood up.

"Cover my shifts. I will be going to <Dungeons> more often from now on." With just a simple Level Up, the entire atmosphere of Golden Sap City silently shifted. Naturally, Liu Shu did not share Xakira's System Page. That was a secret only Flor, Ignatia, her four lovers, and she would ever know. No one else. Still, being the leaders of the Golden Sap Empire, they quickly changed their ruling methods.

Their orders became much more military-oriented, forming more frequent and mandatory <Dungeon> squads to boost everyone's strength. This already existed, but the diving pace was good enough to leave a strong morale instead of focusing on boosting strength. A more balanced, long-term approach that they could not afford now. When the generals asked, Flor gave them a simple answer.

"War is approaching. We must sprint until then. After it, we can return to our previous approach." Meanwhile, Liu Shu checked her Experience Points, ready to boost her Levels. She didn't mind becoming much larger, as her priority was strength.

In the depths of space, the Nexus's army moved as one, their large fleet moving through space at a constant yet fast pace. At the helm, the Star Emperor sat comfortably on his main chair. He leaned on his fist, asking lightly.

"How long until we arrive?" Someone answered.

"Three and a half years, Lord."

"Mhm." The Star Emperor nodded. Then, he stretched a bit and sighed.

"I heard that the Covenant is pressuring the frontline I was previously holding?"

"Yes, Lord. It seems that despite our best efforts, they have become aware of Lord's journey."

"It was expected." The Star Emperor answered lightly, not worried at all.

"Once I am done here, can't I just keep pushing through this front? I want to see what the Covenant will do when they realize that I will be creating a new front right here." He chuckled, imagining the panicked fleets going to try to stop him.

"Have we prepared all the spatial storage starships?"

"We have, Lord. Even if you want to loot ten worlds, we will have enough space to carry everything."

"Good. We are on a timer, so we will loot everything we can before safely retreating. Let's try to get a big bite out of the Covenant this time!"

"Yes, Lord!"