Chapter 240
Chapter 240
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 240
Chapter Title: Baobab Tree (4)
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"Hey."
It had been three minutes since she'd plopped down stubbornly in front of the dungeon gate, waiting for Lee Si-heon.
Just as Aori was wondering if she should go fetch Yi-hyang, Taeyang spoke up.
"Y'know, now that I think about it, cameras can't get inside dungeons, right?"
"Yeah."
"So maybe this is bro's badass plan to claim that National Tree for himself?"
Aori's mouth fell open at the plausible idea.
"Gasp."
A vivid scene unfolded in her mind.
A wicked king forcing down a beauty brimming with pride and self-esteem, toying with her.
Crushing her head with power, money, and strength, then whispering in her ear.
-Lick it.
-Y-You coward! Have you no shame!
-Lick it.
-Ngh... Damn it!
At first, she'd hurl every insult in the book.
But as time passed, she'd turn into a moaning bitch in heat.
After teaching her manners with his fists, he'd show her pleasure, slowly breaking her down and making her his own. The kind of story straight out of a thin, sleazy novel.
Like an orc and an elf.
Or a knightess and a goblin.
Aori trembled, clutching her arms.
"...I like that."
"Knew you would. Come to think of it, that girl's pretty hot too. She'd look great in a maid outfit."
"What about a bunny girl?"
"Not bad either. Lying on a casino table in fishnet stockings, offering her feet."
A sudden dive into their tastes.
"...And then spray it with baby oil? Toss chips her way, and she gives a lick each time?"
"Damn, you get it."
The two let out drawn-out groans as they chatted.
Saliva pooled in their mouths from the lewd fantasies.
Baobab Tree—this was prime material.
In their heads, Bao had already become the perfect condom stand, draped in fishnets and scattered prophylactics.
[Bzz?]
The camera tilted its head, unable to grasp the conversation.
Even with the feed broadcasting worldwide, they didn't tone down their words.
Nothing would get through anyway.
"Baobab, was it?"
The fight dragged on, damage stacking, making her taller and bulkier. She fueled herself with rage, pain as her lubricant.
A unique power only the Baobab Tree among National Trees could wield.
But even that fearsome ability looked different through the lens of their sex-crazed minds.
"Wonder what it'd feel like getting smothered by that huge ass."
"Urk."
Aori gagged at Taeyang's innocent question.
Macrophilia. A fetish for massive partners.
Taeyang and Aori, born with the Lewd Demon trait as baseline.
"Think about it. Getting crushed flat by someone bigger than me?"
"Everyone I hook up with is bigger than me anyway."
"Well..."
Aori was on the petite side, even for a girl.
Standing next to a guy, she looked like a tiny sparrow.
Aori slyly lifted her foot. Dirt clung to her shoe.
"You into getting stepped on?"
"Nah, not that. But with a hot guy or girl, it'd feel good no matter what."
It wasn't just about tastes.
Taeyang's words rang surprisingly true, and Aori nodded.
Whatever the play, it didn't matter. As long as the person she was with turned her on sexually, it was fine.
If it felt good, that was that.
*****
It was the moment black mana surged from Lee Si-heon's body.
-Boom!
His form vanished, only to reappear mid-air, slamming a vertical kick down onto Bao's head.
The dungeon floor cratered.
"...!"
Her pupils contracted.
Unable to track the movement, her body whipped around wildly on its own.
A black shadow darted through the dungeon, pummeling her dozens of times.
-Bang! Bang! Bang!
Shoulder, waist, gut.
Her organs screamed, every muscle tearing in agony.
For a split second, Bao's eyes rolled back, consciousness flickering.
She snapped to, trying to follow his movements, but her hands always lagged. His strikes came faster.
Lee Si-heon slipped past her knife-hand chop, lowering his center.
Silent, his narrowed eyes fixed on his next target.
White mana flickered in his hand.
-Form of One. White Peach.
'A direct hit's dangerous.'
Even as the thought crossed her mind, her body wouldn't move.
Her eyes could track him, but her reactions were far too slow. She had no choice but to eat the punch.
A white flower bloomed in her abdomen.
A thin line of mana traced a straight path down the dungeon hall.
-Thud!
A eardrum-shattering impact.
Bao's body flew back 4-5 meters.
Mid-flight, she halted.
Standing firm, she glared at Lee Si-heon with bulging eyes.
In those fleeting seconds of pummeling, faint steam rose from her battered body.
"...Ngh, hack."
A groan escaped despite herself. Saliva dripped from her lips.
Suddenly, that woman's words from before echoed in her head.
-Why are you so obsessed with finding Lee Si-heon?
-Personal reasons, I said.
-...You think you can beat him?
Those words from the woman who'd fled pathetically, firing arrows wildly.
Black hair swaying, mocking eyes danced in her vision.
-Beating him in a fight would be tough.
-He's just a mage anyway.
-Mage? What? That's not his specialty.
Why hide power like this and pretend to be a mage?
Bao wiped drool from her chin, steadying her trembling eyes.
Stronger than imagined. She couldn't touch him as she was.
'Hoo...'
She collected herself and looked up, clenching sweaty fists.
It felt good.
"Fun."
A feral grin spread across her lips. Black mana churned viciously in her yellow eyes.
He charged again. Honest movement.
A straight punch, no fancy tricks. She liked it.
Bao thrust her massive fist.
Her body, even stronger in that instant.
-Boom!
Fists and palms clashed in a mana explosion, shaking the dungeon.
Dust rained from the ceiling as cracked walls trembled.
"This is fun...!"
A mad laugh of ecstasy. Lee Si-heon's eyes twitched.
"...Screw it. Bro or not... let's throw down first."
Her muscles swelled. Hot breath burst from her excited lungs.
A battle of bodies. Deciding who was stronger.
No more boring chase. They'd clash head-on, settling who was weaker.
Arabid.
In Bao's tribe, personal disputes meant life-or-death fights.
Fearless of death. Even if the body broke, the savage spirit endured. Souls of the fallen in sacred combat would protect them.
In barren, desolate lands, warriors survived only by worshiping strength.
Baobab. Father of Many Seeds.
Her body grew larger, now barely fitting in the hall.
For this moment, she'd enjoy the fight.
Forget chasing bro for now.
Banish that damn guy from her mind.
Just tear into the foe before her.
Fierce tiger intent gleamed in her eyes.
Crouched on all fours on the dungeon floor, baring her fangs.
Like a lioness charging prey.
Her fists hardened to crush. Female charms meant nothing now.
Furious red mana blazed through her body.
In a word, she'd lost it.
*****
Baobab Trees don't grow easily.
When the first sprout emerges, wildfires must rage first to germinate it.
In scorching pits under relentless sun, the seed sheds its thick shell, sprouting amid ashes.
This growth applies to Wood People too.
Africa, ravaged by gates, is no different. Constant monster waves force endless evacuations; kids learn swordplay at seven.
Thousands of young Wood People die monthly.
Protectors fall to monsters just as often.
Only their superior physiques let Wood People survive—humans are long gone from Africa.
Thus, they're exceptionally developed and robust.
Non-combatants were weeded out.
The pinnacle: genetically superior survivors.
Bao, just turned twenty and an adult, rivaled S-rank hunters for good reason.
Bao cracked her neck expressionlessly.
Crunch. Impressive sound.
"Come on already."
From clashing fists, she knew.
No more overwhelming him like before.
'That's why he pulled out White Peach.'
No openings for counterattack.
Yet she endured, feeding off it.
Even bigger now—chilling.
'Not Black Peach.'
Too strong, insane recoil.
Power amplified manyfold from his past journey.
Not for this foe. A last-ditch for deathmatches.
Even then, he'd avoided refined Black Peach. Only used it against Jeong Ho-moon out of necessity.
'This'll be a pain.'
As he assumed stance, Bao lunged.
-Whoosh!
Wind whipped as she accelerated, slamming down. He countered with his fist.
-Thud!
Collision screamed from knuckles to wrist to arm bones.
Bang. Second strike.
He gave up blocking, retreating—but she advanced three steps faster.
Their faces nearly touched.
Nose-to-nose, Bao thrust her savage eyes at him.
Yellow, owl-like, glowing in darkness.
"...Nice eyes. Everyone from there like that?"
"What. Peach Blossom Paradise?"
"I get why bro fled there—"
An upward knee.
"—now!"
He barely twisted away. Mana ripple warped his vision.
Fists poured as sight blurred. Trusting senses, he parried blindly.
Speed ramping up. Power growing.
No technique in her form or moves.
Beastlike, pure strength and speed.
-Grip!
Bao seized his extended arm, twisting hard.
Tight, to prevent escape. Bones creaking.
"Gotcha."
As triumph curved her lips, he spun his body against her elbow joint.
-Crunch!
"...What the—"
Joint wrenched, arm grotesquely popped.
Casually turning, he dodged her fist and smashed her face.
Bao released, clutching her face in disbelief.
-Crack, crack!
Arm rotated, bones realigning.
"...You even human?"
"That's my line. How big you gonna get?"
"Heh. Till I win."
Her face showed unmasked shock mid-fight.
He flexed his hand, feeling the restored arm.
"Thought no worthy opponents here. Didn't expect you."
"Yeah?"
"Lee Si-heon, right?"
He nodded; Bao muttered.
"I'll remember. Decent puncher."
The intent landed clear, even translated. He smiled wryly at her words via device.
'This drags forever.'
The longer the battle hype, the stronger she got.
Late Bloomer should've been her trait, not his.
As he pondered, a solution hit.
'Something to kill the excitement.'
Douse her raging mind with ice water.
'...Lewd Arts?'
A notion flashed.
He channeled mana into two fingers.
Blue mana, tinged purple.
Won't work on others, but for Bao, fueled by rage and battle lust? Maybe.
Never imagined using it in combat.
But it could work.
'Problem... gotta find erogenous zones.'
Index and middle extended, others curled.
'No clue.'
Like acupuncture.
Poke everywhere; one'll hit.
-Hum!
Coarse vibrating mana over his body, he swallowed.