Fallen Queen's Pheromone?
Kukukuku. The ground rumbled. Or rather, it felt like the earth itself was shaking.
The queen mana earthworm monster. It was approaching slowly—very slowly.
Whoa...
The closer it got, the more its size sank in. As big as an adult man. Not a giant, of course. But to me, a mere sapling, it was plenty massive.
But...
Something's off with its condition?
The queen mana earthworm monster didn't look right. Its eyes were rolled back. Its black pupils were bloodshot all over. Foam bubbled from its mouth.
And then...
What the hell is that?
Black smoke enveloped its entire body. The ominous haze writhed like it was alive.
Kuoooong.
In that moment, the queen took another step forward.
No way.
My branches trembled.
Did I eat too many of its offspring and piss it off?
Its rage had driven it mad! That seemed plausible. Come to think of it, I'd devoured dozens by now.
Damn it. Should've eaten just a few...
Regret flooded in. But it was too late. The queen was heading straight for me.
Kukukuku!
The ground cracked as the queen reared up its massive body.
KieeeEEEE!
A roar that could shred eardrums. My branches shook violently.
I can't die like this...
I had to think of something. As I racked my brain...
-Huh? Isn't that thing something you like?
One spirit tilted its head.
-Thought you'd be thrilled.
-Shouldn't you be happy?
I let out a hollow chuckle at the blinking spirits.
No way in hell!
-Huh? Why not?
-Why wouldn't you like it?
I yelled at the innocently curious bunch.
Something that big coming at me means I'm dead!!
Their eyes went wide all at once.
-Can't eat it?
-Too much?
-What do we do?
They whispered to each other, faces together.
-Then we'll help!
-You can't die!
-Right! You're our friend!
They swarmed off in a flock.
Hey! Wait!
I called desperately, but the spirits were already in front of the queen mana earthworm monster.
-Let's go!
-Start it!
-We can do this!
The spirits stood in a straight line before the giant, arms outstretched.
Kuhhhng... I heard them straining.
Something rippled from their hands. Moisture gathered. Sparks flew. Wind swayed. Earth clumped.
Nature's power itself.
-Hiyah!
With a mighty shout, they thrust their hands forward.
But.
Drip. Drip.
A few water droplets hit the ground.
Shhh...
A faint breeze whispered.
Pop. Pop pop.
A handful of warm embers scattered.
Roll roll.
A few pebbles tumbled.
.....
It was so feeble. Utterly harmless to the queen.
"KieeeEEE!!"
Instead, the queen—enraged by the pathetic display—reared its tail high.
And slammed it down.
Kuoooong!!
Toward the spirits.
No!!
I reflexively raised my branches. No way... the spirits weren't hurt, were they? I hurriedly released mana to scan for them.
-We're fine!
-All good!
Thank goodness—they'd dodged the tail nimbly.
What a relief...
I sighed in relief and glanced at the impact site.
Whoa...
A deep crater. With that much power... a little sapling like me would be obliterated in one hit. Smashed to bits.
My branches quivered.
The returning spirits spoke in dejected tones.
-Sorry.
-We couldn't stop it.
-Our power's too weak.
It's okay.
I barely managed to rustle my branches. I was grateful they'd even tried.
Guess it's up to me.
I began extending my roots.
Shwaaaa!
They sliced through the soil and wrapped around the queen mana earthworm monster's massive body.
Got it! Now, just Nutrient Absorption and...
Before the thought finished—
"KiiIII!!"
The queen thrashed wildly.
Shwaaaa—!!
My roots snapped right off.
Ugh!
A stinging ache shot up from the tips. Weird.
Why does it hurt?
Even with Sanctuary?
Is Sanctuary's level too low?
Still, it had been fine against the offspring. The queen was clearly different.
No time to dazedly feel my severed roots.
"KieeeEEE!!"
The queen charged again.
Kugugugu!
A full-body lunge. I desperately thrust out roots.
Shwaak—!
Block it!
I tried to coil around its body, but—
Thud—!
The instant my roots touched—
Sizzle—!
Black smoke crept up them.
What the—!
A chilling sensation. Like my roots were burning from the inside.
Can't just grab it!
I yanked them back reflexively.
Shoooaaa.
Too late. The tips were charred black.
What is this...
Where the black smoke touched, it burned. Even inside Sanctuary.
This wasn't mere physical force. Something Sanctuary couldn't block.
Cold sweat beaded in my mind. Meanwhile, the queen turned.
Not slow at all. How was something that huge so fast?
Kugugu!
Another charge.
Damn it!
I buried my roots deep underground. Safe as long as they stayed buried.
Or so I thought.
Thud thud thud!
Vibrations transmitted from below.
No way.
It's an earthworm. Underground is its turf!
"KiiIII!!"
A roar echoed, then—
Kwuduk—!!
One root got clamped underground.
Ugh!
Biting force incomparable to the offspring. Couldn't pull free.
I tugged. Flailed.
Shwaak! Shwaaaa!
Extended other roots to grab its body, but—
Sizzle—!
They burned on contact.
This is bad for real!
Panicking, I flailed my branches. Grabbing burns them. Underground's its domain. Sanctuary doesn't work.
No options left!
Thanks to evolution, I was holding on. Without it, I'd be done.
Then the queen shook the clamped root violently.
Shwaaaaa!!
It yanked free, flinging it aboveground.
Kuwoong!
Shock rippled to my trunk.
Ugh...
Dizzy. Roots were a mess. Burned. Severed. Charred.
Status window would show a laundry list of debuffs.
Can't win head-on.
Especially that black smoke. Pain every time it touched.
What now?
Force wouldn't cut it.
But I can't just do nothing.
Kugugu!
The queen pivoted for another go. Tensed up—
-We'll try again!
The spirits flew off.
No, it didn't work last time!
Too late—they were in front again.
Kuhhhhng!! Far more serious this time. Bodies quaking.
-Hiyah!!
Their power poured out. Still feeble, same as before.
As expected, no—
Sizzle—!
The black smoke on the queen's body wavered.
Huh?
It definitely shook. Just where their power hit, the smoke dispersed slightly—like burning away.
Wait.
I stared blankly. Smoke unmoved by Sanctuary burned under spirit power.
Then...
Thoughts raced. Roots burning? Sanctuary failing? All because of that smoke.
If we clear the smoke...
Worth a shot!
No other choices. I called the spirits urgently.
Hey! Can you coat my roots with your power?
They blinked.
-Coat with power?
Yeah. Like the power from your hands earlier. Wrap it around my roots.
They exchanged looks. Brief silence.
-We'll try!!
They nodded and reached for my roots.
Kuhhhhng!! Dead serious now. Bodies trembling. Sweat beading.
Slowly, something rippled at the root tips.
A bit more!
Not enough yet. More. More.
Just a little!!
Spirit Affinity has reached Level 3.
Spirit Power Enchant has been acquired.
Infuse spirit power into the body.
Spirit Power Enchant?
Infuse spirit power? Perfect timing!
Infinite Growth is broken.
And with that—
Shwaaaa—!
Spirit power swirled around my entire roots. Rippling like waves. Colors blending, enveloping them.
Yes!!
I eyed the queen mana earthworm monster.
First, one good hit.
I whipped my roots back, then hurled them.
Shwaaaaa!
Cleaving the air, they smashed straight into the queen's head.
Thud—!!
A heavy, dull impact echoed through the forest.
Oh.
Better feedback than expected?
Next up...
As I thought that, the queen staggered.
Huh?
I stared blankly. Then it collapsed limply.
Thud.
What.
One shot? Really over just like that?
I dazedly looked down at the fallen queen mana earthworm monster.
Whoa...
Spirit power's insane!
Shaking it off, I rustled my branches and checked myself.
Roots took a beating.
Tattered branches. Scorched roots everywhere. The bite mark was deeply gouged.
The fight had been brutal.
Nutrient Absorption first.
Something to eat would heal me. Especially a queen.
I extended roots, wrapped the queen, and began absorbing.
Sluuuuurp—!
Whoa whoa?
The taste was different. Completely.
Offspring were spicy. This was... spicy, sweet, salty, with a rich aftertaste.
Kyaaaa!!
No comparison. Queens are on another level!
I sucked greedily.
Sluuuurp!
The queen crumbled away.
Ugh. Thanks for the meal.
I rustled contentedly. The spirits flew over, giggling.
-Tasty?
-We did good, right?!
Yeah yeah. Thanks so much.
Then the window popped up.
Fallen Queen's Pheromone has been acquired.
...Huh?
Fallen Queen's Pheromone?
I stared blankly at the window.
What kind of skill is this? The name alone sounds sketchy...