With no intention of reminiscing, Iros cut straight to business: "I heard you've been stuck here for many days. What specific problem are you facing now?"
When it came to serious matters, Eko immediately dropped his joking demeanor, his tone becoming grave:
"It's the plants! Those damn Migratory Trees have gone mad too! They're causing crazy destruction in the area ahead, along with a large number of monsters nesting in the trees also going berserk. Cleaning them up is extremely troublesome, and progress is slow."
"Hall-tier and above experts do have the ability to force their way through alone, but you and I both know the situation in the last two layers. Without enough personnel to coordinate the advance, rashly going deep is too dangerous!"
He wiped the sweat mixed with blood from his face, his tone carrying a trace of weariness and irritation: "These past few days I've basically been chopping wood the moment I open my eyes—I've practically become a professional lumberjack! Iros, you must have a more efficient method than this, right?"
"I'll give it a try." Iros didn't guarantee anything. Eko was used to his cautious way of speaking and personally held up a crystal lamp to lead them toward the darkness.
The closer they got to the forward area, the more obvious the ground's trembling became.
Salian didn't dare be careless. He quickly concentrated, extending both hands. Above his palms, a complex and precise spherical magic construct rapidly took shape.
Expanding the range to maximum, the magic array swept the surroundings and immediately projected the nearby complex terrain clearly in three-dimensional imagery, providing everyone with perfect vision.
Even the Guard Captain walking ahead couldn't help but praise after glancing at it: "I remember the city's surveillance array was arranged based on this magic of yours, right? Really excellent magic! If only you'd been born a few centuries earlier."
Just as Salian was about to say something modest, the Puchi on his head suddenly patted his cheek and pointed in a direction.
He looked somewhat puzzled toward that direction in his spatial detection sphere but saw nothing there.
Sighing inwardly, feeling like a fool for trusting the Puchi: "Stop mess—"
Before he could finish, two Migratory Trees appeared on the detection sphere!
Salian: "..."
No time for embarrassment, Salian immediately warned those around him: "They're coming!"
Soon after, deafening roars came from ahead.
Two giant Migratory Trees over a hundred meters tall, like out-of-control giants, wildly wriggled their countless thick roots, crushing everything in their path.
"Don't run around, stay behind me!" Eko shouted a reminder, his two curved blades instantly lighting up with dazzling emerald green radiance, powerful natural energy coiling around them. He crouched to build momentum, preparing to charge forward for a direct confrontation!
However, Iros had already acted.
The two frantically charging Migratory Trees suddenly stumbled, their massive bodies violently swaying, nearly toppling to the ground!
The countless wildly dancing roots beneath them had unknowingly been temporarily seized by Iros using powerful nature magic—part of their control stolen—causing them to tangle tightly together, forming knots that couldn't easily be undone!
The two trees were trapped in place for the moment, only able to struggle where they stood.
But the threat from the trees remained! A sharp screech rang out as over a dozen "Woodborer Monkeys" roosting in the canopy, their eyes flashing with crazed red light, used the elasticity of branches to catapult themselves out, sharp claws diving straight toward the group!
At the same time, several "Thorn Pythons" hidden among the foliage also opened their fanged maws and spat out corrosive, foul-smelling dark green venom arrows!
"Stop them!" Eko roared, his blade light spinning up like a whirlwind, instantly slicing two Woodborer Monkeys to pieces.
The other elf mages behind him also immediately took action, either raising magic shields to block the venom or counterattacking with spells like wind blades and fireballs.
Just as they blocked the first wave of attacks, the Puchi patted Salian's cheek once again.
Even though no targets had appeared on the detection sphere yet, the elf, now experienced, directly warned: "More coming!"
The ground transmitted even more violent tremors as three more Migratory Trees charged over from different directions!
Everyone quickly contracted their formation, protecting Iros at the center.
Iros remained calm. He repeated his previous method, manipulating the roots of the newly arrived giant trees, making them follow their companions' fate.
One, two, three... more and more Migratory Trees were trapped by this clever method in the same area. They collided with each other, connecting into a chaotic mass.
When the number of trapped Migratory Trees reached a certain level, almost filling that entire area, Iros knew the moment had arrived.
He stepped forward, slowly raising both hands.
This time, he mobilized an enormous amount of mana. An incredibly massive spell spread outward from him as the center, enveloping all the trapped giant tree areas!
It was Purification—most mages present knew this spell.
But no one could cast Purification with such enormous range while maintaining such powerful effectiveness!
This time, Iros had clearly brought out his true abilities.
The lyrics of the Purification Aria came from his mouth, maximizing the spell's effectiveness, penetrating deep into the Migratory Trees' massive trunks.
The giant trees' frenzied struggling gradually subsided. The dark red veins between their trunks gradually faded, replaced by post-exhaustion confusion and gradually recovering calm.
Their mountain-like massive bodies slowly ceased their frenzied struggling, finally standing quietly in place. Their gnarled roots drooped, and their disheveled branches no longer danced wildly, as if they had just awakened from a long and terrifying nightmare, still carrying a trace of confusion.
Even the Madness contained within the main Migratory Trees was dispersed by this vast purifying force—not to mention those monsters roosting upon them.
The crimson glow in their eyes completely faded, their violent aura dissipated without trace, leaving only instinct-driven panic and confusion as they all retreated back into the deep foliage, no longer posing a threat.
With a gesture, Iros had resolved the problem that had plagued the ranger forces for many days.
At this moment, having lost the Migratory Trees' crazy destruction and obstruction, this area that had been ravaged and left in shambles had instead become a relatively safe zone.
Guard Captain Eko surveyed the surroundings, quickly assessing the current situation. He walked to Iros's side and, looking at the other's eyes showing slight fatigue after casting such a large-scale spell, asked with a trace of concern: "Need to rest for a bit?"
"No need," Iros's gaze turned toward the deeper areas. "Purification isn't permanent. The Migratory Trees could be infected again at any time. Let's hurry and advance while we can."
Under the Guard Captain's command, the rangers left behind a group to watch over these Migratory Trees, while the main force continued deeper.
In the even deeper areas, they encountered the final obstacle before the core.
Countless toxic silver-white saplings.
[Race: Pale Pilgrims]
(End of Chapter)
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