Three days could be considered a long time during a war, but also quite short. Because of Liu Shu's change of tactic, these three days felt like three months for the Nexus.
Carter, having already ordered a total retreat and regrouping, was trying his best to save as much of the army as he could.
Because of their retreat, Liu Shu's army had not managed to pursue too much. After all, while advancing, the Nexus's army created paths without Liu Shu's roots where most of her buffs could not spread.
Liu Shu split her focus because of that. The other side was being cautious and quick, leaving her with no ability to retaliate herself. Still, each time they approached a root zone they previously thought was safe, Liu Shu would unleash absolute hell on them.
What was important to Liu Shu were two things, three if you stretched it. The first and most important was using the hidden roots the Nexus previously ignored to invade their Solar Systems. The way Liu Shu accomplished this was circling the area with her roots and invading not from the front, but from the back.
If you were to look at Liu Shu's root layout, you would see a rather large "void" where the Nexus had advanced, but just outside that range, a wall full of roots dodging the battlefield and circling it like a massive wall.
These roots were the ones that had already approached and closed into the Nexus's Solar System.
'By the time they arrive, the Solar System is going to be under my secret influence.'
Moreover, she was preparing an ambush. Seraphina, Verdantia, Obsidianis, and Tempestria, the four outer Solar System generals, had already cleaned up their battlefields and were moving in secret toward the Nexus's Solar Systems in two large, combined armies.
The second important matter was that Deadly Petal's roots were barely a few hours away from reaching her outer edge. When it came to battles between World Trees, the armies on both sides usually allowed the initial clash between them to occur before advancing.
It was not a matter of courtesy, but more so a matter of seeing the aftereffects of the clash and moving accordingly. After all, getting tangled in the physical clash between two World Trees was never a good choice.
The third and final matter, which Liu Shu had placed as the least priority, was invading the Covenant's Solar Systems.
These two Solar Systems wouldn't go anywhere in the short term, and because of Liu Shu's powerful blow to the Nexus, most aggression was bound to come from them.
Currently, the Covenant had Deadly Petal as justification. Once that justification was gone, it would be difficult to boldly attack her like they are doing despite Nexus interference.
Even now, their actions could be called a stretch that anyone with political sense could understand as helping ease the sudden thorn stuck under their skin. Deadly Petal's obvious change of course when she was previously focused on another battlefield was a dead giveaway.
In short, Liu Shu would not attack Covenant-owned solar systems yet. Not attacking didn't mean not taking them over, though. While she would refrain from military action, there were many other ways to take over.
Liu Shu looked at Zaros and heard him order a rather large chunk of the army to separate, guided by Flor and Ignatia.
"Yes, use these four million troops and three million ants to help Lady Heavenly Willow block the other flank."
Liu Shu blinked and quickly expanded her senses. "Ah… No wonder Flor's and Ignatia's led armies were moving in opposite directions."
When the Golden Sap Empire began pursuing the Nexus, Zaros decided that the other side would be far too scared and cautious, so he boldly detached a rather large part of the Golden Sap Empire's army and sent it to help with the Covenant front.
Flor spoke softly, leaning on the chair and resting her eyes. "How are things on that front, love?"
"Deadly Petal is about to arrive. Don't worry, Mom. I can hold that front. Moreover, because of Deadly Petal's actions, the enemy can't create different fronts. They are crudely advancing as one army and marching toward Ceperet."
Then, Liu Shu informed them about her plans and actions taken until now.
Listening to her tale, Flor and Ignatia almost laughed. They were both proud and amused at their daughter's antics. Ignatia asked, her charming voice languid as she rested her body. "What is your plan with Deadly Petal, love? She feels like quite a prickly World Tree. Is it possible for you to convince her?"
"Not now."
Liu Shu was not delusional enough to think Deadly Petal would surrender. Her temper allowed her to stand in defiance even when fighting Balaya for literal thousands of years. If a few years could make Deadly Petals' proud canopy bow, she would've long bowed to Balaya.
Flor heard her reasoning and muttered. "You are different from Lady Balaya, though. Don't you have an aura that makes World Trees and Life Trees feel more comfortable around you?"
She didn't deny it. Thanks to Liu Shu's many titles and perks, her presence was soothing even to other World Trees. If she gave off the same vibe as any ordinary World Tree, Liu Shu would've had trouble convincing even Warlya all those years back, not to mention the rest.
A trace of gratitude flashed in Liu Shu's heart. 'I guess it's all thanks to Fortuna.'
Fortuna, living quietly and happily in the Golden Sap Empire, was the only other World Tree so close to Liu Shu. She was also considered a good omen by many, and you could see people praying to her when they wanted luck.
What was funny was that it wasn't a baseless belief. Fortuna was a very, very rare World Tree specialized in
With her Destiny-related titles, auras, and even skills, Fortuna had completely let go of any offensive capabilities to become a giant "good luck charm." Not unwillingly in the slightest. For Fortuna, seeing the people live good lives was honestly an incredibly gratifying matter.
She even went around the Golden Sap Empire secretly giving buffs to people from time to time. That was why she, together with her wife, the lightning Sylvan Eila, was almost as famous in the Golden Sap City as Liu Shu herself.
There was even a branch of the religion within the Eternal Church dedicated to her, portraying Fortuna as Liu Shu's sister World Tree.
"Well, I understand what you mean. However, Deadly Petal is completely different from all the other World Trees I've met so far. Until I push back and reach her true domain to apply pressure, Deadly Petal won't care even if I were a Level 400 World Tree. Remember, we World Trees are beings who would rather succumb than bend."
In truth, Liu Shu was the same. It was largely thanks to Fortuna's and Liu Shu's somewhat special natures that Liu Shu's foundation for what she would build became so solid.
As they spoke back and forth, Liu Shu noticed Deadly Petal's approach. This was her first true battle against a rather developed True World Tree. Therefore, she didn't take the initiative and waited for Deadly Petal's actions.
"Deadly Petal, you've arrived."
Deadly Petal's characteristic sneering voice reached her. "You are a really talkative World Tree, aren't you?"
Liu Shu hummed. "Am I?"
Deadly Petal's words differed tremendously from her actions. If her tone was that of someone conversing about the weather, her roots were brutally tearing through dimensional attacks to pierce into Liu Shu's
Spatial ripples and ternary essence shockwaves spread all around as both sub-dimensions crashed into each other like two giant planets colliding.
The dimensional walls rippled violently, the hidden roots becoming faintly visible in the base dimension.
Even when her attack was this brutal, Deadly Petal continued the conversation without any awkwardness. "Yes. I don't know why you like to speak so much. You also pulled those strange tricks with the Covenant by talking differently from what you usually are like."
Liu Shu glanced between Deadly Petal's aggressive roots and the sneering but calm voice with a somewhat bewildered and amused look. The fight was… quite different from what she had initially expected. 'Had reading those fantasy novels about World Trees shifted my expectations?'
Shaking her head, Liu Shu focused on defending while talking with Deadly Petal. "I might be somewhat peculiar among World Trees. I do not deny that. For example, I do admit other World Trees within my domain without troublesome matters."
Deadly Petal's tone changed a touch, gaining a trace of true sneer. "You speak that way because none of them are stronger than you. You are not living together with them. You are deluding yourself into thinking that while keeping all of them in check."
Liu Shu noticed Deadly Petal's quite sensitive reaction. Having lived for as long as she has, Liu Shu imagined that there was a story behind her definitive attitude. She didn't probe. Instead, she shifted the focus somewhat.
"Deadly Petal, I understand it is difficult to trust me. Therefore, I won't insist. I'll prove my words with my actions instead."
Deadly Petal didn't answer this time, as if she was fed up with listening to nonsense. Still, Liu Shu didn't want to cut their conversation short, so she asked, curious.
"Is this all you can do when attacking? Honestly, I am not feeling much."
"…I can see that. Your roots are very tough. Your dimension is also… hm… it feels even firmer than Balaya's."
Since there was no need to be pretentious, Deadly Petal spoke her honest feelings without filters. Liu Shu felt it was somewhat refreshing. There was no need to be constantly wary when talking with fellow World Trees!
"Is it? Your attacks are delicate, and your ternary essence control is truly superb. However, you lack punch."
Deadly Petal was not offended. Why would she get offended by the true feelings of another being? Instead, she asked, puzzled. "You… what Level are you? Did you lie to me?"
Usually, she wouldn't have asked something like this. Lying between World Trees was utterly pointless and something only lower species like humans did. However, she had seen Liu Shu's unusual craftiness firsthand. In many ways, her attitude resembled that of a humanoid species more than that of a World Tree.
Liu Shu answered with a snort, somewhat offended. "Why would I? My Level is 250, look."
She allowed Deadly Petal to see her System Page's Level through analysis. Seeing that, even more confusion filled Deadly Petal's heart. '… Am I somewhat deluded? Why do her roots feel even harder to destroy than some of Balaya's outer roots?'
Confused but eager to see it to the end, Deadly Petal continued her terrifying offensive that, were it not Liu Shu, it would've left any other person trembling just from the sight.