Beneath the Scalegorge Waterscape.
The sudden eruption of the Stellaron and the abrupt revival of the Ambrosial Arbor happened swiftly.
But these two things were never gentle in unleashing their power.
Two forces harmful to humans, erupting simultaneously.
If an ordinary Xianzhou native had been standing here, the outcome would have been instant Mara-struck transformation, followed immediately by death from the Stellaron's energy.
Of course, Sylvia was no ordinary person. Her body, tempered by daily resistance to Nihility, coupled with her past experience in wielding a Stellaron's power...
Though the scale of this blast was considerable, and Sylvia had indeed never specialized in defensive attributes—relying instead on Cloudhymn magic and a Heliobus Fullbottle—she could still endure it by brute-forcing through with the power of Permanence.
At worst, she'd be injured. Death wasn't on the table.
Once the Ambrosial Arbor fully consumed the Stellaron and its roots stabilized, she'd naturally pull through.
That's what Sylvia thought in the instant the Stellaron erupted and the Arbor ran wild.
So, she simply drew her longsword, plunged it into the ground, and braced herself to withstand the coming currents, not to be swept away.
But Dan Shu thought differently.
In the moment the crisis exploded, a reel of memories flashed before her eyes—the moment she learned of her only friend's death all those years ago.
Back then, on the Luofu, she could do nothing.
She could only wait helplessly for the outcome of her friend's death.
Countless times, Dan Shu had thought that even if she had gone to the front lines with her friend and died there together, it would have been better than surviving alone.
Her hatred for the Reignbow Arbiter—wasn't it also hatred for her own powerlessness?
'I could do nothing back then...'
Once again, Dan Shu recalled that despairing sense of helplessness.
But this time.
Her bright eyes turned, landing on Sylvia's resolute expression, clearly seeing her draw her greatsword.
Dan Shu's eyes had once been unable to perceive others, which made her all the more sensitive to discerning who cared for her without ulterior motives.
That person from the past was one. Sylvia, this outsider, was another.
So, Dan Shu took her first step.
She abandoned her chance to flee, darting instead to stand before Sylvia.
She placed her own body between the Ambrosial Arbor and Sylvia.
Unpracticed Abundance energy spread from within Dan Shu, attempting to shield Sylvia within it.
Though obtained through unorthodox means, it was still the power of Abundance.
Sylvia's eyes widened in disbelief, meeting Dan Shu's gaze.
"You..."
Sylvia was stunned that Dan Shu would just... shield her like this, trying to isolate her from the sudden disaster.
Dan Shu, feeling the agonizing pain spreading through her body—as if she were being torn apart—responded with a fierce, twisted smile.
"Little friend, this trouble began because of me. How could I let you come to harm?"
The violent surge of energy was fierce, but it faded quickly.
Soon, the perilous atmosphere subsided as the Stellaron was completely devoured by the Ambrosial Arbor.
Even the Arbor's frenzy gradually calmed near its roots.
"Cough, cough—!!"
With the pressure suddenly gone, Dan Shu staggered, nearly collapsing.
Bent over, she coughed violently, blood trickling from the corner of her mouth.
Sylvia reached out to steady her.
But Dan Shu waved her off, wiping the blood from her lips as she gasped for breath, forcing herself to stand straight.
The regenerative abilities of her Mara-struck form allowed her to recover swiftly.
Though her face remained pale, she no longer looked as critically endangered as moments before.
"I'm fine. The recovery of this Mara-struck body is strong. I just need a moment to catch my breath... More importantly, look. The Ambrosial Arbor is bearing fruit."
Dan Shu raised a hand, pointing toward the dragon head-like root.
On the antler-like branch, a jade-green bud quietly sprouted.
Then, the bud slowly unfurled, blooming into a beautiful flower that emitted a soft, hazy luminescence.
Within the glowing stamen, Sylvia could sense the condensed power of Abundance.
The Flower of Eternity.
The moment Sylvia saw the flower, she recalled the material item used in the game.
And now, this flower was feeding on the radiance released by the Stellaron, growing at a visible, frenzied pace.
It clearly showed signs of bearing fruit.
"So fragrant..."
As the Flower of Eternity bloomed, an invigorating, heart-stirring fragrance began to spread.
With a single breath, Sylvia felt her physical fatigue dissipate, her spirit refreshed.
Dan Shu beside her was the same, her pallid complexion improving noticeably.
Though it seemed the fragrance alone couldn't fully heal her wounds.
Calmed somewhat by the scent, Sylvia looked at Dan Shu and spoke:
"Phantylia should be arriving soon, right? With the Ambrosial Arbor reviving ahead of schedule, she'd at least come to verify. But the fruit... it shouldn't mature that quickly, should it?"
"You are correct, little friend. The fruit's maturation certainly won't outpace Phantylia's arrival."
Dan Shu nodded with a faint smile.
"But I do not require a complete fruit. Consuming such a thing recklessly would only bring ruin. Nor do I believe I could protect it."
A complete fruit was beyond Dan Shu; consuming it would mean instant death.
But an incomplete fruit was different.
If she swallowed it just as the petals wilted, before the fruit fully matured...
The remaining power wouldn't be enough for the Arbor to immediately produce a second fruit.
And even if Phantylia extracted the immature fruit from her body, its power would be further diminished, thwarting Phantylia's plans.
As for why not pluck it now?
Simply put, the flower's current power was too weak. Given to Phantylia, the boost would be minimal.
Then, Phantylia might not even be willing to clash head-on with the Xianzhou.
The goal was to sabotage Phantylia's plan as much as possible, but not completely destroy it.
"Alright, little friend. It's time for you to go up now."
Dan Shu looked at Sylvia. The fact that Sylvia hadn't attacked her yet...
Well, Dan Shu couldn't just stand by and watch Sylvia get trapped here, facing Phantylia directly.
"Go and summon Jing Yuan and the Cloud Knights. Whether Phantylia seizes the fruit or devours me, she'll need time to digest it. But you must act quickly."
As she spoke, Dan Shu picked up that token once more.
Immediately, a current of water surged toward Sylvia, ready to carry her out.
Sylvia steadied herself with her sword, frowning at Dan Shu. She had been prepared to fight Phantylia right here.
"Hey! You're going to face Phantylia alone?"
"This one is already a criminal bearing guilt. If I die, so be it. To cause this much trouble for the Luofu and for Phantylia before my end... I am quite satisfied."
Watching the water gradually gather around Sylvia, Dan Shu said with a smile:
"I only ask that you trouble yourself, little friend, to look after that child for me in the days to come."
Dan Shu no longer wished to live.
She felt the Xianzhou had changed unpredictably because of Sylvia's arrival.
Because of Sylvia's existence, she dared to hope a little again.
But she could not forgive the Reignbow Arbiter.
Or perhaps, she could not forgive herself—the self that did not go to war alongside her friend.
In any case, Dan Shu held little attachment to this world anymore.
To have seen what Sylvia was truly like... that was enough.
Sylvia looked at Dan Shu, then finally sheathed her sword.
She allowed the currents to carry her away from the seal beneath the Scalegorge Waterscape.
--+--
T/N: I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 3 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.