I am the Enchantress!

Chapter 53 Playing Tricks

Tree spirit.

These are monsters that inhabit dense forests. They have the bodies of trees, but possess humanoid forms and considerable intelligence.

According to the scarce records of the association's branches, adult tree spirits possess a spell called "Tree Leap," which allows them to move freely between different trees within a certain range.

Those frivolous laughs, like those of a woman, were one of the tree spirit's seductive methods to lure travelers into the dense forest.

Therefore, Cyrion concluded that they had encountered an adult tree spirit.

"This is really weird!"

Gru muttered to himself, "What's going on with the outer edges of the forest lately? Shouldn't this thing be in the heart of the forest?"

Cyrion nodded.

Indeed, as Gru said.

The difference between the outer perimeter and the heart of the forest lies not only in the distance, but also in the density of the magical network.

The dense magical network in the heartland causes some monsters to crystallize within their bodies, thereby releasing spells and becoming even more powerful monsters.

This is also the fundamental reason why the hinterland is more dangerous.

In the Adventurers' Guild, as long as the quest location is marked in the heartland, even something as simple as gathering a few flowers and herbs will inevitably be a challenge-level or higher quest.

Although tree spirits might appear in areas where tree monsters are found, those areas are in the heartland, not in the outer areas where they are currently located.

strangeness.

Including the Phase Spider I encountered last time, this is the second time I've encountered a monster that wields magic.

Why are these beasts running out here instead of staying in the heart of the territory?

However, now doesn't seem like the time to consider such things.

The reason the team got lost was probably because the tree spirit had moved the trees in advance, guiding them into its territory.

The tree monster eats trees.

But tree spirits don't eat vegetarian food.

Regardless of whether he is an indigenous person from the outskirts or a wanderer from the heartland.

We must find a way to end this now.

"Wild, can your command spell work through a tree trunk?" he asked.

"It should be possible."

In his understanding, activating the [Command] relies on intelligence and charisma, or what could be called magic and mental perception, and has nothing to do with the volume of the voice.

Most monsters don't even understand the Common Language, yet they can still be bewitched, and this is proof of that.

"Okay, let's do it this way."

As usual, Cyrion began to lay out the tactics, "In a moment, Gru and I will be responsible for attracting the tree spirit's attention. You find the right moment to make it stay still inside the tree."

Wilder nodded: "Then I released the Burning Hand and burned it to death inside the tree."

"Doesn't your spell require preparation time? Is the freeze time enough?" Cyrion asked.

"No problem." Wilder raised his staff. "I charged a spell into the staff; it can be cast instantly."

"good."

Cyrion patted him on the shoulder, feeling a mix of emotions.

This novice mage, who had only recently embarked on his first adventure, has become quite reliable in the blink of an eye, and is even the tactical core of the team every time.

"Don't be so nervous."

Gru's words interrupted his thoughts, "I think tree spirits are just tree monsters that can change location, not that scary."

"Far more adventurers die in the border forests from arrogance than from lack of skill."

Cyrion rolled his eyes at him. "And my dwarf friend has both."

"Tch." Gru scoffed.

"It's better to be cautious," Wilder chimed in.

However, he didn't completely disagree with Gru's words.

At present, the tree spirit's attacks are indeed not very threatening. The shoulder that Cyrion was hit on from the front by it due to carelessness just now was only a superficial injury.

Compared to the Phase Spider and Shark Lizard Beast we faced before, this monster, which should only appear in difficult-level quests, doesn't seem that strong.

There's still one thing he can't understand.

Why did the tree spirit lead them here?

Because there are many trees here?

"Strange, where did that tree spirit go?" Gru muttered.

Cyrion and Wilder also noticed this.

The dense forest was eerily quiet; it had been quite a while since that frivolous laughter had been heard.

Apart from two fallen old trees, it seemed as if no monsters had ever appeared in this woodland.

"They ran away?"

"Gru asked."

His two teammates hadn't had a chance to respond yet.

"Boom—"

A tremor nearby gave him the answer.

The trees in the dense forest are not short, most of them are twenty or thirty feet tall, but there is a towering ancient tree that is sixty feet tall, standing quietly and prominently among them.

At first, the team didn't pay any attention.

These trees are called head trees, which are deliberately left uncut by logging teams to mark out work areas.

When Cyrion and the others looked in the direction of the sound, the tremor was coming from the direction of that towering tree.

"Boom—"

Another loud bang was heard, and the ground visibly trembled.

"Don't you guys feel...?" Gru rubbed his eyes, pointing to the giant tree, "that tree is getting closer and closer to us?"

"Boom—"

When the third vibration sounded, they looked towards the tree and finally understood the source of the sound.

The ancient and enormous tree was moving its thick roots, walking towards them step by step.

"Are you kidding me..."

Cyrion gripped his shield tightly and swallowed hard.

"The tree spirit...possessed that thing?!"

Compared to other trees, this giant tree is not only taller, but also more upright and majestic.

That sturdy tree trunk, covered in cracks, would probably require ten people to encircle it.

Its branches are also longer and thicker, and if Cyrion were to take a full-force blow from that thing, he has no doubt that his head would be blown off.

As Wilde watched the towering tree approach step by step, he finally understood why the tree spirit had led them to this forest.

Because its most powerful armor is located here.

Such a massive body, even if you just stand there and let him burn it like crazy with his grease spell and burning hands, it would probably take a whole day and night to burn.

"Boom! Boom!"

With each step the giant tree took, its intricate root system trembled beneath its feet.

Getting closer and closer.

"We..." Gru raised his long-handled battle axe, "Still using the same tactics as before?"

"Screw you!" Cyrion roared, "Retreat!"

The trunk of this thing is even wider than his one-handed sword. How is he supposed to fight it?

"What are you waiting for? Run!"

Gru roared, and the three of them turned and quickly retreated.

Fortunately, the giant tree wasn't moving very fast, so they should have been able to escape successfully.

"Damn! They were so easily defeated just now."

Gru kept running, his mouth still chattering, "How did it become such a big thing?"

"I think..." Cyrion frowned, recalling the laughter, "it's playing a trick on us."

Just then, a familiar laugh came from behind them, just as frivolous as before.

The laughter seemed to say—

The game isn't over yet.

The giant tree trembled violently, and its tangled roots plunged into the ground.

Immediately afterwards, the land surged and rose like waves at high tide.

Waves of earth surged toward the team at an extremely fast speed.