Reborn as a Demonic Tree

Chapter 402: Monsters Made For War

Stella was unsure of what to do as she crouched on a branch of one of Ashʼs offspring and watched the horde of crazed people rush below. There was a creak as the branch she was perched on bent slightly from the weight of someone landing beside her.

”What do you think, Grand Elder Redclaw?” she asked the man as the temperature in the air notably rose.

”Vincent got us good,” the man grumbled as he stroked his chin. ”Iʼve confirmed that each personʼs strength is around the lower stages of the Soul Fire Realm, with a high focus on defense.”

”Like body cultivators?”

The red-haired man sagely nodded, ”They have no clue how to use Soul Fire Realm-level techniques or harness the blood Qi inside their bodies. They are simply mindless puppets.”

”How durable are we talking?”

”I put down a wall of Star Core Realm fire to test, and they could regenerate from the burns. However, cut-off limbs did not regrow.”

”Mhm, so not as good regeneration as a true blood cultivator. But to regenerate from such burns, thatʼs concerning. Anything else?”

”Yeah, they explode on death.”

Stella sighed, ”So that wasnʼt a unique feature for the ones I fought in the Flamehunt residence.”

Grand Elder Redclaw glanced across the landscape. They were halfway up the mountainside, and through the intense storm, the seemingly endless sprawl of Darklight City dominated the horizon. Between them and the city was a dense forest of demonic trees. ”If we were in a large open field, I could barrage the land with large-scale hellfire. While costly to my Qi reserves, it would wipe out many of them.”

”But we arenʼt in an open field,” Stella said the silent part out loud. While it would be quite tricky for just a few of them to deal with over a million rabid Soul Fire Realm people, it wouldnʼt be impossible if they expended their Qi reserves without restraint. But the location of the battle changed things. The cities were densely populated with believers in the All-Seeing Eye, and thousands of Ashʼs offspring were located between the city walls and Red Vine Peak, giving the encroaching horde the perfect cover.

”We could stage the fight on Red Vine Peak, but I suspect that is Vincentʼs goal.” The Grand Elder paused, thinking, ”Whether they are to serve as a simple distraction or have a more direct purpose, such as exploding near Ashlock or their blood being used as fuel for some grand technique, Vincent has got us good. Is there really no way to save them? I doubt every one of these mortals was a devoted member of the Eyepatch group?”

Stella bit her lip and shook her head. ”Ash managed to save Sullivan by using desolation Qi, but it was far too intensive of a process to use on a million people. Not to mention, his soul core was shattered in the process, reducing him to a mortal.”

”They will hate us.”

”Mhm?” Stella tilted her head, ”What do you mean?”

”They believed that if they touched Ashlock, they would have their wish granted, did they not? If they are denied from reaching the mountain peak and have their chance of becoming a cultivator stolen from them, they will come to hate us.” The Grand Elder clicked his tongue, ”Vincent has presented us with a lose-lose situation. No matter what we do, people are going to die, become crippled, or the beast tide will draw closer if Ashlock is forced to waste his Qi.”

”Letʼs focus on what we can do for now,” Stella straightened up, causing the branch to creak again. Her gaze lingered on Red Vine Peak, which was to their back, and she sighed. ”We must hold them back until Ash can lend us some aid. You lock down this area while I check on the northern ridge bordering Ashfallen City.”

”Hey,” Grand Elder Redclaw put a warm hand on her shoulder and stared into her shifting eyes, ”Donʼt worry, itʼs going to be okay.”

”I know,” her shoulders sagged, ”Itʼs just killing these people goes against what Ash stands for. These people arenʼt our enemies; they were forced to oppose us. Hunting other cultivators is fun, but this is just sad.”

”I know, but remember you are what Vincent is after, so stay safe and donʼt get any crazy ideas about giving yourself up. You die, and Ashlock over there will devour us all along with the nine realms in grief. Forget these mortals. The entire realm will be reduced to ruin. Understand?”

Stella chuckled, ”I donʼt think he would eat you guys—”

Grand Elder Redclaw tightened his grip and looked deathly serious. ”We have gone over this before. Be serious.”