Iris Ent Queen was an inferior species compared to Queen Ires Deadwood, that was still terrorizing the North Citadel known as 'Thorn Fortress,' built and actively operating within the expansive Dark Forest that was successfully pioneered.
However, if there was one characteristic that positioned the two demonkinds in the same pond, it would be that both of them had a humanoid form.
It was not just merely a matter of inferiority; it was the difference in overall capability. That being said, as I commanded the remaining soldiers led by Kaya and Yusbel in my absence to simultaneously throw the remaining lamps and torches in every direction, the tremor from the Iris Ents intensified.
However, my attention was garnered by its very intensity—because their queen was now completely irritated by the heat in the atmosphere and the fire that was continuously spreading.
Because of the characteristic of being susceptible to [Fire], the chain reaction caused by the flames was so immense that one misstep could lead to disarray.
'Before that happens, I have to finish this.'
Just as my thought was filled with resolve, my eyes, as well as Beatrice's, gazed at the sudden tenebrous entity that jumped up from the ground, located at the rear of the crumbling army of the Iris Ents.
Its posture was human-like, incomparable to that of towering ordinary Iris Ents that were seven to eight meters tall.
Its body was described to be created from solid yet frail twisted branches that resembled old age, as though it had been living underground for an indefinite number of years waiting for the light to reach it.
Its hands and feet were roughly the same—all branches of an unknown tree that bypassed human logic. However, its head depicted that of an oval shape, with no eye, that glowed crimson as if it was a precious and irreplaceable gem.
Atop its head was a dozen antennae also glowing crimson.
With the [Eye That Sees Heaven and Hell], its status was eventually revealed.
...
[Iris Ent Queen]
Description: [A demonkind species that occasionally give birth to Iris Ents—as the mother tree could not contain every fruit, after all. It's jealous of the certain 'tree' where the snake lives.
[As it was written, "If nature can talk, won't they manifest the same sins humans had ever known?" — Lost Scripture of the Bygone Era.]
Monster Tier: 2 (Uncommon)
Danger Level: E
Talents: [Fruit Overload], [Piercing Vines], [Shield Branch].
[Fruit Overload]
- Every month, naturally, a 13th fruit is born on its head. This fruit, as a product of species reproduction, would then fall to the corrupted soil, feed into the corruption of darkness, and grow to become an Iris Ent.
Talent Uniqueness:
- Because of its characteristic as a mother tree, giving birth to Iris Ents can be hastened by consuming anything tainted with a trace of evil. In addition, it can give commands to its children.
...
[Piercing Vines]
- Allows this entity to stretch out its branches (hands) to pierce its target.
Talent Uniqueness:
- In exchange for its additional destructive power, this entity will be rendered immobile whenever it uses this [skill].
...
[Shield Branch]
- Allows this entity to cover itself with branches that act like a shield. It is sturdy against physical attacks, but would not negate its natural weakness against [Fire].
Talent Uniqueness: -
*
Reining the horse as Beatrice seated behind me, I raised the steel sword in my grasp as our distance from the disoriented Iris Ent Queen was quickly being covered.
Noticing our presence, the other Iris Ents began to rush, to lunge and slam their bodies upon us as if they couldn't allow our existence to go near their mother.
Unfortunately for these fodders, the spreading fire already affected their mobility and durability.
Taking both effects into account, Beatrice covered for me as she released a few daggers to hit the miniature glowing red core on the center of their body—the monster core, or, in this case, their heart and fatal weakness.
Whoosh, whoosh!
Size didn't matter.
Even a child could kill an adult as Beatrice's attacks, despite the height difference, pierced through their thick hardened body that was already in its collapse.
"Grooo–!?"
"Krieeek—!"
"Rughhh–!"
Inhumane sounds, groan of helplessness. They fell side by side-
Slash!
...as their so-called mother attempted to defend against the incoming blade but ultimately failed.
Spurt!
"KRIEEEK—!"
Even though they had no mouths, such sounds were coming out from some gaps of their bodies.
After all, human biology... or anything that humanity had known about anatomy in the modern world was barely applicable in the bizarre nature of the Abyss Lands.
Whoosh!
The Iris Ent Queen attempted to counterattack by summoning sharp and pointy vines from the ground, only for them to be blocked with ease.
If fire surrounding it was a threat to itself, what more of a man in front of it?
"Just shut the hell up, will you?" My breath was ragged in this smoke-filled area. But I raged on to cut the queen down to its knees.
"Hup!"
Slash!
"Krieek–?!"
Slash–!
Slash—!
While skillfully maneuvering the horse, as though I were an experienced cavalryman of the medieval army, I continued to cleave and dodge until its thick body seemed to shed its branches.
As Beatrice tuned with my movements as she covered my back, the Iris Ent Queen, evidently irritated but extremely exhausted finally let out a dying scream-
Stab!
...as I pierced through its ruby gem-like face.
"Screech—!!"
Crack-!
Clattering to the ground was its shattered existence.
Simultaneously, without their mother, the ordinary Iris Ents either eventually fell into the hands of the soldiers or burned into ashes, to oblivion.
[Ding!]
[You have killed a Tier-2 Demonkind, Iris Ent Queen.]
Catching my breath as everybody was catering to the wounded, I bore witness to the message from the 'system window.'
Being holed up in the Eshu County all this time—enforcing the Warbody Program, seeing the needs of the citizens, and doing whatever a noble lord must do for a satisfying rule...
It once proactively told me—during the time of initially addressing Eshu County's citizens that I should use the Talent: [Soul Placation] to win the hearts of the doubtful eyes.
Since then, this was the only second time that the system spoke to me without commanding it.
"Hmm? Huh?"
And this time, I couldn't help but smirk, gazing at something that seemed to be also a privilege of being a Transmigrator—but even then, as ominous as it could be to have no answer in the mysteries behind it, all I could do was to accept it.
[Exclusive Plundering has been triggered!]
[Satisfy a certain condition to be bestowed a Talent Card based on the
[Exclusive Plundering]
Plundering Condition: [Hunt and eliminate twelve Iris Ent Queens.]
Current Progress: 0/12
However, realizing something absurd, I frowned in disgust.
'The fuck you mean I can acquire Fruit Overload?!'