Chapter 53

Even though it was just a sapling, Mesquite's lance shot forward like a rocket, showing no mercy after being attacked. At that moment, the Dryad let out a loud wail. A swarm of moth-like lights, far more numerous than before, burst out from all directions, obscuring Mesquite's vision. This caused the attack to momentarily falter.

Through the gaps in the light swarm, which had been torn apart by the wind pressure, a small Dryad, also affected by the wind pressure, could be seen rolling backward. Thanks to this, it managed to narrowly avoid the tip of the lance.

The more the Dryad cried, the more intense the attacks from the moth-like lights became, and eventually, the black liquid that had pooled began to spout like hot springs. Despite our best efforts to lure it forward, this area was entirely the creature's territory, and the penalty on our side was too great.

If only I could summon the natural habitat of my Dryads from the artifact, just like Seedling did! Why can't I instantly figure out a method like Grafting? Is it because of my level?

Mesquite, who was trying to advance with the power of Panacea, clicked her tongue at the small attacks that obstructed her vision and movements.

"You're scared."

Daisy threw a boomerang to cover Mesquite and said.

"Daisy's right. You're just lashing out in fear. Your attacks are too scattered, and I can't draw aggro to myself!"

Mesquite, who was about to send Daisy, who could move more nimbly than herself, frowned as she saw the number of dandelion petals decreasing. It was difficult to create an opening within the time limit.

In any case, this meant that the creature didn't know who we were and was just attacking out of fear.

Is there a way to divert its attention? Even if the time is short, I still have half a bottle of Panacea left. I need to think carefully.

Relying solely on my Dryads' combat sense has its limits. I, the useless owner, need to step in and do something.

This is a Dryad, so it must have a plant as its mother plant, right? By combining the debuff skills it uses and the things I've seen, it might be the deadly herb sent from the 16th Terrarium's alchemy tower.

By some extremely rare chance, it was the perfect vessel to become a Dryad and managed to receive the pollen of the World Tree to become one.

Damn, thinking about it, the deadly herb was supposed to be used to repel the bugs eating the World Tree's branches. That's why the sapling was so strong. No, it had to be strong. Frustrating!

Calm down. Thinking too negatively won't help at all.

So, what kind of plant is this deadly herb? It would have been better if Calmia had at least told us the name instead of just calling it a deadly herb!

Dryads inherit the characteristics of the plants they use as their mother plants, both in appearance and special traits.

Daisy, like the improved daisy described on the stone tablet, was very resilient but had weak roots, making her unable to withstand Mesquite's earthquakes.

Mesquite had powerful and sturdy attacks like a giant mother plant but couldn't move as quickly as Daisy due to the deep roots of the mother tree.

Elder... is as pretty as the mother plant... Hmm...

Appearance? Yes! The Dryads' appearances retain the characteristics of their mother plants. They are often decorated with flowers or leaves that represent their mother plants.

I carefully observed the Dryad, which was moving its body and crying. The funny-looking hood might be a characteristic, like the densely arranged flowers on Elder's hood. The blue-violet hair and eyes might also be a clue.

The large glasses might be a hint, but unfortunately, unlike Daisy, there were no obvious flowers on her.

It's a deadly herb, blue-violet, and has a long, pointed hood... The only deadly herb I know is the monk's hood from movies and comics. Oh? Monk's hood? Borage? The English name is monk's hood, which is why its appearance is so memorable.

Wow, it seems to match! The flower color and everything I know fits! So, what's the weakness of borage? Damn, what's the point of guessing correctly?

At that moment, the dandelion staff fragment that came with Panacea trembled slightly.

An item containing the power of one of dandelion's flower meanings. An item containing the power of divine revelation. It was said to be able to awaken another power with a special ability.

However, even Dandelion, who gave it to us, didn't seem to know its exact purpose. But now, the white fluff was trembling as if it was the right time to use this item.

What's the point of awakening another power here? Two powers. Duality?

This item didn't react to Daisy, Mesquite, or Elder. So, is it the creature? I alternated my gaze between the distant borage Dryad and the staff fragment.

Borage was once used as a poison but was also known as a famous herbal medicine. Could it be?

The dandelion petals were all gone, and it was time to worry about the debuff again. Now, I had to bet everything on this half bottle of Panacea. Since Elder hadn't been poisoned yet, I switched the main control to Mesquite to strengthen the defense. Please, everyone, hold on!

At the entrance, the flames were gathering again. The flames shrank and eventually went out before reaching the Dryad, continuously receiving debuffs as they entered the borage Dryad's territory. But this is perfect for diverting attention. As long as they don't die.

"Where are you going?"

Elder, noticing my strange behavior, held me back with one arm.

Let me go for a moment. I have a plan. I'm not going anywhere; your height is just a bit of a hindrance.

Summoning flames was my specialty. I used it well as an experience buff. The purpose is a bit different now, but I never thought I'd be supporting flames.

I took out a diamond from my pocket and threw it to the flames, which quickly gathered and greedily devoured it, like pigeons at a bread crumb.

This way, coo coo coo.

One diamond wasn't enough to offset the debuff, so I threw about five or six. Elder, in the chaotic situation, complained about wasting valuable diamonds. But I was too busy supporting the team to listen for long.

The flames, attracted by the more appealing prey, ignored us and followed the diamonds. I threw diamonds to lead the flames. Where? To the borage Dryad.

Like Hansel and Gretel's white pebbles, the flames followed the diamonds, advancing. Even deep in the area, the flames, supported by the diamonds, grew larger instead of shrinking.

Thinking it was the right moment, I hid behind Mesquite's shield and threw a bunch of diamonds at the borage Dryad. The flames that reached there instantly grew huge. Although they were smaller compared to the amount of diamonds they ate, the blessing from the World Tree's branch, even at a distance, must have set a limit on their size.

The flames, with no more diamonds to eat, turned their attention to the nearest borage Dryad.

These are the flames I sent, wink.

The borage Dryad, suddenly faced with a massive swarm of flames, started screaming. This diverted the attacks. An opening appeared!

However, being a sapling and having weak attacks that couldn't even scratch Mesquite's sand wall, the borage Dryad couldn't last long against the flames. There was a high possibility that the flames, after consuming the Dryad, would gain terrifying power.

I switched the soul link to Daisy and gave her the staff fragment. Daisy, the fastest and most agile in our team, could execute my thoughts.

The child looked at me with the staff fragment in her hand, then tightly closed her mouth and nodded. Thanks to the soul link, Daisy could immediately understand all my thoughts.

"Mesquite! Use the earthquake!"

I shouted, hanging onto Elder. Mesquite reflexively looked at Daisy, but Daisy, as if to show her, shot a vine at the ceiling. As Daisy climbed up the vine, Mesquite plunged her lance into the ground.

A massive earthquake, starting from her, overturned the ground and quickly reached the borage Dryad.

The borage Dryad, crouching in fear, and the flames about to attack it, were all thrown off balance by the earthquake. The raised ground separated the borage Dryad from the flames, and Daisy, advancing like a mace, plunged the staff fragment into the borage Dryad.

No... I just told her to touch it... Anyone could see that it would hurt to plunge it in so deeply... Daisy, you're really angry.

The borage Dryad, with the staff fragment in its hood, glowed and was enveloped in white dandelion seeds. At the same time, the moth-like lights flying in the air shattered and disappeared, and the water in the swamp, which had been spouting like hot springs, suddenly sank.

I don't know what will happen, but the item worked!

Mesquite stopped the earthquake as Daisy landed. Daisy quickly swung her dagger and extinguished the four flames one by one. The last target of her dagger was the borage Dryad.

Wait! Time out! The dagger dramatically stopped just before the borage Dryad.

The dandelion seeds melted away like melting snow, and the borage Dryad, who had stopped crying, sat there with a dazed look, her eyes red from crying and her lower lip tightly pressed.

"Aren't you going to kill it?"

Elder, carefully setting me down, asked bluntly.

"It's really annoying, but it's still a sapling like Daisy, and I have some things to confirm."

I was almost certain, but I wanted to confirm if it was really the deadly herb sent from the 16th Terrarium's alchemy tower.

Due to Mesquite overturning the swamp, the water splashed everywhere. Hesitating to step on it, Mesquite walked forward confidently.

"The poison is all gone. The disappearance of the flying powers must be related to the item used on the Dryad, right?"

She looked back after walking a bit, as if to say it was okay to follow. I hurried to catch up.

"Yes, that's right. I used the staff fragment given by Dandelion. It seems to have awakened another power in the Dryad."

Mesquite had a strange expression on her face.

"Based on the attacks on my owner, I want to cut off its throat with my lance right now. But you don't want to, do you? What are you thinking, Jay?"

"Hey, kid!"

Let's find out the reason now.

The borage Dryad shuddered at my shout. It was still very scared, even though it wasn't crying. Daisy still hadn't sheathed her dagger, ready to plunge it in if the Dryad made a move.

The borage Dryad, looking at me, Daisy, and Mesquite's threatening faces in turn, sniffled.

"Is your mother plant borage, monk's hood?"

I'm already calling you a borage Dryad, so it would be embarrassing if you said no. But it didn't easily answer my question, probably due to the fear of Daisy's dagger right in front of its face.

Daisy slowly lowered her dagger, and the tightly closed mouth finally opened.

"Yes... more precisely, it was improved from monk's hood... My mother plant was artificially created by humans..."