Ethereal World: Vicious Cannon Fodder's Immortality Road

[Ethereal Small World]

A day later, she was still grappling with the chaos unleashed by nature. If she didn’t know better, she might have thought she was dealing with a petulant child rather than the wrath of an ancient being.

Why, then, was this primal force directing its fury towards her? She hadn’t intended to provoke it.

"Don’t for a moment believe you’re blameless. You think yourself innocent, that you didn’t compel me to manifest here. But I, this Great One, have long dwelled in the Land of Paradise, alongside my kin. I am among the first ancient trees to awaken my spirit. Though I command immense power, I cannot leave this sacred ground," the Ancient Tree Spirit hissed, its voice thick with resentment.

In simpler terms, the Ancient Tree Spirit’s existence was bound to the Land of Paradise. If anyone were to forcefully uproot it from this place, its very essence would suffer irreparable harm.

"It’s not my fault," she replied nonchalantly, wielding her black scythe with dexterity to cleave the searing rocks that erupted from the active volcano. The weapon seemed to revel in its ability to morph into any shape necessary.

She swiped away the sweat trickling down her brow. The heat was unbearable. One stray ember from the volcano, and she could easily become a charred remains, and she had no intention of meeting such a fate just yet. Her father needed rescuing, and her enemies had to be dealt with.

The onlookers, who had gathered to witness her struggle, exchanged glances. Their master had a particularly vivid imagination.

What scenes were unfolding before them? Their formidable master wielded a black scythe that transformed into a colossal frying pan, battling the meteors cascading from the heavens?

And what in the world was the true extent of this Ancient Tree’s power? How could it conjure meteors in the Ethereal Small World?

"Great One, aren’t you a master of the seasons? How then can you summon these meteors?" Shenlian Yingyue gasped, barely evading a titan-like creature. Her robes clung to her skin, soaked in perspiration. She narrowly avoided becoming the first mortal in history to be crushed by a falling meteor in her homeland.

"Boom!!!!"

The deafening explosion reverberated in her skull, nearly shattering her eardrums. She instinctively shielded her ears with a layer of spiritual energy.

Days melted into nights as she engaged in relentless combat against the enraged ancient entity, enduring countless disasters and overcoming them through sheer tenacity.

Despite wielding the black sword as an invaluable asset against any foe, she still relied heavily on her intellect to strategize, her agility to evade, and her adept management of spiritual energy to navigate this hazardous terrain effortlessly.

Each prolonged skirmish drained her reserves of spiritual power from her Sea of Qi. Fortunately, within her Ethereal Small World, she could refresh her energy by drinking Spiritual Water whenever she ran low.

Five years passed in this realm...

Her continuous battles served a purpose: fortifying her foundation and honing her skills. In this space, she could freely unleash her most formidable spiritual offensive, martial prowess, and ancient incantations, unburdened by the worry of drawing unwanted attention.

So she never voiced her grievances, instead pouring her efforts into fighting and learning, undeterred by the countless wounds and the blood she shed along the way. Her relentless dedication finally bore fruit. She mastered how to wield the elements: the rain, thunder, wind, storms, ice, and the very essence of nature.

Her understanding of fighting transformed; it became a means of self-defense against these forces. Should she one day face adversaries who wielded rain spells, thunder spells, or any devastation akin to natural disasters, she now possessed the power to counteract their every move.

She deepened her connection with the Ancient Tree’s might.

In winter, it unleashed snow and ferocious winter storms to challenge her.

In summer, the Ancient Tree conjured heatwaves, hurricanes, ferocious thunderstorms, wildfires, floods, and droughts—draining her stamina, for in drought she desperately needed water to sustain her.

The significance of the phrase finally dawned upon her: "The silver-blue leaves of the Ancient Tree Spirit acted as a weather controller, governing seasons, rainfall, and even natural disasters."

The realization hit her like a thunderclap. Facing the wrath and immense power of the Ancient Tree Spirit was both chilling and exhilarating.

It became clear why it was said that while one might provoke the powerful, they must never dare anger the spirits of nature or the divine forces that controlled it.

"I implore you, Great One, can we not sit down and speak in peace? Aren’t you weary from tormenting me for the last five years?" She raised her hands in a gesture of surrender, hope lacing her voice.

The Ancient Tree Spirit scoffed, intrigued by this unpredictability. Here stood a girl who exhibited defeat, yet had never truly been conquered.

It could overpower her countless times, yet her spirit remained undaunted; she was a force that could not be extinguished. Each strike it dealt could wound her body, but it could never break her resolve to learn from each painful encounter.

In a way, it was the Ancient Tree that was ultimately defeated by this tenacious girl, who seemed to have an infinite well of energy and an unyielding will to evolve and grow.

Though younger, her heart shone brighter than that of many who sought comfort and surrender in the face of adversity.

She could confine it, along with the Land of Paradise, in a secluded space within the Ethereal Small World, safely isolating herself from any threats. Once sealed away, the Ancient Tree would be powerless to reach her.

Moreover, as the master of the Land of Paradise, she had the ability to banish it or uproot it from this realm, yet she chose not to.

Instead, she returned time and again, deliberately seeking its wrath, always insisting on a resolution through dialogue. Five long years had passed, and still, her determination showed no signs of waning.

"I’m exhausted by your presence. Why don’t you just end my existence?" the Ancient Tree Spirit inquired coldly. This game had lost its charm; freedom eluded it eternally.

"Why would I choose to end you, Great One?" She was taken aback, uncertainty flickering across her face.

"I can never escape this place. Though I wield power greater than the gods, at my core, I am just an ancient tree, bound by the threads of spiritual consciousness and destructive force. My roots are forever anchored in this earth," the Ancient Tree Spirit lamented, its voice heavy with resignation.

Why had it garnered such power yet remained shackled? Why could it inflict pain upon her yet never find satisfaction or joy? And why did it feel ire each time it witnessed her willingly endure suffering to strengthen herself? What was the truth behind this endless cycle?