Suleiman answered the first question:
"I once worked in the Scarlet King's core research facility, so I understand some ancient secrets."
He continued:
"The matter of 'arrogation' has happened before. That time, the forests turned into deserts. Next time, who knows what the desert will turn into?"
It seems the Scarlet King hasn't created Forbidden Knowledge yet... Coppelia thought to herself, continuing to listen.
"Gods possess great power, but that does not mean they do not make mistakes," Suleiman's voice was steady. "I do not wish to see a calamity born of the Scarlet King befall this world."
"I can understand. No rational person would wish for the existence they worship to commit a grave error. Is it that you want to stop it, but are powerless to do so?"
Suleiman simply smiled and shook his head, saying nothing.
"We understand the risks regarding the desert," Coppelia said. "But what about Natlan, further to the west of the desert? We might need to go there as well. What is the situation there?"
"I haven't paid attention to specific details, only heard that it is still ruled by dragons." Having said this, Suleiman stood up. "Let's leave the rest for later. You two should rest early. Tomorrow morning, I will take you to transfer the Jadeplume Terrorshroom."
"See you tomorrow." Coppelia also stood up, seeing Suleiman out of the tent.
...
The underground space was permeated with the faint green glow of Dendro energy. The massive body of the Jadeplume Terrorshroom crouched on the ground, surrounded by a group of small Fungi spitting streams of pale green energy toward the giant beast.
Columbina's figure appeared five meters in front of the Jadeplume Terrorshroom. She cradled the disabled Moon Spirit in her left arm, hovering half a meter above the ground without any prior warning.
She raised her right hand and waved gently; a small Fungus immediately detached from the ground and floated into the air.
Columbina flicked her hand forward. The Fungus was thrown out as if by an invisible force, its cap smashing solidly onto the Jadeplume Terrorshroom's head with a dull thud, before bouncing off and hitting the rock wall with another muffled sound.
The Jadeplume Terrorshroom immediately lifted its head from the ground, looking forward and recognizing the intruder from yesterday.
It propped up its body with its powerful legs, shook itself to rally its spirits, swung its tail, and charged toward Columbina. But barely two steps into its sprint, it vanished from the spot along with Columbina, leaving no trace behind.
At the western edge of the rainforest, inside an underground space near the Sand Defense Wall.
The figures of Columbina and the Jadeplume Terrorshroom materialized simultaneously. This place was completely enclosed, with the rock walls interspersed with many scale-like structures over ten meters wide, their surface texture resembling rough bark. This was the underground extension of the Sand Defense Wall.
The Jadeplume Terrorshroom clearly hadn't realized the change in location and continued to charge forward with its head down. In front of it, Columbina vanished instantly once again.
The Jadeplume Terrorshroom's head smashed heavily into a giant tree root, and its body stumbled backward. Once its dizziness subsided, it raised its head, twisting its neck left and right to search for its target, but found nothing. It looked around at the unfamiliar environment, glancing this way and that, appearing dazed and at a loss.
Back in the previous underground cavern, Columbina reappeared. She raised both hands, and all the remaining small Fungi in the cave detached from the ground simultaneously, floating into mid-air. They were gathered by an invisible force, forming a sphere several meters across composed of densely packed Fungi bodies.
A layer of hydro-blue spherical shield enveloped this "Fungi ball," cutting off any potential resistance from within.
These Fungi needed to be transferred along with the Jadeplume Terrorshroom; it would help that big fellow who was just sent over to adapt to the new environment.
This time, Columbina did not move with them. She stood in place, simply casting her gaze upon the sphere in the air, utilizing the technique she had learned just yesterday.
The massive ball of Fungi vanished instantly before her eyes.
In the air of the "new home" where the Jadeplume Terrorshroom was located, the Fungi ball appeared out of thin air.
The hydro-blue shield wrapping it dissipated at the same moment. The Fungi inside poured down like sand from a ruptured sack, instantly burying the Jadeplume Terrorshroom, which was still looking around blankly, in a tide of swaying caps and stems.
...
On the other side, Columbina teleported back to Coppelia and Suleiman's side.
"Is it resolved then?" she asked.
A gentle smile appeared on Suleiman's face: "Your work has been successfully completed. As agreed, I will take you to meet Greater Lord Rukkhadevata. We can set off to return to the Akademiya today."
"We can see her today?" Columbina was very expectant.
"Naturally," Suleiman nodded. "Especially if we have Miss Columbina's ability to assist with the travel."
Hearing this, Columbina lowered her head, her fingers gently stroking the wrinkled surface of the disabled Moon Spirit in her arms.
Coppelia patted her shoulder: "Then let's return to the camp first. Prepare early, leave early."
"Mn."
As soon as the voice fell, the surrounding scenery instantly reorganized. The three of them appeared in the central clearing of the camp.
But what reached their ears was not the expected sound of scholars' lively discussions, but the ear-piercing sounds of metal colliding and tearing, along with the panicked shouts and fleeing footsteps of the crowd.
Not far away, a Mechanical Drake controlled by Kelvin was locked in combat with a larger, dark brown humanoid machine.
Suleiman's gaze fell upon the humanoid machine, and his expression darkened: "'Field Tiller'... That is a war machine made by Khaenri'ah!"
The machine known as the "Field Tiller" had a torso that was wide at the top and narrow at the bottom, with a single eye atop it flashing a dangerous red light. Its thick arms grabbed the head and tail of the Mechanical Drake, and with a sound of twisting metal, it tore the drake into two pieces by sheer force, then tossed them aside like trash.
Coppelia tensed her entire body: "Prepare for combat!"
Before her words landed, Amos's Bow had already appeared in her left hand. But before her right hand could nock the string, a piercing electronic voice rang out abruptly:
"Welcome back, Columbina."
Columbina and Coppelia immediately looked toward the sound. Sitting atop the head of another "Field Tiller" was a dark brown mechanical hound, half a meter tall.
"Do not think of using teleportation," the mechanical hound's electronic voice was flat and devoid of intonation. "Before that—look!"
The "Field Tiller" beneath it slowly raised an arm, pointing in another direction of the camp.
Columbina's gaze followed.
She saw a "Field Tiller" swing its giant palm, swatting Kelvin, who was attempting to organize a defense, flying through the air.
Kelvin's body traced an arc in the air before smashing heavily onto the ground in the distance. He lay on his back, motionless. The monocle on his right eye had long since flown off to parts unknown.
____
New Story: Junji Ito: I Shall Smash Hellstar Remina
✅ Jump 40 chapters ahead of the public release!
✅ Get access to special perks and news!
Help smash these goals:
🎯 100 Powerstones = +1 Bonus Chapter (for everyone)
🚀 140 MEMBERS = +5 extra chapters (for all stories)!
👻 P - Walnutchan