We agreed to set sail, so you'd become the ruler of the deep sea?

Chapter 244 Time begins to flow backward!
Looking at the large group of young tree people watching, old Hunter couldn't help but think of his grandson, Mumu.

That was the only person Old Hunter couldn't let go of in the City of Giant Trees.

"I hope Mumu is smart enough to know to go to the Black Forest to find Iris."

Old Hunter prayed silently, "If it hid in the Black Forest, it should be able to hold out longer, right?"

"Although living is painful enough, there is no hope left when you die."

"Mumu, you must live..."

Just as old Hunter was giving his final prayer, Fana, standing in the center of the execution square, seemed too tired to continue the pointless interrogation.

From the moment Hunter was brought to this square, the outcome of this trial was already decided!
Therefore, Fana pronounced the verdict.

"Elder Hunter has protected the humans who have harmed our fellow human beings; the evidence against him is irrefutable!"

"According to the laws of the City of Giant Trees, he should be executed!"

As soon as it finished speaking, the tree-people around it suddenly became excited, their empty eye sockets revealing a mixture of excitement and cruelty.

It was as if they had been waiting for this moment for a long time.

Immediately afterwards, the tree people began to shout.

“Execution!!!”

"Execute! Execute! Execute!"

At first, only one or two tree-men shouted.

But soon, many treants joined in, and the shouts of "execution!" quickly merged into a chorus that echoed across the ruins of the elven temple.

The "extreme punishment" that Fana mentioned was the cruelest form of punishment among the Tree People.

Because tree-people have a much stronger vitality than humans, their fatal weaknesses are also very different from those of humans.

The cruelest and most efficient way to kill a tree-man is to use immense force to tear the victim's body into countless pieces.

It shares similarities with human punishments such as "dismemberment by chariot" and "dismemberment by five horses".

Old Hunter looked at the tree people around him, at the fanaticism and savagery on their faces, and felt a chill run through his body.

Those once familiar faces now look so strange.

Their expressions are remarkably similar, as if they were carved from the same mold.

It's just like……

In that instant, a vast and cruel will completely overwhelmed the original spirit of the Tree People.

Or perhaps, the tree people have all become part of that will, an extension of its soul!
However, the tree people who accepted the Seed of Life were completely unaware of this.

Hunter suddenly felt very sad.

I feel sorry for myself, and for the fate of this "City of Giant Trees".

At this moment, several executioners extended vines towards Hunter and gradually tightened their grip on the old tree man's branches.

Hunter sighed, preparing to face the final moments of his life.

But that's it.

laugh--

Suddenly, a bright, blazing fire erupted in the sky above the execution square.

It's hard to imagine that such a raging fire could burn so brightly in the deep sea.

In an instant, the dim square was illuminated by the firelight.

This strange change interrupted the tree people's shouts, slightly fading the eerie and cruel atmosphere.

They stared wide-eyed at the sea above.

There stood a tall figure enveloped in flames.

A handsome, sunny face was gradually revealed in the firelight.

Beside him, even the seawater was ignited by flames, and the water temperature was slowly rising, causing the tree people to feel somewhat uncomfortable.

"...It's human!?"

"But what about those flames? They're flames that can ignite the ocean!"

"Is that fire? This is the first time I've ever seen it..."

For these tree-people living in the underwater forest, "fire" is an extremely rare existence.

For many of the younger generation of Tree People, this is the first time they have ever seen such a thing in person.

Just as humans were shocked when they first saw electricity, they were equally shocked to witness flames.

A look of surprise flashed across Fana's eyes as he murmured, "Another human?"

For a very long time, no human dared to come to the sea area where the City of Giant Trees is located, let alone venture deep into this forest.

But in the past two days, two people have infiltrated the City of Giant Trees.

Moreover, both of them seem to possess extraordinary abilities.

This is quite unusual.

However, the arrival of this human only serves to prove Hunter's crimes of colluding with humans!
Fana sneered, "Hunter, this is your human accomplice who's been working with you in this treacherous way!"

"It seems they still want to rescue you."

"It's one thing that he managed to escape before, but he actually dared to come to the execution square. He's incredibly audacious!"

"Executioner, charge! Kill him!"

Fana's words undoubtedly defined the nature of the matter and directly placed the Flame Man in an opposing position.

Upon hearing his command, the tree-men, known as the Executioners, charged directly towards the man on the high place without hesitation.

The biggest difference between the Executioners and other Tree People is that their bodies are often integrated with other creatures.

These are the tree-people that Shane saw earlier, those parasitic on marine creatures.

Some are fish, some are shrimp and crabs.

Others manipulate human bodies.

While possessing the bodies of other creatures, they also keep them strangely active, giving them special abilities that ordinary tree people do not have.

It can be said that the Executioners are the elite monsters among the Tree People!
As the many executioners rushed towards Yan Yan, a clear and steady voice suddenly rang out from all around the execution square.

The sound wasn't very loud, but it was enough to cover the entire square, and it was difficult to pinpoint the source of the sound.

"Foolish tree people, you have been deceived by the [Giant Tree God] for far too long!"

"All that you see and hear is illusory."

"The so-called gods and greatness are nothing but a fabricated hoax!"

"And now, I will show you the truth of everything!"

Although the voice only spoke a few words, it caused a huge uproar among the tree people.

It's like pouring a bowl of cold water into a frying pan.

For the tree people who accepted the Seed of Life, the Giant Tree God had long been the most sublime and greatest being in their hearts.

At this moment, these words are undoubtedly a blasphemy against the [Giant Tree God]!

No believer can tolerate their god being slandered or defamed by others!
As a result, the entire treant population in the execution square erupted in cheers.

And the first to bear the brunt was naturally Yan Yan, who was blazing high above.

Many people believe that the blasphemous words he just uttered were his.

Despite the hostile gazes of the many tree-men, Yan Yan remained unmoved.

Just kidding, he's been frozen on an ice island for who knows how many years, so he has that much composure.

Taking advantage of this opportunity, Yan Yan activated the recording stone that he had been holding in his hand, as instructed by the captain.

next moment.

A huge light screen appeared right next to Yan Yan.

The images presented are part of the memories of string music.

The light curtain was extremely conspicuous in the seawater due to the reflection of the fire.

Not only the onlookers in the execution square, but also some of the tree people in the distant forest saw the scene on this light screen.

"This is... the City of Giant Trees?"

"What exactly is that guy trying to do?"

At first glance, the tree people were more puzzled than surprised by the scene on the screen, and some even dismissed it as a way for Yan Yan to buy time.

But soon, as the scene began to change, the tree-people were stunned. They saw that the lush forest had turned into a deformed and ugly carpet of flesh.

The thriving tree-man turned into a rotting, dried-up corpse.

The great and sublime [Giant Tree God] has been transformed into a giant, tumor-like heart!

"Lord, what is this?"

Upon seeing the scene on the light screen, one of the tree-men couldn't help but exclaim in surprise.

When Xia En saw these scenes, he was greatly shocked.

Not to mention the original inhabitants of the City of Giant Trees.

Old Hunter stared blankly at the light screen, muttering in despair.

"Is that really the case?"

"So, this is what the City of Giant Trees has become..."

Even though Hunter had some idea of ​​the truth about the Seed of Life, the images presented on the screen still shocked him deeply.

However, it is unrealistic to expect the tree people to change their deeply ingrained ideas with just a light screen.

Soon, Fana shouted, "Don't panic!"

"That's just an illusion performed by despicable humans!"

"Think about it carefully, how could the real [City of Giant Trees] possibly look like that?"

Fana's counterattack was surprisingly effective.

After all, the tree people clearly trusted their respected elders more than a strange outsider.

Yan Yan's actions of "fabricating lies" and "performing illusions" were immediately regarded by the tree people as a more serious act of blasphemy, which aroused their anger.

"That's right, it must be fake!"

"Humans are indeed despicable and shameless. Offer him to the [Giant Tree God] and wash away this sin with their blood!"

So the tree people attacked Yan Yan like madmen.

In an instant, Yan Yan experienced the same tree-sea encirclement that Xia En had encountered before!

However, Yan Yan was not afraid at all in the face of the surging enemy.

More and more flames rose from his body, violently engulfing all the treants that approached him...

……

……

While the tree people's attention was drawn to the flames in the sea.

Below is the execution square.

Two figures were rapidly approaching Old Hunter, who was bound in place by vines.

"Grandpa Hunter, we've come to save you!"

Hearing this voice, Hunter was jolted awake from his gloomy state.

"Mumu?! What brings you here?"

Mumu said, "Of course I'm here to save you!"

At this moment, Hunter also noticed Xia En next to Mu Mu and immediately guessed the general outline of the matter.

"Young man, did you prepare that light screen too?"

Xia En nodded and said, "It's me."

"However, Senior Hunter, you should be able to tell that it's not actually an illusion, right?"

Hunter nodded heavily: "Yes, that's probably the true face of the [City of Giant Trees] now."

"Unfortunately, you're too late."

"If you had come a few decades earlier, you might have been able to help many tree people see the truth."

"but now……"

Hunter looked at the tree-men whose faces were full of anger and fanaticism, and his mood grew heavier.

"Even if they see the truth, they won't believe it."

As Shane cut down the vines around Hunter, he said, "I know."

In fact, he never intended to make the tree people realize reality just by relying on the image on the photo stone.

You can never wake up a person who pretends to be asleep.

The tree people in the City of Giant Trees actually hold this kind of mentality.

With the added manipulation of the Seeds of Corruption, getting them to change their minds is practically impossible.

Shaen's original intention was simply to use this to attract the hatred of the tree people.

If it can also plant a seed of truth in the hearts of some clear-headed Tree People, that would be quite good.

Although Shane and his companion acted discreetly, Fana kept a close eye on the bound Hunter.

So, they had just untied the vines around Hunter.

Fana noticed the commotion and shouted angrily, "Hunter, you think you can escape?"

With most of the executioners preoccupied with dealing with the raging flames above, the defensive forces within the plaza were extremely limited.

Fana simply strode over by himself.

Other tree-people began to gather around.

Although Shane is strong, he will definitely not be able to run fast with Hunter and Mumu as burdens.

Therefore, he made a decisive move and directly activated the [Void Beast Heart Seal], opening the gate to the [Rhine Secret Realm].

"Get in quickly!"

Upon hearing this, Hunter and his companion did not hesitate and rushed into the silver light gate.

The moment the two left, Fana arrived in front of Shane.

An unusually thick, branch-like arm swung out fiercely!

boom!
Without dodging or avoiding, Shane took a direct punch from Fana.

The seawater surged and churned, instantly stirring up a large amount of silt.

Fana took a step back, while Shane took several steps back.

In terms of pure strength, he was actually at a disadvantage!

This means that, according to rank, Fana is at least a fifth or sixth-rank being!
However, Shane is smaller and more agile.

It's clearly unrealistic for Fana to want to keep him.

Now that Old Hunter is safe, Shane can actually retreat.

But suddenly.

As the mud and sand churned, Shane saw a fragment of a statue buried beneath it.

It was half a woman's face, mutilated and broken.

Xia En recognized it at first glance; it was a fragment of the statue of the Elf Goddess!

A mysterious smile still lingered on the goddess's lips.

However, her current state can only be described as miserable and pitiful.

As if possessed, Xia En took out the silver pocket watch that he always carried with him.

next moment.

"Click" sound.

The hands of the silver pocket watch stopped, frozen in that instant.

Not just the pocket watch, but everything around Shane—the fervent treants, the enraged Fana, the flames burning in the sea…

Everything, everything, was frozen in this moment.

But then, the pointer started to rotate counterclockwise.

As the silt gradually settled, the fragments of the statues hidden all around gathered together on their own, forming the shape of a deity.

The broken walls and ruins on all sides were repaired and restored by an invisible force, transforming back into a magnificent and towering temple.

Time has begun to flow backward!
(End of this chapter)