A journey of Shadowverse and Honkai Impact 3rd

"Sera-chan is right, but everyone still needs to be on high alert. I have a feeling the next mission will be more difficult."

41. Insect Nest

They continued to move forward in the forest, approaching the deeper darkness. Gradually, the dim light brought some discomfort to them who were accustomed to the brightness.

A strange magical power permeated the forest, turning the harmonious nature into disordered chaos. A strong malice spread outward from a dark hole, causing the surrounding healthy trees to become weak and powerless, like weak patients, festering bit by bit over time.

The five people and the giant statue were the first team to arrive here. Just as Arisa said, they were indeed lucky and were the first to discover the origin of the insect plague.

However, facing such a particularly ominous hole, just thinking about jumping in is very difficult, and no one knows what kind of evil things are hidden in it.

"Kokoro-chan, light magic is up to you."

"Leave it to me, Lady Lisa."

The young girl waved the spear in her hand, allowing pure magic to pass through the jewel-like tip of the spear. The bright light that was emitted instantly was as clear as moonlight. In addition to expelling the ominous magic, it also produced a strange ball of light, which surrounded everyone and provided sufficient illumination and amplification.

Kokoro-chan's assistance level is really high.

Sera, who had once again learned the techniques of using auxiliary magic from her teammates, was delighted. After looking at each other, they reached a consensus.

"Mr. Orange, please."

Together with Kokoro, Mr. Orange gave the Mud and Dust Colossus a luxurious strengthening effect. For a moment, Mr. Orange, who exuded a strong aura and brilliant brilliance, patted his chest and jumped down first.

Then, just like dumplings being dropped into the water, the demon friends (Arisa, Lisa, Kokoro), Fishball (Sera), and Royal friend (Misterina) all jumped down. The gentle breeze controlled their falling speed so that they would not be injured by the fall.

The falling hole was extremely straight. When everyone touched the bottom of the underground hole, the strong fishy smell of soil rushed into the nostrils, but there was no miasma. The air was breathable.

The bright mud and dust giant looked like a big light bulb in the dark land, reminding Sera of her previous exploration in the abandoned facilities. However, the width of this void was beyond imagination. The deep darkness around it had swallowed up all the emitted light, and the vaguely visible outlines were also frighteningly far away.

"The magical reaction of living beings is relatively small, but there is an ancient darkness lurking in the depths. Everyone, be careful."

Liza, the team's indispensable observer, unconsciously lowered her voice, sensing the various messages within the cave, speaking in a voice only heard by the others.

"I can see more clearly. There are large patches of eggs in the distance, but no signs of adult insect activity."

As an archer, Arisa has excellent vision, and the cooperation with Liza immediately gave everyone a clear understanding of the void.

"Well, I'll first prepare the teleportation stone given to me by the sages, and then continue exploring."

It was as if Lisa was holding an emerald gem in her palm. Once the bright and moist luster was emitted, Sera, who had the corresponding talent, vaguely felt the existence of the space passage.

Fortunately, this way, no matter how big the danger is, we can escape unscathed.

They walked cautiously and quietly in the bright surroundings. After entering the cave, everyone was quite nervous, except for the mud and dust giant who did not understand but obeyed the command.

The tiny light moved with the crowd, and after a long time, they finally saw the entire insect nest.

The slippery liquid clings to the irregular holes, forming a milky white tissue that covers the rock walls and soil like a grid. In the grid's grid are fixed large insect eggs. The broken eggs still retain their original flexible posture, but after losing the insect body in their abdomen, they look like limp worms.

The hot wind was full of water vapor, and the air with a strange smell made people feel even more sick. Only after the magic of the wind was used to clear the air did a path appear for people to walk on.

The environment is quiet and silent. The further inward you go, the more spacious it seems. Gradually, even the outlines in the distance can no longer be seen. The surrounding moss-like soft tissues gradually turn into primitive soil and stone, exuding a desolate and cold atmosphere.

From a magical perspective, the abyss ahead is ominous and ancient, where some terrifying giant lurks, waiting for its prey to fall into its trap.

From the perspective of a dream, there is an endless chaotic dream ahead. The shape that seems to be covered with saliva is quite terrifying. Just looking at it makes you feel that your soul will be polluted.

Sera endured the soreness in her eyes and used mana to heal her pupils. After a while, she finally stopped the pain of looking directly into the shadows.

It is several times more exaggerated than the dead soldiers seen in reality. They are simply living curses and complete disasters. But in addition to this, there are also very different traces left.

"Lisa."

Walking beside the Elf Princess, Sera asked in a low voice.

"Something's wrong up ahead. It seems like it's not just the Demon Heart Bug."

"Indeed, I also sensed something different. The response from the Sacred Tree Staff was also very strange. Logically speaking, even if it was the ancient Dark People, the Demon Heart Worm wouldn't have caused her to harbor such intense hostility."

Lisa's mind was more focused on activating the teleportation stone. She replied to Sera in a pleasant voice, and her serious expression also indicated that she had noticed the strangeness of the ancient darkness.

The conversation between the two fell into the ears of others, making the atmosphere surrounding the team more solemn, but also more united, as if the formation had taken all aspects of the attack into consideration and was ready to face the impact.

Suddenly, after crossing a certain distance boundary, a huge shadow drowned out all the light. In the oppressive world, many pairs of terrifying scarlet compound eyes faced the tiny nymphs.

There is no doubt that even if the entirety of its huge body cannot be seen in the darkness, everyone will know its name based on its cruel aura.

According to records, the Demon Heart Worm is the first twisted insect, that is, the first Demon-Destroying Worm. Its existence is the nightmare of all living things and the cancer of the forest.

But it's not hopeless...

It is like the brightest light shining in a dark world, the dazzling brilliance at the beginning of creation. Even in a world alienated by the devil-heart worm, the connected hearts courageously summon the forest's all-embracing power.

"Forest, please embrace this poor creature and restore it to its original state."

The natural mana is abundant, and the mana pouring down from the staff of the sacred tree converges into a dazzling stream like the Milky Way, playing a melody that brings peace to life. Even the devil-heart worm will be accommodated by it and immersed in the loving and tolerant heart of the forest.

In the unprecedentedly bright cave, the Demon Heart Bug, covered by shadows, also revealed its bloated and sturdy body. Although it was injured and motionless for a while, its deep magic power was still competing with the natural mana. Even when using the treasure of the forest, the sacred tree staff, Lisa still looked too young.

Sera took the teleportation stone that suppressed spatial fluctuations from the distracted princess. Knowing that she could not resist for long, she poured mana into it. After a while, she mastered the usage and revealed a subtle expression.

It turns out that it is not used for escaping.

"Disaster that threatens the forest, let us be your opponents!"

The clear light from the outside world shines into the deep underground. Even the huge cavity seems unable to contain the determination of the tribal leaders to defend their homeland.

Fierce mana wrapped around the snow-white sword blade, and the courageous roar stirred up inspiring power. Under Mistrina's happy gaze, the majestic lion man rushed towards the Demon Heart Bug with a lightning-like hurricane.

"Father is here, so I have to work harder too!"

"Meow! Princess, please don't embarrass everyone!"

The big cat stood up and hurriedly grabbed the eager Mistlina, pointing at the portal behind him, indicating that the front battlefield no longer needed the participation of young people.

"Yeah, it looks like it can't escape this time."

Thrandal, holding a staff, said this with a smile in the underground cave, and this was also the consensus of the other sages.

"That's right, the Demon-Breaking Insect Plague ends here!"

42. Earth-shattering sign

The lion-man transformed into a hurricane took the lead, the bright sword light was as dazzling as a star, and set off a storm of courage in the huge cavity under the ground. When the sword flash accurately exploded on the magic heart worm, the insect's manic chirping resounded throughout the ground.

A sharp, hateful, demonic squeaking sound accompanied by gushing green blood echoed throughout the space. The sickle-like claws suddenly fell to the ground, sending out a signal of its pain.

"That's one less disaster to threaten the forest."

The pale-faced elven princess withdrew the strength she had borrowed from the forest, but even her exhausted state could not hide the happiness and joy in her smile.

"Great! It looks like I can become a formal forest guard this time."

Arisa's excited voice flooded into her ears. Although the sounds of battle were endless in front of her, Sera could still hear her enthusiastic cheers and the sound of bows being drawn as if to cheer them on.

"How about it? This mission is very interesting, isn't it?"

"It's quite interesting, but it's quite short-lived, and it doesn't look like my participation is needed right now."

Staring intently at the huge shadow in front of her, the ancient darkness was weakened bit by bit. Sera, who had gone through the entire search process, replied to the cheap teacher in this way. The blue mana lingering around her body was leaping with her breathing, casting healing magic on Lisa beside her.

"Well, it's the final stages after all, and we can't let you young people take on the heaviest work, right?"

The elegant sage smiled, and the unfathomable vast mana merged into the staff in his hand, and a powerful invisible barrier was formed. The all-round ability weakening and the terrible gravity suppression immediately made the Demon Heart Bug fall into a more desperate situation.

"Anyway, whatever you say is right, teacher. I don't bother to argue with you anymore."

Sera had no interest in breaking Thrandal's three-dimensional defensive language. Seeing more and more mana constructing complex and rich spells, she raised her senses to the limit, and a blazing fire of learning was burning in her blue eyes.

The rumbling sound of footsteps came one after another, and more and more warriors came close to wipe out the limbs that the Demon Heart Worm relied on to slaughter lives. Every slash was carried out with the specialized techniques blessed by the sages. The power of purification was stripping away and erasing the original power that once distorted the witch's life.

The deep green sword flashes responded to each other, and the brilliant forest green penetrated the soil in its call, blooming the scorching sun of life above the dome of the great void, leaving no trace of ominous magic in the underground that was as bright as daylight.

The forest allows the existence of darkness, but never allows the evil that distorts life.

"Squeak... squeak..."

The extremely weak insects made faint humming sounds, and their blood-red compound eyes, which seemed to be flowing with flames, stared at the tiny insects that kept circling around them. However, their gradually clearing minds were unable to launch an effective counterattack.

"That's it, Devil Heartworm!"

The frosty sword flashed with the power of nature. The roaring lion drew a long rainbow with the sword in his hand. This single blow shattered the scarred shell of the giant insect, bringing an end to the demon-breaking insect plague that had plagued the forest for so long.

And at this moment, the sharp-minded Sera caught the prelude to the start of the grand ceremony.

The wooden staff in his hand made a divine humming sound, and the spiritual beings that permeated the world were all overwhelmed by the huge presence, as if a huge sun had fallen into the world, and the dazzling oppressive force that was difficult to look directly at directly replaced all senses.

"Grand rituals and great magic are skills that are given high status due to their complexity or their immense power."

The ground under your feet and the dome at the top of the hollow contain a formation of natural mysteries that gathers ancient light and darkness. The twinkling world poles are like a towering tower, and the chaotic light of both creation and destruction descends immediately.

All sounds are extinguished, all lights are extinguished, but in the silent moment there is a beautiful birth.

Quiet flowers grow in the hollows where soil and rocks are mixed. The bright purple color is charming and pretty, and the seemingly poisonous fragrance echoes with the minerals growing underground, turning this humid insect nest into a new ecosystem.

"Have you learned it, little Sierra?"

Thrandal asked the quiet disciple beside him cheerfully, and the teasing in his heart was obvious.

"What can I learn from this? Teacher, you said the Grand Ceremony is difficult. I'm not a genius, so it's impossible for me to learn it just by watching it."

If you have failed in your studies, it is still possible.

Sera rolled her eyes and muttered something disrespectful in her heart. Then, the girl asked the teacher for the reward for the task.

"I'm going to take a few days off. Is that okay with you, teacher?"

"Oh, it's okay. It's vacation time, so you can have fun as much as you want. Just don't let me find out how much you've regressed."

You don't sound like you're taking a vacation...

"I understand. Needless to say, I will work hard too."

It would be nice if I could enjoy a real holiday, but unfortunately the undesirable reality does not allow that.

The blue eyes swept over the shrunken Demon Heart Bug not far away. The softened edges seemed to represent the return of sanity. Then, Sera looked at the new friends she had just met.

Hmm…Arisa went to see Rosaria, and Kokoro and Lisa seemed to have gone to their respective parents’ places…Mistrina was interacting with a familiar big cat…

"Let's go, Mr. Orange."

Sera called out easily, and after hearing the familiar "oh" sound, she put on a warm expression and walked into the still open portal with the Mud and Dust Colossus.

The surface of the forest remains the same, with fresh wind and beautiful water flowing, and tall trees rising and falling, absorbing the warm light.

Creatures of various appearances walk and stop near the portal. The harmonious scene with both mages and warriors is reassuring, and the atmosphere of unity and friendship is also desirable. You only need to take a few steps here, and there will always be more or less voices of concern.

"Thanks……"

After dealing with several voices asking if she needed help, Sera, who felt troubled by her delicate image for the first time, couldn't help but sit directly on the shoulders of the Mud and Dust Colossus so as not to attract too many inquiries.

Well, next I should study the techniques involving space carefully, otherwise my talent will be wasted.

A person and a giant statue were walking on the road in the forest. As they walked further and further away, in the sparsely populated area, their figures gradually blurred and disappeared.

And in the underground cave where the Demon-Destroying Insect Plague ended, some remaining clues also showed some signs that made everyone look solemn.

——The Demon Heart Bug, which had regained its original appearance, squeaked a few times and revealed that it had encountered a creature even more terrifying than itself underground before, and it almost didn't survive.

"Squeak."

It has a huge body, and the underground cavity that is larger than the Demon Heart Bug is proof of this.

It has sickle-like feet that can cut through everything, and the scars of the Demon Heart Worm that have not yet healed are proof of this.

"Alien."

Thrandal said seriously.

43. Initial recovery

(Card successfully created, [Young Green Bud], Silver Card, Description: A branch fallen from an ancient tree, bearing the aura of the primeval forest's nurturer, becomes closer to the Mother of Creation.)

The wooden staff given by the teacher did not disappear after returning, but became a brand new card and entered the private library. The object surrounded by fresh green does have a mysterious atmosphere.

Well...if the cost is not too high, maybe we can try to materialize it in reality.