Sovereign of the Ashes

Each of the nine forests in Verdant Wilderness World contained a special planar node that met Lorianne's requirements.

This likely explained why these forests had developed to such a grand scale and why each had birthed demigod-level beings.

Planar nodes, planar laws, and the power of laws were beyond Sein's current understanding.

In the Magus World, typically only demigod-level mages engaged in such research.

Comprehending and applying these concepts was generally reserved for those who had reached Rank Four or above in life level.

After departing from the Emerald Forest, Sein continued his journey eastward.

"Master Lorianne, what exactly did you bury? And what is the principle behind it?" Sein asked while flying.

Previously, he had buried a black square metal device at a specific coordinate node within the Emerald Forest.

Despite being an alchemist, Sein could not identify the device's function, prompting him to seek clarification from his mentor.

"That's a planar node weakener. In the Magus Alliance, only tower masters of major divine towers and grand masters of knightly orders can purchase them for use during interplanar wars. They can temporarily suppress a world's planar will. However, long-term use will cause irreversible damage to that world. It's considered controlled law equipment. I requisitioned it in advance from the Magus Alliance; the price was quite reasonable," Lorianne explained.

"As for the exact principles... why do you want to know? It's not like you have access to these things at your current level," she added.

In truth, Lorianne herself could not fully explain the device.

If she did not fully grasp it, there was no way she could elucidate its complexities to Sein.

Scratching his head, Sein asked, "So, where are we headed next?"

"The nearest planar node is likely in Greenwood Forest to the east. Let's head straight there. As long as we move stealthily, we shouldn't encounter any trouble," Lorianne suggested.

***

Every law node in the Magus World was meticulously guarded by either a divine tower or knightly order.

As a low-level plane, the Verdant Wilderness World naturally could not match the Magus Civilization in terms of development.

In this lesser-developed plane, there were more than a dozen law nodes, but only two or three were significantly valued and guarded by powerful creatures.

Lorianne planned to address these critical nodes directly when necessary or simply bypass them altogether.

Not every planar node required a weakener, but deploying as many as possible would facilitate the upcoming assault, even though fewer weakeners meant a slightly more challenging breach of the planar barrier.

It was no wonder why Lorianne promised that Sein would be highly credited if he managed to complete this infiltration mission.

Upon departing the Emerald Forest and moving on to other forests, the demigod-level plant sovereign, the Green Spikefur King, left one of its needles on the front of Sein's shirt.

Despite its inferior development, the Verdant Wilderness World possessed a more pristine environment than Verdant Leaf World.

Most of its native plant creatures remained stationary, spending their entire lives within the confines of the forests they inhabited.

Sein's foreign presence in Verdant Wilderness World was likely to alert other plant life.

Possessing a needle from the Green Spikefur King would aid Sein in identifying himself and potentially defusing conflicts with other plant sovereigns.

While it might not provide substantial help, it was a precaution worth taking.

Furthermore, the Green Spikefur King shared with Sein the preferences and habits of various forest and regional plant creatures.

Armed with this knowledge, Lorianne and Sein developed a preliminary roadmap for completing their mission.

Lorianne was the primary strategist and Sein was her dedicated executor.

***

The sights and smells of a world could not be easily described with words.

During his infiltration into Verdant Wilderness World, Sein took the guise of an unremarkable observer, quietly noting the habits and peculiarities of the plane's inhabitants.

This was his first experience of doing something like this, as he had yet to travel to the other planes under the control of the Magus Alliance.

Despite his experiences in interplanar wars, the chaotic situations in those worlds starkly contrasted with the peaceful everyday life he now witnessed.

Verdant Wilderness World could be described as a peaceful and free world.

While territorial conflicts between plant creatures and flesh creatures existed, such hostilities were generally within manageable limits.

Remarkably, this world had not seen any major wars for nearly ten thousand years.

It was a world teeming with diverse species, without any single dominant biological race.

This rich biodiversity allowed countless creatures to thrive, collectively weaving the fabric of Verdant Wilderness World's beauty and prosperity.

Much of Sein's understanding of this world came from a conversation with a three-thousand-year-old Greenbeak Tree.

Despite being a Rank One creature, the tree was not imposing, with a slender trunk and no apparent combat abilities.

However, Sein was fascinated by the greenbeak silk threads that dangled from its canopy, realizing they could be high-grade alchemy materials.

Sein ended up trading a Rank One earth-attribute energy crystal for two-thirds of the tree's silk threads.

While he could have easily killed the tree and seized its treasures, Sein refrained from doing so.

On one hand, engaging in battle could potentially blow his cover.

On the other, his interactions with these extraplanar creatures were beginning to change him.

It was a transformative experience.

When Sein relinquished his role as an invader and chose instead to befriend the plant creatures, he discovered they were surprisingly easy to talk to.

It was no wonder that Lorianne managed to effortlessly convince a demigod-level plant sovereign to defect.

Sometimes, violence or coercion was not the only way to achieve one's objectives; a gentler approach could often prove more effective.

"The place you're looking for is in the easternmost part of the forest, within the territory of the Five-Color Deer," the Greenbeak Tree told Sein as they concluded their transaction.

"I envy you creatures who can move freely. You have the liberty to explore the beauty of this world," it sighed.

As Sein left the area, he remarked to Lorianne, "That Rank One plant creature is quite fascinating; it seems to yearn for freedom?"

"Not all plants enjoy being rooted in one place forever. It's natural for them to desire a glimpse of the world beyond after so long," Lorianne responded thoughtfully.

"It's not out of the question to help them realize this dream. Among the spells I've mastered is one that summons tree people, which can temporarily alter their biological form," she explained.