Elian fired blades of wind at the smaller roots. As long as they were cut down, they wouldn't be able to reach him. Even though their numbers were countless, Elian cleanly severed hundreds of them. But he quickly realized something—the smaller roots were beginning to regenerate.
Without wasting time, Elian grabbed several iron rods scattered across the ground and, using wind magic, hurled them in four directions around the giant tree.
"Create a lightning magic circle," Elian ordered.
Sena immediately closed his eyes.
A massive magic circle formed beneath the tree, with the four iron pillars acting as its focal points. The pillars were driven firmly into the ground, preventing the tree from interfering with the magic structure being built.
Realizing it had failed to disrupt the magic circle, the giant tree began firing hundreds of sharp leaves toward Sena.
William reacted instantly, launching a barrage of fireballs and burning the leaves out of the air. When its attack failed to break through their defenses, the tree changed tactics.
An oval-shaped barrier appeared, glowing with a deep green light.
Green energy was drawn from the surrounding trees, flowing in and merging to form a solid shield. The sky darkened. Black clouds gathered, and bolts of lightning struck down, slamming into the tree.
The lightning collided with the barrier.
A violent tremor shook the ground.
But when the light faded, the barrier showed not a single scratch. The green energy flowed back into the surrounding trees, as if nothing had happened at all.
The tree moved in fury.
Its massive roots slammed into the ground and shot out in every direction with killing intent.
Martin moved quickly, blocking the roots with his shield while protecting Liana behind him as she stood with her eyes closed.
Sena and William flew with magic circles beneath their feet, dodging attacks from below. In the air, Elian moved fluidly, dancing between the massive roots while continuously slicing apart the smaller ones that came close.
Elian grabbed another iron rod and drove it into the ground directly beneath him.
"Sena," he said shortly, "make a wind magic circle. A powerful one."
The tree didn't give them time.
Leaves were fired again. As if commanded, birds burst out from the trees and dove down like kamikaze soldiers. From the forest, snakes and various other beasts emerged, attacking Liana and Martin on the ground.
William fired nonstop flames, intercepting the birds and leaves flying toward him and Sena.
Elian flooded the ground with water, creating an empty space so it wouldn't touch William and Liana. In the next instant, he formed a lightning magic circle, electrocuting the monsters crawling across the ground.
He then flew up, helping William take down more bird monsters with his wind blades.
Finally, the wind magic circle was completed.
A massive tornado formed, tearing up the earth as it rushed toward the tree. Just like before, the giant tree formed another barrier by absorbing power from the surrounding forest.
"Do it again," Elian said without hesitation.
Sena immediately formed a second magic circle.
Now two tornadoes slammed into the tree at the same time.
The surrounding trees began to wither, and the giant tree seemed to grow even more enraged. Its roots writhed wildly beneath the ground, shattering and cracking the surface of the earth.
Elian swiftly pulled Martin and Liana into the air before they could be caught in the blast. But with both hands full, a bird managed to slip through—its sharp beak aimed straight for Elian's head.
Liana snapped awake and immediately drew her bow.
The arrow was released.
The bird fell before it could reach Elian.
"How many more?" Elian asked, looking at Liana.
"If you can create two more tornadoes, that'll be enough to defeat it," Liana replied with confidence. "But I think… I'm ready now."
Elian nodded.
"Focus. We'll protect you."
He released his grip.
Liana stepped through the air as if she were walking on solid ground. She took out her bow and closed her eyes, slowly drawing the string. A wind arrow began to form, its power steadily increasing.
The two distant tornadoes were gradually absorbed into the arrow.
The giant tree sensed the threat.
It launched a frantic assault on Liana—leaves swirling, small roots shooting out from its branches, and massive roots bursting from the ground.
William incinerated every leaf that came close.
Sena formed earth magic, locking the massive roots in place.
Martin leapt down from the air, smashing one of the huge roots and slamming it into the ground.
Elian cut down every small root flying toward Liana.
Liana opened her eyes.
The tornado arrow was released.
The tree immediately pulled its roots together to block the attack. The ground restraining them shattered, Martin was thrown into the air, and dozens of roots intertwined to form a desperate defense.
The collision erupted.
The ground was torn apart and lifted into the air. Several trees were ripped out by their roots and hurled far away.
Martin dropped to one knee, planting his shield into the ground to withstand the raging winds.
Sena formed a wind barrier that slowly began to crack.
Elian stood firm, and with his control over wind, he split the incoming airflow, letting it pass without touching him.
He glanced at Sena, then projected his consciousness—showing Sena the plan inside his mind.
Sena smiled.
He understood.
Dozens of roots were torn apart. The arrow surged forward once more. As it struck the tree's barrier, a new field formed—cutting off the energy supply feeding the shield.
The tree's small roots tried to tear at the barrier, but they were too short to reach it.
Cracks appeared.
The barrier shattered.
The arrow pierced straight through the trunk of the giant tree, continuing onward, destroying the ground and forests in its path—until it finally vanished into the distance.
Silence.
"We did it," Liana said softly, staring at the numbers appearing in her field of vision.
Points: 10,213Rank: 1
Everyone snapped back to reality.
"WE WON!" Martin shouted in pure excitement.
William cheered, celebrating the victory.
Sena only smiled faintly—he had known how this battle would end from the very beginning. But they hadn't even had time to celebrate when suddenly—
"Thud!"
A heavy impact shook the ground and drew their attention.
Every head turned toward the sound.
There, Elian lay sprawled on the ground, dust rising around him, blood once again flowing from old wounds forced open.
"Kakak!"
Liana's voice broke in panic.
She rushed forward without hesitation, her heart pounding, her face pale as she saw Elian's condition. A moment later, the others came to their senses and hurried over as well.