Chapter 53
As the sun set, the desolate plains were shrouded in a thin, crimson mist.
At the edge of the light domain, three unfamiliar auras approached simultaneously.
Shattered Shell Ridge sent out a servant vine covered in armored vines, with layers upon layers of armor, like a heavy shield;
The Tide Lotus Alliance sent a water vein messenger, who carried a ball of slowly flowing swamp liquid, leaving wet traces wherever he went.
The representative of the Shadow Vine Alliance is a slender vine with roots trailing behind it like silent tendrils.
They did not step into the light domain, but stopped at the edge, and spoke in unison:
"Seed 237, we bring you our final advice."
"Unity brings mutual prosperity; rejection leads to mutual destruction."
The air suddenly became tense.
The light roots within the light domain subconsciously rose up, like a vigilant network barrier.
Sprout 12 quickly blocked the way, its branches and leaves trembling slightly, and whispered to 237:
"Don't respond. They're testing us. Any word you say could be used against you."
But Seed 237 slowly stepped forward, its leaves shimmering with a soft light.
His voice was calm, yet carried a suppressed sharpness:
"If they dare to come, then be prepared to bear my light."
Startled, Sprout 12 immediately stopped him: "237! Your current state is unstable. Provoking us rashly will only give them an excuse!"
Seed237 raised her eyes and stared at him coldly:
Are you doubting me? Or... are you afraid of me?
This sentence froze the branches and leaves of Sprout 12.
The fear he felt last night was pierced deep within him, but he couldn't bring himself to voice it.
The three envoys watched this scene silently, their eyes flashing with mockery and coldness.
Teng Hua said softly, "Heh... If you don't even trust each other, what kind of Light Domain are you talking about?"
The leaves of seed 237 suddenly trembled, and the light almost burst out.
The shadowy creature chuckled in his heart: "See? Even outsiders see it more clearly than you. The bond between you and Sprout is nothing but a facade."
Sprout 12 gritted his teeth, immediately stepped forward, his sharp branches severing a wisp of the vine's root, and shouted:
"Enough! This is the Light Domain, not a place for you to stir up trouble!"
A murderous aura suddenly filled the air.
Seeing this, the messengers smiled coldly, said nothing more, and turned to leave.
But their footsteps sounded like nails, hammering into the ground of the light domain.
—This is a declaration.
—An even bigger storm is approaching.
The field of light fell silent again.
But the silence between the two was more devastating than any threat.
Sprout 12 turned around and said in a low voice, "237, you're becoming less and less like yourself."
A shadow crossed Seed237's eyes, but he only replied with:
"I am who I am. It's just that you no longer believe in me."
The two voices, like two roots intertwined underground, no longer harmonized.
Even the wind dared not sweep through the air.
Night completely enveloped the desolate plains.
The waning moon hung high in the sky, its radiance at the edge of the light field like a thin veil, separating the inside from the outside.
Sprout 12 stood silently under the bare root for a long time.
He gazed into the depths of the light domain at Seed 237, which was quietly closing its eyes to meditate, his heart filled with conflicting emotions and unease.
—What if he really goes astray?
—What if the shadow is already in control of him, and I keep hesitating?
Finally, Sprout 12 took a deep breath, its branches and leaves trembled slightly, and its entire form transformed into a swift pod in the night, disappearing beyond the realm of light.
He needed to ascertain the true intentions of the tripartite alliance.
Even if it means risking danger all by yourself.
Deep in the light domain
Seed 237 was alone, immersed in the pulsating intertwining of light roots.
He tried to calm the restlessness within him, but the tranquility of his mind was repeatedly torn apart.
A voice from the darkness slowly rose, carrying both indifference and allure:
"Yadou is gone. He no longer trusts you."
Seed 237 opened its eyes, and the light in its eyes dimmed in an instant.
He gritted his teeth and responded coldly:
“He just went to investigate—he’s always been by my side.”
The Shadow Parasite chuckled: "Heh, you don't even believe that yourself. Can't you feel it? That crack in your body is because you depend on him too much. As soon as he leaves, you start to waver."
Words are like sharp blades, piercing the most vulnerable places.
The light from seed 237 began to tremble, and the rhythm of the light roots became disordered.
"I won't……"
His voice was low and deep, as if it were about to break at any moment.
The shadow parasite seized the opportunity to infiltrate, transforming into a thin black vein that slowly coiled around his roots.
It whispered:
Stop resisting. Accept me, and you will have true power.
At that time, all three parties, including even the sprouts, will bow down at your feet.
Seed 237 closed his eyes, his chest heaving violently.
Two voices were constantly tearing at my heart:
One told him to uphold light and purity;
The other whispered a temptation, urging him to let go of his fear and embrace the darkness.
Just as he was about to lose control, a pulsation suddenly surged from the depths of the light domain.
Those are the remnants of the mother tree, like a gentle whisper:
"Guard yourself."
Seed 237 suddenly opened its eyes, and the light within its body burst forth instantly, forcibly forcing the black vein back a few places.
The Shadow Parasite let out a cold snort: "Heh... You'll understand sooner or later that light can't protect you."
The sound gradually faded away.
The night fell silent once more.
Seed 237 was covered in cold sweat, its light flickering.
He realized that he was only one step away from "losing control".
Beyond the Light Domain
At this moment, Sprout 12 was stealthily lurking on the outskirts of the Shionuma Lotus Alliance.
He saw that the underground channel contained not only muddy water, but also hundreds of dark veins leading to the light domain.
Further away, the armored vine beasts of Shattered Shell Ridge are gathering, while the roots of Shadow Vine have already penetrated the ground, spreading out like a net.
Sprout 12 felt a chill in her heart.
The probing by the three parties was not a bluff at all, but a real "prelude to encirclement and suppression".
—A real offensive could erupt at any moment.
He quickly turned back, his heart filled with anxiety:
"237...you must hold on, wait for me to come back!"
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