Chapter 302: The Second Phase Begins
Next update will be this weekend.
In the end, Froze had returned to the Demon Forest, but reconnaissance reports indicated that the territory of the Fenrir family was unusually agitated.
Though obscured by the dense foliage, it was evident that something large was thrashing about, with trees being toppled in certain areas.
By closely adjusting the reconnaissance satellite’s imaging, they were able to confirm the real-time situation.
“Older Sister, this seems to be a case of hunting to heal their wounds or something along those lines,” Akane remarked.
“Hunting to heal wounds…?” Eve pondered.
According to Asahi, it appeared they were consuming meat to replenish their nutrients. Eve thought it odd that they would be so active if they were injured, but she kept her thoughts to herself, knowing that any speculation would be just that—speculation.
“Well, they must have sustained quite extensive burns, and their internal organs should be damaged, yet they seem to be in fine condition. Plus, it’s not just Froze; there’s also another one, Yalun. Given the state of things, it seems they are moving together.”
“Threat Creatures healing quickly is a staple of fantasy, but I wonder how true that is?”
“At the very least, a Threat Creature can close wounds within days, even if its life functions have ceased. If it’s in a stable condition, we can assume it’s even more resilient.”
The remains of the Rain Kroin still retained their form. This meant that even if left alone, their wounds would heal. If biological life activity were added to the mix, it wouldn’t be surprising for them to recover in a remarkably short time.
No, the very existence of such creatures was strange, but that was a discussion for another time.
“Regardless, we need to tighten our vigilance and hasten our reinforcement and expansion efforts. We’ve reclaimed our territory, but if we don’t push into the Demon Forest soon, they might come out again.”
“Building a wall might be an option. It could help establish our territory and show that we have no intention of advancing further.”
For now, the territory held by Froze and Yalun showed no signs of encroachment into the Demon Forest. Once they fully developed the surrounding area, they might consider taking action, but vast lands still lay beyond.
As long as they didn’t clash with the formidable Threat Creatures, there would be no immediate issues. The real conflict would likely begin once resources were exhausted.
If they could maintain mutual non-aggression until that point, it would be a relief. However, Eve was well aware that this was a rather self-serving wish. This world operated on the principle of survival of the fittest.
“Well then… our forces will be ready in two days. I wonder if we can establish a buffer zone and defense line in time.”
◇◇◇◇
Six days had passed since the initial clash. During that time, The Tree had moved its forces to the designated defense line and was preparing for battle.
The first encounter with Froze had revealed the need to address objects moving at supersonic speeds. Therefore, they had preemptively deployed a large number of sensors in areas deemed likely to be the front lines.
They had also prepared land battleships to serve as decoys.
Though hastily assembled, six ships had been deployed to the front lines without the most expensive equipment, the nuclear fusion reactor, opting instead for external power sources.
The hull and armaments remained the same. However, energy lines extended from the rear, connecting to standard Jotun positioned several kilometers behind. If the lines were severed, they could switch to microwave power supply, but due to insufficient power, they would only be able to operate for about 15 minutes when combined with capacitors.
That said, since the previous battle had lasted less than ten minutes, they deemed it acceptable. In the worst-case scenario, they could cut some internal functions to maintain minimal operations.
As The Tree steadily prepared, the Fenrir family finally made their move. Froze slowly emerged from the Demon Forest. Having already completed precise measurements, identification of the individual was instantaneous.
Then, keeping their distance, another Fenrir appeared. Given their coordinated movements, it was presumed to be the female parent, Yalun. Yalun rarely ventured out, which was why she had not been identified before.
“Older Sister. I have captured the appearance of Froze and Yalun. They are assumed to be in a combat-ready state.”
Iris reported to Eve, who was relaxing in the dining hall.
“Oh? It’s rare for you to contact me directly. Thank you, understood. I’ll be moving now, but the operation is still ongoing. It’s fine to proceed without waiting for my instructions.”
As Eve responded, she lightly tapped the display. Iris’s Emotion Graph fluctuated wildly, but Eve, now walking, was oblivious to it.
“Now then, what’s the situation?”
Seated at the command chair, Eve inquired of Ringo, who was efficiently adjusting her attire.
“Yes, Ma’am. Two Threat Creatures, Froze and Yalun, have emerged from the Demon Forest. They are currently facing us across the 5km buffer zone we established. Iris has instructed to commence combat at a distance of 1km.”
“Older Sister. I’m scanning Froze, but I don’t see any signs of injury. All the wounds we inflicted last time have healed.”
At Akane’s report, Eve looked up at the main monitor with a shocked expression. There, Froze, which should have had extensive burns, was displayed. Yet, there were no traces of damage visible.
“Wow… So it really does heal…”
Severe burns that would be fatal to a normal creature had completely healed in just six days, and even its fur had returned to normal. At this point, merely inflicting serious injuries would not suffice to defeat it; they would need to confirm its death without fail.
“It seems Froze has slightly changed in physique since the last battle. Assessment indicates a significant increase in muscle mass, possibly around 20%.”
“Wait… If we can’t take it down, it’ll just come back stronger…?”
Moreover, it appeared that Froze had improved in physique. If there were some mysterious function that enhanced its structure in response to danger, that would be extremely troublesome.
“I wonder about this… Perhaps Asahi and the others underestimated the Threat Creatures…”
Even Asahi was somewhat bewildered by this outcome. Regardless, they were severely lacking in information. This battle, whether they won or lost, was likely to be of great importance.
“Regardless, we have no choice but to proceed. Iris, I’m counting on you to follow the plan.”
“Yes, Older Sister. Walking the Dog, Phase Two, commencing.”
As The Tree stood ready, Froze and Yalun slowly advanced. They seemed to be significantly heightened in combat spirit, as the multifunctional sensors scattered around picked up their growls.
“…That’s terrifying.”
Eve couldn’t help but mutter. Indeed, even through the zoomed-in footage, the main display showed two wolves with vicious expressions up close, accompanied by the growls captured by the sensors.
For someone like Eve, who was merely a recluse, it was a terrifying sight.
“I apologize, Ma’am. I didn’t take your feelings into consideration.”
Noticing Eve’s reaction, Ringo hurriedly switched the display to a wider view.
Despite the somewhat relaxed atmosphere in The Tree’s command room, the tension in the field was palpable.
From the moment they appeared, the two Threat Creatures maintained a distance of several hundred meters, slowly advancing. They seemed to be cautiously closing the gap.
Though they appeared to be moving slowly, each step covered nearly ten meters, meaning they were actually approaching at a considerable speed.
At this rate, they would likely enter attack range in less than ten minutes.
Eve-chan seems like someone who would evoke a protective instinct if she were real…