Obsidianis and Seraphina arrived at the shared backyard between Red and the others. The time was around 5 in the morning, so the sky was dark, illuminated by the Moon. In one of the tables, Liu Shu sat right between Seraphina and Obsidianis, her small stature making her appear as if she were about to be bullied by two tall and charming women.

Obsidianis looked at Seraphina and squinted. This was her first time seeing the usually heroic woman leaning in while showing a gentle yet domineering smile. ’I had not expected both of us to actually fall for someone, and that someone being the same person.’

These two had received the affection of too many people to even remember. They were not too talented at first, but pushed by a drive to improve, they reached <First Ascension> status rather soon. It was then that the first change occurred.

Their relatively mediocre talents bloomed like two flowers in the mud, enough to classify them as exceptional, but not uniquely strong. Still, with their beauty and their new aptitudes, their number of suitors shot up.

Of course, being young, both of them were somewhat curious at first. Yet, the second they thought of being with someone, a strange revulsion rose up with unstoppable momentum. So, after one date in which they exchanged fewer than three full sentences, both of them ignored all suitors and went back to Leveling.

When they reached Level 150 and were sent to a sect, they once more attracted attention. However, these two, already accustomed, deflected everyone using the excuse that they were too young.

As Sylvans who were less than 100 years old back then, the excuse was quite valid. So, they got left alone.

Sadly for those people, Seraphina and Obsidianis improved at a ridiculous pace, and then they reached their <Second Ascension>.

This second ascension was a terrifying transformation for them.

First of all, their attacks gained a trace of some strange energy they couldn’t understand. This energy was destructive to the point that even people with more than double their stats felt a touch of fear and caution.

Second, their aptitude was slightly increased once more. Not much, but enough to change them from ordinary geniuses to extraordinary ones.

It wasn’t much later that the conflict occurred and came here, so, once again, any suitors got isolated by an impenetrable wall.

And yet...

Seraphina spoke with a soft but deep tone, leaving Liu Shu’s heart thumping while her brain was utterly confounded. "Liu Shu, you are so strong~. I am really interested to know how you became so strong, but I won’t ask for now. Tell me when we are much, muuuuch closer, alright?"

Obsidianis leaned down, her dark and husky voice drumming in Liu Shu’s ears like the voice of temptation itself. "Forget Seraphina, Liu Shu. She is a bit too honest... How about we both get to know each other alone instead? I promise, I will let you look even into my darkest secrets. Of course, don’t blame me when that darkness splashes onto you, alright?"

Liu Shu looked back and forth between the somewhat evil yet utterly charming face, and the holy and heroic yet somewhat magnetic face, not knowing what to do with her out-of-control emotions.

’W-Why am I feeling like this with these two? It doesn’t make sense, ahhhh!’

Liu Shu, as a World Tree, has seen basically all types of beauties from all species. She should have been immune to appearances, as she has been exposed to beauties that, objectively, were superior to these two.

Yet, the silvery eyes and abyss-like irises were sucking her in as if they had their own magnetic fields.

"T-That, umm." Liu Shu stuttered. "We should get to, gulp, know each other slowly, right? I, um, don’t know anything about you two..."

She was honest-to-her-heart doing her utter best to keep these two at bay, but in the petal door, the previous 3% completion was advancing by 1% every ten minutes of interaction, uncontrollably filling up.

When the percentage had grown to around 11%, awakened by Red, Cinderielle woke up and walked out. This was the scene she saw when appearing: Liu Shu was surrounded by two unknown tall Sylvans that contrasted in colors and personality.

In the middle, Liu Shu was blushing like a little girl, her amethyst eyes looking back and forth, not knowing what to do.

The Thermis Sylvan froze for a second before, like a wave of darkness that could swallow worlds, anger surged and twisted her expression. "HEY! Whose wife do you think you two are circling!? Stand back, you hags!"

"H-Hags?" Obsidianis and Seraphina were so stunned that they could not help but look over.

Seraphina frowned deeply and spoke in annoyance. "Who are you calling a hag!? I am only 159 years old! Aren’t you projecting, girl?"

The reason for these words to fly was that they could, more or less, tell each other’s strength. Cinderielle, feeling that these two had an aura similar to Xakira, thought they were two mature Sylvans several thousand years of age. Similarly, feeling Cinderielle’s <First Ascension> strength, Seraphina classified her as a junior.

Cinderielle walked over with large strides, absolutely disregarding their strength as she cursed at them like a fiery lioness. "HA!? Who are you trying to deceive by saying you are my age!? You two better get away from Tiantian, or I’ll scorch and freeze you until your nerves are fried!"

Obsidianis sneered. "You are our age, but you have yet to reach the <Second Ascension>? Heh. Also, who are you calling Tiantian? Is Liu Shu someone you can call out to freely?"

Cinderielle slammed her palms on the table, exploding it into splinters, and roared. "I am calling Tiantian to my MARRIED WIFE AND THE MOTHER OF MY CHILDREN, HOMEWRECKER!"

Don’t let Cinderielle’s usual attitude deceive you. But when she was angry, the woman was as explosive as her elements. Her eyes were basically spewing flames as she yelled at them.

Her roars startled everyone awake, forcing them to rush out, thinking that there was trouble.

Obsidianis and Seraphina both froze, their eyes widening when they heard Cinderielle’s roar. They were so stunned that they didn’t even notice Cinderielle snatching Liu Shu away from them.

It was here that Liu Shu finally reacted, her heart leaping to her throat in fear. ’T-These two are <Second Ascension> powerhouses! If they go crazy, I don’t know what they would do.’

So, trying to soothe everyone, she quickly spoke up. "C-Cinderielle, relax. Calm down. These are two <Second Ascension> powerhouses who came to help us during the war. It was with their help that I was able to annihilate the reinforcements. They are very important guests!"

Obsidianis reacted first, and her dark eyes turned incredibly gloomy as she looked at Cinderielle, a hint of killing intent surging at the back of her gaze. ’Wife...?’

Tempestria descended, her gaze alert as she looked at the new arrivals. Thankfully, she was not as agitated as Cinderielle, so she quickly found an oddity, sensing a strange sense of familiarity from them. "Alright, everyone, relax. You two guests, I am sorry for Cinderielle. Also, as Liu Shu’s wife, I ask you to be merciful and forgive her."

A sense of familiarity didn’t only mean affection, but also a sense of threat. So she, like Cinderielle, decided to mark her territory while calming everyone. This gesture was the thing that prevented things from going south.

Seraphina and Obsidianis looked at Tempestria and Cinderielle, their gloomy eyes slightly thoughtful. ’Two... wives?’

If there were more than one wife, then...

Cinderielle turned to look. "Tempestria! These two—"

"Shut up!" Tempestria glared at Cinderielle. "I don’t know why you are so angry, and I know you wouldn’t snap without reason, but first you must calm down, or things will escalate!"

Seeing Tempestria’s calm grey eyes turn stormy, Cinderielle was also somewhat startled and quickly calmed down. She, grabbing Liu Shu’s arm, took a small, deep breath and calmed her emotions down, glancing back.

Her orange eyes met with Obsidianis’s dark, deep eyes. Both sides looked at each other, and to Obsidianis’s surprise, Cinderielle didn’t even flinch while looking back with a cold look. Moreover, she could also see a trace of reddish sparks deep in Cinderielle’s eyes, having an aura similar to her own silvery lights. ’Ho~?’

Seraphina, trying to push down the uncomfortable feeling from hearing Liu Shu already had wives, spoke with pursed lips and a cold expression. "Liu Shu, while we don’t know what is going on, shouldn’t you control these women?"

Liu Shu frowned, her feelings having recovered, and spoke back. "There is no need to pursue small matters, Lady Seraphina. She overreacted, and for that, I ask for forgiveness. However, I hope you don’t pursue the matter."

Then, she smiled. "How about we start again from zero? Whatever happened until now, we can forget about it."

Seraphina looked at Liu Shu, and even when her eyes were silver-colored, one could see a touch of gloominess in them for a second. Thankfully, Seraphina’s gaze recovered to her usual bright and imposing look and nodded. "Alright, I understand. Let’s talk then."

"Daughter?"

After things relaxed, a voice came from the side. Looking over, they saw Veyra looking at Obsidianis with a stupefied gaze.

Obsidianis also looked confused. "Mom? You... Why are you here?"

While Obsidianis knew that her mother had come here as an envoy, with a "sacrificial war" approaching, she had expected that all Covenant envoys would have already been on their return journey to the Covenant. ’Since she is here...’

Obsidianis’s gaze became so deep and dark that even Cinderielle and the others felt a slight chill. Until now, Obsidianis had been showing romantic gloominess, which Cinderielle could meet without effort.

However, the darkness accumulating in her eyes right now was... consuming. As if a terrifying beast were about to crawl out of an abyss. Even the hair that gently hid one of her eyes began fluttering in anger at the implications of Veyra’s presence.

Seraphina was also surprised. "Aunty Veyra? You... why are you here? Didn’t you evacuate with the rest of the Covenant forces?"

Veyra looked at them and smiled wryly. "What evacuation? The Covenant completely used us as a sacrificial pawn."

Veyra was incredibly intelligent, and therefore, she understood things deeply. So, she was blunt and spoke things as they were, not beating around the bush.

Obsidianis’s darkness aura burst out, almost swallowing the entirety of Golden Sap City with Dark Aether Mana. Thankfully, before she could truly burst into anger, Veyra grabbed her hand and diffused her anger. "Don’t get angry, love. It’s not worth your anger."

Looking up at her intelligent mother, Obsidianis stood up and extended her arms, hugging her. "I am glad you are okay, Mom."

"Mhm." Veyra patted her tall daughter’s back, chuckling. "You are truly tall, eh? I feel so small in your arms, haha."

Obsidianis felt a small laugh escape her, and her tensed feelings relaxed. Finally, looking back at the others, she sighed and shook her head. "Alright, let’s stop stalling. Seraphina and I must know what is happening so that we can help."

With Veyra being Obsidianis’s mother, everyone’s guard against them was reduced by half. Soon, they changed to a more spacious table and sat down. Those present were the four Sylvan lovers, the two new Sylvans, Veyra, Elyne, Flor, Ignatia, Melody, Verena, and a few other family members.