The "mother tree" had gone completely berserk!
The ground in the entire core area of the forest churned and swelled violently, like boiling water. Countless thick, high-temperature red sap erupted from cracks in the earth, making a horrifying "gurgling" sound!
"Not good! It's changing the terrain! It wants to swallow us whole!" the earth-ability soldier's face changed drastically! He could clearly feel a powerful, despair-inducing will belonging to the "mother tree" surging madly from underground, trying to snatch control of this land from his hands!
He clenched his jaw, his eyes wide, pushing his ability to its absolute limit! He pressed his hands firmly on the ground, veins bulging, using all his strength to stubbornly resist that powerful will!
The ground beneath his feet was constantly and violently changing shape, sometimes bulging, sometimes collapsing, sometimes with sharp, blade-like earth spikes shooting out abruptly. But under his desperate effort, he managed to maintain a small, relatively stable foothold around them, untouched by the magma-like sap!
"Quick! Get off the ground! To the trees!" Cassian roared, seeing the dire situation!
Elara, Seraph, and the wind-riding soldier reacted with extreme speed. They immediately leaped up, using the surrounding, relatively "normal" tree trunks that hadn't been eroded by the golden-red energy as footholds, and quickly climbed upwards, escaping the hellishly churning ground.
The other trees, the branches of the "mother tree" that had completely transformed into their golden-red form, were now radiating a terrifying heat. The air was so hot it warped and distorted. A single step on them would likely melt the soles of their shoes instantly!
Meanwhile, far away at the edge of the forest, Vespera and the military doctor, who were responsible for staying behind, simultaneously felt the destructive, terrifying energy fluctuation coming from the depths of the forest!
"Damn it! Something's happened!" The military doctor's face instantly became incredibly grave.
Vespera's reaction was even more direct. She could clearly "see" the tide of furious energy, representing the "mother tree's" rage, madly expanding outwards from the forest's depths!
Without a moment's hesitation, she immediately pulled the doctor's hand and gestured rapidly in sign language: "Danger! Go now! Get out of here!"
At the same time, she channeled her powers, commanding the undead she controlled, which were guarding the perimeter, to begin holding the rear at all costs, blocking the mutated vines and strange worms that had also been stirred up and were starting to spread towards the edge of the forest!
The military doctor also made a decisive move. He quickly dragged his unconscious companions, one by one, into the back of the modified truck they had arrived in, then started the engine, ready to evacuate at any moment!
The entire forest, due to the "mother tree's" rampage, had descended into a state of utter chaos and madness.
Seeing the ground beneath them about to be completely swallowed, and the golden-red vines radiating terrifying heat and even stronger energy fluctuations, a flash of ruthlessness crossed Elara's mind!
She knew that conventional attacks would likely have little effect on the "berserk" mother tree. They had to find its weakness, or... use a more extreme method!
Her gaze fell on Jorah, who was still being desperately protected by the earth-ability soldier, trembling in fear!
"Jorah! Snap out of it! Use your powers! Try to drain its life force!" Elara gritted her teeth and yelled down to him.
As they were both plant-based, if Jorah's ability could "give" life, then in theory, it should also be able to "take" it!
However, Jorah was completely petrified by the hellish scene before him. Though Elara's shout managed to bring him back to his senses, his mind was a complete blank. He had no idea how to "absorb" a plant's life force.
Until now, his powers had always been passive, unconsciously generating and protecting. He only knew how to "give," he had never thought about how to "take."
"I... I don't know how!" Jorah cried out in despair, tears welling in his eyes. He felt like a complete and utter waste of space.
Just as Elara was about to think of another plan, the berserk mother tree seemed to sense Jorah's presence as a "kindred spirit," and the pure, life-filled energy pulsating from him.
To the tree, this weak "kin" was perhaps an even more delicious and nourishing meal than the previous glittering golden "prey"!
Having lost its prey once, the mother tree instantly changed its target!
From the ground, the thickest golden-red vine, like a branding iron whip from the depths of hell, shot out from the churning "magma" with a heat capable of melting steel and a piercing whistle, aiming straight for Jorah, who was still standing dumbfounded!
"Look out!"
Elara's pupils constricted! Her space-time ability activated instantly. Leaving an afterimage in the air, she "ran" a few steps across the air in a physics-defying manner, instantly arriving at Jorah's side!
Without a moment to think, she accurately grabbed the back of Jorah's collar with one hand and, with all her strength, hurled him forcefully towards the sky!
Jorah felt his body go light, flying uncontrollably into mid-air. Extreme fear and the instinct for survival made him unconsciously activate his powers!
The surrounding, relatively normal trees that hadn't been fully corrupted, as if receiving a command, had their branches and leaves grow, intertwine, and weave together at an incredible speed. They formed a massive, airtight sphere of verdant green in mid-air, which steadily and gently caught the falling Jorah!
And the mother tree, having lost its target again, became even more furious!
On the ground, the "gurgling," bubbling "magma" churned even more violently! The entire core area of the forest no longer looked like a forest at all, but a terrifying volcanic crater, ready to erupt at any moment!