The ancient forest was gloomy, and the originally lush ancient jungle was reversed into a distorted shape by the black mist, and the branches and leaves were squirming, and there were bursts of strange whispers.

Runicia can sense the breath of life in which the gods of the Grove are out of step with their environment, and Josh, Ahri, and Gwen are no exception.

It's just that compared to a thousand years ago, even with the protection of Maokai, the vitality of this forest is still being eaten away by the black mist.

It is estimated that in another decade or two, even Maokai will be controlled by the black fog.

Hundreds of meters away from the twisted jungle, Josh looked at Gulin from afar, and his tone was firm: "I can't let you take risks. ”

"But if we want to eradicate the black fog, it is necessary to face Maokai." Ahri was equally adamant, "With the help of a nature god, our plans will be much simpler." ”

She stared into Josh's eyes, "What's more, to get to the castle of Hammerstone, which Nekrit said, we have to walk through the twisted jungle."

The Hammerstone Fortress mentioned by Nekrit, Josh and Ahri, are both aware of it.

Back in the days of Fukumitsu Island, it was only a storehouse used by the Vasani to store common arcane artifacts.

If Helia hadn't collapsed, it would have been possible to get there from the Vasani vault underground.

If you walk from the ground, the straight distance is of course faster through the old forest area.

It would take a few days to get around this vast jungle.

"But ......," Josh still hesitated.

"No, but." Ahri and Josh came face to face, their slightly cold little hands cupping his face, and the corners of his lips curled into a slight smile, "What I told you yesterday afternoon about what has happened in the past thousand years is just the tip of the iceberg. ”

She playfully blinked her left eye, as if she had changed back to the innocent little fox she had been thousands of years ago, but instead it had been replaced by a tenacious and tough posture.

"Do you still think that I am the same as I was a thousand years ago, a weak little girl who needs protection?"

"No, I'm just ......"

Ahri stood on tiptoe and pecked at Josh's lips like a dragonfly.

"Don't worry, I have even passed the trial of the spirit of Ionia, Thousand Tails, and I have been blessed by nature, so you don't have to worry about Mokai becoming hostile to me."

"Wait, you said Chio Ningran?"

Josh's eyes widened, and he grabbed Ahri's hand, which was still attached to his face.

The ancient spirit god of the primordial land is recorded in the texts of Helia, who was born to protect the forests of Ionia as the embodiment of the spiritual realm.

"Why are you ......?"

Looking at Ahri's affectionate eyes, Josh's words came to an abrupt halt, reflecting the reason why she did this, and fell silent.

"You have Lunicia with you, and you have the power of corruption in you, and Gwen is from Kamavia, so it's up to me to negotiate with Maokai, and I'm confident that I'll convince him."

“……”

"Don't worry about my safety, just in case...... I mean just in case! If Mokai is hostile to me and tries to do it, I have a way to get out of danger. ”

Ahri withdrew her hand from Josh's palm, "Besides, aren't you still out there answering questions?" ”

Josh remained silent.

Gwen stared nervously at the two of them interacting intimately, but did not speak.

Although they seem to be "arguing", it can only be regarded as a certain level of argument compared to Gwen's impression of the quarrel between Foyego and Callista.

Especially the act of kissing just now, which made Gwen's cheeks redden, her heartbeat accelerated slightly, and her little brain was cranky.

Kiss...... What does it really feel like?

Gwen ...... Gwen! ”

It's been a few minutes since Ahri's back disappeared into the jungle.

Josh came back to her senses, calling out to Gwen, who was still stunned and didn't know what to think, to bring her mind back to reality.

"Ahh Yes...... I'm here! ”

Gwen was startled, and just made eye contact with Josh, and looked away as if she had been electrocuted, and the red glow on her face became clearer.

[Sometimes I have to wonder if you are a man after all. 】

Lunicia's sudden interjection made Josh feel inexplicable, "What do you mean I'm not a man?" What are you talking about for no reason? ”

[Why did the little doll blush, what did you do with your little fox just now? 】

It's just a kiss, and Gwen is unaffected...... That's weird!

Josh then looked at the pretending to be casual and turned his back, holding the illusory scissors, as if he was wary of Gwen around him, thoughtfully.

Josh is not slow about feelings, and he can certainly see that Gwen has a good opinion of him.

It's just that some time ago, Josh was only focused on seeing Ahri, and Gwen was busy sewing clothes in the Sentinel Sanctuary, so she didn't have much communication.

When did Gwen start to have this affection......

The Phantom Ball held by the ghost dolls?

[Heh, if I were you, I would have taken down the little doll a long time ago!] Lunicia said in disgust, "Her affection for you is so obvious, but you haven't taken any action? 】

"But Ahri, she ......"

【Ahri Ahri...... Why are you talking about the little fox again! has been talking about it for so many years in the gap of time, and now they are all reunited, and they still have her name on their lips? 】

[You're not annoyed, I'm annoyed! 】

Josh subconsciously looked at the ancient forest area.

Thinking back to the time she spent alone with Ahri yesterday and the way she looked when she met Gwen, Josh shuddered.

Josh did have the idea of building a crystal palace, but based on the current situation, the harem is designated to accompany Shurachang......

I really dare to take Gwen, Ahri won't just give me a knife, right?

Not to mention, she has been waiting for me for more than a thousand years......

[Of course, love for someone is fine, but have you ever thought that in fact, your love can also be divided into many shapes! 】

"Your remarks...... Well, I can't comment on it, so I can only call you old Aquaman. ”

【Aquaman? Do you mean the king who controls the sea? Lunicia didn't understand what Josh was trying to say, "I'm sorry, I don't like the sea, I still like to be the goddess of death on land. 】

Josh shook his head, leaving the distractions behind.

"We should now focus on dealing with the Ruined King and solving the problem of Soul Eclipse Night...... As for the emotional aspect, it's not the right time. ”

"I'm so disappointed in you, Josh Russell. 】

Lunicia sighed and fell silent, no matter how much Josh shouted.

Suddenly bringing up this kind of anxiety-making thing at this juncture, and only saying one solution, really made Josh angry.

"Hey! You ...... thing."

Josh found a fairly clean stone and sat down, looking at Gwen not far away.

Feeling the sight behind her, Gwen, who had regained her composure, looked back, happened to meet the gaze cast by Josh, smiled sweetly, and then turned back to her little face to continue to be vigilant around.

Josh withdrew his gaze and fell into thought.

Crystal Palace and Shura Field ...... This is indeed a fatal problem.

What should I do......

……

……

The meager moonlight pierced through the clouds, diluted by the black mist.

In the twisted towering ancient forest, most of the trees were only their dry and rotten shells, whipped by the cold wind of the night, and let out an empty howl.

The sound of rustling was incessant, as if tiny creatures were shuttling back and forth among the ruined ancient trees, and through the silence of almost reaching fingers, they secretly observed the living who dared to step into the Twisted Forest.

Ahri's eyes shimmered, and he played with half of the sun stone in his hand, and walked lightly through the various obstacles of gravel and dead branches on the ground, not feeling the slightest panic about this scene.

In a short time, she reached an open area paved with strange patterns of masonry that looked like an altar.

This is the place where the Vasani people communicate with the spirit world, and the former Ahri also held a coming-of-age ceremony here to pray to the Vasani ancestors and the spirits of nature.

The black fog here seemed to be extraordinarily weak, and the silver light of the slanting moon pierced through the layers of painful wails and spilled over the area overhead, where there were no trees overhead.

Ahri bathed in the moonlight, holding half of the sun stone in both hands, her beautiful eyes slightly closed, and she carefully felt the magic fluctuations of this jungle.

Suddenly, her lips lifted slightly, and she called out a name in the obscure ancient Vastaya language: "Maokai." ”

The rustling of the forest was louder, and the dull sound of rumbling was approaching, and the earth trembled slightly, and it was hard not to think about the size of the coming being.

In the course of a minute, the sound that was close at hand ceased, and then came a dull voice like a bell, which seemed to be mixed with eternal anger: "The one who calls the gods...... I remember you. ”

After a long pause, the voice spoke again: "You are a Vasani descendant of Vasaya, and you have prayed to the spirits and me here. ”

"My name is Ahri."

Ahri opened her eyes and looked at the source of the sound, the huge figure that stopped at the edge of the silver moonlight, hidden in the darkness, at least five or six meters tall.

It was an extraordinarily old tree, with a knotted swirl on its trunk like the face of a weather-beaten old man, hollow eyes and jagged eyes, and a mouth that looked like teeth shimmering with a faint blue light.

Jumping tree seedlings jumped between the branches and leaves on his body, and from time to time he poked his head out curiously to observe the "uninvited guests" in the moonlight.

Compared to the towering appearance of a thousand years ago, Maokai has shrunk too much, and his appearance is distorted and terrifying.

Ahri bowed to Mokai with Vastaya courtesy, "I'm glad you're okay, Mokai. ”

Mokai was not hostile to Ahri's arrival, "I can feel the difference in your breath...... You get the approval of nature. ”

"I passed the test of Chiao Ningran, he is the guardian of the forest of the firstborn earth, just like you."

Mao Kai was silent for a long time, "If you are here to ask for help, I can only help. ”

"What if it's a curse of ruin and purify this island?"

Hearing this, Mao Kai's emotions were suddenly excited, and he brushed aside the empty branches that had long since died beside him, stepped out of the shadows of the jungle, and approached Ahri's location.

It stopped when there were only three or four steps left for Mokai to touch Ahri.

The large figure was not clumsy, and moved quickly to carry the strong wind, blowing away Ahri's hood.

And she just stood there and faced Mao Kai, not taking half a step back because of his actions.

"Even I can't resist the thousand-year-old corrosion of the fog of decay, little Vasani, how dare you threaten to fight against ruin?"

Mao Kai's voice was fierce, he turned around and clenched his fists to hammer the ground, the stone bricks cracked, and the earth shook, like venting the depression that had accumulated in his heart for a long time.

Ahri uses her magic to keep her center of gravity calm, unaffected by Maokai's anger.

"We know the source of the ruins, and I have amassed a thousand-year-old family to lead the Light Sentinels, a branch of what was once Halia, and I am bound to defeat the Ruined King."

"But did you ever think that he is not the only enemy you face?"

Ahri frowned, suspicious.

Mokai turned around again, and lowered his sleek, shriveled face from the ring, his gaze level with Ahri.

"The Throat of Despicability, which has built a cavern beneath Helia...... If I had been a thousand years ago, with the help of the water of life and my companions in the forest, I would have been able to compete with it.

"And now...... Hehe, it's good that I can stay in my own one-third of an acre to protect myself. ”

Mao Kai straightened up and looked back at the ruined Ancient Forest, "I created life with the only remaining water of life in my body, but the ruins took them from me one after another...... I can't fight against the black fog, and it's only a matter of time before I'm eroded.

"If you want to pass with your human lover who has been corrupted by the power of corruption, and that companion who carries the breath of water of life, for the sake of your natural approval, I will not embarrass you."

As he spoke, Mokai turned and walked towards the woods.

But in the next second, Ahri offered a reward that made Mao Kai's heart flutter: "What if we can make you change your life again and return to the top?" ”

Seeing that this spirit god, whose strength was not one in ten, paused, Ahri immediately continued:

"Bajou Furnace, we have befriended the Bajou sect for thousands of years, and you should know that we can use the life force of Naga Kapoulos to purify this forest for you."

Mokai turned halfway to the side, his hollow eyes gleaming staring at Ahri.

"This will allow me to regain some strength, and I can help hold the throat of vileness, barely ...... But even so, how are you going to deal with that ruined king who is not weaker than us? ”

Ahri's moist eyes shimmered with golden light, "World runes, we still have world runes." ”

(End of chapter)