The tree was tall, crimson, and eerie.
Its crown was roughly one or two kilometers in diameter, almost covering the central area of Lan Guan City.
Its branches and trunk were extraordinarily thick.
The trunk was dozens of meters in diameter, while even the forked branches were several meters thick. The branches at the very ends were a meter wide, waving through the air like terrifying world-ending giant serpents.
But the most frightening thing was this.
Not only did these branches bear lumps resembling fleshy spikes, but many parts of them were also wrapped in gray bandages.
Translucent mucus kept seeping through the gaps between the bandages.
The mucus dripped down.
Every place it touched immediately began to bulge, growing repulsive, hideous tumors.
Very soon.
The tumors burst open.
Green liquid splattered everywhere like exploding pulp.
One Stump Monster after another, half-corpses, corpses entangled in mycelium, and other terrifying evil creatures struggled out from within.
They headed toward the surrounding districts.
"Ah—!"
"Help—!"
"Save me... save me... I don't want to die..."
"Mother..."
Countless sobs, screams, and cries for help instantly blended together, their clamor shaking the heavens.
The residents who had not yet managed to leave had no power to resist these terrifying evil creatures. No matter how they ran or hid, they could not escape the creatures' pursuit.
Occasionally.
Some residents who lived in seclusion in the central district and possessed considerable martial skill tried to organize a resistance and fight their way out.
But there were simply too many evil creatures.
The slightest carelessness would immediately leave them surrounded.
Then they would die horribly on the spot.
They were extinguished like candles flickering in the wind, unable to stir up even the slightest ripple.
"Close all the market gates along the roads. Close the inner-city gates." Lord