Amid the unstinting praise, the black Bug Man seated to the Ancient One's left also rose. The heavy ocher spiritual radiance represented the power of earth, while the Bug Man's true nature was the "Watcher" that had tried to escape after shedding its shell.
The ordinary "Watcher" had just proven itself no match for the group. Yet this Ancient Evil Being, born from devouring the World Tree and itself representing "paradox," had become even stronger because the World Tree had willingly provided it with power.
Clad in armor made of insect shell, the roots piercing into its back surged with emerald light. Two pairs of cicada-wing-like wings beat against the frigid air, forming spreading sheets of White Fog. Then, Paradox Worms appeared one after another from that White Fog amid chaotic spacetime.
Even enhanced by the World Tree, this highly intelligent bug still chose to summon its Same Race for assistance.
Although it summoned bugs rather slowly, and even if the people on the ground did nothing, it would take quite a while for the swarm above the clearing to reach the density of the fourth wave of Bug Tide currently over the city, there were no large Divine Rituals formed by five orthodox churches here, nor were there sufficient prearranged strategic supplies or safe rear areas for rest.
Therefore, as the pitch-black Bug Man beat its wings and soared into the air, half of the Ring Arcanists guarding Emilia also flew up to intercept it, or at least prevent the bug from continuing to summon more insects.
But the "evolved" Bug Man had clearly gained new abilities. Amid the swarm's buzzing, every Paradox Worm was wrapped in a "cocoon" formed of White Fog. Thaumaturgy attacks could not destroy these mist cocoons, and after merely dozens of seconds of incubation,