The tree seemed to have grown directly from beneath Saint Derain Square, its spreading crown quickly reaching above Shade's head.
As the shadow covered him, he took a step forward. His body suddenly expanded, and he used Laguerre's Leap to appear before the trunk. Giant Shade took a deep breath, then wrapped both arms around the massive tree's thick trunk.
The violent curses accumulated from devouring countless Time Curse Users surged into Shade's body through direct contact. But fiery red cracks immediately appeared on his hands, rapidly spreading across his entire body. Scarlet sparks drifted from those cracks and rose to touch the canopy, causing the giant tree to shake violently.
"Body Burning Oath! Red Dragon Force!"
Ignoring the curses battling the First Fire within him, Shade tightened his grip around the trunk, trying to pull the tree straight out by its roots. This was experience he had gained in Vesta Woodland. No matter how formidable this tree was, it was still only a tree. Once he uprooted it, many things would become much easier.
Does this count as directly embracing Helena Carter?
"She" asked with a light laugh. Shade replied in his heart, Now isn't the time for jokes, while vines hanging down from the canopy had already tightly bound his enormous body.
The tree seemed to want to absorb Shade as part of itself, but unfortunately, it could not do so. It could only use these vines to restrain and interfere with his exertion.
But mere vines were no threat to Shade now. With his feet planted on the earth, the powers of the First Fire, the Red Dragon, and the Titan Giant emerged together. Scorching steam radiated from his skin, which even began to faintly redden.
Dangerous rumbling came from the roots beneath the ground, and the