"What is that?!"
In an instant, the expression on Greedy Wolf Hengo's face became just as grave as Alice's.
As a Lantern Bearer—and a seasoned veteran among them—he had traveled to countless worlds, but he had never seen a tree this enormous.
No, "towering" was the better word!
The tree stretched straight into the clouds. From a distance, it looked like a heavenly ladder connecting earth and sky.
Alice shook her head. "I only just noticed it myself. It must have appeared recently! I was worried it might be a method of the Breeding Overlord's, so I didn't dare go closer to investigate."
Hengo nodded lightly. "That's right. Only an Overlord could have a method like this!"
They had already thoroughly investigated the biosphere on T33, and there had been no such giant tree. What's more, according to the technology sphere's analysis, a tree like this could not possibly have evolved naturally under the current conditions of gravity, atmospheric composition, temperature, humidity, and so on.
It was impossible!
Before long, the one-armed old man also arrived on the cliff.
Hengo frowned. "How did you get so badly hurt?"
The old man looked remorseful. "I regret not taking your advice!"
Then he told them how he had fought the Flesh Puppet, lost, and fled, only to end up getting his companion killed as well.
Looking at the shattered lantern the old man had taken out, Hengo and Alice sighed helplessly.
Countless Lantern Bearers had already perished in the fight against the Overlords. This companion was not the first, and would not be the last.
Just then, the black-robed Lantern Bearer who had been grouped with Hengo hurried over.
Seeing that the old man was badly injured and another person had died, his expression darkened.
He had already guessed beforehand that this