Three Acromantulas broke through the trees' defenses from two directions, only to be swiftly dealt with by Uther and Eugene.
Clearly, Adam had selectively loosened some of the defenses based on the group's strength, focusing more of his attention elsewhere.
Klon and Bernard were somewhat unwilling to accept this, but this was no time to show off. Adam could not possibly let two Acromantulas break through the line just because they wanted to prove themselves.
Perhaps intimidated by what had happened to their earlier companions, the Acromantulas' assault slowed somewhat, giving everyone time to answer Adam.
"At most... I can take out a dozen or twenty at once. But I probably only have three or four chances like that, and after that I can only handle two or three at a time."
Eugene gripped his wand, his other hand reaching into his pocket.
"Normally, I can handle three or four at once. In special circumstances, any number is possible, but it will only last a little while..."
Uther took a deep breath, reached beneath his collar, and pulled out his necklace, clenching it in his palm.
Just as Bernard had brought guns and grenades, they had naturally brought everything they could use to protect themselves before entering the Forbidden Forest.
Given the current situation, that decision had undoubtedly been the right one.
Klon thought for a moment.
"Two... no, one."
He was actually confident he could handle two, but to prevent any accidents from holding everyone else back, he lowered it to one to be absolutely safe.
"One."
Bernard answered without the slightest hesitation. Though everyone was curious where his confidence came from, no one doubted his answer.
"That's enough."
Adam nodded. The situation was already far better than he had expected.
"We can't keep dragging this out. There are still at least several hundred Acromantulas outside."
At this news, everyone's expressions turned ugly.
"Did all these damn things gather here?"
"We may have walked straight into their nest... Perhaps when we headed in this direction earlier, many Acromantulas were already watching us from the shadows."
Bernard's guess sent a chill through everyone. Uther tightened his grip on his wand.
"It's too late to talk about that now. Adam, tell us what you're thinking."
"I can deal with them, but I need a little time."
"How long?"
Eugene got straight to the point.
"A moment, probably three or four seconds."
"Then why not use it already?"
"For those few seconds, I won't be able to maintain my magic. The trees outside are currently holding back at least several hundred Acromantulas."
Adam heard sharp intakes of breath around him and continued.
"In a moment, I'll control the trees to kill Acromantulas and intimidate them, then collapse to form a barrier. But some Acromantulas will definitely still break through. I estimate at least ten. If they get close to us..."
"I understand. Leave it to us."
Uther smiled as he spoke.
"If it comes to it, we'll set them on fire. Klon was right—detention is better than losing our lives."
"The question is, can fire really drive away spiders this big?"
"I know Fiendfyre."
Klon's question was answered by Uther in a single sentence. The four of them looked at Adam.
"Go ahead and do it!"
"Alright!"
Adam closed his eyes and controlled the trees with all his strength, then suddenly opened them.
"Get ready!"
The end of the Wand of Darkness struck the ground, and trees in every direction erupted into motion!
"Rumble—"
Amid a chorus of rising and falling screeches, the trees, which had suddenly swelled to nearly twice their size, fell in unison. The ground trembled faintly. The Acromantulas' cries halted, followed by a moment of silence. Then three massive black shadows climbed over the barricade of trees and pounced at the group!
Thankfully, there were only three.
Just as the four of them thought this, two more black shadows could not resist climbing over the barrier, followed by another four...
They had to take them out quickly. Otherwise, once the Acromantulas behind them saw that it was safe, they would charge over as well!
The thought appeared in all four minds at once as they each raised their wands.
"Reducto!"
"Confringo!"
"Glacius!"
"Crucio!"
Adam did not dare waste a second either.
"Seal release!"
The Wand of Darkness touched the Tree Card. Countless vines and branches surged from its surface, and the Tree Card spirit, whose body was covered only by leaves, slowly opened her eyes amid endless greenery and gazed gently at Adam.
"There isn't time to explain. Quickly use your magic to surround these spiders!"
Adam had already taken out the Clow Cards.
The Maze Card, whose face depicted a labyrinth, could create a large-scale maze.
First, he would use the Tree Card to confine the Acromantulas within a certain area, then use the Maze Card to trap them inside. With these two Clow Cards, they could imprison the Acromantulas in the maze and take the opportunity to escape.
The Tree Card reached out and gently took Adam's hand.
"There is no need to make this so complicated."
Though the Tree Card was not one of the higher-ranking Clow Cards, she was still among the stronger ones and possessed the ability to speak.
She looked at the spiders charging forward one after another, a sharp glint flashing through her eyes.
"Shall I deal with all of them..."
The Tree Card did not manipulate the surrounding trees. Adam felt his magic being drawn upon by her, and then a sapling broke through the earth. In the blink of an eye, it grew so large that even four or five people could not wrap their arms around it.
Seeing its uneven trunk and the aerial roots hanging from its body, Adam froze.
"A banyan tree?"
Before Adam could react, the Tree Card had already controlled the grown banyan tree to attack. Countless aerial roots whipped toward the Acromantulas. The soft, slender roots were far more nimble than ordinary tree roots, and their magically sharpened tips pierced directly into the bodies of the dozen or so Acromantulas.
The next moment, roots, branches... countless indistinguishable structures burst from the Acromantulas' eyes, spinnerets, and joints. Before long, each became a small banyan tree, rooted itself in the soil, and grew rapidly.
Thus, the Tree Card gained even more aerial roots to control.
The group, who had finally been able to relax and free their hands after the Tree Card took over the battlefield, had only taken a few breaths when they saw this sight. Their hair stood on end.
Before long, the Tree Card finally withdrew her power and looked at Adam.
"They have fled far away. If I pursue them, your magic will be depleted too greatly."
Adam's face was pale.
"This is enough..."
In truth, even without pursuing them, this level of expenditure had already exceeded Adam's expectations somewhat. Of course, the Tree Card's power had also surpassed his expectations.
Looking at the magnificent sight before him—a forest formed from a single tree—Adam opened his mouth, only to find that he could not think of anything to say.
"Protect yourself well. If you encounter danger again, come find me."
The Tree Card stroked Adam's cheek, then returned to the Clow Card amid dancing vines and branches.
"...What was that just now?"
Uther spoke with some difficulty.
"A spirit from the Clow Cards."
Adam looked at the Tree Card in his hand.
"Every Clow Card has its own life."
They were magic itself, alive. That was why the Clow Cards could act on their own and unleash such immense power.
"...Oh."
Uther nodded. He said nothing more in front of the Clow Card, then seemed to remember something and looked at Bernard with a complicated expression.
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