"No matter what happened in the Tree Court, finding this many remains here was definitely a bad sign."
At that moment, a monster's fingers twitched nearby. Its whole body slowly rose, and it let out a low growl.
"The—the monster's alive! Trianne will protect everyone!" Trianne landed swiftly and spread her small arms in front of Yan Huan and Castorice.
"You chrysanthemum monster, die! Hyaaaaa!"
As more and more Black Tide monsters climbed to their feet, Yan Huan shot past Trianne like a black shadow. His chainsaw flashed, splitting a monster in two in an instant.
Their bodies weren't particularly tough. If anything, cutting through them felt much like cutting through Voidrangers.
To ordinary people, though, they were still formidable.
Even with a chainsaw, Yan Huan could kill these Black Tide Creations in a single blow. After all, they had originally been human.
Just as I thought... Castorice had a theory. Black, cloaks, swords... Maybe it didn't refer to one person, but to Black Tide monsters.
By the time she finished speaking, every Black Tide monster that had risen around them was dead.
"Th-that's it? They're all dead???"
Trianne's pupils shook with disbelief.
"Oh my gosh, Little Huan, you're amazing!"
Castorice said gravely:
"The Tree Court is fairly remote, yet the Black Tide has spread here so quickly..."
"A world that has lost Strife may be more dangerous than we expected."
"Huh? Is that because Nikadori is gone?" Yan Huan turned back and shook black residue from his chainsaw.
"Yes. Someone must inherit the divine authority of Strife. Without its power holding the Black Tide back, it will spread much faster."
Castorice looked worried. "That's why Madam Aglaya was so anxious for Lord Bai E to take his place."
"But Lord Bai E isn't the candidate Gnaeus favors... We can