Crack...
The first row of trees snapped, splinters flying everywhere.
But...
Before anticipation could bloom on anyone's face, their expressions froze.
Behind the broken trees were more trees.
And behind those, naturally, were still more trees.
Packed densely together, without end.
"Everyone, attack!"
The Flesh-and-Blood Gatling in Liu Hong's hands began to roar, its barrels spinning as flesh-and-blood bullets poured out like a torrential downpour.
The hail of bullets slammed into the tree wall, sending wood chips flying and breaking through one layer, then two, then three.
The others attacked as well. Saber flashes, sword shadows, flames, and frost-their ferocious attacks surged like a flood bursting through a dam, hammering the dark green barrier.
They blasted through five layers of the tree wall.
Then something strange happened.
Before everyone's very eyes, the trees they had blasted apart began to...
Sprout.
Tender green shoots squeezed out of the broken wounds and grew wildly at a visible speed, branching out and thickening.
After a single breath, the new branches had already entwined again.
After two breaths, the shattered trunks had regained their original height.
After three breaths, the tree wall was as good as new, sealed tight.
As though... that furious bombardment had never happened.
Silence.
Deathly silence.
"This... how is this possible..."
Someone murmured, their voice trembling uncontrollably.
That feeling was neither anger nor despair.
It was a deeper chill, one that seeped into the marrow...
Something you had poured every ounce of strength into destroying had simply grown back right before your eyes, as though nothing had happened.
Effortlessly, without a ripple.
As though all your struggles were not even worth calling a joke before it.
Despair was contagious.
Especially when you discovered that your efforts meant nothing.
Worse things followed one after another.
The Netherworld Ancient Tree had noticed