Chapter 2072: The New Abyssal Myconid Queen?

Elayne was surprised about the Abyssal Myconid’s words and how they were able to easily detect she was once one of them.

Or rather, that she was still somehow one of them despite how she had already evolved away from being an Abyssal Myconid, becoming something like a Zombie Samurai Vampiric Tree or something.

How were they even able to detect it within her when she didn’t even have the giant mushroom cap anymore was beyond her understanding, quite honestly.

But one thing was for sure, they didn’t want to let go of her now that she had showed up, especially because once she was asked if she was a Queen, her answer was...

"I did have the option to evolve into that but refused..." Elayne said carefully. "So—"

"So she has the potential?!"

"A new queen!"

"A new queen has appeared? We must tell our queen right away!"

She was greeted with elated greetings and celebrations from the mushrooms.

"W-Wait a second, I didn’t mean to stir up so much trouble. I only meant to say that I am not— Uwah?!"

Elayne was suddenly grabbed by the strong Myconid warrior, lifted off the ground as if she weighed nothing, and carried at high speed toward the village.

"Eeeeeehhhh?!"

As she screamed in pure disbelief, everyone else in her group panicked and started shouting behind her.

"Elayneeeee!"

They chased after her for a while until they finally reached the outer reaches of the Shadow Cap Myconid village.

There, tall walls forged from hardened, stone-like mushrooms protected the interior. Houses had been carefully built inside these ancient, hardened mushrooms, and they could be seen everywhere.

The queen’s presence — strong, benevolent, and full of motherly kindness — seemed to rest deep within the center of the village, underground.

As they entered the dark village, thick mist covered everything. Small lights began floating gently through the air. Will-o-Wisps, natural creatures of this forest, illuminated the pathways. They had clearly been tamed by the inhabitants.

"Welcome to the Shadow Cap Tribe village," the warrior said as he finally set Elayne down. "I apologize for my earlier rudeness, young queen, but news about a new queen could turn everything upside down here. We must be cautious so that the Treacherous One does not hear about this."

"You mean the young one?" she asked.

"So you already know...!" he gasped in surprise. "You must have connected to the colony somehow! Yes, the Treacherous One is the youngest among us — the one with the most vigor and the strongest children. Rumors say... she has been gaining external strength from resources brought in by outsiders..."

"Hm..." Elayne nodded while rubbing her chin thoughtfully. "If she has connections with the Demon King of Death, then... well, that would not be good for anyone..."

"Elayne, I... I guess we’re getting involved in this?" Mark sighed from behind her.

"I suppose it’s only natural since we’re heading to the tournament over there," she answered. "We’re just passing through, so why not help if we can?"

"Hah, fine," Mark shrugged. "I’m also a bit intrigued now."

"Now, follow me, Young Queen... as for the rest of you, stay here and do not move," the warrior instructed. He began walking and led Elayne toward the largest building in the village.

Elayne entered the building after receiving many curious gazes from the surrounding Myconids. On the way inside she saw a few little children running out, laughing and then stopping to watch her with wide eyes, as if they somehow felt she could be a possible new mother.

"Here we are. Please follow me."

The warrior led her deeper into the large structure, walking down a long staircase in a place illuminated by dozens of Will-o-Wisps that lined the walls in beautiful patterns of soft light.

At the center of the chamber a tall, voluptuous humanoid Myconid queen sat cross-legged on a raised platform. She wore semi-transparent white veils that floated gently around her.

She possessed a curvaceous and graceful body, with a large mushroom cap on her head and long hair made of living mycelial roots. Her face was gentle and beautiful, although half of it was covered by a soft white veil of slime that dripped slowly from her cap.

She stood around five meters tall and had six elegant arms. Her large breasts were decorated with smaller mushroom caps that added to her otherworldly appearance.

"W-Wow..." Elayne was completely dazzled by the queen’s beauty. The queen’s large yellow eyes opened slowly to greet her.

"Hello," the queen said in a warm, melodic voice. "And greetings to the young queen. You’ve come from far away, haven’t you?"

"Ah... I am not really—"

"As a candidate, you are indeed a young queen," the queen interrupted gently but firmly. "That is a simple fact. But you are also most mysterious..." A third, rainbow-colored eye opened on her forehead. "I can see that you are many things at once... a vessel of both nature and life... and also of death. Never in my long life have I seen something like this..."

"Well, I am... flattered," Elayne smiled a little nervously. "I wanted to ask if we could pass through your territory peacefully. I am willing to offer Nether Crystals and other useful things. We also have food..." She opened her inventory and displayed many offerings, leaving the warrior standing nearby completely shocked by the quantity.

"I see..." the queen said thoughtfully. "We will generously accept these offerings. My people have been... starving recently. The food source we once relied on, the Mushroom Dew, has completely dried out due to the Treacherous One’s actions."

"Oh no, let me give you more food then..." Elayne quickly took out even more bags filled with fruit, mushrooms, vegetables, bones, and various other supplies. "Here!"

"T-That’s... so much! Thank you," the queen laughed softly with genuine gratitude. "You are indeed very incredible, aren’t you?"

"I suppose it was fate that we met her!" the warrior added. "Mother, she also commands a group of undead and noble races!"

"Incredible!" the queen said while clapping her many hands together. "You are allowed to pass freely through my territory from now on. We shall be friends."

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