Chapter 306: Red-Clothed Nine-Tails, Fox Phantom

Chapter 306: Chapter 306: Red-Clothed Nine-Tails, Fox Phantom

The battle raged on between the monster horde and the Players.

Heath Summers was the first to notice something unusual.

"Look! Those monsters... It looks like they aren’t just attacking the Players—they’re attacking that giant tree, too!"

She pointed to the edge of the battlefield, where several massive irradiated hounds were fearlessly throwing themselves at the vines dangling from the giant tree, tearing at them with abandon.

Sean Chandler’s gaze was serene; he seemed to have already grasped the situation’s key.

He explained in a low voice, "The giant tree itself—or rather, the fact that it might be our objective—is the core of the radiation source. It seems to be continuously emitting a unique Energy wave.

"This wave holds a fatal attraction for these mutated creatures, like an ultimate elixir or a chance for Evolution.

"The monsters instinctively want to claim it for themselves.

"The Titan Python that attacked it earlier was likely driven by the same reason.

"Devouring it might make them stronger.

"The only difference is that the Titan Python was far more powerful."

At that moment, Victor Sharp adjusted his glasses.

The chaotic battlefield reflected in his lenses as he posed the most critical question: "So, what’s our move? Do we jump in and try to complete the system’s mission to compete for this so-called ’world’s gift’? Or do we just watch from the sidelines?"

The question plunged the team into a brief silence.

Joining the fray would be extremely risky.

Not only would they have to face the terrifying giant tree and the frenzied tide of monsters, but they’d also have to guard against other ill-intentioned Players.

But the allure of the "world’s gift" was simply too great.

Watching from the sidelines was safe, but they could miss their chance. After the other factions battled it out, they might not even get the scraps.

Just as Brandon Barton was frowning and weighing the pros and cons, Samson Sharp, who had been stealing glances in a particular direction, suddenly lowered his voice.

He said, "Wait! That woman... The woman with the red umbrella—she’s moving!"

Hearing this, everyone’s expression turned grim.

After speaking, an embarrassed blush crept onto Samson Sharp’s face.

Brandon Barton had explicitly warned him not to pay too much attention to that bewitching woman, yet he couldn’t help himself.

But at that moment, nobody had the mind to bother with Samson Sharp’s minor transgression.

After all, Samson Sharp and his group were only temporary allies.

Everyone’s gaze, including Sean Chandler’s, instantly shot in the woman’s direction.

There, among the ruins, that splash of vivid red was finally no longer a static part of the scenery.

The bewitching woman under the oil-paper umbrella slowly raised a hand, one that had been twirling a lock of her hair, and her slender, pale fingers pointed elegantly toward the massive, ancient tree at the heart of the battlefield, which was fending off innumerable attacks.

Her red lips parted as if to whisper something, but she was too far away to be heard clearly.

But immediately after, an invisible yet heart-stopping wave of Energy rippled out from her, like rings spreading across water!

As everyone stared, dumbfounded, the Aura of the red-clad woman holding the oil-paper umbrella suddenly transformed!

A wave of ancient, bewitching Power surged from her like a tide.

In the empty air behind her, nine massive, solid, crimson phantasmal tails materialized out of thin air, swaying elegantly yet lethally as they burned with an illusory Flame!

Then, the faint cry of a fox echoed out, a sound that seemed to come from the primordial past, filled with both Charm and majesty.

A towering phantom of a Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox appeared behind her. The sheer pressure from its fleeting appearance was enough to make even the embattled giant tree in the distance falter for an instant!

However, the shocking spectacle was short-lived.

The woman in red held her umbrella as she brought her other hand up, her slender fingers pinching together as if plucking a flower from the air.

In that instant, the massive nine-tailed fox phantom shattered.

It dissolved into innumerable, illusory petals that shimmered with red light, each one exquisitely vibrant. Like a sudden, silent crimson rain, they drifted down toward the chaotic battlefield!

This shower of petals was breathtakingly beautiful, yet also dangerous in the extreme!

Anyone touched by these crimson petals—

Be they a bloodthirsty Player or a furiously roaring, mutated monster—

found their body freezing involuntarily.

Then, a slowly rotating spiral mark resembling a fox’s eye swiftly appeared upon their foreheads, the backs of their hands, or any exposed skin!

The next second, the eyes of these marked Players and monsters turned vacant and fanatical. In unison, they swiveled to face the woman in red, as if awaiting their queen’s command.

The red-clad woman’s lips parted. Her voice still held its lazy, magnetic quality, but it was now laced with an undeniable will:

"Kill!"

The short command was like a spell.

Every unit controlled by the spiral mark, whether human or monster, immediately abandoned their own battles and turned as one.

Like a tidal wave, they launched a fearless charge at the giant tree, with even greater frenzy and discipline than before!

The once-chaotic battlefield had been brought under her solitary Control in an instant, forming a hybrid army of Players and monsters under the woman’s absolute command!

Witnessing this unbelievable scene, even the experienced Sean Chandler and the resolute Brandon Barton couldn’t hide the utter shock on their faces!

"Forced mind Control?! And indiscriminate mass Control at that! This woman... how can she possess such a terrifying Ability?!" Victor Sharp cried out, feeling his entire worldview had been shattered.

"Fall back! Everyone, fall back! Stay away from those drifting red petals! Whatever you do, don’t let them touch you!" Brandon Barton reacted instantly, shouting the order.

He could see that the bewitching rain of petals was drifting on the breeze, heading right for their position!

Heath Summers watched the red figure standing at the edge of the battlefield, commanding a vast army with a gentle sway of her paper umbrella, and a hint of envy appeared in her eyes. "That woman... she’s incredible!"

Victor Sharp, however, dared not be as complacent as Heath Summers. He immediately channeled all his might into his Energy Shield.

The pale blue barrier of light grew more solid, deflecting the few crimson petals that drifted their way.

Just as everyone was nervously retreating to avoid the rain of petals, one person’s movements were hesitant and stiff. It was Larry Olsen!

He was staring, transfixed, at the approaching crimson shower, his right hand unconsciously rising as if he wanted to touch the seemingly beautiful and harmless petals.

"Larry Olsen!" Lily Holloway was once again the first to notice something was wrong, and she shrieked his name.

Her shout instantly drew everyone’s attention to Larry Olsen.

Larry Olsen’s body went rigid. Realizing his strange behavior, he tried to explain, "I... I wasn’t..."

"Smack him! Don’t let him get controlled!"

Sean Chandler shouted, making a snap decision.

"No, no, no! I’m really not being controlled! I just thought the flowers looked pretty..." Larry Olsen explained, waving his hands frantically.

But it was too late!

A flurry of slaps from the others was already descending upon him.