The dragon-type Digital Sprite legion waiting outside greeted Han Wu after escaping the World Tree Forest.
Han Wu glanced back to see the flames still spreading behind him. The War Tyrannosprite King wouldn’t be catching up anytime soon, but once it did, everything would be over.
The Heavyarmor Raptor looked up at Han Wu, about to ask how the mission went.
“We need to return now! I’ve got the World Tree’s fruit,” Han Wu urged the Heavyarmor Raptor before it could say a word.
The Heavyarmor Raptor was overjoyed. It let out a roar and rallied all of the dragon-type Digital Sprites to hold the line against anything pursuing from the forest. It then carried Han Wu towards the Pride Dark Tyrannosprite King as fast as it could.
Han Wu rode on the Heavyarmor Raptor’s back, keeping only Stinger at his side for protection. Every other Digital Sprite was sent back to the Microcosm to recover.
The mission to steal the World Tree’s fruit was complete. The only question that remained was whether to actually hand it over to the Pride Dark Tyrannosprite King.
World Trees changed depending on their civilization. This one, having grown inside the Sprite Civilization, had adopted the characteristics of a Digital Sprite. Its fruit had gone a step further, resembling a Digital Sprite.
The fruit’s powers, though, were still a mystery that Han Wu had yet to figure out. It was beyond the event system’s capabilities and his own understanding.
The one thing he knew for certain was that the fruit was incredibly valuable. If the Pride Dark Tyrannosprite King got its hands on it, the creature would definitely grow stronger.
Would the Pride Dark Tyrannosprite King still pay what it owed after it powered up? Even if it did pay up, would it let Han Wu go? This was a hunting event, with Han Wu acting as one of the hunters and the Digital Sprites as his prey.
If he could take down the Pride Dark Tyrannosprite King, first place would be practically guaranteed for him. After all, he reckoned no contestant’s Digital Sprites could compare to it in terms of raw strength.
While he mulled it over, the Heavyarmor Raptor had brought him back to the Pride Dark Tyrannosprite King’s throne hall.
The Pride Dark Tyrannosprite King rose from its throne and asked him seriously, “Did you really bring back the World Tree’s fruit?”
Han Wu nodded.
“Give it to me,” the Pride Dark Tyrannosprite King commanded, voice thick with authority.
Han Wu shook his head.
The dragon-type Digital Sprites around the hall roared in unison, furious that Han Wu would defy the Pride Dark Tyrannosprite King. The cross-shaped pupils in the Pride Dark Tyrannosprite King’s eyes trembled as it fought to contain its anger.
“What are your terms?” it gritted out.
“Give me the promised reward first,” Han Wu demanded.
The Pride Dark Tyrannosprite King reached behind its back and removed the Dark Courage Shield. This was the reward it had planned to give Han Wu, provided he actually obtained the World Tree’s fruit.
Han Wu hadn’t expected the Pride Dark Tyrannosprite King to offer a piece of its own equipment. The Dark Courage Shield looked special, but he wouldn’t know the exact stats until he held it.
A guard respectfully took the Dark Courage Shield from the Pride Dark Tyrannosprite King and presented it to Han Wu. The data flooded into his mind when he took it.
[Dark Courage Shield: An important piece of the Pride Dark Tyrannosprite King’s gear, super ultimate tier. Contains pure Dark Energy and is embedded with a Courage Crest that draws on the wielder’s courage to resist incoming attacks. The greater the courage, the stronger the defense. (Requirement: The wielder must possess both Dark Energy and dragon attributes.)]
Han Wu’s eyes lit up. The Dark Courage Shield was at the super ultimate tier.
It would’ve been great if the Iron Abyss Bug could use it, but the requirement unfortunately ruled that out. The only one among Han Wu’s forces qualified to wield it was the Dark Dragoness after her Fusion Evolution. With this shield, the Dark Dragoness’s strength could rise another tier.
The Pride Dark Tyrannosprite King pressed him. “The reward has been given. Hand over the World Tree’s fruit.”
The Pride Dark Tyrannosprite King’s overall power had dropped without the Dark Courage Shield, especially its defense. Its aura, however, remained fierce. The surrounding ultimate dragon-type Digital Sprites roared alongside it, urging Han Wu to comply.
Han Wu considered his next course of action and decided to wait until the Dark Dragoness fully bonded with the Dark Courage Shield before making a move.
Opening his Microcosm, he took out the World Tree’s fruit. The moment the Pride Dark Tyrannosprite King saw the fruit’s chubby little form, power surged through its entire body. It crossed the distance in a single step, snatched the fruit in its claw, and held it tight.
The World Tree’s fruit struggled but couldn’t break free.
“It really is the World Tree’s fruit. I can finally shed this cursed identity and escape this civilization!” the Pride Dark Tyrannosprite King bellowed toward the sky.
Han Wu watched with stunned silence as the Pride Dark Tyrannosprite King shoved the fruit straight into its mouth.
Eating it raw? That doesn’t seem right. Forget boiling it, at least roast it first. Isn’t it afraid it’ll get a stomachache swallowing it whole like that? The Pride Dark Tyrannosprite King has zero standards.
The fact that it had swallowed the fruit in one gulp was a real blow for Han Wu. That meant the fruit was gone for good, foiling his plan to take it back once the Dark Dragoness grew stronger.
The Pride Dark Tyrannosprite King’s body started trembling uncontrollably. Han Wu could faintly see root-like tendrils surfacing across its skin, similar to the World Tree’s own roots. As the fruit took effect, these tendrils rapidly dried out, cracked, and peeled away from its body.
Once the process finished, the Pride Dark Tyrannosprite King’s raw power hadn’t changed much, but its emotional state had ascended to elation.
Han Wu quietly stepped back, ready to slip away. The Pride Dark Tyrannosprite King had gotten what it wanted, which meant Han Wu had lost his usefulness. Staying any longer could invite trouble.
A badly wounded ultimate dragon-type Digital Sprite burst in just as he barely reached the doorway. Han Wu recognized it as one of the ones the Heavyarmor Raptor had left outside the World Tree Forest.
“Tyrannosprite King, the World Tree Forest has gone berserk! A Tyrannosprite that looks just like you is headed this way!”
The words had barely left its mouth when Han Wu’s avatars sent him the same warning. “Get out now! The War Tyrannosprite King is coming, and its form looks very wrong!”