Boom!
The ground cracked open, and several rapidly expanding roots burst from the soil, sweeping across the battlefield.
The Demon Rabbit didn't even have time to react before it was sent flying, crashing hard against a rock.
Just as it struggled to stand, it was pinned in place by a root that followed close behind.
“Your life force is quite resilient, aren't you?”
Qimeng looked at the Demon Rabbit, which was still frantically kicking its hind legs, a hint of amusement flashing in her eyes.
The explosive power and reaction speed of this body had completely exceeded her expectations.
Before she could examine it closer, rustling sounds echoed from deep within the bushes.
Two, three... five of them.
Several pairs of crimson eyes lit up one after another in the shadows.
The Demon Rabbits growled, their hind legs kicking off the ground as they pounced toward her like gray lightning.
“Perfect. I'll use you to test the limits of this body.”
Magic power flowed, and several slender branches materialized in front of her, shooting forward with a sharp, piercing whoosh.
Snap!
The branches wrapped tightly around the Demon Rabbits' front legs.
Even more roots burrowed out from the ground, weaving into a net that captured these reckless prey in one fell swoop.
As the roots tightened, the Demon Rabbits went from frenzied to sluggish.
Ultimately, they could only lie flat on the ground, letting out low, angry, and unwilling growls.
Qimeng let out a long breath. She walked over to one of the Demon Rabbits and poked its head hard.
“I just got this body, and I'm already getting jumped by a pack.
“Aren't you guys being a bit too welcoming?”
The Demon Rabbit glared at her fiercely, its crimson eyes filled with defiance.
Qimeng casually pinched the rabbit's ears.
They felt soft and surprisingly pleasant to hold.
The Demon Rabbit began to struggle even more violently.
“Behave. You lost, so act like a loser. What's with the attitude?”
She spoke casually while reflecting on the battle just now.
Roots bursting from the earth, branches taking shape, magic power flowing smoothly.
The entire execution had been unbelievably fluid.
The nervousness of her first battle vanished, replaced by a calm composure that felt as if she had everything under control.
This was the attitude she ought to have. After all, this was by no means a gentle world.
Looking back at her past life, she had merely been an ordinary boy like any other in modern society.
Later, he crossed over to this world, becoming a young boy in a remote village.
Back then, he had awakened an authority called 【Reincarnation】.
Whenever death approached, time would rewind to the starting point.
Armed with this power, he joined the knights and repeatedly rewrote the futures that were destined for ruin.
When a companion died in battle, he restarted.
When a mission failed, he restarted.
To save more people, he constantly depleted his limited number of reincarnations.
Until the very last time.
He was falsely accused of defiling the princess and exiled.
The companions he had once fought alongside chose to remain silent. He was assassinated on his way back home, and the ultimate reincarnation he triggered at the cost of his life ended his journey there.
When she opened her eyes again, she had already become a female Demon Tree.
She knew better than anyone that this world had never been gentle.
But so what?
Right now, she possessed a main body with stats that broke the scale, as well as this Root Domain where she held absolute control.
That foolish drama of dying and risking her life for some so-called greater good was over.
In this life, she would no longer play the part of a hard-working savior of the world.
As long as there was magic power to let her grow stronger in peace, that was enough.
Since she had been given a second chance at life, she might as well live exactly as she pleased.
As for that so-called destiny, the princess, the knights...
As long as they didn't disturb her, they could do whatever they wanted.
Just then, gurgle...
A sudden sound interrupted her thoughts.
Qimeng's gaze fell upon her stomach. The surroundings were dead silent.
After a few seconds, the girl blinked.
“Hungry?”
Only at this moment did she realize a serious problem.
She had been too excited earlier and completely forgot about the matter of eating.
Humans needed food, but what about a Demon Tree?
Qimeng looked up at the sunlight overhead, then at the bound Demon Rabbits.
She narrowed her eyes.
On one hand, there was free sunlight.
On the other, there were fresh rabbits.
“Theoretically speaking...
“I should be considered a vegetable person right now, right?
“In that case, eating both seems pretty reasonable, doesn't it?”
The moment the words left her mouth, even she felt it was absurd.
But she had to give it a try.
Qimeng squatted in front of a Demon Rabbit, placing her palm against its rough head.
At first, nothing happened.
Just as she was about to give up, however, a sudden tingling sensation came from her palm. Something was wriggling beneath her skin.
“Huh?”
In the next second, several slender, pale roots sprouted from her palm and pierced into the Demon Rabbit's body.
“Eh?”
The Demon Rabbit was dazed.
The girl and the rabbit locked eyes in a strange stare-down.
In the next instant, a massive amount of pale red light particles surged wildly into her body along the roots.
A warm current spread, dispersing her weakness. An indescribable sense of satisfaction filled every corner of her body.
“It really works.”
Qimeng watched this scene in shock.
As time passed, the Demon Rabbit's body withered rapidly until only a pile of grayish-white powder remained.
A gentle breeze blew past, leaving not even a trace behind.
Qimeng looked at the ground, then at her palm, her expression complex.
“Even though I know I'm no longer human, isn't this way of eating a bit too efficient?”
Complaints aside, she quickly noticed a change.
It wasn't just about filling her stomach; there was something even more special.
It was life force, and also the nourishment of her magic source.
In short, nutrients.
Her human form, tree form, and roots.
The connection between the three became closer than ever before.
Her emerald-green eyes shimmered slightly, and a smile appeared on her face.
“It seems this is the correct way to get stronger.”
Next, Qimeng repeated the process.
【Devour All Things】 swallowed all the remaining Demon Rabbits, turning them into reserve magic power.
Sunlight filtered through the tree canopy, gently draping over the girl.
She noticed something even more interesting.
The sunlight was being automatically absorbed by her skin.
A continuous stream of magic power was seeping into her body through her skin.
“So the human form can photosynthesize too.”
Qimeng spread her palm, catching the dappled light, and her mood instantly lightened.
“Does this count as a passive Devour All Things?”
She shifted into a comfortable position, leaning against the base of the tree to enjoy the warmth of the sun.
Rate on N.U.
