["The group immediately began inspecting various areas within the Artisanship Commission, and as expected, they found numerous roots spreading from the ground."]
["However, these roots grew at an alarmingly fast rate. Even if they eradicated one patch, another would sprout elsewhere. Unless they could eliminate them all simultaneously, it would be nearly impossible to deal with them effectively."]
["Looking at the continuously sprouting and bulging roots, Master Gongshu recalled, 'I remember when that deer was brought back to life, the roots of the Ambrosial Arbor around it were glowing faintly, as if they were sustaining its life. Why not use my equipment to burn these roots all at once?'"]
["With that, Master Gongshu quickly assembled a set of mechanical devices on the spot, aimed at the spreading roots."]
["'This mechanical device is called [Radiance in a Box], originally developed as a weapon commissioned by the Cloud Knights. Its power is unparalleled, except… well…'"]
["'It has a short range and consumes too much energy?' Welt continued his sentence."]
["'The law of conservation applies—something with strengths must have weaknesses. Hah, but to deal with these pesky roots, it's more than enough,' Master Gongshu said with an awkward chuckle."]
——
Runeterra, Piltover
"This weapon is quite interesting. The magical energy can be transmitted back and forth between different devices…" Ambessa, now in Piltover, was lounging in a bathhouse, enjoying a massage from an attendant while pondering Master Gongshu's intriguing weapons.
She watched as Stelle and the others tinkered with the equipment, constantly adjusting their angles until they finally managed to eradicate all the roots in one fell swoop.
"Somewhat rigid, but it should be effective against Demacia's Royal Guard."
Ambessa recalled her past encounters with the Demacians, particularly impressed by the material of their armor—a renowned alloy called Demacian Steel. Forged by their blacksmiths using holy water, it was lightweight, durable, and provided high magic resistance.
She had long tried to send agents to infiltrate Demacia to uncover the secret of the holy water, but to no avail. As a result, she shifted her approach—focusing on how to destroy this troublesome armor on the battlefield.
"The drawback is the short range and high energy consumption… which means, as long as the weapon is supplied with enough energy, it can deal devastating damage at close range."
"I recall Mel knows a young man who's skilled with a hammer and has a knack for weapon modifications," Ambessa mused, rubbing her chin. "Perhaps I could have him improve Master Gongshu's weapon. The results could be promising…"
——
["The group ran back and forth within the Artisanship Commission, spending several hours to finally burn away all the visible roots."]
["'Based on my speculation, the roots of the Ambrosial Arbor must be deeply embedded underground, spreading everywhere. For now, we've likely cleared most of the roots within the Artisanship Commission,' Master Gongshu said, stroking his beard with a proud expression. 'We shouldn't delay. While the roots haven't had a chance to regrow…'"]
["'Listen to the call of the deer!' Stelle exclaimed eagerly."]
["'…Nice use of an idiom, but don't use it again,' March 7th couldn't help but retort."]
["The group quickly returned to the Abundance Ambrosial Deer, and as expected, the roots entwining the Genesis Furnace had withered."]
["Although the Abundance Ambrosial Deer still stood there, the golden-yellow glow on its body had visibly dimmed, indicating that the destruction of the roots had significantly affected it."]
["The group picked up their weapons and began attacking the Abundance Ambrosial Deer again. This time, its wounds no longer healed, but the vines and branches it summoned underwent a slight change."]
["The originally withered branches suddenly became lush and verdant, even bearing enormous fruits!"]
["'Huh? It's bearing fruit? Those are some huge peaches… I kinda want to pick one and try it,' March 7th said, momentarily distracted, but Welt quickly reminded her that now wasn't the time to get sidetracked."]
["Suddenly, the fruit tree emitted a golden glow, and under everyone's watchful eyes, it channeled streams of golden energy into the deer's antlers."]
["A tremendous surge of power gathered at its head, forming a massive golden orb of light."]
["'Spotted Dragon's Touch' has finished charging!!"]
"This move doesn't look good…"
Iori Utahime's gaze narrowed, and she instinctively held her breath, afraid that even a blink might cause her to miss this earth-shattering strike.
She had witnessed Satoru Gojo's Hollow Technique: Purple at school, but in terms of raw power, it likely paled in comparison to this attack from the Abundance Ambrosial Deer. She had initially thought the deer's greatest threat was its endless regeneration, but it seemed to have a devastating trump card as well.
"It seems Abundance isn't just about healing—it also has moves that concentrate power," Mei Mei said with a faint smile.
On the other side, Ryomen Sukuna was observing the scene with keen interest.
"What? Didn't you say this deer was more boring than Mahoraga?" Kenjaku, dressed in monk robes, sipped tea quietly nearby.
"Hm, but now some variables have emerged. I'm curious to see how Stelle and the others will handle this move," Sukuna said, narrowing his eyes coldly. "Mahoraga's regeneration stems from its ability to adapt to all phenomena in the world. Once you understand that, it's not hard to counter."
"This deer is different. While its regeneration isn't as strong, its attack… heh."
Sukuna noticed that as the Abundance Ambrosial Deer prepared to unleash the "Spotted Dragon's Touch," the glowing vines throughout the Artisanship Commission dimmed and ceased growing. This indicated a do-or-die strike—either the enemy falls, or it does.
A scoff escaped Sukuna's throat, his crimson eyes glancing at the Astral Express crew in the corner of the screen.
He was eager to see how this girl, marked by Nanook's gaze, would handle a strike from the Abundance.
——
["…"]
["How to handle it? Take it head-on with her face!"]
["Switching to her fire lance, Stelle, supported by March 7th's shield, stood in front of the group. With a furious roar from the deer, the light of the Spotted Dragon's Touch instantly engulfed her."]
["The power of this strike drained the entire Ambrosial Arbor's energy within the Artisanship Commission. After unleashing it, the Abundance Ambrosial Deer visibly weakened."]
["On the other side, as the smoke cleared, Stelle emerged from the dust, wielding her fire lance, completely unscathed."]
Bless This Wonderful World!
"Is Stelle really that durable?!"
"Could it be because she's afraid of pain, so she maxed out her defense stats?"
"No way, you think Stelle is like Darkness?" Kazuma glanced at the blonde girl in armor sitting across the table, her face flushed with excitement. After seeing Stelle get hit by the laser from the Abundance Ambrosial Deer on the screen, Darkness was so thrilled she could barely breathe.
This masochist… she's beyond saving.
Still, out of concern for his companion, Kazuma tried to advise Darkness, "If we ever encounter an attack on the level of the Abundance Ambrosial Deer during our adventures, don't try to tank it head-on, okay, Darkness?"
"No way," the blonde girl shook her head. "This might sound a bit conceited, but I believe my defense can perfectly withstand that strike. And when the 'Spotted Dragon's Touch' comes, I'd… desperately try to dodge but fail to escape its searing light, ultimately being overwhelmed and defeated. That's the best feeling."
"…Enough. Just shut up."