The being who appeared from the cocoon of velvety blue leaves was unique. The body was humanoid to an extent, but it combined roots, vines, and other plant parts to create such a form. Moreover, the cocoon of leaves was also part of it, attached to the back of the being. Harmonixia looked at it for a second, her mind tracing her memory to distinguish what race it was. Eventually, Verdantia spoke up. "Ah. I remember. This is the cousin plant of an Alraune! Alraunes are a female humanoid body attached to a large plant below them from the thighs down. They usually take root in a place and then grow, but they are not limited to that."
Harmonixia nodded and caressed the strangely supple face of her humanoid darling. "I heard about them.
Tempestria exclaimed. "Ah! I now remember as well."
Cinderielle scratched her head. "Really? I still can't seem to remember about
Verdantia explained a bit more. "The thing Harmonixia is caressing is not actually the little darling, but something like a tongue. However, that doesn't mean that they can't become something else. As a
Everyone looked below the humanoid, casting their gaze on the blue flower with a large hole in the middle and curving petals. The flower had golden petal tips and ethereal purple veins going through them, making its appearance quite mesmerizing. Harmonixia blinked. "So… How do I know if she is my baby girl or my baby boy?"
Verdantia chuckled. "Well, you'll have to wait for a bit. As they grow, they develop their bait-limb in the shape of either a female or a male humanoid, which resembles the sex of the plant. This is the same reason why they are considered cousins with Alraune. If Alraune uses beauty and seduction to trap their prey and reproduce or eat, Farlune uses force, traps, and drug-like substances."
Cinderielle was speechless. "So… They kidnap people for them to become breeders or food?"
Verdantia shrugged. "Alraune are similar in a sense. Only the trapped person becomes willing after being charmed and sucked dry by them. Both are insidious trap-plants in their own ways." She added. "Both plants do let their breeders free after using them, though. So, unless they consider you food, you will leave the situation alive… Only a bit scarred from the experience."
The others deadpanned for a second before Tempestria broke the awkward silence with a laugh. She was looking at Liu Shu with both amusement and exasperation. "She sure is giving birth to some dangerous individuals. Can't she give birth to something like a fairy or a dryad?"
Verdantia smirked at her words. "Some Dryad species are not less dangerous than Alraune and Farlune."
Harmonixia protested. "Who is dangerous? My precious baby will become an upright and beautiful or handsome Farlune!"
Verdantia approached and poked at the small humanoid bunch of roots, vines, and other plant flesh. It didn't look too ugly, but since she was recently born, there was no way to call it charming or beautiful, unlike the flower below, which was a treat for the eyes.
Harmonixia asked, curious. "What are you doing?"
Verdantia hummed as she poked around carefully. "There are times when… You see this part? This is usually where the mock genitals and other parts start growing. So, if I can find the type and shape, I might be able to tell if it is a male or female Farlune before it matures."
"Is it important?" Cinderielle asked.
"Well, of course." Verdantia smiled. "If it is a male Farlune, we should feed him with our breast milk and nothing else that's sweet. The scent of a male Farlune is pleasantly bitter. At first, it might sting the nose, but the more you sniff it, the more addictive it becomes. A very unique scent that traps the senses of females. So, we need to be careful not to feed him too many sweet things. If it is a female, things go all the way around. Their scent is stickily sweet, making males go crazy for them."
Harmonixia didn't understand much, but she knew that Verdantia would never hurt her child. So, she waited patiently for the Life Sylvan to stop her exploration. Eventually, the baby Farlune spasmed and started moving around, scaring Harmonixia. "B-Baby? Are you okay?"
Verdantia stopped touching and coughed. "Sorry, it is quite sensitive in a few parts since it was just born, so I hurt it a bit. You might want to sing for it. Farlunes are experts at sound reproduction, which is why I think Liu Shu and you gave birth to one, while Liu Shu's and my combination produced an Alraune."
Harmonixia nodded and started singing a lullaby. Her gorgeous voice spread around, and the thrashing flower calmed down. Its petals gently curled inwards, trying to hug Harmonixia. Then, the humanoid bait-limb went into the mouth of the Farlune, leaving the circular mouth that was searching for something.
Verdantia chuckled and looked at Harmonixia. "Place your breast in the hole at the middle. The Farlune will know how to suck. He is quite a cutie pie, searching for his mother like that."
"Hm?" Harmonixia paused and looked at Verdantia. "He?"
Verdantia smiled. "Yes. Congratulations, Sister. Liu Shu gave birth to a cute baby boy~."
Harmonixia smiled and looked down at the flower. The hollow in the middle, which was the mouth, gently surrounded Harmonixia's free breast and then it sucked. "Hehe~. My handsome boy is hungry, right? Eat, love."
Cinderielle smiled faintly and looked at Verdantia. "I have some questions, though."
Verdantia glanced at her, and Cinderielle continued. "Why did you come to the conclusion of the reason for a Farlune and Alraune to be born? Are you suspecting something?"
"Indeed." Verdantia nodded, her arms crossing under her heavy bosom. "I think that Liu Shu's Avatar is going to change in the future. Becoming less of a normal humanoid, and more something similar to these babies. Still, it's just speculation now. Once she gives birth to Cinderielle's and Tempestria's babies, I will become more sure of it."
Tempestria glanced at Liu Shu and imagined her as an Alraune. Her face gained a tint of red as her branch threatened to grow beyond its contained space. "Liu Shu as an Alraune would be… too pretty."
Imagining Liu Shu gently sitting on a flower while opening her arms to invite them inside her petals' cocoon, they all became dazed for a second, their faces gaining a deeper shade of red. Moreover, knowing all the things an Alraune could do inside those cocoons didn't help their case.
Tempestria cleared her throat and spoke. "But, it makes some sense, no? Liu Shu was innocent at first, but once she learned a bit about erotic stuff, she became quite active, right? Not to mention the stamina that both of you have spoken about. She seems quite attuned to sex, even beyond what World Trees usually do."
The others also became thoughtful and looked at their lovable and sleeping darling. Harmonixia noticed that milk was leaking, so she knew that Liu Shu was producing. This made her sigh in relief. "Still, Farlunes don't lose in voracity compared to Alraunes. I am almost empty already, and it has been less than four minutes."
She carefully moved the plant and placed it in Liu Shu's arms. The flower used the petals to hug the large, soft bosom while the mouth latched onto the gushing spring of delicious and nutritious food.
"Hm…" Harmonixia pondered and asked. "What name should I give him?"
Cinderielle commented. "How about Petalone?"
Tempestria deadpanned. "That sounds… really unsuitable for some reason." She added. "I would suggest Sylvisen! It's quite nice for this cute plant."
Harmonixia denied both in her head and looked at Verdantia. The Life Sylvan blinked and looked at the Farlune. "Hm… You could call him Ophrys. Ophrys orchids are flowers that have some resemblance to Farlunes. Adopting its name is not bad."
Harmonixia didn't dislike it. Still, she wasn't completely convinced. "I want something a bit more personal…"
"I wouldn't recommend it, though," Cinderielle commented. "Similar to Dewna, this little boy's intelligence will have its limits. It's not an intelligent race, after all."
Harmonixia paused. "You have a point there. Then… Something simple. How about… Eluan?"
The others raised their eyebrows and nodded. The Fire Sylvan poked at the flower latched onto Liu Shu's soft mountain and chuckled. "That's not bad at all. Will you call him Eluan, then?"
Harmonixia nodded. "As long as Liu Shu wants, I'll call my sweet boy Eluan!" She smiled and hugged Liu Shu and her baby tightly. "Ah~. I am so happy!"
Cinderielle and Tempestria pouted, feeling somewhat jealous. Looking at each other, their competitive spirit surged.
Verdantia chuckled. "I wonder which of you both will be the… last one." She placed her hand over her mouth and laughed exaggeratedly. "Hohoho~."
The Fire and Wind Sylvans deadpanned, making Verdantia feel a bit awkward. "Come on, don't look at me like that. I'll feel embarrassed."
Speechless, Tempestria asked. "How do you want me to react to that exaggeratedly false laugh?"
Verdantia sighed. "Whatever, whatever. Let's move on." She added. "Still, how about leaving Cinderielle for last?"
"Huh? Why?" The Fire Sylvan rightfully protested. "I won't hold back if Liu Shu asks me to!"
Verdantia shrugged. "I guess so. I was suggesting it because you took other first times."
Cinderielle clicked her tongue. "Even if I took them all, so what? I was the first one to see her and get into a relationship with her. All of you have taken away part of the cozy spot I was sitting on!"
Harmonixia rolled her eyes. "Come on, Cinderielle. You know that there are still three or four other Sylvans roaming around that will eventually join us. Are you willing to suppress Liu Shu with your selfishness?"
Cinderielle sighed. "Of course not." She looked at Tempestria and stuck out her tongue. "Still, don't think that I'll give way for you. Let's compete fair and square!"
Tempestria faintly smiled. "Sure."
***
Meanwhile, beyond the Wall Forest, a gorgeous, silver-haired Sylvan looked at the system messages popping up in front of her,
[Congratulations on completing the first step of the
[Efficiency rate: 143%]
[You'll receive rewards shortly…]
Evangeline smirked. "Not bad. 143% is one of the highest I've ever seen or heard about. Well, I was lucky that some of the World Trees here were like potted plants, lacking in the combat experience department due to how much extra care the Celestial Lotus Empire gave them. Being always protected, the World Trees are something easy to defeat."
She looked toward the horizon and smiled dangerously. "I might finish earlier than expected. Wait for me, Tianlian Liu Shu. I'll make sure you become our Corrupted World Tree and rule the