When the World Tree began to move its root to leave the battlefield, a magma suddenly fell on top of its roots, burning it.

“!!!” The World Tree widened his eyes and turned around, looking at its roots. “Magma? You dragon bastard. Do you think I’m a coward just because I’m leaving? This is a tactical retreat! How dare you attack me like this!”

The World Tree couldn’t help but blow up after all that infuriating moment with the dragon. He didn’t even dare to ask for explanations as he called his roots to grasp the dragon.

“What are you doing? I didn’t do anything!” The dragon shouted while flying away.

“Do you think I didn’t feel the fluctuation earlier? You clearly targeted me!”

Both of them actually felt the same Magic Power fluctuation. The World Tree felt it from the dragon’s direction and vice versa. Both of them didn’t realize Theo was staying between them while using his World Re-Creation to distort their senses so that they could feel it from where they were standing.

“I didn’t even do anything. I suspected you were the ones trying to make an excuse to harm me!” The dragon gritted his teeth.

The World Tree was stubborn as there was only one magma user.

“One?” The World Tree suddenly fell silent and realized something was amiss. “No, there is another person that can use magma here.”

Yes, the World Tree figured out the plan. Theo turned out to be hiding among them to use his ability to copy the dragon’s move to harm the World Tree. And because the Magic Power fluctuation came from the dragon, the tree looked at the dragon, saying, “As expected, the magma earlier came from Theodore Griffith.

“He should be hiding among your rocks to attack me.” The World Tree summoned his branches and roots.

“What are you doing?” The dragon gritted his teeth, feeling threatened by the tree’s action. There was no way would the World Tree capture him just like this.

“I know Theodore Griffith is hiding inside the crack on your skin. I’m going to rip it apart to find him.”

“You are just trying to harm me. Who knows what you will do after you grasp my limbs with those roots? Do you think I’m a fool?” The dragon roared.

Sadly, both Theo and the World Tree actually agreed that he was a fool.

But more importantly, the World Tree couldn’t let this opportunity go. On the one hand, it would be hard to find Theo within those cracks. On the other hand, this might be the best time to capture him.

Unfortunately for him, the dragon wouldn’t allow the tree to do whatever he wanted with his body.

He released the magma from his skin while releasing his red Magic Power. “You have a grudge against me. Do you think I don’t know you’re going to rip me apart under this pretense?”

“Theodore Griffith can replicate your magma. And since the Magic Power fluctuation comes from your body, I know Theo is hiding within your body. That’s a clever way to hide since his Magic Power is hidden by your power.” The World Tree spread its roots, surrounding the dragon.

“You’re ticking me off. I’m here to help you, but you’ve been useless this whole time.”

“Help me? All you’ve done is harm me. You’re helping him, not me. If you want to help me for real, just surrender. I’m going to make it quick.”

“Even if you can find him inside me, what are you going to do? If you’re going to rip my skin apart, I’m going to burn you down.” The dragon started excreting the magma, planning to fight this World Tree.

The World Tree had two options. He could capture Theo as long as he defeated the dragon or he could just leave without caring about Theo. He might lose today, but it didn’t change the fact he could try again later.

Still, the moment he had a complete retreat, the plants would be destroyed by Theo, weakening his force for at least decades. By that time, no one knew what kind of existence Theo would become.

He was making a hard choice, one that might decide his future. After all, the overpowered Theodore Griffith in the future might chase him even if it meant turning the world upside down. So, he had to make a choice right now.

As if fueling the already heated argument, Theo used his illusion to make a root come out of the ground.

*Bam!*

“!!!” The dragon was startled and hurriedly flapped his wings, flying away. “You bastard!”

“Wait. That’s not–!”𝒩𝐎𝑣𝗅xt.𝓒𝐎𝕞

Before the tree could even explain, the dragon had gathered the Magic Power in his throat and released the magma breath.

“Listen to others, you bastard!” The World Tree used its trunk to withstand the ability with the help of the Unbreakable Wood Skill.

When the magma touched his trunk, it could do nothing but leave a burn mark that could be scratched off later.

“That wasn’t me. I haven’t done anything yet!” The World Tree tried to explain.

“Do you think I’ll believe you? You have been saying Theo this, Theo that. I don’t know anything about him, but I certainly know what you’ve done in my territory. You’ve absorbed all the materials in my territory to strengthen your ability.” The dragon had felt the tree’s movement before he completely woke up.

When the World Tree wanted to explain, the supersonic bullets suddenly hit the tree and the dragon at the same time.

*Boom!*

The dragon blocked the attack with his sturdy skin while the tree caught the bullet with its branches.

But this just made them feel frustrated since they still had a fight and didn’t want to be disturbed by others.

Without hesitation, the dragon looked into the horizon and began to fly. “I’m going there and destroying this annoying human’s weapon.”

Before he could go, two roots came out of the ground and tried to capture him. At the same time, the World Tree’s voice echoed in his ears.

“Don’t go. Theodore Griffith is in your body. Are you going to take him away?”