In the meantime, while the inarguably most critical secluded cultivation of Konrad's life carried on, tidal waves swept the Blood Mountain Range.

　　Even with her strength, as she stood within the Blood Mountain Range, Ilkaalt didn't have the ability to oppose the Terrestrial Expression. At best, she could preserve her life and attempt an escape. However, as she b.u.t.ted against invisible barriers, it soon became evident that no road to retreat existed.

　　In desperation, Ilkaalt considered using her Withering Leaf against the Terrestrial Expression. Alas, Withering Leaves only worked on the living. Undead and ghosts had absolutely no need to fear them. Recalling that, she despaired, and left without recourse, chose to do the only remaining thing able to save her life!

　　"I'm facing a life-threatening situation within the Blood Mountain Range, hurry up and come to my aid!"

　　She snarled in a mental message aimed at the Ant Queens beneath the World Tree.

　　As soon as her words echoed, they awoke from their meditation, with their eyes widening in a stupor. That stupor only lasted for the split of a second before seriousness replaced it. Without waiting for anyone to dispatch orders, the seventh, eighth, ninth, and tenth queen, four high-ranking queens whose individual strength equaled Dasra's left their post and brought alongside them a battalion of thirty ant elder to dive into the Blood Mountain Range!

　　Using Ilkaalt's distress signal, they quickly located her, and dropped to her side, surrounding her in a perfectly organized formation, and obliterating the "natural" disasters that a.s.sailed her from all sides.

　　"Crown Princess, are you alright? Following your disappearance, the G.o.ddess went wild with rage. How could you desert the colony in such a wanton manner?"

　　The seventh queen chastised while pressing her hands against Ilkaalt's shoulders to probe her condition. Relieved to see that no permanent damage remained, she heaved a sigh of relief. But hearing the name "G.o.ddess," Ilkaalt snorted and turned her head.

　　At that time, the Terrestrial Expression's spiritual body appeared in the sky.

　　"What a delightful gathering of souls. Since you dare barge into my domain, I hope you won't blame me for keeping you all here…permanently, that is."

　　It declared in a hoa.r.s.e, grim sounding voice before stretching out its hands.

　　Blood colored mist gathered, morphing into a towering blood mountain around which red lightning crackled!

　　The Terrestrial Expression waved its hands, causing the blood lightning mountain to shoot toward the thirty-five zenith ants! Although in the outside world, its strength wasn't enough to handle them all, within the Blood Mountain Range, that was another story.

　　Across the territory of those eighteen peaks, it was the king! Sole, ruler of life and death!