165 Burning
Selma Payne’s POV:
We didn’t have any explosive tools like bombs, and small alcohol blocks and lighters obviously couldn’t shake a towering tree.
“Do you know any fire-related incantations?”
“A lot. What kind do you want?”
At this moment, I was a little envious of Dorothy’s sorcerer bloodline and sorcery. Most of the time, it could find a shortcut to help solve the problem.
I described the conditions in detail. It couldn’t be too weak, or it’d probably be useless. But it shouldn’t be too powerful, either. There were dried plants everywhere. If we caused a wildfire before the giant pine tree was destroyed, it’d be difficult for us to escape.
It would be great if I could have a little divinity. This would restrain the power of evil demons, increase their power, and save time.
Dorothy said that she had many fire spells that met the conditions, but she could not do it with divinity unless she believed in god.
It didn’t matter as long as there was enough fire.
Although this huge pine tree looked like a pile of flammable firewood, the larger the tree was, the harder it was to burn. These old and experienced wooden blocks seemed to know how to abandon the carriage to protect the commander. Often, a branch would break and fall off halfway through the fire.
The flame alone was not enough. We had to make sure that the wood could burn.
It would be great if we had oil, but it was a fantasy to say this now. We could only set up more fire points so that these fire points are dense enough to burn together.
Dorothy’s sorcery needed to focus on a fixed point. The team members cut some branches and tied them together in groups of five. One was especially long, and the tip was sharpened to ensure the arrow could pierce into the trunk.
The ends of the arrows were smeared with the oil from the can and tied with a cloth to ensure they could burn.
Without the use of bows and arrows, the arm strength of the team members was enough to throw a perfect javelin.
With the thirty marked points ready, it was Dorothy’s turn.
Whoosh!
The flames suddenly started burning, and we were all shocked. We looked at Dorothy in unison. This didn’t look like an ordinary fire spell!
“I’m sorry! I was a little too excited.” She smiled embarrassedly. “I’ve been very anxious since I entered this forest, and I couldn’t control myself.”
Fortunately, the fire didn’t burn any other plants and avoided a forest fire.
A pungent smell gradually filled the air. It didn’t smell like burning wood but more like the burning body of some creature, the smell of burnt flesh.
The giant pine tree’s bark cracked, and a large amount of dark red tree sap gushed out, trying to put out the fire on its body.
The sap was very strange. It was more like diluted clay or plasticine than liquid. A bubble-like cover wrapped the flame. After a while, the bubble dried and burst, and the flame inside weakened or even extinguished.
If this continued, everything we’d done would be in vain.
My team and I continuously shot our spare arrows at the tree trunk. Dorothy immediately set the tree on fire, but there was too much sap. Our speed could not match the rate at which the sap extinguished the fire. The fire was about to be extinguished.
“It’s too late!” The last wave of arrows had been used up, and it was too late to cut down the trees.
The spreading sap even had the strength to spread to the snow. While we were setting the fire, it had already reached our feet.
“Retreat! Don’t touch the sap!”
I led the team to retreat, but more pine trees had quietly covered the open space behind us.
There was no way to escape.
The giant pine tree shook off its broken branches and fallen leaves, and the burning branches and leaves were extinguished and dissipated on the snow like fireworks. The giant pine tree shrank in size, but it seemed to have been angered by us as it began to tremble restlessly.
As it trembled, the plants around it moved faster.
The gap we had just cut down was filled in a few minutes, and the other road was also blocked.
We tried to stop the branches from spreading, but snow and fire were useless.
The soil for survival gradually shrank, and the team members were tightly stuck together, unable to take a step back.
It was impossible to say that we didn’t regret it now. I didn’t understand why I was so impulsive. ‘Indecisive’ was more in line with my personality than a hasty start.
I thought this strange forest affected me. Even though I was always on guard, it took advantage of me.
I hate this kind of under-the-belt method!
However, the fact was that I couldn’t do anything about the current situation. Even experienced team members like Kerner couldn’t think of a solution to the problem.
The viscous sap seemed to have gradually developed consciousness and life. It scattered and folded like earthworms, trying to find an opportunity to attack us.
At that moment, I wanted to pray to god.
A thick ‘earthworm’ came at me. I dodged it and subconsciously waved my dagger, hoping to cut it off.
However, even though the ‘earthworm’ was cut off, its broken limbs wriggled and deformed like plasticine, wrapping around my body instantly.
