Early the next morning, after he was done with what he had to do and has made his preparations, Leo went downstairs to check if Fiona was back.
Unfortunately, when he got to the ground floor, Fiona wasn't in sight and there was no sigh that she ca back the previous night as he stayed up late, waiting for her.
He decided to use the [Beasmaster's Bond] panel to check up on her.
The next mont, Leo's eyes widened in shock and his jaw dropped, as he read what was being displayed on the panel.
[Na: Fiona]
[Species: Mutant Wolf]
[Level: 24 (Evolved Rank)]
[Abilities: Enhanced Agility, Enhanced Senses, Bone Claw, Regeneration.]
....
"Wow..." Leo laughed in disbelief.
This was all Leo could say. He couldn't believe what he was seeing. He didn't even know how to begin to process it but he felt sothing bubbling up from within him.
Pride. Yes, he felt very proud of Fiona and of her achievent.
When he realised that she left because she was probably trying to complete her evolution requirents, he was confident that she would be able to survive whatever it is she has to go through.
But what he didn't expect was that she would actually complete her evolution requirents in just a single day. He was completely at a lose of words but he was equally proud.
Realising sothing, he brought up his evolution requirents to check sothing.
[Evolution Requirents for Warden]
[Defeat enemies without using skill or weapon. (100/100)]
[Defeat An Evolved Rank creature.]
[Raise Your beast companion to the Evolved Rank. (Completed)]
[Defeat An Off-worlder.]
.....
"Yes! It counted!" Leo exclaid in excitent.
Who knew that he would be able to complete his second evolution requirent without even doing anything.
Leo was extrely happy. If Fiona was right in front of him, he would had hugged her tightly.
"Now, I only have two more evolution requirents to complete," Leo smiled, nodding in satisfaction.
He turned to leave for the location of the tree but before that, he looked into the distance, wanting to see if he will catch a glimpse of Fiona. But as far as his eyes could see, there was no sign of her.
"Co ho soon and safe, Fiona. You have done more than enough." Leo smiled, as he started making his way to the tree.
.....
Leo stood at a distance, observing a lush green, ordinary-looking tree at the distance.
Who would had thought that such a inconspicuous tree was an Evolved Rank entity and quite a high ranked one at that.
Naturally one would had taken the dead land around it as a clue that sothing was off but it still wasn't enough to tell one how strong the tree is. It wasn't enough to tell one that it's an extrely dangerous entity.
Leo observed the tree a bit more before deciding to take action. He had been standing just outside of the dead area surrounding the tree, which ans that he's out of its attack.
He believes this is the reason why he hasn't been attacked yet. Or maybe it's because the tree can't attack him. He rembered that the last ti he was here, he got very close to the tree and touched it's bark, and yet, nothing happened.
Then again, he felt that the reason fur that was probably because the tree was weak then. But who knows?
All he knew was that it the tree hasn't noticed him yet, it will when he steps into the dead area.
With a smile, he raised one of his leg and slowly placed it in the dead zone he waited for a while but nothing happened. He decided to put his other leg in when he saw this and yet, nothing happened.
He was surprised when he saw this but he knew that he can't never put his guard down. He gripped Nightshade tightly as he slowly approached the tree.
He would had loved to go hand-to-hand combat with the tree but with how much stronger than him it is, he can't risk his life unnecessarily.
Leo had walked a couple of steps and was now halfway to the tree. He took a couple more steps and the next mont, he heard a whooshing sound, followed by another and another.
He felt the ground under him crack and give way, with multiple roots shooting out of it, towards him.
Leo's instincts scread at him the mont the ground beneath him trembled. His grip on Nightshade tightened as massive roots shot up from the cracked earth like spears, lunging for him with terrifying speed.
He barely had ti to react before the first tendril-like root slamd toward him. He twisted his body, dodging just in ti as it cracked the earth where he had stood re monts ago.
More followed—five, six, ten—each moving with eerie precision, seeking to impale or ensnare him.
He leaped back, narrowly avoiding a thick root that attempted to coil around his ankle.
"It knows I'm here now."
Leo had suspected the tree wouldn't stay dormant forever, but the sheer aggression of its response was more than he had anticipated.
He had no doubt now—this thing wasn't just a mindless plant. It was aware. And it was actively trying to kill him.
Another root lashed out, coming at him from the side. He brought Nightshade up in a swift arc, slicing clean through it. A sickly, dark green liquid sprayed from the severed end, hissing as it hit the ground like acid.
Leo didn't have ti to celebrate the successful strike. The tree retaliated instantly, three more roots shooting toward him.
He ducked, rolling to the side as one of them grazed his shoulder, tearing through the fabric of his sleeve. A stinging sensation flared where the tip had nicked his skin, and he quickly realized these roots weren't just blunt instrunts—they were covered in tiny barbs, designed to tear flesh apart.
He couldn't afford to get caught.
Pushing himself to his feet, he dashed forward, weaving between the assaulting roots as he closed the distance toward the tree's massive trunk. He could already see the thick bark shifting, pulsating almost like it was breathing.
The entire thing felt unnatural, an abomination of nature itself.
Another barrage of thorn-covered vines shot toward him. He swung Nightshade in rapid succession, cutting through them, but more took their place almost instantly.
Then the air around him suddenly beca heavy.
Leo barely had ti to react before a fine golden mist seeped out from the tree's branches. The mont he inhaled, his vision blurred, the edges of the world beca distorted.
Reviews
All reviews (0)