In the dense forest, a young man practiced with a spear. Each strike flowed into the next—long thrusts rged seamlessly with short jabs, chaining together in a fluid, rhythmic dance. His movents had begun to be more instinctive than effort.
Alex had finally progressed from foundational training to technique integration in the spear. After years of relentless effort, it was his recent breakthrough to the 2nd stage of "Mind Space" that allowed this leap. With heightened ntal clarity and refined control, he now moved as if his body were an extension of his will.
A smile tugged at the corner of his lips. "Finally."
He wiped the sweat from his brow and glanced northward. "Let's move on. I'm still a long way from that tree."
Fifteen days had passed since Alex left the camp. He had journeyed northward, training and hunting monsters as he went. Fortune had favored him so far—he had yet to encounter a truly dangerous beast.
He traveled lightly, his presence concealed by the dark elent, weaving through the undergrowth like a ghost. After a while, sothing caught his eye—a group of adult wolves encircling a smaller one near a crooked tree. They beat the cub with their heavy paws, their snarls filled with disdain.
The cub was different. Light gray fur adorned its back, blending into a striking purple hue that stretched from its lower jaw, down its belly, and to its rump. Its tails mirrored that split—gray at the base, purple at the ends. But its most startling feature was its eyes: one gray, one purple, both wide with pain and confusion.
Despite its cries, the adults showed no rcy. After the beating, the pack began to retreat into the woods. The cub stumbled after them, only to be t with growls from two adult wolves. It whimpered, backing down in defeat as the pack vanished, leaving it alone.
The cub curled into a ball, shivering and softly whimpering.
Alex, who had watched in silence, stepped forward. The cub imdiately stood, growling weakly. It was no larger than 24 centiters in length and weighed barely 2 kilograms. Alex crouched slowly, retrieving a small piece of at from his spatial ring and placing it gently on the ground.
He said nothing and simply sat, watching.
Driven by hunger, the cub cautiously sniffed the at for several minutes. Eventually, it dragged the food a little distance away and began nibbling at it, limping with every step.
When it finished, Alex approached slowly. The cub growled again, but its stance was no longer firm. Alex halted, then reached forward gently. The growling continued, but there was no attack. His hand touched the cub's back—its fur was soft, surprisingly so.
The cub whimpered again, eyes fluttering shut as it leaned into the touch.
Alex closed his eyes and began channeling his wood elental power. A soft green glow pulsed through his hand, and the cub's wounds began to knit themselves shut. Startled, it opened its eyes, but did not resist.
Monts later, it stood on all fours, no longer in pain.
"Yes, I've healed you," Alex said softly. "You should be thankful."
The cub looked up at him, head tilted in curiosity. "Ooh?" it vocalized softly.
It stepped forward, sniffed Alex's hand, and then began to lick it.
"So you like now, huh?" Alex chuckled.
He caressed the cub's head gently, then retrieved another piece of at and handed it over.
"You were cast out because you looked different," he murmured. "You're just like , then."
He watched as the cub devoured the at and asked, "So, what do you think? Will you be my friend?"
When it finished eating, the cub padded over and licked his hand again.
"Oh yes... you'll be my first friend in this world," Alex said, smiling. He gathered the little wolf into his lap and stroked its fur, heart swelling for the first ti in years. "The two outcasts, huh?"
He looked at the cub, who returned the gaze with wide eyes.
"What should I na you?" Alex wondered aloud.
"How about... Purple?"
The cub growled.
"Oh, I take it that's a no."
He chuckled. "Then how about... *Hati*? The wolf who chases the moon."
He looked up toward the sun, its rays filtered through the dying canopy.
"And I... I'm chasing a future I don't even understand."
Hati tilted its head, then nodded and curled into Alex's lap.
Alex laughed—loudly and heartily—for the first ti in a long while.
"Let's move. We're heading to that big tree in the north," he said, pointing.
Hati leapt onto his shoulder and raised its paw toward the north, barking.
"Okay, okay, hold on tight," Alex said with a grin.
Together, they moved like shadows, avoiding monsters and slipping through the forest with their presence concealed.
As they neared the great tree, Hati began to whimper. Alex patted his head.
"Don't worry. I won't let anyone hurt you."
Hati nodded and barked in affirmation.
"That's my brother," Alex whispered.
As they crossed a faint bluish, translucent barrier, the forest changed. The grass was rotted, trees blackened and dried. The massive tree before them was half consud—its trunk split between vibrant green and creeping black rot. The corruption had not yet reached the canopy, but it was close.
Around it, houses clung to branches. Creatures with pale, white skin, golden hair, bloodshot red eyes, and pointed ears moved among them. Black veins marred their faces.
Alex leaned close to Hati's ear and whispered, "Hey, Hati... didn't they say elves were the most beautiful creatures on earth? That they were one with nature?"
Hati nodded and barked softly in agreent.
Then a voice echoed in his mind.
"Hello, young warrior."
Alex recoiled. "Who is this?!"
"Don't be afraid, young one," the ethereal voice said again.
Alex backed away and pulled out his spear, adopting a ready stance. "Fuck, I'm afraid now! Who's the lunatic in my head?!"
"Young warrio, stop with this," the voice sighed, followed by a gust of wind.
"I am the Mother Tree. I speak to you because I sense my power within you."
"My power? I don't have anything that belongs to you," Alex replied defensively.
"First, step outside the barrier. The corrupted ones will sense you if you remain."
Understanding flickered in his eyes. He retreated beyond the translucent barrier and hid behind a nearby tree.
"Alright... are you still there?" he asked in thought.
"Yes, young warrior. I am with you."
"What's going on here?" Alex demanded.
"That is a tale for another ti. For now, know this—many of my children have been corrupted. Nearly 40% of my material body has fallen to evil."
"So... it's not normal for them to look that hideous?" Alex thought, his tone dry.
"No, it is not."
"Then what's this about your power being in ?"
"You possess wood elental power—blessed by . Even my own children are not gifted with it so easily."
Alex frowned. "So you're saying this is your power—but I didn't get it from you?" he asked, sarcasm creeping into his tone.
"I am ancient. One of my saplings must have sensed sothing within you—sothing worthy—and gave you its power before it died."
He nodded slowly. "So that's how it is. But... you're not here to take it back, are you?"
"No. But I sense another power in you... one similar to the dark force that corrupted my children."
That made Alex stumble back, instinctively on guard. But he quickly realized it was pointless—how could he fight a voice in his mind?
"I will not harm you," she said gently. "I ask only for your help. I want to save what remains of my children."
Alex sighed, the weight of his own weakness pressing on him. "I'm not strong. I'm
only at three circles in the dark elent, and two in wood. They haven't changed in years. My spear is just bamboo, and my dagger is low-quality scrap. I've only survived this long because so higher being must like watching suffer."
He looked up at the sky, sadness plain in his eyes.
"Do not belittle yourself, young one,"the Mother Tree's voice was warm, like a comforting breeze. "So of my children are uncorrupted. Go west, near the river—you may pass through the barrier there and find them. I will tell them you are coming. Perhaps, in helping them... you will find what you seek."
As Alex moved with Hati toward the west, they saw a river flowing under the dense canopy. It was so clear that the stones and swimming fish beneath its surface were easily visible. Alex looked around but couldn't find anything unusual.
Hati barked and pointed toward the direction where the river was flowing. Alex nodded and began moving alongside the river. Then, he felt sothing—like crossing through a bubble.
What he saw in front of him was breathtaking: beautiful houses built atop trees, their branches extending outward and weaving together to form a vibrant, dense green canopy overhead. Lush greenery covered everything, with flowers in a riot of colors blooming all around. The sweet, floral fragrance filled the air, which felt cool and refreshing against his skin.
Alex felt as if he had stepped into the very embrace of Mother Nature herself.
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