Plant Fossils
Year 113
Ti is running out, and Harriss panic reflected that.
Only 10? I asked, I looked at the 10 crystalline objects.
Its a lot harder to obtain spell crystals at the necessary quality and purity. These 10 spell-matrices are able to store one skill or ability, which can be reused up to 3 tis each.
Thats only 30 uses.
Its a lot better than nothing. Harris nodded. If I manage to get more, I certainly will bring them over, but rather than wait, I thought of just testing these 10 out now.
True. Never know if they might fail.
Harris was alone in the valley, his army of entourage was not allowed in, and so they made themselves comfortable in the new city of Freshka. I looked at the 10 items, and asked. So, youll give so of them?
He paused, and he rubbed his head. I know I agreed to give it to you, but, uh... itll affect my survival chances. Can I just give you one, first? And if I live, Ill give you 5 of these spell matrices.
Will they break after they are used? I sort of think they wouldnt because they look incredibly well made, and the materials gorgeous. Id imagine these things to fetch an incredibly high price if one were to even try doing it.
Uh, they shouldnt. They need to have the skills re-inserted again. They just beco empty. You can try it out, though, uh... theres a recharge ti before they can start receiving skills again.
It wasnt hard to input a skill into the crystal. All I had to do was think of the skill I wanted to use, and then sort of will it into the gem. I got it after like, twenty tries. So, all 10 gems now have [Steelwood Barrier], and he kept 9 of it. They had a faint greenish glow.
Partly why it took so long, is because, I wanted a gem that essentially replicates all the effects of a skill, not just store the skill. There are plenty of spell-matrices out there that stores just the skill, but those lose the passive effects and other caster-specific qualities that make the spell or skill strong. After all, Im quite certain your strength cos from a lot more than just the skill alone.
I didnt have to reply.
Harris probably noticed my reluctance as he quickly changed the topic to sothing else. Oh, I didnt tell you, but we found the red crystal that was ntioned. It was indeed hidden under a massive pile of sludge. And we broke it. Oh. I havent checked on the two heroes in a while. Indeed, I couldnt access that area anymore.
We?
Gerrard and Mirei found so ti out of their busy schedule to visit. They should be on their way here.
Two more heroes? I wasnt prepared for that. Why are they coming here?
Nothing much, just to et up and discuss so things in your presence. Gerrard seed to have sothing that he says will be valuable to you, and us.
? What could a hero say that could be of use to ?
Harris took so ti to stay in the new buildings in Freshka, as the rest of the heroes arrived a few days later. They look different and in Mireis case, shes grown a lot taller. Gerrard was lean, tanned and had shoulder-length hair. They both have aged, and now look like actual adults.
So, this is where the tree is? Gerrard asked.
Mirei nodded. Yeah. We got lucky when we started out around here, and we got our basic combat training here. At least, well, when it was here.
I see. They soon approached Freshka, and regrouped with Harris. After a bit of chitchat and catchup, they ca to see .
Gerrard seed quite interested. Its really, really big.
I had the impression that all tree spirits are large. Mirei said. Or is this one of your half-drunk statents?
Not at all. I might be half-drunk most of the ti, but tree spirits do go through regular growth periods! Ive t small tree spirits before. Gerrard looked quite relaxed around .
Harris took out the spell-matrices and showed it to the other 2. Mirei ooohed. Im still working on spell-matrices that are able to absorb and temporarily recreate the anti-demon aura. Its a lot harder than I thought.
I could upgrade your familiars to special familiars, it cos with the demonic aura after a few levels. I spoke, as I recall Lausanne did have a lesser version of the aura. Its not as strong as mine.
They agreed, and so I upgraded it. For Mirei and Harris, it seed the levels that the existing familiars carried over to the new star-mana powered familiars, and they unlocked the lesser demonic suppression aura instantly. For Gerrard, this was the first ti he received the familiar but he didnt seem entirely surprised by it.
Fascinating, isnt it? Harris said.
Not bad. Gerrard said.
So... you said theres sothing you wanted to share?
Gerrard nodded and opened his bag. He took out a strange item, it resembled a really, really dried piece of wood. Yes. I also have a gift for Aeon, actually. He placed the dried piece of wood on the table, and the mont I touched it, I felt a notification in my head.
[Youve received a fragnt of the ancient tree that was destroyed thousands of years ago.] That very mont, I felt happy. It was a joy that ca from the entirety of my network, like, all my trees felt happy to be touched by that... fragnt.
I couldnt respond for a while, as I had to manage a rush of emotions that went through my head. Thoughts too.
There are objects that can do this to in the world! Is it because my [Grand mind Tree] still needed repairs? The three heroes waited for a while for my response, and they just talked among themselves.
Aeon? Harris asked. Gerrard looked at Harris and Mirei, and then just sat down.
Itll take a while. I gave this sa thing to a few other spirits and they all froze. Or, didnt respond to for at least a day. Maybe we can go have a drink, first. The heroes chatted among themselves again, and then they left.
[Youve analysed the ancient trees fragnt. You gained a level. You are now level 154.]
[Skill : Subsidiary tree upgraded. 200,000 Trees!]
[Skill : Woodshaping significantly upgraded]
Then, I started to see... visions. It felt like I was watching television, as scene after scene flickered before . mories of the ancient tree, engraved it its body. Like how a tree recorded what it suffered through in the rings of its trunk, the fragnt contained its ancient mories.
A vision. Vast expanse of forests, jungles. Sea. Monsters. Dragons. Humans. Elves. Small towns and so cities.
Then a falling red star. Then it was an... emotion. Not a scene, but a feeling of instability, of falling. Like I was pulled out by sothing, and then started falling.
Then demons. Demons everywhere. I see visions of... dragons-
Then it ended, so very quickly.
No. More? I tried to access it again, but it felt like a teaser trailer that was too short. I accessed the shard again, but all it did was play the sa scenes in repeat.
I need more. I spoke to the three heroes, who are relaxing in Freshka. That feeling, like, I was robbed of knowledge, of knowing so but not enough. I needed more.
Im afraid thats the last one I have. Ive given out every shard I have to other tree spirits. Youll have to get it from them. Gerrard shook his head. I didnt even know there was a tree spirit here, so I only kept one.
How many did you have? How many have you given out? I asked, my entire being trying to hold back a sense of need and desperation that cos from the rest of . Like, is this a kind of mind control? I need that [grand mind tree] repaired as soon as possible!
Uh... I had 3. One to you, one to Lilies, and another one to the Frozen Tree in the Northern Isles.
Lilies had one. Maybe I can negotiate directly with Lilies for a loan. I dont really need to keep the fragnt, just analyse it to get a more coherent picture of the past. Wait. Why am I going down this train of thought again?
Harris ribbed Gerrard. So, uh, wait. What were you trying to do?
Oh. You know Ive been going around making all sorts of herbal liqueur? I found that collecting those from ancient tree spirits, or powerful tree spirits can produce a high quality herbal liqueur with strong suppression qualities. So, I set out creating uh... a blended herbal liqueur. Ive collected about 7 tree spirit herbs, leaves and barks.
Mirei just smacked her palm to her face. Oh. So all this just to fulfill your alcohol desires?
Look. Dont judge and my hobbies. Harris has his harem, you have your ballroom and fancy oto-ga politics, leave as the hermit eccentric brewer of strange drinks. Gerrard got quite defensive. I even gained levels with it.
What?! They both paused. I havent gained a level since we fought the demon king!
The systems busted, we all know that. But it turned out you can actually gain levels from doing non-fighting things.
That doesnt match my experience. Harris frowned. Ive been clearing up large areas of land and all, not a single level.
Mirei nodded too. Which class did you gain a level in? Your [hero] class, or sothing else?
No, not [hero]. My [Master Brewer] class. Collecting unusual and rare items, and brewing with them did gain levels. ANYWAY! Gerrard shouted. Aeon, right? Uh... I want your herbs, leaves and a bit of your bark.
Fine. He gave a level, thats fair, I suppose. Ive made herbal drinks and tea all the ti anyway. Herbal alcoholic drinks, well, I sort of ntally smacked myself there. Why didnt I think of that? Or wait, maybe the wineries did create herbal versions of the wine. But I want the other piece, the one with that Frozen Tree. Tell them its a loan, you can return it to them after Im done analysing them.
Uh... Gerrard seed even more defensive. A gift given to a tree spirit is never asked back. I wont do that, Ill lose my supply of magical frozen herbal leaves!
Hmm... How do I negotiate this? Maybe I should do so directly. Then bring a small sapling of mine to it. Place it near to it. A small [tree of prayer], a ssenger from . I would have to find a way to communicate with my other trees that are outside the network. Could I have roots that cross the ocean? But the chance to communicate with another tree spirit!
That... that I can do. Gerrard promised, and he looked at the small bag of leaves, bark and roots with great interest. He took a small piece of root out and slled it. He licked a bit. The other two heroes looked at him and their faces were just plain disgusted.
You lick your materials?
I got to know how they taste. My tongue has a special skill, [Brewers Taste Buds], which lets know how well itll go together with the rest of my brew! Dont worry, Ill clean it up.
Eww.
You guys dont know how hard it is to get an audience with tree spirits. So far, this tree fragnt has been my most successful thod to get new herbal materials!
Where did you even get such a thing? I dont imagine you would end up checking every single fragnt of wood you encounter. Harris asked.
It was in a random abandoned temple on the Shaffar coast of the western continent, I was led there by a druid who spoke of a dead religion of so kind, in my quest to find rare herbal ingredients for my herbal alcohol!
At this point, I intervened. Never mind. Are there more?
Uh... I took everything. Unless I missed it, which I could have because honestly I didnt pay those fragnts much attention. They look like half-rotten wood, not exactly sothing my eyes are drawn to.
Half-rotten wood!
Lets change the topic. Mirei shrugged. Harris said Aeon has so rather interesting... weapons.
It was then that Harris brought out so of the wooden spears and swords. Yes. These are the anti-demon weapons, and Im wondering if we, the 3 of us, together with Aeons wooden weapons as the chassis. Id like to explore that possibility, together.
Harris didnt ntion this the last ti we t, but heroic grade anti-demon weapons, but the thought of it makes sense. The weapons they create using the rare materials from this world are strong, but not specifically anti-demons.
So, the three heroes spent days with . I used wood forming magic to form wooden weapons infused with my anti-demon powers, and the three heroes added their enchantnts. Later on, they ford the wooden weapons together with , as I shaped the wood into its weapon shape, their star-mana joined in and helped.
It was a long process, but the heroes clearly fear for their lives. I could sense all 3 of them have lingering, deep-seated mories of their many battles with different demon kings, and it reflected the sudden focus they have.
After two weeks, they all had wooden weapons they were satisfied with, but yet they still fear whether it is enough. As Mirei put it, they are summoner-heroes, and yet the world forces them to still play the role of a combat-focused hero, so they had to resort to such preparations.
We cant do this forever. Gerrard looked at his curved wooden blade, infused with a mix of wood and heroic energy. He sounded a bit dejected. They left all the rejected ones behind for , which are all incredibly powerful items in their own way, but just not to the level they need. I intend to later spend so ti to further analyse them, and see whether I can use my own star mana to similar effects.
No we cant. But we must try.
Age catches up to us, even if magic keeps us young for now. Killing the demon king is just... temporary. If theres so way we can just seal the demon king, I wonder whether that would stop the demon king from repeating. He said, and then he had a headache imdiately. He quickly opened a gourd next to him, and drank from it.
We cant even seal a demon walker. Mirei laughed. They left a few days after.
Seal the demon king. Would that actually stop the cycle?
-
My prior years effort to market myself as fresh land for refugees, unhappy nobles and all that brought a huge amount of people. There were fights, naturally, among refugees squabbling over the best spots, but the space was large enough that they dispersed over the 10 sectors. Even then, fighting was going to happen, and this ti, Im staying out of it. I will work with whoever their chosen ruler and, and so long as they operate under my frawork, I will leave them be.
Thats what a vassal is, right?
This promise of unclaid lands attracted all sorts of people. People who are unhappy with their existing rulers tax regis, or with insecure borders, or people on the run. So just wanted to try out sothing else, and eventually, a few smaller settlents ford. Over ti, many of these smaller villages and settlents will agglorate and form into towns and cities proper, but thatll be over a few more years.
Freshka too, located in what is considered the core-region of the new land, experienced so influx of settlers. The promise of fertile lands, bountiful harvests blessed by a watchful tree spirit was attractive to so farrs.
In each sector, after the migrants started coming in, I placed a [Tree of Prayer], and a few [Giant Attendant Trees], which acted as their segnts focal points.
Jura, and so of the followers, set up a new Valtrian Order. And the Valtrian Orders task, this ti, is to recruit promising young children from all the ten segnts, to form my new reford Valthorn Initiates. Of course, for now, no recruitnt has actually started.
Its only the first year they are coming in. Ill start next year. But the plan and infrastructure is ready.
By the end of the year, 5 of the 10 sectors have been settled, and on average, ho to about 10,000 each, for a total of 50,000! Theres a bit of gang wars and internal fighting, but nothing overt, yet.
I probably should get soone to watch them, like Ivy. To keep watch of any high-risk individuals, and so, I created a new artificial soul.
Jasmine. Not the princess, of course.
During this year, Ive also stretched my trees to reconnect with the Verdant Volcano and the Southwest Forests.
I was relieved to discover they both survived, even if the area they covered had shrunk significantly. It seed that the energy from the Volcano and the leyline was strong enough to push back at the sludge, and it helped that they were quite far from the epicenter of the sludge than I was, so, lucky for them, the pressure from the sludge was weaker.
Dimitree, which I lost connected to, was still alive, if not a bit... insane. It went off in gibberish for a good three months, as I spent ti repairing its internal structure. So, I was just glad to not have to start from scratch. Dimitree eventually recovered from his insanity, being disconnected from for so long.
I didnt allow him to speak for a long ti, because he was just incoherent.
The volcano crater and the Forest Rod survived, thankfully, but the sludge got as far as half-way up the volcano.
So, with this, my soul forges other abilities are restored, and my soul collectors are back in business.
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