The moon hung low over Elyria, a silver coin sliced by drifting clouds. Alex's grove pulsed with quiet power, its wards shimmering like emerald fireflies. The air carried the scent of wet earth and distant rain, mingling with the faint ozone crackle of Surge's electric presence near the stream. The Thunder Eel coiled lazily, its massive form glinting as it tested its new skills, sending ripples of charged water across the pond.
System : World Tree Ascension Path
Name : Alex (Treant form)
Stage : Seedling Treant (Level 2)
EXP : 158.5/200
Mana : 70/150
Sap of Life : 9/10
Skills : Basic Nurture, Verdant Pulse, Root Network Expansion (passive)
Legion : Fang (Level 2, Hunting), Claw (Level 2, Scout), Thorn (Level 2, Defense), Surge (Level 1, Aquatic)
Fang's pack prowled the grove's edge, their vocal growls a low chorus. "The traitor still breathes, " Fang rumbled, pacing near Elandor's bound form. "Let me end him now, Grove Father. His scent sours the ai." "Patience," Alex replied, his voice a resonant rustle that carried through the leaves. "He's a map to the high ones. We'll use him first."
Liora stood nearby, her bow slung across her back conferring with the two elven scouts. "The blight spire's defense are heavier than we thought," she said, her voice low. "Claw report confirmed tainted wolves , medium beasts than can garner reasonable EXP if nurtured or felled, And cloaked agents, moving like shadows. We will need eyes inside before we can charge."
Claw perched on a branch, her storm gray feathers ruffled. "The spire's heart is guarded, Grove father. I saw sigils pulsing, I believe they are the taint amplifiers. But there is a gap in their patrols, near the western root line. Something ... silent could slip through." Alex's knot eyes gleamed. "Silent ,you say. I think it is time to create a division for the Stealth ops." he echoed. "Someone for the Stealth division, someone to slip through those gaps, uncover their plans, and weaken them before we strike."
His Root Network Expansion pulsed, sensing a presence in the grove's shadow, a sleek, back furred panther stalking a mouse near the pond. Its eyed glowed faintly, reflecting the moonlight, its movement fluid and unseen. Perfect. Alex extended a root, channeling a golden drop of Sap of Life. Light flared, and the panther grew, its fur darkening even more to an inky void, claw lengthening into razor curves. Its eyes burning with cunning intelligence, and a faint shimmer cloaked its form, bending light around it.
Sap of Life used : 8/10 remaining
Sentient Ally Created : Shadow (Shadow Panther)
Skills gained (Shadow) : Shadow Cloak (Near invisibility in darkness), Silent Strike (Lethal, soundless attacks)
Shadow materialized fully, its voice a low, silken purr that sent a shiver through the grove. "Grove Father, I am the night's blade. None will see me coming." Fang bared his teeth in approval. "Good. The hunt needs a shadow." Surge's hiss crackled from the stream. "And the waters need teeth. We are now complete , Grove father." Thorn rumbled, vines shifting. "Five divisions. The grove is now a fortress."
Liora's eyes widened at Shadow's sudden appearance, her hands twitching towards her bow before relaxing. " A shadow panther, never thought I'll ever see one. My parents once told me that these beasts don't usually show themselves. Most elves in the enclave have either heard of it or read of it but no one has ever seen it before. So Shadow , you'll scout the blight spire tonight or what?" Shadow's tail flicked, its form flickering out of sight for a moment before reappearing. "Before the moon sets, elf. I'll bring you their secrets."
Alex nodded, his branches swaying. "Go with Claw. Map the spire's defenses, find the sigils Elandor mentioned. Don't engage unless necessary. We strike at dawn." As Shadow and Claw vanished into the night, Claw's wings a silent blur, Shadow a ripple in the shadows, Alex turned to growth. His mana was low, but the grove teemed with potential. He nurtured a patch of grass near the pond, its blade thickening under his influence.
Nurtured : Small Plants (Grass) x30 - + 3 EXP
Mana : 40/150
EXP : 161.5/200
Next he targeted a cluster of shrubs, their leaves unfurling with vibrant life.
Nurtured : Medium Plants (Shrubs) x5 - + 2.5 EXP
Mana : 30/150
EXP : 164/200
A low growl interrupted his focus. Fang's pack had corned a tainted a wolf that had strayed too close, its eyes glowig red form corruption. Fang lunged, his jaws snapping with precision, while his pack flanked the beast. The wolf fell quickly , its body dissolving into dark wisps.
Enemy Defeated (via Proxy: Fang's pack) - + 12 EXP
EXP to the World Tree : +7.2 EXP
EXP : 171.2/200
EXP to Legion : Fang(+2) , Pack(+2.8 split)
"Efficient," Alex said, his voice a rustling with approval. "Keep the perimeter tight, Fang. Thorn, reinforce the wards with your vines." Thorn grunted, his massive form lumbering to the grove's edge. Thorny vines erupted from the soil, weaving from the soil, weaving into the enclave's wards, creating a dense barrier. "None will pass," he vowed, his voice like a landside. Elandro, still bound, chuckled weakly. "You build walls, but the high ones see through shadows. Your new panther will find more than she bargained for."
"Quiet," Liora snapped, tightening the vines around him. "Your words mean nothing now." Hours passed, the grove settling into a tense vigil. Surge patrolled the stream, its electric pulses deterring nocturnal predators. Fang's pack prowled, their vocal growls keeping smaller creatures at bay. Alex nurtured a final oak before resting, its massive trunk a testament to his growing power.
Nurtured : Large Plant (Oak) - + 2 EXP
Mana : 20/150
EXP : 173.2/200
As mana regeneration began to tick upward over night, Claw and Shadow returned just before dawn. Shadow materialized from the shadows, its form shimmering into view beside Liora. "The spire is a fortress," it purred, dropping a stolen sigil stone that pulsed with dark energy. "Twenty tainted wolves, five cloaked agents, chanting to amplify the spire. And there is a core, a crystal heart, buried beneath. If we destroy it , then the spire will fall."
Claw landed, her voice sharp. "The western gap is real, but guarded by a tainted panther about Shadow's size and it is fast. Shadow can take it. The sigils are spread in a pentagon like shape around the spire. Break three, and the rest will weaken." Liora examined the sigil stone, her face grim. "These are high ones craft. We'll need to strike fast, elves with arrows, legion with claws and vines. Surge can flood the western approach to slow their reinforcements."
Alex's leaves rustled decisively. "Then it's settled. At first light, we move. Shadow, lead the infiltration. Take out the panther and one sigil. Claw, guide the elves to others. Fang, your pack hits their wolves head on. Thorn, hold the rear and protect the grove. Surge, control the water, cut off their escape." Surge's hiss crackled with excitement. "The rivers will drown their taint." Fang's eyes gleamed. "The hunt begins."
As the first rays of dawn painted the canopy gold, the grove buzzed with purpose. Shadow vanished into the shadows, Claw took to the skies, and Liora rallied the elves. ELandor, still bound, watched silently, his smile faltering as Thorn's vines tightened. Alex's roots pulsed with anticipation. The blight spire awaited, a step closer to the high ones heart. With his legion commanders now complete, Fang's ferocity, Claw's vision, Thorn's strength, Surge's tides, Shadow's stealth, he was ready to carve his path toward the World Tree.
To be continued