Dawn broke over Elyria in a blaze of crimson and gold, the forest canopy ablaze with light as Alex's grove stirred with purpose. The air thrummed with the energy of preparation-- elven scouts sharpening their arrows, Fang's pack snarling with anticipation, and Thorn's vines weaving tighter around the grove's perimeter. Surge, the Thunder Eel, coiled in the stream, its massive serpentine form sending electric pulses through the water, scattering fish in a shimmering arcs. Its scales glinted like polished obsidian, and to the elves, it looked less like an eel and more like a mythical serpent coiled to strike.
System : World Tree Ascension Path
Name : Alex (Treant form)
Stage : Seedling Treant (Level 2)
EXP : 173.2/200
Mana : 150/150 (regenerated overnight)
Sap of Life : 8/10
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), Shadow (Level 1, Stealth)
Alex's roots pulsed with the grove's vitality, his Root Network Expansion relaying faint tremors from the west-- the blight spire's corrupt heartbeat. "It's time," he said , his voice a resonant rustle that carried to every corner of the grove. "Shadow, Claw, lead the way. Liora, your elves follow. Fang, Surge, Thorn-- execute the plan."
Liora nodded, her bow of living wood gleaming. "My archers will target the sigils. Claw's guidance will ensure precision." Claw took to the skies, her sharp cry cutting through the morning. "To the spire, Grove father. The shadows are moving already."
Shadow melted into the under brush, its purr barely audible. "The panther will fall first." Fang's pack howled, their vocal chorus rallying the grove, "For the hunt!" Fang roared, leading his wolves to the west. Surge's hiss crackled like a storm. "The waters will answer to me." The eel surged forward, its massive form carving a path through the stream, leaving a trail of charged ripples. Thorn remained behind at the grove's heart, his vines reinforcing the wards. "None shall breach this sanctuary," he rumbled, his bear form a towering sentinel beside the bound Elandor.
As the assault force moved out, Alex focused on the grove's defense and growth. His mana was full, and EXP was tantalizing close to the next level. he nurtured a cluster of grass near the pond, its blade thickening under his influence.
Nurtured : Small Plants (Grass) x40 - + 4 EXP
Mana : 110/150
EXP : 177.2/200
Next, he targeted a sturdy ash tree, its broad canopy a beacon of potential.
Nurtured : Large Plant (Ash Tree) - + 2 EXP
Mana : 100/150
EXP : 179.2/200
A sudden disturbance rippled through his Root Network - a surge of tainted energy from the stream. Surge's voice hissed through the grove, urgent and sharp, "Grove Father, the river beyond the grove is fouled! Tainted eels and fish, twisted by the spire's corruption, block my path to the blight spire. I need your touch to clear them!"
Alex's knot eyes narrowed. The blight spire's influence was spreading faster than anticipated, its taint seeping into the waterways. "Hold them, Surge. I'm coming." Extending his roots toward the stream, Alex sensed the threat; a school of corrupted eels and fish, their body pulsating with dark veins, eyes glowing red. The eels were smaller than Surge but numerous, their electric pulses warped into painful shocks. Surge battled them, its Hydro Surge sending waves crashing, but hte tainted eels countered with frenzy strikes.
Alex channeled Basic Nurture into a nearby elk, strengthening it as a caretaker to free up mana, then focused on the stream. He couldn't reach the tainted eel directly, but he could empower Surge further. Drawing on his Sap of Life, he sent a golden pulse through the water, targeting his aquatic leader.
Sap of Life used : 7/10 remaining
Surge empowered : Level up to 2
Skills enhanced : Hydro Surge (Stronger water currents), Shock Pulse (Area wide electric burst)
Surge's form glowed, its scaled crackling with amplified power. "The tide turns!" it roared, its voice a thunderous hiss. A massive Shock Pulse erupted, frying a dozen tainted eels in a burst of light. The survivors writhed, the dissolved into dark wisps.
Enemies Defeated ( via Proxy : Surge) - + 24 EXP
EXP to the World Tree : +14.4 EXP
EXP : 193.6/200
EXP to the legion : Surge (+ 9,6 EXP)
"Hold the stream, Surge," Alex commanded. "Join the assault once the path is clear." Surge coiled triumphantly "None shall defy the waters," it hissed, diving to clear the river. Back at the grove, Alex nurtured a final shrub to push closer to his goal.
Nurtured : Medium Plant (Shrubs) - + 0.5 EXP
Mana : 95/150
EXP : 194.1/200
The system pinged as Claw's voice cut through from the west. "Grove Father, Shadow's struck! The tainted panther is down, one sigil shattered. Elves are in position, but the spire's waking -- more wolves pour out!" Liora's voice followed, tense but steady. "We're engaging. Fang's pack is tearing through their front line. We need Surge's waters to flood their western flank!"
Alex's branch tensed. The battle was escalating, his legion was spread thin. He nurtured a final elk, its massive form yielding a significant EXP.
Nurtured : Large Animal (Elk) - + 12 EXP
Mana : 75/150
EXP : 206.1/200 -> Level Up !
The surge of power hit like a tidal wave. Alex's trunk thickened, roots delving deeper, and new abilities unlocked.
Level UP : Seedling Treant (Level 3)
EXP :6.1/400
New Skill : Life Weaver (Manipulate growth remotely, enhance allies or plants from a distance)
Mana Max Increased : 200/200
Sap of Life Max Increased : +5 (15/15 total)
The grove pulsed with vitality, mana flooding back to full. Alex tested Life Weaver immediately, sending a pulse of growth to Surge in the distant stream. The eel's form shimmered, its Shock Pulse now capable of stunning entire groups.
Life Weaver Activated : Surge Enhanced - Shock Pulse range doubled
Mana : 180/200
"Surge, flood the spire's western flank!" Alex ordered. "Fang, push harder! Claw, guide the elves to the sigils! Shadow, take another!" The grove fell quiet as the legion fought miles away, their vocal roars and cries echoing faintly through Alex's roots. Thorn stood vigilant, his vines tightening around Elandor, who continued to smirk despite his bonds. "You sent your beasts to die, seed. The spire's heart is beyond you." "Keep dreaming," Alex rustled, his voice sharp. He nurtured a final oak to steady his focus, its growth a reminder of his purpose.
Nurtured : Large Plant (Oak) - + 2 EXP
Mana : 170/200
EXP : 8.1/400
Suddenly, Claw's cry pierced the air. "Grove Father, the spire's heart is exposed! Shadow broke two sigils, elves shattered another! But a cloaked agent summoned a guardian -- massive, like a corrupted bear!" Alex's roots pulsed with urgency. "Liora, Fang, converge on the heart! Surge, now!"
Surge's hiss thundered from the west, followed by the roar of flooding waters. The Thunder Eel had arrived, its Hydro Surge crashing against the sire's base, sweeping away the tainted wolves. Fang's pack tore into the remainder, while Liora's arrows, guided by Claw, struck the final sigils." The system pinged repeatedly as the battle turned:
Enemies defeated (via Proxy: Legion and Allies) - +60 EXP total
EXP to the World Tree : + 36 EXP
EXP : 44.1/400
EXP to the Legion : Fang( +4), Claw (+4), Surge (+4), Shadow(+4), Pack (+8 split)
Blight spire Heart Destroyed : +50 EXP
EXP : 94.1/100
The distant spire's collapse sent shock waves through Alex's roots, the taint's pulse fading. Liora's voice, breathless but triumphant, reached him. "It's done, Grove Father. The spire has fallen. But the cloaked agent escaped, fleeing towards the abyss." Shadow's purr followed. "I'll track it, Grove Father. Its shadow won't hide forever."
As the legion and elves returned, battered but victorious, Alex's leaves rustled with pride. The blight spire was gone, the taint weakened, and his legion-- now five strong, with voices to match their power-- stood taller. But the escaped agent and Elandor's smug silence hinted at greater threats lurking in the abyss's depth.
To be continued