Chapter 214: The Swamp Thing
Cost of War
The Hummingbird was a new device Luke created based on Zamaron technology. It didn't need wireless equipment; a small "sunglass" device allowed him to remotely control the birds and transmit the collected data to his brain in the form of brain waves.
One had to admit, Mind-Based Technology was truly powerful.
Despite having its head pulverized, the giant snake was still alive. Its massive body writhed frantically, its tail lashing back and forth, each strike leaving a crater several meters long in the ground.
The group couldn't get close and could only watch from a distance.
Zatanna complained, "If you had such a powerful weapon, you could have just killed it sooner! Why did you drag us all through that?"
Luke sneered. "You think those birds are free? They're very expensive."
"How expensive?"
Luke held up five fingers. "Cost price. Fifty thousand U.S. dollars each."
Zatanna immediately fell silent. Fifty thousand apiece—the dozens he just used cost nearly a million. Sure enough, rich kids were the worst.
August spoke up. "What should we do about this giant snake? We can't let it keep struggling like this."
Luke shook his head. "Our part is done. The rest is for others to handle."
"Others?"
Luke pointed behind him. "They've already arrived."
From the dense forest, weeds, flowers, and trees began to grow outward furiously. The vegetation covered the ground, forming a vibrant green sea. This sea surged toward the swamp. The gray and the green collided, representing two entirely different powers.
Luke gestured for the group to leave, retreating to a nearby hillside to watch.
This land had been corrupted by the power of death due to the Witch Soul Sacrifice, making it unsuitable for plant life. Yet, under the impact of the green ocean, green sprouts actually emerged from the deathly gray mud.
The sprouts multiplied, densely covering the entire swamp area. The giant snake stopped twitching, and a massive amount of black mist poured from its body. Wherever the mist touched, the green sprouts instantly withered.
A roar filled with rage echoed from a distance.
From the flourishing vegetation, a humanoid monster composed of flowers, vines, and tree roots rushed out of the forest. Its body was extremely robust, reaching three meters tall. Its limbs were thick and powerful, and the muscle masses formed by the wood grain gave off a strong visual impact.
Its face was grotesque and filled with fury. With every step it took, a green ripple spread across the ground.
"Such terrifying magical energy!"
Zatanna's eyes widened. She blurted out, "What is that thing? An Elemental Spirit?"
Luke motioned for silence.
"Watch closely. Don't speak."
The monster reached the giant snake in a few strides. The green vitality and the black mist intersected, creating two distinct, opposing worlds.
It raised a fist and plunged it into the giant snake's body. The black mist surged wildly, concentrating on the monster's arm. The woody arm immediately decayed and broke off. In the next second, a new arm grew back in its place.
The two forces constantly clashed, trading blows, neither willing to yield.
After a few minutes, the monster slowly withdrew its right hand and turned to face the forest. It clasped its hands together and let out a sorrowful cry. The sound traveled through the forest, carrying an ineffable grief and plea. Soon, the forest responded.
The ground began to shake. Heavy footsteps approached from afar. The trees parted, and eight tall treemen emerged. They crossed the gray land and approached the giant snake. Their massive arms slowly rose and rested on the snake's body, which was covered in black mist.
The black mist surged, climbing up their arms and onto the treemen. Their emerald green bodies were stained with deep gray. The grass wilted, the branches withered, and their colossal bodies slowly decayed and turned to dust. When the breeze blew, red flowers fell from their crowns, turning into black ash that scattered across the ground.
Eight treemen, eight corpses!
The monster knelt on one knee, letting out soft, mournful wails.
Emily covered her mouth, tears streaming down her face. The others also turned away, unable to bear the sight.
"Luke, can't we help them?"
Luke silently shook his head. This area had been corrupted by the power of death. There was no other way to cleanse it except through the exchange of life.
After the eight treemen died, the black mist visibly dissipated. The monster raised both hands. Its fists transformed into wooden spears, which it stabbed into the giant snake's body with all its rage. This time, the black mist couldn't stop the spread of green vitality.
A single green sprout emerged, using the corpse as nourishment and rapidly growing into a tree several meters tall.
At the same time, the dead sprouts also began to regain life, turning the deathly gray ground into a vibrant green ocean.
The seeds taking root symbolized hope; the trees blossoming and bearing fruit symbolized the future.
Half an hour later, the land that had been corrupted by the power of death was gone, replaced by a swamp garden teeming with life and blooming with various flowers and plants.
Everyone was stunned by the transformation, standing motionless until heavy footsteps startled them out of their daze.
Emily and the others clenched their fists, watching the approaching green monster with a mix of alertness and awe.
The monster stopped two meters in front of the group. It opened its right hand. A fresh, dewy apple lay in its palm.
Luke looked left and right, asking in disbelief,
"For me?"
The monster nodded slightly.
"..."
"O... okay!"
Luke hesitated for two seconds. Under everyone's anxious gaze, he took the apple and took a bite. The flesh burst in his mouth, delivering a sweetness he had never tasted before.
"That's delicious."
After one bite, it felt like magic coursing through his body. All his fatigue vanished, and his mind became incredibly alert. Compared to this, the fruit that cost hundreds of dollars a pound was garbage.
"Em, you try some too."
Emily took a tentative bite, her eyes narrowing into slits like a kitten eating a sweet treat.
"It's so sweet and refreshing."
Hearing this, the others grew eager, staring expectantly at Luke. That apple is huge. The two of you can't possibly finish it. Maybe share some with us.
Luke ignored them. He walked aside with Emily, and they finished the apple in just a couple of bites, half for him and half for her.
The group: "..."
What a miser! Can we even be friends?
After handing over the apple, the monster returned to the swamp. Luke asked the others to stay put and followed it alone.
They crossed a wooden bridge and arrived at a hut woven from vines, flowers, and deadwood.
Luke cleared his throat and asked,
"What should I call you? Mr. Treeman? Or perhaps Professor Holland?"
The monster turned abruptly, its brownish-yellow eyes showing surprise. "You know me? Impossible! How do you know my name?"
He seemed not to have spoken for a very long time; his tone was trembling and punctuated by irregular pauses.
Luke smiled. "Can we sit down and talk?"
The monster pointed. A chair woven from wooden vines appeared behind Luke. At the same time, its body began to shrink, settling at a height of six feet.
Luke sat in the chair and slowly began.
"Before coming to the Swamp Forest, I conducted a detailed investigation of this area. The story of the Forest Guardian was what intrigued me the most."
"About twenty years ago, a monster covered in withered wood appeared in the Swamp Forest. At first, the monster frequently approached the town, telling the residents he was Alec Holland, not a monster. The townspeople didn't believe him and attacked him with various weapons, trying to kill him. Later, the monster disappeared and never appeared again. The story of the Guardian of the Swamp Forest gradually began to circulate."
"Initially, I was only suspicious, thinking it was just a country legend. It wasn't until I investigated Professor Alec Holland's life records that I was certain it was you, Professor. How did you end up like this?"
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