Chapter 6: The Flow of Life
Rain fell through the entire night.
Relentless.
Heavy drops struck the roof above Kael's shelter, creating a steady rhythm that echoed through the clearing. Water dripped from leaves, pooled on the ground, and turned the soil soft and dark.
But Kael remained inside.
Dry.
Safe.
Because he had prepared.
---
Morning came—
But the rain did not stop.
Gray clouds stretched endlessly across the sky, and the air felt thick with moisture. A faint pressure lingered, as if the storm had no intention of leaving anytime soon.
Kael stepped out slightly, looking at the surroundings.
The forest was drenched.
The lake rippled constantly under falling rain.
"…Not a good day to hunt," he muttered.
The ground was slippery.
Visibility low.
And predators—
Would be more active.
Kael exhaled slowly and stepped back under his shelter.
"…Then I adapt."
---
He sat down, leaning against the tree.
For the first time since arriving in this world—
He paused.
"…What now?"
His eyes flickered slightly.
"…System."
A translucent screen appeared before him.
---
Name: Kael Thorn
Age: 21
Sex: Male
Race: Human
Affinity: Dark, Nature
Talent: Unification
Level: 2
EXP: 1.0 / 20
Strength: 6
Agility: 6
Stamina: 6
Wisdom: 6
Spirit: 15
---
Skills:
Linking (Level 2)
Appraisal (Level 1)
Nature Sense (Level 1)
Life Transfer (Level 1)
---
Kael stared at the screen silently.
"…Race…"
So that could change too.
"…Everything evolves," he murmured.
His gaze shifted to his skills.
Linking.
Life Transfer.
Nature Sense.
Each one different.
Each one connected.
---
Kael closed his eyes.
"…Think."
His instincts had changed.
Sharpened.
Guiding him.
Linking allowed connection.
Life Transfer allowed energy flow.
Nature Sense… allowed perception.
"…They're not separate," he whispered.
"They're one system."
---
His hand slowly moved to the tree beside him.
"…Let's try again."
Kael placed his palm against the bark.
Closed his eyes.
Focused.
"…Link."
---
This time—
The connection was deeper.
Stronger.
The world shifted.
Kael no longer just sensed the tree—
He felt it.
A presence.
A will.
Simple.
But powerful.
Grow.
Expand.
Survive.
"…So that's your instinct," Kael whispered.
The tree didn't think.
Didn't reason.
It existed to grow.
To become stronger.
---
Kael focused further.
Deeper.
His senses followed the flow of life—
Downward.
Into the roots.
---
The world expanded.
Dark soil.
Hidden pathways.
Roots spreading outward—
Farther.
Farther.
Kael's breath slowed as his awareness stretched nearly 500 meters underground.
"…Incredible…"
Then—
He found something.
A cluster of rocks.
Shiny.
Embedded deep within the soil.
The roots of the tree wrapped tightly around them.
Not just holding—
Absorbing.
"…What is this…?"
Kael focused.
He could feel it.
Energy.
Flowing.
Slowly.
Constantly.
"…The tree is feeding…"
His mind raced.
"Trees… make food from sunlight…"
His eyes widened slightly.
"…But here…"
It wasn't just light.
---
The leaves.
The air.
The rain.
The rocks.
Everything carried something.
Energy.
A subtle force that the tree absorbed continuously.
"…So this world…"
"…is filled with energy."
Kael opened his eyes slowly.
Rain continued to fall.
"…Even this…"
He extended his hand slightly.
Drops touched his skin.
"…Contains it."
---
Kael sat there for hours.
Observing.
Feeling.
Understanding.
His connection deepened.
His perception sharpened.
And slowly—
Something changed.
---
Nature Sense → Level 3
---
Kael's eyes opened.
"…Level 3?"
A faint smile appeared.
"I understand more now…"
---
After some time, another thought formed.
"…Life Transfer."
He stood up slowly.
"…Let's test it properly."
---
Kael walked toward the lake, carrying his parasitic net.
The rain continued, but he ignored it.
He needed results.
---
He cut small pieces of leftover boar meat.
Then tossed them into the water.
The scent spread quickly.
Moments passed—
Then—
Movement.
Fish.
Small and large, they gathered rapidly, drawn by the blood.
"…Good."
Kael waited.
Patient.
Watching.
Then—
He cast the net.
The parasitic vines spread outward, trapping multiple fish at once.
The net pulsed faintly.
Draining.
Absorbing.
The fish struggled—
Then weakened.
"…It works…"
Kael pulled the net back toward shore.
---
He opened it.
One fish remained alive.
Barely.
Kael picked it up.
"…Now."
He focused.
"Life Transfer."
---
Energy flowed.
Warm.
Subtle.
The fish weakened further—
While Kael felt a slight increase within himself.
"…So this is how it works…"
He nodded slowly.
"…But I don't need it for myself."
---
Kael turned.
Toward a smaller tree near his base.
He placed his hand against it.
"…Let's try something else."
---
"Transfer."
---
Energy flowed outward.
From him.
Into the tree.
For a moment—
Nothing happened.
Then—
A faint glow.
The tree trembled slightly.
Leaves shifted.
Growth.
Visible.
Real.
Kael's eyes widened.
"…It's working…"
The tree absorbed the energy eagerly.
Hungry.
---
"More…"
Kael whispered.
---
He returned to the fish.
One by one—
He absorbed their life energy.
Then transferred it.
Again.
And again.
---
The tree continued to grow.
Branches extended slightly.
Leaves thickened.
The glow intensified.
---
Kael activated Appraisal.
---
Name: Young Mutated Tree
Status: Mutation Phase (Early Peak)
Property:
High energy absorption
Growth accelerated
Potential:
Upon maturation, may produce Life Fruit
Life Fruit can restore health and vitality
---
Kael froze.
"…Life Fruit?"
Something that could heal.
In this world—
That meant survival.
"…This is huge…"
---
Excitement rose within him.
He didn't stop.
More fish.
More energy.
More transfer.
---
Finally—
After the last fish—
The tree changed again.
Small buds appeared.
Then—
Flowers.
Delicate.
Glowing faintly.
---
Kael stared at them.
"…It's close…"
Not yet fruit.
But soon.
Very soon.
---
A notification appeared.
---
Life Transfer → Level 2
---
Kael exhaled deeply.
"…Progress."
Not just strength.
Understanding.
Control.
---
He sat back, rain still falling around him.
But now—
It didn't feel oppressive.
It felt…
Useful.
---
Kael looked at the glowing tree beside him.
Then at the sky.
"…Energy is everywhere…"
"And I can use it."
---
For the first time—
He wasn't just surviving.
He was learning.
Adapting.
Evolving.
---
Kael closed his eyes briefly.
"…This world…"
"…isn't just dangerous."
"It's full of opportunities."
---
The rain continued.
The tree glowed softly.
And somewhere deep within the forest—
The next challenge was already waiting