After another day of slowly perusing through the forest, fighting things and gathering herbs. I finally spotted another river, this one seemed to be radiating with mana. Must be because of the tree, also must be the cause of more magical herbs to be appearing. The closer I get to the tree, the more mana there is. I am starting to assume it is what is called a 'World Tree', a tree that in many mythologies 'Supports the heavens'.
The world tree, which is what I'll call it until I know what it is, hovers over the sea of forest that seems to be slowly thinning out. As I approach the river I realize the river seems to be teeming with life, with stronger than normal auras.
Must be the massive amount of mana, I can probably safely assume that monsters gain power from the natural mana around them, the more mana, the stronger the beasts. So, I wonder what lives next to that tree that radiates mana in immense amounts. Using {Mana Sense} while looking at the tree produces the most amazing, breathtaking view. The amount of mana and the way it flows through the air looks like a galaxy picture I used to look at online. A multitude of colors swirling around in harmony, flowing like water.
However, something was weird. This tree didn't absorb mana, it just constantly spews mana out. So where is all this mana coming from? Could it be possible this is where all the used mana goes to be recycled?
When you use mana, it gets 'burned' or something. I'm not exactly sure but, I could kind of feel it when I was fighting that Drake. Although, it's just a theory it seems pretty plausible to me. Anyways, gotta continue walking, I should be getting pretty close. I'm going to estimate probably another 200km.
After walking for another day, I am finally at the tree. I passed one of the roots about 10 hours ago, and now I've finally reached the tree. Let's just say that standing this close to the tree, roughly 10km away, suffocates me with mana. It is taking me quite a long time to adjust to it, even with my body. My status has increased quite a bit with the mana being so strong and forcing itself into my body.
[HP: 2,962/2,962 (+494)
Vitality: 1,481 (+247)
Strength: 1,672 (+413)
Agility: 1,722(+564)
Endurance: 1,903 (+603)
Mana: 2,479 (+876)
Total Stats: 9,257
Active Skills: Inspect (C, 92%)
Body Skills: Martial Arts (A, 36%), Night Vision (C, 27%), Body Enhancement (D, 83%), Body Manipulation (D, 78%)
Mana Skills: Mana Sense (B, 62%), Hide Presence (C, 70%), Mana Manipulation (D, 73%)
Unique Skills: Acquisition (D, 18%)
Crafting Skills: Crafting (C, 2%)
Resistances: Slashing (E, 64%), Cellular Destruction (C, 5%), Mental Fatigue (C, 45%), Physical Fatigue (D, 76%), Pain (C, 60%), Blunt (E, 68%), Piercing (F, 76%), Mana Containment (F, 10%),
Status Effects: Mana Containment (EX, Overcoming {2%}).
]
Getting even closer to the tree, it feels as though I'm getting crushed under the weight of the mana. I slowly push forward, enduring the enormous weight all over my body. Walking through this is like the equivalent of pulling a semi-truck through water. At least, that's what I'd like to think. 'Hmm, I wonder if I could do that? Eh, doesn't matter'.
Suddenly, there is an aura appears that is like a planet of mana. The aura has so much mana so tightly condensed and refined, it appears as though it might even be a godly being. Not to mention, that damn aura is coming right for me!
I quickly turn my body towards the aura that is heading at me at breakneck speeds and amp my body up into fight mode as fast as possible. There is a sonic boom and the ground cracks in front of me, kicking up dirt and dust in every direction. The impact sends me flying, even though I was
bracing for it. I flew back at least a couple hundred meters, no damage was done to my body, however, it churned my stomach like no other.
Trying not to vomit, I stood up slowly and faced the thing that had blown me back. I instantly knew that if I tried to fight this thing, it would be an immediate loss. Before me stood a dragon, dark purple with light purple veins running throughout its body, pulsating.
[Spatial Dragon:
A dragon that has control over spatial magic. Unfathomably strong, guardian of this world and the world tree. Rank EX]
Of course, my damn luck. I of all people would be the one to run into the damn guardian of this world. The dragon looked down at me, seemingly physically and mentally. This damn dragon thought of me as a mere ant, I could tell.
"EXPLAIN WHAT YOU ARE DOING HERE!" the dragon roared at me in a show of intimidation.
"Uhh, Sir Dragon I just was curious about this tree. I have no idea what it was so I was curious. If you don't like it, I can leave," I said.
"NONSENSE! Everyone knows what this tree is even babies! It is ancient knowledge passed down to each generation!" The dragon didn't believe what I said.
"Well, if you don't believe me then, It doesn't matter. I'll just leave and never come back." I stated and turned to walk away.
"HALT! No one can walk away from the mighty guardian without permission!" As the dragon shouted this, my body stopped moving. I could feel something invading my mind and I wasn't happy about that. I tried with all of my willpower and mana to resist the dragon's mental attack, however, it was all for naught.
The dragon had control of my body and I couldn't do anything. Two screens popped up in front of me.
[New status effect applied. {Dominator}
Effect: Loss of control of the body. The effector controls the effected's body.]
[Evolution In Progress... Overcoming {Dominator} 12%]
It seems my idea had worked. You see, I had an idea. If I could manipulate the status before that means that I could manipulate in almost any way I wanted. I was able to 'evolve' my status to something better. I say 'evolve' because It isn't quite evolved. It is much better now though. The status gives me alerts of certain things that I want. If I want I can turn the notifications off with a thought.
[Evolution In Progress... Overcoming {Dominator} 32%]
'Alright almost there' I thought.
"How curious. You are still somehow fighting back despite me having control of your body. It's the first time something of this nature has happened." The dragon pondered.
"I don't want to fight you! It would be a never-ending battle! So please let me go!" I pleaded as soon as I regained control over my mouth.
"Impossible! I can't stop you from regaining control over your body! My S-Rank skill is getting over-run by some kid who can't even use magic!"
"Yeah, shit happens sometimes man. You can't win everything." I say as I shake out my whole body, it was extremely weird not having any control.
[Evolution Completed... Overcame {Dominator} 100%]
That's what I was waiting for. Now I have control of my body. Now this dragon, can't do anything to me. Well, besides killing me over and over for eternity. Oh right, should probably get a more in-depth inspection of this guy. It takes time, and a lot of mana, but I can pull it off now. {Inspect}
[Spatial Dragon:
Rank: EX
Name: Alfred
Age: 100,726
HP: 250,000/250,000
Vitality: 125,000
Strength: 100,302
Agility: 90,040
Endurance: 115,398
Mana: 250,000
Total Stats: 680,740
Risk Assessment: Insta-Death
Active Skills: Domination (S), Dominator's Aura (S), Guardian (EX), Dragon's Breath (EX)
Body Skills: Tough Hide (S), Body Enhancement (S, 67%), Martial Arts (B, 12%), Transformation (EX)
Mana Skills: Mana Sense (EX), Mana Control (S, 45%)
Magic Skills: Spatial Magic (EX)
Unique Skills: Auto-Translate (EX)
Resistances: Insta-Death (S), Dark Magic (S), Destruction Magic (S), Physical Resistance (S),
Blessings: Blessing of the World God (EX)]
The dragon has many more skills, however, {Identify} shrinks it down for me. If I want I can see all of his skills, but considering the situation. It would take too long. It has a blessing and an insane amount of stats. This dragon deserves to be the world guardian I guess.
"Can we please talk this out now!" I shouted at the damn dragon.
"That or I could just kill you and get this over with!" The dragon shouted that and suddenly started gathering a massive amount of mana. The mana was flowing around and turning into a purple mess. The mana gathered into a ball in front of the massive dragon. Once the ball was the size of a basketball, it shot forward towards me and killed me before I could even think about it.
[Time until revival: 300 Seconds]