Floating amidst the void of nothingness, an oasis of nature and live shimmered and shone while dragging the body of a badly wounded young man to its center, the tree of life Yggdrasil.
Slowly, the body was enveloped by water and branches that embraced Jack in a hug of energy and understanding. The wise incarnation of nature knew how hard it was for such a weakling to get this far, if it had any features, they would show pity and amazement at the feats of the young human.
The tree wanted to enjoy the company because it had been in this silent location for generations and had only ever been discovered by one other being.
What was nowhere to be seen was the corpse of the fallen bird lord. Nowhere on the surface, at least. For now, underneath the floating island, the water that used to cascade down with no end wasn't dropping down, it was sliding underneath as if the very gravity of the island pulled it back to it's surface.
Together with said phenomena, the corpse of the fallen was being torn down, water and branches extending and puncturing the dead creature and tearing it to pieces.
Blood flowed out of the creature and deeper into the underground shadows of Yggdrasil, where it was absorbed by the plant like entity.
Siphoning the water and blood, it lightly pulsated and distributed the power of the creature through its limbs and appendages until it finally reached its target. Jack himself.
You see, the tree was transferring the life essence in the blood, together with its own vitality towards him. The reason for that was simple, it could feel Jack's status as a guardian of nature and that connection told it that the small monkey like creature that had landed right at its doorstep was important, not just to this world or to nature but to the very fate of the universe.
Even while unconscious, he could feel his forces slowly returning through said connection with the evergreen. His body ached as it was being born anew, slowly reforming every torn muscle and bone, every vessel and organ.
The young man's physique was not just healing, but growing stronger with every passing minute of recovery.
When Yggdrasil finally got him to the very trunk of the tree, its vines shot into his heart and forced its slow and failing rhythm to accelerate and pump the newly acquired fallen blood through his veins.
Now, Jacks entire body began beating and convulsing in the same pattern as the old tree.
A soothing wave spread in his mind, the pain growing smaller, the fatigue being restored.
Imagine Yggdrasil's surprise when it found a trace of familiar energy within Jack and around a certain object in his improvised backpack.
The object was Silva's egg.
On further investigation, it somewhat understood what had transpired, the kind of uphill battle its friend from so long back was fighting.
"Fate is a strange thing." would be the tree's ideas translated.
It proceeded to use its branches and vines to grab the small egg and put it on top of the human's lap, where it too cradled in the energy Yggdrasil was providing.
Leaves began to slowly fall off its branches as some of the tree's color grew dimmer, most of its energy no longer focused on its sole survival.
As a mother nurturing its children even at the cost of her own life, the tree knew that its time was short, it just hopped to catch the young human conscious once before it was too late. Still, it was only up to him if he'd survive the ordeal or not, all Yggdrasil could do was help.
Jack, meanwhile, had another nostalgic dream, it was of sleeping together with his parents, Anna and Ed, in their cozy hut, on a rainy day. He felt the warmth of their embrace for some time, when he finally mumbled in his sleep, tears falling down his face.
''I miss you guys so much...'' continuing in the dream '' Why? Why accept your death just like that? Why leave me alone?!''
Both of his parents looked at him with a somewhat sad expression, then answered in unison:
''Oh Jack, if we lived we'd be just a burden. And you are not alone anymore, are you? After all, you found beings whom you rally care about...''
''Live your life, not just for revenge, but for them too.'' Ed went on.
''I'm just so tired already...'' Jack replied, hugging them tighter, ''I don't want to get out of bed.''
''I know...'' Anne answered. ''But you have a promise to keep, don't you? You have got to return to Laura and kill anyone who touched a single strand of her hair, right?''
He nodded, red with embarrassment.
''What's this? Our brave little warrior went back to being a kid all of a sudden?!'' Teased Ed.
''Shut up, I almost died so many times you know!'' he answered back.
''I know, and that's the path you chose, it's hard, just like our old days as pirates, but it is what you do with that choice right now that matters. And you also have your own little life to nurture, so take that responsibility and go with it, you're not done yet with your promise to the wolf.''
''So get up little sailor, drop the sails and pull in the anchor! Your journey is not done yet.'' Complemented Anna.
"Yes, you are correct; I can no longer save you, but there are others I can, and there is a corrupt government to oppose. So, I pledge that I won't back down and that I won't lose what makes me human!''
''That's the spirit!'' said Ed.
Then once again in unison they said, lovingly:
''Take good care of yourself, Jack.''
"I will." He responded as the vision of them became increasingly hazy and resembled the one from that night when he had lost them.
Jack then saw their corpses just laying there and the anger, determination and even love, made him startle himself awake.
What he felt off the bet was pain, pain so big that it hurt his very soul. Every movement, every sense of his screamed at his bodies horrible state, yet what surprised Jack the most was the very fact that he was alive.
''Did I not fall from the edge of the island after passing out? How?'' He wondered if it was because he felt wet and knew he was fully submerged in water, but his water affinity had never done anything for him when he was unconscious before.
He tried opening his eyes a few times but wasn't able to, he felt constricted and soothed at the same time. Even his vision was exhausted beyond measure.
''Wait, if I was not awake, who or what made this bubble of water around me? And even allowed me to recuperate so much...'' Jack shuddered just to remember the pain he felt right before falling asleep.
Hoping that he wouldn't find himself in a scene straight from hell, he forced his eyes open to see anything.
When he did, all he saw was colors, so many colors his mind could barely process, he wasn't aware yet but with the changes in his body and instinct made him able to see the spectrum of light in an expanded way, such as infrared and ultraviolet light.
Moving his limbs, he found out one thing: Jack was inside a cocoon of light, tree branches and water, which he found out by the texture of his own little egg.
''Don't fight it.'' His instinct whispered. ''Feel the healing spreading and bask on your newfound strength.''
"Wait, is that my instinct speaking? Why am I so drawn to this voice? But my instinct actually collaborates with it.'' He thought then surrendered and closed his eyes again.
''Child guardian...'' The voice spoke softly.'' You have done well, I would've loved to see you grow big and strong, but my time is ending...''
''Who are you?'' he answered. ''How do you know I'm a guardian?''
''Because I was the one who gave your predecessor his title as a guardian.''
''My predecessor... Silva?!''
''Yes, you've inherited a part of his power and mostly completed his will, haven't you?''
''So the fortuitous encounter he was talking about-''
''Was me, but I don't have much time to explain. Just know that I don't mean any harm to you; in fact, I give you some of my vitality, some of the blood of that abomination, and even my last fruit after you're healed. Use its might to shelter Silva's family and get out of here.
As the moment I cease to exist, so will this small island.''
''What? And how am I to do that?!''
''Don't worry, you still have plenty of time, for that at least, just my consciousness that will not be able to be maintained for long and thus only our time together is short. Rest up and keep the good work as a guardian, young human.''
''Wait! I still don't even know your name!''
''Oh, I never had one and at the same time, I've had many... so you can call me Lucis.'' The voice introduced itself, already sounding groggy.
''If you are on the edge of death, why give me the blood and your fruit? Couldn't you just use it for yourself?'' Jack asked.
''Because, I can feel it, the only hope for this world's nature is you and that child, become strong, find your human friends and one day close that portal... It's the only way...'' Little by little, the tree's voice became lower until it was nowhere to be heard.
Even Jack was starting to doze off again, as he was still exhausted and apparently not fully healed.
After an unknown amount of time, he felt himself back in his prime and opened his eyes to see the interior of the light cocoon once more.
This time, however, he noticed the presence of something else in there with him as small bits of green egg floated about in the water.
Jack looked down and saw, a small green figure snuggling in his torn clothes.
''So you're finally born!'' He thought, and the small wolf pup, made entirely of green algae, looked up at Jack and gave him a slight nod as if understanding his very mind.
The cute pup had little brown antlers escaping its skull and no fur except for the aforementioned plant-like extensions serving as hair. It also differed from its father in the fact that his "fur" had a blueish tone instead of a totally green one.
''Looks like it'll be up to me to name you.'' said Jack. ''So in honor of Silva and Ygdrassil, who saved us both, I'll call you Arbo.''
Arbo let out a soft and enthusiastic woof that echoed inside the water bubble in response to its name.
''Alright, I guess you liked it! Now let's get out of here!'' He said this while gently opening up a path between vines, roots, and tree branches with his water control.
Jack and Arbo found themselves underneath the rich tapestry of colors, light, and shadows painted by the tree under its canopy.
Its branches extended for tens of meters, emitting light in all visible colors as it passed a cuddly sense of vitality and goodness.
When both went into contact with air for the first time in god knows how long, they almost gasped, as if they had forgotten how to use their lungs. But in just a few minutes, they were habituated to oxigen in its gaseous form once more.
They stood there and appreciated the stunning view for some time before Jack sat down, unbothered by the water at his feet, and willed the system to show itself to him. He had much to confirm, as he felt completely different from before.
[Jack Fortune (?)]
[Awakened Blooded ****]
[Inherent Trait: @#$$&@! Realization Progress: 17%]
[Skills:]
[Inherent Skill: *%#)(% - Mastery Progress: 1% (Restrained due to Difficulty)]
[Supernatural Instincts - Mastery Progress: 100% (Forcefully Enchanced due to sudden activation of *%#)(%)]
[Deadly Imoogi Physique - Mastery Progress 1% (Evolved from Dangerous Imoogi Physique)]
[Uncertain Swordsmanship - Mastery Progress: 85% ]
[Guardian of Nature - Mastery Progress: 75% (Obtained due to Transfer)]
[NEW! Due to the new mastery hallmark on *%#)(% inherent skill, a new power has been deduced.]
Jack was baffled by what he saw, he had gained two stars, drastically increasing his physical prowess, resistance, regeneration, and the number of times he could use his skill consecutively without passing out from anemia.
Even more insane were his advances in the monstrous instincts department; it was the reason Jack had risked this whole ordeal in the first place, as his intense emotions activated his inherent skill and made his mastery over his instincts shoot up like crazy.
''I guess the unknown isn't always that bad after all. However, it seems like I won't be able to directly upgrade this instinct skill like before due to the inherent one's interfearence...''
Next, his monstrous physique That had grown from danger level to death level, which Jack could feel in his ease of control over water and even the feeling of a different kind of energy slowly building up inside him. He had felt the same way during his battle with the fallen fungi lord.
Then, Jack realized just how much stronger he had become in such a small window of time, he had forced his body, mind, and power well beyond their limits. During this time, he had gained tremendous mastery over both his shaky swordsmanship and his guardian of nature abilities.
But what surprised Jack the most was his new skill:
[Planeswalker - Mastery: 0% (Obtained due to *%#)(%)]
[Description: In your dreams, your spirit is free and able to walk the planes of existence with whom you have contact with. While waking, user can teleport short distances by entering a different plane and returning to the current one. Information, items, and skills gained on other planes are retained.]
''HOLLY SHIT WHAT?!''