At the foot of a deep cliff, where jagged rocks met the earth, Lennox and the girl after falling off the cliff she had found herself rescued by Lennox as they both plummeted from above, hitting multiple branches of the trees. While Lennox bore the brunt of their fall, luckily escaping any serious injury.
However the girl was not as lucky, as she found her ankle was sprained, Lennox with slow heavy breaths, rose from the ground, his body pulsing with lingering pain, though strangely less severe than expected. that his injuries was gradually being healed already, small abrasions fading into nothingness, while deeper wounds remained even since before he still didn't know why hen heals so fast.
As Lennox gathered his bearings, the girl regained her breath, she sank onto the ground, her gaze fixed on Lennox as she seem to be thinking about something. But he couldn't decipher her thoughts, yet it seemed she dwelled on one thing alone: the realization that Lennox had risked everything, even his own body, to save her from certain death. Suddenly, the air filled with the ominous sound of trees snapping, accompanied by menacing growls. Instantly, she snapped out of her reverie, and both of them knew what was approaching – the lightning tiger.
"Quick, let's go. I'll help you," Lennox said, crouching down and gently placing the girl's arm across his shoulder.
"Ah!"
Lennox frowned "Are you okay? I'll try to keep you off your foot as much as possible," he commented.
The girl looked deeply at Lennox as she thought 'Seriously, why is this Emberflare so friendly? Shouldn't all Emberflares be evil, not caring? Everyone has always been warned not to approach an Emberflare or have one approach you because you can never know their motive for power,'
Lennox and the girl hurried forward as swiftly as they could, desperate to put distance between themselves and the lightning tiger. However, with the girl nursing her injured leg, Lennox found himself constrained to maintain a certain pace, unable to push too far ahead.
"The lightning tiger is a rank 4 beast, far more stronger than a Nexarc adept. you leave me as you said we will both die"
"I've decided to save you, and I mean it. I won't go back on my word." Lennox declared.
"Anyway, right now your ankle's injured. Let's talk more later. Right now, focus on conserving your breath," Lennox said.
After running for a little while longer, Lennox was nearing exhaustion. They both noticed that the lightning tiger was gaining on them, but Lennox couldn't help but wonder why it was still relentlessly pursuing them?. It had been chasing them for a considerable time, even before targeting the girl, While Ayame's ankle throbbed with every step, sending sharp jolts of pain up her leg. She gritted her teeth, suppressing cries of agony as she leaned heavily on Lennox for support.
Suddenly, the lightning tiger stumbled to the ground from exhaustion with a mighty roar. Seizing the opportunity, Lennox spotted a nearby cave in the wall and dashed towards it while the tiger struggled to regain its footing.
Inside the brightly glowing cave, Lennox gently placed the girl against the cave wall, exhaustion evident in his heavy breathing as he sank down on the other side, each of his breath came in ragged gasps, the strain of their exertion etched on his sweat-drenched faces, his muscles burned with exertion.
As relief washed over them the girl expression suddenly changed 'If I play my cards right,' she thought, casting a sidelong glance at Lennox, 'I can easily manipulate him into doing whatever I want. After all, he's so desperate for my approval.'
With a subtle shift in her demeanor, the girl turned her attention back to Lennox, her expression softening ever so slightly. "Well, it looks like we finally lost that damn tiger," she remarked.
Lennox shot her a wary look, but Ayame merely smiled, her mind already working out her next plan.
"Now that we're safe, can you tell me who you are and why that lightning tiger was chasing you?" Lennox asked.
The girl exhaled deeply before meeting Lennox's gaze. "I'm Ayame. The reason I was running from the lightning tiger was because I was with my protectors, trying to evolve. When I saw one lightning tiger and wanted to kill it myself to get its core. I ignored the warnings of my protectors, but then we were suddenly ambushed by over twenty lightning tigers," she explained, her voice trembling slightly.
Twenty lightning tigers? Does that mean all her protectors were dead by now?
Yeah, there's no creature quite like a Nexarc. Sure, creatures in this world don't always get along, but the lightning tiger never had enough motivation to just ambush a Nexarc, especially a powerful people like Ayame protector. Considering her identity as a member of the Seven Strokes Rose Clan, one of the top three clans that protect the academy, mainly because of their power, it just doesn't add up. Nonetheless, the lightning tiger shouldn't have attacked without a reason.
"So, it was your fault they were attacked and you got hurt," Lennox remarked.
"No, it wasn't my fault. They didn't do a good job of protecting me," she retorted.
"Really? So it wasn't your decision and choice to attack the lightning tiger?" Lennox countered.
"I told you why I'm here, now tell me why you're here," Ayame questioned. "For a Nexarc adept, it isn't possible for you to just enter without a badge, nor is it safe. So either you knowingly entered or someone knowingly let you inside," she said, attempting to divert Lennox's question.
Lennox crossed his arms. "I'd rather keep that to myself," he said. He didn't trust Ayame yet, especially after her personality. Since coming to the academy, there were only a couple of people he ever fully trusted: Kira, Theo, and Nadia.
"Hmm... Well, I'm not exactly here to buddy up, you know. But let's face it, most Nexarcs come to the grove for one reason: to evolve. And with my status, I can skip ahead of the pack without breaking a sweat," Ayame remarked.
"Is that so? It's hard to buy, especially when you clearly said your chasing something to boost your evolution," Lennox countered skeptically.
With a calculating glint in her eyes, Ayame concocted a plan that played to her strengths and preyed on Lennox's so call vulnerabilities. She would fake vulnerability herself, pretending to be more injured and helpless than she actually was, in order to manipulate Lennox into letting his guard down.
'Hmm, maybe I can turn Lennox's overprotectiveness to my advantage,' Ayame mused, a mischievous grin curling her lips. 'If I can make him think I'm too hurt to go on alone, he'll feel like he has to look after me no matter what. Then I can nudge him into doing what I want and steer things my way.'
"You__" her counter was cut short as a powerful surge of energy reverberated from deep within the cave.
Exchanging a knowing glance, they rose in unison, s he exaggerated her limp, wincing theatrically with each step, while carefully observing Lennox's reaction out of the corner of her eye as they both cautiously advancing further into the cave. The palpable intensity of the energy pulse heightened their senses, a stronger Nex that spoke of something significant, perhaps even sentient, its essence rich with Nexus energy. Yet, it also bore the potential for danger, a dual nature that demanded caution as the crackle of lightning echoed when they reached halfway into the cave.
Finally, they reached the heart of the cave, where the source of the pulsating energy lay before them a towering tree, its body strong but with its ancient trunk weathered by the passage of time and the elements. The bark, had the color of dark , charcoal hues.
Crowning the tree, its leaves shimmering with a bright brilliance that had the crackle of distant lightning. Each leaf, sharp and serrated along its edges, Amidst the leaves it had clusters of radiant fruits pulsed with vibrant energy.
Ayame eye widened "It's a Thunder Tree," she exclaimed in astonishment.
"Thunder tree?" Lennox questioned, quickly he recognized the name from one of the library books he had read.
The Thunder Tree is a Premium Grade Material originates from the first Ancient Thunder Trees, towering giants that once dominated the stormy landscapes of the Thunder Realm. Legend has it that these trees were imbued with the raw power of thunderstorms. Over millennia, the Thunder Trees became revered by the Nexus community for their potent medicinal properties, with healers and alchemists venturing into the Thunder Realm to harvest their precious materials.
In the world, materials are categorized into Mortal Grade, Earthly Grade, Premium Grade, and Heavenly Grade. Currently, Mortal Grade materials are commonplace and easily accessible, serving as the foundation for everyday use. Earthly Grade materials, though slightly rarer, boast greater potency and are highly sought after by all Nexarc occupations for their enhanced magical properties. Premium Grade materials are revered for their exceptional potency and rarity, representing a significant advancement in efficacy and value compared to Earthly Grade counterparts. Finally, Heavenly Grade materials are exceedingly rare and highly prized, showcasing unparalleled excellence. However, they are typically owned only by powerful clans and organizations due to their scarcity but every time its found there will always be a fight for it causing hundred of deaths.
"With this tree, I can evolve with some pills, but I can't make any," Lennox said, pondering. 'I think it's better to auction it off. It might come with rewards after,' he suggested, seeing no proper use for it other than if it were made into pills, which would help but to a lesser extent the Actual lightning Nexarcs.
"The Thunder Tree Material possesses extraordinary properties that enhance the abilities of Nexarc users. When ingested or applied topically, it imbues the user with heightened vitality, resilience, and lightning-fast reflexes. Additionally, it enhances the user's affinity with lightning-based Nexarc Bloodline," Ayame explained excitedly. "This will be perfect for my clan's members," she added.
Yeah, while Ayame might come off as arrogant around others, she's always known that one day she'll have to step up and take over as clan leader. So, she's been preparing for it, always keeping her primary goal in mind: maintaining her privileged status within her clan and the academy. She's motivated by a desire to uphold her family's reputation and ensure she continues to receive preferential treatment and adulation from those around her but that also changed her.
"Wait a minute, what did you say? You want to give this to your clan members?" Lennox questioned Ayame.
"Yeah, what's wrong? This is perfect to enhance a couple of my clan members' strengths," Ayame replied casually.
"Well, I just saved your life, so this should be mine too. If it wasn't for me leading us here, you would have never saw it," Lennox said firmly.
"Roar!" Just as Ayame was about to counter Lennox back, they heard the sound of a thunderous roar reverberated through the cave.