Chrysos rode the wooden root as if it was a pet serpent following his commands. Everywhere the root went, numerous beasts would get crushed and ran over due to the extreme force of the wooden root. He grabbed something from his belt and used another vial to create a small acid spray that killed many beasts in one go.
Even though his performance was brutal, Chrysos didn't feel that it was enough. He sighed. "I've grown too weak after all…" He continued his slaughter without remorse.
He decided to use a strengthening agent and mixed it with his Divinium. He took out a bottle that was a bit larger than an adult's hand and poured as much Divinium as he could into it. He was an Elitius ranked alchemist, so this expenditure of Divinium is negligible.
Speaking of the Elitius rank, it's common knowledge that it's below the World rank. And it's also known that it's separated by 12 stages.
If a warrior is already at the Elitius rank, he would be called with a number according to his current stage. For example, if a warrior is at the 5th stage, he would be called a 5th stage Elitius warrior.
Unlike the Provectis rank that has different titles for each stage, the Elitius rank is titled in numbers. However, it does have a name for each stage but it's just unusual to state because the first stage is called Root Creation stage. The next one is Sprout Creation stage, Leaf Creation stage, Divinium Plant Growth stage, Divinium Plant Maturity stage, Divinium Plant Reformation stage, Divinium Tree Initial stage, Divinium Tree Formation stage, Divinium Tree True Formation stage, Divinium Tree Maturity stage, Divinium Tree Fruit Formation Stage, Divinium World Tree Seedling stage.
So what is Chrysos' stage?
He's a 12th stage Elitius Alchemist.
Or in other words, An Elitius Divinium World Tree Seedling Alchemist.
It's a bit much to utter out loud since that's what the ancient humans called it 2500 years ago. But as the world modernized, they just settled on numbers.
…
…
Vesiro ran away from the carnage with Heisch on his side and the unconscious Scrieno in his shoulder. He turned around and saw the giant roots coiling around the mountainside and the pink clouds sending devastating lightning bolts down the beast horde.
Vesiro couldn't help but subconsciously open his mouth after seeing the destruction Chrysos was causing by himself.
Heisch noticed Vesiro turning around so he asked, "Brother, do you think that man can be trusted?"
Vesiro furrowed his eyebrows and didn't answer outright. "I- I don't know… but since he's powerful enough to defeat that many beasts, he must be Elitius ranked at least."
"Elitius? Did I hear that correctly?" Heisch made sure to take a second look at Chrysos because he wasn't expecting an Elitius ranked alchemist to fight for them. Heisch turned back to Vesiro and asked, "Did he want something from you? I don't think he'll be doing this for free…"
Vesiro thought as he ran. After a bit of thinking he replied, "I remember that he said that he was running away from Aroiis city and that he wants me to give him proper citizenship in Ironmountain city. However, it's important that we get back to the Nacoris manor do that we discuss this with father."
Heisch nodded. "Yeah, I think that's the best thing we can do for now."
…
…
Meanwhile at the mountainside,
"Hahaha! I found it!" Chrysos laughed merrily after seeing a rare Crystal Antlered Deer in the midst of the horde.
He flicked his left hand and the root carried him towards the deer.
The deer was under the influence of the scroll, so it acted like a mindless and aggressive wild animal. Chrysos leapt down the root and crashed down on a four legged wolf-like creature, killing it instantly.
After the beasts saw Chrysos, they attacked him without even thinking. Chrysos raised his left hand and gathered enough Divinium to cast a spell.
Golden Sword Rain Of Calamity!
Divinium that looked like a mist of gold gathered behind Chrysos, forming hundreds of swords that rained down the beasts around him.
He flicked his left hand and one of the swords flew in front of him. He grabbed the sword and slashed his way towards the Crystal Antlered Deer.
The deer eventually noticed Chrysos so it raised both of it's front legs to stomp on his face. Chrysos didn't dodge out of the way but he sliced the deer instead.
Swish!
The deer's neck was severed from its body. And for a split second, Chrysos noticed that the eyes of the deer contained confusion and shock. Apparently, killing the beasts gets rid of the scroll's effects but of course it's not really freedom if you have no way to live it.
Chrysos couldn't care less. To him, lives that didn't have any connection to him doesn't matter. He shouldn't have to go out of his way to save something or someone's life since it has nothing to do with him.
He caught the deer's head with his right hand and threw the golden sword towards the beasts. He then snapped his left hand and a giant root sprouted under him and carried him up. After being lifted above the horde, Chrysos took the deer's head and took out a legendary spatial bag to store the deer's head.
Chrysos was interested to see if there was any other good ingredients that he could use, so he took an advanced high grade eagle eyes potion from his belt so that he could see better. The vial in his left hand was filled with a deep blue liquid with bright mist circulating inside the potion. He uncorked the potion and drank it.
Whoosh!
Chrysos felt his vision improve by a thousand times. He felt as if he could see as far as he wanted to. Everything became very clear despite the distance from Chrysos and he could discern small details with his vision alone.
He scanned the battlefield for thirty seconds until he saw that there was nothing worthy of catching his attention. He snapped his left hand and the root carried him away from the horde.
Creak…
When Chrysos was finally away from the beast horde, he injected the roots with his Divinium. The wooden roots then slithered towards the horde and circled around them until every beast was finally trapped in their encirclement.
Are going around in circles for a while, the roots started glowing with a bright golden light. They expanded and continued to expand until their wooden frames couldn't take it anymore so they burst into a powerful explosion.
Boom!
A bright flash of light covered part of the mountainside, startling many birds, beasts, and the Nacoris brothers.
…
…
"What was that?!" Heisch stumbled after feeling the ground shake.
Vesiro looked back and his pupils shrunk to a pin's size. The only thing he could see was a bright miniature sun.
When Heisch saw what Vesiro was seeing, he felt a strange sense of… comfort.
He couldn't explain it but, he felt insignificant before the golden sun. He also felt comfortable seeing it because it unknowingly lit up a fire in his heart.
This small fire was his drive for power. He felt a burning desire to strive for such power for himself.
Vesiro was still in his spot when he saw a small figure coming towards them. But when he looked closer he saw that it was Chrysos riding a flying golden sword.
Chrysos caught up to both of them not too long after.
"So, how are you two doing?" Chrysos hopped off the sword and when he landed on the ground, the Divinium that kept the sword's structure disappeared so it faded into dust.
"Was that explosion caused by you?" Heisch excitedly asked Chrysos.
"Yes." Chrysos didn't see any reason to lie.
"Awesome! Sir Chrysos, can I ask you something?" Heisch looked at Chrysos expectantly.
With a shrug, Chrysos said, "Sure, ask away."
"Okay, with your strength you should be an Elitius ranked alchemist, correct?" Heisch looked at Chrysos who responded with a nod. "And you told my brother that you came from Aroiis city. But Aroiis city isn't a powerful city, so an Elitius ranked awakened one would be of great help to them. But apparently, you're not from there. So why is someone powerful like you going to a city like Ironmountain?"
Chrysos looked at Heisch for a while.
Vesiro was about to reprimand Heisch in fear of offending Chrysos.
Chrysos saw this and waved his hand to gesture that it was no need. "I know that you're curious, but Ironmountain is close to the Deep Forests of Silverleaf. I just want to live in a remote and secluded area where almost no one could find me."
Heisch nodded. "You want a citizenship in Ironmountain correct? We'll help you get it when we get back."
"Oh?" Chrysos was surprised. "To think that you'd be willing to help me this eagerly. Very well, I'll keep you two safe along the way back." Chrysos then pointed to Scrieno. "And I'll also defend you from him…"
"That's great!" Heisch's eyes glowed with excitement.
Vesiro secretly heaved a sigh of relief.
Chrysos took a vial and splashed it's contents on the ground. After that, roots grew out from the puddle and slowly formed into a huge horse like creature with three pairs of legs.
The horse looked strange, maybe it's because it was made of roots, or because it lacked facial features. Either way, Vesiro was a bit unnerved at the creature.
Heisch meanwhile, was amazed seeing how Chrysos effortlessly made a mount from a mere potion.
Chrysos hopped on the rhino-horse root creature and as he was about to sit, the roots formed a comfortable seat for him to get on.
"Alright, get on." Chrysos looked at the two of them.
Heisch went on almost immediately without hesitation while Vesiro was a bit cautious before the mass of roots in front of him.
Chrysos saw Vesiro's hesitant expression, so he said, "Come on, it's not going to bite you."
Heisch also tried convincing Vesiro. "Brother Vesiro, you should be able to trust sir Chrysos after he saved your life. Come on, it's safe." Heisch patted the seat behind him.
Vesiro sighed and eventually climbed up the mount.
Seeing this, Chrysos laughed and injected the roots with his Divinium.
Creak..
The root creature's wooden surfaces creaked against each other but it began moving according to Chrysos' command.
It travelled quite fast and Vesiro estimated that they should be home in two days.
…
Heich turned around and saw the blank expression on Vesiro's face. Vesiro's eyes was closed but anyone could see that he was both physically and mentally tired.
Heisch felt the mood turn heavy after this.
After all, his brother Levis died, and Scrieno who he trusted the most turned out to be a liar, and many of the people who he grew up with died in such a tragic way.
He couldn't find the happiness that he had earlier as if it vanished abruptly.
Chrysos discreetly corked the mood positivity potion tightly. He had to convince Vesiro somehow, but since Vesiro's body is resistant to mood changers, he had to pick an alternative.
He could brew a powerful mood changer to convince him, but he lacked the ingredients. But at least he got what he wanted.
A safe place to develop silently.
…
…
Vesiro woke up when he was hungry. They were still on the root mount trying to go back to the Nacoris manor. Vesiro saw Heisch eating a mushroom stew on a wooden bowl.
Heisch noticed that Vesiro finally woke up.
"Brother, Sir Chrysos made us dinner." He picked up a bowl that was formed from the roots and opened the lid of a metal pot and scooped some stew for Vesiro.
Vesiro accepted the bowl and asked, "How did he make this?"
Heisch replied, "Oh, he grew mushrooms and used a pot to cook them." Heisch savored the flavor. "It is quite delicious."
Vesiro ate some of the stew and nodded. "It really is…" He then sighed as he continued eating.
"A lot has happened just in a few days… It's a bit confusing right?" Heisch said as he ate.
Vesiro nodded. "Indeed. I knew that I might lose my life here, but I didn't know how bad the situation has become. Turns out, I wasn't prepared at all." Vesiro showed a self deprecating smile. "The eldest son of the Nacoris family turns out to be just a joke."
"Brother…" Heisch wanted to console Vesiro but he didn't know what to say.
It was just silence between the two of them.
They can both hear the whistling of the wind and the rhythmic thumping of the mount's hooves.
"You know, there's a saying where I came from that goes, Life is a lonely and merciless road, no matter how much you trip, there's no one else to help you but yourself."
Chrysos paused then said, "I know that you're going through a tough phase in your life. But in my opinion, you should just focus on what to do at the moment. For example, you could get your sibling arrested for what he did, both of you stayed alive so it's not too bad."
"It's easier said than done.." Vesiro then ate a large portion of his stew.
Chrysos shook his head. "Not necessarily. What I suggested to both of you is realistic. Surely you can do something like that right?"
"Of course but-"
Chrysos interrupted Vesiro. "Then great! You can't go back to the past so just focus on the present. I can't stress this enough for the both of you."
Vesiro sighed and finished his meal. "Fine, you're right in that part. However, I'm still a person. Anyone can be tired at times."
"In that case, rest. Because you'll have to be ready back at home later." Chrysos laughed.
"Wait, what do you mean by later?" Vesiro had a skeptical look in his face.
"It's because we're thirty minutes away from our destination." Chrysos turned his head back at them to see their reactions.
"Really?" Heisch looked around and saw that the terrain was familiar. "Oh I wasn't expecting this…"
"However, when we return I want to ask you two for your help." Chrysos' Divinium in his body then started to weaken their aura.
"What do you need us to do?" Vesiro asked.
"It's quite simple really…"