'How strange, the wood continues even down here. Just how deep did this tree grow? It can't be a regular tree, that's for sure. I remember reading about Wild Plants, so maybe it's something like that? But then it would be conscious, and I would probably be fighting it by now. Unless it's some kind of unique Wild Plant...'
I descended the dark stairway as I thought about these specifics, the only source of light being the flame in my hand. Those Fireball Fruits Pulchra threw at me were coming in handy, though it does burn my hand a bit. I let out an uncertain sigh as I continued down the forever-winding spiral staircase, 'I just hope I won't immediately be killed by going down here. If my hypothesis is correct, then it should be a challenge that a Dirt Class can complete, and, at Dirt Class at least, there wasn't a big difference between each level, so that wasn't a worry of mine. I've already made my decision, so I won't be indecisive now. Hm? Looks like this is it.'
I took a step off of the staircase, and in front of me, an interesting scene unfolded. The well-lit room was still following the theme of the wooden trunk, turning 90 degrees into what looked like a dead end. But near this dead end was a stone desk. As I walked toward the desk, I could see a material similar to paper, yet different. It was blue and transparent, and it gave me the feeling that it was more than it led on. But either way, it still held the purpose of paper, because on the blue paper was a paragraph of words. I positioned myself closer to the desks so I could read the text.
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Dear disciple of the Wood and Fire Fairy Sect,
I am, as you probably know, Inadere Luanis. I'm sure you also know, as the owner of the Crossbow Bolt Fruit, that the Firearm Branch is very limited in this sect. Unfortunately, that would be my fault, as I was the one who buried the rest of my inheritance here. But since you have found this place, the rest of that inheritance can be yours. Of course, you must first complete a challenge. I would hate if my inheritor was so weak that they couldn't defend the name of their benefactor. If you wish to partake in the trial, then scroll down and click accept. Likewise, if you click deny then this place will collapse, burying all that could be found in there. The decision is yours.
Yours truly, Inadere Launis.
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Yup, I was 100% sure now that his goal wasn't so straightforward. You couldn't tell from his words directly, but just in the way he wrote, you could tell he had a silver tongue. Anyone with a silver tongue gains it from experience with persuasion and deceit. But, like I said before, I couldn't care less about what he was after as long as I gained a boost in power. I could really feel the loss of having a D- in cultivation talent now that a month had passed. I was a Level 3 Dirt Class while Spiravit was a Level 6 Dirt Class. The difference wasn't just double either since the time it takes to ascend isn't linear, but exponential. So of course I would take the challenge.
'But what does it mean by scrolling down?' I brought my finger closer to the blue sheet of paper and as I touched it, a cool glass feeling went through my fingertip. It wasn't paper then, but some kind of inscription? It didn't have any indents on it though. I put my finger on it and dragged it over the words to confirm this fact, but as I did the words seemed to climb up the page, and at the bottom of the page new words emerged.
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Accept Deny
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So that was what it wanted me to do, how particular. I didn't really care much for experimenting right now though, so I just tapped the accept label, and as though it was being pressed down, its form changed even though it was a 2-dimensional object. It was really strange. But I didn't have time to ponder what it could be, as what was originally a dead end became a door. After making sure nothing else occurred, I entered the next room through the entrance.
What met me in the new room actually wasn't anything special. It was similar to the earlier room except for the fact that it was bigger in both the base and height. But in the middle of the room stood something interesting. It was a wooden dummy.
I had to be extra cautious now that I knew this was a challenge, so I didn't make a move, instead taking the time to observe the enemy and the environment I found myself in. I wasn't new to fighting, and knew that, while personal strength was an important factor, the environment could prove to have just as much, if not more influence on who won the battle. After I looked around the room for a while and determined there wasn't much of anything of use, my eyes returned to the wooden dummy.
It had the exact same shape as a human male of about 20 years of age. It was a bit taller than me, and its body was averagely sized, yet extremely proportional. My eyes moved down the doll's body, examining its every feature; I could tell it was made for battle. Its stance and its wooden sword made this fact obvious. I was sure that I would have to fight this doll if I wanted to complete the challenge. I wasn't sure that I could get a second shot at the challenge, so I made sure to take my time as I concocted a battle plan.
About a minute later I sat up out of my cross-legged position and stretched my legs. There were almost no environmental factors; the best being the toughness of the floors and walls, and how the transition from the floor to the wall was curved, so I didn't have much going for me with the environment. The doll though...
I jumped at the doll with speeds outmatching a normal human and, once in range, flew a powerful roundhouse kick to the doll's knee.
Bang!
The sound of wood being struck echoed throughout the empty room, and, in reaction, I leaped backward to examine what just happened. In mid-air, I was able to see that the doll defended its knee by blocking with its sword. His sword would be a problem, I would need to get rid of it if I wanted to get a hit in. Just as I was thinking of a way to attack again, the doll swiftly swung its sword at me. I was stuck in the air, and couldn't dodge such a quick attack.
Boom!
Cough!
I was thrown against the wall with incredible ferocity, causing me to cough up blood. This would be harder than I thought, it is a demon's inheritance after all. I should just be happy it wasn't a trap.
I got myself up and using the curved ramp behind me, jumped into the air. It was just in time as well, the doll had just caught up to my flung body and slashed where I was a moment ago. And on closer inspection, the sword was imbued in the doll's hand. That means I would have to use brute force to get rid of it, but I didn't have that strength in my body. Luckily for me, this wasn't a fair fight in the first place; I had a distinct advantage over the doll.
I turned while I fell to the ground to face the doll and threw a punch at its neck. This caused the doll to use its sword to block as it knew that its joints were its weak points. But unlike last time, I didn't back away immediately after seeing this. Instead, I grabbed the sword and while it was unable to move its sword, I activated my Crossbow Bolt Fruit.
Clink, clack.
The sounds of wood chips falling to the ground reverberated throughout the arena. The sword that protected the doll before was gone, only a stub of a handle remaining in its hand. I wasn't done yet, I had just gained the initiative, so I couldn't let it go so easily.
I deflected the hand that was reaching out to me and put my hand over its neck. A familiar power went through my body before resting in my hand, and in the next moment, a loud boom could be heard along with the sound of the doll's wooden head hitting the floor. It was dead-
Boom!
I felt a sudden pressure in my stomach and was sent slamming into the roof of the arena. My body rag-dolled down after it stuck to the ceiling, but just as I was about to hit the floor, the headless doll side-kicked me across the room causing me to defy gravity and stick to the center of the wall for a couple of seconds. I could feel a couple of my bones cracking. That couldn't be good.
Fortunately, adrenalin was flowing through my body, causing me to not feel a difference in power compared to before and I was able to correctly react to the fastly approaching doll.
I used my hand to hurdle over its neck and turned around, I was now behind it. I wouldn't be caught off guard this time and swiftly deflected the impossible backward kick to my leg. Then, before it could react, I crouched and pressed my hand against the center of the doll's back.
Shatter!
The Crossbow Bolt went through the body of the doll, not because it was strong enough to do that, but because that was the weak point of the doll. As the bolt went through, the rest of the body shattered into thousands of shards of wood, falling to the ground in a pile of woodchips.
It had to be dead now.
I swiped the sweat off of my forehead as the pain that was piling up attacked all at once, but I didn't care much about that. It was busy reflecting on the last battle. I came to the conclusion that I was in the right to practice my Fruit so fervently. I went through the entire bag of Dschungels on resources for growing the Fruit, and it seemed like my choice was the correct one. I had no chance of defeating that thing with my bare hands alone.
But I needed to make sure I don't let my guard down again. This world was mystical, mystical to the point that what could kill any creature in my past world, wouldn't necessarily do the same here. The doll was a prime example of this.
After I caught my breath, I stood up and walked to the wall opposite the one I entered from. Originally there was nothing there, but while I was resting on the floor, another desk manifested. On the top of this desk was another semi-transparent blue scroll-esk thing. I didn't really understand how it worked, but it didn't matter. All I needed to know was how to read the text on the scroll.
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Hello inheritor!
I see you have defeated the little doll I placed here, or really, the doll I programmed into the tree. If you are interested in that, I think there are some books in the library about the AI Tree you find yourself in. But never mind that, the true reason that I placed another note here was to inform you of the prizes you have earned as the result of your hard work. If you want to look at that, then scroll down a page, and the information, along with the spoils, will appear. Good luck!
(Also, before you scroll down. Make sure you don't go telling others about this inheritance. The tree has already memorized your biomechanics and will know if someone other than you enters. If that does happen, whether they are Dirt Class or Gold Class, the tree along with the inheritance will collapse.)
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'So he isn't even trying to hide his ulterior motives now? I suppose anyone who got to this point wouldn't be a normal person, so he banking on that fact. He wasn't wrong in his judgment though, I really don't hold any patriotic views for this sect. As long as it doesn't harm those few friends of mine...? Hmm, it seems like I really do see them as friends now, how interesting.'
I ignored the strange mix of emotions that my body was under, and swiped down on the scroll, causing it to change pages.
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First, we have the Firearm Fertilizer Fruit! This Fruit will assist your ability to grow not only Dirt Class Fruits but will also smooth over crossbreeding Dirt Class Fruits into Stone Class Fruits. A priceless treasure once you discover how difficult this process is.
Second would have to be the Arrow Trepanation Fruit. This Fruit will hurt to use, but it will be worth it! It temporarily allows for the cultivation speed of any Dirt Class Firearm Branch Fruit Cultivator to cultivate at a speed an entire 1 and 1/3 tiers above their own. This should help you if you are struggling in the "Talent" aspect of cultivation.
And third, but not least, the Talent Plunder Fruit! Are you having trouble with Talent? Then beat it out of your enemies! With this Fruit, as long as the person is unconscious and Dirt Class, you will be able to steal some of their Cultivation Talent! I created this Fruit myself, and it is quite the invention if I say so myself. With a beautiful mix of the Thief Branch and the Firearm Path, it is an amazing creation! I worked on this Fruit for years, so, even if I can't hear it, please clap.
The specifics such as the resources needed to grow them, and the best habitats for them to grow in can be found on a separate screen located in the urn of the specific Fruit.
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As I finished reading the showcase for the three Fruits I had earned, three square holes appeared in the desk. Out of these holes, lifted by a piece of wood underneath them, were three urns. They were a dirty black color and had a cork on top of them to stop anything from getting in. I tried to uncork the urn, but after that failed I just broke each of the urns.
The three Fruits and similar blue screens explaining the details of the Fruits were inside the urns, just as Inadere said, 'It wasn't a trap then, it looks like this guy was at least sincere in the fact that he wanted to pass down his inheritance to a worthy inheritor.'
I picked up the Firearm Fertilizer Fruit first. It was full silver, in the shape of a block. If it didn't have a small apple-like stem extending out of the top, I would think it was just a chunk of silver. Another interesting feature was how it was crumbly to the touch, almost as though it was made of regolith. I read the specifics of the Fruit and it soon made sense to me. This Fruit was one of the strange Fruits that weren't activated by eating, but instead another process specific to the Fruit. This one activated when you crumbled it into the soil that a Dirt Class Fruit was growing or being crossbred.
I put the Firearm Fertilizer Fruit away and then looked at the Arrow Trepanation Fruit. In the shape of a small orange, it was blood red with some silver lines zig-zagging across the exterior. The stem was long and droopy, making an interesting clash of intensity and timidness. There was nothing special about this Fruit except for its effect, so I put it in my Duranian before staring at the last Fruit in anticipation.
The other Fruits would help me loads, no doubt, but the last one would be the most effective. Although he was a bit eccentric about it, Inadere was correct when he said this Fruit was an amazing creation. It had the ability to change one's innate Talent, something thought to be unchangeable. It took the shape of a boomerang with a zig-zagged stem sticking out where the boomerang dipped. It was thin enough to be mistaken for a slightly thicker piece of paper and had a base color of yellow, with silver glitter sprinkled across the surface. The Fruit was breathtaking, not just because of how it looked, but also because of what it represented.
I warped the Fruit into my Duranian with excitement pulsating throughout my body. But it soon disappeared as I realized something. There was no other door opening or any mention of a way to open said door. But that didn't seem right. This was the inheritance of a Gold Class Fruit Cultivator, a level of power that stood at the apex of the mortal realm, this couldn't be it. In suspicion, I inspected the room, looking for anything that could hint me in another direction. And it wasn't soon until I found something.
On one of the four walls that made up the room, a small silver magic circle similar to the one leading to the inheritance could be seen. It was different though. The runes looked more complicated than before, and the Genesis Essence was much more powerful than before. I soon pieced it together.
All of the Fruits he gave me had one thing in common: they helped me get to Stone Class quicker. So this magic circle must activate in a similar way that the first one did, but it has to be a Stone Class variation of the Crossbow Bolt Fruit. In that case, it would be some time before I could continue my exploration. It was annoying to be cut off from more potential gains, but if I needed to be Stone Class before I could continue, then it's something I can't handle right now. I'll use the resources given to me to grow as fast as possible.
But first... I needed to finish things with Pulchra. I wouldn't do it right away; that wasn't how I did things. I would spend the rest of tonight and tomorrow morning brainstorming how I should do it. And then tomorrow night I would strike.
I felt my nerves spike as I thought about confronting her, but I steeled my resolve and left the inheritance.
Tomorrow night would be the night that I confronted not only Pulchra but my own emotions.
I would learn how I truly felt toward her.
I would discover whether I loved her or not.