After exploring the rainforest for a long time, Matthew became disappointed as he hadn't found anything interesting. However, he decided to change direction, hoping to discover something new. Suddenly, in the new direction, he stumbled upon two human beings. These individuals seemed unaffected by corruption and were dressed in regular clothes. But upon seeing Matthew, they regarded him with suspicion, assuming he had been corrupted.
"Hey, guys, relax! I'm not corrupted," Matthew assured them. Doubtful, one of them asked, "Then why do you have traces of mana and corruption all over you?" Matthew confidently replied, "I'm a Mage, that's all." They insisted he prove it by showing his mana. Matthew promptly displayed his mana, hoping it would stop their suspicions. Unfortunately, he was wrong. In unison, they exclaimed, "He possesses the power of corruption and is corrupted!" and attacked him with beams of fire and light. Frustrated, Matthew created a protective barrier and retreated, shouting, "Seriously, I'm not corrupted!"
The two humans relentlessly unleashed concentrated barrages of light and fire at Matthew, aiming to destroy him. Reacting quickly, he conjured an earth barrier and submerged himself into the ground, emerging elsewhere. Observing the protective power of Matthew, one of them exclaimed, "This corrupted being is incredibly powerful!" They then continued launching numerous fiery projectiles, causing explosion shockwaves that reverberated through the rainforest, destroying trees. Matthew was pushed back and had to utilize most of his mana to defend against the onslaught.
Realizing that explaining himself to these humans was futile, Matthew decided it was time to escape and quickly started running. "Get back here!" one of them shouted, bombarding Matthew with a volley of fireballs. Enraged, Matthew retrieved the Corrupted Unicorn's Horn and used it to unleash a domain of darkness, trapping them and blocking the attacks. In anger, one of them declared, "I knew you were a corrupted being!" While they struggled to escape the domain, Matthew activated his ability to swiftly move away. Just before departing, he taunted them, saying, "See ya, suckers!" which greatly angered them.
After successfully escaping the two humans, Matthew concluded that there were likely other humans nearby. This discovery excited him since he needed to find civilization in order to seek assistance in escaping the Corrupted Rainforest. Matthew puzzled over why those two humans seemed immune to corruption. Upon reflecting, he noticed both individuals wore sapphire rings, which appeared to ward off corruption. Additionally, considering the destroyed trees and disturbed vegetation behind them, Matthew deduced their home likely lay to the west. The prospect of encountering civilization filled him with anticipation, prompting him to set off promptly.
Preparing for his journey, Matthew packed some precious fruits and meat. He traversed the rainforest in search of civilization but, even after a day of searching, found no signs of it. Disheartened, he settled for the night in a cave, arranging a basic cot. As he fell asleep, a glowing rune materialized beneath his cot, followed by a portal that whisked it away. Sensing the disturbance, Matthew awoke, but it was too late—he found himself in a lush jungle, surrounded by breathtaking flora and small animals. Surprised, he wondered, "How did this happen?" After recovering from his astonishment, Matthew decided to explore the area, hoping to uncover interesting discoveries.
While venturing further, Matthew stumbled upon the Flower of Longevity. This coveted flower thrived exclusively in lush jungles and forests, requiring a rich natural environment to mature fully. The Flower of Longevity was highly sought after by aging mages and individuals nearing the end of their lifespans, as it not only purified a portion of their mana but also extended their lives by 10,000 years. Throughout history, only three such flowers had been recorded across the entire continent, and the one Matthew discovered appeared to be the most mature yet. Having studied a basic course on rare medicines and treasures in school, Matthew recognized that the flower before him was likely at its peak maturity, capable of extending one's lifespan by 15,000 years. Although tempted, Matthew exercised caution, aware that dangers might accompany it. Suddenly, he heard a voice nearby and swiftly raised a protective shield.
"Relax, young man. I cannot harm you. This is but a remnant of my soul," assured the voice, as a silver globe of energy materialized before Matthew. Cautiously, Matthew inquired, "Who are you?" The voice replied, "Long ago, I was known as the guardian of the rainforest, the Nature God." Puzzled, Matthew questioned, "But didn't the Nature God succumb to corruption during the incident that afflicted the rainforest?" It was widely known that the guardian of the former Corrupted Rainforest had been corrupted. The Nature God explained, "Although most of my energy and essence fell victim to corruption, my consciousness escaped, preserved within this remnant of my soul." Intrigued, Matthew asked, "Why are you here? Why did you transport me to this place?" The Nature God clarified, "I sensed a great destiny within you and require your assistance. As for your transportation, the cave where you slept was once a secret chamber I inhabited. Although the cavern has since collapsed, a trace of my power remains, and it transported you to this safe haven of mine." Curious, Matthew inquired, "What do you need me to do?" Aware of the Nature God's immense power, he anticipated that the task would be perilous. The Nature God cautioned, "Listen attentively, young man, for what I am about to reveal is a secret known to very few—and its disclosure could potentially put your life at risk..."