Morgana and Angie walked beside each other, confidently navigating through the dense foliage of the Greenshade Forest, while the other three teenagers followed closely behind.
The atmosphere remained unnaturally quiet for the first few minutes of their walk. No monsters or creatures crossed their path, creating an eerie silence that hung in the air. The absence of any encounters felt strange, especially considering the area's reputation.
"T-there are no monsters around?" asked Angie.
"There are… Most of them are just avoiding us, though. If I remember correctly, these woods were infested by hobgoblins and…" Her sentence trailed off as she struggled to recall the other creatures that lurked within Greenshade Forest.
However, before she could come up with a complete answer, Morgana's hand instinctively grasped Angie's sleeve, bringing their journey to an abrupt halt. Sensing the sudden change in the atmosphere, the other three teenagers also stopped.
"Treants," Morgana uttered, her voice laced with caution. Her gaze scanned the towering trees that surrounded them, and to their horror, the bark of these ancient beings twisted and contorted, forming human-like faces that seemed to seethe with malevolence, emanating an insatiable thirst for blood.
Treants were the embodiment of evil spirits that possessed and corrupted trees.
These ancient creatures manifested with twisted features as if their trunks had been transformed into grotesque, face-like entities. Their roots served as sturdy legs, while their long branches extended like menacing arms, ready to ensnare and strike their unsuspecting prey.
Typically, treants were known to be immobile, rooted in their chosen spot for days on end. With patience, they awaited any living beings foolish enough to cross their path, relishing the opportunity to unleash their bloodlust and consume their victims in a gruesome manner.
"We are surrounded!" Angie's voice trembled as her eyes darted around, taking in the encircling treants that seemed to close in from all directions. Yet, she glanced at Morgana, whose unwavering presence gave her comfort.
"Don't move." She commanded the teenagers, who diligently listened.
Morgana took a few steps forward, raised her right arm slightly to the side, and a mix of red and black lightning began forming around her palm as she attempted to use a skill. However, only smoke could be seen coming from her hand as the electric currents suddenly sparked off.
"Huh?" Morgana pondered out loud, wondering why her skill didn't activate.
In that moment of confusion, the treant in front of them extended its branches and shot them straight at Morgana. However, in a swift display of agility, she evaded them with a well-timed step, closing in on the monstrous creature and delivering a powerful punch to its disfigured face, causing the treant to shatter and collapse into two broken halves.
Morgana swiftly reacted as the remaining treants closed in on them, their branches stretching out menacingly toward the teenagers. With a powerful backhand, she effortlessly sliced through the extended branches as if they were no more than fragile twigs. The force behind her strike was enough to leave the treants momentarily stunned by the display of her strength.
Using only her bare hands and swift, powerful kicks, Morgana laid waste to all the treants that surrounded them in mere seconds without shedding a single drop of sweat, ending their encounter with everyone completely intact.
From the wooden remains, tiny shining green seeds could be seen getting picked up by Morgana before asking the rest of the party for help. The teenagers were unaware of their significance, but the seeds dropped from killing treants could be sold reasonably.
These seeds possessed the remarkable ability to accelerate the growth of trees. When planted, they would give rise to resilient and rapidly flourishing trees, capable of adapting to any type of soil or environment.
Recognizing their value, Morgana and the others gathered all of the seeds that the treants had dropped and put them in a small leather bag. "Here, give this to the Adventurers Guild so you guys can get paid," she said as she threw the bag into one of the boy's hands.
"Wait! Are you sure? We didn't do anything…" said the brown-haired kid as he clenched the seed-filled bag with his hand, then threw it back at Morgana.
"That's very honorable of you, kid, but I don't need them. You can use the money to get some new weapons…" said Morgana as she regained her calm tone of voice and turned her gaze away from the group.
'I'll just take care of them for now, I guess…' she thought.
"Now… why couldn't I use my main weapon?" she pondered aloud as she used the "Appraisal" skill on herself, bringing into her vision a virtual screen with her stats, where she noticed something was amiss.
"I see… I'm not max level anymore. I suppose Zaudan did say he was keeping some of my levels. But man, 50 whole levels!?" she muttered with annoyance, loud enough for the rest of the group to listen to her.
Her train of thought was interrupted when Angie stepped closer to express her gratitude to Morgana for saving them once again. However, as soon as Angie opened her mouth to speak, her stomach betrayed her, letting out a loud growl. A flush of embarrassment spread across her face as she looked sheepishly at her silver-haired savior.
Morgana couldn't help but smile at the situation and turned her attention to the rest of the group. "Are you all hungry, too?" she asked, her tone light and carefree. The teenagers tried to put on a brave front, raising their chins defiantly, but their rumbling stomachs gave away their true feelings.
With a mischievous glint in her eyes, Morgana decided to find a suitable spot for them to rest. Her casual attitude dispelled the tension that lingered from their recent encounter, leaving the group intrigued by her unconventional nature. They would never have considered resting in such a dangerous place, but there was something about Morgana that inspired confidence and a sense of adventure.