"It's really a mana source!" Nuga's eyes sparkled with excitement.
Behind me was a small crevice, hidden beneath my roots to prevent accidents and ensure no one fell into it.
"It's a bit deep," Nuga said, leaning over.
She clung to me, perched on one of my branches, with roots intertwined around her waist for support.
"Well… Are you ready?"
I warned her about the descent. Though it wasn't particularly dangerous with me present, one must always prepare for potential hazards. For instance, falling rocks inside could pose a risk that needed to be avoided.
Still, it wasn't too perilous. The purpose of this descent was to verify if the mana source was large enough to activate the cube. If it was, we'd apply the mana to the cube; otherwise, we'd abandon the idea.
If the mana quantity proved insufficient, forcing the cube open would be futile.
At that moment, the roots lowered Nuga into the crevice.
She quickly disappeared into the depths as light could not penetrate, leaving only a profound darkness that obscured vision. However, since mana radiated a deep blue glow, she would spot it quickly.
Once she reached about twenty meters in depth, I asked her, "Is everything okay? Are you holding up?"
"Yes." Nuga replied briefly, conserving oxygen.
Ah… that was an oversight on my part.
Should I pull her back up? At several dozen meters underground, oxygen levels would be scarce, akin to conditions at the summit of Mount Everest. Could Nuga withstand such an environment?
But Nuga's determined expression left me hesitant to interrupt.
We continued descending.
10 meters.
20 meters.
30 meters.
Each meter seemed vast enough to host entire cities.
Was this the amount consumed by the Lord of Miasma? How immense must its appetite have been to devour such a volume?
"Stop!" Nuga murmured faintly.
"Nuga, are you okay?" I asked, worried.
Seventy meters seemed to be the limit. I stopped, fearing that going any further might risk Nuga's wellbeing.
But just as she was about to lose consciousness, Nuga managed to catch a glimpse of blue liquid flowing at the bottom of the underground chamber—several streams cascading continuously.
"Dragon vein…" Nuga murmured.
I quickly pulled her to the surface as fast as possible. Nuga gasped for breath but soon recovered once she lay on the ground.
"Phew!! Shuu... shuu…"
She spat out dirt mixed with saliva.
Had she swallowed dust along the way? I questioned the operation's safety.
It was undoubtedly too dangerous, but from Nuga's perspective, it was a significant success.
"Hehe… Treon, it's enough!" She gave me a thumbs-up.
I sighed and nodded, resolving to be more cautious with such operations in the future.
I took the cube from my roots and paused halfway, looking at Nuga. She nodded and laughed, "Hahaha! Go ahead, take it! It's not mine anyway."
Nodding, I quickly extended my roots like ropes into the mana pool. The moment I sensed the mana's properties at the tip of my roots, I began to absorb it. The liquid surged upward through my roots.
Following various pathways, the mana eventually reached the cube, which began to glow and tremble. Still, it wasn't enough, so I sent down additional roots to accelerate the flow.
Crash!
The cube exploded, scattering hundreds of fragments in every direction.
Fortunately, Nuga was near me, allowing me to shield her completely while observing the new notification that appeared.
[New Skill!]
[Skill Cube Activated!]
[Grade: Divine]
This wasn't just a high-level skill cube—it was divine!
[Status Window]
[Race: Soul Tree]
[Level: 39]
[Skills: Devour Lv.5, Royal Seed (recharging), Root Strike Lv.7, Wooden Shield Lv.3, Storage Lv.3, Harvest Tree Lv.2, Chrysalis Lv.5, Alarm Tree Lv.1, Network Tree Lv.1, and Third Eye (EX)]
The window was becoming cluttered. Perhaps I'd need to reorganize my skills later.
For now, a new skill had emerged, along with new features.
Third Eye (EX)
[Third Eye: Each deity possesses this ability to read the status window of any being or object in existence without limitation.]
I was stunned by the description. A skill belonging to the gods! Now I possessed it? I felt… confused but delighted.
"Hey! Tell me what you got!" Nuga circled me excitedly, shouting like a bird waiting to be fed.
Looking at Nuga, I focused on the rectangular window hovering above her.
[Status Window of Nuga]
[Level: 1 (Cursed)]
[Status: Reincarnated, Cursed]
[Skills: Beginner Weapon Proficiency, Sixth Sense]
I was shocked but quickly sobered up upon reading a particular word.
'Cursed'?
This was unexpected.
"So?!" Nuga was still circling, even punching me lightly in her frustration. Well, to me, it felt like a massage, so I didn't mind.
"I obtained 'Third Eye.' According to the system, it's a skill from the gods."
"What?! Wait! The skill cube, then…!" Nuga was visibly stunned.
"It was labeled 'Divine.'"
Nuga's mouth fell open. She trembled before freezing.
I was curious about her reaction. Was it because the skill was too impressive? I could imagine how shocking it might be.
"That's… a skill cube granted by a deity. You absorbed a divine skill cube. Oh my god?!" Nuga seemed on the verge of fainting as I supported her.
I was confused.
Why was this a problem?
"Gods despise those who steal their blessings! They'll hunt anyone down, even launching crusades against them to reclaim the skill! These cubes are meant for their saints! For someone like us, who are nothing compared to them, to absorb such a skill…!"
Nuga began to cry.
"Ah… we should've destroyed it before…"
Inwardly, I sighed.
"What's done is done. We should focus on the present, right?"
My simple response left Nuga dumbfounded, calming her down.
"Yeah… Anyway, our fates rest with you now…"
Hmm. Did I just create a huge problem?
Year 37 Month 6
Nuga and I eventually agreed to put the incident behind us, proving that my skill was innate and not derived from the skill cube.
However, according to her, this would only work against those without a divine blessing. In the presence of saints, hiding would be impossible. Though I wondered how Nuga knew so much, it was fortunate to have someone so knowledgeable.
I continued to hunt and expand my territory in the forest, spreading my roots everywhere and tearing through any monsters that resisted, particularly the crows and wolves.
These two territorial monsters were the primary opponents, causing significant losses to my forces.
Thankfully, my chrysalides were essentially consumables, summoned using mana from the barracks. With the mana pocket still full, I had what felt like unlimited soldiers—though there was a numerical cap. As the monsters perished continuously, their numbers dwindled.
In just a few more months, the forest would be mine.
Year 37 Month 7
The river's flow had significantly decreased, Krul reported.
"The population's demand is increasing, but the river's flow is diminishing. We're going to face a serious issue soon."
Krul was the deputy chief of population administration.
He was also the one who monitored all activities of the people to ensure the town functioned smoothly without external relations.
Gathering teams.
Housing construction.
Town hall management.
The infrastructure necessary for a proper town.
Now, Krul faced a problem requiring my intervention.
"Do you have any idea why the river's flow has diminished?"
Krul pondered. "It's most likely because of a monster."
"A monster?"
Krul nodded. "I mean, the probability of a monster being responsible is high. It's also the only area that hasn't been 'cleared,'" he said, emphasizing the last word.
Internally, I immediately thought the same. We had cleared the entire forest extending up to the mountains, except for the mound above the forest.
That place was mostly deserted, but the prickling sensation it gave off kept me from venturing there, as though a monster resided within.
Is it finally time to visit the cohabitant?
"Krul, inform the others to ration water. For now, we should monitor the river's activity and prepare for an assault."
Krul, ever calm, nodded silently.
His character was impressive. If not for his missing left arm, I would have taken him under my wing. It was a shame.
Year 37 Month 8
We had finally cleared the entire forest. The monsters had either been exterminated or fled to another territory beyond the mountain ranges.
The mountains were so tall their peaks were shrouded in clouds.
At such heights, oxygen levels were extremely low, making the presence of people and monsters almost nonexistent.
"Hmph. I feel utterly useless!"
Nuga was throwing a tantrum.
Well, it was understandable.
Krul sat silently on a chrysalide, his expression ever composed.
An impressive calmness and stoicism.
"Why didn't you choose me?"
"It's too dangerous. You're still a little girl, full of potential," Krul unexpectedly replied.
Nuga was startled.
Krul was a quiet and enigmatic man.
"But—!"
Krul shook his head.
"These are the orders of a god."
Nuga furrowed her brows.
Krul was a good man but firmly believed Treon was a messenger descended from the gods. A kind of envoy with a mission. After all, Treon had appeared as a savior to those who thought they would perish in the forest.
The quality of life for humans outside the territories dominated by other races was comfortable—almost like a dream. No wonder he was so fervent in his belief.
"Tch." Nuga stormed off to her usual spot in the forest whenever she felt upset.
I silently observed the discussion, then issued my command.
"We're heading for the mound. Stay vigilant."
"At your orders, Lord Treon."
A battalion of 800 chrysalide soldiers marched in unison, with Krul leading the procession.