Chương 17: What Lives Within the Swamp

As he lay there in the mud, unmoving, he called out to the system inwardly, and the notification screen flickered before his eyes. You have defeated: [Crimson Pitcher Devourer Lv. 18] Class Leveled Up: [Druid Lv. 14 > Lv. 16] Talent Points gained: +4 Battle Tokens earned: 800 Multiple Skills Leveled Up. Check Skills status. Alert: You have reached Level 15. New skills may now be selected from your Class Tree. Then he checked his status and noted down any increases in skill effectiveness. …

Level: 16 Talent Points: 12 BT: 2210 Class: Druid – First Awakening Arcane Path: Sealed Health: 174/650 | Spirit: 190/410 | Mana: Locked Physical Condition: Weak Human Vessel (Mild acid burns, two cracked ribs, two broken ribs, torn left shoulder, cracked forearms) Spirit Core Stage: Seed Formation Skills: Seedling (F) LV. 12, Thorn Whip (F) LV. 13, Minor Shapeshift (F) LV. 7, Barkskin (F) LV. 5, Seedling Companion (F) LV. 8, Nature's Wrath (E) LV. 8, Potioncraft (D) LV. 3, Basic Swordsmanship (F) LV.

5, Cat Form (F) LV. 5, Rejuvenation (F) LV. 5, Static Strike (E) LV. 6, Follow Me! (F) LV. 1, Spectral Wolves (D) LV. 4, Entangle (F) LV. 2, Healing Flow (C) LV. 3 Feral Skills: Prowl (E) LV. 2, Claw Strike (F) LV. 5 … Static Strike and Claw Strike had the biggest jumps in levels. It seems whatever influenced the battle the most grew that much faster, though Rejuvenation and Healing Flow had grown as well, likely because they had to mend such severe wounds, and the healing wasn't done yet.

Healing Flow might level up further. He concluded, satisfied, and opened the Skill Shop while remaining still. [Cure Poison (E) 3TP], [Grow! (D) 5TP], [Thornshot (F) 2TP], [Feral Roar (F) 2TP], [Wind Spear (E) 3TP], [Stoneguard (E) 4TP] [Cure Poison (E) 3TP] – Pour spirit energy into your target, cleansing it from poisons up to E rank in strength or reducing the potency of poisons above D rank by 35%, up to B rank. Can be used once a day on a designated person. Spirit Cost 200. [Grow! (D) 5TP] – Become one with the forces of nature, command the natural order, and pour your will and energy into plants, guiding them to grow, adapt, and become stronger. Skill effect scales with level and tier. No Spirit cost but requires a significant level of energy control. [Thornshot (F) 2TP] – Summon thorn bullets and fire at your enemies. Shoot up to 6 projectiles per cast. Damage scales with tier and level. Costs 80 Spirit per cast.

[Feral Roar (F) 2TP] – While in feral form, unleash a roar imbued with spirit energy and your willpower, causing enemies weaker than you to flee in fear and empowering allies, increasing their overall speed by 10%. [Wind Spear (E) 3TP] – Shape the winds into piercing spears under your control that detonate on impact into a storm of sharp wind blades. Each spear costs 90 Spirit to conjure. [Stoneguard (E) 4TP] – Command the earth beneath you, raising a two-meter-tall and wide wall for protection.

Costs 150 Spirit to cast. Most of these look great… But looking at it objectively, some are non-negotiable. I'll take Cure Poison and Wind Spear, that leaves me with six more points. Hmmm. I'd like access to Earth spells as well, but this Grow skill has far too much potential. Let's hope I can pick the rest later. He made his decision and spent his points, leaving himself with only a single point to spare.

Like that, he grew a little stronger while his body still lay in the mud, absorbing the abundant spirit energy in the surroundings. Most of it went into healing his wounds, while the rest was split between his seed and Sprout, who had climbed onto the nearest tree, standing watch for any predators that might wander too close.

Almost an hour passed before Maximus rose from the mud, his wounds healed, his bones mended, and his skin regrown. A few scars remained on his forearms, needing time to fully fade; some of his ribs still ached, and his shoulders felt tight, but he confirmed that his health had recovered and he was no longer in immediate danger.

"That was way too close for comfort. Just what is this place… Damn that guard!" he cursed as he knelt beside the plant's floating corpse and scanned it with his Mana Sense. He followed the flow of mana through its veins until he found its core, an emerald sphere pulsing with natural energy, roughly the size of an egg. He carved it out carefully with his kitchen knife and then traced the mana further until he located its leafy, heart-like organ, which he extracted with equal care.

Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. [Crimson Pitcher's Spirit Pump] A plant-like organ used to circulate mana and spirit energy through the body of the Devourer plant. Due to the immense amounts of stored nutritional viscous liquid refined by both mana and spirit energy, it can be used as an ingredient in body-strengthening elixirs.

Quest Created: Collect all ingredients of a Rare Body refining elixir, successfully prepare it, and reforge your weak body. Ingredients found: 2/4 Rewards: 5 Talent Points, Strengthened Body"Oho! Finally, one of those quests appeared again! Let's see, what are the other ingredients?" He focused inwardly on his trove of knowledge, his soul feeding Maximus's mind with secrets long discovered by Aurelius. He stood there for a moment until a spark of light flashed within his gaze.

With these ingredients, there are two possible recipes: the Crimson Glade Decoction and the Nectar Marrow Serum. Both should strengthen this weak body from the inside out and help me increase spirit energy absorption and storage. But I don't want to do just that. Since this body is a blank canvas, I should aim for something greater, a foundation for both mana and spirit within a single vessel. I'll call it the Primordial Physique… And it will be my very first step into the unknown.

He clapped his hands together, a smirk forming on his lips. If there was one thing Maximus loved, it was research and the creation of something entirely new. And now, he was about to step into something he had never attempted before.

"To do this properly, I'll need to find an ingredient containing pure mana and something containing pure vitality. The Blood Orchid contains pure spirit energy gathered over the years; the Pitcher's Pump contains liquid purified by mana and spirit energy. Now I need true, untainted mana, and something to bind it all together while also keeping me alive through the process." He laughed loudly.

"Oh, my stars, this is exciting!" He grinned as he stored the massive plant's corpse, whether for potioncrafting or selling later, he wasn't about to let it go to waste.

"Sprout, buddy, come here. Let me inspect you. I'm not certain you're supposed to have the ability you showed earlier." Maximus said, and Sprout lunged obediently into his arms. [Seedling Spirit: Sprout] A plant spirit with an astonishing ability to grow. Its development is heavily influenced by its contractor. In nature, they spend their days absorbing spiritual energy, eventually growing into forest guardians. If contracted, it can link its vision with the contractor and assist in scouting.

It can locate useful plants and natural resources. Due to prolonged exposure to the spirit energy of its contractor, this spirit has begun progressing along an unknown evolutionary path. Skills Learned: Spirit Tunnel (S), Parasitic Control (A) Growth Potential: Unknown"Oh, my stars… Sprout, my boy, you are growing into something entirely new. It seems my very existence has pushed you onto an unknown path. Forgive me, I only hope it is something good."

Maximus smiled gently at the first spirit he had ever seen and had the privilege of calling a friend. Sprout rustled his leaves as if to say, Don't worry!

"Well, aren't you a polite little spirit. Let's take a look at these skills of yours." Maximus said, gently brushing Sprout's leaves with his index finger as the tiny spirit swayed in clear enjoyment.

Spirit Skills: Spirit Tunnel (S) – Influenced by his contractor's knowledge of spatial magic, the spirit has learned to open small portals between the Spirit Realm and the physical world, allowing it to traverse short distances instantly with a mere thought. Parasitic Control (A) – Driven by his contractor's instinct to survive, the spirit has awakened the ability to dominate and control plant life with lower intelligence than itself. This ability has significant potential for further evolution.

"By the First Root, Sprout, this is amazing. I'm proud of you, my boy! Grow, grow into something new. May we walk paths never seen before, may we control our own destinies!" Maximus said proudly, his voice filled with genuine excitement.

"Alright, we've spent way too much time here. Let's head back, and if you notice any new plants, make sure to tell me." Maximus added as he placed Sprout onto his head, took out his staff, and began making his way back toward the village, already and very deliberately planning how he might beat that guard's teeth in for not warning him about the dangers.

As Maximus trudged back through the knee-high waters, Sprout remained on high alert, watching for enemies while also scanning for useful plants. Then suddenly, the water rippled, and Sprout began hopping urgently atop Maximus's head.

"What is it, buddy?" Maximus asked as he pushed outward a thin, probing ripple of spirit energy, and paled instantly. Around him, four large alligators had positioned themselves, their bodies barely visible beneath the murky water and drifting moss.

"Curses…" Maximus sighed, stabbing his staff into the swamp floor.

"Entangle," he whispered, and beneath the water, thick roots slithered like serpents, bursting forward toward the four beasts. The roots bound three of them, but the fourth snapped forward with terrifying force, tearing through the bindings in seconds. That one is smarter… Maximus noted with a frown. Spectral Wolf, buy me some time, I've got an idea!

Maximus sent the command mentally as the spirit wolf lunged at the three-meter-long alligator, its dark-green scales glistening faintly under the weak sunlight filtering through the willows.

"Wind Spear." Maximus cast, but halted the activation mid-process, adjusting a single line in the spell's structure. Instead of launching it immediately, he stabilized it in his grasp like a solid weapon. This should count, right? he thought as he activated Static Strike. Lightning exploded across the conjured spear, merging with the compressed winds and amplifying the current, turning the weapon into a crackling lance of electric blue.

New Skill Detected: > Wind Spear: Conjure Spear Skill Unlocked: [Storm Javelin (C)] Divine! It worked! He grinned as he shapeshifted his arms into those of a bear and hurled the javelin forward with all his strength. Sensing the attack, the Spectral Wolf darted aside just as the javelin pierced the alligator's skull, before detonating in a violent burst of wind and lightning. Boom!

The beast's head exploded into fragments of bone and flesh, while the remaining three broke free of the roots, snapping wildly as they fled through the water.

"Thanks for saying hello!" Maximus called mockingly, chuckling as he quickly stored the corpse. You have defeated: [Marsh Alligator Lv. 15] Battle Tokens earned: 200"Ooooh! I understand now!" Maximus whispered, keeping his voice low to avoid drawing more predators.

"It seems the difficulty of the battle influences token rewards. If you kill something easily, you gain an amount relative to your level, but if you struggle, nearly die… Then you gain two or three times more," he reasoned aloud. Without wasting another moment, he hurried toward the edge of the swamp. Just as he reached firmer ground, the water behind him surged violently, and the earth trembled beneath his feet. Maximus turned and went pale, his mouth falling open.

Twenty meters behind him, a massive crocodile, nearly four meters long and white as snow, advanced steadily, its jaws snapping with slow, crushing force.

"By the stars… What a majestic beast! Apologies, friend, but let's reschedule this encounter!" Maximus shouted as he shifted into his Cat Form, his staff vanishing into his storage. With the Spectral Wolf at his side, the two bolted from the swamp at full speed, Sprout perched atop his head, staring intently at the pursuing monster.

After ten or so minutes of relentless sprinting, a large emerald-furred saber-tooth cat lay upon a hill near the village, heaving heavily. That's a perfect target for my taming skill. I must think about this carefully. Dying is out of the question… And killing such a majestic creature would be a waste. Maximus decided as he returned to human form and began walking toward the village, his expression turning cold. Mister guard… It's time we had a little talk. Maximus muttered.

He finally understood just how dangerously misleading the guard's directions had been; if he had been anyone else, he would have died ten times over. ‎