Chương 23: Back On the Road

They stopped outside the swamp to allow Maximus to heal. And as he sat and let Healing Flow fix his broken form, he checked his notifications. Skill Follow Me! (F) is ready to evolve. Please choose the evolution path for the skill. Available Paths: Tame (E), One of Us (E), Obey (E) Tame (E) – Command defeated beasts to follow you in battle. Chance to tame a beast of any type, 40%, which can increase with the level of the skill. Successfully taming a beast lets you absorb some of its bodily power. No Spirit cost.

Slots available 1/2. Moves the user towards the Living Tank path. One of Us (E) – Command defeated beasts to follow you in battle. Chance to tame a beast of any type, 30%, which can increase with the level of the skill. Your shapeshifting abilities will receive extra forms depending on the types of beasts you have tamed, and last double the time. No Spirit cost. Slots available 1/2. Moves the user towards the Shapeshifter path. Obey (E) – Command defeated beasts to follow you in battle.

Chance to tame a beast of any type, 50%, which can increase with the level of the skill. Tamed beasts will obey every command unquestionably, even sacrificing their lives for their master. No Spirit cost. Slots available 1/4. Moves the user towards the Beastmaster path. As they sat on the ground, drinking potions and recuperating, Maximus observed his choices. There is only one choice: it's not even questionable. Skill evolution confirmed! Skill Follow Me!

(F) has evolved into skill One of Us (E) Skill Minor Shapeshift updated! Class Trait Leveled Up [Friend of the Wild (E) Level 10] Minor Shapeshift (F) Level 8 – Transform part of your body into an animal part. Possible transformations: Lupine legs, Bear claws, Eagle eyes, Crocodile maw. Transformations last for 20 minutes. No spirit cost, but it places a burden on the mind.

Incredible, I am not certain if I want to bite my enemies to death, but it doesn't hurt to have a surprise hidden just in case. He noted the upgrade and returned his attention to the group as Silex was roaring at Oscar, making it seem as if they were arguing.

"What are you two doing?" Maximus sighed.

"This bloody croc was eyeing me up like I'm a Sunday roast!" Oscar bellowed, pointing his spear at Silex.

"Silex, please leave him be," Maximus commanded, but the beast ignored him and lashed its tail toward Oscar, who jumped over it.

"Stop it, you two. Let's not waste our energy on childish things." Maximus said sternly, but both ignored him completely. His eyebrow twitched as suddenly his head shimmered and morphed into a white crocodile's, nearly identical to Silex's.

"I said… Enough!" he hissed, his voice turning into a guttural, ancient rasp that froze Silex mid-snap and drained the color from Oscar's face. Oscar stared at him and gasped, "Is it contagious?" he asked as he dashed away from Silex. Silex turned and stared at Maximus, frozen, jaws slightly open. Maximus felt a rare spark of mischief.

"If it is, Oscar, you should be honored to share my likeness," Maximus growled as he limped after him, snapping his maw playfully behind him. Seeing this, Silex joined in, following Maximus like a hatchling chasing after its kin.

"Aaaah, back away! I don't want to end up ugly as sin!" Oscar screamed as he ran for his life.

"It's already too late for that!" Maximus growled, almost breaking into laughter as he chased. Sometimes he really does feel like one of us. Felix thought as he chuckled at the ridiculous scene before him.

"Oscar, oh no… The back of your head is turning scaly!" Felix shouted. Oscar slapped the back of his head and screamed, "I'm losing all my hair! Oh gods, it's happening!"

"There is nothing to lose, you fool!" Felix shouted, nearly collapsing to his knees from laughter. Seeing this, Maximus finally chuckled as he stopped. I'm glad I managed to lighten the mood. He smiled.

"Silex, my friend. You need to learn how to work with others. You are not alone any longer." Maximus said, still in his crocodile form, which made Silex listen intently and nod. Looks like I found a way to make him behave. Maximus smiled, satisfied.

"So, where to next? We can handle some big monsters now with this big boy." Felix nodded toward Silex, who rested beside Maximus which just finished his healing, ignoring the two entirely. Maximus opened up the map he got from Rose and pointed.

"I was thinking we could go here." He tapped a section of the map where no villages were marked nearby.

"Why there?" Oscar asked, confused.

"If this information is correct, there should be a monster camp here. Goblins." Maximus said, "There are no villages around it, so the monsters should be stronger than the ones we've faced so far. We can get there in about half a day. After that, we head further east; around five days in, we should reach this spot here, the Bastion of Hope, the last village in the northern part before the Wildlands. From there, we can plan our hunting properly."

Maximus explained and sighed, "We should have a little more than ten days to level up together." Oscar frowned.

"If only you'd been snatched along with our lot at the start," he said quietly.

"We can meet again on the Third Plane," Maximus said hopefully.

"We will," Felix added calmly. Before they could move, Silex suddenly slammed his tail lightly into Maximus, staring at him expectantly.

"What is it, boy?" Maximus asked, confused. Sprout nudged him as well, pointing with his leaves toward the crocodile's open maw.

"He is… Hungry?" Maximus asked, and Sprout clapped his leaves eagerly.

"Don't look at me!" Oscar slowly backed away.

"I only have this." Maximus summoned the corpse of a large spider they had hunted earlier. Silex didn't hesitate and lunged forward, tearing into the spider headfirst and ripping chunks of meat from its body with brutal efficiency. If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

"That's bloody disgusting!" Oscar gagged, turning away.

"Truly…" Maximus shook his head, though his tone held faint amusement. Once Silex had devoured the spider, leaving only the half-burnt head and two swollen venom sacs behind, they were finally ready to move. Maximus stored the venom sacs carefully for future use, and they set off, following the map deeper toward their next hunt.

The group of three humans, a large white crocodile, and a small plant spirit moved through the steppe of the First Plane. They walked for a few hours, stopping semi-regularly since Silex didn't enjoy moving for long stretches, and Maximus still had issues with his stamina, which luckily was improving due to Spirit Energy fusing with his organs and muscles. Then suddenly, as they were halfway toward the goblin camp, Sprout started rustling his leaves intensely. Maximus activated Eagle Eyes and zoomed in.

A hundred meters in front of them, a pack of a dozen or so golden-furred jackals was sprinting toward them.

"Boys, I've got some bad news." Maximus frowned, "Thirteen jackals, and they look especially vicious. Approaching from the east." Maximus warned the group.

"We can do this!" Felix muttered, unsheathing his sword.

"Fuck me and call me Mary. Always some fucked up shit happening to me." Oscar muttered as he pulled out his spear.

"Calm down. Felix, plant Ice Traps on the northern edge and drive some toward you. I will set traps to the west, Oscar, you push a few into the red flowers. Silex and I will take the rest." Maximus ordered.

"Aye, boss!" Oscar saluted, exaggerating the motion. Maximus ignored him and planted dozens of Scorching Lilies, forcing them to bloom rapidly.

"Don't touch them. They will explode on contact!" Maximus warned, and Oscar gulped.

"Spectral Wolf, assist me!" he called, summoning his spirit beast to Silex's visible surprise.

"This is an ally, don't attack him!" Maximus warned Silex as he shifted his legs into lupine form, his boots long since torn through at the front. I'll need to procure shapeshifting footwear soon. He noted mentally. As the beasts drew closer, their snarls cutting through the wind, Maximus raised his staff and activated Nature's Wrath. He held the spell for a heartbeat longer, waiting, calibrating the distance, and then released it.

A beam of burning green flames surged forward, warping the air around him as it tore into what looked like the pack leader and the two nearest jackals. The spell erupted on impact, hurling the leader backward as its claws gouged into the ground to steady itself, but the others were not as fortunate. One fell immediately, its face scorched and bleeding, while the other crashed into two behind it, sending them sprawling. The rest of the pack surged forward, now even more ferocious.

Oscar lunged toward the two on the left, stabbing rapidly as he herded them into the field of red flowers. The moment they touched, the Scorching Lilies detonated in a blinding burst of flame and heat.

"Bloody hell! It's like you fed them pure fire!" Oscar shouted, stunned, before pressing the attack on the two still burning jackals. On the other side, Felix swung his blade, sending a crescent arc of freezing mana that cleanly severed one beast's forelegs, while the other two leapt at him, only to trigger his Ice Traps. Frost surged upward, encasing their bodies almost completely. Felix smirked coldly and stepped forward, driving his blade cleanly into one's neck.

Meanwhile, Silex roared and charged into a group of three, catching one in his massive jaws and slamming it into the ground with brutal force until its neck snapped. He crushed the body further before whipping around and smashing another with his tail, the impact shattering its spine. Maximus nodded at his fierce new companion and planted his staff into the ground as he channeled Entangle. Thick brown roots exploded from the ground, binding the two remaining jackals in place.

Maximus stored his staff and activated Wind Spear: Conjure Spear. As winds condensed within his grasp into a long, white spear of wind mana, he activated Static Strike, which surged stronger thanks to his new armor, and drove it deep into the flank of one of the bound beasts.

The beast roared but held, even as part of its body exploded into chunks of flesh, desperately trying to tear through the root bindings with its fangs, while Maximus thrust again and again until the beast finally succumbed to blood loss and the lightning cooking its insides. Seeing this, the other bound beast struggled harder to break free, only to meet the same fate moments later.

Meanwhile, the leader and the two wounded in the back completely lost control and sprinted at full speed toward Maximus, ignoring everyone else entirely. Oh, you are smart, aren't you? Maximus praised inwardly, recognizing the beasts that remembered who had struck them first. Maximus activated Barkskin, which fused with his chest armor, growing thicker and more solid, while he summoned his Storm Javelin.

A pure white javelin of wind surged with crackling lightning, making the entire area ripple with static arcs as he hurled it just as the jackal leader leapt for his throat. The javelin pierced the beast's head as if it were nothing and detonated, taking it cleanly off. Unfortunately, the other two jackals ignored the death of their leader and clamped down, one onto Maximus's right leg and the other onto his left forearm. Barkskin flickered violently as it started to crack under the crushing force of their jaws.

The Spectral Wolf, who had been assisting Felix, sprinted back and tore into the beast clinging to Maximus's leg, ripping into it savagely, while Maximus, gritting through the pain, morphed his arms into bear claws and slammed the other creature into the ground, tearing free a chunk of his own flesh still caught in its mouth.

Seeing this, Silex roared, his eyes flashing crimson as water mana surged violently around his maw, and he lunged forward, crushing both remaining jackals in a brutal, high-pressure echo of his bite attack. Maximus swallowed a mouthful of healing potion as Oscar and Felix finished off the last of their enemies and rushed over to him, seeing the blood soaking his gear.

"Are you alive?" Felix asked, concern breaking through his usual calm.

"I'll be fine. Just let me rest." Maximus said as he began chewing on seedlings from his storage alongside the Cinder Seeds. His spirit was nearly depleted, and he couldn't even cast Rejuvenation on himself.

"Honest to God, you're always the one getting battered, aren't you?" Oscar shook his head as he took a sip of his potion. Felix, seeing Maximus stabilizing, turned to scavenge cores while Silex resumed tearing into his prey. Maximus closed his eyes as he began absorbing spirit energy, allowing Healing Flow to activate. Thanks to the skill, he didn't need to consciously guide the energy anymore; it moved on its own, knitting flesh and restoring what was lost.

He, on the other hand, used the moment to feed the excess energy into his seed. I've ignored you for far too long. As soon as I find a safe place rich in spirit energy, I'll push you to sprout. He murmured inwardly to the slowly growing translucent seed. Sprout, you as well. It's time to grow stronger. Maximus said through their connection, and Sprout nodded firmly. It seemed the little spirit had started to feel the gap between himself and the others. His once innocent presence now carried a quiet determination.

After a good half hour, Maximus opened his eyes and made a small nod. Then, he checked his status. Multiple Skills Leveled Up. Check Skills status. Skill Leveled Up [Spectral Wolves (D) Level 5] You have defeated: [Golden Jackal Lv. 16] x4 You have defeated: [Golden Jackal Lv. 15] x2 You have defeated: [Golden Alpha Jackal Lv. 18] Tamed beast Silex Leveled Up. Level 22 reached. Class Leveled Up: [Druid Lv. 16 > Lv. 18] Talent Points gained: +4 Battle Tokens earned: 1100 Finally, some levels…

Two more to pick new skills. I will save the points for now. Who knows what I'll get to choose later? Then he stood up and cast Rejuvenation, letting the soothing energy wash through him as it finished restoring him to full health.

"Here, these are your cores." Felix handed him the cores of the beasts that Maximus and Silex had killed.

"The rest he ate along with the corpses," Felix added, pointing at the visibly stuffed and satisfied crocodile.

"Haha, it is alright. He earned it." Maximus smiled, clearly pleased, as he looked toward Silex with approval.

"Let's get moving then. No time to waste here any longer." He added, his tone sharpening with renewed purpose. Current Status: Level: 18 Talent Points: 5 BT: 3, 607 Class: Druid – First Awakening Arcane Path: Sealed Health: 700 | Spirit: 430 | Mana: Locked Physical Condition: Weak Human Vessel (Recently Heavily Injured, In Process of Spirit Strengthening) Spirit Core Stage: Seed Formation Skills: Cinder-Seed (E) LV. 3, Thorn Whip (F) LV. 14, Minor Shapeshift (F) LV. 9, Barkskin (F) LV. 8, Seedling Companion (F) LV.

9, Nature's Wrath (E) LV. 9, Potioncraft (D) LV. 7, Basic Swordsmanship (F) LV. 5, Cat Form (F) LV. 6, Rejuvenation (F) LV. 6, Static Strike (E) LV. 7, One of Us (E) LV. 1, Spectral Wolves (D) LV. 5, Entangle (F) LV. 7, Healing Flow (C) LV. 5, Cure Poison (E) LV. 1, Grow! (D) LV. 6, Wind Spear (E) LV. 3, Storm Javelin (C) LV. 2, Static Vine Whip (D) LV. 2 Feral Skills: Prowl (E) LV. 2, Claw Strike (F) LV.

5 Soul Traits: Otherworldly, Archmage (Dormant), Death Defiant, Library, Will of the Sage, Circle Breaker, Cosmic, Liberator, Skill Collector Body Traits: Spiritborn (SS), Mana Sense (E) Class Traits: Nature's Seed (E) LV. 7, Friend of the Wild (E) LV. 10