Chương 6: The Resting Bench Village

"What is taking so damn long?!" Tom screamed, clobbering his fist against the gates while holding Pete up with his other hand, his voice cracking from fear and exhaustion. Sarah's sobbing grew louder, her legs turning to jelly beneath her as she struggled to keep standing still. Meanwhile, Maximus had already collided with the assassin woman. His lupine legs filled him with explosive speed and unnatural stability. Each step was a burst of primal power. I've never felt anything like this… this is truly magical.

In my previous life, I dismissed physical transmutation as the crude domain of unrefined beast-clans... Maybe I was wrong after all… His thoughts wandered for half a heartbeat before reality snapped brutally back as the tall man lunged at him, slashing across his flank. Maximus positioned his blade vertically and pushed back with his enhanced legs to parry, only to be tossed backward with a loud, bone-rattling crunch.

Maximus grimaced as his clawed legs dug deep grooves into the red sandy ground, catching him before he toppled completely. He quickly summoned a mouthful of seedlings and chewed them furiously. His Barkskin membrane flickered, thin fractures cracking along its surface, still holding, but barely. Unfortunately, the sharp ache in his ribs confirmed that several ribs were broken, and his legs were almost done working as well.

A System window blinked: Quest Created: Defend the people counting on you as you wait for help and survive. Rewards: 2 Talent Points This is new… And remarkably redundant. As if I possess any other alternative, though rewards are always nice, Maximus muttered mentally as he forced himself up through pain, blade in his right hand, while his left hand gathered nature energy for Nature's Wrath. He didn't have the time to test edits or improvements; he needed the raw blast ready.

"You're a stubborn one, huh?!" the tall man mocked, then surprisingly added, "How about you join us? I see potential in you."

"Brock, don't be ridiculous!" the assassin woman snapped sharply.

"You know how the boss feels about fresh recruits. Stop wasting time; finish the job!" A job… They're hunting us intentionally! But why? Maximus had no idea whether they wanted him or the trio behind him, but he had no intention of waiting to find out. He exploded forward, his enhanced legs propelling him with feral grace as he slashed at the assassin.

She twisted away from the wide arc with effortless precision, releasing six daggers in a fan-like burst; Maximus avoided some, but a few stabbed through his Barkskin, shallow yet deep enough to lodge into muscle, sending sharp bursts of pain through his nerves, but he didn't stop, because she wasn't his target. Brock's body shifted, his flesh taking on the exact hue of the scorched desert dirt as he swung with terrifying force, only for Maximus to raise his left hand and release his spell.

Spirit energy twisted violently, gathering into green, star-like fire before exploding outward in a beam of emerald flames. The beam struck Brock square in the face, sending him tumbling backward with a scream as a misty trail of blood marked his fall. Oh wow… This! I can work with this! Maximus thought, exhilarated, just as the assassin shrieked in rage and burst forward in another blinding rush. Damn it. Where is that damn help?!

Maximus tried to dodge, but this was the moment his battered body finally betrayed him. His legs buckled.

"Are you kidding me, Maximus?!" he roared at himself as he toppled backward, vision blurring and darkening at the edges.

"Hell, you will!" he snarled, refusing to pass out as he hurled one last spell, Thorn Whip, blindly. He felt the vine connect with something, a thud and a scream, just before the darkness finally swallowed him whole.

Maximus opened his eyes with a sharp inhale, instincts snapping into place as he scanned the room in a rush, only to realize he wasn't outside anymore but lying on a simple wooden bed, his clothes and a satchel tossed over a nearby chair, and his upper body wrapped in thick bandages, some patches already soaked through with dried, darkened blood. He pushed himself up instinctively, but a stabbing pain in his ribs forced him back down with a grunt. This won't do…

Who knows who could attack me while I'm lying here like a helpless hatchling? He summoned a handful of Seedlings with a thought and shoved them into his mouth, the intensely sour taste making his whole face scrunch as he forced himself to swallow. This truly tastes horrible… A curse disguised as medicine, though proper medicine should be sour... Once the unpleasantness had settled, he opened his Info Log, remembering the last thing he saw before losing consciousness.

Quest Completed: Defend the people counting on you as you wait for help and survive. It looks like someone did come to our rescue in the end. Whoever it was, they sure took their sweet time. He thought and opened his status screen.

Name: Maximus Reid | True Name: Aurelius Sovitus (Concealed) Race: Human (Reborn) | Age: 23 Level: 5 Talent Points: 4 BT: 360 Class: Druid – First Awakening Arcane Path: Sealed Health: 159/375 Spirit: 147/150 | Mana: Locked Physical Condition: Weak Human Vessel (Broken Ribs, Blood Loss, Exhausted) If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it's taken without the author's consent. Report it. Spirit Strength: F Skills: Seedling (F) LV. 3, Thorn Whip (F) LV. 7, Minor Shapeshift (F) LV. 2, Barkskin (F) LV.

2, Seedling Companion (F) LV. 1, Nature's Wrath (E) LV. 2 Soul Traits: Otherworldly, Archmage (Dormant), Death Defiant, Library, Will of the Sage, Circle Breaker, Cosmic, Liberator Body Traits: Spiritborn (SS), Mana Sense (E) Class Traits: Natural (F) LV. 2 I should've gained only two Talent Points from the quest, but it looks like that also doubled thanks to my trait. Good to know! Maximus mused, nodding to himself. I'll save them for now. This picture is starting to look much better than when I first arrived…

but I should keep my advantage quiet. Who knows where this body's murderer is lurking... His thoughts spun rapidly until the door suddenly swung open, making him wince and clench his fist, ready to strike.

"Oh, you're awake!" Tom said, bursting in with a relieved grin, only to immediately sprint back out, leaving the door wide open as if subtlety were a foreign concept to him. A few minutes later, a bald, dark-skinned man stepped inside, wearing a dark green military-style uniform.

"Well, look who finally woke up. Our hero," the man said warmly as he dragged a chair closer and sat beside the bed.

"I'm this town's healer," he continued.

"You were in terrible shape, fresh wounds, old wounds, and one especially nasty one on your back. Honestly, that one should have killed you. How are you even alive?"

"When I arrived in the Planes, someone attacked me. I lost my memory because of it. Someone else must have healed me and left me there," Maximus explained, keeping his voice flat. Not exactly a lie.

"I see," the man nodded.

"Well, whoever healed you is better than me by a mile." He flashed a disarming smile.

"Name's Jax. I heard you saved your group twice before you collapsed. We could use a man of your character in this village."

"What do you mean, in the village? How do you plan to pass the first stage then?" Maximus asked sharply.

"By waiting around for ninety days?"

"Indeed," Jax replied.

"We healers don't have many combat options, and we can level our skills by treating people. Staying in villages like this is a reliable method."

"Forgive me, but I cannot," Maximus said, shaking his head.

"I can't waste my time. I need to grow stronger, fast."

"Alright, alright," Jax chuckled.

"Everyone has their circumstances. But you'll need a couple more treatments before you leave. You're badly injured, and those two who attacked you might still be nearby."

"Wait, what?" Maximus shot upright before pain forced him down again.

"Didn't you finish them off?!"

"The leader chased them away, but no, he couldn't kill them," Jax said simply.

"Don't worry, he'll meet you soon. You can ask him yourself."

"The others? They're fine?" Maximus asked, turning to Tom, who lingered awkwardly.

"Yes," Tom nodded.

"Pete survived thanks to your antitoxin paste. Sarah's alright, but… She's scared. She needs time."

"Good," Maximus said with a soft exhale.

"As long as they're alive, there's always a way forward."

"Max, you old man, you're so wise sometimes." Tom laughed tiredly.

"Get some rest. I'll visit later." As Tom left, Jax studied him.

"So, you were the one who made that paste. Good thinking. If you'd left his wound untreated, he would've died from the venom."

"I'll have to check on other patients now," Jax said, rising.

"The leader will visit later." The door closed behind him, leaving Maximus alone. I've got no time for this… He summoned more Seedlings and chewed them with a deep frown. Skill Leveled Up: [Seedling (F) Lv. 4] It's not bad to have a visual representation of growing stronger. Back home, I had to test spells by fighting monsters just to know if something improved. This is much easier… Why didn't I ever think of creating a system like this? He snorted at himself and whispered, "Seedling Companion."

This time, the usual formula pattern did not appear. Instead, a small verdant portal spiraled open before him, and a tiny 5-centimeter bipedal seedling waddled out. It had root-like legs, two small leaves atop its head like a crown, and beneath them, two curious eyes gleaming with life. As the small being landed on his palm, a gentle breeze of spirit energy passed through the room, leaving a soft, lingering minty scent, which gently faded.

"Aren't you an interesting fellow?" Maximus murmured, smiling gently for the first time since awakening here.

"I'll name you… Sprout. Grow big and strong, buddy." The seedling jumped in his palm excitedly, as if delighted by the name. Maximus appraised it. [Seedling Spirit] A plant spirit with an astonishing ability to grow. Its growth will be heavily influenced by its contractor. In nature, they spend days absorbing spiritual energy, later 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. Growth Potential: A?

"Well, look at you," Maximus chuckled.

"You can become something extraordinary if we take care of you, huh? Just like this weak body. Alright, Sprout. Let's grow strong together. We can't stay still, not with beings out there who worked with Mother. Who knows if they can find me here too… or if she's even dead. They revived Axelion after all. Damn gods…" He activated their shared vision, smiling at how simple it felt.

"Sprout, look at me." Sprout bounced and tilted its leafy head up toward him. For the first time in this life, Maximus truly looked at his new face. It was strange; he understood this was him now, yet he felt no connection to it. Red hair, scrawny, sunken-in cheeks, round ears, and deep blue eyes surrounded by dark circles. Wait. He raised Sprout closer, eyes narrowing. These are my eyes. His old eyes, unmistakably. How is that possible…?

Eyes are windows to the soul, I guess after all, he thought, chuckling softly. Maybe it's that… Or maybe it's just a coincidence. The door creaked open again. A scrawny, small, older man with thin grey hair entered, smiling warmly, and when he did, Maximus noticed the man's unnervingly pristine, sharp white teeth.

"Hello, young man," the stranger greeted him.

"I heard what you did before the gates. Reckless… but commendable."

"You're the leader?" Maximus asked, surprised, as the Sprout hid under the bedsheet.

"Haha, indeed, I am," the man laughed.

"Well, the current one. I'll be moving to the next Plane in about thirty days, and I'd like you to stay here and take my place. You showed that you are dependable and are willing to protect the weak. What do you say?"

"Forgive me, elder," Maximus said sincerely.

"But I intend to grow stronger. I'll pass the first trial by reaching the City of Beginnings. Staying here would waste time I can't afford to lose."

"Fair enough," the leader chuckled.

"If I had a younger body, I'd try that crazy plan of yours as well."

"Crazy? Why?" Maximus frowned. It seemed straightforward: reach level twenty-five, reach the city. That's all.

"Well," the elder explained patiently, "people usually settle in the first village they find. They hunt around, level up, and wait for the ninety days. It's safe and proven. Sure, you miss out on extra rewards and levels… but it's safe. We've had twenty years to figure this out, you know." He continued, clearing his throat.

"To reach the City of Beginnings, you must reach level twenty-five, not because it's the rule, but because anything lower and you won't survive the Wildlands of Hunger. It spans over three hundred kilometers, filled with creatures cursed with bottomless hunger. It's a place of death, boy."

"I see…" Maximus whispered. Then he straightened.

"Still, I'd like to try. What is life, if not a series of choices that lead either to immeasurable glory or the end of the line? Our duty is simply to delay the latter for as long as possible."

"Haha! Wise words for a young man," the elder said brightly.

"Very well, I won't stop you. Stay and recover as long as needed." He extended his hand politely.

"Oh, by the way, I never caught your name. I'm Edgar Kross."

"Maximus Reid," he said, shaking the old man's hand firmly.

"Nice to meet you."

"A strong name!" Edgar beamed.

"Alright then, I'll leave you to rest. The monster horde arrives in three days, as usual. I need to prepare the newcomers." He gave a brief, respectful nod before stepping out, closing the heavy door behind him. Monster horde? Maximus thought. Another thing I know nothing about… Sprout peeked from under the blanket.

"Sprout," Maximus whispered, "go scout the village while I rest. I need information… badly." Sprout nodded excitedly and hurled itself out the window like a suicidal pebble. Maximus sighed. Crazy spirit… Hope it doesn't kill itself. He reactivated their shared vision, and the village unfolded before his eyes.