Chapter 926: Chapter 924: Honesty and Trustworthiness, Tree Sage
The flames are burning, burning fiercely.
With the aid of spells, the spread of flames is astonishingly fast. Within just a few short minutes, the pillars of fire igniting the forest have transformed into a terrifying forest fire, spreading in all directions.
Looking from above, near the center of the forest, a strikingly large black spot has been burned out, and this black spot continues to grow.
As the black spot approaches a rocky area within the forest, an anomaly suddenly occurs.
The sound of countless beasts roaring arises, with hundreds and thousands of beasts appearing, seemingly controlled, frantically charging towards the edge of the fire. Completely unafraid of the fire’s high temperatures, they even endure the scorching air that singes their fur without retreating, growling lowly while digging the ground with their claws and biting at unburnt trees, attempting to create a firebreak.
But it’s to no avail.
A gust of strong wind arises, swiftly sweeping across the fire.
Originally, the fire had begun to weaken due to the lack of oxygen from burning for so long. But now, replenished by the strong wind with abundant oxygen, the flames suddenly surge, exploding up to hundreds of meters high by riding the wind’s force.
In a single breath, the fire leaps over the dozens of meters wide firebreak, engulfing countless beasts, advancing amidst a cacophony of screams.
Advance, advance, continually advancing.
More beast roars resound, another batch of controlled beasts rushes in urgently, trying to block the fire’s path.
But just like before, it only slightly delays the fire by a dozen seconds or so until another gust of strong wind blows through, annihilating all the beasts, and the fire advances once more.
After repeating this several times, the fire consumes the lives of thousands of beasts, covering nearly half of the forest with a dense smell of cooked meat. The leading edge of the fire approaches a mist-covered lowland.
Logically, as the fire draws near, the air temperature rises, causing the mist to dissipate. However, reality is entirely opposite; as the fire approaches, the mist not only doesn’t dissipate but instead thickens.
At this moment, the fire encounters its strongest obstacle yet.
The beastly roars resound.
The ground trembles as a dark mass of beast silhouettes appear.
This time, the number of beasts is no longer in the hundreds or thousands, but tens of thousands.
Like an army, they fearlessly charge to the edge of the fire, digging the ground and biting trees with claws and teeth until they bleed profusely, all in a desperate attempt to create a barrier.
Richard and his companions, hundreds of meters high in the sky, glance at each other, confirming something, and cast their gaze toward the mist-protected lowland.
Without hesitation, the three bodies descend simultaneously, plunging into the white mist like streaks of light.
The spell is cast, a strong wind arises, making the white mist violently fluctuate from its center, reluctantly dispersing to reveal a twisted giant tree over two meters in diameter and tens of meters high.
The giant tree is entirely gray-black, its branches thick like human hair, and near the ground, numerous roots embed themselves into the earth, frantically absorbing the soil’s nutrients.
Just a glance at this giant tree, and Richard and his companions confirm that this is the forest culprit they are searching for.
Not to mention other factors, the aura it exudes alone cannot deceive them; it’s an ancient and twisted aura, powerfully imbued with a vague sense of malevolence, prompting a wariness.
Furthermore, it’s clear that surrounding it are hundreds of various demonized creatures, crouching low, ready to attack—clearly its last protective measure.
At this moment, Bobbobovic, wearing an ugly bear skin hat, surveys the ancient tree and exhales, saying, “Hoo, we’ve finally found it, this makes it easier. Solve this big guy, and our mission is complete. Let’s stop dawdling and get to work.” At the end, Bobbobovic energetically urges.
Watching Bobbobovic take a step forward, Richard speaks, “Wait a moment.”
“What’s up?” Bobbobovic asks in confusion.
Just then, accompanied by a series of “crackling” sounds, the tree trunk’s bark compresses, revealing a vague human face.
A part of the tree trunk depresses, forming a cavity from which a decayed-scented wind blows, and a hoarse voice rings out as the giant tree speaks, “Outsiders, cease your actions!”
“Ah, it can talk?” Bobbobovic turns to glance at the giant tree in surprise.
The giant tree casts a glance at Bobbobovic and says, “I am a Wise Man among the trees, possessing extraordinary power and immortal life. I am a higher being than you, having seen many like you, naturally capable of understanding and expressing your language.”
“Oh, I see. Then what do you wish to say?” Bobbobovic asks.
“What I want to say is straightforward,” the giant tree’s voice amplifies. “You outsiders have invaded my territory without cause, murdering many of our offspring; I am very angry. However, I am also forgiving. If you immediately leave, I can overlook your previous faults, treating it as if nothing ever happened.”
“Invasion of your territory without cause?” Bobbobovic moves his bare brow in dissent, retorting angrily, “How can you say it’s without cause? Had you not killed many people entering this forest first, we wouldn’t have come here. Upon arrival, you were the ones who attacked first, using demonized moose and demonized black snakes against us, prompting our retaliation. Now you say one word of forgiveness is enough, making everything vanish as if it never happened? Not to mention, my hair won’t agree with you!”
“Pa!” Bobbobovic, with some ire, takes off his ugly bear skin hat and tosses it to the ground, revealing his bare head, stomping angrily, “Could my hair immediately grow back if I leave? No! Therefore, this matter cannot end so simply.”
The giant tree falls silent.
After a moment, it speaks again, gazing at Bobbobovic, “Indeed, I’ve killed many who entered this forest, all for self-protection and to avoid discovery. As for your baldness, I’m not sure how it happened, but I can help you grow it back. Would that prompt you to leave?”
“Hmm? You can make my hair grow back?” Bobbobovic expresses surprise, “Really?”
“Of course, it’s true,” the giant tree confirms, “I, the Tree Sage, the Forest Source, the Immortal Guardian—Yuketrahill Alhaydon Ximu, speak nothing but the truth.”
“Then how will you manage it?” Bobbobovic urgently asks.
“Come a bit closer, and I’ll tell you.”
“Alright.” Bobbobovic moves forward without hesitation.
The surrounding ground shatters in a large area, with dozens of black vines, over ten centimeters in diameter, emerging—some lightning-fast towards Bobbobovic, others towards Richard and Heluo. Chapters fırst released on 𝔫𝔬𝔳𝔢𝔩·𝕗𝕚𝕣𝕖·𝘯𝘦𝘵