Volume 1 Chapter 33: Going Wwrrooom in the forest

(Walson)

The experimental enchantments on Melon's scales were a success.

If Melon fights with her bare fist, she would be able to set enemies on fire, just like that fire fist guy from 'you-know-which' series.

The activation of the enchantments requires an emphasis of "Attack". Which means, she can still function like a regular person during everyday life and not worry about setting things on fire by accident.

Also, she wears the gloves that Grace gave her for her birthday for the majority of the time, preventing the enchantments from activating. It's almost acting almost like a power restrictor.

I suppose the gloves could do with a few enchantments as well. Let's add [Protection] and [Projectile Protection] onto it.

The left glove will have [Protection], while the right glove will have [Projectile Protection].

[Projectile Protection] is a very powerful enchantment now since it can negate arrows, magic bullets, fire balls, and all sorts of projectile attacks.

We did some extensive testing, Grace volunteered by using her magic, we started with [Razor Wind] at first but as we continued testing we came to the conclusion that almost anything that is counted as a projectile can be blocked.

Arrows will lose their 'punch' and fall powerlessly to the ground.

However, we found out that stuff like gigantic fire balls can only be partially blocked, as Melon would still be scorched by the heated air that follows in its wake.

And also that the glove in question must make contact with the projectile in order to work. Wide area attacks cannot be blocked whatsoever.

It's still a pretty decent enchantment in general, useful when going up against archers and magicians that use the small scale and pin point attacks.

I wonder what the faces of Melon's enemies will be like when they realize she can block all their projectile attacks with her bare hands? Extreme shock perhaps? Reminds me of the guy with the "imagine breaker". The reactions should be comical enough to make photos of their faces worthwhile, sadly there aren't any cameras.

Anyway, that's about it for the enchanting experiment with Melon.

As of now, I am speeding through the forest - oh, correction - I am speeding through the forest while riding a wolf.

Rifle is really fast. Like... OOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHH THE SPEED! GOTTA GO FAST!

Normally it would be impossible to be so fast in wooded areas. I mean, just try to imagine riding a car through trees. It's a natural obstacle course.

But that is not the case for riding on the back of Rifle. It's like riding a smart, auto-pilot, self-directing heavy motorcycle.

I could tell him the destination, and he would automatically take the route that I am most familiar with. Not the route that Rifle is familiar with.

It feels amazing! And it's super convenient. I feel that people back on Earth really should abandon their cars and convert to wolf riding. It will look cool, and save lots of fossil fuels and decrease pollution in the process.

Not only that, it's fast enough to rival a heavy motorcycle too.

A lupine motor bike in a different world. Hmm, it has a nice ring to it.

"Hey..." I pulled my bow all the way back, aiming for the [Miltow Cow] in the distance.

Rifle automatically cooperated by suddenly slowing down, which was also the instant that I let the arrow loose.

*Pa-crack!* was the loud sound of wood breaking when the arrow pierced through the [Miltow Cow's] head and blew a hole in the tree behind it.

Woah, what power.

This bow is created by yours truly, using carefully chosen materials.

For one, the wood is from the [Millennium Fairy Wood] and the bow string is created by combining five very durable golden spider strings that were dropped by rare spider mobs.

The enchantments were, of course, [Power IV], [Flame I], [Knockback I], and [Infinity].

[Power] increases the power, obviously... [Flame] makes them turn into flaming arrows, [Knockback] adds a shock wave to the arrows, and the same could be said about melee weapons, they generate a shockwave that pushes opponents away.

Finally, comes [Infinity].

In my personal opinion, this one was one of the most overpowered enchantments back in Minecraft.

Though now that real life physics is affecting everything, a quiver is required for it to work. So long as there is at least one arrow remaining in the quiver, you will never run out of arrows.

With all these enchantments combined, it makes the bow almost like an artillery cannon...

The appearance of this bow is very deceiving. The color is a simple shade of gray that is unique to the [Millenium Fairy Wood], and a golden string. I didn't add any fancy decorations.

I've decided to name this long bow [Apollo].

This bow is my treasure, and there will never be another one like it - until I make another one that is.

Oh, by the way, using [Millenium Fairy Wood] has a nice bonus. It slowly regenerates your HP as long as you're holding it. Although I guess it probably won't be able to fix amputated limbs, it's still a powerful effect in its own right.

Maybe I should make some accessories for Melon and Grace with [Millenium Fairy Wood]. There is still plenty of the material in stock.

This bow only took out 10% of the stock.

Rifle quickly dashed to the downed [Miltow Cow] and I started to disassemble the body, taking the materials that would be useful for me.

All that was left were the innards and organs of the cow, which I disposed of by summoning up vines from the ground, pulling them into the earth and covering them up.

Originally I wanted to let Rifle feast on the organs, but after Rifle started eating our food, he has become very picky...

As for the vines from the ground, it's a new special ability of mine.

My new racial status: [Ancient Tree - Human], actually puts me on similar grounds to the Dryad back in the Nakula Jungle. We are 'technically' family now, but I am more like a follower that shares familial/blood bonds. I have access to some special skills now.

Namely, the [Illusory Barrier] and wood/nature elemental spells.

As the name suggests, the [Illusory Barrier] is a barrier. It's what the Dryad is using to protect and isolate herself, and the appearance of the barrier can be changed and customized to one's desire.

Currently, the only known way to breach this barrier is through teleportation. Which means that it is a very secure line of defense since teleportation magic is such a difficult thing to learn.

I can't make a gigantic barrier like the Dryad, but can safely create a barrier that is the size of a small house.

Then, wood/nature magic is basically the ability to manipulate plant growths through the use of mana.

Under normal circumstances, such magic is nothing impressive. But in truth, it's because wood magic is very rare and not much is known about it.

By having the plants absorb the mana from the earth, one can hasten their growth. And growth aside, 'hastening' is counted as time magic. So in short, it's a branch of time magic that specifically targets plants.

This makes wood/nature magic more complicated. Don't think it's just making weeds grow faster and underestimate its power!

...Mmm, but it can only speed up the process of growth, not create plants out of thin air. I can only manipulate what is already there, or in case I want something specific, I will a t least need a seed.

If that's the case, then I could just stick to using [Bonemeal]. I am much more familiar with its usage anyway.

Plus, absorbing mana from the earth is very dangerous. Remember how the Famine came about? It's due to the lack of mana that created an imbalance and caused this famine. The Dryad was absorbing as much mana as she could to fight off the [Wither] effects and caused the land of the entire region to go infertile.

An additional ability I gained after becoming an [Ancient Tree - Human] is that I can communicate with plants now.

Yes, you heard it right. I can talk to plants.

But in all honesty, not a lot of the plants can respond very well. Only trees, which are naturally older than weeds and grass, allows communication. Other plant life only gives off strange babbling sounds - baby noises like "Yee" "Yah" - that are mostly incomprehensible.

And. They. Are. Super. Noisy.

Being surrounded by grass and weeds is like walking into a room full of screaming babies.

The chatty and annoying Dryad is actually really quiet in comparison, Yikes.

"Grrrrowruu..." Rifle stops and emits a deep throated growl.

Sensing Rifle's unease, I took a look at the [Mini-map].

... At Twelve o'clock direction, [Arkon] is one hundred miles away from us.

He isn't moving, but he must have sensed us too.

"Hrrroouuuuu..."

"Hey, don't bother him." I patted Rifle's furry neck.

Rifle has been really sensitive when it comes to [Arkon]'s scent. He always acts up like this, and sometimes I even get the feeling that Rifle really wants to challenge the [Mountain King].

Well, Rifle has grown stronger for sure... but...

After bonding with me, his racial status has also changed into [Ancient Tree Follower - Wolf]. And as a result, his growth rate is better than just being a normal wolf. He also has access to wood/nature magic and the [Illusory Barrier], but neither abilities are very impressive.

The barrier Rifle can erect is even smaller than mine, it's only one square meter large. And his wood magic only makes grass and weed grow faster, unable to affect the growth of trees.

He could help with the crops though, accelerating their growth and ending up being a farmer of a wolf.

Normally, wolves can't use magic. So the fact that despite having control over such a directly unoffensive branch of magic is impressive by itself. But I still think that Rifle can't fight [Arkon] at all. It often feels like that if I don't restrain him, he will have a go with the [Mountain King].

Rifle, please don't do it.

With all these thoughts in mind, I arrived at the secret base while riding on Rifle's back.

There were two uninvited guests waiting for me. Color me surprised.