Chapter 61 – Natural Treasure

Treasures formed through countless years of accumulation of the elements in certain locations that have a high concentration of a specific element.

Just like this colourless flame that had formed in the centre of a unique magma zone that was surrounded by a pool of water.

This environment had birthed this unique natural treasure and this was the same for all other natural treasures. They were all unique creations formed from similarly unique environments. No two Natural Treasures would ever be the same.

The thing that truly made these Natural Treasures so yearned for was their ability to grow. As they were birthed from the elements the more they were nurtured the more they would grow. Of course, each unique treasure had its own separate and different form of nurturing that was up to its beholder to figure out.

Simply having this ability to strengthen itself made it desirable beyond belief. The rarity of finding one was forever a thing to lament though.

There was a common saying attached to these Natural Treasures in the Gordian Continent: 'Yearned for, searched for, forever favoured only to the fortunate.'

This saying truly showcased the longing of every adventurer for these items but also showcased how no matter how much you looked for them, it was only the truly lucky few who ever stumbled upon them.

Adam was now one of those lucky few.

"No matter how lucky I am, how the hell am I supposed to steal this flame from the centre of a level 24 Half Druid's nest?" he smiled wryly.

He complained outwardly but his brain was already thinking up ideas for how he could snatch this Natural Treasure. Only a saint who had severed all worldly desires would be able to resist such a treat that was placed right in front of them and Adam was most definitely no saint much less one that was capable of severing his worldly desires.

This colourless flame was a fire attributed treasure that radiated a pure presence as if it had been washed of all impurities. For the fire element awakened Adam and Elaine this treasure held advantages and temptations beyond control.

Adam could feel his three unlit wooden bonfires throbbing when he got close to the island. This flame most definitely held advantages for his body refining manual. When he figured this out he had already considered this flame as his to take.

Not to mention the fact that since he had received the gluttony skill, all monsters had become sumptuous meals in his eyes. Especially a strong and special monster like the Half Druid. Thinking about the various wonderful skills that he could receive from this monster that had a strong bloodline of the legendary druid race, set his heart aflame with desire.

His brain formulated ideas while his sentient mind ran simulations. He was like a machine that tore through one idea after another till he found the one that would yield the highest probability of success.

While he did so, his eyes were constantly watching that island in the centre and all the activities that went on around him.

A few female Empyrean Arachne who had been fishing on the outer edges had gone up to their webs with their haul for the day. After storing about 1/3rd of the food on the webs, they picked up the rest on their back and headed toward the centre.

As there were no webs directly above or near the centre island they all alighted to the rocks on the magma and hopped around till they reached the centre.

When they all converged at the island, they stood in line and bowed. Not daring to step any further into the island.

The mighty female spiders were now acting humble, bowing and waiting patiently at the edge of the island. They took off the fish from their back and displayed it in front of themselves.

All the other male and female Empyrean Arachne had come to the edges of the dangling webs and were also humbly bowing in the direction of the central island.

Not a sound rang out in this vast hollow dome.

Slowly and solemnly the Half Druid who had been meticulously caring for the purple eggs with all her concentration turned away and looked at the female spiders on her island that seemed to be prostrating themselves to her.

She walked over quietly and inspected the offerings that were placed in front of them like a food inspector, looking for any abnormalities. When she was done, a pleasure to the ears hiss ran out and all the females who were prostrating shuddered in delight and began hissing as if ingratiating themselves to the Half Druid old woman.

With a few more hisses back and forth the Half Druid dismissed the females and began gorging on the food they had brought.

'No wonder these creatures have banded together. They have found themselves a chief that manages them.' Adam thought as he stared at the old monster.

There was no way these aggressive monsters would ever deem to live in a colony if they were not repressed by a strong being like this Half Druid. The birth of this Half Druid to the Empyrean Arachne could be considered a blessing. With her, at the head, they had been able to achieve something that went against their very instincts as monsters.

"That's it!" Adam said aloud in his excitement. The voice of a human was in complete contrast to the sounds that usually echoed in this dome.

Realizing his mistake, he immediately popped his head back down into the pool and began swimming back in the course that he had previously taken.

The Half Druid's head flicked at lightning speed and stared at the little leaf pad where Adam had been just a few milliseconds ago. Even though he was quite a distance away when he let his voice out, the Half Druid had still picked it up. If Adam had been any slower in his actions he would have been noticed without a doubt.

The half druid stood up and hissed a couple of times. She made no move and seemed to not want to leave the island at all costs.

This was not a problem for her though. In the next instant, countless spiders dangled down from their webs and began inspecting the area that the Half druid had been looking at.

Almost all the spiders seemed to want to follow her orders and converged at that one point.

Adam surfaced at the platform he had entered from that was now devoid of any spiders overlooking it and looked back at the spot that he was at with a grim expression. Had he stayed there and not moved to return immediately, he would not have even a corpse left after all those Empyrean Arachne were done with him.

'Saved my hide in the nick of time.' He pulled himself up to the platform and disappeared into the tunnel without a second thought.

He ran without stopping for anything. He had already accomplished way more than he had sought to achieve when he began his inquiry into these monsters. He had not only found out about the existence of the Half Druid but also discovered a Natural Treasure. His heart was beating to the rhythm of a metal song right now, complete chaos.

In his mind, he already had a plan as to how he would deal with these Empyrean Arachne and it did not involve him staying there any longer to risk becoming a meal to the monsters, so he left. He was going to be the hunter that hunted and devoured these Empyrean Arachne, he would have it no other way.

He ran all the way out of the miniature mountain and did not stop, he continued running till he was outside the mountain range and halfway to Two Fang City. Only then did he switch to a light jog under the starry night sky.

He arrived at the lodge late into the night. Not a soul was awake as he slipped into the lodge unnoticed and made his way into his room.

After finally arriving at his room did his heart that was in turmoil from all the excitement began to have thoughts of calming itself down.

Adam was bound to have a restless night with his mind working the way it was. His senses were heightened from all the running as he looked around his room.

Everything the same. On the bed lay Elaine and Luna in their baggy pyjamas, sleeping soundly while they held each other's hands and their foreheads attached to the other.

Adam sat down at the table in his room and began meditating.

In his current state where he was trying to calm down, he was not in any state to appreciate the cute scene.

As he was settling his thoughts, his heightened senses picked up a gaze that had settled on him.

"Huh?" There was no one who was awake at this time and no one would barge or peek into his room at this time. Adam who was already unsettled flipped his feet upright and got on his feet in a blink of an eye. His body turned to face the direction of the gaze instinctively.

The unusual part was that when he opened his eyes from his meditation, he was facing the foot of the bed.

Another "Huh?" came out of his mouth as he only grew more confused.