20 Chapter 20: Return

I suddenly wake up in my Soul Palace.

Don't know what that was about, but it sure was something else. When I think about everything Alex was through it makes me think. Are the humans on this side is same too? Are they inherently evil too?

Well I suppose I can only know about that after getting out of this forest and meeting humans. That is something for later. For now, lets check out what's different.

First, I come before my Interface.

Welcome to Main Interface

User:

Name: Alder

Age: 9

Gender: Male

Race: Human

Level: 20 93%

Body Condition: Perfect

Body Potential Rank: G-

Soul Root Rank: SSS

Mana Vessel Rank: F-

Basic Attributes:

Strength: G-

Constitution: H+

Vitality: A+

Intelligence: A+

Wisdom: B-

Willpower: S

Agility: G-

Dexterity: G-

Trait:

Eidetic Memory, Enhanced Perception, Gamer's Mind, Tenacious Will, Affinity with Nature, Enhanced Regeneration.

Door 1: Nature: Higher affinity with nature.

Can convert pure energy to vitality

Increases regeneration

Gives control over plants

Door 2: Magic: Allows User to store Spell Matrices.

Door 3: Simulation

Well, overall, I suppose pretty good. But it seems I was in that dream for at least a year. Considering it lasted for fifty-five years it was short I suppose.

My body had an overall upgrade and my mana vessel had the biggest upgrade. So, that is good news. Now let's check out what is happening with the tree.

I will myself to my first door and enter. Little sprout had a growth spurt. It's almost as two meters tall now. Branching out with green leaves. But it wasn't the only sprout that changed. Everything about this space changed. Life in it more vibrant and there are different sprouts growing everywhere.

"So, you're finally awake, huh?"

"So, you're still alive, huh? Stop asking obvious. What's new then."

"There really isn't anything new in this forest. You were the only new thing in here in last millennia but you just kept sleeping for almost two years after your pathetic hunt and lucky survival. So, there isn't anything worth mentioning I suppose."

"Hmm, two years. That was longer than I expected. So, you missed me huh?"

"Don't flatter yourself. What is there to miss about you?"

"Come on, don't be like that just be honest with yourself."

"Putting that aside, what happened to you. At first, I thought you just tired and needed long rest. But after six months I started suspecting that you were actually dead. Only indication that you were alive was your breathing nothing else."

"I don't know exactly what happened to me, but while I was unconscious I watched someone's whole life pass by me."

"That is strange. From this side it felt like you were inside door on your second floor."

"That is strange. I didn't know that I was in the door on second floor. I was just in someone else's body and watched as his life passed. And I think that someone is person who came from some other dimension."

"Well, there is a resonance between dimensions. But coming here means that someone needs to break through the dimensional barrier first. And that is something almost impossible."

"So, you know about multiverse huh? Well I don't think his body made it, only his soul."

"That means that soul is you, doesn't it?"

"No, I don't think so. If it was I would know already. Even though there was a certain relation between me and that person, I was sure that person was not me. So, my theory is that I got that person's soul but shift destroyed his consciousness and I was born. A whole different person with his recollection. That is the only way that I can make sense of all this."

"That is a solid possibility. You are too blank to be someone who went through life."

"Unfortunately, we have no way to confirm that. So, my little sprout seems to have grown a lot while I was away. Will it gain sentience if it keeps growing like this?"

"I honestly don't know. This never happened before. It might or not. Only time will show."

"Okay, we can only wait then. But will it grow to be a World Tree like you too?"

"I'm pretty sure it will. Since this place is an independent space on its own with everything necessary for its growth."

"Well, that will be something too see too. Okay, I suppose I need to wake and stretch."

After waking up I try to stand up but gets vertigo and almost fall on my ass. My whole body is sore. My every joint is hurting and feels like rusted. But most surprising thing is my left arm. Instead of a stump that I was expecting to see I see an arm made of intertwining branches.

And this new arm feels just like my old one. Difference is I can actually sense my surrounding better. And connection with my surrounding plants are much stronger. Almost as if I can control the nature around me.

But as I try to reach out to a nearby flower and control it I feel certain wall. Even though flower is willing something else is blocking my connection to it.

Well, that can be solved later. But for now, I need to recover my body. And best way to recover is to exercise. After stretching and few pushups my body starts to feel right. More I exercise more I feel energized and stronger. And it seems I grew taller too. Actually, too tall for nine years old. Well, that will be advantageous in a fight.

Well, after not moving for fifty-five years it feels good to finally move.

"It seems his body is in better state that I thought it would be."

"What the hell, who was that?"

"What, you can hear me?"

"Is that you tree?"

"Yes, it is me Alder."

"How am I hearing you?"

"I think growth of your sprout increased your affinity with nature thus you can hear me."

"I suppose that's reasonable. Then what's with my arm? Did you do it? And I remember passing out as soon as I crossed the creek, how come I'm here? Did you bring me here?"

"No, it was the little sprout inside you. At first, it couldn't do it. But two months ago, it managed to grow you a new arm. And yes, I brought your pathetic ass here, after your pathetic fight."

"This solves so many of my worries. I should thank the little guy. Even though its not certain that it will gain sentience. But from the way things are it just might, right? And no need to be so mean."

"I told you, I don't know."

"I hope it will."