Ch 14: Tree Monster (2)

"This is my chance. If I miss it, I don't know how long I'll have to wait to increase my strength!"

Emrys saw an opportunity in the Tree Monster and decided to give it a try. He now wanted to hunt down this Bronze Soul Beast despite having his weapon damaged.

Tree Monsters are not just any ordinary Soul Beast. These beings are special because they not only possess a Soul Orb but also harbor a treasure within them known as the 'Life Essence Droplet'. Emrys knew that obtaining the 'Life Essence Droplet' could significantly enhance his strength, possibly propelling him to become a Ninth Order Soul Apprentice or even a Bronze Soul Master.

It is because a small droplet of Life Essence Droplet, which is a liquid imbued with the life force of the Tree Monster, is capable of revitalizing and strengthening one's spirit and soul.

Excitement surged within Emrys as he realized the potential of this encounter. He understood that missing this chance might mean waiting a very long time for another opportunity to increase his strength. That is why, determination flickered in his eyes as he prepared himself to battle the Tree Monster even though it was a Bronze Soul Beast and his weapon was damaged.

Emrys knew that he needed to seize this moment, regardless of the risks involved. So what if his weapon is damaged, if he acts according to situations and makes perfect use of his abilities, he is sure to hunt down this Soul Beast as well.

Perhaps due to Emrys's overwhelming excitement, his fluctuating emotions inadvertently lowered his guard, alerting the Tree Monster to his presence.

The moment the Tree Monster discovered Emrys's presence, it attacked. The land around Emrys suddenly exploded. Several thick roots danced in the air around Emrys and smashed at him.

"Oh, shit!"

Emrys was startled at first, then he immediately acted and used the Node Shift ability in a hurry, teleporting a dozen meters away in an instant, successfully evading the attacks. Then he turned to the Tree Monster whose branches were like tentacles that were dozens of meters long, and its roots were like pythons.

As a Soul Beast, the Tree Monster could use its roots to move.

Emrys tightened his grip on the blade.

When the Tree Monster moved again, its roots crushed the ground. At the same time, the branches on the tree began to have a layer of black light revolving around them.

"Crackle! Crackle!"

A strange sound echoed in the air continuously. The sound was endless.

This Tree monster looked really powerful.

Looking at the imposing manner of the Tree Monster, Emrys frowned slightly. Finally, he waved the damaged E-3 Alloy Knife and then lowered his hand before dragging the knife forward. The tip of the knife was stuck to the ground.

All of a sudden, Emrys dragged the knife as he rushed over. The tip of the knife followed Emrys's charge and directly created a long spark on the ground.

Before Emrys could reach the Tree Monster, the black light surrounding the Tree Monster's body crackled and struck towards Emrys.

Emrys moved his left hand and slashed down. The sparks of light born due to the friction with the ground on the tip of the knife were brought about in the air and collided with the black light.

"Bang!"

Upon the collision, the clash of opposing forces generated a veil of smoke and sparks.

However, Emrys's strength proved insufficient, and the black light emerged victorious. It quenched the sparks and surged toward Emrys, striking him squarely in the chest and hurling him backward.

"Aargh!"

The black light marked Emrys's first significant injury, the burn on his chest searing black. Fortunately, it remained superficial, scorching only the skin without penetrating deeper into the flesh.

"Looks like my strength is not enough to go against a Bronze Soul Beast head-on!"

Emrys muttered through clenched teeth as he endured the searing pain. Despite knowing that his strength was insufficient, especially when his weapon was damaged, he had no intention of backing down.

Why?

It is because of the Life Essence Droplet. These droplets were unique treasures produced exclusively by Tree Monsters. The quantity of these treasures depended entirely on the strength and age of the Tree Monster. Simply put, the stronger and older the Tree Monster, the more drops of Life Essence it could produce.

Since a treasure like this was in front of him, obtaining it was a must.

The Tree Monster once again took action. One of its branches rose like a tentacle in the air surrounded by the same black light that had attacked Emrys earlier.

As he faced the approaching branch filled with black light, Emrys's eyes flashed with determination. Suddenly, the world around him seemed to transform into a three-dimensional space. Although this space was limited to a radius of about a hundred meters, it extended in every direction. Shaped like a sphere, it was filled with thousands of nodes, creating a complex and intricate network.

Emrys's mind worked like a computer, constantly calculating all the possible routes he could take to win the battle.

Even though the Void Phoenix had only granted him only one Origin Ability known as Node Shift, Emrys discovered that within this transformed three-dimensional space, his mental faculties operated with heightened efficiency. His calculations became more thorough, allowing him to strategize more effectively. Most importantly, he realized he could utilize this spatial advantage to strategize and plan his moves with precision. Emrys realized that within this three-dimensional space, he could visualize different scenarios and outcomes more clearly, allowing him to anticipate his opponent's moves and strategize accordingly. This ability enabled him to exploit the environment to his advantage, finding hidden paths and utilizing obstacles to outmaneuver his opponents.

In essence, this three-dimensional space provided by the Node Shift not only made him capable of shifting his position to any node available but also augmented his cognitive capabilities, turning his mind into a powerful tool for strategic thinking and tactical planning.

Emrys could already calculate several things in mind and then take action accordingly, however, the efficiency increased several times in this three-dimensional space.