- Offline zoom (part 2)

Currently, in the packed village hall, a well muscled man representing the warriors in the village, Bors, was detailing the inmates in the root cellar that could be problematic.

"...not underestimate the evils outside our village.

Currently of those placed in the root cellar, the most dangerous individual is Jacob. That is because he is charismatic enough to convince everyone to form a group.

He might have already done so actually. Some of our guards are already reporting that conversation amongst the cellmates are increasing.

It's something we cannot prevent as not all locked in the root cellar are criminals. Most are actually our peers who are losing control.

Perhaps, it is time we treat the prisoners differently, depending on risk factors, behaviors and such..."

Rosa interrupted Bors, "So is Jacob the most powerful amongst the prisoners?"

Bors replied, "In terms of strength? No. We identify him as a sequence 8 Unwinged Angel. In an ideal scenario, one of our more experienced warriors can defeat him. But Jacob is able to effectively use and create weapons from anything. Even a sharp piece of rock will be deadly in his hands. He is also able to summon a black smoke that when inhaled, might even incite a mob into creating a lot of chaos. His flames are also hot enough to burn through flesh and melt bones.

The strongest prisoner we have is not a human. It is a sealed artifact. Locked behind several doors in the deepest end of the root cellar. Another reason why Jacob is the most dangerous. He has the capabilities to unlock these doors that lead to the artifact."

A lean but towering individual with grey hair and moustache coughed to get everyone's attention. He adjusted the collar on his white, long sleeved, buttoned shirt and said "A sealed artifact? Can it be used? And if it is dangerous, why not destroy it. Or maybe even sell it out of the island? Us merchants are more than happy to offer such an item to perspective customers. That's hitting two birds with one stone, no?"

Bors shook his head, "First, I'll describe the artifact. It is a root vegetable in the shape of a man. Two hands and two legs, with a head that consists of four faces. One each to it's front, back, left and right. The faces are feminine, it's texture smooth with closed eyelids.

When near a person, it will start to sing from one of its mouth.

Prolonged exposure to its song will fill one with the desire to place the root to something large and wooden. Either a tree or a wood structure or even a ship.

Roots will quickly grow out of it and it will attach itself to the wooden structure. The more wood it is attached to the more dangerous it becomes. It will be able to scream an undescribable evil language, causing those within hearing distance to be damaged and paralyzed.

It will control it's wooden attachment, using them like flexible limbs, to grab its stunned victim, who then will unwillingly merge with its new body. Any damage or pain it suffers will first be inflicted on the attached persons first.

The only way we know to seal it is to burn all of its wooden attachment and anybody else under it's control. The root itself will detach itself once sufficient danger is present to save itself.

Once detached, if it continues to feel in danger, all four of it's faces will scream, and the sound is said to be powerful enough to kill even demigods. Hence why we do not try to destroy it.

I will not describe it's usage or purpose to prevent any funny ideas. I just hope its negative effects is more than sufficient to discourage the merchants from bringing it aboard your vessels."

The tall trader representative rubbed his chin, and nodded in agreement. "Yes, bringing such an artifact on our wooden ships is tantamount to suicide. Is there a way to destroy the artifact from far away? Out of hearing distance of it's scream?"

Bors shrugged, "Perhaps. But I personally would still like to keep the sealed artifact to use in an emergency. It's abilities are quite useful."

Gram raised his hand, and spoke up "Are we able to keep the artifact somewhere else? Somewhere more than just a locked room? Or perhaps block the door and key hole with stone, mud and straw paste? Let it dry up and truly seal the artifact."

Bors shook his head, "Unfortunately, roots will constantly grow out of it in search of plants and trees to infect. The roots themselves will thicken over time and act as movable limbs. We have to constantly send out a different person to cut off the roots and burn it away. Another negative effect of the artifact."

Holy shit such a shitty high maintenance artifact. Must be really powerful for the warrior representative to want to keep it. I wonder if I can steal it?

Man, why didn't I get the traveller pathway. Then I can teleport in, swipe that shit then tele out once again!

Then again I'll probably accidentally chuck it at a wooden house, then be captured and be it's victim...

Man why doesn't this universe have a simple cool artifact? Like a plus three flaming sword of doom with no negative effects...

The meeting continued as Bors continued talking about the various dangerous individuals contained in the root cellar.

Thank goodness most were humans of low sequence, and the evil root thingy was the only sealed artifact stored in the root cellar.

There was quite a lot of them however, and he had not finished describing them one by one even when it reached lunchtime. A recess was forced and everyone went out to serve themselves the food that had been prepared in advance.

I'm actually surprised that I have not gotten bored of seafood barbecue. Butter would have been a great addition though...

When the meeting started again after lunch, I immediately fell asleep. Probably because I had too much for lunch.

Welp. Probably nothing important was being discussed anyway...