Chapter 4. Upgrading Skills! Fraar, The Thornstride.

Days were calm for Liu Shu. Her every day consisted of leisurely looking at her surroundings while growing fruits and sometimes using her other skill called <Enchanted Growth>. 

Still, Enchanted Growth was a skill that consumed too much energy, so after she used it the first day and got dizzy after just a few seconds of using it, she never used it again.

The consumption of the E+ ranked skill was still too much for a level one being, even if this being was a World Tree.

While her days passed, a system hint would arrive from time to time, clarifying a few doubts our little Liu Shu might had. For example, she learned that the power level difference was increasingly vaster as levels increased. Another example was that skills grew in rank whenever they reached level five and capped in proficiency.

For example, <Charm of the Seedling> was level four not long ago, but earlier that day, the skill had grown to Rank F- Level Five with 498/500 proficiency. 

While looking at that number, Liu Shi was expectant of seeing it grow to another level. 

Our little tree saw a beetle with a beautiful yellow shell flying and landing on one of her branches with a <Delicious Berry>, and the notification was triggered. 

[<Charm of the Seedling> has attracted a [Level 3 Earth Beetle]. Proficiency increased by 3. (501/500)] 

[<Charm of the Seedling> has reached the maximum level. Spend 15 Experience to increase its tier.]

When Liu Shu heard the second message, her mind was filled with surprise. 'I need to spend experience?'

[System Hint: When a skill reaches level 5, it can evolve and increase in Tier. The level will be reset to one, but the effects will go under a qualitative change. Experience needed depends on the tier of the skill. Difficulty in gaining proficiency for the skill will increase.]

Liu Shu took her time reading the message and understanding it. After one hour, she finally understood everything. Thoughtful, her branches swayed as. 'Should I do it?'

Her focus changed to the accumulated experience. 

[Accumulated Experience: 91]

During the last few days, a few minor bugs tried to eat her berries before they were mature, so she swatted them with her branches, giving her about two experience points per kill. 

Then, Liu Shu's eyes went to her level.

[Level 1 (0/150)]

Our little tree's mind slowly moved. 'Should I save for the level-up?' 

If she had brows, they would be scrunched to the point of touching. This was the second most arduous decision of her life! For those curious, the most difficult was when she chose not to level up in the past to keep her title. An outstanding achievement for our little tree!

As she thought about what to do, the Sun in the sky was about to hide on the horizon. She was a tree, after all, so she took her time. 

Finally, after much consideration, she chose to use the experience to tier up the talent. Her reasoning was nothing but thinking that since she liked being surrounded by other beings, she might as well upgrade the thing that allowed her to meet all the little animals flocking around her.

Our Liu Shu had nothing but time on her hands, so she wasn't hasty to level up. With that decided, after she gave the daily energy to the flowers growing <Delicious Berries> on her branches, she looked at the little friends that played around her and used the experience.

[15 Experience Points consumed. <Charm of the seedling> has gone from F- rank to F rank.]

<Charm 1 of the seedling (F Rank Level [0 200])>: Attracts small animals and insects to the area, fostering a harmonious ecosystem. There is a very small chance of attracting a friendly, bigger animal or insect that will help protect you. Creatures below the F Rank will be affected with much ease. Range 20 meters. 

When the skill improved, a gentle ripple of energy spread from Liu Shu to about 20 meters around her. The plants, animals, and insects in the surroundings stopped for a second and looked at the two-meter-tall tree, their eyes, even when they didn't have intelligence, gaining a gleam of gentleness. 

However, while friendly creatures were attracted, the tree's aura also drew other types of creatures.

A few moments before upgrading the talent, a quadrupedal green beast with a tree-bark-like skin, about one and a half meters long, was leisurely walking in the forest. Because it was getting late, the beast was returning to his dwellings. 

This beast was a [Level 7 Thornstride]. 

This kind of creature fed on plants, small animals, and trees. It was a predator that evolved from plants, with an appearance similar to a lizard, with a muscular body and sharp claws that it used to slice trees and a mouth full of razor-sharp teeth to pierce into the bark and feed on it.

In a World where creatures that evolved from plant life appeared, predators specialized in eating trees were not uncommon.

As it walked, the Thornstride suddenly felt a fluctuation to its right. The pupils of the creature shrunk as the scent tempted its stomach.

As a level 7 being, it was like a tiny overlord in the nearby zone. Its strength as a predator was higher than most creatures in a small range. 

Its body shifted directions, and it began walking toward where the tempting aura originated from.

Meanwhile, Liu Shu, whose roots were already spread in an area of 15 meters, saw the beast approaching from the foliage. 

When Liu Shu saw the beast, she focused on it to see its stats. It was something she did often after her encounter with the beaver. 

Name: Fraar. 

Titles:

<Tribe Heir>: He is the son of the Thornstride Tribe Chief and was personally appointed to be the successor. After the user reaches level 10, this title will be replaced by <Tribe Chieftain>.

<Tree Devour>: Gained after eating 100 trees of level 3 and above. Damage against Tree beings increased by 5%.

Race: Barkskin Thornstride. 

Energy Method: ---

Level: 7 [254/1470]

Aether Mana Shards: 150/150

Phoer Body Shards: 725/ 725

Anima Energy Shards: 231/231

Attributes: Aether (2), Physique (9), Anima (3), Willpower (7), Destiny (7)

Affinity Percentage: Aether Resonance (7), Physique Refinement (15), Anima Affinity (10)

Resistance Percentage: Aether Resistance (4), Physique Resistance (8), Spiritual Resistance (5), Mental Resistance (7)

Talents:

<Thorn Chomp (F rank level 4)>: Bite a tree and decrease its physical resistance by 20%. 

<Stride Slash (F+ Rank Level 1)>: Slash with the powerful claws. Ignore 10% defense if it is a Tree. 

Passive:

<Acute Nose (F+ Rank level 3)>: Your nose is 4 times stronger than usual. You can catch the scent of creatures that would boost your strength if they are five levels lower than you. 

<Bark Skin (F Rank Level 2)>: Your skin is tough and resistant to slash and piercing damage. Low-level thorns do nothing to you. Reduce those two damage types by 10%.

***

Liu Shu saw those numbers and skills and was stunned. This thing had almost seven times her Phoer Body Shards! Thankfully, her attributes were still stronger than its attributes. But with such a strong vitality, Liu Shu felt that if this beast had bad intentions, it would be very difficult for her. 

She couldn't help but lament. 'In the end, Liu Shu is not fated to live for long. Why has this bad friend come?'

[System Hint: It's your fault.]

Liu Shu was shocked. 'My fault? How?'

As she thought of these things, the Thornstride had closed the distance, and when he was 10 meters away from Liu Shu, he finally spotted her. The reptilian eyes of the creature shone with joy when it spotted her.

Liu Shu felt the greedy desire from the creature, and her mind cooled down, setting aside her laments.

Her aura leaked, showing her strength as a World Tree, which made the Thornstride stop for a second and become wary. Although Liu Shu was just a level one, that didn't mean she was weak.

Her physique alone was 13 points, four more than the creature, not to mention her other attributes were also far superior. The only reason her vitality was low was her low level. 

Moreover, after killing bugs and such that bothered her, <Willow Strike> had leveled up, becoming stronger than before.

After measuring our Liu Shu for some moments, Fraar leaped forward with incredible agility. 

While a tree's thought process was usually slow, it only applied outside of combat. When a tree fought, it concentrated every single fiber of its body into the fight, making the thought process equal and, sometimes, superior to that of common creatures.

When Fraar was 5 meters away from Liu Shu, Aether Mana flowed from her trunk, enveloping one of her dropping branches, and it lashed like a whip at astonishing speed.

Fraar's pupils constricted, and he moved his face to avoid a direct hit.

Bang!

The tree branch landed squarely across the shoulder-neck area, leaving behind a trail of blood. 

[-72]

A large number appeared in Liu Shu's mind, but she completely ignored that as her <World Tree Eye> focused on the creature's every movement.

Fraar had retreated a few meters, frowning in pain. 'To think that my tough skin would be so easily damaged. This tree is stronger than it looks!'

That's right, this creature had thoughts, as it was a sapient being. Of course, its intelligence was far from that of an average human or Sylvan, but it had enough mental development to form simple thoughts. 

For a moment, Fraar thought of returning to his tribe and informing them about this tree. However, when he thought that his father would probably eat it without giving him anything, he frowned.

The scent Liu Shu emanated was very tempting, and greed clouded Fraar's judgment. 

With his hiss-like roar, Fraar leaped forward, intending to exchange injury for injury. 

Naturally, Liu Shu had observed Fraar's abilities, and she knew that letting him close the distance between them would be very dangerous. Her willow-like branch came alive, and without holding back, she began lashing at the creature.

<Willow Strike>

<Willow Strike>

<Willow Strike.>

<Willow Strike>

<Willow Strike>

While Fraar closed the five-meter range between him and Liu Shu, five strikes hit him, stealing more than half of the beast's vitality.

The pain was so bad that it made his eyesight blurry, and as a primarily wild creature, the instinct to flee dominated his mind for a second.

However, a whiff of Liu Shu's tempting scent tickled his sharp olfactory sense, making his blood boil in excitement, and he continued charging forward, disregarding everything. 

After tanking those five hits, he finally entered melee range. 

Liu Shu looked at the beast that was raising its claws and prepared, making her Phoer surround her trunk. 'Resist it!' 

Fraar's eyes shone, and his long claw gleamed with the Sun's reflection. Then, he used his most vigorous attack.

<Stride Slash!>

This attack was able to divide trees into half that were even three times as thick as the tree before him, so he was confident. 

Liu Shu was a stationary tree, so dodging was impossible.

The claw of the beast struck Liu Shu's trunk, digging inside one centimeter and inflicting severe damage.

[-66]

Her vitality was only 176 points, and receiving such damage even after her damage reduction passives was impressive. 

However, Fraar was stunned. 

Liu Shu's trunk was not that thick, so he thought that a single strike would be enough to slice the Tree in half. However, to his surprise, he only saw a deep mark that began spilling honey-colored glistening sap. 

The scent of the sap made his body react, and he opened his mouth, wanting to chomp forward. However, before he could do that, all the branches of the World Tree moved, and a notification appeared in Liu Shu's mind.

[You've created <Willow Strike Barrage (F Rank Level 1)>.]

Then, Fraar's mouth was forcefully closed as a powerful strike hit his head several times per second.

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! 

[-41] 

[-41] 

[-41] 

[-41] 

[-41] 

[-41] 

Hit after hit landed on him, and although they were weaker than previously, the number of attacks was incomparable. 

Fraar's legs bent, unable to bear the strength of the attacks, and his body was struck constantly against the ground.

After three seconds, Fraar felt the attacks stop, his vitality nothing but a sliver away from death. This time, completely scared, he tried to stand up and leave. However, the branches of the World Tree began moving again.

Those who offended a World Tree would not be left alive by it. 

<Willow Strike Barrage!>

The long branches began moving again, delivering another rain of attacks, each strike creating a loud bang. Since most of them fell on his head, Fraar couldn't even roar in pain; after being repeatedly hit, his skull shattered, and his consciousness finally disappeared.

The body of the beast looked swollen and mangled, with the skin split in several places as if someone had dug into him. 

[Congratulations on defeating <Bark 7 Thornstride Level>. You've gained 19 Experience Points.]

When that message entered Liu Shi's mind, her branches stopped the assault, returning to their gentle swaying. 

Right after, when Liu Shi returned to her natural state of mind, the world began spinning around her. Her mind felt light and fuzzy as her <World Tree Eye> couldn't even properly give her a look at the outcome. 

'Oh! Wow~! The world is spinning~!' 

Curious, she looked at her Aether Mana and exclaimed. 'Wow, I have so little left!' 

Aether Mana: 11/113 

Our poor Liu Shu had Aether Mana deficiency. 

Previously, Liu Shi had been feeding her berries with her Aether Mana. So, after using <Willow Strike> five times and <Willow Strike Barrage> twice, her Aether Mana almost reached zero, making her feel lightheaded. 

But other than that, Liu Shu managed to regain her investment in the skill after killing Fraar. Spending 15 experience and gaining 19 later, she netted a total of 4 experience points!

***

Name: Tianlian Liu Shu

Titles: 

<Awakened >: A title that's gained when a tree gains sapience and evolves, gaining human-like intelligence. 

<World Tree>: A tree that can grow to be an overlord, admired by many, hated by some.

Hidden titles: [9]

Race: World Tree.

Energy Method: Basic World Energy Gathering (Gathers experience points*Level per day.)

Level: 1 [0/150]

Aether Mana Shards: 11/113 (+4.07/Hour)

Phoer Body Shards: 110/176 (+6.34/Hour)

Anima Energy Shards: 91/120 (+4,32/Hour)

Attributes: Aether (7+2), Physique (9+4), Anima (8+2), Willpower (10), Destiny (100)

Affinity Percentage: Aether Resonance (25), Physique Refinement (35), Anima Affinity (20)

Resistance Percentage: Aether Resistance (23), Physique Resistance (29), Spiritual Resistance (24), Mental Resistance (26)

Talents:

<Enchanted 1 Growth (E+ Rank level [2 18000])>

<Nature's 2 Gift (F- Rank level [140 200])>

<Willow 3 Strike (F- Rank level [0 300])>: 

<Willow 1 Strike Barrage (F Rank level [20 200])>: The World Tree uses all her branches to strike at her enemy. She can use Aether Mana to trigger this skill, allowing her to attack for three seconds uninterrupted. Range 3 meters. 

Passive Skills:

<World 1 Tree Heart (A Rank Level [0 589900])>

<World 1 Tree Eye (C Rank level [221 144000])>

<World Tree Wisdom (SSS Rank Level Max.)>

<Charm 1 of the Seedling (F Rank Level [7 200])>: Attracts small animals and insects to the area, fostering a harmonious ecosystem. There is a very small chance of attracting a friendly, bigger animal or insect that will help protect you. Creatures below the F Rank will be affected with much ease. Range 20 meters.

Accumulated Experience: 94