Chapter 9: First Contact

Feels good to be standing over my first blood. And I think I cooked it just right heh. Smells good. Still I'm feeling exhausted well not physically but mentally. So, I think my first adventure over the creek ends here. Let's go back for now.

But first what can I do with the body. Seems shame to just leave it here. But considering the size difference and my body's pathetic attributes it's obviously impossible to take it with me. And I'm sure this smell will attract some unwanted attention so got no other choice but to leave it here.

RUMBLE!!!!!

And with that it starts to rain.

After coming back just lying my head knock me right out. Seems I was more tired than I realized huh.

I wake up in my Soul Palace and see the Interface blinking. Let's take a look then.

Welcome to Main Interface

User:

Name: Alder

Age: 7

Gender: Male

Race: Human

Level: 0

Body Condition: Perfect

Body Potential Rank: H

Soul Root Rank: SSS

Mana Vessel Rank: H-

Basic Attributes:

Strength: H+

Constitution: H

Vitality: A

Intelligence: A-

Wisdom: D

Willpower: S

Agility: H

Dexterity: H

Trait:

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

Hmm. Interesting. It seems my first blood had more benefit than I thought. My Body Potential rank actually increased and my attributes increased too. But most important of all my level increased.

So, question is how does that work. Obviously, I would need an EXP to level up. Does that mean that strange energy from who knows where was EXP. But I may not know much about this world but I know for sure that this isn't some kind of RPG game. The Interface shows me my body's status as best as it can show. It's not some kind of system that can change everything according to its programming.

So that means while trying to heal, my body and soul was absorbing life force from the wolf. And adding on my own. That explains the drastic increase in my body's attributes. My body absorb pure energy from the atmosphere then converts that into vitality. So, while doing that my body absorbed the wolf dissipating soul or some kind of energy from it.

So that means I can increase my attribute by fighting and killing. That adds tremendous potential for my path to power. Haha.

Okay now that's out of the way let's check out the beckoning that I've been getting since waking up in my Soul Palace. Like someone is calling me.

I will myself to the front of the first door and open the door. Everything seems pretty much same as before except the sprout seems to be bigger than before.

"Hello"

"What the hell. Who was that?"

I suddenly hear a gender-neutral voice from who knows where. And it again almost scared the shit out of me. Well not sure if I can actually shit in here. Hehe.

"Down here"

I look down and see the sprout waving even though there is no wind.

"You're one the who's talking?"

"Yes and no. I'm speaking to you through this newborn sprout"

"If you're not this little sprout then what are you?"

"I'm the tree that you're currently under and that makes me your landlord"

"Are you kidding me? Tree with its own will. Huh. Well I suppose considering everything that's not really surprising I suppose. So first of all, what are you?"

"I'm a World Tree"

"Hmm. World Tree huh. No wonder you're so gigantic. So, I suppose you're the reason why that fruit fell on its own, right?"

"Precisely"

"Why did you do that?"

"First you were about to starve to death, second you're the first human ever to reach the Forest's center"

"So, ultimately you were simply curious, huh?"

"Well frankly, yes"

"And you're the one who was watching me all this time when I was outside?"

"You are correct"

"So, what made you contact me? And how are you contacting me?"

"For your first question I was simply bored, as for the second one that fruit you ate was small part of me and you eating it made it possible for me to plant a seed in your soul. This sprout is not me but more like extension of me and I'm using it to speak to you"

"Since you saved me and initiated a contact with me that means you want something, right?"

"There isn't anything specific I want from you actually. It's just that your soul is really unique. Your soul's uniqueness is what actually made me contact you."

"So, as I expected my soul is different from others', huh?"

"Yes, it's structure is fascinating. Specially these doors in your Soul Palace as you call it. Space behind your doors are actually a separate dimension that is capable of sustaining life. At least one that this sprout is growing"

"You mean room behind my doors are dimension on its own? And they can actually sustain life? Are you sure?"

"Absolutely. The fact that this little sprout took root show that. I dropped the fruit just to sustain you so you won't die. I didn't expect the seed inside it to take root and grow here"

Well that is lot to take in actually.

"Does that mean my Soul Palace is a separate dimension too?"

"No, your so called, Soul Palace really exists in your soul but door in them seem to lead to different dimensions. And most mysterious one is one on the second floor. I think that one is connected to dimension with some kind of collection of knowledge and that is where your so called, Interface gets it's information and so do you"

Hmm. More to take in.

"That means someone can come in from the other side too, right?"

"Apparently that seems to be impossible"

"Why?"

"Because I've been trying to do that ever since the seed took root in here but door won't budge no matter what I do. It won't open unless you open it from the other side. All I could do was to signal you from this side"

"What the hell man? You have been trying to invade my soul? That's not cool dude. And if what you say is true how do you know there is more than one door and door on the second floor? Did you actually break in and lying to me?"

I say while frowning.

"First, I wasn't trying to invade your soul I was simply trying to contact you, second, when you first ate the fruit I caught a glimpse of your Soul Palace and since all of the doors are connected to your soul I can vaguely see everything about it. Third I get nothing from lying to you. If I wanted to lie to you I wouldn't mention about it at all, right?"

Hmm the tree makes sense. But it is still worrying. Since I can't chase him out anyway got no other choice but to trust the tree while keeping an eye out for it. Anyway, it's giving me lot of valuable information even I didn't know. So, contact with it can be beneficial to me.