Fallen Star Guard members were overpowered by newly strengthened white-furred apes. Ethan's squad easily subdued the apes and Pumpkin, but Ethan lamented the loss of intelligence that accompanied their power. While the Flamebirds had also grown stronger, Chris questioned if the Infernals might have similarly advanced. The team then decided to investigate a rapidly mutated, primeval forest, suspecting something unnatural drove the mutant beasts out.
The further they ventured, the more unnerving the surroundings became. The woods were shrouded in a heavy darkness, eerily still. The absence of any mutant beast roars, rustling leaves, or even the familiar hum of insects created a suffocating silence that sent shivers down their spines. It wasn't long after they had started their trek that the earth beneath them erupted without warning. Vines shot out with blinding speed, ensnaring ankles, waists, and wrists. Before anyone could even muster a reaction, they were violently pulled off their feet, suspended in the air as if caught on cruel hooks. Ethan only had a moment to brace himself— When a sharp prick pierced his skin. A sting, swift as a needle. Then, a warm numbness flooded his limbs, rendering his muscles weak and ineffective. The expressions on everyone's faces shifted instantly. They attempted to break free, to lash out, to activate their abilities—only to discover their movements lacked any real power. Even more disconcerting was the inability to pinpoint a clear target; the assault seemed to originate from everywhere at once. "Big Mike—fire!" Ethan commanded urgently. Big Mike's form erupted in flames. The vines constricting him blackened, hissed menacingly, and snapped apart. He landed heavily, then swiftly moved to incinerate the vines binding the others, one by one. They tumbled to the ground in a disorganized heap. Their legs trembled. Their hands shook uncontrollably. Several of them simply collapsed onto their behinds, their bodies still sluggish from the lingering numbness. And then— From all directions, an endless stream of vines surged towards them once more, writhing through the encroaching shadows like living ropes. A wave of dread washed over everyone. Garrick was the first to react, slamming down a protective dome that encompassed the entire group. The vines were unable to breach the barrier, but they swarmed over it relentlessly, layering themselves until the already dim forest plunged into complete darkness within, as if a heavy shroud had been cast over them. Big Mike continued to unleash Rain of Flames into the oppressive darkness. Fire cascaded down, reducing vines to cinders. Mere moments later, however, more vines pushed forward to take their place—an unending, unyielding assault, as if the very forest was drawing breath. "What in the world is this?" someone rasped, eyes wide with disbelief. Ethan grimaced, replying, "It seems pretty clear that Big Mike's notorious bad luck has finally caught up. This is a mutated plant." Despite his annoyed tone, the reality was far more grim— This entity proved more formidable than any zombie or mutant beast they had faced. Those adversaries possessed tangible bodies that could be eliminated. This, however, felt like the entire forest itself was reaching out to engulf them. "Are you telling me we're being held captive by a tree?" Chris inquired, a note of disbelief in his voice. "Not necessarily just one," Mia murmured thoughtfully. "It could be an entire network." "I understand now," Big Mike stated, his voice strained. "This is why the mutant beasts fled. If you live in here, you're essentially doomed." All eyes turned to Ethan. "Captain—what's the plan?" Ethan's gaze swept over the points of pressure on the dome, observing the ceaseless onslaught of vines. "I'm going out there. I'll locate the source and strike it. You all remain inside." "Understood." They waited just long enough for everyone's strength to partially recover. Then, with a deep breath, Ethan vanished— A seamless Teleportation, transporting him directly through the dome. The instant he materialized outside, the vines reacted as if they had been anticipating his arrival. Tendrils lashed out from every direction, sharp and swift, aiming to ensnare his limbs once more. Ethan teleported away from his current position, then followed the flow of the densest vine concentration—tracking it like navigating a river upstream. The discovery was swift. He emerged into a small clearing, finally beholding his adversary. A colossal, monstrous tree stood before him—its trunk as wide as a building, its canopy obscuring the scant light that managed to penetrate. From its massive form, vines extended outwards in all directions, akin to veins, spreading its dominion across the forest floor. Ethan's lips curled into a slight smile. "So, it's you." He drew his poleaxe... then paused, his brow furrowing. The sheer scale of the tree was overwhelming. He couldn't discern any potential "weak point"—assuming it even possessed one. Ethan tightened his grip and charged, swinging the poleaxe with his full might into the colossal trunk. The blade embedded itself—then halted. It had penetrated only about half a meter. Stuck fast. Ethan had to brace his boots and exert considerable force before he could finally wrench it free. "...That tough?" he muttered, genuinely taken aback. But what transpired next caused his eyes to widen in astonishment. The gash left in the trunk—raw and ragged—began to mend. Fibers shifted and knitted together. The bark seemed to crawl, and the wound slowly sealed itself, resembling the healing of living flesh. "You cannot be serious.". As if on cue, the vines attacked again— A veritable tidal wave of them, sweeping towards him, prepared to entangle him and drag him down. Ethan teleported away in a flash. Gazing at the towering tree, he felt an unexpected surge of frustration—it was like confronting an insurmountable wall. Taking a deep breath, he activated [True Sight] and began meticulously examining the tree from every angle. He had scanned nearly its entirety before finally detecting it— Near the apex of the trunk, concealed deep within the wood, lay a minuscule point of light, flickering faintly.
Ethan’s gaze sharpened. Telekinesis activated instantly, sending a dagger flying like a projectile toward the luminous point.
The tree responded with swiftness.
Countless vines erupted, forming a dense barrier before the core.
The dagger struck, penetrated partially, and then met immovable resistance, unable to reach the light.
"Seriously?" Ethan grumbled. "You're just a tree. Why are you so troublesome?"
No more probing was needed.
He propelled himself directly towards it.
As he drew closer, vines whipped out from all directions, attempting to ensnare him mid-flight.
Ethan calculated the timing—waiting for the precise moment their movements synchronized—then unleashed Absolute Stasis.
Everything halted.
In that fleeting instant of stillness, Ethan's form flickered, appearing directly beside the pulsating light. He retrieved a spear from his spatial storage ring and impaled it with all his might.
A cry—felt more than heard—tore through his mind.
Then, the light vanished completely.
And the instant it winked out, the vines across the forest seemed to deflate simultaneously, dropping like water-logged ropes.
Shortly after, Chris and the others arrived, emerging from the dimness.
"That's it?" Chris looked up at the colossal trunk. "That thing was responsible for our previous defeat?"
"Indeed," Ethan replied, his expression still somewhat somber. "From now on, avoid forests unless absolutely necessary. Mutated flora are more dangerous than mutated beasts."
This encounter had been his burden. Had it been nearly anyone else... a solution might not have been found.
All of them nodded emphatically.
"Let's move," Ethan stated. "This area is—"
He paused.
From the periphery of his vision, a faint crimson gleam caught his attention near the tree's base.
Ethan hesitated, then approached and brushed aside the surrounding weeds and flattened grass.
Beneath them lay a small, unfamiliar sapling. And atop its stalk...
A fruit, the size of a cherry, gleamed with a deep red hue, resembling a droplet of blood solidified into confection.
"What is that?" The others quickly gathered around.
"No idea," Ethan admitted. "But it's likely something significant."
He delicately plucked the fruit and activated [True Sight] once more, examining it intently.
This time, even he was taken aback.
A peculiar energy resided within it—an essence that felt dense and intricate. [True Sight] was powerless to penetrate its mystery.
Chris swallowed, his eyes fixed on the fruit as if it were a delicacy. "So... it's safe to eat, right?"
"You want to try?" Ethan offered it to him.
Chris recoiled as if it were a live explosive. "Absolutely not. That's clearly a treasure. You should consume it."
Ethan gave him a pointed look. "And what if it's poisonous?"
"Emily's here," Chris said swiftly. "Even if you get poisoned, she can cure you."
Ethan shook his head. "Whatever is contained within this might be far beyond our current capabilities. If it's toxic, even Emily might be unable to counteract it."
Nevertheless...
He did not put it away.
Such a treasure appearing beneath a mutated, hostile tree? The probability suggested it held great importance. And Ethan had never been one to shy away from potential gains due to apprehension.
No adversity, no accomplishment.
"Form a circle," Ethan commanded. "Keep watch. I'm going to try it."
"Understood."
They arranged themselves in a loose formation around him, their gazes sweeping the surrounding shadows.
Ethan observed the fruit in his palm, took a deep breath, and placed it into his mouth.
The flavor was extraordinary—sweet, tangy, almost crackling with energy.
He chewed twice.
And in the very next moment, his entire being seemed to surge with vitality. It was as if his mind had been cleansed. The world appeared to sharpen into a higher definition.
Ethan's eyes widened, a wave of excitement washing over him so intensely it caused his pulse to quicken.
"This thing..." he breathed, barely able to contain his disbelief. "It elevates my mental energy cap!"
Enhancing one's mental energy was notoriously difficult.
Apart from the minor increment gained upon advancing Tiers, there was virtually no other method for augmentation.
Yet, mental energy was the paramount resource—surpassing physical strength—as every ability demanded mental energy for activation.
And for Ethan, it was even more critical.
Because with [True Sight], he possessed the ability to select skills at will. His arsenal of abilities was monstrous... and the more potent they were, the more severely they depleted him.
Consider Absolute Stasis.
Even against opponents who posed no significant resistance, he could exhaust his entire mental reserve and sustain the time freeze for just over two seconds.
If a truly formidable adversary appeared, he might not even achieve a full second of stasis.
The reason was straightforward.
His mental energy capacity was too limited.
And this fruit... effectively addressed that very limitation.
To anyone else, this was an invaluable artifact.
To Ethan?
It was nothing short of revolutionary.
Should his mental energy reach sufficient levels, combined with his existing skillset, he could potentially contend with Void Realm powerhouses even without Dopey's assistance.
His Annihilation Strike—provided he had the requisite mental energy to fuel it—could theoretically unleash ten, perhaps even dozens of times its standard power.
Naturally, this remained theoretical. Such a devastating offensive maneuver would also necessitate a physical constitution capable of withstanding the immense strain.
Though his current body could definitely unleash power ten times greater than his normal output.
And multiplying his strength by ten..
This amplification was sufficient to eliminate a powerhouse at Stage A.
Ethan's respiration grew heavy. He fixed his gaze upon the oppressive darkness of the woods, as if peering into a treasure vault.
"This location..." he murmured, the sound of his voice gaining a sharp edge of desire, "is an absolute treasure trove."
Then, after a brief pause, he amended his statement.
"Yes. We are definitely staying put."
