Awakening The Only SSS-Rank Class! Now Even Dragons Obey Me Chapter 772: The Cursed Tree

The clamor of the forest, after the second wave's demise, no longer held that staged, vacant aura from his initial arrival.

This time, a genuine stillness had descended. Daniel performed a few cautious scans to confirm the absence of any lingering monsters; fortunately, no immediate danger presented itself.

Naturally, even if there were, it wouldn't significantly alter the situation. Just as swiftly as he had dispatched the preceding corrupted beasts, he could handle any subsequent threats.

In truth, the appearance of more monsters could even be beneficial, as it would expedite the fruit's maturation.

He positioned himself a few paces away from the tree, his sword still grasped in his hand. The blade of The Heaven's Honor emitted a subtle luminescence in the subdued ambient light.

A faint spark of lightning traced along its edge before extinguishing, as if the weapon itself were attentively listening.

His eyes traveled upward along the tree's silvery trunk.

The fruit was no longer a minuscule speck.

It was now discernible with greater clarity, having become plumper and exhibiting a more vivid hue. Its luminescence had transformed from a simple glow into something akin to a rhythmic pulse.

"...It's growing." Daniel observed it for several moments, motionless. However, it wasn't merely growth he witnessed; it was a response. This tree sustained itself by assimilating life energy.

"Is that the reason for its 'cursed tree' designation?" He took a seat quietly beside the arboreal marvel.

A tree capable of consuming life force wasn't an unprecedented phenomenon. Certainly, such a characteristic would inevitably lead others to brand it a cursed entity.

Yet, he sensed a deeper complexity to the matter. He doubted the tower would furnish such a straightforward challenge for his current floor.

"Regrettably, I can't delve deeper into analysis at this juncture." He resolved to cease contemplating the tree. No matter the extent of his reasoning, it seemed futile.

Furthermore, he harbored a certainty that, sooner or later, the enigma of this tree would be unveiled.

His breathing steadied, and he then resolved to survey the surrounding forest. Releasing his divine sense, he began its expansion.

Following his attainment of divinity, he could now deploy divine senses in addition to his spiritual senses.

The world around him ceased to be merely perceived visually and became understood intrinsically. He discerned flows, connections, and even concealed dimensions.

The adjacent trees transformed from simple objects into components of a larger, interconnected structure. Mana coursed through them akin to vital fluid within veins.

And amidst this intricate network, the cursed tree stood beside him. He perceived its placement at the forest's precise center, an arrangement of almost perfect symmetry.

"Curious..." Another peculiar observation registered.

Unlike the other flora in this forest, which pulsed with circulating mana, this cursed tree appeared entirely devoid of it.

Indeed, he found himself unable to penetrate its interior. It was as if an unseen barrier obstructed his divine sense.

Conversely, he was convinced that whatever obscured his senses was not mana. This tree demonstrably lacked mana; instead, it contained something far more potent.

But what could it be?

"Could it possess divine energy?" His lips moved, though no sound emerged.

If this hypothesis proved true, the tree's role transcended mere protection. Such a revelation would position the tree as a significant asset to him.

Still, certainty eluded him, though the sense of familiarity he felt emanating from the tree bolstered his conviction in this conjecture.

Yet, at that precise moment, as his perception intensified, another element entered his awareness.

Four distinct presences, and to his astonishment, they were human.

Daniel subtly shifted his head, maintaining his divine sense's outward reach. He remained seated, his sword untouched.

The reason for his inaction was the complete absence of perceived threat from these four individuals. Their perceived strength was negligible to him; he could have subdued them with mere aura.

Concurrently, the four emerged from the dense foliage. Their movements were fluid and unhesitating.

As the distance diminished, their reaction upon spotting an unfamiliar man seated by the tree was immediate.

A dark-haired man executed a half-step forward, his hand instinctively reaching for his sword's hilt, poised for a draw.

Another female, positioned slightly behind, conducted a swift environmental assessment, mapping their relative locations.

The atmosphere crackled with tension, escalating to an almost unbearable point. Daniel maintained his stillness, anticipating any hostile action.

"Hold." However, before the tension could rupture, a golden-haired girl's voice, soft yet resolute, pierced the stillness.

Her hand was raised, signaling them to halt. The other three immediately complied, though their readiness remained palpable.

Daniel regarded them for a few moments, subtly easing the pressure he projected.

The girl advanced.

Her golden hair shimmered in the forest's muted light, but it was her eyes, possessing an unusual calmness for the circumstances, that truly captivated.

Her gaze remained fixed upon Daniel, as if meticulously scrutinizing him.

'They aren't players.' Daniel simultaneously assessed them. He recognized they were not participants in the game but indigenous inhabitants of this realm.

This presented a potential avenue for acquiring valuable intelligence.

"Who might you be? I’ve never encountered a human possessing eyes of gold before." The young lady with golden hair inquired abruptly, her voice low yet tinged with caution.

"A traveler who has strayed from his path." Naturally, Daniel opted for a simple fabrication, withholding the genuine truth.

"What manner of forest is this?" After a brief pause, he posed the subsequent inquiry.

"A forest unclaimed by any." The man with dark hair responded curtly.

"Or perhaps... one that no one has managed to possess within the vicinity of the Holy Empire." Yet, the same man softly shook his head.

Daniel remained silent, but he diligently stored this information within his consciousness. It was far too soon to engage in contemplation and deduction.

"We have journeyed from the Holy Empire with the express purpose of beholding the tree beside which you are seated." The golden-haired maiden then appended.

"And your identities?" Daniel’s gaze shifted between the individuals before him.

A few moments of quietude ensued, and their eyes met, a silent exchange passing between them. There was an air of hesitation, as if a subtle decision was being conveyed.

Ultimately, it seemed they reasoned that revealing the truth might serve their interests.

Subsequently, the maiden spoke:

"Elisira Von Halis. I am the Princess of the Holy Empire."

Daniel displayed no outward change, though his gaze seemed to penetrate a fraction deeper.

A princess.

It became evident that this entourage was more than a mere expeditionary force.

"Kieran Loth." The man positioned at the forefront announced his name plainly.

"Saren Wilder."

"Lumira Kain." And the final young lady, who continued her vigil of the surrounding area, exhibited the most overtly hostile and wary expression among them.

Daniel committed their names to memory, but what held greater significance was their collective aura. All were potent, yet none possessed a strength sufficient to pose a genuine threat to Daniel. Intriguingly, their auras did indeed radiate a sense of sanctity.

Nonetheless, their demeanor and conduct suggested they were accustomed to such circumstances, with the exception of the princess.

This implied that three among them were seasoned combatants, likely the princess’s personal royal knights.

But the enigma persisted: why would a princess venture so far, to a territory beyond the empire’s borders, solely to witness a tree?

Daniel’s attention returned to the imposing tree.

"What exactly is that?" He inquired, his eyes never leaving the arboreal spectacle.

"And furthermore, why have you sought it out?" He continued in a low tone.