The enormous wolf led Liam deep with in the forest. In fact, Liam wondered if he would even make it back to Crey before sunset if he sprinted back that very moment. However, he had yet to test his skills and did not plan to do so against such frightening opponents.

Suddenly, a dense fog rose from the ground. Fogginess did not normally bode well. Wondering if such an occurrence could be considered commonplace here, he observed the wolves. None of them seemed to have any problem with it. As a precaution, Liam followed behind the big wolf as closely as possible.

Then, a few seconds later, he broke through the wall of mist alongside the pack of oversized wolves. He blinked a few times and raised his brows at the scene before him.

An elm tree grew from the crest of a hill which lay in the center of a circular wall of mist. Golden bark covered the surface of the trunk, spanning wider than the length of a bus while reflecting the sun's gentle rays. Red leaves caressed the sky more than a kilometer above, dancing in the breeze. Gigantic roots, some as tall as a human child, protruded from the sides of the hill before sinking back into the moist soil.

Most of the wolves lied down upon the lush grass to rest. Only the one with spiral fur patterns continued traipsing toward the tree. Although Liam hesitated to follow at first, the wolf noticed and gestured for him to follow using its head once again. The wolf led him to a cave burrowed into the side of the hill that faced them. To Liam's amusement, the large wolf needed to lower its head in order to walk through. The two then followed the cavernous passageway in a spiral pattern. As they delved deeper, they needed to avoid more and more roots and the light began to fade. However, the trek did not last long.

The wolf led Liam to an opening where bluish light shone against the hardened dirt. With a hand on the handle of Bloodeater, he followed the wolf inside.

A pool of iridescent water rounded a central stone platform cracked by the greedy roots of the tree above. Strange markings were carved into many of the stone bricks, though some had fallen into the pool. Blue and green water patterns danced on the walls due to the glowing spring. Strangest of all, a person, withered and worn, sat in a meditative position at the center of the platform fused to the golden roots. Most of the innumerable smaller roots in that section of the cave passed through the person's body, obviously having grown through the person's flesh over several millennia. As things stood, discerning the person's gender would be impossible.

'Liam, where are you right now?'

“You woke up, you old geezer?”

'How would I not wake up when surrounded by such powerful magic?' Noctis retorted.

The wolf lowered its head to meet Liam's gaze, startling him. It peered deep into Liam's soul.

'You met a Direwolf? No, is that a Great Direwolf?'

“Direwolf? Cici called them something else, though. Interesting,” Liam muttered.

'It knows I'm here...'

“Young one...” A raspy voice wearily called out from the platform before Liam could reply to the annoying geezer. When the person spoke, the Direwolf backed off and sat by the entrance.

'That's... one of my people...' Noctis muttered in astonishment.

An Ancientblood? Seriously? Liam thought.

“Come closer, if you will...” the withered person requested.

Since he actually held some sort of connection to the person, Liam stepped forward without hesitation, though he had to crawl over multiple tree roots to do so. When he finally reached the withered person, he sat casually in front of the person and asked, “So, did you bring me here or something?”

“I simply... sensed the blood of my people within the forest... and sent Scath there,” the person moved a single finger to point at the Direwolf, “to find you.”

“Mhm... so what's the point of bringing me here?” Liam asked.

The withered person's eyes opened slightly, revealing dull and lifeless golden irises. “Are you a descendant?”

'For the sake of all that is good and holy!' Noctis exclaimed within Liam's head, causing him to wince. A black, misty tentacle sprouted from Liam's head, noticeably startling the withered person based solely on the minimal facial reaction. The tendril reached out and slapped the person across the face, though it did not cause much damage.

Wide-eyed, at least, as wide-eyed as a withered person could be, the frail being said, “That... that was... the ability of the patriarch... You. Who are you?”

'No need to tell him anything. He'll be dead soon, anyway.'

So it's a he? Liam thought. However, he needed to answer the question somehow and return home. “If you're referring to that old bastard Noctis, then I'm connected to him in a way.”

“Hmm... I see...” the person muttered as he calmed down. “It seems strange... because you have no mana...”

“Not yet,” Liam muttered. He felt a slight prick of irritation since part of his plan involved building up enough SP to unlock the mana affinity skill and this ancient dryer sheet of a person got in his way.

“Then... it seems you are under the system... you are not worthy to be one of us...”

'The hell is this little shit saying?! He thinks he has the right to say such a thing when he attached himself to an Elder Tree to extend his lifespan?!' Noctis screamed within Liam's mind.

Two more misty tendrils sprouted from Liam's face, ready to slap the man again. In response, Liam's eye twitched and he angrily muttered, “Stop, you old bastard. These tendrils are a pain in the ass.”

“It seems you are rude to your elders as well...” the withered man said.

'Execute him. This prick doesn't deserve to live,' Noctis fumed.

Although Liam agreed with the sentiment, he decided to get as much out of the person as possible first. As such, he asked, “How long have you been here?”

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“A rude youngling... does not deserve answers...”

Taking a deep breath to calm himself, Liam decided to give the man one more shot and asked, “Why did you make yourself a part of this tree?”

“Scath... execute this rude youngling.”

'That's it. Kill him now.'

“Agreed.”

Liam whipped out Bloodeater and pierced the blade through the withered man's eye socket.

“YOU! You dare!” the man gasped.

“Oh, it didn't kill him,” Liam muttered. He pierced the other eye.

“GAAAAHHHH! ASCRATIS NOVA OSMARIS DAN RE VOR!” the man screamed incoherently. The ground began to shake.

'Quick! Stab him in the heart! Slice him in half! I don't care as long as he doesn't finish that accursed chant!' Noctis exclaimed, voice reverberating within Liam's skull.

As Noctis suggested, Liam stabbed the withered man through the heart and followed up by slicing him into tens of pieces. Surprising, the man's bones gave no resistance and split like paper under the knife. Stranger still was the lack of blood or organs. Even cut in two, the man's lips moved in an attempt to finish chanting.

'What a terrible way to go. A disgrace to our kind,' Noctis said while dissipating the misty tendrils from Liam's face.

“The ground is still shaking,” Liam said.

Indeed, the ground continued to shake. The tree roots stirred, moving as though by their own will. All of a sudden, the Direwolf, supposedly named Scath, appeared beside him. For a moment, Liam thought the beast would attack him, but its attention was focused on the dying withered man.

Several roots twisted together and condensed, forming hundreds of spear-shaped barbs. All at once, they smashed into the stone platform where the withered man lay. Both Liam and Scath needed to jump backward and retreat to the passageway to avoid the flying debris. Luckily, most of the roots no longer blocked that area since they joined the fray.

'This Elder Tree must not have liked giving its life force away to that guy...' Noctis muttered.

Although Liam did not totally understand, Noctis' statement made him realize the tree truly had a mind of its own. However, Liam muttered, “It's going to steal my experience...”

'It's fine. You would have grown strong due to the system, but you would still be weak. Bad for the clan in the long run.'

“What's that supposed to mean?” Liam asked over the roar of roots smashing against stone.

'The system isn't a good thing,' Noctis replied.

“That doesn't answer my question.”

'What I mean to say is this: You need to become stronger. That doesn't mean levels or anything. If this system goes down, how strong do you think you would actually be?'

“Isn't that what raising my level is for?”

'Why would you need a system for that? It's an easy way out. Don't take easy.'

“Makes sense, but I'll still use what's available to me.”

'Good enough.'

Liam, Noctis, and Scath the Direwolf waited for the roots to stop smashing the stone to pieces. Meanwhile, the Direwolf began to pant with a relaxed look in its eyes.

Gradually, the roots slowed and returned to a more natural position within the iridescent waters.

You have assisted in slaying an Ancient Wraith!

Earned 55,723 exp.

"Wraith?" Liam asked.

'It happens sometimes when people live longer than they should...'

“I guess it's about time to head home, then...” Liam muttered.

'Hold on a moment. Look.'

Groaning, Liam returned his gaze to the cave. He furrowed his brows, for a green mist rose from the center of the pool, forming into the vague shape of a woman. To Liam's surprise, the Direwolf nudged his back as if trying to get him to step forward.

“That's annoying. Stop,” Liam said. In response, it did stop but tilted its huge fur-covered head in confusion.

Turning his attention back to the mist woman, Liam noticed that it was floating toward him. Based on the atmosphere, it did not seem hostile, not that he desired to fight with a giant tree in the first place. All he could do was wait.

“Hello,” the mist woman greeted, her voice sweet, carrying the fragrance of the blossoms of spring.

“Hello,” Liam replied, unsure how to speak to such a thing.

“Hmm... what is your name?”

“Liam.”

“Liam... Liam... okay. I will remember. I owe you many thanks for helping to break the bonds of my imprisonment.”

“Say what?”

“Scath is the same as I.”

The Direwolf growled in agreement. Somehow even Liam recognized it as such.

“So... it's fine if I go home now, right?” Liam asked.

“It seems you have similar abilities to that 'ahem' prick as the friend in your head called it?”

'You can hear me then,' Noctis muttered.

“Indeed,” the mist woman replied.

“What do you mean by similar abilities?” Liam asked.

'She means that Contractor class you picked up,' Noctis answered.

Although Liam wondered how Noctis knew such a thing, he figured it did not matter all that much and moved on. “So, is that a bad thing or a good thing?”

The mist woman reached out and brushed Liam's right cheek. In response, he simply raised a brow at the cool sensation.

“You form contracts as well, yes?” the mist woman asked.

“Dunno,” Liam answered. “Don't even know how it works.”

The mist woman moved her head as though laughing, but no noise came out. Then, she said, “I would show you how to do it properly, unlike how that... mmm... rude creature did. However, it seems you won't be able to yet.” She turned toward the Direwolf. “Perhaps Scath would be willing to help?”

The giant wolf tilted its head, still panting.

“He seems willing,” the mist woman said. “What say you, Liam?”

“Forming a contract?”

'It's doable,' Noctis said. 'Seems both of them were held under contract to that little prick.'

“It is sad but true,” the mist woman affirmed. “Forced weaker beings into contracts whenever he found the chance.”

“Sounds like a spirit or something would be willing to turn on me...” Liam muttered.

“Only if the contract is not equal,” the mist woman replied.

“Will I benefit somehow?” Liam asked.

“Some of our strength becomes yours in exchange for you providing us with mana, food, or perhaps something else of our choosing,” the mist woman explained.

“Fine,” Liam said. Then, he faced the Direwolf and asked, “What do you want, then?”

The beast lowered its head toward Liam's chest and looked up into his eyes. Raising a brow, Liam hadn't the slightest notion of what to do next.

'Put your hand on his head.'

Liam did so. As soon as his fingers brushed against the soft fur, a gust of wind swept him off his feet and into the air. Confused, he looked around and saw nothing but a night sky dotted with millions of stars. His body simply floated in space.

“Where is this?” Liam asked, directing the question at Noctis.

No answer.

“Seriously... he always disappears when I actually need some answers...”

“Why are you floating over there?” a deep yet melancholy voice asked from below.

Liam looked down and saw a silver circle. The Direwolf sat calmly in the middle.

“You can speak?” Liam asked.

“Only here, unfortunately. Also, my name is Scath, if it please you.”

“Um... how the hell am I supposed to get down there, exactly?” Liam asked.

“Imagine it, I suppose.”

Rolling his eyes, Liam thought about sinking through space. It worked. His body slowly floated downward until his feet touched the surface. “What now?” Liam asked, hoping to get it done and over with so he could go back to his new house and sleep.

“Hand,” Scath said, pointing with his nose at a pedestal that suddenly appeared between them.

“Is that it?” Liam asked.

“It's different for all of us.”

Liam placed his right hand on the pedestal. Scath lifted up his right paw and rested it next to Liam's hand. Honestly, Liam was surprised his hand was actually smaller the Direwolf's paw.

“Now you ask what I want,” Scath said.

“Why not just tell me?”

“You have to ask.”

“Then what do you want?”

“Happiness.”