My senses examined the sea of leaves above me. Even without the Monster’s Wisdom increase, I would have trusted my instinct. I could suddenly see the chain of engagement, of living, feeding me subtle whispers about truth.
Yet perhaps because of the overwhelming certainty I originally possessed, the Skill increase gave me pause.
Am I just being paranoid? Hah, System, you’ve given me too much stress, my resolve to be leisurely is swayed when you support me unconditionally, without any passive-aggressive notifications…
Sage raised a tail and pressed it lightly against my shoulder. “Brother Tallum, probably take a few steps back. If this foolish bear dares move…”
I looked at Sage in confusion, but trusted her and took a few steps back. Nightshade moved to stand in front of me. I patted his shoulder in thanks. If we talk about roles, Nightshade wants to be the Protector.
She pivoted and looked at the Kami. “...If you have finally ceased your foolish indulgence, allow me to begin. I am Sagacity Skyrage. Negotiation begins with a frank acknowledgment of the status quo. What is your name, sleeping Kami?”
“They call me the Old Oak Grasps Upward.” The Kami answered, the Plasm still being forcibly manipulated by the life energy gushing up out of the flowers in the area. The bear crossed its arms. “However, I refuse to acknowledge you after the sins you have committed. Negotiation… pah! More than anything else, my goal in this situation is to see you three annihilated.”
“You’d pursue our annihilation even at the cost of your people?” Sage spoke almost sweetly. “A Kami appears to be wrought of icy practicality, rather than flesh.”
The Kami Old Oak Grasps Upward grimaced at Sage’s naked threat. We stood at an impasse precisely because, while the Plasm might possess power enough to crush us, we Chimera Cores were not an easy foe either. Those two holed-filled trees nearby likely housed most of the remaining fae squirrel population in the forest.
If we painted the ground with their blood, the resulting lake would likely be the grave of the fae squirrel people.
Uwah, where did this Nightshade-esque thought come from?!
Despite the tension, I felt a surprising amount of confidence. We were four warriors from another Kami’s domain, true. But in this small clearing crouched the entirety of this half-awakened Kami’s strength, the rest having been broken by our advance. If not for my current suspicions about our Kami’s goals, I would be rather impressed by how it could simultaneously pressure all of the nearby Kamis with its military might.
While the conflict stretched, I gave up my search for any distinctive sign of the Mantle and looked instead at the flowers again. They all just look like extremely dark green leaves… with those five flowers releasing such dense life energy, its impossible to spot the one we want. But… actually, the way the energy flows is quite interesting…
My senses narrowed. Even just in the clearing, I could see the flow of energy.
It actually spreads outward into the air… and then is absorbed by the monsters. And somehow… the monsters process that energy and- A new realization rocked me as I focused on the nearby Shamans of Retribution. …they house the life energy, but also they incubate it. The life energy includes Mana, but its also embedded with all those other energies. Depending on the way they utilize the life energy, their energy becomes polarized. Or, to put it in terms used by the System, it develops a colored Aspect.
My senses turned inward. After seeing energy flow from the Seed in front of me and knowing what to look for, I could immediately find it within myself. Setting aside my complex array, I could also see a thin tether of energy that stretched back toward the temple to our Kami. And around the connection point of that tether-
Your Skill (Earned) Mana Sensitivity has grown to Level 25(+6).
Your Skill (Earned) Detection has grown to Level 25(+2).
Azure energy had gradually accumulated in my body. My mind spun, the machine activating to process the implications. Then… it’s almost like interest gathered by banks by lending out money. The Kami gives life energy, we absorb a portion, and then our actions create a polarity and draw out energy from the environment. The philosophy of fighting and sharpening in this world is purposeful- I would need to watch closely when something dies, but I suspect…
A portion of this polarized energy we absorb when killing our foes as experience. But depending on the Level difference… we don’t absorb all of it. Insight, or our ability to process the polarized energy. And the rest, along with the original life energy used in the tether, returns to the Kami in the ground when we die.
They tell us to fight… because it makes them stronger.
Your Skill (Earned) Monster’s Wisdom has grown to Level 25(+14).
Your Skill (Earned) Mutinous Grit has grown to Level 11.
Your Skill (Earned) Monster’s Wisdom has grown to Level 25(+15).
Your Skill (Earned) Mutinous Grit has grown to Level 12.
Your Skill (Earned) Monster’s Wisdom has grown to Level 25(+16).
Your Skill (Earned) Monster’s Wisdom has grown to Level 25(+17).
Tch, this knowledge doesn’t help me at all right now… My gaze darkened. But… it makes me entirely sure: we cannot simply accept the Quest as it is. This sort of arrangement… doesn’t it make you want to take a cleaver to this fucked-up world and chop it to pieces?
Ah, that’s not leisurely at all, Tallum.
Despite my inner turmoil, the negotiation next to me continued. Sage spoke. “Your cooperation would earn a modicum of goodwill and spare your people immense suffering.”
The cub snorted. “Are you attempting to torture me, or are you genuinely foolish? Yes, yes, I understand you simply wish to retrieve my Mantle for your gluttonous Kami. Yet once the Mantle departs from this place, the Seed I have planted will dissipate. Without the life energy present in the land, my people will cease to grow. And you… you bloodsuckers…”
The cub took a step forward. The whole area trembled, smashing away distractions and concentrating all our attention on the very real threat in front of us. The Kami manipulated the life energy until the whole of its Mantle shook with its fury. “If you wish to do this the hard way, let us begin. At least then I will be able to bury several of you before my people are forced to suffer.”
Within the depths of the hole-filled tree trunks, I felt the fae squirrels twitching as adrenaline transformed their fear into bloodlust. Mana gathered as they prepared to release a tremendous volley of fae bolts.
Nightshade’s body loosened with deliberate antipathy. Meanwhile, Violala’s wings had settled into unnatural stillness. I couldn’t help but wonder how quickly they would move, if the situation devolved.
…wait, considering their relative speed… I paled. When the firing begins, won’t I be the one left behind?
Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
Hah, Armored Spine, if we survive this baptism together-
Only Sage remained calm. She even smiled up at the growling bear cub. “...may I approach, Kami? Surely you tire from shouting across the distance between us.”
“Pah, do you believe that by splitting your group, your chances of survival will increase? Foolish ball of blight,” The Kami shook its head. Yet that was not a denial.
Without waiting for an answer, Sage began to skip forward. “Perhaps I simply admire your fine gardening skills. Brother Tallum dabbles with plants, but the flowers you have cultivated here, their inner light-”
“Move not another step,” The Kami growled and leaned forward as Sage neared the small passage to the tree, not blocked by the gurgling stream. As could visibly see the clunky calculations of the Kami as it regarded her. Then it favored the former Skyfire Princess with a satisfied smirk. “While you are indeed correct, a closer relationship is necessary for a proper negotiation… it should not be you. Send that one.”
The Kami raised a paw and pointed at me.
Sage faltered. “No, I am the leader of this negotiation-”
“But did you not say that one has experience with plant life?” The Kami folded its muscular bear arms. “Let’s build some goodwill. Allow your companion to come and experience my… garden. Perhaps it will help us find some common ground.”
From the Kami’s perspective, Sage had made a gambit to approach. Yet now, based on his request, she couldn’t disagree without ripping away the facade and inciting combat. Which the Kami had clearly resolved himself to. Or, if Sage grimaced and accepted the request to maintain the subterfuge, I would become a hostage.
Inwardly, I felt a prickling sensation. Small details spun in my mind. It was all purposeful. From Sage asking me to stand back earlier, to mention of my planting, to causing the Kami to panic when she approached directly… Sage has played this bear like a fiddle.
Wow, actually, she’s quite good at this. Is this really the same capricious monster that has tortured Nightshade and I for weeks…?
Ah, I suppose it’s called ‘teasing’ between siblings-
“Sir Tallum…” Next to me, unaware of our arrangements, Violala took a step forward. I raised a hand.
“Earning trust… takes effort,” I said out loud.
Sage glared openly at the Kami now, playing her part perfectly. “...any of our party would suffice. But since you have indulged this… particular desire, I request a boon as well. A stored favor, for now.”
“Agreed,” The bear spoke with a smug tone, its eyes still on me. Clearly, it felt smug after its ‘victory’.
I walked forward while maintaining a constant speed, not too slow or fast. Even if this was what I had wanted to accomplish, the pressure of the half-awake Kami still made me nervous. I could feel its Mantle tightening all around me. Sage gave me a long look as I walked past her. Our jellies resonated with one another. As requested.
Thank you Sage.
Anything else?
A small distraction would probably help.
Heh, I would have done as much anyway, just to fluster this fool. This furry bastard talks to a Skyrage with not even a modicum of respect. His comeuppance is due.
I passed my sibling by. My tortoise legs carried me through the threshold of the stream and I grimaced from the wild waves of life energy scraping against my interstitial flesh. A kaleidoscope of power gushed upward out of the five glowing flowers in front of me. Yet much of the beauty and wonder I felt about Kami’s vanished, as I witnessed their role as the equivalent of a spiritual bank.
I looked up and met the gaze of the bear cub as it towered above me.
“Well?” It growled. “Admire my works. Actually, this is just the tip of the iceberg; when my current situation passes and I can freely move out through my forest, I regularly cultivate whole flowered meadows- errr, not that I am that limited right now, the whole of my strength is indeed intact-”
The Kami began rambling and then realized its mistake, sparing a sharp glance for Sage
Is this why the cheat uncles in webnovels are so easy to fleece? Being sealed away for a few hundred years makes you a real chatterbox… I bit back a sarcastic response and dutifully walked past him to the edge. The surging waves of life energy almost pushed me back, even though I had encountered a fully awakened Kami, it was alarming to walk amongst the spring of energy. Soon, I stood above one of the glowing flowers.
“Ahem, admire its beauty.” The Kami loomed over me, but it couldn’t hide the pride in its voice. “You’ll notice its petals have the distinctive shape of the lily. This is a personal choice. I find that of all the common flora, the lily-”
As I readied my Blessing, Sage played her part. “Ah, while Brother Tallum takes care of your garden, I wish to examine this wondrous circle more closely.”
Even I couldn’t believe her speed. One moment she stood at the edge of the boundary of the small hill, the next she had practically teleported to the nearest summoning ritual. She appeared amongst the horrified Shamans of Retribution. One of her tails curled outward and slid around an ill-prepared victim’s throat.
“You-!” The whole area shook with the Kami’s fury. His cub Plasm shifted a few feet forward, just by virtue of the pulsing wave of life energy. The body moved less and more was simply carried forward by its wrath.
Away from me and toward Sage.
In that moment, I activated my first Blessing.
…is it bad that it pisses me off slightly that this Blessing has become a surprisingly reliable method…?
Why do I need to sweat it out, instead of it being summoned in front of me like the clay?
Due to your unique actions, your Blessing Seep Blessed Oils has earned +25 Proficiency!
As the lavender liquid dribbled down my body and into the ground, I could feel the Blessing responding to my intent. The liquid concentrated toward the flower. The life energy in the environment flared briefly, as though sensing the purpose of the liquid. For a second, I wondered if my plan was foolish; this life energy had many of the same aspects as Mana, but it also had quite a few extra elements.
My oils glittered. The liquid shivered, then almost pounced forward, encasing the glowing flower. As with the Fae Squirrel Champion and the Python Baron, I felt the energy contained within abruptly isolated. The balance of surging life energy in the clearing shifted.
A small window popped up in front of me as I examined it.
Isolated Essence of the Old Oak Grasps Upward: Mixed with Blessed Oils, a portion of the Kami’s Seed has been crystalized into an isolated form. While crystallized, only a portion of the life energy will escape. It seems possible to extract the energy from within.
Due to the powerful nature of the Seed, the isolation will be broken in 39 days, 12 hours, five minutes.
My gaze snapped upward into the thick foliage above. Isolating the flower had blocked off some of the energy released… but not all of it. Mana remained contained within, but all of the extra elements present in a Kami’s life energy seemed to have no difficulty escaping. My Mana Sensitivity couldn’t locate the Mantle waiting above.
But also… My eyes went back to the crystalized flower. The wheels of my mind slowly turned as it discarded the failed possibility and considered another one. Only a portion of the energy escapes? Does that mean-
“What have you done?!”
My attention snapped back to the presence. In front of me, the cub paused in its angry glower toward Sage and spun around. It saw me and the crystalized form of its Seed in front of me. Worry dominated the Kami’s consciousness at the moment, but if that emotion turned to vindictive anger-
If the bear cub decided to strike at me, with my companions so far away-
I straightened, even as my heart pounded and I wanted to flinch. But one truth I had learned about the monster world was that failing to step forward would be interpreted as a sign of weakness. “I solved all our problems. Crystalized like this… won’t your Seed be able to endure, even without a Mantle?”
That gave the Kami pause. I sent a pulse of meaning through my jelly to Sage, who instantly released the Shaman of Retribution. “Old Oak Grasps Upward, I know this is unbelievable… but Brother Tallum routinely overturns expectation. In exchange for your Mantle and the total surrender of your people, your forest will not be demolished. Feel free to praise us.”
“You blightspawn! How can any trust occur between us after you have swindled me like this!” The Kami wheeled around. But almost immediately his stance softened. “This… isolation means nothing! I refuse to bargain! Silence will be my only response. And even if I generously entered into a discussion with you, how could I not be insulted by your terms! You toss around threats so casually, there is no basis for trust! Even if I were willing to give the smallest bit…”
…The more the Kami talks, the more he talks himself into it?
Sage smirked. A new round of negotiations began. Yet despite the fact I should be happy… I felt a sense of covetousness toward the crystalized flower in front of me. Because there was one more piece to the notification I had received.
Please Note: Your Hybrid Mana Core reacts with the isolated Seed. Would you like to absorb the Isolated Essence of the Old Oak Grasps Upward? Warning, haphazardly absorbing the power of a Kami may have consequences.
I wonder… is this the way to accomplish my Divine Quest and become a half-step Kami?