As the sun rose the next day I was suddenly called by the elves that had descended to keep improving the land. It was because of a strange occurance so taking control of Yasha and Asura I called some Knights and descended.
On my own Strato we flew down and eventually reached the lake that the elves were at and jumped off landing with a loud ‘Thump’ as our weight dropped on the ground with momentum.
The elves turned and they start to disperse allowing me to see what was the commotion as as soon as I see it I figured out why. As soon as my eyes landed on it my scanners quickly picked up the presence of abundant nature mana inside that strange plant.
“What is this?” I asked.
“We are uncertain but it clearly appeared as a direct result of us reviving this area of land.” One elve explained.
“Could this be some kind of nature spirit or plant monster?”
“Most likely.” the elf affirmed.
I turned around and point at several of them, “Set up perimeter with turrets. Target, this plant.” I say.
“Are you going to destroy it?” The elf asked to which I shake my head.
“Precaution.”
The knights get busy and call up to the ship making them send down several large balls with numbers on them. Topping off at 8 they placed them in order and formed the turrets. These were the ball turrets that Nova had originally invented but were now very well refined after so long.
With the muzzles aimed at the plant they confirm they were ready and armed. I nod to the elves and they all move to different spots and begin to vitalize the land but whenever the wave would go out the plant did as well and would draw in the energy released and slowly it began to grow.
“Stop!” I call them, “Group revitalization over the plant!” I order them. It was clear that there was no point in doing it too far off so just dump the energy directly on it would resolve the problem quickly.
As such the elves slowly gathered and like the previous night they slowly gathered their power into a large ball of mana before dropping it right over the plant. The waves spread out throughout the entire area but after a moment they suddenly return to the flower.
The plant in question began to glow and pulse.
“Whats going on?!” Someone appeared from the construct village. Looking back he saw it was that party and behind them was also many more people that had logged in or stayed awake during the night.
I ignore them since it didn’t matter if they knew or not and watched the flower. The elves were healing themselves with mana from the crystals they get from Brock. As for the plant, with each pulse the strange fruit would grow more and slowly it reached the size where it was almost 1 meter in diameter and could fit a child inside.
From the top a split appeared and every one of the knights tensed up. The fruit kept growing and the split went four ways like a four leaf flower and slowly opened until half way.
Everyone was quiet until the sound of slurping was heard and I became curious and held his hand up and began to walk over but half way a movement came from it shaking the flower and instantly Asura’s arms revealed its arsenal with the two lower guns completely becoming shotguns and the next pair became miniguns.
On the alert he watched as two small hands gripped the flower and stood up and a small figure that looked no more than maybe two or three years old stood up. She had droopy eyes and she looked around before yawning, putting her left hand over her mouth and stretching with the other. She had long dark green hair and light green skin with a tinge of pink.
We were taken by surprise and slowly watched. She in turn also looked around confused and only then did I start to calm down and lower my weapons and walk over before kneeling down.
“Who are you?” I asked in a tone I normally used for Nova.
She just tilted her head confused. After a moment she made a bright innocent smile and jumped out of the plant and jumped on my back. Obviously just born she was completely naked so with one pair of arms I grab her gently and put her down and turn around.
“What do you make of her?” I asked the elves.
“Don’t know.” the elves said.
A splash followed by a voice caught my attention, “It's a living Dryad!”
The voice originated from the merman chief that I had met before. He came out of the water and looked at the girl with startled eyes.
“This girl…” he muttered and looked at the plant.
Suddenly the girls starts to struggle and I put her down only for her to turn south and start running.
“Wait!” I call but she doesn’t stop. I turn to the men and send them a message to pack up and for a group to follow me. I call in some air units to monitor her movements as we start to run after her through the trees. Soon back in filthy land she uses vines to keep her feet from touching the soil.
“This reeks of something important!” I thought as we followed her.
Several hours of walking with many of the people from the town following due to stupid people's curiosity and greed to be part of something big. Soon the sound of burnt earth sounded under our heavy metal feet. Looking around there were burnt plants and trees all over.
“This is…” A solemn look came from behind. I look back and see that irritating construct had followed but now she seemed a bit erratic. Looking at the gem that was a topaz it was lightning magic if I had the system of constructs down properly which means that with how she is acting she may have been the construct to be attacked. “Probably feels guilty for killing off two races.” I thought but shrugged it off.
We follow the little Dryad and went further and further until we arrived at a root covered clearing. There were massive trees all over but at the very center of the burn forest there was a massive moat and a huge island yet at the center of the completely empty island was a single dried up sprout.
“Ah! Ah!” She began to point after turning to us.
We looked confused at her but she cups her hand and forms a small ball of green energy and throws it onto the island and points and gestures while muttering, “Ah! Ah!”
“Elves, form a bridge to that island.” I say and look around. The water in the moat was filthy and the earth was dark. Thankfully the elementals had been notified so that we were ready for it all.
“Undine, clean the water, Golems help build the bridge then clean the soil, Sylph filter the air.” I order and the leaders begin to have the minions work.
The elementals got busy and the elves and golem began to raise an earth bridge to the island while the two other elementals began to work. The water was filthy green but with the dozen or so Undine they spread around and began to throw out the water to at least neutralize the waters contamination.
The golem soon followed and the soil was slowly cleaned off while the roots of the plant were left. Brock came back to me a bit shocked.
“That spout has roots spread all over, it's probably a really important tree.” He said.
“For all we know it might even be something akin to a world tree.” I joked with him and he shook his head.
“Don’t joke, we have already met titans so what if we actually meet it.”
The little Dryad was beside the sprout as if waiting for something to happen. Most people didn’t stay watching and spread out helping remove the black liquid being thrown out of the lake and other things.
In several hours of work they got it to a reasonable level of ‘clean’ that I authorized one big burst of natural energy from the elves. Like they did with the little Dryad’s flower they gathered it above the sprout. Once the gathered power reached its peak the elves activated the spell drowning the sprout in clean nature energy.
A strong green wave spread out before it was sucked into the plant before green ‘cracks’ spread as if lightning originating from the sprout.
After that happened it all went silent except for the little Dryad who was clapping before she lifted herself over the sprout. On closer inspection it had gained its brown color and green leaves were starting to form.
The girl used her vine to lower herself onto the sprout. When her feet touched the sprout, a second wave of energy was let out before she jumped off and ran off the island and then hid behind my leg like a shy child or someone that did something bad but I took this as a sign.
“Everyone retreat from the lake and island and from above the island as well!” I order.
The others don’t waste time to remove themselves and once everyone was off a surprise happened as the sturdy stone bridge begins to collapse and the ground begins to shake. Suddenly more flashes on the ground came from the sprout and the sound of bark breaking could be heard as the sprout begins to grow. Slowly at first before its growth explodes and it starts to spread more branches. It climbs to 5 meters and spreads a large number of branches. The roots begin to spread above land and into the water and then out into the polluted land where it builds a bridge between the island and the land.
On the branches slowly they start to sprout flowers that were extremely bright pink. Soon every branch was covered in bright pink flowers and slowly the started to fall slowly. Where they touched down they broke down and from that spot it would form a small flower. If it touched polluted land it would cause a black smoke to rise as both were burned up.
If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.
“Ah~!” An ancient tired voice suddenly resound. “1000 years only to rise from my core and find the world so depressing.” The voice said slowly.
The little Dryad suddenly hopped out from behind me and ran towards the tree.
“Oh? There you are, it was a bit far but you made it just fine.” The ancient voice said and a root appeared and the girl stopped in front where it bet her head and she generally liked it and giggled.
“I thank you all for purifying this bit of land.” He said.
I look at the tree and walk up, “What are you?” I asked.
“Oh… one with a cold heart, you may call me the Titan of Nature, Sakura. I can also be considered Mother of Nature and am the ancestor of all vegetal life both common and magical or what is left of it.” She said and sighed deeply. “The entire planet, devastated for so long my roots all over the world have been corrupted so much.”
“The forest of elves has been pure due to their magic.” One of the elves shouted from behind me.
Sakura pauses a moment and sighs, “Connecting to it passes through too many dead roots. It will take so long for me to revitalize myself to reach it.” She sighed once more, “At least the cores of my elder Treants had yet to be corrupted and given enough energy and purifying enough land I can reawaken some good followers.” She said to no one apparent.
“Sakura… why are you not sealed like Delta?”
“Delta! That insulate tin can still refers to himself as a titan! The nerve of him! Titan can’t be sealed! Our power originates from nature and where we live, it is the reason why that stupid rock fish Menthol could leisurely fly around while I had to seal off my roots from the contamination until even my home here was sealed and my body degraded. I had hoped that the world would heal quickly but now without the intervention of the elemental titan’s with a great deal of help from you all.” She said.
Suddenly a small Wisp flew forward and began to burn before it took the shape of a young woman. She bowed to the tree spirit before she began, “Great Spirit, I have been following my captain for a long time, through our fight we have found the earth titan and even our companion was changed into the same. We have discovered a Queen Undine and a King Sylph yet even after so long we training us Will-o-Wisps don’t have a true leader, can you tell me if there is something we can do or where to find him or her?” Ena asked suddenly.
“Oh my, a Will-o-Wisp with an almost complete human form. Such a rarity. Child for your question you would have to absorb and refine into your core a small fraction of the flames from the Pyrus the Fire Titan. He can also be referred to as the Great Phoenix but in my opinion he is just a cocky chicken with two much hot air.” Sakura puffed.
“Where is he found?” Ena asked.
“Like myself, the Titans of Water, Air and Fire went into hibernation due to the pollution, obviously this was all after we aided the Great Goddess Ariel in putting true seals on all those brats that call themselves Gods! With the current state of the world it will be a long time before any of the wake up but that is of course something that can change with your help.” Sakura said.
Everyone was silent because instantly everyone was starting to realize this was going to be big.
“As Titan of Nature my domain is within the vegetation, the more clean land and nature energy I get the stronger my roots and the more spread out the go. At my peak I am spread throughout the world but at this moment I am stuck in this continent. If I were to regain even 5% of my power I would be able to sense the presence of the other Titans. Menthol is a useless old man that even as the Titan of earth he wouldn’t know where any of them are. As for waking them up, Pyrus is the easiest to wake up due to him living within the earth, the only problem being is reaching him.”
“What do you want us to do?” Ena asked and looked back to me who nodded. I was grinning at seeing how she was gaining a super rank mission.
“My power is less than 1% right now, not to mention my closest minions, the Treants and Dryad had been long corrupted and by the will of heaven that young construct with the Topaz core and water elemental core destroyed those around here that kept corrupting the soul and kept me imprisoned…”
Everyone instantly looked back at the construct, she was shivering.
“I-I didn’t m-mean to!” She stuttered.
“Don’t feel guilty child, throughout the world they aren’t completely whipped out, this continent, because of my presence, will always keep birthing new ones as long as enough nature mana is gathered. When I felt the elves cleaning the area around the lake of the seafolk it inadvertently healed one of my roots and allowed me to plant a seed for that young child to guide you all back here.” Sakura said in a gentle tone. The construct was still trembling but seemed to feel a weight lifted from her shoulder. “For the start I simply wish to revive my minions, this burn land contains the purest power and within these dead trees are the untainted cores of Elder Treants and in the ground are many seeds for new ones. Many other of them are tainted but if the land is cleaned my roots will slowly heal and if the elves keep feeding me Nature mana I will slowly recover them aiding in the revitalization of the land. So to you, young Wisp, and you the Clockwork who leads this child, please heal my home and bring back my two dearest races.” Sakura asked.
Suddenly to all players of my crew they received a mission that was B rank, B rank signified a regional effect but there was no stopping the changes and the chain quests afterwards. I step up with Yasha and stand next to Ena, “We will do what we can.” I tell her. The message appears showing we accepted this, as captain a quest directed at my crew is accepted by me as a crew quest.
“Thank you, I had thought Clockwork were a being that went against the natural order of the world but you… I can feel there is more to you than a simple Clockwork.” She replied.
I was confused for a moment before I thought of the Automata race that had been born through the use of the core technology to upgrade himself. The body is so advanced that I have yet to even start on the skeleton and anything else. The ‘easiest’ thing to make is the mana generator and mana core yet I still lack vital pieces of technology that doesn’t allow me to piece together the machine.
I turn around and nod to my crew.
Marina floats forward, “Surge, please spread out and aid me in finding all the springs in this area, once the area is completely scouted please inform my kin at the town to descend so that we can clean!” she asked.
Surge saluted to her, “As you wish ma’am! BOY’S YOU HEARD THE LADY! SPREAD OUT AND DISPERSE SCOUT DRONES!” He shouted and all the knights shout before turning and a compartment on the legs open and small balls roll out before opening into spiders and all rushing out. The construct players all watched in awe at the display of military training.
“Golems! Start extraction process! Only pollution of oil and acid is removed, excess mineral remain!” Brock shouted.
The Golems shouted and began to spread around the lake and stick their arms into the ground. Soon large earth containers formed.
“Oh? What is this?” Sakura asked curiously.
“This is a technique for cleaning in very contaminated areas, we build a container and harden it to keep all oil inside. We then filtered through the ground and poor it inside before we send it up to my secondary body where it is put to use by the clockwork.” Brock explained.
“Quite ingenious use of earth manipulation young titan.” She exclaimed.
The construct were dazed at the high level magic use but I just leave them be and start coordinating the clockwork and all the others as we do our jump to finish this quest quickly.
Sakura PoV
This clockwork leader… his attitude is like those who fear speaking yet his charisma and ability to lead is quite good. For an artificial race to reach this level of sentience his programming must have been made by a master… no I believe this one is from that disturbance I felt some time ago when everything began to move once more as the races were reborn. A Clockwork with a soul… Ariel must have big plans for this boy because I get a feeling from him like those brat gods but his is harder but gentlier. I’m glad to see it with my own eyes.
My vision shifts to the young construct whose emotions can’t escape this old woman’s eyes. Conflicted, sad, worry, a hint a fear. This young one is like the boy, she suffers but from the burden of guilt, her eyes don’t move from the clockwork so she must have some history, something from wherever she came from. It will most definitely be a great challenge for her in the future.
I look through the crowd and my eyes keep stopping at the elementals. A ‘Queen’ Undine, the daughter of Neptune, A greater Sylph, descendant of Tycoon, two strange Will-o-Wisp, one a human, the other a firebird, a golem that has the will to survive Menthol’s conversion ritual. Four unique elementals I wonder how they will grow as they meet their respective Titans.
I look up at the dirty sky, even the air has grown cold from that war for so long, “Maybe I should tell the boy how to find a few gods as well, the elemental gods would surely be useful right now but the balance would break far too quickly should those brats be released.” I sigh.
It won’t take long for my roots to be healed, first I need to direct some of the nature mana the elves are gathering to heal a single root to the elven forest in the other continent then heal the roots here. It will surely give me a more powerful presence in the world if I can use the energy of nature in both areas to start pushing back the corruption and pollution. This deeply ingrained corruption has had its time, now lets get my home back.
Jeopardy PoV
So this is his hard work, more then two game years, this is how much success he built on his own. Loyal crewmates, almost an organization, how levels, high level of technology, capability to be cocky because he has the skill for it.
“He seems to have moved on from the incident… I wonder can i?” I ask myself.
Just like him and some other people, we are undergoing psychological treatment, my current changes are all result of self reflecting. When I did that to Nathaniel I was in a stage of life where I hated everything. My father only cared about his company, my mother has long since died and I was left with only a caretaker made to follow rules that restricted me until my teens. My dad covered things up but so did I. He covered it all up so that his prestige wouldn’t be affected.
I wonder sometimes why that empty look in Nathaniel’s face affected me so much, maybe that is what I felt like but just didn’t react like that and I probably pushed him to be like me or worse.
I look at the robot that was on the back of the flying one. I saw pictures before, that is his sister, the one that got hurt because of me. Just thinking about how I had the courage to do that made me think where all those ideas came from and how I even imagined doing something like that.
Even with the help I still need help. Depression, insomnia, constant nightmares, all and a few more I suffer from it due to everything that happened. I sometimes wonder what his reaction would be if I was in front of him now. I wonder if he would go to the extent of attacking or if he would store it up and do things like I did and go behind the scenes. Just thinking of it makes me feel my stomach turn.
I turn around and look at the burnt wasteland and my crew looking at me. They now knew what I did and I was ashamed.
“What are you getting mopey about?!” Nene asked.
“But… I caused all this…” I muttered as I look around.
“They attacked you first, don’t blame yourself for something you shouldn’t be guilty for their wrong doing.” Gloria said.
“Come on Jeopardy! Let’s go help them out!” Nene’s brother shouted and pulled me towards the water.
“Wait! Can’t… we go somewhere else?!” I asked desperately.
I didn’t want to stay around Techno, he seems to suspect something and I don’t want to give him the time to figure it out. If I could avoid it them that is best.
“No! You will go and help the Undine a bit! You can upgrade your level of water manipulation with this.” Gloria said.
“I will go learn from the Sylph.” Our crew’s Sylph, Storm, said and flew up into the air were there were gusts of wind blowing and dark smoke being pushed off with a green glow as it vanished soon after.
I sighed as the halflings reached the Undine leader.
“Hey pretty lady, our leader can use water magic, she can help clean the water if you want!” Nene shouted.
The Undine looked back and smiled. “All the help is appreciated, you don’t seem high leveled through so since I am teaching the new ones I can teach you a low leveled Undine water purification dance.” She said.
Her words shocked me but I just nod. The next moment I was suddenly thrown into the water and appeared sank before I used water magic to float up.
Like that she began to show me how to use water magic as if it was a dance style. I found out that the water core regenerates even more mana when underwater so even though I used so much I could still work for longer periods of time. I wish I had known that sooner but later is still fine since I learned how to get stronger faster. All this to pay for my crimes, I will help the residents of this world.