Param's finger hovered over the glowing interface for a moment before he clicked Yes, committing to the challenge., unwilling to let his rivals gain the upper hand.
Good luck, sapling. May the leaves be ever in your favor!
The interface dissolved, replaced by stark details of the quest.
Climb the Tree.
Quest Objective: Reach the Wells.
Progress: 0%
Leaderboard:
1. Mereum Mahaan (0.5%)
2. Aya Dina (0.33%)
3. Param Bhairava (0%)
Param scowled at the leaderboard. Two of the chosen were already ahead, their progress an unspoken taunt. It wasn’t just the numbers that stung—it was the idea of falling behind. The remaining four might be even slower, but keeping pace with Mereum and Aya was essential.
The Spectral Arm, his prized construct now woven into his essence, pulsed faintly under the starlight. It had undergone a metamorphosis, baptized twice in emerald waters and currently being steeped in the dense mana of Sindri. He wondered how the operational systems, once physical and grounded, had evolved after its metaphysical transformation.
But questions swirled like restless storms. Had the arm’s systems survived the transition? Were they enhanced, or had their functionality been obliterated entirely?
His gaze shifted to the Viperion Rifle, resting on his waist now altered beyond recognition. Once a masterpiece of next-generation precision tech, it shimmered faintly with the eerie glow of the destiny rune etched along its surface. He attempted to activate the thrusters manually, channeling emerald energy through the system, but they remained stubbornly unresponsive. The once-fluid mechanisms, so reliable and precise, now lay dormant—silent and unyielding.
Still, the rifle wasn’t entirely unresponsive. As Param infused it with energy from the jade core, the weapon shifted, its components clicking and realigning like a sentient machine rousing from slumber. He activated a secondary function, watching as the rifle’s sleek form compressed and reshaped into a palmar blaster—a compact device integrated directly into his hand. Perfect for mobility, especially for climbing.
He considered other configurations. A shoulder-mounted cannon would provide power, but it required more from the dormant processor than it could currently give. For now, the blaster would have to do.
Param flexed his fingers experimentally, testing the integration. It felt... seamless. Natural, as though the weapon had always been a part of him. The faint luminescence of the destiny rune along its edges intrigued him, a power yet to be fully understood.
No time to dwell on it. If I don’t start climbing now, those two will leave me in the dust—and I can’t let that happen.
He clenched his fists, resolve hardening.
Mereum and Aya might have a lead, but they wouldn’t hold it for long.
His gaze traveled upward. The Tree loomed above, its branches twisting like the sinews of some ancient titan. With a final glance at the leaderboard, Param adjusted his grip on the blaster and took the first step toward the colossal trunk. One step, then another. The climb had begun. There would be no looking back.
As Param neared the immense trunk of the world tree, its sheer size overwhelmed his senses. The bark loomed before him like the wall of a fortress, stretching skyward for what seemed like a thousand stories. Its surface wasn’t smooth but a living maze of ridges and grooves, each deep crevice sheltering its own ecosystem. From these gaps sprouted smaller trees that jutted horizontally, their roots anchoring firmly into the bark’s labyrinthine folds. This surreal, perpendicular forest seemed to defy natural law, its shimmering leaves catching the faint ambient light and whispering in the breeze. The sound wasn’t soothing—it was unnerving, an eerie symphony that hinted at unseen dangers within.
Some sections of the trunk offered natural grooves, almost stair-like in their formation, making parts of the climb deceptively easier. But the respite was fleeting. The rustling of leaves wasn’t just the wind—it was the subtle movements of predators hidden among the perpendicular forest. Shadows shifted within the foliage, accompanied by faint, deliberate noises that sent waves of unease rippling through Param’s body.
This place isn’t just alive—it’s watching me, Param thought grimly.
Relying on his Cosmic Resonance skill, he conjured a mental map of his surroundings. The skill wove a glowing web of energy threads, outlining every ridge, branch, and living creature within a hundred-meter radius. Each pulse of movement—a rustling leaf, the glint of eyes in the shadows—stood out vividly in the energy lattice. Confronting the lurking beasts was tempting, but reckless. Instead, when the danger drew too close, Param teleported to a safer ridge, prioritizing speed over battle. This wasn’t the time to test his strength—his mission was to ascend.
The climb was relentless, his muscles burning with exertion. Yet, his Arcane Soul fused with the Spectral Arm proved a crucial advantage. As a human on Earth, this climb would have been impossible, but here, his augmented soul felt stronger, faster, and infinitely more agile. Each movement was precise, his balance impeccable, and his stamina seemed unending. He suspected this newfound endurance came from his passive physique reinforcement skill, which sustained him with a steady influx of energy.
Hours or perhaps even days seemed to blur together during his relentless climb. With no sun to track and only the vast, shimmering night sky overhead as a reference, time became an abstract concept—one he couldn’t begin to grasp. The constellations above remained static, offering no clue to the passage of time, leaving him to rely solely on his determination and aching limbs to mark his progress.
At last, Param reached the summit of the bark. He paused, leaning against the colossal trunk, his breath coming in controlled, shallow bursts. Below him sprawled the vast vertical wilderness—a chaotic scenery of intertwining branches, glowing leaves, and flickering lights.
During his climb, he had glimpsed a myriad of fantastical creatures. Winged foxes with shimmering fur darted between branches, leaving trails of golden light, while translucent, butterfly-like amphibians flitted gracefully through the air, their delicate wings refracting a spectrum of colors. For a brief moment, Param allowed himself to marvel at the beauty of this arcane world.
The interface popped up in his face, spitting details of the quest into his eyes.
Climb the Tree.
Quest Objective: Reach the Wells.
Progress: 0.1%
Leaderboard:
1. Mereum Mahaan (0.7%)
2. Param Bhairava (0.1%)
3. Aya Dina (0%)
Param stared at the leaderboard, his brow quaking in surprise at Aya’s name etched at the bottom. Who in their right mind would willingly descend after all this effort? His own climb had nearly drained him dry; the thought of retracing his steps sent a shudder through his spine. Climbing to the top of the bark had become a personal triumph, a silent reward for enduring the grueling ordeal. To throw that away? Madness.
The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.
Still, curiosity tugged at him like a mischievous spirit. What if Aya had discovered something—some hidden truth about the climb? Perhaps there was wisdom in her descent. But the mere idea of slipping back to the human realm only to return at the very bottom filled him with dread. His body remembered too well the burning strain, the precarious edges, and the gnawing uncertainty. No, he’d made it this far, and a step backward wasn’t in his nature.
He set his sights on the grove ahead, his hand stretched forward to grasp the wood, but something unseen shoved him back making him end up on the wooden ground on his buttocks. A translucent shimmer hung above him—a barrier of sorts. Before he could even process what he was looking at, the ever-familiar glow of the interface blinked to life in his vision.
“Of course,” he muttered with a resigned sigh, “because what’s a climb without a twist?”
King of the First Forest
Subquest: Show the beast who's boss (or run screaming—your call).
Reward: A cozy timeout in the Runevault, where knowledge flows and the tea is probably great.
Failure: Enjoy the scenic route back to square one—again. (We’ll miss you. Not really.)
Pro Tip: Trees have ears, leaves have spies, and beasts have egos.
Pro-er Tip: Fireproof your dreams.
Ultra Pro Tip: Running is cardio, not cowardice.
Accept the Quest?
[Yes]
[No]
Param strained his senses, trying to locate the beast amidst the looming silence. His footsteps echoed faintly as he paced atop the ancient bark, every creak and rustle tightening the knot of tension in his chest. Near the trunk, his eyes caught the ornate door embedded in the trunk, its surface etched with the image of a flaming wolf mid-howl.
Heart pounding, Param approached the door. He hesitated, his palm hovering over its rough-hewn surface, but purpose outweighed fear. The door groaned open, heavy and reluctant, as though disapproving of his intrusion. Inside, the cavern stretched vast and dim, the air thick and heavy with the oppressive heat spreading across the cave. There, sprawled on a marbled dais, lay a wolf as large as a whale, its fiery pelt casting dancing shadows against the walls.
The beast’s breath filled the chamber with the sound of smoldering coals, each exhale a quiet roar. Its chest rose and fell with the rhythm of fires, the flames flickering in sync with its life force. Param froze. Fear rooted him to the ground, every fiber of his being screaming to retreat.
But the door slammed shut behind him with a thunderous finality. The door slammed shut behind him, jolting the beast awake. Its molten eyes snapped open, fiery orbs that radiated fury and hunger. A low growl rumbled from deep within its throat, a sound primal and visceral, like the growl of the earth before an eruption. The wolf’s lips peeled back, revealing teeth like red daggers, their fiery edges rippling with liquid heat.
It rose, its movements fluid yet brimming with tension, like a predator savoring the moment before a kill. Each step it took left scorched paw prints on the marbled floor. The growl deepened into a guttural snarl, a sound that seemed to scrape against Param’s soul.
“Uh… Look,” Param stammered, his voice shaky as he backed away. “I didn’t know you were having your beauty sleep, okay? My bad! Let’s just forget this ever happened. No harm, no foul, right?”
Its blazing eyes fixed on him, radiating fury as his presence was an unforgivable insult, a trespasser daring to breach its sacred ground. It was not a beast inclined to mercy.
Param swallowed hard, realizing words were futile. The wolf tensed, coiling its massive form before lunging at him with searing speed. Flames erupted from its paws, leaving molten trails as it surged forward. In a panicked blur, Param activated Void Step, vanishing just as claws sliced through the space he had occupied.
“Great, now you’re even madder,” Param muttered from the far side of the cavern, his breath coming in ragged gasps. “Look, I really don’t want to fight, wolfie. Peaceful negotiation, maybe? No?”
The wolf’s response was another guttural snarl. Its flames intensified, engulfing its entire body in an inferno. The ground cracked and blackened beneath its feet, the air distorting from the heat waves.
Desperate, Param activated Dominion of Mind, his only hope to connect with the beast on a deeper level. The mental link sparked, but instead of clarity, his mind was assaulted by a molten torrent. It felt as though magma poured into his consciousness, searing through his thoughts and leaving agony in its wake. Unable to endure, he severed the connection, collapsing to his knees, the world spinning into a haze.
The wolf staggered too, shaking its massive head as though clearing a deafening roar from its mind. Yet, its fiery gaze remained locked on Param, its fury unabated. With a snarl like the scream of a furnace, it lunged again, wheels of fire propelling it forward.
Param’s senses screamed a warning, his Resonance skill outlining the beast’s every motion. Claws extended, their molten edges gleaming, but the wolf was too fast. Before he could summon the thought to dodge, its fiery strike cleaved through him. The last thing Param saw was a blur of flame and fury, the heat swallowing him whole.
Darkness claimed him, and the wolf stood triumphant, flames roaring like the victorious cry of an unchallenged predator.
----------------------------------------
The crackling of flames and the sizzling sound of fat dripping onto the fire jolted Param awake. The tantalizing aroma of roasting meat filled the air, making him instinctively lick his lips. It had been too long since he'd had anything solid; the so-called "embers" he’d been consuming might have filled his stomach, but they left his taste buds in a state of rebellion.
Using his hands for support, he pushed himself upright, his gaze landing on what could only be described as a vision of culinary divinity—an angelic figure expertly grilling meat. Herbs cascaded from her fingers like a chef casting magic spells, the aroma swirling around them in a mouthwatering symphony.
“That’s the one,” the angel—Aya, apparently—murmured, a small grin tugging at her lips as she inhaled the savory scent. “Just the right amount of kick. Come on, Param, don’t just sit there gawking. I won’t bite. The beasts up here are doing plenty of that already.”
Param shuffled closer, his eyes darting to the neatly butchered carcass of what looked like a ruby-skinned deer, its crystalline antlers catching the light. His stomach growled loudly, betraying his desperate longing for a bite. Aya smirked, her eyes twinkling with mischief.
“Well, someone’s hungry,” she teased, flipping the meat expertly. “But tell me—can you even eat like that? What are you, anyway?”
Param hesitated, glancing down at his Spectral Arm still encasing him like second skin. He’d never tried recalling the armor back into his soul; why would he, when it offered better protection than his squishy soul?
Recall
The Spectral Arm receded with a faint shimmer, leaving Param bare before the bonfire’s light. His silver hair glowed faintly, his caramel-toned skin soaking up the warmth. His red eyes caught Aya’s gaze, and her brows lifted in surprise.
“Well, I’ll be damned,” she said, propping her chin on her hand. “Never thought you’d be human. I pegged you for some ancient spirit with a fancy Spectral Arm. Humans don’t usually dabble in that kind of craftsmanship.”
Param shrugged awkwardly, his hunger stealing his focus as Aya carved a skewer of perfectly grilled meat. Placing it on a clean leaf, she slid it toward him.
“Here,” she said with a smirk. “Don’t choke.”
Param needed no further invitation. He grabbed the skewer, biting into the tender meat. His eyes widened as the flavors burst across his palate.
“By the gods,” he mumbled around a mouthful, “this... this is divine! Fragrant, crispy on the outside, perfectly tender inside, and it just melts! This is perfection!”
Aya snorted. “Glad it lives up to your high standards.” Param ignored her jibe, too busy savoring the next bite.
Aya glanced at Param, a sly smile playing on her lips as she flipped another skewer over the fire. “Got a notification when you entered Sindri. Impressive timing reaching the top of the first bark so soon. Movement skill, I’m guessing?”
Param paused mid-bite, then resumed chomping, avoiding her gaze.
“Thought so,” Aya said, smirking. “By the way, you should consider warming up on the smaller beasts before taking on Lucian. He’s the big bad wolf around here, literally.”
“Lucian? He should be called Lucifer.” Param mumbled through a mouthful.
Aya snorted. “Sure, call him whatever you want while he’s ripping your limbs off. My point is, you’ve got skills you don’t fully understand. You need practice—real combat. Otherwise, it’s back to the ground every time.”
“I thought it was a race,” Param countered, swallowing his last bite. “I was just trying to finish fast.”
“Fast doesn’t matter if you’re face-down in the dirt, genius,” Aya retorted. “Oh, and when you beat Lucian, pick the inventory reward. Trust me, hunting food every day isn’t as fun as it sounds. You’ll need time to practice, not forage.”
As she packed her grilled meat into her inventory, she gave him a final glance. “And don’t forget, practice makes less dead.”
With that, her wings unfurled, catching the wind as she ascended effortlessly to the next bark. Before Param could muster a witty comeback, she was gone, vanishing into the forest’s dense canopy.