"You're talking about the 'Magic Flower Fruit,' right?" the old Tree Shepherd Toka said slowly, "In the far East, unique magic flowers grow. Most of these magic flowers come from the Abyss, and some are fallen from the Heavenly Realm. Over time, they have adapted to the terrestrial environment and have various unique ways of growing and bearing fruit, which are different from ordinary plants and trees. The 'Demon Fruit' you mentioned should be the fruit of these magic flowers. When consumed by ordinary life forms, they release some energy that grants the consumer certain abilities, but these effects are temporary."
"Is it possible for someone to permanently retain the power of the Magic Flower Fruit?" Rody nodded and asked further.
"There's only one possibility: after consuming the Magic Flower Fruit, while its energy is still active, one must seek a blessing from their worshipped deity to permanently preserve this energy," the old Tree Shepherd Toka explained slowly.
"What conditions do deities demand for bestowing such blessings?" Rody paused and asked, "Is it a trade-off with one's personality? Why do deities need personalities?"
"When a person loses a certain aspect of their personality, they forever lose everything associated with that trait. In exchange, they gain significantly in the opposite aspect. For example, if someone loses their cowardice, they will become much braver. From then on, they will never be cowardly again, showing extraordinary bravery in everything they do, fearlessly facing any enemy, and never retreating in dangerous battles. Removing cowardice might seem beneficial, but losing a part of one's personality is a terrifying thing. Regardless of whether the personality trait is positive or negative, it's an integral part of a complete person," the Tree Shepherd said slowly, "When a deity takes away a personality, it enhances their divinity. However, they can only do so under certain conditions and must have the person's voluntary offering. It cannot be taken by force."
"Losing personality is too terrifying!" Gill imagined herself becoming a bold and brash girl and turned pale with fear.
"What about losing one of the five senses? What impact would that have?" Rody inwardly panicked at the thought of losing cowardice and becoming a reckless fool, which would indeed ruin his life.
"Removing one of the five senses is more a method used by the Earth God," the Tree Shepherd said, "The principle is the same as removing personality traits. By losing a sense, one is compensated in another aspect. Moreover, after losing a sense, a person becomes very unaccustomed. If they want to survive, they need to put in a lot more effort. The Earth God hopes that their descendants can temper themselves in hardship, so this method is used."
"Does it mean that if someone loses sight, their hearing becomes especially sensitive, or if they lose their sense of taste, their sense of smell becomes very sharp?" Rody immediately understood as Elder Toka explained.
"Sanny sister..." Gill suddenly thought of Sonia and felt a surge of sadness.
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"Removing one of the five senses is a method many people use, depending on each person's endurance and comprehension," Elder Toka said with a hint of a smile in his eyes, "Some people find it hard and painful to train when their abilities are weak, so they prefer to remove a sense or personality trait and train in comfort after their powers have increased. But they don’t realize that the hardest way is the best. Training without losing anything is the most difficult, but reaching the peak while retaining all senses and personality makes one the strongest."
"Please tell us more about the Magic Flower Fruit," Rody wanted to understand more about this.
"Magic flowers have many varieties, each different. Your dark man-eating vine is also one, previously known as 'Thorn Claw Tiger.' But it gradually mutated after absorbing a large amount of dark energy," Elder Toka explained, enlightening Rody about many things.
"But the dark man-eating vine doesn't bear fruit..." Rody still had doubts.
"It does, it just doesn't flower anymore," Elder Toka explained, "Its seeds are the fruits. If an ordinary life form is implanted with 'Thorn Claw Tiger,' it would gain considerable recovery power, just like your little rabbit."
"Elder Toka, do you know how to unlock the potential of the soul?" Rody's most pressing desire was to understand how to unlock potential.
"I am powerless in matters concerning humans or other races, I am just an old tree," the Tree Shepherd Elder Toka said with a gentle smile in his eyes, "However, if you wish, I can restore your man-eating vine to its original form of 'Thorn Claw Tiger,' and revert its original abilities. This is all up to you, and if you accept, I would like to entrust you with fulfilling the Tree Shepherd's wish."
"Elder Toka, what is your wish?" Gill, feeling sympathy for Elder Toka who could not leave this place, asked softly.
"My life is nearing its end, but there are fewer and fewer Tree Shepherds in the world. The last Tree Shepherd companion I knew of withered over a thousand years ago," Elder Toka said as he took out a small pouch and poured out ten tiny seeds, "These are Tree Shepherd seeds. If you are willing, help me plant them in suitable places so they can grow into new Tree Shepherds."
"Where would be the most suitable place?" Rody asked as he took the Tree Shepherd seeds.
"Anywhere. Tree Shepherds can grow in any place. Just plant them where you feel is most suitable in your heart," Elder Toka said.
"Elder Toka, do you need help? I mean the big tree outside, your main body, do you need our help?" Gill, hearing that Elder Toka's life was drawing to a close, felt very sad and wanted to do something for the old man.
"Kind little girl, the cycle of life and death is the way of nature. To live is to die; it's the most normal thing," Elder Toka said with a smile.
"We want to go to Soulbreak Slope or return to Fellick. Do you know how to get out of this forest?" Rody felt it was time to bid farewell to the Tree Shepherd Toka, so he asked his last question. Elder Toka nodded and said, "This evil forest is a buffer zone for the 'Centennial Holy War' fought by various races of the earth, vast and expansive. It would take a long time to walk out of this land on foot. About 150 kilometers to the east from here, there's a settlement of dwarves, a kind of goblin. They are timid and kind, unlike most goblins, and like to create various tools. Among them is a magical airship that can fly slowly in the sky, capable of transporting you back to Fellick."
"Elder Toka, it's time for us to part ways. We shouldn't stay in this evil forest any longer. If we become stronger in the future, we will come back to visit you," Rody stood up to bid farewell.
"Summon your man-eating vine, I cannot watch it become a corrupted creature. This is the responsibility of a Tree Shepherd," Elder Toka said slowly.
"In that case..." Rody was actually reluctant to change the dark man-eating vine. It was his slave of darkness, and once changed, would the contract still exist? If he dispelled the dark power and turned the man-eating vine into 'Thorn Claw Tiger,' would its combat ability be greatly reduced? Moreover, he had become accustomed to using the dark man-eating vine, and adapting to the unfamiliar Thorn Claw Tiger might take a long time, which would undoubtedly be a disadvantage while traveling with Gill in the evil forest.
However, since Elder Toka had already spoken up, Rody couldn't think of a way to refuse.
Should he keep the original dark man-eating vine?
Or revert it to 'Thorn Claw Tiger'? Rody's thoughts churned, and after careful consideration, he finally made a choice.